Pedometer

• US 6,254,513 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Otani, Toshio, Watanabe, Tomoo, Takenaka, Masaaki, Tanaka, Shinya, Yamasawa, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/398,114
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/51, 482/900-902, 482/74, 731/72, 734/88--90, 733/790.1, 235/105
• US Class Current: 482/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A pedometer includes a main body 1, two acceleration sensors 3 and 4 supported in an oscillating manner in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction at a substrate 2 within the main body 1, an angle detection sensor 5 for detecting an angle of inclination of main body 1 to the ground, and a pace counter for selecting output of either acceleration sensor 3 or 4 according to an output of angle detection sensor 5 for counting the number of paces thereby.

Claims

1. A pedometer comprising:

a plurality of sensors disposed within a main body so that their attached directions differ from each other, and providing an output signal according to a fluctuation component in an up and down direction,

angle detection means provided within said main body for detecting orientation of said main body,

selection means for selecting one of output signals from said plurality of sensors according to a detection signal of said angle detection means, and

pace counter means for counting the number of paces from the output signal of the sensor selected according to selection of said selection means.

2. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein said pace counter means comprises an analog circuit,

wherein power of said analog circuit amplifying an output signal of said acceleration sensor is controlled according to an output signal of said angle detection sensor.

3. The pedometer according to claim 2, wherein said analog circuit includes a feedback circuit portion, said feedback surface including a diode.

4. The pedometer according to claim 2, wherein said analog circuit comprises a feedback circuit portion, said feedback surface portion including an analog switch.

5. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein said angle detection means comprises a plurality of conductive pins, and a conductive ring surrounding said plurality of pins.

6. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors are two acceleration sensors arranged in a main body and supported in a cantilever manner so as to be perpendicular to each other, and selection means for providing an output of a greater fluctuation out of said two acceleration sensors.

7. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors are two acceleration sensors arranged in a main body and supported in a cantilever manner so as to be perpendicular to each other,

an angle detection sensor provided in said main body for detecting orientation of said main body,

selection means for providing an output of a greater fluctuation of said two acceleration sensors according to an output of said angle detection sensor, and

calculation means for calculating calorie consumption according to an output of said select means.

14. The pedometer according to claim 1, wherein said angle detection sensor comprises a predetermined case, light projecting means provided in said case, light receiving means provided in said case opposite said light projecting means, and an object provided between said light projecting means and said light receiving means in said case for interception light from said light projecting means to said light receiving means by having said case inclined by at least a predetermined angle.

8. A pedometer comprising:

a plurality of acceleration sensors disposed within a main body so that their attached direction differ from each other, and producing an electric signal according to a fluctuation component in an up and down direction,

angle detection means provided in said main body for detecting orientation of said main body,

selection means for selecting one of output signals from said plurality of acceleration sensors according to a detection signal of said angle detection means, and

pace counter means for counting the number of paces from an output signal of the acceleration sensor selected according to selection of said selection means.

9. The pedometer according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of acceleration sensors respectively comprise a lever supported in a cantilever manner, and a piezoelectric element attached to said lever, said lever including two acceleration sensors disposed to be oriented in a direction at right angles with each other.

10. The pedometer according to claim 8, wherein said acceleration sensor includes a weight, a piezo-electric element, a weight case attached to one end side of said piezo-electric element, and a supporting member attached to another end side of said piezo-electric element.

11. The pedometer according to claim 8, wherein an output signal of an inclination angle of the main body detected for every constant period by said angle detection sensor varies, and

wherein the acceleration sensor used is altered when said varying output signal continues for a preset number of times.

12. A pedometer comprising:

an acceleration sensor provided at a main body for providing an electric signal according to a fluctuation component in an up and down direction, and

pace counter means for counting the number of paces according to an output signal of said acceleration sensor,

wherein said acceleration sensor comprises a lever provided in a rotatable manner around a supporting axis, a piezo-electric element attached to said lever, and a weight for maintaining said lever horizontal attached in proximity of said supporting axis,

wherein said acceleration sensor provides an output signal by said piezo-electric element independent of orientation of said main body by said lever orientated horizontal independent of orientation of said main body.

13. A pedometer comprising:

a plurality of sensors disposed to be orientated differing from each other, and providing an electric signal according to a fluctuation component in an up and down direction,

select means for selecting one of output signal from said plurality of sensors, and

pace counter means for counting the number of paces according to selection of said select means.