Body motion detector

• US 7,034,694 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Baba, Norimitsu, Yamaguchi, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/669,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/669, 340/426.1, 340/825.36, 340/554, 340/686.1, 340/573.7, 342/357.06, 342/357, 342/352, 600/550, 600/552, 600/553, 600/500
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02

Abstract

The invention provides a body motion detector that allows a user to check whether he/she makes motion with appropriate motion intensity for every motion thereby to obtain an excellent exercise effect while exercising such as walking and running. While a user makes motion, a CPU determines whether the user makes appropriate motion by the amplitude, the period, and the detection frequency of an acceleration signal inputted from an acceleration sensor unit, and when it is determined that the user makes appropriate motion, operates an alarm generator thereby to notify the user that he/she makes motion with appropriate motion intensity.

Claims

1. A body motion detector for use with a user, comprising:

a body motion detecting device to detect body motion accompanying repetitive motion of the user;

a determining device to determine whether an amplitude value of a detection result of the body motion detecting device is within a predetermined reference range, the detection result being either the motion intensity and accumulated motion frequency of the repetitive motion or the motion intensity, motion period, and accumulated motion frequency of the repetitive motion, and the predetermined reference range for the motion intensity and the motion period being either above the lower limit reference value set by the user or between the lower limit reference value and the upper limit reference value, which are set by the user, and the predetermined reference range for the accumulated motion frequency being below an accumulated target frequency set by the user;

a rectangular wave converting circuit that converts the detection result only when the amplitude value is within the predetermined reference range; and

a notifying device to generate a notifying signal whenever a determination result by the determining device is within the predetermined reference range.

2. The body motion detector according to claim 1, the reference range for the motion period being calculated from motion time and an accumulated motion frequency, which are set as targets by the user.

3. The body motion detector according to claim 1, the reference range for the motion period being calculated from motion time and motion calories consumed, which are set as targets by the user.

4. The body motion detector according to claim 1, when the accumulated motion frequency reaches the accumulated target frequency, the notifying device generating a notifying signal different from the notifying signal and resets the accumulated motion frequency to 0.

5. The body motion detector according to claim 1, the body motion detecting device including at least one of an acceleration sensor, a pressure sensor, and a speed sensor.

6. The body motion detector according to claim 1, the notifying signal being at least one of sound from an alarm, vibration from a vibration motor, and light from an LED (light emitting diode).

7. The body motion detector according to claim 1, the body motion detector being an arm-wearing type device.

8. A body motion detector for use with a user, comprising:

a body motion detecting device to detect body motion accompanying repetitive motion of the user;

a determining device to determine whether an amplitude of a detection result of the body motion detecting device is within a predetermined reference range, the detection result being either the motion intensity and accumulated motion frequency of the repetitive motion or the motion intensity, motion period, and accumulated motion frequency of the repetitive motion; and

the predetermined reference range for the motion intensity and the motion period being either above the lower limit reference value set by the user or between the lower limit reference value and the upper limit reference value, which are set by the user, and the predetermined reference range for the accumulated motion frequency being below an accumulated target frequency set by the user;

a rectangular wave converting circuit that converts the detection result only when the amplitude value is within the predetermined reference range;

a notifying device to generate a notifying signal whenever a determination result by the determining device is within the predetermined reference range;

a biological reaction detecting device to detect a biological reaction of the user; and

a calculating device to calculate a reference range from the detection result of the biological reaction detecting device.

9. The body motion detector according to claim 8, the biological reaction detecting device including a pulse wave detecting device to detect a pulse wave of the user;

and

a pulse rate calculating device to calculate a pulse rate of the user from the detection result of the body motion detecting device and the detection result of the pulse wave detecting device.

10. The body motion detector according to claim 9, the predetermined reference range being changed when the pulse rate is beyond the range of a target pulse rate previously set by the user, so that the calculated pulse rate is within the range of the target pulse rate, even if the determination result is within the predetermined reference range.

11. The body motion detector according to claim 9, the pulse rate calculating device analyzing frequencies of the detection signals of the pulse wave detecting device and the body motion detecting device using FFT (fast Fourier transform) processing.

12. The body motion detector according to claim 8, the body motion detector being an arm-wearing type device.

13. A body motion detector for use with a user, comprising:

a body motion detecting device to detect body motion accompanying repetitive motion of the user;

a determining device to determine whether a detection result of the body motion detecting device is within a predetermined reference range;

a notifying device to generate a notifying signal whenever a determination result by the determining device is within the predetermined reference range;

a biological reaction detecting device to detect a biological reaction of the user; and

a calculating device to calculate a reference range from the detection result of the biological reaction detecting device,

the biological reaction detecting device including;

a pulse wave detecting device to detect a pulse wave of the user, and

a pulse rate calculating device to calculate a pulse rate of the user from the detection result of the body motion detecting device and the detection result of the pulse wave detecting device; and

a rectangular wave converting circuit that converts the detection result only when an amplitude value is within the predetermined reference range.