Endurance calculation device, endurance calculation method, and program

• US 7,370,509 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Non-Profit Organization Jukunen Taiiku Daigaku Research Center, Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Non-Profit Organization Jukunen Taiiku Daigaku Research Center, Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Keiko, Nose, Hiroshi, Genno, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MASOUD H
• Application Number:
  US11/307,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 73 1201- 1209, 7337901- 37
• US Class Current: 73/12.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

An endurance calculation device according to the present invention includes: an acceleration sensor measuring acceleration acting on the subject; an impulse calculation unit calculating impulse acting on the subject based on a value of the acceleration outputted from the acceleration sensor; an output unit outputting walking information, which is information prompting the subject to increase walking speed from low speed to a maximum speed; and an endurance calculation unit calculating, based on a value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit, endurance of the subject corresponding to the value of the impulse after the first walking information is outputted by the output unit.

Claims

1. An endurance calculation device detachably worn by a subject, comprising:

an acceleration sensor configured to measure acceleration acting on the subject;

an impulse calculation unit configured to calculate an impulse acting on the subject based on a value of the acceleration outputted from the acceleration sensor;

an output unit configured to output first walking information, which is information prompting the subject to increase walking speed from low speed to maximum speed; and

an endurance calculation unit configured to calculate, based on a value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit, a measure of endurance of the subject after the first walking information is outputted by the output unit,

wherein the endurance calculation unit calculates maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse as the measure of endurance.

2. The endurance calculation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a measurement unit configured to measure exercise intensity representing an intensity of exercise when the subject is walking, wherein

the endurance calculation unit calculates, based on a value of the impulse acting on the subject when the exercise intensity measured by the measurement unit is maximized, the maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse.

3. The endurance calculation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a measurement unit configured to measure exercise intensity representing an intensity of exercise when the subject is walking, wherein

the endurance calculation unit calculates, based on a value of the impulse when the exercise intensity measured by the measurement unit continues to be larger than a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time, the maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse.

4. The endurance calculation device according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the exercise intensity includes one or more of either pulse rate, heart rate, or calorie expenditure of the subject.

5. The endurance calculation device according to claim 1, wherein when the value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit is larger than a predetermined value and maintained constant for a predetermined period of time, the endurance calculation unit calculates the maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse.

6. The endurance calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit alternately outputs second walking information and third walking information at predetermined timing;

the second walking information is information prompting the subject to walk at normal speed; and

the third walking information is information prompting the subject to walk faster than the normal speed.

7. An endurance calculation device detachably worn by a subject, comprising:

an acceleration sensor configured to measure acceleration acting on the subject;

an impulse calculation unit configured to calculate an impulse acting on the subject based on a value of the acceleration outputted from the acceleration sensor;

an output unit configured to output first walking information, which is information prompting the subject to increase walking speed from low speed to maximum speed, and to alternately output second walking information, which is information prompting the subject to walk at normal speed, and third walking information, which is information prompting the subject to walk faster than the normal speed, at predetermined timing;

an endurance calculation unit configured to calculate, based on a value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit, endurance of the subject corresponding to the value of the impulse after the first walking information is outputted by the output unit; and

a reference value setting unit configured to set a first reference value to a certain proportion of a maximum value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit, wherein

when the value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit is larger than the first reference value, the output unit outputs physical information representing information related to physical parameters of the subject.

8. The endurance calculation device according to claim 7, wherein the physical information is one of either proper information or improper information;

the proper information indicates that a load being applied to the subject is physically proper for the subject; and

the improper information indicates that the load being applied to the subject is not physically proper for the subject.

9. The endurance calculation device according to claim 8, wherein the reference value setting unit sets a second reference value to the maximum value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit;

and

the output unit outputs the proper information when the value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit is larger than the first reference value and outputs the improper information when the value of impulse is larger than the second reference value.

10. The endurance calculation device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a reference value change unit configured to change the first reference value, when the value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit is larger than the first reference value, according to a difference between the value of the impulse and the first reference value.

11. The endurance calculation device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a reference value change unit configured to change the second reference value, when the value of the impulse calculated by the impulse calculation unit is larger than the second reference value, according to a difference between the value of the impulse and the second reference value.

12. An endurance calculation method using an endurance calculation device detachably worn by a subject, comprising:

a step of measuring acceleration acting on the subject;

a step of calculating an impulse acting on the subject based on a measured value of the acceleration;

a step of outputting first walking information, which is information prompting the subject to increase walking speed from low speed to a maximum speed; and

a calculation step of calculating, based on a value of the impulse calculated, a measure of endurance of the subject after the first walking information is outputted, wherein

in the calculation step, maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse is calculated as the measure of endurance.

13. The endurance calculation method according to claim 12, further comprising:

a step of measuring exercise intensity representing an intensity of exercise when the subject is walking, wherein in the calculation step, the maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to a value of the impulse is calculated based on the value of the impulse acting on the subject when the measured exercise intensity is maximized.

14. The endurance calculation method according to claim 12, further comprising:

a step of measuring exercise intensity representing an intensity of exercise when the subject is walking, wherein

in the calculation step, the maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to a value of the impulse is calculated based on the value of the impulse when the exercise intensity measured by the measurement unit continues to be higher than a predetermined amount for a predetermined period of time.

15. The endurance calculation method according to any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein the exercise intensity includes one or more of either pulse rate, heart rate, or calorie expenditure of the subject.

16. The endurance calculation method according to claim 12, wherein in the calculation step, when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than a predetermined value and maintained constant for a predetermined period of time, the endurance of the subject corresponding to the value of the impulse is calculated.

17. The endurance calculation method according to claim 12, further comprising:

a step of alternately outputting second walking information and third walking information at predetermined timing;

the second walking information is information prompting the subject to walk at normal speed; and

the third walking information is information prompting the subject to walk faster than the normal speed.

18. An endurance calculation method using an endurance calculation device detachably worn by a subject, comprising:

a step of measuring acceleration acting on the subject;

a step of calculating an impulse acting on the subject based on a measured value of the acceleration;

a step of outputting first walking information, which is information prompting the subject to increase walking speed from low speed to a maximum speed; and

a calculation step of calculating, based on a value of the impulse calculated, a measure of endurance of the subject corresponding to the value of the impulse after the first walking information is outputted;

a step of alternately outputting second walking information, which is information prompting the subject to walk at normal speed, and third walking information, which is information prompting the subject to walk faster than the normal speed, at predetermined timing;

a step of setting a first reference value to a certain proportion of a maximum value of the calculated impulse; and

a step of outputting physical information representing information related to physical parameters of the subject when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the first reference value.

19. The endurance calculation method according to claim 18, wherein the physical information is one of either proper information or improper information;

the proper information indicates that a load being applied to the subject is physically proper for the subject; and

the improper information indicates that the load being

applied to the subject is not physically proper for the subject.

20. The endurance calculation method according to claim 19, further comprising:

a step of setting a second reference value to the maximum value of the calculated impulse, and

a step of outputting the proper information when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the first reference value and outputs the improper information when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the second reference value.

21. The endurance calculation method according to claim 18, further comprising:

a step of changing the first reference value, when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the first reference value, according to a difference between the calculated value of the impulse and the first reference value.

22. The endurance calculation device according to claim 20, further comprising:

a step of changing the second reference value, when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the second reference value, according to a difference between the calculated value of the impulse and the second reference value.

23. A computer program product executable by a computer detachably worn by a subject, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium storing at least the following computer-executable instructions:

an instruction configured to measure acceleration acting on the subject by using an acceleration sensor provided in the computer;

an instruction configured to calculate impulse acting on the subject based on a measured value of the acceleration;

an instruction configured to output first walking information, which is information prompting the subject to increase walking speed from low speed to a maximum speed, by using an output unit provided in the computer;

a calculation instruction configured to calculate, based on a value of the impulse calculated, a measure of endurance of the subject after the first walking information is outputted; and

an instruction configured to output information indicative of the measure of endurance calculated by using the output unit;

wherein the calculation instruction calculates maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse as the measure of endurance.

24. The computer program product according to claim 23, further comprising:

an instruction configured to measure exercise intensity representing an intensity of exercise when the subject is walking, wherein the calculation instruction calculates, based on a value of the impulse acting on the subject when the measured exercise intensity is maximized, the maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse.

25. The computer program product according to claim 23, further comprising:

an instruction configured to measure exercise intensity representing an intensity of exercise when the subject is walking, wherein the calculation instruction calculates, based on a value of the impulse when the exercise intensity measured continues to be larger than a predetermined amount for a predetermined period of time, the maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse.

26. The computer program product according to any one of claims 24 and 25, wherein the exercise intensity includes one or more of either pulse rate, heart rate, or calorie expenditure of the subject.

27. The program product according to claim 23, wherein the calculation instruction calculates, when the calculated value of the impulse is higher than a predetermined value and maintained constant for a predetermined period of time, the maximum oxygen uptake corresponding to the value of the impulse.

28. The computer program product according to claim 23, further comprising:

an instruction configured to alternately output second walking information and third walking information at predetermined timing;

the second walking information is information prompting the subject to walk at normal speed; and

the third walking information is information prompting the subject to walk faster than the normal speed.

29. The program product according to claim 28, further comprising:

an instruction configured to set a first reference value to a certain proportion of a maximum value of the calculated impulse; and

an instruction configured to output physical information representing information related to physical parameters of the subject when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the first reference value.

30. The computer program product according to claim 29, wherein

the physical information is one of either proper information or improper information;

the proper information indicates that a load being applied to the subject is physically proper for the subject; and

the improper information indicates that the load being applied to the subject is not physically proper for the subject.

31. The computer program product according to claim 30, further comprising:

an instruction configured to set a second reference value to the maximum value of the calculated impulse, and

an instruction configured to output the proper information when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the first reference value and outputs the improper information when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the second reference value.

32. The computer program product according to claim 29, further comprising:

an instruction configured to change the first reference value, when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the first reference value, according to a difference between the value of the impulse and the first reference value.

33. The computer program product device according to claim 31, further comprising:

an instruction configured to change the second reference value, when the calculated value of the impulse is larger than the second reference value, according to a difference between the value of the impulse and the second reference value.