Electronic pedometer

• US 7,792,658 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Sugai, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Teixeira Moffat; Jonathan C.
• Application Number:
  US11/879,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 702/160
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence

Abstract

To realize miniaturization and detection of a walk state in which no arm is swung in an electronic pedometer in which at least a walk sensor is used in a state of being worn on a wrist. An acceleration sensor is disposed so that a sensitivity axis of the acceleration sensor is located in a range of 30° or smaller in a counterclockwise direction from the direction of 90° with respect to a longitudinal direction of a belt. A user of an electronic pedometer wears the electronic pedometer on his/her left wrist using the belt and starts processing for counting the number of steps by manipulating a manipulation portion, and also starts to walk, thereby starting counting the number of steps. The user checks the counted number of steps and the measured time period based on displayed contents on a step number display portion and a time display portion of a display portion.

Claims

1. An electronic pedometer comprising:

an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration in vertical movement of a user'"'"'s body during a walking movement of the user to output a walk signal corresponding to the detected acceleration;

calculation means for calculating a number of walking steps of the user based on the walk signal; and

a strap for mounting the electronic pedometer on a wrist of the user'"'"'s body;

wherein the acceleration sensor has a sensitivity axis along which a detection sensitivity by the acceleration sensor of the acceleration in vertical movement of the user'"'"'s body during the walking movement becomes a maximum; and

wherein when the acceleration sensor is mounted on a left wrist of the user'"'"'s body, the sensitivity axis of the acceleration sensor is located within a range of less than 30 degrees in the counterclockwise direction from an axis disposed at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the strap.

2. An electronic pedometer according to claim 1;

further including a display portion that displays the number of walking steps calculated by the calculation means.

3. An electronic pedometer according to claim 2;

further including a time display portion that displays time data.

4. An electronic pedometer comprising:

an acceleration sensor that detects acceleration in vertical movement of a user'"'"'s body during a walking movement of the user to output a walk signal corresponding to the detected acceleration;

calculation means for calculating a number of walking steps of the user based on the walk signal; and

a strap for mounting the electronic pedometer on a wrist of the user'"'"'s body;

wherein the acceleration sensor has a sensitivity axis along which a detection sensitivity by the acceleration sensor of the acceleration in vertical movement of the user'"'"'s body during the walking movement becomes a maximum; and

wherein when the acceleration sensor is mounted on a right wrist of the user'"'"'s body, the sensitivity axis of the acceleration sensor is located within a range of less than 30 degrees in the clockwise direction from an axis disposed at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the strap.

5. An electronic pedometer according to claim 4;

further including a display portion that displays the number of walking steps calculated by the calculation means.

6. An electronic pedometer according to claim 5;

further including a time display portion that displays time data.