Electronic pedometer

• US 20050240375A1
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Sugai, Yoshinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 30Ω or smaller in a counterclockwise direction from the direction of 90Ω 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:

a walk sensor for detecting a walk of a user to output a walk signal corresponding to the walk;

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

a belt with which at least the walk sensor is worn on a wrist of the user,wherein the walk sensor being used at least by being worn on the wrist of the user using the belt;

wherein the walk sensor is disposed so that a sensitivity axis of the walk sensor is located in a range of 30Ω

or smaller in a counterclockwise direction from 90Ω

with respect to a longitudinal direction of the belt, or in a range of 30Ω

or smaller in a clockwise direction from 90Ω

with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt.

2. An electronic pedometer according to claim 1, wherein when the walk sensor is disposed so that the sensitivity axis of the walk sensor is located in the range of 30Ω

or smaller in the counterclockwise direction from 90Ω

with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt, the walk sensor is used by being worn on the left wrist of the user, and when the walk sensor is disposed so that the sensitivity axis of the walk sensor is located in the range of 30Ω

or smaller in the clockwise direction from 90Ω

with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt, the walk sensor is used by being worn on the right wrist of the user.

3. An electronic pedometer according to claim 1, wherein the walk sensor is an acceleration sensor.

4. An electronic pedometer according to claim 1, further comprising timing means for timing time.