Pedometer device and step detection method using an algorithm for self-adaptive computation of acceleration thresholds
First Claim
1. A pedometer device for detecting and counting steps of a user, the device comprising:
- an accelerometer sensor configured to detect an acceleration generated during a step; and
a processing unit coupled to said accelerometer sensor, and configured to process an acceleration signal relating to said acceleration to detect an occurrence of the step, said processing unit including;
first comparator means for comparing said acceleration signal with a first reference threshold, said processing unit being configured to detect the occurrence of the step based on a result of said comparing between said acceleration signal and said first reference threshold, andthreshold-adaptation means for modifying, at each acquisition of a new sample of said acceleration signal, said first reference threshold as a function of an envelope of an amplitude of said acceleration signal.
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Abstract
In a pedometer device for detecting and counting steps of a user on foot, an accelerometer sensor detects a vertical acceleration generated during the step. A processing unit, connected to the accelerometer sensor, processes an acceleration signal relating to the acceleration in order to detect the occurrence of a step, and in particular compares the acceleration signal with a first reference threshold. The processing unit automatically adapts the first reference threshold as a function of the acceleration signal. In particular, the processing unit modifies the first reference threshold as a function of an envelope of the amplitude of the acceleration signal.
70 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A pedometer device for detecting and counting steps of a user, the device comprising:
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an accelerometer sensor configured to detect an acceleration generated during a step; and a processing unit coupled to said accelerometer sensor, and configured to process an acceleration signal relating to said acceleration to detect an occurrence of the step, said processing unit including; first comparator means for comparing said acceleration signal with a first reference threshold, said processing unit being configured to detect the occurrence of the step based on a result of said comparing between said acceleration signal and said first reference threshold, and threshold-adaptation means for modifying, at each acquisition of a new sample of said acceleration signal, said first reference threshold as a function of an envelope of an amplitude of said acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A pedometer device for detecting and counting steps of a user, the device comprising:
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an accelerometer sensor configured to detect an acceleration generated during a step; and a processing unit coupled to said accelerometer sensor, and configured to process an acceleration signal relating to said acceleration to detect an occurrence of the step, said processing unit including; first comparator means for comparing said acceleration signal with a first reference threshold, said processing unit being configured to detect the occurrence of the step based on a result of said comparing between said acceleration signal and said first reference threshold, and threshold-adaptation means for modifying said first reference threshold as a function of said acceleration signal, wherein said first reference threshold has positive values, and wherein said processing unit further includes second comparator means for comparing said acceleration signal with a second reference threshold having negative values; and
wherein said threshold-adaptation means are further for modifying automatically said second reference threshold as a function of an envelope of an amplitude of said acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An electronic mobile phone, comprising:
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a casing; and a pedometer device housed in said casing to detect and count steps of a user, the pedometer device including; an accelerometer sensor configured to detect an acceleration generated during a step; and a processing unit coupled to said accelerometer sensor, and configured to process an acceleration signal relating to said acceleration to detect an occurrence of the step, said processing unit including; first comparator means for comparing said acceleration signal with a first reference threshold, said processing unit being configured to detect the occurrence of the step based on a result of said comparing between said acceleration signal and said first reference threshold, and threshold-adaptation means for modifying, at each acquisition of a new sample of said acceleration signal, said first reference threshold as a function of an envelope of an amplitude of said acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An electronic mobile phone, comprising:
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a casing; and a pedometer device housed in said casing to detect and count steps of a user, the pedometer device including; an accelerometer sensor configured to detect an acceleration generated during a step; and a processing unit coupled to said accelerometer sensor, and configured to process an acceleration signal relating to said acceleration to detect an occurrence of the step, said processing unit including; first comparator means for comparing said acceleration signal with a first reference threshold, said processing unit being configured to detect the occurrence of the step based on a result of said comparing between said acceleration signal and said first reference threshold, and threshold-adaptation means for modifying said first reference threshold as a function of said acceleration signal, wherein said first reference threshold has positive values, and wherein said processing unit farther includes second comparator means for comparing said acceleration signal with a second reference threshold having negative values; and
wherein said threshold-adaptation means are further for modifying automatically said second reference threshold as a function of an envelope of an amplitude of said acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A step detection method for detecting steps in a gait of a user, the method comprising:
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producing an acceleration signal relating to an acceleration generated during a step; and processing said acceleration signal to detect an occurrence of the step, said processing including; comparing said acceleration signal with a first reference threshold to detect the occurrence of the step based on a result of said comparing between said acceleration signal and said first reference threshold, and modifying, at each acquisition of a new sample of said acceleration signal, said first reference threshold as a function of an envelope of an amplitude of said acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A step detection method for detecting steps in a gait of a user, the method comprising:
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producing an acceleration signal relating to an acceleration generated during a step; and processing said acceleration signal to detect an occurrence of the step, said processing including; comparing said acceleration signal with a first reference threshold to detect the occurrence of the step based on a result of said comparing between said acceleration signal and said first reference threshold, and modifying said first reference threshold as a function of said acceleration signal, wherein said first reference threshold has positive values; and
wherein the processing further includes comparing said acceleration signal with a second reference threshold having negative values; and
the modifying further including modifying automatically said second reference threshold as a function of an envelope of said acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A pedometer device to detect and count steps of a user, the device comprising:
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an accelerometer sensor configured to detect an acceleration generated during a step; and a processing unit coupled to said accelerometer sensor, and configured to process an acceleration signal relating to said acceleration to detect an occurrence of the step, said processing unit further is configured to; compare said acceleration signal with a first reference threshold, and modify said first reference threshold as a function of said acceleration signal, wherein said first reference threshold has positive values, and wherein said processing unit is further configured to compare said acceleration signal with a second reference threshold having negative values, and further configured to modify automatically said second reference threshold as a function of an envelope of an amplitude of said acceleration signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification