Exercise mode automatic identification method

• US 8,538,723 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chang, Cheng-Lii
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, TOAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/957,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20120072164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 702/141, 702/33, 702 66- 68, 702 70- 71, 702/81, 702/84, 702/127, 702149-153, 702/160, 702/179, 702182-183, 702188-189, 482 7- 9, 482/52, 482/54, 482/57, 482/74, 73/13.7, 734/88, 734/92
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

An exercise mode automatic identification method is provided. The automatic identification method includes the following steps. A step count taken by a user is obtained. A horizontal transient speed at which the user moves at the end of a predetermined period is obtained. The user'"'"'s exercise mode is defined by a microprocessor according to the step count and the horizontal transient speed.

Claims

1. An exercise mode automatic identification method used for identifying an exercise mode of a user, the automatic identification method comprising:

obtaining a step count taken by a user;

obtaining a horizontal transient speed at which the user moves at the end of a predetermined period; and

defining the user'"'"'s exercise mode as walking forward on the land, jogging forward on the land, running or walking on a treadmill in situ, or cycling forward on the land by a microprocessor according to the step count and the horizontal transient speed.

2. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the step count comprises:

measuring a vertical acceleration at which the user moves during the predetermined period by an accelerometer, wherein the vertical acceleration is substantially perpendicular to a horizontal surface; and

calculating the step count according to the variation curve of the vertical acceleration.

3. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 2, wherein the accelerometer is a tri-axial accelerometer.

4. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 2, wherein the step of calculating the step count according to the variation curve of the vertical acceleration comprises:

calculating the count of the local maximum values in the variation curve of the vertical acceleration during the predetermined period; and

defining the count of the local maximum values in the variation curve of the vertical acceleration as the step count.

5. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the step count is measured via a mechanic pedometer.

6. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the horizontal transient speed comprises:

measuring a first horizontal acceleration and a second horizontal acceleration at which the user moves during the predetermined period by an accelerometer, wherein the first horizontal acceleration and the second horizontal acceleration are substantially parallel to a horizontal surface and perpendicular to each other; and

calculating the horizontal transient speed according to the variation curve of the first horizontal acceleration and the variation curve of the second horizontal acceleration.

7. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 6, wherein the accelerometer is a tri-axial accelerometer.

8. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 1, wherein the step of automatically defining the exercise mode comprises:

defining the exercise mode as “

jogging forward on the land”

or “

walking forward on the land”

if the step count is not equal to zero and the horizontal transient speed is not equal to zero either;

defining the exercise mode as “

running or walking on a treadmill in situ”

if the step count is not equal to zero but the horizontal transient speed is substantially equal to zero; and

defining the exercise mode as “

cycling forward on the land”

if the step count is substantially equal to zero but the horizontal transient speed is not equal to zero.

9. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the step count comprises:

obtaining a vertical acceleration at which the user moves during the predetermined period by an accelerometer, wherein the vertical acceleration is substantially perpendicular to a horizontal surface;

calculating the count of the local maximum values in the variation curve of the vertical acceleration during the predetermined period; and

defining the count of the local maximum values in the variation curve of the vertical acceleration as the step count;

the step of automatically defining the exercise mode comprises;

defining the exercise mode as “

jogging forward on the land”

if the step count is not equal to zero, the horizontal transient speed is not equal to zero and the average of the local maximum values in the variation curve of the vertical acceleration is larger than a predetermined value; and

defining the exercise mode as “

walking forward on the land”

if the step count is not equal to zero, the horizontal transient speed is not equal to zero and the average of the local maximum values in the variation curve of the vertical acceleration is not larger than the predetermined value.

10. The exercise mode automatic identification method according to claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining the step count, the step of obtaining the horizontal transient speed and the step of automatically defining the exercise mode are performed repeatedly.