Abstract: A method for controlling a pedometer includes the steps of: generating a signal correlated to movements of a user of the pedometer; and detecting steps of the user on the basis of the signal. The method moreover envisages the steps of checking whether sequences of detected steps satisfy pre-determined conditions of regularity; updating a total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are satisfied; and preventing the updating of the total number of valid steps if the conditions of regularity are not satisfied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a step counter system is described. The step counter system comprises an accelerometer to detect motion of a user, a step calculation logic to utilize the motion detected by the accelerometer to detect and count steps, and an incline logic to calculate an incline of a surface on which the user moved.

Abstract: By repeatedly obtaining acceleration data, a gravity direction acceleration acting in a gravity direction of a housing and a horizontal direction acceleration acting in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the gravity direction are calculated. By using a first coefficient, a first step count in accordance with a change in the gravity direction acceleration is calculated and by using a second coefficient which is different from the first coefficient, a second step count in accordance with a change in the horizontal direction acceleration is calculated. Based on a predetermined condition, one of the first step count and the second step count is selected as a user's step count.

Abstract: A pedometer can be equipped with a sensor unit including a sensor for detecting motion by detecting acceleration of a displacement of a main body. Detected acceleration can be compared with a threshold value to determine whether the acceleration corresponds to body motion or to a setting operation. Various setting operations can be performed based on shaking of the pedometer.

Abstract: One disclosed method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to automatically measure amounts of time taken by the user to complete respective distance intervals. During the outing, data representing the automatically measured amounts of time may be automatically stored in memory of the least one device. Another disclosed method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to automatically identify occasions on which a user completes respective distance intervals. During the outing, the at least one device may display at least one of an average pace of the user since a most recently completed distance interval, an average speed of the user since the most recently completed distance interval, and a projected time to complete a current distance interval based on monitored performance since the most recently completed distance interval.

Abstract: In a mobile phone device 1 including a three-axial direction vibration sensor 16 for detecting the walking of a user carrying the mobile phone device 1 and counting the number of walking steps, when an incoming call is received, vibrations due to a notification operation by a vibrator 14 or a speaker 15 are transmitted to the three-axial direction vibration sensor 16. As a result, the three-axial direction vibration sensor 16 inevitably detects unintended vibrations in addition to vibrations from walking, causing the number of walking steps to be miscounted. To prevent this and perform the accurate detection of walking, in the present invention, the detection of walking is performed without using, among vibrations in three directions detected by the three-axial direction vibration sensor 16, vibrations in the same direction as the direction of vibrations caused by a notification operation by the vibrator 14 or the speaker 15.

Abstract: A body motion measuring apparatus is described, embodiments of which include an apparatus for detecting the magnitudes of motions in different directions at a time using body motion sensors, calculating the size V of a composite vector based on the relationship between the magnitudes of the motions, comparing the size V of the composite vector with a reference value to determine whether the size V of the composite vector is adequate, calculating an angle ? based on the relationship between the magnitudes of the motions when V is determined to be adequate, calculating a body motion output M taking the angle ? into account, and counting a predetermined body motion based on the relationship between M and a predetermined elapsed time.

Abstract: A shoe is improved by including: at least one accelerometer for generating acceleration signals and a processor configured to process the acceleration signals to determine one or both of speed and distance traveled of a person wearing the shoe. A shoe and a garment are provided with a wireless transmitter, to provide information about the shoe/garment or a person wearing same.

Abstract: A method for monitoring human activity using an inertial sensor includes continuously determining an orientation of the inertial sensor, assigning a dominant axis, updating the dominant axis as the orientation of the inertial sensor changes, and counting periodic human motions by monitoring accelerations relative to the dominant axis.

Abstract: A self-contained, real-time self-use gait therapy device with a gait sensor, actuator, output speaker, and battery receptacle enclosed in a component case with a belt clip. Based upon step duration, step impact force, or step form data generated by the gait sensor, the actuator drives the speaker, producing beeps on a real-time basis with the pitch of each beep being a function of the step duration, step impact force, or step form for each step of the user. The speaker output is monitored and used by the user on a real-time basis to modify and improve his or her gait.

Abstract: A person's exercise monitored by using an accelerometer to detect and count the steps of the person. Furthermore, acceleration profiling distinguishes walking from running and total distance covered in the exercise is estimated using different stride lengths for walking and running. The person's pace may be maintained using a music playback unit capable of adjusting the rate of the playback so as to influence the person by the music tempo.

Abstract: A step count measuring system includes a pedometer and a step count managing apparatus which are able to communicate, with each other. In the pedometer, a step count value sequentially detected for each unit of time is stored, and a time counted in the pedometer is stored as first time data by being brought into associated with each of the step count values. When a battery is replaced in the pedometer, a reset is executed to start initialization processing, and the time stored as first time data is stored as second time data which can be discriminated from the first time data. A recording time of each of the step count values being associated with the first time data before the initialization processing is set on the basis of the time counted by the step count managing apparatus, and a recording time of each of the step count values being associated with the second time data after the initialization processing is set on the basis of the second time data.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile apparatus including: a vibration sensor; an acquisition module configured to periodically acquire the number of vibration in a time period as a detected step count value; a first determination module configured to determine whether there is a possibility that the detected step count value is due to walking or running based on the detected step count value; and a calculation module configured to count the detected step count value as an interim step count. The first determination module determines the detected step count value is due to continuous walking or running of a user when the detected step count value satisfies a certain condition. The calculation module calculates total of the interim step count when the first determination module determines the detected step count value is due to the continuous walking or running.

Abstract: A user in locomotion during an outing may support at least one device to automatically measure amounts of time taken by the user to complete one or more distance intervals. The user device may automatically identify occasions on which a user completes respective distance intervals. The user device may display at least one of an average pace of the user, an average speed of the user, and a projected time to complete a current distance interval based on monitored performance, each measured since the most recently completed distance interval. The device may also monitor a distance traveled by the user. The user device may determine a remaining distance to be traveled to complete one of the specified goal distances for the outing and a calculated fraction of the specified goal distance for the outing. Data relating to the calculations may be received by a user device input.

Abstract: Power savings are aimed by controlling display of a step count with no additional hardware. An acceleration sensor detects that a user is taking a step through an amplifier circuit, and outputs a walking signal corresponding to the step to a CPU. The CPU counts walking signals, and displays the accumulated number of steps on a display unit. When the CPU determines that the user is taking steps based on the walking signals, the CPU stops drive power from a battery to the display unit, and controls the display unit to stop displaying a step count.

Abstract: An example geolocation system for mounting on a mammal incorporates simple sensing sleeves on the calves of the body support members, combined with an accelerometer based gravity direction and force sensing at the center of mass of the body. The example system is connected to a digital processing unit and a battery power supply to integrate the sensing to determine kinetic and potential energy of the body locomotion over time in a method that integrates out the aperiodic motion of the body about the center of mass, and uses the residual motion to measure the center of mass locomotion from a known point.

Abstract: To be able to downsize and to be able to accurately measure a step number in running in a pedometer of measuring the step number by wearing at least a step number sensor to the wrist, a step number sensor of detecting running is arranged such that an angle of a longitudinal direction of a strap and a sensitivity axis of the step number sensor is disposed within a range from 10 degrees to 33 degrees in the clockwise direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the strap. A user of the pedometer for running mounts a pedometer main body to the back side of the left wrist of one's own by the strap, starts a pedometer measuring processing by inputting means and starts measuring a step number by starting running. Measured step number and time are displayed on displaying means.

Abstract: A pedometer measures the walk of a person and has an operating portion operated by the person to change the display mode. When operation of the operating portion is detected, a CPU proceeds to a walk determining mode, counts a walk signal from an acceleration sensor to successively store to a walk step number buffer memory, proceeds to a walk step number measuring mode when walking is determined in the walk determining mode, adds the walk step number stored to a walk step number memory, thereafter, continuously measures the walk step number, and adds the walk signal to the walk step number of the walk step number at each time of receiving the walk signal from the acceleration sensor. In this manner, operation of the operating portion to change display modes is not erroneously detected as a walk, thereby improving the measurement accuracy.

Abstract: A vertical component is extracted from an acceleration vector corresponding to body movement of a user from a three-axis acceleration sensor, and the vertical-component is separated by a high-band/low-band separating unit into a high-band component and a low-band component. Using these components, a peak detection/determination processing unit detects a peak-position candidate of action of the user in the vertical direction, identifies a peak-position candidate on the basis of an energy ratio between the high-band component and the low-band component, performs waveform matching regarding a predetermined range including each peak-position candidate, thereby determining a peak position, and detects body movement on the basis of the peak position, and a step-position analyzing unit detects a body-movement pitch.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an information display unit containing a power source, a program for gathering and calculating information and a display means on an upper surface for displaying the information. A side or lower surface of the information display unit is provided with a means for releasably attaching the display case to a shoe. Preferably, the information gathered and calculated by the program and displayed on the display means includes one or more of the distance traversed, calories burned, the amount of steps taken, speed traverse, altitude attained or geographical location.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a portable device that generates position and orientation data to facilitate movement within a building. The device can be, for example, handheld or affixed to a cane. Data for navigation is derived from reflections from interior surfaces and dead reckoning sensors.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking physical metrics in a social commerce system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the physical metric tracking system comprises a data registering unit that receives activity data by a user, a data processing unit that validates the activity data using a plurality of data validating algorithms and converts the validated data into a convertible value, and a storage that stores the activity data and the convertible value. The convertible value is traded with goods and services, or any other benefits in the social commerce system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, eyewear having an activity monitoring capability is disclosed. Activity, such as motion, steps or distance, can be measured by an activity detector. The measured activity can then be used in providing activity-related information to a user of the eyewear. Advantageously, the user of the eyewear is able to easily monitor their degree of activity. For quieter operation, acoustic dampening can be employed. In other embodiments, activity monitoring capability can be provided to products other than eyewear.

Abstract: By repeatedly obtaining acceleration data, a gravity direction acceleration acting in a gravity direction of a housing and a horizontal direction acceleration acting in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the gravity direction are calculated. By using a first coefficient, a first step count in accordance with a change in the gravity direction acceleration is calculated and by using a second coefficient which is different from the first coefficient, a second step count in accordance with a change in the horizontal direction acceleration is calculated. Based on a predetermined condition, one of the first step count and the second step count is selected as a user's step count.

Abstract: To provide a pedometer capable of measuring a number of steps in walking and in running by using one sensor and by a small circuit scale. A sensor is mounted on the arm such that a sensitivity axis on the sensor is disposed in a length direction of the arm and a number of steps is measured in walking and in running. When a measuring mode is a walking mode, a detecting signal from the sensor is counted as one step, when the measuring mode is a running mode, the detecting signal from the sensor is counted as two steps to thereby accurately measure a number of steps in accordance with the measuring mode.

Abstract: A detecting signal detected by a walking sensor carried by a person is amplified and outputted by a first amplifying circuit. When a detecting signal by way of only the first amplifying circuit from among the first and a second amplifying circuit is inputted to an input of a CPU, the CPU determines that the person is running, sets a mask time period or the like for running and carries out a processing of calculating a number of steps based on the detecting signal. When the detecting signal by way of only the first amplifying circuit is not inputted to the input of the CPU and a detecting signal by way of both the first and second amplifying circuits is inputted to an input of the CPU, the CPU determines that the person is walking, sets the mask time period or the like for walking and carries out the processing of calculating the number of steps based on the detecting signal.

Abstract: To provide an electric pedometer of low cost which is not erroneously operated by an external force exerted to a pedometer case thereof without using an acceleration sensor of a special structure and without executing a signal processing for removing a disturbance by a software, a circuit board contained in a module containing portion of a pedometer case of an electronic pedometer is constituted by two sheets of a main board mounted with an electronic circuit element for executing a signal processing and a sub board mounted with an acceleration sensor. The sub board is formed by a flexible circuit board and is fixed to the main board by a fixing member having flexibility. Further, an electric connection between the sub board and the main board is carried out by soldering terminal region in a projected shape formed by partially extending the sub board of the flexible circuit board.

Abstract: A headpiece (101) has at least one pedometer accelerometer (102) integrally disposed with respect to the headpiece (101) and a personal communications device interface (103) operably supported by the headpiece (101). By one approach, the headpiece (201) has an earpiece having at least one audio transducer (204). By another approach, the pedometer accelerometer (402) is disposed substantially dorsally with respect to the user's head (413) when the headpiece (401) is supported by the user's head (413).

Abstract: A compact multifunction pedometer and method of advertising includes a computerized calculating function to accurately determine the calorie consumption, distance and the time for exercise duration. Utilizing input data of the user's height, weight, average stride and desired time period for exercise of walking or running, the pedometer calculates, and if desired displays, the consumed calories as well as the distance traveled and lapsed time of striding or alternatively, the time remaining for a scheduled walking or running session. The calories burned during exercise are accurately determined through calculations based on the individual's stride and weight data input by the user. The pedometer is extremely compact, has easy to operate function controls and may include a belt clip for ease of use during exercise. The pedometer including surfaces suitable for displaying advertising.

Abstract: A pedometer and a method for recording a distance covered. The pedometer includes an acceleration sensor by which the movement of the pedometer is recorded. In order to be able to ascertain the number of paces and the distance covered from the movement, an evaluation unit is provided which evaluates the signals of the acceleration sensor. If the carrier of such a pedometer is moving not only in one plane, but also uphill and downhill, inaccuracies occur in the ascertainment of the route which cannot be rectified only by an acceleration sensor. For this purpose, a pressure sensor is integrated into the pedometer, by which the evaluation unit is also able to take into account the influence of the change in altitude during the movement, whereby the route covered is able to be ascertained more accurately.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wristwatch type acceleration detection module for measurement of exercise quantity, including a microprocessor, an acceleration sensor, a timer, a hand-swing-acceleration-vs-pace-span database, and a display device. The acceleration sensor detects a hand swing count of the user in movement and an acceleration induced by the hand swinging. The timer measures a time period when the user is in movement. The microprocessor receives the hand swing acceleration and the hand-swing-acceleration-vs-pace-span plot stored in the hand-swing-acceleration-vs-pace-span database to obtain the corresponding pace span and further computes a moving distance and a moving speed of the user through predetermined formula based on the pace span, the hand swing count, and the time period of movement of the user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method that provide an individualized guideline for fluid replacement during normal activity or inactivity. Preferred embodiments calculate the user's fluid loss using the equation: {[(% humidity2?1600)*time]/J}+[(temp° F.*total caloric expenditure)/K], wherein when time units are in percent of an hour, J is a value selected from 1250-1290 and K is a value selected from 1610-1650. Preferred embodiments of the claimed device measure loss of fluid through the use of a pedometer and include a housing having a keyboard and a display screen, an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient humidity sensor, a step counting apparatus, a timing apparatus and a microprocessor. A fluid replacement value is communicated via a numerical display, graphic display, or both, on the display screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method that provide an individualized guideline for fluid replacement during normal activity or inactivity. Preferred embodiments calculate the user's fluid loss using the equation: {[(% humidity2?1600)*time]/J}+[(temp ° F.*total caloric expenditure)/K], wherein when time units are in percent of an hour, J is a value selected from 1250-1290 and K is a value selected from 1610-1650. Preferred embodiments of the claimed device measure loss of fluid through the use of a pedometer and include a housing having a keyboard and a display screen, an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient humidity sensor, a step counting apparatus, a timing apparatus and a microprocessor. A fluid replacement value is communicated via a numerical display, graphic display, or both, on the display screen.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus has a walking determining part configured to determine a walking state of a to-be-measured person, a moving state determining part configured to determine a moving state in a specific direction of the to-be-measured person, a measurement result output determining part configured to determine whether or not measurement information concerning a movement of the to-be-measured person is to be output, based on a determination result of the walking state of the to-be-measured person by said walking determining part and a determination result of the moving state of the to-be-measured person by the moving state determining part.

Abstract: A shoe is improved by including: at least one accelerometer for generating acceleration signals and a processor configured to process the acceleration signals to determine one or both of speed and distance traveled of a person wearing the shoe. A shoe and a garment are provided with a wireless transmitter, to provide information about the shoe/garment or a person wearing same.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a motion parameter corresponding to a subject element employs one or more accelerometers operable to measure accelerations and a processing system operable to generate a motion parameter metric utilizing the acceleration measurements and estimate the motion parameter using the motion parameter metric.

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.

Abstract: A pedometer or other portable electronic device may include substantially triangular first and second sections hinged together along a diagonal. A storage compartment is provided in one or both of the sections. The storage compartment may be accessed when the first section is pivoted open relative to the second section. A belt or pocket clip may be provided on the back of the first or second section. If used, the clip may extend in a direction substantially parallel to the hinge. A display, and control switches are provided for interaction with the electronic device.

Abstract: A wearable computing apparatus includes a processor; a device for presenting information from the processor to a user, and a device for providing user input to the processor in response to the information presented to the user. The device is adapted to be activated wholly or partly by a foot of the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, personal data capturing functionality is integrated into a wireless communication device or a portable computing device by incorporating one or more personal parameter receivers into the wireless communication device or the portable computing device. In another embodiment, personal data capturing functionality is integrated into a wireless communication device or a portable computing device by attaching a personal data capture device to the wireless communication device or the portable computing device. The personal data capture device is configured to receive personal data of a user and transmit the personal data to the wireless communication device or the portable computing device, either of which is capable of transmitting the personal data to a network server over a wireless network.

Abstract: To enable to select a walking sensor suitable for detecting walking by short time by a simple constitution in a pedometer using a plurality of walking sensors sensitivity axes of which differ from each other, CPU 108 calculates a step number based on a walking signal from a walking sensor 101a when it is determined that a signal from the first walking detecting circuit 100a including the walking sensor 101a having a priority order at a first order is a walking signal. In a case in which it is determined that the signal is not the walking signal, when a signal from a second walking detecting circuit 100b including a walking sensor 101b a sensitivity axis of which differ from that of the walking sensor 101a, the step number is calculated based on the walking signal of the walking sensor 101b and a priority order of the walking signal 101b is changed to the first order.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems and methods for detecting, calculating, and displaying the time-of-flight or hang-time of a moving and jumping object such as a skier or snowboarder by using at least one accelerometer secured within a small wearable device. In one embodiment, the device comprises: a static acceleration detection means for detecting the static acceleration of the object over at least first, second, and-third periods of time as the object respectively moves, jumps in at least first, second, and third trajectories, and lands at least first, second, and third times along the surface thereby defining at least respective first, second, and third time-of-flight events; a calculating means for determining the approximate time-of-flight of the object during the first, second, and third time-of-flight events; and a display means for displaying in a readable format the approximate time-of-flights associated with the first, second, and third time-of-flight events.

Abstract: To be able to measure a step number without carrying out an operation processing for selecting a walking sensor in a pedometer using a plurality of walking sensors having sensitivity axes different from each other. OR means converts walking signals inputted in parallel from walking detecting circuits into a synthesized walking signal. CPU calculates the step number by detecting the walking signal inputted to an input port. At this occasion, in detecting the walking signal, CPU alternately carries out a detecting operation of detecting the walking signal and a mask operation which does not detect walking at mask time immediately thereafter at each time of detecting each walking signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to measuring devices to be used in physical measuring, and more particularly, to a method and a device for measuring the progress of a moving person. In the solution according to the invention the quantities describing the progress of the moving person are being calculated based on step cycle-specific acceleration stage characteristic accelerations a+ and step cycle-specific braking stage characteristic acceleration a? obtained from acceleration values measured by means of an acceleration sensor, and on the measured time. The invention aims at providing a solution, better and simpler than prior solutions, for measuring the progress of a moving person, which solution is applicable for use in a multitude of measuring solutions for ways of locomotion of various types.

Abstract: Device to determine the road followed by a person on foot, comprising at least three inertia sensors attached to the body of the person, one sensor to the torso and one sensor to each leg respectively, and which measure the absolute orientation of the part of the body concerned to which they are attached; a device which make it possible to determine the instant at which the person concerned takes a step; an arithmetic unit with which the sensors and the above mentioned means are connected, with arithmetic unit comprises a first algorithm which makes it possible, on the basis of a number of body dimensions of the person concerned and on the basis of the signals coming from the above mentioned sensors, to determine at least the step distance for every step as well as the cumulative step distance as of a certain starting point.

Abstract: A monitoring system (10) for monitoring the movement of a person in locomotion on foot, the system (10) comprising: a vibration sensor (38) to generate a signal when vibration is sensed, the sensor (38) being provided for footwear (20) of the person; a first unit (30) to wirelessly transmit the generated signal to a second unit (40) in response to sensed vibration; wherein a pulse width of the generated signal is measured to determine whether a person is taking a step.

Abstract: It is made possible to reduce electric power consumption while suppressing an occurrence of a walking detection leak. By a cycle operation section and a cycle comparison section in a CPU, if it is judged that a walking signal from a detection circuit is within a predetermined cycle, the walking signal is counted as a step number by a step number count section. In a case where the walking signal within the predetermined cycle is not detected for a predetermined time by the cycle comparison section, a walking stop detection section judges to be a walking stop, an electric source control processing section controls an electric source control circuit to thereby switch the detection circuit to an intermittent drive from a continuous drive, and thereafter gradually prolongs a pause time of the intermittent drive for a predetermined time at a time in every time the walking signal within the predetermined cycle is not detected for the predetermined time.

Abstract: A user in locomotion on foot during an outing may identify a grade of a surface with at least one device supported by the user. A performance parameter of the user may be determined with the device based upon the grade of the surface, which may be based upon a measured physiological parameter of the user. An average foot contact time and an average pace of a user during a first outing may be identified and a relationship between them may be determined. No other average foot contact times or average paces identified during a different outing may be used to define the relationship. A single user-specific calibration contestant may define a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship.

Abstract: A device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing may monitor a performance parameter of the user. The performance parameter may comprise a pace and/or a speed of the user. Prior to the outing, the device may be configured to specify a first interval and second interval, corresponding to a first and second performance zone, respectively, for the outing. Each performance zone may be different from one another and each zone may comprise one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds. During the first interval, an action may be taken with the device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter has fallen outside of the first performance zone. During the second interval, an action may be taken with the device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter has fallen outside the second performance zone.

Abstract: A device may obtain samples from an accelerometer and a gyroscope, determine kinematics signals based on the samples, and compute a number of steps taken by a user based on the kinematics signals.