JP2004120688A - Mobile telephone set with pedometer function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile telephone set in which functions useful for a user are provided even while carried by the user by expanding functions of the mobile telephone set. <P>SOLUTION: An acceleration sensor 23 is packaged in a mobile telephone set 10 and based upon a change in the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 23, the number of steps taken by the user is measured. Based upon the measured number of steps taken, a walking distance of the user of calorie consumption is calculated and such information is displayed on a display part 12 as a change in a character, numeral or character display state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile phone whose function is expanded by using a sensor for detecting acceleration or angular velocity.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, mobile phones have become widespread in the market, and high performance and high performance have been remarkable. Conventional mobile phones have not only a call function for realizing calls with other phones and mobile phones, but also a communication function for connecting to other information devices to send and receive various information, and a memory mounted inside. Various functions, such as a game function for enabling various games to be played by software programs stored therein, are added.
In addition, there is also one that has a function of displaying the motion of a person using an acceleration sensor (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-272413 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, a conventional mobile phone usually has the property of being an information terminal that is always carried and used by a user, but waits for a call when the above-described various functions are not used. I'm just there. That is, conventional mobile phones do not perform useful functions most of the time while being carried by the user.
[0005]
Also, in Patent Document 1, the exercising state of a sick user is transmitted by a mobile phone equipped with an acceleration sensor, and the receiving side monitors the transmitted exercising state. It is not intended to manage the user's own health while carrying the device.
[0006]
In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and expands the functions of a mobile phone so as to provide a useful function for the user while being carried by the user. The purpose is to realize.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A mobile phone with a pedometer function according to claim 1 of the present invention, a sensor for detecting acceleration and / or angular velocity, a measuring unit for measuring the number of steps of a user based on a signal output from the sensor, and the measuring unit And display means for displaying the number of steps measured by the method.
[0008]
The mobile phone configured as described above detects a change in acceleration or angular velocity caused by the walking motion of the user with a sensor, and detects a change in the number of steps of the user measured by the measuring unit based on an output signal from the sensor. Step number information based on the number of steps can be displayed. Thus, a so-called pedometer function can be provided.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the mobile phone with a pedometer function further includes information including at least one of a height, a weight, an age, a sex, and a target number of steps of the user. Further comprising an input unit for inputting the number of steps, wherein the measuring unit calculates a user's calorie consumption based on the information input by the input unit, and the display unit displays the calorie consumption as the step count information. It is characterized by the following.
[0010]
The mobile phone configured as described above can calculate the calorie consumption of the user from the measured number of steps based on the information input by the user, and can notify the user of the calorie consumption at any time. Thereby, the user can contribute to maintaining his / her own health condition.
[0011]
Furthermore, in the mobile phone with a pedometer function according to claim 3 of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to claim 1, the input unit allows the user to select information for specifying a character to be displayed on the display unit. The display means displays the character selected by the input means in a body shape according to the step count information.
[0012]
The mobile phone configured as described above can change the display state of the character displayed on the display means in accordance with the number of steps information such as the number of steps and calorie consumption of the user. Thereby, for example, as compared with the case where the step count information is simply displayed by numbers or characters, it is possible to improve the user's entertainment, and to increase the desire to achieve the target step count and calorie consumption, The pleasure of walking can be provided to the user.
[0013]
The display state of the character is arbitrary, such as the expression, color, shape, or size of the character. For example, when displaying a character imitating a living thing, the body shape may be changed. Thereby, the number of steps, calorie consumption, and the like of the user can be intuitively notified to the user.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a mobile phone with a pedometer function according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a mobile phone 10 as shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an example of a mobile phone to which the present invention is applied.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 10 includes, on a main surface of a case main body 11, a display unit 12 for displaying various information, and a key input unit 13 for inputting an operation instruction from a user using a plurality of input keys. A microphone 14 for converting a voice uttered by the user into an electric signal, and a speaker 15 for outputting a voice to the user. In addition, an antenna 16 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving various information to and from a base station is provided at an upper portion of the main body case 11.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, an A / D conversion circuit unit 17 for converting an analog signal output from the microphone 14 into a digital signal, and an analog signal A D / A conversion circuit unit 18 for converting the RF signal into a sound and outputting the sound from the speaker 15, and an RF circuit unit 19 for performing a modulation / demodulation process on an RF signal transmitted / received to / from the base station via the antenna 16. A signal processing unit 20 that performs encoding / decoding processing on signals input / output to / from the RF circuit unit 19; a CPU 21 that controls the overall operation of the mobile phone 10; A memory 22 for storing a software program to be executed and an acceleration sensor 23 for detecting an acceleration applied to the mobile phone 10 are provided. Further, the mobile phone 10 is equipped with a secondary battery (not shown) as a power source of each unit.
[0017]
The mobile phone 10 configured as described above is operated by the CPU 21 executing and processing the control program stored in the memory 22 so that the CPU 21 controls the operation of each unit. Further, the memory 22 stores various data such as a telephone directory database in which a person's name is associated with an e-mail address, a telephone number, and the like.
[0018]
By the way, the mobile phone 10 has an acceleration sensor 23, and has a function of counting the number of steps the user has walked based on the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 23, that is, a so-called pedometer function. This pedometer function is realized as described below.
[0019]
When the user walks while carrying the mobile phone 10, a change in acceleration occurs in the mobile phone 10 due to the vertical movement of the body accompanying the walking. This change in acceleration is detected by the acceleration sensor 23 and output to the CPU 21 as an acceleration signal. The CPU 21 counts the number of steps of the user based on the acceleration signal acquired from the acceleration sensor 23, and displays the accumulated steps and the like on the display unit 12.
[0020]
The step counting process is realized by the CPU 21 executing the pedometer program stored in the memory 22. Here, an example of a series of processes realized by the pedometer program will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
[0021]
In the mobile phone 10, when the operation of the pedometer function is started, for example, by the user operating the key input unit 13 in accordance with the menu displayed on the display unit 12, the CPU 21 proceeds to step S10 shown in FIG. The pedometer program stored in the memory 22 is read, and the execution of the pedometer program is started.
[0022]
Next, in step S11, the CPU 21 prompts the user to select one of the "normal mode" and the "character mode". Such a selection process is performed by, for example, displaying a display screen on which menus, buttons, and the like are arranged on the display unit 12, and obtaining the selection result input by the user through the key input unit 13 according to the display screen by the CPU 21. . In addition, the mobile phone 10 can be freely selected between a “normal mode” in which the result of counting the number of steps is displayed in characters and numerals, and a “character mode” in which the result of counting the number of steps is displayed by a character such as a person or an animal. I have. If the normal mode is selected in step S11, the process proceeds to step S12. If the character mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S15.
[0023]
When the operation in the normal mode is started in step S12, the CPU 21 displays an input menu or the like on the display unit 12 in step S13, and displays the user's own height, weight, age, gender, and target number of steps. Prompt the user to enter information. Then, when the user information is input by the key input unit 13 from the user, the CPU 21 temporarily stores the information in the memory 22 and advances the process to step S14.
[0024]
On the other hand, when the operation in the character mode is started in step S15, the CPU 21 displays a selection screen for selecting a character on the display unit 12 in step S16. Then, when the user inputs a selection of a character using the key input unit 13, the CPU 21 temporarily stores character information for identifying the selected character in the memory 22, and proceeds to step S13. Here, the character is an arbitrary image imitating, for example, an animal such as a bear, a rabbit, a cat, a dog, or a person.
[0025]
In step S14, the CPU 21 resets the counted value of the number of steps to a reference value such as “0”. If the character mode is selected, the process of step S14 is performed after displaying the character selected by the user on the display unit 12 in step S17 after step S13. The character displayed in step S17 is displayed in a fat state, for example, because the number of steps is the reference value.
[0026]
After the process in step S14, the CPU 21 waits in step S18 until the user requests to start the process of counting the number of steps. Then, when the counting process of the number of steps is started, for example, when a predetermined input key of the key input unit 13 is selected by the user or the like, the CPU 21 advances the process to step S19.
[0027]
In step S19, the CPU 21 acquires an acceleration signal output from the acceleration sensor 23. Next, in step S20, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the value of the acceleration occurring in the mobile phone 10 is “0” based on the acceleration signal. At this time, for example, if the acceleration values of the mobile phone 10 in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction are all “0”, the process returns to step S19, and a significant acceleration value is obtained. If yes, the process proceeds to step S21.
[0028]
In step S21, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the absolute value of the absolute value of the acceleration in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction exceeds a predetermined value. If it has exceeded, the process proceeds to step S22 assuming that the user is walking, and if not, the process returns to step S19 to newly acquire the current acceleration.
[0029]
In step S22, the CPU 21 adds “1” to the measured value of the number of steps. That is, this measurement value indicates the total number of steps taken by the user. Next, in step S23, the CPU 21 calculates the calorie consumption of the user based on the calculated total number of steps and the user information input in step S13.
[0030]
Next, in step S24, the CPU 21 displays the calculated total number of steps and the calorie consumption on the display unit 12, returns the process to step S19, and repeats a series of processes. At this time, information such as the total number of steps and the amount of calorie consumption may be displayed by a number, or may be displayed by a sentence such as “Let's walk more” or “Good luck”.
[0031]
If the character mode is selected, the process returns to step S19 after updating the display state of the character displayed on the display unit 12 in step S25 after the process in step S24.
[0032]
In step S25, for example, the character's facial expression, color, shape, size, or the like is changed and displayed based on the user's total number of steps, calorie consumption, or the like. This makes it possible to more intuitively notify the user of the total number of steps and the amount of calorie consumption as compared with the case where the total number of steps and the amount of calorie consumption are displayed by, for example, characters and numbers.
[0033]
Further, as the display state of the character to be updated in step S25, if the selected character is a character imitating a living thing such as a person or an animal, for example, the body shape of this character is changed (for example, display in a thin state). Is desirable. This allows the user to more intuitively know his or her total steps and calorie consumption. In step S25, not only the display state of the character is updated, but also, for example, a sound or a sound effect may be output from the speaker 15 according to the total number of steps or the calorie consumption.
[0034]
As described above, in the mobile phone 10, the acceleration sensor 23 detects a change in acceleration caused by the walking motion of the user, and the number of steps of the user measured by the CPU 21 based on an output signal from the acceleration sensor 23. (Step number information) is calculated based on the information, and the step number information is displayed on the display unit 12, so that a so-called pedometer function is realized. Therefore, the mobile phone 10 can perform a useful function for the user even when the call function, the e-mail function, and the like are not used, by making the most of the feature that the mobile phone 10 is always carried and used by the user.
[0035]
The step count information may be, for example, a walking distance in addition to the above-described total step count and calorie consumption. In the above description, the mobile phone 10 is provided with the acceleration sensor 23, and the number of steps is measured based on a change in the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 23. The number of steps may be measured by using an angular velocity sensor that detects a change in angular velocity that has occurred at 10.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
A mobile phone according to the present invention detects a change in acceleration or angular velocity caused by a walking operation of a user by a sensor, and displays the number of steps of the user measured by a measuring unit based on an output signal from the sensor. Can be. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to expand the functions of the mobile phone and provide the user with a pedometer function that has not been conventionally mounted. Therefore, the user can raise the consciousness of maintaining his / her own health condition only by carrying the mobile phone.
[0037]
In addition, even when the user is not using the communication / communication function, the game function, or the like, the user can perform a function of measuring the number of steps of the user while being carried by the user. And the usefulness can be further enhanced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a mobile phone shown as an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of a circuit configuration provided in the mobile phone.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a pedometer program executed by the CPU in the mobile phone.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 mobile phone 11 main body case 12 display unit 13 key input unit 14 microphone 15 speaker 16 antenna 20 signal processing unit 21 CPU
22 memory 23 acceleration sensor

Claims (4)

A sensor for detecting acceleration and / or angular velocity;
Measuring means for measuring the number of steps of the user based on a signal output from the sensor,
A display unit for displaying step count information based on the number of steps measured by the measuring unit. Input means for inputting information including at least one of the user's height, weight, age, gender, and target number of steps,
The measuring means calculates the calorie consumption of the user based on the information input by the input means,
The mobile phone with a pedometer function according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the calorie consumption as the step count information. The input unit is configured such that information for specifying a character to be displayed on the display unit is freely selectable by a user,
The mobile phone with a pedometer function according to claim 1, wherein the display means changes a display state of the character selected by the input means in accordance with the step count information. 4. The mobile phone with a pedometer function according to claim 3, wherein the display unit changes and displays the character's body type in accordance with the step count information.

Images