Patent ID: 7231834
Filing Date: 2007-06-19
Classification: A61B,A63B,G01S

Abstract:
1. A stride measuring apparatus comprising: a belt having a running surface for a subject to run or walk, the belt being driven in a predetermined direction; light beam emitting means placed at a position along an edge part of the running surface for emitting a light beam in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction and so that the light beam maintains a predetermined height above the running surface; light beam detecting means placed at an edge part of the running surface and for receiving the light beam emitted by the light beam emitting means and to output a first signal when the light beam detecting means does not receive the light beam emitted from the light beam emitting means, and a second signal when the light beam detecting means detects the light beam emitted from the light beam emitting means; moving speed calculating means for calculating a moving time based on a calculation of a difference between a rise time and a fall time of one first signal out of two first signals outputted in succession from the light beam detecting means, and for calculating a moving speed of the subject on the basis of a calculation of a quotient between a size of the foot of the subject and the moving time; stride time calculating means for calculating a stride time based on a calculation of a difference between output times of said two first signals; stride calculating means for calculating a stride of the subject, based on a calculation of a product between the stride time calculated by the stride time calculating means and the moving speed calculated by the moving speed calculating means; second light beam emitting means placed at a position along an edge part of the running surface for emitting a second light beam in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction and so that the second light beam maintains a predetermined height above the running surface and is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the emission direction of the light beam; second light beam detecting means placed at a position along an edge part of the running surface for receiving the second light beam emitted by the second light beam emitting means and to output a first signal when the second light beam detecting means does not receive the second light beam emitted from the second light beam emitting means, and a second signal when the second light beam detecting means receives the second light beam emitted by the second light beam emitting means; and left/right determining means for determining whether the stride calculated by the stride calculating means is a stride of the left foot or a stride of the right foot of the subject, based on a comparison of a time difference between first signals respectively outputted from the light beam detecting means and from the second light beam detecting means, with a time difference between first signals respectively outputted in succession from the light beam detecting means and from the second light beam detecting means.