Abstract:
A body composition analyzer using a bioelectric-impedance method includes a display unit for displaying measurement results including a weight and a body fat ratio, and a processor responsive to a user&#39;s input for causing the display means to display a part of the measurement results. In one embodiment, the display unit displays at least the body fat ratio, and the measurement result caused to be displayed by the processor is one of basal metabolism data, visceral fat data, muscle mass data, and bone mass data. The display unit displays an item selected from among the basal metabolism data, the visceral fat data, the muscle mass data, and the bone mass data if the item is designated by the user while the body fat ratio is being displayed, and then displays another item if that item is subsequently designated by the user. Thus, a main measurement result and a desired secondary measurement result can be viewed without waiting, and two or more desired secondary measurement results can be selected and viewed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a device for measuring the body composition of an organism using a bioelectric-impedance method.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Devices for determining body fat ratio, basal metabolism rate, etc., by measuring bioelectric impedance are known in the art. In these devices, when the measurement is finished, measurement results are sequentially displayed, alternatively displayed, or printed out with a printer.  
         [0003]     When a plurality of measurement results are sequentially displayed, in order to check a desired measurement result, a user must wait until it appears on the display. In addition, if the user fails to check the desired measurement result, the measurement must be performed again.  
         [0004]     In devices in which the sequential display is repeated to prevent oversight, the user must wait for the next cycle if he or she fails to check the desired measurement result.  
         [0005]     When the measurement results are alternatively displayed, a main measurement result, for example, a fat ratio, and secondary measurement results, for example, a basal metabolism rate and a visceral fat area, are displayed alternately. More specifically, the fat ratio is displayed first, then the basal metabolism rate, then the fat ratio again, and then the visceral fat area. Accordingly, the display constantly changes and the measurement results cannot be easily viewed and recognized by the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention solves the above-described problems of oversight and ease of viewing.  
         [0007]     According to the present invention, a body composition analyzer using a bioelectric-impedance method includes a display unit for displaying measurement results including a weight and a body fat ratio and a processor responsive to a user&#39;s input for causing the display means to display a part of the measurement results.  
         [0008]     In addition, according to the present invention, the display unit displays at least the body fat ratio, and the measurement result caused to be displayed by the processor is one of basal metabolism data, visceral fat data, muscle mass data, and bone mass data.  
         [0009]     In addition, according to the present invention, the display unit displays an item selected from among the basal metabolism data, the visceral fat data, the muscle mass data, and the bone mass data if the item is designated by the user while the body fat ratio is being displayed, and then displays another item if that item is subsequently designated by the user.  
         [0010]     Since the body composition analyzer of the present invention has a display unit for displaying measurement results including weight and body fat ratio and a processor for causing the display means to display a part of the measurement results, a main measurement result and a desired secondary measurement result can be viewed without waiting.  
         [0011]     In addition, since the display unit of the present invention displays at least the body fat ratio and the measurement result designated by the user is one of basal metabolism data, visceral fat data, muscle mass data, and bone mass data, various measurement results can be selected.  
         [0012]     In addition, since the inventive display unit displays an item selected from among the basal metabolism data, the visceral fat data, the muscle mass data, and the bone mass data if the item is designated by the user while the body fat ratio is being displayed and then displays another item if the other item is subsequently designated by the user, two or more desired secondary measurement results can be selected and viewed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a body composition analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the detailed structure of the input portion  6  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a body composition analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a body composition analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  illustrate a display of body weight and body fat percentage, respectively, in a body composition analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates a display of basal metabolism in a body composition analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates a display of visceral fat level in a body composition analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  illustrate a display of muscle mass and muscle mass score, respectively, in a body composition analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates a display of estimated bone mass in a body composition analyzer according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a body composition analyzer  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mechanical structure of the body composition analyzer  1  is similar to that of known body fat analyzers, and a conventionaltype weighing scale is included in the body composition analyzer  1 . Similar to known body fat analyzers, electrodes  3   a ,  3   b ,  4   a , and  4   b  for contacting the soles of the right and left feet of a subject (i.e., a user) are provided on a platform  2  on which the subject stands to measure weight. A display  5  for displaying measurement results and an input portion  6  for inputting various data or designating an item to be displayed are provided on the top face of the platform  2 . In addition, four personal keys  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c , and  7   d  for reading out physical data, such as height and age, of respective subjects and a weight only/OFF key  8  for measuring only weight or turning off the power are provided on the front face of the platform  2 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the detailed structure of the input portion  6  shown in  FIG. 1 . A setting key  10  for setting an input mode for inputting the physical data of the subject, an up key  11  for increasing a data value in the input mode, and a down key  12  for reducing the data value in the input mode are provided in an upper area of the input portion  6 . In addition, a basal metabolism key  13 , a visceral fat key  14 , and a muscle key  15  for displaying basal metabolism data, visceral fat data, and muscle data, respectively, which are secondary measurement results, are provided in a lower area of the input portion  6 . The down key  12  also functions as a bone mass key for displaying bone mass data, which is also a secondary measurement result. In addition, the up key  11  also functions as a guest key used instead of the four personal keys  7   a  to  7   d  (for memorizing and reading out the physical data of the respective subjects) when a one-time user measures body composition.  
         [0024]     Next, a control block diagram of the body composition analyzer  1  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  displays an electrical block diagram of the analyzer  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . The reference numerals used in  FIG. 3  represent the same features shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A processor portion  20 , which processes a variety of data, is connected with a battery  21 . It should be noted that the processor portion  20  can be supplied with power via other sources of power, as is known in the art.  
         [0025]     A high frequency current supplying portion  22  is connected with the processor portion  20 , and the current supplying portion  22  is also connected with the electrodes  3   a  and  4   a . Furthermore, a voltage detecting portion  23  is connected with the processor portion  20 , and the voltage detecting portion  23  is also connected with the electrodes  3   b  and  4   b . Still further, the processor portion  20  is connected to a measuring portion  24  for determining body weight, the input portion  6 , display  5 , and a memory portion  25  to memorize data for processing.  
         [0026]     Next, the operation of the body composition analyzer shown in FIGS.  1  to  3  will be described below with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 4 . First, when any one of the setting key  10 , the personal keys  7   a  to  7   d , the guest key  11 , and the weight only/OFF key  8  is pressed, the power turns on in Step  1 . When the power is turned on, a flag and the like of the processor portion  20  are initialized and an automatic power-off timer is set in Step  2 . This timer causes the power to be forcibly turned off if a key operation is not performed for over 60 seconds during setting operations, or for over 30 seconds while measurement or display is being performed.  
         [0027]     Next, in Step  3 , it is determined whether or not the key pressed in Step  1  is the setting key  10 . The result is determined as “Yes” if the pressed key is the setting key  10 , and the process proceeds to Step  4 . In Step  4 , a key for which data is to be registered is selected from among the personal keys  7   a  to  7   d  using the up key  11  or the down key  12  of the input portion  6 . More specifically, when the key  11  or the key  12  is pressed once, one of the numbers  1  to  4  is shown on the display  5 . The displayed number changes when the key  11  or the key  12  is pressed repeatedly, and when the setting key  10  is pressed while a desired number, for example, “1”, is displayed, the process proceeds to Step  5 , where personal data is registered. In the registration of the personal data, the subject&#39;s age, sex, and height are input. Then, the process proceeds to Step  6  when the setting key  10  is pressed again, and the number of the personal key, the age, the sex, and the height are stored in the memory portion  25  and displayed on the display  5  at the same time. The registration of the personal data is performed similarly to conventional body fat analyzers, and detailed explanations thereof are thus omitted. The automatic power-off timer set in Step  2  runs out during this display, and the power is turned off in Step  7 .  
         [0028]     If it is determined that the pressed key is not the setting key  10  in Step  3 , the process proceeds to Step  8  and it is determined whether or not the pressed key is one of the personal keys  7   a  to  7   d . The result is determined as “Yes” if the pressed key is one of the personal keys  7   a  to  7   d , and the process proceeds to Step  9 . In Step  9 , it is determined which one of the personal keys  7   a  to  7   d  corresponding to the numbers  1  to  4 , respectively, was pressed and whether or not personal data is registered for that key. The result is determined as “No” if no data is registered for that key, and the process returns to Step  5  for registering the personal data. If the personal data is registered, the registered data is read out from the memory portion  25  and is displayed on the display  5  (Step  10 ). More specifically, the number of the personal key, the age, the sex, and the height are sequentially displayed, and then “00 kg” is displayed as the weight in Step  11 .  
         [0029]     After “00 kg” is displayed, the subject gets on the platform  2  of the body composition analyzer  1  such that his or her soles come into contact with the electrodes  3   a ,  3   b ,  4   a , and  4   b . First, the weight is measured in Step  12 , and the weight data is transmitted to the processor portion  20  from the measuring portion  24 . Then, the current supplying portion  22  applies a current between the electrodes  3   a  and  4   a  which are in contact with the toes, and the voltage detecting portion  23  measures a voltage via the electrodes  3   b  and  4   b  which are in contact with the heels. The processor portion  20  calculates the impedance of the subject on the basis of the applied current and the measured voltage in a conventional manner.  
         [0030]     Next, in Step  13 , a body fat ratio, a basal metabolism rate, a result of evaluation of the basal metabolism rate, a level of visceral fat area, a result of evaluation of the visceral fat area, a muscle mass, a result of evaluation of the muscle mass, and a bone mass are obtained by calculation based on the personal data, the weight, and the impedance. A method for calculating the body fat ratio is already known in the art, and detailed explanations thereof are thus omitted. The basal metabolism rate and the evaluation thereof are performed using techniques described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,480,736 and 6,477,409, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. The visceral fat is determined using a technique described in United States Published Patent Application No. 2003/0013982, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The muscle mass is determined using a technique described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-146842, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The bone mass is determined using a technique described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-65679, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0031]     In Step  14 , the weight and the body fat ratio, which are the main display items, are alternately displayed as shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , each item appearing for 3 seconds 3 times. During this 18-second display period, if one of the basal metabolism key  13 , the visceral fat key  14 , the muscle key  15 , and the down key  12  for displaying the bone mass is pressed, the result of Step  15  is determined as “Yes” and the process proceeds to Step  16 . If the pressed key is the basal metabolism key  13 , the result of Step  16  is determined as “Yes” and the basal metabolism rate and the evaluation result thereof visualized as a bar graph are displayed on the display  5 , as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0032]     The basal metabolism rate is evaluated on whether the subject has a body with tendency to be fat or “low burn-up” or a body with a tendency not to be fat or “high burn-up”, and the evaluation result is displayed as the result of calculation relative to the standard. If the basal metabolism key  13  is pressed again while the basal metabolism data is being displayed, the result of Step  18  is determined as “Yes”. Accordingly, the process returns to Step  14  and the display of the main display items, that is, the weight and the body fat ratio, is performed again.  
         [0033]     If it is determined that the pressed key is not the basal metabolism key  13  in Step  16 , the process proceeds to Step  19  and determines whether or not the pressed key is the visceral fat key  14 . If the pressed key is the visceral fat key  14 , the result of Step  19  is determined as “Yes” and the process proceeds to Step  20 . In Step  20 , an integer corresponding to 1/10 of the calculated visceral fat area (cm 2 ) and a bar graph showing the evaluation result of the visceral fat area according to medical associations or the like are displayed, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , the visceral fat area is 110 cm 2  and the visceral fat level is determined as  11 , which is evaluated as slightly excessive. If the visceral fat key  14  is pressed again while the visceral fat data is being displayed, the result of Step  21  is determined as “Yes”. Accordingly, the process returns to Step  14  and the main display items, the weight and the body fat ratio, are displayed again.  
         [0034]     If the result of Step  19  is determined as “No”, it is determined whether or not the pressed key is the muscle key  15  in Step  22 . If the pressed key is the muscle key  15 , the result of Step  22  is determined as “Yes”, and the display shown in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  is performed in Step  23 . First, as shown in  FIG. 8   a , the muscle mass of the overall body (e.g., 59.1 kg) calculated by a method according to Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-146842 is displayed for 3 seconds. Then, as shown in  FIG. 8   b , a muscle mass score “1” is displayed for 3 seconds. The muscle mass and the muscle mass score are alternately displayed until the power is turned off by the automatic power-off timer. If the muscle key  15  is pressed again while the muscle mass data is being displayed, the result of Step  24  is determined as “Yes”. Accordingly, the process returns to Step  14  and the main display items, the weight and the body fat ratio, are displayed again.  
         [0035]     If it is determined that the pressed key is the bone mass key (that is, the down key)  12  in Step  22 , the display shown in  FIG. 9  is performed in Step  25 . In  FIG. 9 , the bone mass of the overall body (e.g., 3.2 kg) calculated by a method according to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-65679 is displayed until the power is turned off by the automatic power-off timer. If the bone mass key  12  is pressed again while the bone mass data is being displayed, the result of Step  26  is determined as “Yes”. Accordingly, the process returns to Step  14  and the main display items, the weight and the body fat ratio, are displayed again.  
         [0036]     In Steps  17 ,  20 ,  23 , and  25 , the secondary display items are continuously displayed until the automatic power-off timer runs out. However, if a key for displaying another secondary display item is pressed during the display, the processor portion  20  starts interrupt handling and the process returns to a point between Steps  15  and  16 . Accordingly, the corresponding display item is displayed. For example, if the visceral fat key  14  on the input portion  6  is pressed while the basal metabolism data is being displayed as shown in  FIG. 6  in Step  17 , the processor portion  20  starts interrupt handling and the process proceeds to Step  20  from Step  19 . Accordingly, the value corresponding to 1/10 of the visceral fat area and the bar graph shown in  FIG. 7  are displayed. At this time, the automatic power-off timer is re-set to 30 seconds. The interrupt handling for displaying the secondary item is performed similarly for any of the basal metabolism data, the visceral fat data, the muscle mass data, and the bone mass data.  
         [0037]     If the pressed key is neither the setting key  10  nor any of the personal keys  7   a  to  7   d  in Step  8 , it is determined whether or not the pressed key is the guest key  11  in Step  27 . If the pressed key is the guest key  11 , the process proceeds to Step  28  and the personal data is registered, similar to Step  5 . The personal data registered in Step  28  is displayed in Step  29 , and then the process proceeds to Step  11 , where the measurement is performed similarly to the case in which one of the personal keys  7   a  to  7   d  is pressed.  
         [0038]     When the guest key  11  is pressed and the personal data is registered, this data is only memorized until the power is turned off at the end of the measurement and is cleared as the power is turned off. More specifically, when the guest key  11  is used, the personal data must be input each time the measurement is performed.  
         [0039]     Next, if it is determined that the pressed key is the weight only/OFF key  8  in Step  27 , the process proceeds to Step  30  and “00 kg” is displayed as the weight, similar to Step  11 . After “00 kg” is displayed, the subject gets on the platform  2  of the body composition analyzer  1  and weight measurement is performed in Step  31 . In this case, only the weight is measured and the power is turned off when the automatic power-off timer runs out.