Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7231834?dq=6,993,661
Timestamp: 2015-04-28 10:44:26
Document Index: 54106795

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 32', 'art 424', 'art 424', 'art 410', 'art 410', 'art 424']

Patent US7231834 - Stride measuring apparatus - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsIn a stride measuring apparatus, a signal wave emitter and a signal wave detector are opposed to each other in a direction intersecting with a predetermined direction in which the running surface is driven. The signal wave emitter emits a light beam. The signal wave detector outputs an ON signal when...http://www.google.com/patents/US7231834?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7231834 - Stride measuring apparatusAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7231834 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/899,138Publication dateJun 19, 2007Filing dateJul 27, 2004Priority dateJul 28, 2003Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20050039541Publication number10899138, 899138, US 7231834 B2, US 7231834B2, US-B2-7231834, US7231834 B2, US7231834B2InventorsTakehiro KuronoOriginal AssigneeHamamatsu Photonics K. K.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (25), Referenced by (9), Classifications (15), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetStride measuring apparatus
US 7231834 B2Abstract
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.
2. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light beam emitting means is placed at a position along one edge part of the running surface, and
wherein the light beam detecting means is placed at a position along another edge part of the running surface and opposite the light beam emitting means and is configured to output the first signal when the light beam from the light beam emitting means is intercepted, and to output the second signal when the light beam from the light beam emitting means is detected.
3. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light beam emitting means is placed at a position along one edge part of the running surface, and
wherein the light beam detecting means is placed at a position along said one edge part of the running surface so as to detect the light beam emitted from the light beam emitting means and reflected from a foot of the subject, and is configured to output the first signal when the light beam is detected, and to output the second signal when the light beam is not detected.
4. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising moving time removing means for removing the moving time calculated by the moving speed calculating means, when the moving time calculated by the moving speed calculating means is determined to be shorter, based on a comparison according to a predetermined rule with a moving time calculated at a different time by the moving speed calculating means.
5. A stride measuring apparatus comprising:
first light beam emitting means placed at a position along an edge part of the running surface for emitting a first light beam in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction and so that the first light beam maintains a predetermined height above the running surface;
second light beam emitting means placed a predetermined distance apart from the first light beam emitting means in the predetermined direction and configured to emit a second light beam in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction and and so that the second light beam maintains a predetermined height above the running surface;
first light beam detecting means placed at an edge part of the running surface and configured to receive the first light beam emitted by the first light beam emitting means and to output a first signal when the first light beam detecting means does not receive the first light beam emitted from the first light beam emitting means, and a second signal when the first light beam detecting means receives the first light beam emitted from the first light beam emitting means;
second light beam detecting means placed at 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 first 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 from the first light beam emitting means;
moving speed calculating means for calculating a moving time based on a calculation of a difference between an output time of a first signal outputted from the first light beam detecting means and an output time of a first signal outputted subsequently thereto from the second light beam detecting means, and for calculating a moving speed of the subject on the basis of a calculation of a quotient between the predetermined distance and the moving time;
stride time calculating means for calculating a stride time based on a calculation of a difference between output times of two first signals outputted in succession from one of the first and second light beam detecting means; and
6. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
third light beam emitting means placed at a position along an edge part of the running surface for emitting a third light beam in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction and at a predetermined height above the running surface so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the emission direction of the first and second light beams;
third light beam detecting means placed at an edge part of the running surface and configured to receive the third light beam emitted by the third light beam emitting means and to output a first signal when the third light beam detecting means does not receive the third light beam emitted from the third light beam emitting means, and a second signal when the third light beam detecting means receives the first light beam emitted from the third 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 output times of first signals respectively outputted from one of the first and second light beam detecting means and from the third light beam detecting means, with a time difference between output times of first signals respectively outputted in succession from said one light beam detecting means and from the third light beam detecting means.
7. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and second light beam emitting means are placed at positions along one edge part of the running surface,
wherein the first light beam detecting means is placed at a position along another edge part of the running surface and opposite the first light beam emitting means, and is configured to output the first signal when the first light beam from the first light beam emitting means is intercepted, and to output the second signal when the light beam from the first light beam emitting means is detected, and
wherein the second light beam detecting means is placed at a position along the other edge part of the running surface and opposite the second light beam emitting means, and is configured to output the first signal when the second light beam from the second light beam emitting means is intercepted, and to output the second signal when the light beam from the second light beam emitting means is detected.
8. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and second light beam emitting means are placed at positions along one edge part of the running surface,
wherein the first light beam detecting means is placed at a position along one edge part of the running surface so as to detect the first light beam emitted from the first light beam emitting means and reflected from a foot of the subject, and is configured to output the first signal when the first light beam is detected, and to output the second signal when the first light beam is not detected, and
wherein the second light beam detecting means is placed at a position along one edge part of the running surface so as to detect the second light beam emitted from the second light beam emitting means and reflected from a foot of the subject, and is configured to output the first signal when the second light beam is detected, and to output the second signal when the second light beam is not detected.
9. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the moving speed calculating means calculates as the moving speed an average of a first moving speed calculated based on a rise time of a first signal outputted from the first light beam detecting means and a rise time of a first signal outputted subsequently thereto from the second light beam detecting means and a second moving speed calculated based on fall times of the first signals.
10. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising moving time removing means for removing the moving time calculated by the moving speed calculating means, when the moving time calculated by the moving speed calculating means is determined to be shorter, based on a comparison according to a predetermined rule with a moving time calculated at a different time by the moving speed calculating means.
11. A stride measuring apparatus comprising:
a plurality of light beam emitting means placed at positions along an edge part of the running surface and at predetermined intervals, each for emitting a light beam in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction and at a predetermined height above the running surface;
a plurality of light beam detecting means placed at positions along an edge part of the running surface, each for receiving a light beam emitted by a corresponding light beam emitting means, to output a first signal when the light beam detecting means do not receive the light beam emitted from the corresponding light beam emitting means, and to output a second signal when the light beam detecting means receive the light beam emitted from the corresponding light beam emitting means;
line detecting means for detecting a line that fits a variable set containing variables with parameters of an output time of the first signal or the second signal outputted from the light beam detecting means, and the position of the light beam detecting means, the variable set being obtained with movement of a foot of the subject in the predetermined direction; and
12. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the running surface of the belt is driven in the predetermined direction from one end to another end,
13. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising moving speed detecting means for calculating a foot speed, based on a calculation of a quotient between a stride time and the stride, where the stride time is a duration between two landing times detected in succession by the landing time detecting means.
14. The stride measuring apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:
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;
second light beam detecting means for receiving a reflected wave of the second light beam; 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 period of time between an emission time and a reception time of the second light beam.
The second signal wave emitter 242 is placed a predetermined distance D apart in the aforementioned predetermined direction from the position where the first signal wave emitter 240 is located. The second signal wave emitter 242 is configured to emit a second signal wave L2 in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction and at a predetermined height relative to the running surface 30. In the present embodiment, the second signal wave emitter 242 is a light source to emit a light beam L2 as the second signal wave L2 and is placed on the cover 28 extending along the edge part 32. The emission direction of the light beam L2 and the height relative to the running surface 30 are similar to those of the light beam L1. The predetermined distance D is a distance acquired in consideration of the stride of the subject S and is, for example, a distance of 10�15 cm where the stride of the subject S is 60 cm.
The moving speed calculator 272 executes a calculation of a quotient between the predetermined distance D between the first signal wave emitter 240 and the second signal wave emitter 242 and the moving time outputted from the noise remover 270, and outputs the result of execution thereof as a moving speed Vn of the subject S to the stride calculator 276. In the present embodiment, the moving speed calculator 272 outputs as the moving speed Vn an average of a moving speed Vsn obtained by a quotient calculation between the predetermined distance D and the moving time ΔTsn outputted from the noise remover 270 and a moving speed Ven obtained by a quotient calculation between the predetermined distance D and the moving time ΔTen, to the stride calculator 276. The moving speed calculator 272 may determined one of the above moving speed Vsn and moving speed Ven as the moving speed Vn.
In the description hereinafter, for convenience' sake of description, �i� will denote an identification number of each signal wave detector 404 and identification numbers of integers will be given in increasing order from 1 to the signal wave detectors 404 from one closest to one end of the running surface 30 a. A fall time and a rise time represented by Tsi and Tri will denote a fall time Ts and a rise time Tr, respectively, detected based on a signal from a signal wave detector 404 with an identification number i.
In order to detect a line to fit a variable set, the line detector 412 calculates a slope Sl according to Eq (1) below, using the ith variable and the (i+1)th variable in the order of the positions of the signal wave detectors 404 being the parameter of the variables from the closest to one end 34 a.
Slope S1 = ( distance between ith signal detector and ( i + 1 ) th signal detector ) Ts i + 1 - Ts i ( 1 ) The line detector 412 starts from i=2 in Eq (1) and, where a predetermined number of slopes are stable, for example, the line detector 412 detects a line having a slope in the case of i=2 according to Eq (1) and passing the variable of i=2. FIG. 15 shows lines Ln−1, Ln, Ln+1 detected by the line detector 412. Here �n� represents an index to indicate an order in the direction of time.
The data output part 424 outputs data containing the aforementioned stride Wn, stride time Tsn, foot speed Vn, and determination result of the left or right foot, to the computer 90. The computer 90 receives the data from the data output part 424 and outputs a screen about the stride Wn, stride time Tsn, foot speed Vn, and determination result of the left or right foot included in the data. The computer 90 can output, for example, a screen showing a graph of the stride Wn, stride time Tsn, foot speed Vn, and determination result of the left or right foot included in the data.
The operation of the calculation part 410 will be described below. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the calculation part according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 16, the calculation part 410 first detects the line Ln from the aforementioned variable set (step S51). Then the landing time detector 414 detects the landing time Tln, using the variable set and the line Ln (step S52).
Next, the stride time calculator 418 calculates as a stride time Tsn a period of time between the landing time Tln and the landing time Tln−1 (step S54). Then the moving speed calculator 420 performs a calculation of a quotient between the stride Wn and the stride time Tsn to calculate the foot speed (moving speed) Vn of the subject (step S55).
Subsequently, the left/right determiner 422 determines whether the stride Wn, moving speed Vn, and stride time Tsn are those of the left foot or the right foot of the subject S as described above (step S56), and the data output part 424 outputs data containing the stride Wn, moving speed Vn, stride time Tsn, and the determination result by the left/right determiner 422, to the computer 90 (step S57). Through the above steps, the stride Wn, moving speed Vn, stride time Tsn, and determination result of the left or right foot are displayed on the screen of the computer 90.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4600016Aug 26, 1985Jul 15, 1986Biomechanical Engineering CorporationMethod and apparatus for gait recording and analysisUS4774679Feb 20, 1986Sep 27, 1988Carlin John AProduced by a sport participant in a sporting eventUS5120228 *May 13, 1991Jun 9, 1992William StahlIntrinsic perceptual motor training deviceUS5299454Dec 10, 1992Apr 5, 1994K.K. Holding AgContinuous foot-strike measuring system and methodUS5312310 *May 10, 1993May 17, 1994Nihon Kohden CorporationTreadmillUS5483630Jul 9, 1991Jan 9, 1996Hitachi, Ltd.Method and apparatus for representing motion of multiple-jointed object, computer graphic apparatus, and robot controllerUS5524637Jun 29, 1994Jun 11, 1996Erickson; Jon W.Interactive system for measuring physiological exertionUS5577981Aug 4, 1995Nov 26, 1996Jarvik; RobertVirtual reality exercise machine and computer controlled video systemUS5831937Apr 9, 1997Nov 3, 1998Northwestern UniversityPortable ranging system for analyzing gaitUS6010465Jan 29, 1997Jan 4, 2000Neurocom International, Inc.Apparatus and method for characterizing gaitUS6205245Jul 28, 1998Mar 20, 2001Intel CorporationMethod and apparatus for rapid down-scaling of color images directly from sensor color filter array spaceUS6231527 *Sep 29, 1995May 15, 2001Nicholas SolMethod and apparatus for biomechanical correction of gait and postureUS6256461Feb 7, 2000Jul 3, 2001Ricoh Company, Ltd.Image forming apparatus with an intermediate transfer body including reference markers for controlling the sameUS6590536Aug 18, 2000Jul 8, 2003Charles A. WaltonBody motion detecting system with correction for tilt of accelerometers and remote measurement of body positionUS6645126Apr 10, 2000Nov 11, 2003Biodex Medical Systems, Inc.Patient rehabilitation aid that varies treadmill belt speed to match a user's own step cycle based on leg length or step lengthUS6899686 *Sep 17, 2002May 31, 2005The Curavita CorporationMethod and apparatus for monitoring locomotion kinematics in ambulating animalsUS20030055362 *Sep 17, 2002Mar 20, 2003The Curavita CorporationMethod and apparatus for monitoring locomotion kinematics in ambulating animalsJP2001170029A Title not availableJP2001324306A Title not availableJP2002277213A Title not availableJP2004028635A Title not availableJP2004167002A Title not availableJPH0247231A Title not availableJPH0745239A Title not availableJPH1043327A Title not available* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7604570 *Feb 17, 2006Oct 20, 2009Scott & Wilkins Enterprises, LlcExercise device having position verification feedbackUS7717826 *Mar 21, 2007May 18, 2010Ut-Battelle, LlcElectrical signature analysis to quantify human and animal performance on fitness and therapy equipment such as a treadmillUS7736273Mar 10, 2009Jun 15, 2010Ut-Battelle, LlcElectrical signal analysis to assess the physical condition of a human or animalUS8771206 *Aug 19, 2011Jul 8, 2014Accenture Global Services LimitedInteractive virtual careUS8888721 *Jun 2, 2014Nov 18, 2014Accenture Global Services LimitedInteractive virtual careUS20110218460 *Mar 8, 2011Sep 8, 2011Seiko Epson CorporationFall detecting device and fall detecting methodUS20120165703 *Dec 18, 2011Jun 28, 2012Paul William BottumPreempt Muscle Map ScreenUS20130046149 *Aug 19, 2011Feb 21, 2013Accenture Global Services LimitedInteractive virtual careUS20140276106 *Jun 2, 2014Sep 18, 2014Accenture Global Services LimitedInteractive virtual care* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification73/800, 348/61, 600/595International ClassificationA63B24/00, G01S17/50, G01L1/24, A63B22/02, A61B5/103Cooperative ClassificationG01S17/50, A63B22/0235, A61B5/1038, A63B2220/17European ClassificationG01S17/50, A63B22/02B, A61B5/103P2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionNov 18, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jul 27, 2004ASAssignmentOwner name: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KURONO, TAKEHIRO;REEL/FRAME:015630/0303Effective date: 20040630RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services