JPH0112488B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pulse meter, and particularly to a pulse meter with reduced current consumption.

Conventionally, there have been two methods of pulse detection: a photoelectric pulse detection method and a cardiac potential detection method, each of which has contradictory advantages and disadvantages. In other words, the former has the advantage of being able to obtain a large signal and being resistant to electrical noise, and the disadvantage of the former is that the sensor structure is relatively simple and the sensor part consumes a lot of power.
The latter has opposite advantages and disadvantages.

Here, the former is more advantageous in terms of the reliability of the detection signal, but the former is disadvantageous in terms of current consumption, which has been a major obstacle to its practical application.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pulse meter that can reduce current consumption without impairing the reliability of pulse detection.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention makes the operation of the pulse sensor intermittently effective only for a certain period of time, and as the amount of change in the pulse rate becomes smaller, the next operation starts from the time when the operation of the pulse sensor becomes invalid. It is characterized by a longer time until it becomes effective.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a timepiece with a pulse meter to which the present invention is applied, and in this embodiment, the reference signal generation means of the timepiece and the reference signal generation means of the pulsemeter are also used.

A display device 4 using a liquid crystal display cell or the like is disposed in the main body case 2, and the display device 4 is connected to a time display section 4.
a and an independent timer display section 4b. The time display section 4a can be switched to a stopwatch display when in a stopwatch mode (described later), and the timer display section 4b can be switched to display a 120-minute timer, and can be switched to a pulse rate display when in a pulse rate mode (described later). be. In this embodiment, in the pulse mode, the time display section 4a is forcibly switched to a stopwatch display.

In addition, finger attachment parts 6a to 6e are formed on the side and top surfaces of the main body case 2, in order to make it difficult for the fingers to move when measuring the time, especially the pulse. Attach the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger, respectively. In this embodiment, a concave portion is formed in the main body case 2 to serve as a finger attachment portion, but a protrusion for framing or edging the finger may also be formed.

Another recessed portion 8 is formed on the side surface of the main body case 2, and a mode switch 10 is provided therein. The mode switch 10 is a switch for changing the watch function mode, and becomes executable when pressed. In this embodiment, it is possible to switch cyclically from current time mode to timer mode to stopwatch mode to correction mode to current time mode.

The correction switch 12 is provided in the finger attachment part 6a, and forms and outputs a time correction signal in the correction mode, and a start signal and a stop signal in the timer mode and stopwatch mode. is provided in the finger attachment portion 6b and resets the display in the timer mode and stopwatch mode.

The finger holding cover 16 is a removable cover for more securely holding the finger used for pulse detection to stabilize measurement, and will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

The finger holding cover 16 has a semi-cylindrical shape, and has an elastic member 17 such as a sponge attached to its inner ring, and protruding members 16a to 16d (16
c and 16d are not shown).

On the other hand, finger holding covers 1 are provided on both walls of the finger attachment part 6d.
Fixing grooves 18 and 20 are formed into which the six protruding members 16a to 16d can be inserted and fixed.

Also, on one wall is a setting switch 22 for setting the pulse mode in which the pulse can be measured.
is provided. The setting switch 22 is a switch that is valid only while it is pressed, and in this embodiment is activated by inserting and fixing the finger holding cover 16.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the finger attachment part 6d has
A pulse sensor 24 and a measurement switch 26 are provided on the finger attachment surface and in the vicinity thereof. Measuring switch 2
Reference numeral 6 denotes a switch that is valid only during the pulse mode period and operates the pulse measuring means only during the period in which it is pressed.

The operation will be explained below using the circuit block diagram shown in FIG.

A reference signal 30a generated by a reference signal generating means constituted by a reference signal generator 28 including a crystal oscillator and a frequency dividing circuit 30 is timed by a time counter 32, and the timed time signal is sent to a display switching circuit 34. The signal is supplied to the decoder/driver 36 via the display 4, and the time is displayed on the time display section 4a in the display 4, forming a well-known digital display.

The output of the mode switch 10 is supplied to the clock input terminals φ ₁ to _{φ 4} of flip-flops (hereinafter referred to as FF) 38 to 44 constituting the ring counter, and the output state changes cyclically as the mode switch 10 is operated. Changes to When _Q1 output is "H" level, it is in current time mode, when _Q2 output is "H" level, it is in timer mode, when _Q3 output is "H" level, it is in stopwatch mode, _Q4
When the output is at the "H" level, it is the correction mode.

When the timer mode is set, the gate circuit 46 to which the _Q2 output is supplied to the control terminal is in an open state and the output of the correction switch 12 is output 46.
Output the output of the reset switch 14 to the output 46b.
It is assumed that this can occur. The output 46a is supplied via an OR gate to a switch circuit 50 which inverts and stores the output at that time when a signal is input, and its storage output is supplied to the input terminal of an AND gate 52. The AND gate 52 has a reference signal 30a.
is also supplied, and the reference signal 30 is supplied only during the period when the output of the switch circuit 50 is stored at the "H" level.
A is supplied to the timer counter 54 to perform timer timing. The timer clock signal is then supplied to the decoder/driver 36 via the display switching circuit 56, and the timer time is displayed on the timer display section 4b. The input terminal of multiplexer 58 has output 46.
b and an intermediate signal 54a of the timer counter 54, an 8 second signal in this embodiment, and the output is supplied to the reset terminal R of the timer counter 54. A setting switch 2 is connected to the control terminal of the multiplexer 54.
2 output is supplied, and when the output is "L" level, the output 46b is selected, and when it is "H" level, the intermediate signal 54a is selected and the timer counter 5
Reset 4. Therefore, in this example,
During the period when the finger holding cover 16 is inserted and fixed and the setting switch 22 is pressed, the timer counter 5
4 will operate as an 8 second counter. Further, after the timer counter 54 finishes counting the timer time up to 120 minutes, the timer output 54b is supplied to the sound generation circuit 60 and a timer sound is generated.

Similarly, when the switch watch mode is set, the gate circuit 62 is opened, allowing the output of the correction switch 12 to be generated at the output 62a and the output of the reset switch 14 to be generated at the output 62b.
The output 62a is supplied to an AND gate 66 via a switch circuit 64, and the other input terminal of the AND gate 66 is supplied with a signal from the frequency dividing circuit 30.
A 1/100 second signal is supplied and the switch circuit 64
Only during the period when the output of is stored at “H” level.
Switch watch counter 6 for 1/100 second signal
8, and stopwatch timing is performed. The stopwatch timing signal is then supplied to the display switching circuit 34. At this time, the display switching circuit 34
is supplied with the _Q3 output at the "H" level, and a stopwatch clock signal is selected and supplied to the decoder/driver 36, and the time display section 4
The stop watch time is displayed at a. The output 62b is also supplied to the reset terminal R of the stopwatch counter 68.

The output of the correction switch 12 is also supplied to the AND gate 70, and when the correction mode is set, the AND gate 70, which supplies the output to the time counter 32, is opened and the time can be corrected. Become. Of course, at this time, the _Q3 output is at the "L" level, so the display switching circuit 34 selects the time signal.

On the other hand, the output of the setting switch 22 is FF38, FF
40, 44 reset terminals R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₄ and FF42
During _the period when the finger holding cover 16 is inserted and fixed, the stop watch mode is forcibly set regardless of the operation of the mode switch 10. In addition, the output of the setting switch 22 is sent to the reset terminal of the FF 38 via an inverter 72 and a one-shot circuit 74.
Supplied to S ₁ and reset terminal R ₃ of FF42,
After the finger holding cover 16 is removed, the current time mode is forcibly set.

When the output of the setting switch 22 is at the "H" level, the multiplexer 58 selects the intermediate signal 54a, which is the 8 second signal of the timer counter 54, as described above.
4 operates as an 8-second counter, and in this embodiment, this 8-second counter is used as a measurement time counter for counting the reference signal 30a for a certain period of time. That is, in this embodiment, the timer counter 54 is also used as a measurement time counter.

The output of the measurement switch 26 is supplied to a one-shot circuit 80 via an AND gate 76 and an OR gate 78, which are open when the output of the setting switch 22 is at the "H" level. In this embodiment, this OR gate 78 and the one-shot circuit 80
These constitute operation starting means for starting the counting of the measurement time counter, and the output thereof is supplied to the OR gate 48.

The output of the one-shot circuit 80 is also supplied to the set terminal _S5 of the FF82, and the output of the one-shot circuit 80 is also supplied to the set terminal _S5 of the FF82.
The output is supplied to a pulse sensor 24. The pulse sensor 24 is activated only when the Q output is at the "H" level, and at this time it detects the pulse and outputs a pulse corresponding to the pulse. And FF8
The output of the multiplexer 58 is supplied to the reset terminal _R5 of No. 2 through an AND gate 86 that is open only when the output of the setting switch 22 is at the "H" level.
_Q5 output becomes “L” level and pulse sensor 24
operation becomes invalid. In this example, this
The FF 82 constitutes a sensor control means that enables the operation of the pulse sensor 24 according to the output signal of the operation start means and disables the operation of the pulse sensor 24 according to the count end signal of the measurement time counter. Note that the output of the AND gate 86 is also supplied to the OR gate 48 and a pulse distribution circuit 94, which will be described later.

The output pulse of the pulse sensor 24 is sent to the pulse counter 8.
8 and supplies the count value to data input terminals of storage circuits 90 and 92. The output 94a of the pulse distribution circuit 94 is connected to the set terminal of the memory circuit 90, and the output 94bb of the pulse distribution circuit 94 is connected to the set terminal of the memory circuit 92.
are supplied respectively. Pulse distribution circuit 9
Reference numeral 4 designates a circuit that outputs the input signal to only one of the outputs 94a and 94b, and the selection of this output is performed alternately. For example, the first pulse is sent to output 94a, and the second pulse is sent to output 94b.
Then, the third shot hit 94a, and so on. Further, the output 94a and the output 94b are connected to the OR gate 96.
It is also supplied to the reset terminal R of the pulse counter 88 via the delay circuit 98. Therefore, each time the timer counter 54, which also serves as a measurement time counter, outputs an 8-second signal as an end signal, a new count value of the pulse counter is stored in the memory circuits 90 and 92.
will be memorized alternately. Note that the memory circuit 9
The output 74b of the one shot circuit 74 is supplied to the reset terminals 0 and 92.

The values stored in the memory circuits 90 and 92 are then converted into a pulse rate per minute by a pulse rate conversion circuit 100.
The signal is supplied to the display switching circuit 56 via the display switching circuit 102. The display switching circuit 102 has a set terminal.
The output 94a of the pulse distribution circuit 94 is supplied to _S6 , and the output 94b is supplied to the reset terminal _R6 of the FF104.
Q ₆ output is supplied, and when the Q ₆ output is "H" level, the stored value of the memory circuit 90 is selected, and when it is "L" level, the stored value of the memory circuit 92 is selected, respectively, and the display switching circuit selects the stored value of the memory circuit 92. 56. The output of the setting switch 22 is supplied to the display switching circuit 56, and when the output is "L" level, the count value of the timer counter 54 is supplied, and when the output is "H" level, the output signal of the display switching circuit 102 is supplied. Each is selected and supplied to the decoder/driver 36, and displayed on the timer display section 4b.

In addition, in this embodiment, the arithmetic circuit 106 that compares the stored value of the storage means and the count value of the pulse counter 88 and outputs the difference includes storage circuits 90 and 9.
2 is supplied, and the difference output is sent to the programmable counter 11 via the inverting circuit 108.
0 data input terminal. That is, in this embodiment, the count value of the pulse counter 88 is stored in one storage circuit and then compared with the previous stored value stored in the other storage circuit.

FF112 for programmable counter 110
The output of the AND gate 114 is supplied, which becomes open when the _Q7 output is at the "H" level and outputs the pulse train φ _a from the frequency divider circuit 30, and its count end signal is sent to its own reset terminal R, FF112. AND gate 1 opens when reset terminal _R7 and the output of AND gate 76 are at "H" level.
16 to the OR gate 78.
Furthermore, the output of the delay circuit 98 is supplied to the preset terminal PE of the programmable counter 110 and the set terminal _S7 of the FF 112.

The programmable counter 110 is the arithmetic circuit 10
A stop time counter is configured to count the time until the OR gate 78 and the one shot circuit 80, which are the operation start means, are operated again based on the difference output of the operation circuit 106. It is inverted by an inverting circuit 108 and preset in a programmable counter 110. This is because the magnitude relationship of the difference outputs is reversed in order to lengthen the time counted by the programmable counter 110 as the difference output of the arithmetic circuit 106 becomes smaller.

The main circuit operation will be explained below based on FIG.

When the finger holding cover 16 is inserted and fixed into the finger attachment part 6d, the output of the setting switch 22 becomes "H" level and the watch function becomes stopwatch mode, and the correction switch 12 and reset switch 14 are activated.
By this operation, the stopwatch time is displayed on the time display section 4a.

Further, the timer counter 54 is set as a measurement time counter that counts 8 seconds, and the display switching circuit 56 selects the output of the display switching circuit 102 and supplies it to the decoder driver 6.

Now, when the fingertip of the ring finger is attached to the pulse sensor 24 and the measurement switch 26 is operated, the AND gate 76, which is in an open state, goes to the "H" level, prompting the one-shot circuit 80 to output a single pulse. As a result, the timer counter 54 starts counting, and at the same time, the _Q5 output of the FF 82 becomes "H" level, and the operation of the pulse sensor 24 becomes effective.
Therefore, the pulse counter 88 sequentially counts the output pulses of the pulse sensor 24.

When the timer counter 54 finishes counting for 8 seconds, the AND gate 8 which is in the open state
6, the timer counter 54 is stopped, and the FF 82 is reset to set the _Q5 output to the "L" level, disabling the operation of the pulse sensor 24, and prompting the pulse distribution circuit 94a 94a to output a single pulse. . As a result, the count value counted by the pulse counter 88 is stored in the memory circuit 90, and the output converted to the number of pulses per minute by the pulse rate conversion circuit 100 is displayed in the display switching circuit 100.
2 and 56 to the decoder driver 36, the pulse rate is displayed on the timer display section 4b, and the count value of the pulse counter 88 is reset by the output of the delay circuit 98.

On the other hand, the pulse counter 8 stored in the memory circuit 90
The count value of 8 and the stored value of the memory circuit 92 (in this case, "0") are compared in the arithmetic circuit 106, and the inverted output of the difference is preset in the programmable counter 110 at the timing of the output of the delay circuit 98. , and counting starts at the same time. In this case, since the difference output of the arithmetic circuit 106 is large, a small inverted value is preset in the programmable counter 110, and the counting time is short.

When the programmable counter 110 finishes counting, it outputs an end signal, stops supplying clock pulses, and resets itself.
Furthermore, the OR gate 78 and the one shot circuit 80 are connected via the AND gate 116 which is in an open state.
The operation starting means consisting of is operated again.

That is, the timer counter 54 starts counting due to the single pulse of the one-shot circuit 80, and the operation of the pulse sensor 24 becomes effective.
Pulses per second are counted by a pulse counter 88.

After 8 seconds, the timer counter 54 stops counting, the pulse sensor 24 is disabled, and the pulse distribution circuit 94 is activated.
In this case, the pulse distribution circuit 94 outputs a single pulse to the output 94b, and the count value of the pulse counter 88 is stored in the storage circuit 92, and the stored value is set to 1.
The value converted to the pulse rate per minute is displayed on the timer display section 4b.
is displayed.

Also, the pulse counter 8 stored in the memory circuit 92
The count value of 8 and the value stored in the storage circuit 90 are compared in the arithmetic circuit 106, and the time based on the difference output is counted in the same manner as in the above-described operation. In this case, since the difference output of the arithmetic circuit 106 is small, a large inverted value is preset in the programmable counter 110, and the counting time, that is, the time until the operation starting means is operated again, becomes longer.

The same operation is performed thereafter, but when the operation of the measurement switch 26 is stopped and its output is set to the "L" level, the AND gate 116 is closed, and the end signal of the programmable counter 110 is connected to the OR gate 78 and the one shot circuit 80. Since the signal is not supplied to the operation starting means consisting of the following, no further operation will be performed.

When the finger holding cover 16 is removed, a single pulse is output from the one shot circuit 74.
The stored values in the storage circuits 90 and 92 are reset and the current time mode is forcibly returned.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the operation of the pulse sensor 24 is valid from the time when the one-shot circuit 80 outputs a single pulse until the time when the 8-second signal from the timer counter 54 is output. The current consumption can be limited to the minimum required amount and the operation of the pulse sensor 24 will be effective next time.
The count value of the pulse counter 88 and the stored values of the memory circuits 90 and 92 in which previous count values are stored are compared in the arithmetic circuit 106, and the difference output presets the inverted output of the programmable counter 11.
Since this is the time when the counter ends at 0, it is possible to perform measurements corresponding to changes in measured values, and there is an effect that reliability is not impaired.

In this embodiment, the timer display section 4b also serves as a pulse rate display, and the timer counter 54 also serves as a measurement time counter, making it possible to prevent a significant increase in cost.Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the finger holding cover 16 from being inserted and fixed. The clock function can be set to the stopwatch mode, which is often used when measuring the pulse, and the clock function can be set to the current time mode by removing the finger holding cover 16. Since it can be set to
Very easy to operate.

Further, in this embodiment, memory circuits 90 and 9 serve as memory means for storing the count value of the pulse counter 88.
Although two are provided, it is also possible to implement with only one.

Further, in this embodiment, a pulse meter is added to the watch and also serves as the reference signal generating means, but it is of course possible to use only the pulse meter and provide a dedicated reference signal generating means.

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation of the pulse sensor is intermittently valid only for a certain period of time, and as the amount of change in the pulse rate becomes smaller, the operation of the pulse sensor becomes invalid, and then the next operation starts. By lengthening the time until it becomes effective, it is possible to reduce current consumption without sacrificing reliability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a pulse meter watch to which the present invention is applied. FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory views of the finger attachment part 6d.
FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a pulse meter watch to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the main operations of FIG. 4. 4a...Time display section, 4b...Timer display section,
6a to 6e...Finger attachment part, 16...Finger holding cover, 22...Setting switch, 24...Pulse sensor, 26...Measurement switch, 54...Timer counter, 58...Multiplexer, 78...Or gate, 80...One-shot circuit, 82...Flip-flop, 88...Pulse counter, 90,9
2...Memory circuit, 106...Arithmetic circuit, 108...
...Inverting circuit, 110...Programmable counter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pulse sensor that detects a pulse and outputs a pulse corresponding to the pulse, a reference signal generating means that generates a reference signal, a measurement time counter for counting the reference signal for a certain period of time, and the measurement time counter. an operation start means for starting a count; and sensor control for validating the operation of the pulse sensor based on an output signal of the operation start means and disabling the operation of the pulse sensor based on a count end signal of the measurement time counter. means, a pulse counter for counting output pulses of the pulse sensor, a storage means for storing a new count value of the pulse counter every time a count end signal of the measurement time counter is output, and a memory value of the storage means. a display means for displaying a pulse value corresponding to the pulse rate; a calculation means for comparing the stored value of the storage means with a count value of the pulse counter and outputting the difference; and a means for restarting the operation based on the output of the calculation means. and a stop time counter that counts the time until the pulse sensor starts operating, and as the difference output of the calculation means becomes smaller, the time from when the operation of the pulse sensor becomes invalid to when the next operation becomes valid is provided. A pulse meter characterized by its length.