JPH0221248B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a posture correcting device that detects the posture angle of a person and issues an alarm when the posture collapses to correct the posture.

(Prior art) Recently, the posture of people, especially children, has been deteriorating.
Various posture correcting devices have been proposed.

Conventionally, as this type of device, for example, JP-A-57-
An example is the wearable posture corrector disclosed in Publication No. 25847. The structure of such a corrector includes a means for automatically detecting the forward leaning posture of the body by attaching it to the body, such as an angle sensor that uses gravity using a simple pendulum method with mechanical contacts, and an angle sensor that uses gravity according to the detection results. The device has means for notifying the wearer in a suitable format.

Another example is the posture corrector disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 57-57820. This corrector is also similar in principle to the above-mentioned one, and its construction includes a tilting switch which has a pendulum-shaped movable terminal and operates according to the tilting angle, and a sound source which is operated by the tilting switch.

Conventional posture correctors, such as those illustrated above, employ the principle of detecting a person's posture angle and informing the person to be corrected of the person's posture based on this. Generally, a detection switch is used.

By the way, although this type of detection switch can be constructed simply and inexpensively, it has several drawbacks as follows.

First, since such a detection switch is to be worn on the human body, it must be made as light and compact as possible. However, on the other hand, the contact pressure of the switch becomes small, and reliable and accurate operation cannot be expected.
Furthermore, reliability is extremely low, as if the metal contacts grow insulating film or become contaminated, detection becomes impossible.

Secondly, it is desirable for such a corrector to be able to gradually correct the posture by adjusting the posture angle at which the alarm is issued, but in order to select this step, for example, the length of the pendulum and the spacing between the contacts must be adjusted mechanically. This adjustment is extremely complicated and inaccurate.

Thirdly, it is desirable to use the corrector regularly and to be able to receive warnings at any time, but for example, while walking or in a vehicle, external disturbances such as shaking may cause irregular warnings, making it impractical.

(Objective of the Invention) The present invention is intended to eliminate the various drawbacks mentioned above, and its purpose is to perform highly accurate and reliable operation, provide high reliability, and perform step-by-step correction according to the degree of correction. Performance, portability, and ease of adjustment and elimination of unnecessary disturbances.
To provide a highly convenient posture correction device.

(Structure of the Invention) The present invention relates to a posture correction device for correcting a person's bad posture, and its main components include, for example, a movable contact that can be attached to and detached from the human body and is displaced in response to changes in its inclination angle. An angle sensor section consisting of at least one or more stator contacts arranged spaced apart and facing each other in the displacement direction of the movable contact, supplies a high frequency signal between the movable contact and the stator contact, and supplies the high frequency signal between the movable contact and the stator contact. It is characterized by an alarm generation unit that detects the size and generates, for example, an alarm sound when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded, and when the correctionee's posture deteriorates, it issues an alarm and restores the original correct posture. It is characterized in that it is caused to return to .

(Example) Below, preferred examples that further embody the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. This figure is an overall perspective view of the posture correction device according to the present invention.

The posture correction device indicated by reference numeral 1 is roughly divided into an angle sensor section 2 and an alarm generation section 3.

The angle sensor section 2 includes a sensor main body 7 composed of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped sensor block 4, a mounting plate section 6 which pivotally supports both ends of the sensor block 4 with a bracket 5, and a sensor body 7 which is separate from the main body 7 and includes the mounting plate. Part 6
and a removable mounting pin 8. This attachment pin 8 is made by bending a steel plate into a hairpin shape, for example, and can be attached to the edge of clothes, neckties, shirts, underwear, etc. from any direction, from the top, bottom, left, and right.
In addition, multiple types are available so that it can be attached to thin to thick fabrics as necessary. Furthermore, a hook-and-loop fastener 9a is attached to one surface of the pin 8. On the other hand, a hook-and-loop fastener 9b is attached to the mounting plate 6 and is attached to and detachable from the hook-and-loop fastener 9a.
The main body 7 can be attached and detached at any angle. Furthermore, since the angle of the sensor block 4 can be adjusted with respect to the mounting plate 6, it can be mounted to suit the person undergoing correction. Note that the configuration of the angle sensor section 2 is not limited to the example shown, and any configuration can be applied, as long as it is detachable from the human body and the angle at which it is attached can be adjusted.

On the other hand, the alarm generating section 3 is housed in a rectangular case 10, and a sound generator 1 that emits an alarm sound is provided on the front side of the case 10.
1. Power switch 12, changeover switch 1 on the top
3. An operation panel 16 including a position selection switch 14, an adjustment volume 15, etc., and an earphone jack to which an earphone 17 is connected are provided. Additionally, a battery storage section (not shown in the figure) is provided on the rear surface.
The alarm generating section 3 can be stored in a pocket of clothing, or placed in a storage cover, etc., and attached to the band of pants or hung on the shoulder like a portable tape recorder. Note that the alarm generation section 3 and the angle sensor section 2 are connected by a connection cord 18.

Next, regarding the angle sensor section 2, see Figures 2 and 3.
This will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the angle sensor section in a correct posture, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the angle sensor section in a bad posture.

The sensor block 4 has a movable contact 22, which is a conductor block, suspended in a pendulum shape by a conductive wire 21 at the center in the front-rear direction of the inner space of a sensor case 20 formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped using an insulating material. Stator contacts 23 and 24 in the form of conductor plates are attached to the front and rear inner walls of the case 20, for example. As a result, stator contacts 23 and 24 are provided so as to be spaced apart from the contact 22 in the direction of displacement and to face it.
Then, the mover contact 22 and the stator contact 23, 2
Lead wires 25, 26, and 27 are connected to 4, respectively, and these are drawn out from the bottom of the case 20 and connected to the alarm generating section 3.

By configuring the sensor block 4 as described above, the movable contact 22 can be displaced in a pendulum-like manner between the stator contacts 23 and 24.

To explain the principle of the angle sensor section 2,
Now, when the movable element is in the correct position as shown in FIG. 2, the movable element contact 22 is located approximately at the center between the stator contacts 23 and 24, and is insulated from a direct current perspective. However, a stray capacitance (Cs) exists between the movable element contact 22 and each of the stator contacts 23 and 24, and has a predetermined reactance in terms of alternating current. Note that the strain capacity (Cs) in this state is extremely small and can be ignored in practical terms. In addition, this strain capacity (Cs) increases or decreases in inverse proportion to the distance between the conductors, so if the person has a bad posture as shown in Figure 3, that is, a forward-leaning posture, the angle sensor section 2 will also lean forward. The movable element contact 22 approaches the front stator contact 23 by the action of the pendulum and finally comes into contact with it. That is, the stray capacity (Cs) between the movable element contact 22 and the stator contact 23 increases in proportion to the inclination angle (θ) of the angle sensor section 2. Therefore,
The inclination angle of the angle sensor section 2 can be determined by supplying a high frequency signal having a predetermined frequency between the movable element contact 22 and the stator contacts 23 and 24 and detecting the magnitude of this high frequency signal.

Although the angle sensor section 2 described above is of a pendulum type, for example, a spring may be interposed between the movable element contact 22 and each stator contact 23, 24 to correspond to the inclination angle of the angle sensor section 2. Mover contact 22
may be biased, and other configurations based on similar principles may be used.

Next, the electrical circuit configuration of the main body case 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

In the alarm generation section 3, 40 is a high frequency oscillation circuit that oscillates a high frequency signal of a predetermined frequency (for example, 400 KHz) and is connected to the movable contact 22 of the angle sensor section 2, and 41 is a high frequency oscillation circuit that is connected to one stator contact 23. an amplifier circuit, 42 is this amplifier circuit 4;
15a is a front adjustment volume, 44 is a response delay circuit (integrator circuit) having a timer function, 45 is a switching transistor, and 46 is a low frequency oscillation circuit having an alarm sound generation function. On the other hand, the stator contact 24 side is also provided with a circuit similar to the above contact 23 side, 47 is a high frequency amplifier circuit, 48 is a detection circuit, 15b is a rear adjustment volume, 50 is a response delay circuit, 51 is a switching transistor, 52 is a low frequency oscillation circuit. Note that each of the low frequency oscillation circuits 46 and 52 oscillates a frequency corresponding to a buzzer sound, but in order to distinguish the tilt direction, the oscillation frequency of one of the oscillation circuits is changed, for example.
1KHz, and that of the other oscillation circuit 52, for example, 250Hz.
has been selected. Further, 53 is an output transistor, 54 and 55 are earphone jacks and speakers connected to the output side of this transistor, and 14 is the position selection switch. Each circuit is connected to a battery via a power switch 12.
Power is supplied from 58. 59 is a light emitting diode that is turned on when the power switch 57 is closed.

Next, the overall operation will be explained. Now, assume that the forward leaning posture of a person to be corrected is to be corrected. In this case, the selection switch 14 is connected to the terminal 14x shown in FIG.
Just switch to the side. As a result, the collector of the switching transistor 51 in the detection system on the stator contact 24 side is grounded, and this system does not operate, and only the detection system on the stator contact 23 side operates.

First, if the person to be corrected is correct, the angle of the angle sensor section 2 will be as shown in FIG.
is located exactly in the center between each stator contact 23, 24. In this case, the high frequency signal S1 from the high frequency oscillation circuit 40 is supplied to the input side of the high frequency amplification circuit 41 by the stray capacity (Cs) of the angle sensor section 2 and electromagnetic induction. In this case, the high frequency signal S1 propagates as an electromagnetic wave between the movable element contact 22 and each of the stator contacts 23 and 24 within the angle sensor section 2. After being amplified to a predetermined magnitude, the detection circuit 42 extracts a DC signal e proportional to the magnitude of the high frequency signal S2 output from the amplifier circuit 41. This DC signal e is supplied to the inverter 60 via the front adjustment volume 15a, but the strain capacity (Cs) is negligibly small, so the high frequency signal S2 is extremely small. Therefore, the output of inverter 60 maintains a high level, and when changeover switch 13a is open, switching transistor 45 is turned on. As a result, the input side of the oscillation circuit 46 becomes grounded, and the oscillation circuit 46 does not operate and no alarm sound is generated.

On the other hand, from this state, when the person to be corrected gradually leans forward, as already explained, the movable element contact 22 and the stator contact 23 gradually approach each other, and the strain capacity (Cs) increases in proportion to the forward tilt angle. . This means that the reactance decreases in inverse proportion, and the high frequency signal applied to the input side of the high frequency amplifier circuit 41 increases in proportion to the forward tilt angle. As a result, the DC signal e also increases proportionally, and when it reaches a predetermined magnitude (threshold value), the output of the inverter 60 becomes low level and the switching transistor 45 is turned off. As a result, the oscillation circuit 46
is activated, and an alarm sound (buzzer sound) is emitted from the speaker 55 via the output transistor 53.

In this case, the inclination angle at which the alarm sound is emitted can be arbitrarily and continuously varied by adjusting the front adjustment volume 15a.

Note that the changeover switch 13a is for eliminating disturbances, and when it is closed, the capacitor C
1 is connected. Therefore, when the angle sensor section 2 is not tilted, the output of the inverter 60 is at a high level as described above, so the capacitor C1 is charged and the transistor 45 is in an on state. However, when the posture leans forward and the output of the inverter 60 becomes low level, the transistor 45 does not turn off immediately. That is, the charge on capacitor C1 is discharged through resistors R0 and R1, and after a predetermined time delay determined by the time constant, transistor 45 is discharged.
is in the off state. For example, this delay time is 1 to 2
By setting the time to about seconds, unnecessary vibrations caused by disturbances of the movable element contact 22 due to vibrations during walking or riding a vehicle can be sufficiently ignored. The detection system on the stator contact 23 side has been described above, but if the selection switch 14 is switched to the terminal 14z side, the same operation will be performed for the backward tilted posture. Furthermore, by switching to the terminal 14y side, both the front and rear detection systems can be operated.

In Fig. 4, R2 to R28 are resistors, C2 to C9
is a capacitor, Q1 to Q6 are transistors, D1
and D2 are diodes, and 61 to 67 are inverters.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, although the inclination angle of the posture at which the alarm is issued can be adjusted using the adjustment volumes 15a and 15b, this gain adjustment may also be performed on the high frequency oscillation circuit 40 side. Furthermore, although the response delay circuits 44 and 50 are constructed of integral circuits which are CR circuits, a fluid such as oil may be sealed in the sensor box 20 of the angle sensor 2.
Further, although the alarm generating section 3 is configured by a sound means such as a buzzer sound, it may of course be configured by other means such as light, or the magnitude of the inclination angle may be visually displayed directly with a meter or the like. .

Furthermore, two detection systems were shown for the case where the posture is tilted back and forth, but by adding the stator contacts of the angle sensor section 2 to the left and right sides of the movable element contact, the tilt of the posture in the left and right direction can be detected. In this case, a similar detection system circuit may be added in accordance with the number of stator contacts.

Furthermore, although the present invention has been described as a posture correction device for humans, it can also be applied as a posture detection or posture correction device for machines other than humans.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the posture correction device according to the present invention includes an angle sensor unit including a movable element contact and a stator contact whose spacing changes depending on the inclination angle, and a high-frequency signal is supplied between each of these contacts. At the same time, it consists of an alarm generating section that detects the magnitude of this high-frequency signal and issues an alarm when it exceeds a predetermined threshold, so each contact can detect angles without mechanical contact, and can be used continuously. Since it can be detected accurately, reliable and highly accurate operation can be performed. Furthermore, high reliability can be maintained because it is not affected by dirt on the contacts.

Furthermore, since the angle detection is continuous, the posture angle at which the alarm is issued can be adjusted easily and arbitrarily and continuously by processing electrical signals.

Furthermore, by providing a response delay means, it can be used while walking etc. without being affected by this.
Practicality can be dramatically improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the posture correction device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the angle sensor section in a correct posture, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the angle sensor section in a bad posture, and FIG. 4 FIG. 2 is an electrical circuit diagram of the posture correction device according to the present invention. In the drawing, 2 is an angle sensor section, 3 is an alarm generation section, 15, 15a, 15b is an adjustment volume, 2
2 is a mover contact, 23 and 24 are stator contacts, 4
4 and 50 are response delay means, and S1 is a high frequency signal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An angle sensor section consisting of a movable element contact that is displaced in response to a change in the inclination angle and at least one or more stator contacts arranged to be spaced apart and facing each other in the displacement direction of the movable element contact; The present invention is characterized by comprising an alarm generator that supplies a high frequency signal between the movable element contact and the stator contact, detects the magnitude of this high frequency signal, and generates an alarm when the magnitude of the high frequency signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. Posture correction device. 2. The posture correction device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm generation section includes variable adjustment means that can arbitrarily change the threshold value. 3. The bracing correction device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the alarm generating section includes a response delay means that generates an alarm only when a threshold value is exceeded for a predetermined period of time or more. 4. Claim 1, characterized in that the alarm generating section includes position selection means for selecting one or more detections at arbitrary stator contacts.
The posture correction device according to item 1, 2 or 3. 5. The posture correction device according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the alarm generator generates a different alarm for each stator contact.