BODY BALANCE MEASURING DEVICE

Abstract

A body balance measuring device and a correction system using the same allow continuous exercise of the elderly, patients, etc. by measuring body changes, balance changes, etc. after exercise. The body balance measuring device includes: a top plate applied with a weight of a user, and having a top plate step formed on at least a part of a periphery; first, second, third, and fourth force sensors installed at a lower corner region of the top plate; a bottom plate supporting a bottom surface; placement grooves formed to be recessed at regions corresponding to the force sensors, respectively on the bottom plate; and a housing maintaining an interval between the top plate and the bottom plate, and having a housing step shape-customized to the top plate step on a periphery thereof.

Claims

1. A body balance measuring device comprising: a top plate applied with a weight of a user, and having a top plate step formed on at least a part of a periphery; first, second, third, and fourth force sensors installed at a lower corner region of the top plate; a bottom plate supporting a bottom surface; placement grooves formed to be recessed at regions corresponding to the force sensors, respectively on the bottom plate; and a housing maintaining an interval between the top plate and the bottom plate, and having a housing step shape-customized to the top plate step on a periphery thereof.

2. The body balance measuring device of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth force sensors include: a dummy bridge including first and second resistances; a first half bridge connected to the dummy bridge, and including third and fourth resistances; a second half bridge connected to the dummy bridge, and including fifth and sixth resistances; a fourth half bridge connected to the dummy bridge, and including seventh and eighth resistances; and a third half bridge connected to the dummy bridge, and including ninth and tenth resistances.

3. The body balance measuring device of claim 1, wherein the body balance measuring device is set as a first measuring device, and further includes a second measuring device installed in the vicinity of the first measuring device and having the same configuration as the first measuring device.

4. The body balance measuring device of claim 1, wherein the body balance measuring device further has at least two electrode units installed on the top plate, and measuring impedance of soles.

5. The body balance measuring device of claim 1, wherein a vibration motor is further provided at a lower portion of the top plate.

6. The body balance measuring device of claim 1, further comprising: a correction device including a base on which the body balance measuring device is placed; first, second, third, and fourth reference sensors installed on the base to correspond to the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors, respectively; and a flat plate and a curvature transfer unit installed between each force sensor and each reference sensor, wherein output signals of the first force sensor and the first reference sensor are compared, output signals of the second force sensor and the second reference sensor are compared, output signals of the third force sensor and the third reference sensor are compared, and output signals of the fourth force sensor and the fourth reference sensor are compared to simultaneously correct the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors.

7. The body balance measuring device of claim 6, wherein an output signal slope of the first force sensor is corrected to match the output signal of the first reference sensor, an output signal slope of the second force sensor is corrected to match the output signal of the second reference sensor, an output signal slope of the third force sensor is corrected to match the output signal of the third reference sensor, and an output signal slope of the fourth force sensor is corrected to match the output signal of the fourth reference sensor.

8. The body balance measuring device of claim 1, further comprising: a mechanism which the user on the top plate may stand upright and grip; a connector electrically connecting the measuring device and the mechanism; a plurality of distance sensors distributed and installed on the mechanism, and measuring a distance from the user; and a controller measuring a body balance of the user based on output signals of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors, and the distance sensor.

9. The body balance measuring device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of distance sensors is distributed and installed on a vertical plane in a waist height region of the user.

10. The body balance measuring device of claim 8, wherein a monitor displaying an operation result of the controller is further provided at an upper portion of the mechanism.

11. The body balance measuring device of claim 10, wherein the monitor further includes a camera for measuring a body temperature or blood pressure of the user.

12. The body balance measuring device of claim 8, wherein the mechanism further includes: a pair of handles which the user may stand upright and grip, and a handle electrode provided on the handle and measuring impedance of palms.

13. The body balance measuring device of claim 1, further comprising: a bottom plate step formed on a circumference of the bottom plate; and a lower step maintaining an interval between the bottom plate and the housing, and formed on a periphery of the housing and shape-customized to the bottom plate step.

14. A body balance measuring device comprising: a first top plate applied with one-side weight of a user, and having a top plate step formed on at least a part of a periphery; a second top plate applied with the other-side weight of the user, and having the top plate step formed on at least a part of a periphery; first, second, third, and fourth force sensors installed at a lower corner region of the first top plate; fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth force sensors installed at a lower corner region of the second top plate; a first bottom plate supporting a bottom surface at a lower portion of the first top plate and having a bottom plate step on a periphery thereof; a second bottom plate supporting a bottom surface at a lower portion of the second top plate and having the bottom plate step on a periphery thereof; placement grooves formed to be recessed at regions corresponding to the force sensors, respectively on the first and second bottom plates; a housing having a housing step corresponding to the top plate step on an upper periphery while maintaining intervals with the first and second top plates, and having a lower step corresponding to the bottom plate step on a lower periphery while maintaining intervals with the first and second bottom plates; an upper frame positioned while maintaining the interval between the first and second top plates, and having a frame step corresponding to the top plate step; and a lower frame positioned while maintaining the interval between the first and second bottom plates, and having a lower step corresponding to the bottom plate step.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The accompanying drawings of this specification exemplify a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the technical spirit of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood in conjunction with a detailed description to be described below, and thus it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to only contents illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a measuring device 100 in a body balance measuring device according to the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 2A is a front cross-sectional view of the measuring device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 2B illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A;

[0033] FIG. 2C illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A;

[0034] FIG. 2D illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a relationship diagram illustrating a schematic measuring device 100 and a half bridge of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a connection circuit diagram of the half bridge illustrated in FIG. 3;

[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a correction device 500 using the body balance measuring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the body balance measuring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0039] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the body balance measuring device according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0040] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail so as to be easily implemented by those skilled in the art, with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, a description of the present disclosure is merely an exemplary embodiment for a structural or functional description and the scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited by exemplary embodiments described in a text. That is, since the exemplary embodiment can be variously changed and have various forms, the scope of the present disclosure should be understood to include equivalents capable of realizing the technical spirit. Further, since a specific exemplary embodiment should not include all objects or effects or include only the effect, it should not be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is limited by the object or effect.

[0041] Meanings of terms described in the present disclosure should be understood as follows.

[0042] The terms first, second,, and the like are used to differentiate a certain component from other components, but the scope of should not be construed to be limited by the terms. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may be referred to as the first component. It should be understood that, when it is described that a component is connected to another component, the component may be directly connected to another component or a third component may be present therebetween. In contrast, it should be understood that, when it is described that a component is directly connected to another component, it is understood that no component is present between the component and another component. Meanwhile, other expressions describing the relationship of the components, that is, expressions such as between and directly between or adjacent to and directly adjacent to should be similarly interpreted.

[0043] It is to be understood that the singular expression encompasses a plurality of expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise and it should be understood that term include or have indicates that a feature, a number, a step, an operation, a component, a part or the combination thereof described in the specification is present, but does not exclude a possibility of presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, in advance.

[0044] If it is not contrarily defined, all terms used herein have the same meanings as those generally understood by those skilled in the art. Terms which are defined in a generally used dictionary should be interpreted to have the same meaning as the meaning in the context of the related art, and are not interpreted as an ideal meaning or excessively formal meanings unless clearly defined in the present disclosure.

Configuration of Exemplary Embodiment

[0045] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a measuring device 100 in a body balance measuring device according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 2A is a front cross-sectional view of the measuring device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the body balance measuring device 100 has a rectangular top plate 210, and includes first, second, third and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180 for respective corner regions of a lower surface of the top plate 210, respectively.

[0046] The first, second, third, and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180 are all installed in the same form, and output an electric signal which is in proportion to an applied load. A representative example of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180 may become a load cell. In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, four force sensors are used, but by symmetrically placing six and eight force sensors, it is also possible to measure a more accurate balance.

[0047] In addition, an electrode unit includes first and second electrode units 110 and 120 dividing and measuring an impedance of a left sole of a user, and third and fourth electrode units 130 and 140 dividing and measuring an impedance of a right sole of the user.

[0048] The top plate 210 as a member onto which the user steps is manufactured by metal, synthetic resin (e.g., plastic, acrylic, etc.), tempered glass, and the like to sufficiently withstand a weight. A top plate step 215 is formed around a periphery of the top plate 210, which enables the top plate 210 to be movable up and down only in a housing 150, and prevents the top plate 210 from being lifted out of the housing 150. In addition, a housing step 155 is configured to be also formed on an upper inner periphery of the housing 150 to be in contact with the top plate step 215.

[0049] A bottom plate 220 has sufficient rigidity for accurate measurement even if the bottom plate 220 is uneven or lifted. The bottom plate 220 may be made of the same material as the top plate 210.

[0050] A placement groove 230 is a groove which is recessed on an upper surface of the top plate 220, and is formed to correspond to each of a location and a size of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180. Accordingly, when a user steps on the top plate 210, a lower end of the force sensor is in contact with the bottom plate 220 while being inserted into the placement groove 230. That is, the placement groove 230 guides an exact vertical movement of the top plate 210.

[0051] A vibration motor 240 may be attached to a lower surface of the top plate 210, and may inform the user of various operation states through vibration. For example, a measurement start, measurement completion, errors, whether balance is normal, and the like may be informed by a cycle and amplitude difference of the vibration. If necessary, a buzzer or speaker may also be added.

[0052] FIG. 2B illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the measuring device 100 illustrated in FIG. 2A becomes a first measuring device 100a, and a second measuring device 100b having the same configuration as the first measuring device 100a is installed to be close to the first measuring device 100a. Through this, the first measuring device 100a may be a measuring device for a left foot, and the second measuring device 100b may become a measuring device for a right foot.

[0053] FIG. 2C illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A. As illustrated in FIG. 2C, a third measuring device 100c has a housing step 155 at an upper portion of the housing 150, and a lower step 157 at a lower portion. Further, the bottom plate 220 maintains a gap with the housing 150, and has a bottom plate step 224 corresponding to a lower step 157 on a circumference thereof. Side force from the housing 150 may be blocked due to an independent structure of the bottom plate 220.

[0054] FIG. 2D illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2A. As illustrated in FIG. 2D, a fourth measuring device 100d has a third measuring device 100c for the left foot and a third measuring device 100c for the right foot around an upper frame 510 and a lower frame 520. Frame steps 530 are formed at both sides of the upper frame 510, and lower steps 157 are formed at both sides of the lower frame 520.

[0055] A top plate step 215 of each of the first and second top plates 210a and 210b maintains a gap with the upper frame 510, and corresponds to the frame step 530. A bottom plate step 224 of each of the first and second bottom plates 220a and 220b maintains a gap with the lower frame 520, and corresponds to the lower step 157. Side force from the housing 150, and mutual interference may be blocked due to independent structures of the first and second top plates 210a and 210b and the first and second bottom plates 220a and 220b.

[0056] FIG. 3 is a relationship diagram illustrating a schematic measuring device 100 and a half bridge of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 is a connection circuit diagram of the half bridge illustrated in FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a third force sensor 170 is constituted by a dummy bridge 300 in which first and second resistances are connected in series, and a first half bridge 250 which is connected to the dummy bridge 300, and in which third and fourth resistances are connected in series. That is, first, second, third and fourth resistances R1, R2, R3, and R4 constitute a full bridge, and the first and second resistances R1 and R2 are dummy resistances. A reason for such a configuration is that there is a decrease in some sensitivity, but balance measurement is sufficient, and the dummy bridge 300 and the first half bridge 250 may be configured with low cost.

[0057] By the same scheme, a fourth force sensor 180 is constituted by a second half bridge 260 which is connected to the dummy bridge 300, and in which fifth and sixth resistances are connected in series. By the same scheme, a second force sensor 200 is constituted by a fourth half bridge 280 which is connected to the dummy bridge 300, and in which seventh and eighth resistances are connected in series. A first force sensor 190 is constituted by a third half bridge 270 which is connected to the dummy bridge 300, and in which ninth and tenth resistances are connected in series.

[0058] Accordingly, a controller 450 may measure voltage of the force sensor while sequentially switching the first, second, third, and fourth half bridges 250, 260, 270, and 280.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the body balance measuring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the body balance measuring device according to the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the measuring device 100 and a mechanism 440 are electrically connected by a connector 160.

[0060] The mechanism 440 has a handle 430 so that the user who steps onto the measuring device 100 may hold with hands, and has a monitor 410 at an upper portion thereof.

[0061] Measured balance information, etc. may be displayed as a graph in the monitor 410, and a small web camera 480 is built in the monitor 410. Optionally, the monitor 410 may be configured as a touch screen for a required input.

[0062] The camera 480 shoots a face of the user to measure a body temperature or blood pressure. Such a measurement application is an algorithm known in a cellular phone, etc.

[0063] A distance sensor 420 is placed in the form of a vertical plane or a left-right curve under the monitor 410 and corresponds to a waist height region (e.g., belly height) of the user. The distance sensor 420 is a flat rectangular or curved rectangular form, and a total of four distance sensors are placed in respective corner regions and a central region. Through this, the distance sensor 420 may detect left and right movements, up and down movements, front and back movements, and the like of the user.

[0064] The handle 430 is extended in a horizontal direction from a lower portion of the distance sensor 430. The handle 430 is gripped by user, which is allowed to keep a stable posture. A pair of handle electrodes 435 is formed in a left handle 430, and a pair of handle electrodes 435 is also formed in a right handle 430. The two pairs of handle electrodes 435 measure an impedance of a palm to measure body fat, heart rate, and the like.

[0065] The mechanism 440 has a stable mechanical structure not to fall, and is made of iron, aluminum, or the like. Optionally, exercise equipment such as treadmills, cycling, steppers, etc., may be combined with the mechanism 440.

[0066] The controller 450 operates peripheral devices, and measures a body balance of the user based on output signals of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180. The controller 450 may be a Micom, a CPU of a computer, and an application processor (AP) of the cellular phone.

[0067] A communication unit 460 transmits measured balance data and exercise data to an external device. The communication unit 460 includes a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetooth module, an infrared communication module, a wireless LAN module, 3G and 4G communication modules, a ZigBee communication module, an NFC module, a wired LAN, a wired Internet, or the like.

[0068] A storage unit 470 is connected to the controller 450 to provide an operating program, an execution program, environmental configuration data, and the like required by the controller 450, and store operation results of the controller 450. The storage unit 210 may be a hard disk, an optical disc, a flash memory, RAM, ROM, EPROM, solid state drive (SSD), compact flash (CF), secure digital (SD), micro secure digital (Micro-SD), mini secure digital (Mini-SD), extreme digital (xD), memory stick, or the like.

[0069] As needed, a power supply may be added, which may be driven by a battery by primary battery or secondary battery, and may be driven by an external power supply using an AC power and an adapter.

Operation of Exemplary Embodiment

[0070] Hereinafter, an operation of a body balance measuring device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0071] First, a user exercises by using a treadmill or cycling installed in a mechanism 440.

[0072] Then, the user steps down from exercise equipment, and steps onto first, second third, and electrode units 110, 120, 130, and 140. In addition, the user holds a handle 430 with hands. In this case, a distance sensor 420 senses front-back and left-right distance changes according to movement of the user.

[0073] A monitor 410 may display a guidance operation for measuring a body balance. For example, lifting one foot, half bending knees, bending waist, etc. are displayed so that the user follows the operations.

[0074] In the measuring device 100, first, second, third and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180 sense respective distributed weights according to a weight of the user, and transmits sensed output signals to a controller 450. In this case, the controller 450 receives the output signals of the first, second, third and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180 while sequentially switching first, second, third, and fourth half bridges 250, 260, 270, and 280 in the bridge circuit illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0075] The controller 450 represents how much the body balance of the user is changed compared to a body balance before exercise by integrating distribution forces of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180 and signals of the distance sensor 420. For example, the change of the body balance may be a change range of the center of gravity (unbalanced weight), a left-right balance of the body, front-back swaying of the body, left-right swaying, etc.

[0076] Further, impedances of a left foot and a right foot may be measured in the first, second, third, and fourth electrode units 110, 120, 130, and 140, and impedances of a left hand and a right hand are measured in a handle electrode 435. Body fat, muscle mass, body mass index (BMI), obesity, etc., are measured based on the measured impedance values.

[0077] Measured body data may be stored in a storage unit 470, and transmitted to a cellular phone of the user or a cell phone of a guardian via a communication unit 460.

Correction of Exemplary Embodiment

[0078] FIG. 5 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a correction device using the body balance measuring device 500 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 5, first, the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180 are attached to a top plate 210.

[0079] In addition, first, second, third, and fourth reference sensors 320, 330, 340, and 350 are installed in a base 310 to correspond to locations of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180. The reference sensor as a sensor which becomes a reference of correction outputs an accurate signal. Accordingly, a correction process is a process of adjusting an output signal slope of the force sensor to match an output signal slope of the reference sensor.

[0080] A curvature transfer unit 370 and a flat plate 360 are provided at an upper portion of each reference sensor. The curvature transfer unit 370 has a top surface in which a hemispherical curved surface is formed, and is configured in point contact with the flat plate 360. Through this, fine side-direction force or diagonal force also acts only as vertical distribution force.

[0081] Then, the assembled top plate 210 and first, second, third, and fourth force sensors 190, 200, 170, and 180 are placed on the flat plate 360. Then, the first force sensor 190, the flat plate 360, the curvature transfer unit 370, and the first reference sensor 320 are formed in a structure of being stacked vertically. By such a scheme, the second, third, and fourth force sensors 200, 170, and 180 are stacked on the second, third, and fourth reference sensors 330, 340, and 350, respectively.

[0082] Then, any external force 400 acts on the top plate 210. In a conventional correction scheme, the external force 400 should be an accurate load applied to an accurate location. On the contrary, in the correction system of the exemplary embodiment, the external force 400 may be a different load applied to a different location each time.

[0083] The controller 450 corrects an output signal slope of the first force sensor 190 to match an output signal of the first reference sensor 320, corrects an output signal slope of the second force sensor 200 to match an output signal of the second reference sensor 330, corrects an output signal slope of the third force sensor 170 to match an output signal of the third reference sensor 340, and corrects an output signal slope of the fourth force sensor 180 to match an output signal of the fourth reference sensor 350.

[0084] Four force sensors are corrected by one correction while the force sensor is assembled as such. As a result, the precision of a product may be greatly increased, manufacturing cost may be lowered, and a production process may be simplified.

[0085] Detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed as described above are provided so as for those skilled in the art to implement and execute the present disclosure. The present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiments, but those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure can be variously modified and changed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, those skilled in the art may use the respective components disclosed in the exemplary embodiments by combining the respective components with each other. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein, but intends to grant the widest range which is coherent with the principles and new features disclosed herein.

[0086] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the aforementioned detailed description should not be construed as restrictive in all terms and should be considered illustrative. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by rational construing of the appended claims and all modifications within an equivalent scope of the present disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein, but intends to grant the widest range which is coherent with the principles and new features presented herein. Further, the claims that are not expressly cited in the claims are combined to form an exemplary embodiment or be included in a new claim by an amendment after the application.