Weight measurement system and measurement program

Abstract

This system allows for weight measurement in various body positions and can be applied to various body measurements using load detection. [Solution] The system is configured to include multiple measurement units arranged on the floor surface and detecting the load applied from support bases placed on them, a weight calculation unit that calculates the weight of the person being measured based on the detected values ​​of each measurement unit, and a positional relationship identification unit that identifies the positional relationship of each measurement unit.

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a weight measurement system and a measurement program used in, for example, home-visit care, hospitals, and the like. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Weight measurement is a basic means for grasping the health condition of the human body, and changes in body weight serve as an important indicator showing nutritional status, water balance, and signs of disease. Therefore, in sites such as nursing care and medical care, it is important to regularly measure the user's body weight and continuously grasp their health condition.

[0003] In addition, in sites such as nursing care and medical care, some users cannot maintain a standing position by themselves during weight measurement. Therefore, according to the user, weight measurement is performed in various postures, such as sitting on a chair or wheelchair (sitting position), lying still on a bed (supine position), and standing with the assistance of a walker (standing position).

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a chair-type weighing scale that can be used for weight measurement in a sitting position at the visited site for home-visit care or home-visit nursing.

[0005] However, the weight measuring device of Patent Document 1 cannot be used for weight measurement in standing position or supine position. In addition, even though it can be disassembled, it is a chair, so it has a large volume, which imposes a heavy burden when being transported to a visited site.

[0006] In addition, in sites such as nursing care and medical care, a weight scale is sometimes used to measure the center of gravity, for example, to check the fall risk of a user. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0007] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-093347 [[Summary of the Invention]] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Therefore, the present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its primary objective is to provide a weight measurement system that can measure weight in various body positions and can be applied to various body measurements using load detection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In other words, the weight measurement system according to the present invention is a weight measurement system for measuring the weight of a person being measured who is supported on a support platform, and comprises: a plurality of measurement units arranged on the floor surface that detect the load applied from the support platform on which they are placed; a weight calculation unit that calculates the weight of the person being measured based on the detected values ​​of each measurement unit; and a positional relationship identification unit that identifies the positional relationship of each measurement unit. (effect) In this configuration, the present invention allows for weight measurement in various positions by changing the type of support stand and the arrangement of the measurement units. For example, by placing a chair as a support stand on top of four measurement units arranged in a square on the floor, weight can be measured in a seated position. Additionally, by changing the number and arrangement of measurement units and placing a flat plate and a walker on top of them in sequence, stable weight measurement in a standing position is possible, and by placing a bed on top of the measurement units, weight can be measured in a supine position. Furthermore, the present invention allows for the determination of the positional relationship between each measurement unit even when the arrangement of each measurement unit is changed for each body position in which weight is measured. Based on this positional relationship and the detected values ​​of each measurement unit, it can be used for measuring the center of gravity, measuring load distribution, detecting the movement and posture of the person being measured, and so on. Furthermore, the present invention is even more effective when performing weight measurements in home care or home medical care settings. Specifically, since it can use items found in ordinary homes, such as chairs or beds, as support stands, the size of the equipment that needs to be transported to the client's home can be reduced, thus reducing the burden of transportation. For example, the effect of the present invention, which reduces the burden of transportation, is particularly evident when a caregiver from a small business goes to a client's home alone.

[0010] Each of the aforementioned measurement units detects the positional information of the other measurement units, and it is desirable that the positional relationship identification unit identifies the positional relationship of each measurement unit based on the positional information detected by each of the aforementioned measurement units. (effect) With this configuration, the measurement unit automatically detects the position of other measurement units, making it possible to determine the relative positions of each measurement unit simply by arranging them side by side.

[0011] Each of the aforementioned measurement units has a distance measuring sensor capable of measuring distance in only one direction and is arranged according to a predetermined arrangement rule. The positional relationship identification unit identifies the positional relationship of each of the measurement units based on the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor and the predetermined arrangement rule. Preferably, the predetermined rule specifies that each measurement unit is positioned in a location on the distance measuring direction of another measurement unit, or in a location where another measurement unit is on its own distance measuring direction. (effect) With this configuration, by pre-positioning other measurement units in the distance-measuring direction of each measurement unit according to placement rules, it becomes possible to determine the relative position of other measurement units to each measurement unit simply by measuring the distance between units. This allows for the use of simple distance-measuring sensors to detect the positions of other measurement units. Furthermore, by arranging each measurement unit so that all of them are directly or indirectly connected through relationships such as detecting other measurement units or being detected by other measurement units, it becomes possible to determine the relative positions of all other measurement units from one measurement unit. Furthermore, since the distance between measurement units is measured automatically, there is no need to be overly concerned about the magnitude of that distance during placement work, thus ensuring ease of use.

[0012] It is desirable to further include a placement rule instruction unit that instructs the operator to arrange each of the measurement units according to the predetermined placement rules. (effect) With this configuration, for example, measurement units can be positioned while viewing a display showing placement rules, making the placement process of measurement units much simpler.

[0013] It is desirable to further provide a connecting mechanism that allows each of the aforementioned measurement units to be connected to one another in a detachable manner. (effect) With this configuration, the measurement units can be connected and bundled together for space-saving during transport. Furthermore, when measuring weight, each measurement unit can be detached and used in the desired configuration.

[0014] Furthermore, the measurement program according to the present invention is a program for measuring the weight of a person being measured who is supported on a support platform, and causes a computer to perform functions as a weight calculation unit that calculates the weight of the person being measured based on detected values ​​output from measurement units that are arranged in a plurality on the floor surface and detect the load applied from the support platform on which the person is placed, and as a position relationship identification unit that identifies the positional relationship of each of the measurement units. (effect) Such a measurement program can produce similar effects to the weight measurement system described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] With this configuration, the present invention allows for weight measurement in various body positions and can be applied to various body measurements utilizing load detection. Furthermore, it reduces the burden associated with transportation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of the entire weight measurement system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram of the measurement unit according to the same embodiment. [Figure 3] A functional block diagram illustrating the functions of the weight measurement system according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram illustrating the distance measurement method using the measurement unit of the same embodiment. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram for explaining an arrangement rule in the same embodiment. [Figure 6] Schematic diagram for explaining a screen displaying measurement results in the same embodiment. [Figure 7] Flow chart for explaining a weight measurement method in the same embodiment. [Figure 8] Schematic diagram for explaining other arrangement rules in the same embodiment. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the weight measurement system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] <Embodiment> 1. Overview The weight measurement system of the present embodiment is used for weight measurement and center of gravity measurement in, for example, nursing care sites, medical sites, and the like. Information on the measured weight and center of gravity serves as an index for grasping the health condition of a user. This weight measurement system is configured to be usable for weight measurement in various body positions such as a sitting position, a lying position, and a standing position. In the present embodiment, the description will be given mainly focusing on measurement in a sitting position.

[0019] 2. Device Configuration As shown in FIG. 1, the weight measurement system 100 includes a support base B that supports a measurement subject H, a plurality of measurement units 2 that detect a load applied from the support base B, and a general control device 3.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the support base B supports the entire weight of the measurement subject H. When measurement is performed in a sitting position, the support base B is composed of, for example, a four-legged chair B1 and a flat footrest B2.

[0021] Support platform B is selected as appropriate according to the body position for the weight measurement. For example, a bed is selected for measurements taken in a supine position, and a flat plate is selected for measurements taken in a standing position. In the case of standing measurements, if a walker is placed on top of the flat plate, measurements can be taken in a stable posture even for elderly individuals or others with balance concerns (H).

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the measurement unit 2 is arranged in multiple locations on the floor surface, supporting the support base B from below so that it is suspended above the floor surface, and detecting the load applied from the support base B. The detected load value, which indicates the magnitude of the detected load, is output to the overall control device 3, which will be described later.

[0023] The number and arrangement of the measurement units 2 used will be changed to match the shape of the support base B. In Figure 1, the measurement units 2 are placed at four locations corresponding to the legs of the chair B1 and at one location corresponding to the footrest B2. Note that the floor surface is not necessarily limited to the floor of the building, but may also be the ground outside the building, as long as it is a roughly horizontal surface.

[0024] Specifically, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the measurement unit 2 includes a top plate 21 on which the support base B is placed, a load cell 22 that detects the load applied from the support base B to the top plate 21, a unit control unit 23 that controls the load cell 22, and a housing 24 that houses the load cell 22 and the unit control unit 23. The measurement unit 2 also includes a power supply that provides power to the load cell 22 and other components.

[0025] The top plate 21 constitutes the upper surface of the measurement unit 2 and is a flat plate provided parallel to the floor surface when the measurement unit 2 is placed on the floor. It is preferable that the top surface of the top plate 21 be provided with a resin anti-slip structure or the like.

[0026] The load cell 22 detects the load applied from the support base B, converts it into an electrical signal, and outputs it. The load cell 22 can be, for example, a magnetostrictive load cell, a capacitive load cell, a gyroscopic load cell, or a strain gauge load cell.

[0027] The unit control unit 23 converts the analog signal output by the load cell 22 into a digital signal and outputs it to the overall control unit 3, which will be described later. Furthermore, the unit control unit 23 is configured to output to the overall control unit 3 information such as the ID information unique to each measurement unit 2, the battery level of each measurement unit 2, and the communication status with the overall control unit 3.

[0028] The unit control unit 23 is physically a computer comprising analog electrical circuits consisting of buffers, amplifiers, etc., digital electrical circuits consisting of a CPU, memory, communication interface, etc., and AD converters, DA converters, etc. that mediate between these analog / digital electrical circuits. The unit control unit 23 performs its functions through the cooperation of the CPU and its peripheral devices according to the program stored in the memory.

[0029] The housing 24 is a box-shaped structure with a roughly square prism shape, where the bottom and top surfaces form a square, and it forms the internal space for housing the load cell 22 and the unit control unit 23. The shape of the housing 24 is not limited to the above, but it is preferable that it be a regular polygonal prism or a cylinder.

[0030] The overall control unit 3 is physically a so-called computer main unit equipped with a CPU, memory, A / D / D / A converter, communication interface, etc., and a portable terminal such as a tablet equipped with input / output devices such as a touch panel display. The overall control unit 3 is configured to communicate with the measurement unit 2 using short-range wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth. The overall control unit 3 performs the functions of at least a weight calculation unit 31 and a result output unit 32, as shown in Figure 3, by executing the measurement program stored in the memory and having the various devices cooperate.

[0031] The weight calculation unit 31 sums up the loads detected by each measurement unit 2 and calculates the weight. The result output unit 32 outputs the weight calculated by the weight calculation unit 31 as character data or image data that can be displayed on a display or the like. The result output unit 32 may also refer to past weight data stored in a predetermined area of ​​memory and display it together with the current weight.

[0032] However, the weight measurement system according to the present invention identifies the positional relationship of each measurement unit 2 and measures the center of gravity of the person being measured H. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 3, the measurement unit 2 further includes a distance measuring sensor 25, and the overall control device 3 further performs the functions of a placement rule instruction unit 33, a correspondence relationship reception unit 34, a positional relationship identification unit 35, and a center of gravity calculation unit 36.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the distance measuring sensor 25 measures the distance l to an object located in a distance measuring direction set to one direction relative to itself. The distance l detected by the distance measuring sensor 25 is converted into a digital signal by the unit control unit 23 and output to the overall control unit 3.

[0034] More specifically, the distance measuring sensor 25 is a reflective laser sensor utilizing the TOF (Time-of-Flight) method or triangulation method. It has a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element located in the internal space of the housing 24. A single beam of laser light is emitted horizontally from a light-transmitting window 251 provided on the side wall of the housing 24, and the light reflected from the same direction is detected. The laser light is emitted perpendicular to the side wall of the housing 24 when viewed from above.

[0035] The placement rule instruction unit 33 instructs the operator to place each measurement unit 2 according to a predetermined placement rule. Specifically, the placement rule instruction unit 33 reads an instruction image reflecting the placement rule, such as Figure 5(a), from a predetermined area of ​​memory and displays it on the display. The placement rule instruction unit 33 may also instruct the placement rule using video or audio.

[0036] The arrangement rules are predetermined to correspond to the measurement position or the type of support stand B that is expected to be used, and specify the direction in which other measurement units 2 should be positioned relative to each measurement unit 2. The arrangement rules of this embodiment include at least the following four rules. (1) Arrange a predetermined number of measuring units 2. (2) Position each measurement unit 2 in the distance measurement direction of the other measurement unit 2, or in a position where the other measurement unit 2 is in its own distance measurement direction. (3) Arrange each measurement unit such that all of the measurement units 2 are directly or indirectly connected through a detection / detected relationship, in which they detect other measurement units or are detected by other measurement units. (4) The distance measurement direction of each measurement unit 2 is positioned in a predetermined direction relative to the distance measurement direction of other measurement units 2 that are in a detection / detection relationship.

[0037] Figure 5(a) shows an example of an instruction image displayed when measuring seated posture using chair B1 and footrest B2. This figure shows how the five measurement units 2A to 2E should be arranged when viewed from the vertical direction.

[0038] Specifically, Figure 5(a) instructs the four measurement units 2A to 2D, which are placed under chair B1, to be positioned in the order 2A → 2B → 2C → 2D → 2A → ..., rotating each measurement unit 2 by 90 degrees along the distance measurement direction of the previous measurement unit 2, thereby arranging the four units in a rectangle. With this arrangement, the detection / detected relationship for measurement units 2A to 2D loops.

[0039] Furthermore, Figure 5(a) indicates that the measurement unit 2E, which is positioned below the footrest B2, should be positioned below the rectangle while facing the measurement unit 2B. Specifically, the distance measurement direction of the measurement unit 2E is positioned at a 45° angle with respect to the distance measurement direction of the measurement unit 2B.

[0040] In Figure 5(a), the measurement units 2 to be placed at each position are labeled 2A to 2E, but this is for explanatory purposes only. The actual placement rule instruction unit 33 instructs the operator to place any measurement unit 2 at each position.

[0041] The correspondence reception unit 34 receives correspondence information from the user to associate the ID information of the placed measurement units 2 with the placement location of each measurement unit shown in the instruction image. Based on the received correspondence information, the correspondence reception unit 34 stores the ID information of each measurement unit 2 in a predetermined area of ​​memory, linked to its corresponding placement location. The input of the correspondence information is performed, for example, by operating the tablet while a list of ID information of the measurement units 2 that are in communication with the tablet and the instruction image are displayed on the tablet's display.

[0042] The positional relationship identification unit 35 identifies the positional relationship of each measurement unit 2 arranged on the floor surface. Specifically, the positional relationship identification unit 35 identifies the positional relationship of each measurement unit 2 based on the measurement distance of the distance measuring sensor 25 of each measurement unit 2, the instructed placement rule, and the correspondence between the ID information and placement position of each measurement unit 2.

[0043] As shown in Figure 5(b), the positional relationship identification unit 35 of this embodiment identifies the relative coordinates p1 to p5 of each measurement unit 2 with respect to the reference point O, using the center of the rectangularly arranged measurement units 2A to 2D as the reference point O. Note that w represents the length of one side of the measurement unit 2. The reference point O may also be the position of any of the measurement units 2.

[0044] The center of gravity calculation unit 36 ​​calculates the center of gravity of the person being measured H based on the load detection values ​​of each measurement unit 2 and the relative coordinates of each measurement unit 2 identified by the position relationship identification unit 35. Specifically, the center of gravity calculation unit 36 ​​calculates in which direction and how far the center of gravity C is from the reference point O.

[0045] The center of gravity position C calculated by the center of gravity calculation unit 36 ​​is displayed on the display by the result output unit 32 in a manner that allows comparison with the positional relationship of the measurement unit 2 and the reference point O, as shown in Figure 6. The result output unit 32 may also display the movement trajectory of the center of gravity position C, or display an evaluation of the balance ability of the subject being measured, which is determined based on the trajectory length and the amplitude of the trajectory's oscillation. In Figure 6, the radio wave status and battery level of each measurement unit 2 are also displayed in accordance with the measurement results.

[0046] <Measurement method> Next, a method for measuring weight using the weight measurement system 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Here, we assume a situation in which a caregiver measures the weight and center of gravity of a user (the person being measured) at the client's home during a home care visit. The measurement unit 2 used for measurement is brought to the client's location in sets of, for example, 6 or 10 units, so that it can be applied to various measurement positions at the client's location.

[0047] First, the person taking the measurement determines the measurement position by checking the health condition of the person being measured H and the available support stand B at the location, and then inputs this information into the tablet (Step S1). For example, information regarding the measurement position is selected and input on a display screen that shows several predetermined positions for selection. Alternatively, the type of support stand B selected may also be input as information regarding the measurement position.

[0048] Next, an instruction image corresponding to the entered measurement position is displayed on the tablet screen (Step S2). The person taking the measurement places the measurement unit 2 necessary for the measurement on the floor according to the instruction image (Step S3). At this time, the distance between each measurement unit 2 is adjusted by the person taking the measurement to match the size of the selected support stand B, such as the spacing between chair legs.

[0049] After placement, the operator uses a tablet to associate the ID information of the measurement unit 2 with each placement location (step S4). This association is performed, for example, by looking at the ID display attached to the top panel 21 of the measurement unit 2.

[0050] Once the mapping is complete, the relative coordinates of each measurement unit 2 are calculated based on the measurement distance, placement rules, and the mapping (step S5). At this time, it may be determined whether the placement or mapping operation of the measurement unit 2 is appropriate based on whether the relative coordinates fall within a predetermined range, and the result may be displayed. If the placement is inappropriate, the measurer rearranges the units (steps S3, S4).

[0051] Once the measurement unit 2 is properly positioned, the operator places the support base B on top of the measurement unit 2 (step S6). After placement, the operator performs a predetermined operation on the tablet to execute a tare process to subtract the effect of the load of the support base B from the detection results (step S7).

[0052] Once the tare process is complete, the person being measured is asked to stand on support platform B, and their weight and center of gravity are measured (step S8). Finally, the measurement is completed when the measurement results are displayed on the screen (step S9).

[0053] <Regarding other placement rules> The following explains the positioning rules for taking measurements in other body positions, such as lying down or standing. When a four-legged bed is assumed to be used as a support for measurements taken in a supine position, it is preferable to have a pre-set arrangement rule that excludes measurement unit 2E from the arrangement rule shown in Figure 5(a), i.e., an arrangement rule that places the four measurement units 2 in a rectangle.

[0054] When a flat plate is assumed to be the support platform B for standing measurements, it is preferable to pre-set arrangement rules as shown in Figure 8(a). In this figure, it is assumed that a flat plate large enough for a person to stand on, for example a 1m square plate, is placed on top of nine measurement units 2. The number of measurement units 2 used may be changed according to the size and strength of the flat plate. In order to ensure balance, it is better to use a larger number of measurement units 2, and when using a 1m square plate as described above, it is ideal to arrange nine units in a 3x3 configuration. In medical and nursing care settings, it is necessary to pay close attention to the risk of falls for users, and a configuration with a large number of units supporting the support platform is preferable in that it gives the person taking the measurement a sense of security.

[0055] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8(a), when using a flat plate, it is preferable to provide a positioning reference section for positioning the measurement unit 2 at a position corresponding to the placement rule. This positioning reference section may be a fixing device such as a magnet or Velcro for fixing the measurement unit 2 to a predetermined position on the flat plate. Alternatively, the positioning reference section may be a mark printed on the back surface of the flat plate, a positioning contact surface formed on the back surface, or a fitting structure into which the measurement unit 2 is fitted.

[0056] When arranged as shown in Figure 8(a), for example as shown in Figure 8(b), the center of the measurement units 2A, 2C, 2F, and 2H placed at the four corners is used as the reference point O, and the relative coordinates p1 to p9 of each measurement unit 2 with respect to this reference point O are determined. Specifically, the positional relationship of each measurement unit 2 can be determined by calculating the coordinates of the four corners (p1, p3, p6, p8), then the coordinates of the midpoints on the outer perimeter (p2, p5, p7, p9), and finally the coordinate of the midpoint inside (p4).

[0057] In addition, it would be beneficial to have various pre-defined arrangement rules, such as a pattern in which three measurement units 2 are arranged in an equilateral triangle, or a pattern in which they are arranged in an array with a predetermined aspect ratio, depending on the number and size of legs of the support stand that is expected to be used. Furthermore, the arrangement rules may also be based on the premise that multiple support stands B are used in combination, as shown in Figure 5(a). Since most chairs and beds that are expected to be used as support stands B have four legs, it would be practical in many situations if an arrangement rule were pre-defined that places the measurement units 2 at each vertex of a rectangle.

[0058] Furthermore, the relative orientation of each measurement unit 2, as defined by the placement rules, should preferably be set to angles that allow for easy and accurate manual placement, such as right angles or parallel lines, in order to ensure the simplicity of the placement work.

[0059] <Effects> With a weight measurement system 100 configured in this way, it becomes possible to measure weight in various positions by changing the type of support stand and the arrangement of the measurement units.

[0060] By using a chair or other object at the client's location as support stand B, the only items that need to be transported to the client's location are measurement unit 2 and the tablet. Compared to conventional seated scales, the size and weight of the items to be transported can be made much smaller and lighter, reducing the burden during transport.

[0061] In this embodiment, the measurer positions the measurement units 2 according to the placement rules, so that each measurement unit 2 is connected in a detection / detected relationship, and the relative orientation of each measurement unit 2 is predetermined. As a result, the weight measurement system 100 can determine the relative position of each measurement unit 2 simply by measuring the distance between them. Although the measurer has to take the time to set up the measurement units 2 according to the placement rules, the sensors used can be simpler. The effort required for placement can be sufficiently reduced by making the arrangement specified in the placement rules a rectangle or something similar that can be easily done manually with precision.

[0062] Furthermore, since the shape of the measurement unit 2 is a square prism, when the measurement units 2 are arranged in a rectangle, the side walls of each measurement unit 2 can be arranged approximately parallel to each other, making it easier to ensure the distance measurement accuracy between the measurement units 2 even if there is some variation in the orientation of the measurement units 2.

[0063] By measuring the center of gravity at the client's location, it becomes possible to identify clients with poor balance abilities. This allows for immediate action to reduce the risk of falls, such as reducing steps or increasing lighting at the location.

[0064] <Other Embodiments> The weight measurement system 100 may further include a connecting mechanism 4 that connects each measurement unit to each other in a detachable manner. The connecting mechanism 4 consists of magnets attached to the side walls of the housings 24 of each measurement unit 2, for example, as shown in Figure 2. The connecting mechanism 4 may also consist of a locking part and a locked part.

[0065] The distance measuring sensor is not limited to the reflective laser sensor mentioned above, but may also utilize other photoelectric sensors, ultrasonic sensors, radio wave sensors, cameras, etc. Even when using photoelectric sensors or sound wave sensors, the distance to another measurement unit can be measured by emitting electromagnetic waves or ultrasonic waves with enhanced directional directivity. Furthermore, the measurement unit may have two or more distance measuring sensors.

[0066] Alternatively, instead of a distance measuring sensor, a position sensor that detects positional information such as the distance and direction to other measurement units may be used. When using such a position sensor to detect the position and direction of other measurement units, it is not necessary to arrange the measurement units according to a predetermined arrangement rule. Furthermore, if each measurement unit can recognize the ID information of the object being measured, the function of the correspondence reception unit can be omitted.

[0067] The positional relationship identification unit may also identify the positional relationship of the measurement units based on the positional information of each measurement unit detected by a device other than the measurement unit. For example, the positional relationship identification unit may identify the positional relationship of the measurement units by analyzing an image of the arrangement of the measurement units taken with a tablet. The positional relationship determination unit may also determine the positional relationship based on the radio wave intensity transmitted from the measurement unit, or it may be equipped with a GPS transmitter in each measurement unit and determine the positional relationship based on the positional information.

[0068] Instead of providing a section for specifying placement rules, the designated placement rules may be communicated to the measurement personnel in advance using instruction manuals or other means. The placement rule instruction unit 33 may also use the ID information of each measurement unit 2 to instruct the placement of a specific measurement unit 2 at each location. In this case as well, the function of the correspondence reception unit can be omitted.

[0069] The placement rules are not limited to those defined in the above embodiment. The placement rules only need to complement the positional information of other measurement units acquired by the measurement unit and enable the positional relationship identification unit to identify the positional relationship of each measurement unit, and are set according to the type of sensor mounted on the measurement unit.

[0070] For regular home care visits, a flat plate like the one shown in Figure 8(a) can be brought in on the first visit and left there. This way, subsequent visits only require transporting the measurement unit and tablet. Furthermore, it is less expensive than installing the entire measurement system at the visitor's location, and places less burden on the user.

[0071] The measurement results can be stored in a designated area of ​​memory, for example, linked to the ID information of the person being measured. By accumulating past measurement results, it becomes possible to track changes in the person's weight and other parameters. At this time, the measurement position selected for each measurement can also be linked to the measurement result. This allows the person taking the measurement to perform the measurement in the same environment as before, for example, by displaying the previous measurement position on the tablet screen. Performing regular measurements in the same environment allows for a more accurate understanding of weight fluctuations. This is particularly useful in healthcare settings where meticulous attention must be paid to changes in the user's health. The previous measurement position would be easier for the person taking the measurement to understand if it were displayed in a format such as a photograph of the support stand (chair) used last time.

[0072] The measurement system according to the present invention may perform only one of the following: weight measurement or center of gravity measurement, or it may perform further functions such as load distribution measurement or detection of the movement and posture of the person being measured. With the present invention, the spacing between measurement units can be adjusted according to the size of the person being measured, and the density of detection points can be controlled by changing the number of measurement units, thus contributing to more precise measurement of load distribution and other parameters. The measurement system according to the present invention may be used not only in nursing care and medical settings, but also in other fields such as sports. It may also be used for measuring the weight of non-human objects such as animals and machines.

[0073] The weight measurement system of the above embodiment consisted of a measurement unit and an overall control device (tablet), but the physical configuration of the weight measurement system according to the present invention is not limited to this. Furthermore, the physical location of each functional unit is not limited to the locations shown in each embodiment. For example, the functions of the weight calculation unit 31, etc., may be performed by a server that is configured to communicate with a communication terminal such as a tablet.

[0074] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 100: Weight measurement system 2: Measurement Unit 21: Tabletop 22: Load cell 23: Unit Control Unit 24: Cabinet 25: Distance measuring sensor 3: Overall control unit 31: Weight calculation unit 32: Result output section 33: Placement Rule Instructions Section 34: Support and Inquiries Department 35: Positional relationship identification unit 36: Center of gravity calculation part 4:Connection mechanism B: Support stand C: Center of gravity position H: Subjects being measured O:Reference point

Claims

1. A weight measurement system for measuring the weight of a person being measured while they are supported on a support platform, A measurement unit is arranged in multiple locations on the floor surface and detects the load applied from a support base placed on top of it, A weight calculation unit calculates the weight of the person being measured based on the detected values ​​of each of the aforementioned measurement units, A weight measurement system comprising a positional relationship identification unit that identifies the positional relationship of each of the aforementioned measurement units.

2. Each of the aforementioned measurement units detects the position information of the other measurement units. The weight measurement system according to claim 1, wherein the positional relationship identification unit identifies the positional relationship of each measurement unit based on the positional information detected by each measurement unit.

3. Each of the aforementioned measurement units has a distance measuring sensor capable of measuring distance in only one direction and is arranged according to a predetermined arrangement rule. The positional relationship determination unit determines the positional relationship of each measurement unit based on the measurement distance of the distance measuring sensor and the predetermined arrangement rule. The weight measurement system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined rule specifies that each measurement unit is positioned in the distance measurement direction of the other measurement unit, or in a position where the other measurement unit is in its own distance measurement direction.

4. The weight measurement system according to claim 3, further comprising a placement rule instruction unit that instructs the person taking the measurement to arrange each of the measurement units according to the predetermined placement rules.

5. The weight measurement system according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting mechanism for connecting each of the aforementioned measurement units to one another in a detachable manner.

6. A measurement program for measuring the weight of a person being measured while supported on a support platform, A weight calculation unit calculates the weight of the person being measured based on the detected values ​​output from a measurement unit that detects the load applied from support platforms placed on top of it, which is arranged in multiple locations on the floor. A measurement program that causes a computer to perform the function of a positional relationship identification unit, which identifies the positional relationship of each of the aforementioned measurement units.

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