Electronic device and control method of electronic device

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic device, which comprises: a position measurement module, which receives radio waves from a position measurement satellite and performs position measurement; a moving distance detection sensor, which detects the moving distance; and a processor, which starts the position measurement module, stops the position measurement module when the position measurement of the position measurement module is still unsuccessful after a first predetermined time, and starts the position measurement module when it is detected that the moving distance detected by the moving distance detection sensor since the position measurement module was stopped is greater than a predetermined distance.

Description

[0001] This invention is a divisional application with application date of March 17, 2020, application number 202010187768.X, and invention name “electronic device, clock, and control method”. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to an electronic device, a clock and a control method. Background Art

[0003] Position detection (position determination) using GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is becoming popular. In addition to car navigation systems, for example, wearable terminals (mobile devices) that runners wear to obtain running movement records (moving distance, moving speed, moving trajectory, etc.) also have sensors (satellite radio wave sensors) that receive radio waves from positioning satellites.

[0004] In order to reduce power consumption, the satellite wave sensor of the mobile device is powered on when position measurement is required and turned off when it is not required. In the example of a runner's wearable device, the satellite wave sensor is powered on upon receiving an instruction to prepare to obtain the movement record of the runner (user).

[0005] The position cannot be determined immediately after the power of the satellite radio wave sensor is turned on (started), and it takes a certain amount of time to receive radio waves from three or more satellites or calculate the position. Therefore, there is a case where the user instructs the acquisition preparation when they are indoors where satellite radio waves cannot be received, rather than giving instructions immediately before the start of movement record acquisition.

[0006] In order to cope with such a situation, when the mobile device cannot receive satellite waves even though the satellite wave sensor is activated, the mobile device repeatedly stops the satellite wave sensor for a predetermined period of time. When the satellite wave cannot be received even after repeated activation and stopping for a predetermined number of times or for a predetermined period of time, the mobile device stops the acquisition preparation and sets the satellite wave sensor to remain stopped.

[0007] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-83227 describes a technique for determining whether a position measurement result after startup is abnormal or normal.

[0008] In the method of repeating activation and deactivation until satellite radio waves can be received, even if the user moves and satellite radio waves can be received, the position measurement is not started during the period when the satellite radio wave sensor is stopped, resulting in a delay in the acquisition of the start movement record. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-83227 describes a technique for determining whether the position measurement result after activation is normal or abnormal, but there is no description of a technique for activating the satellite radio wave sensor early and starting position measurement from the time when satellite radio waves can be received. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention provides an electronic device, which comprises: a position measurement module, which receives radio waves from a position measurement satellite and performs position measurement; a moving distance detection sensor, which detects the moving distance; and a processor, which starts the position measurement module, stops the position measurement module when a first predetermined time has passed and the position measurement of the position measurement module is still unsuccessful, and starts the position measurement module when the processor detects that the moving distance detected by the moving distance detection sensor after the position measurement module is stopped is greater than a predetermined distance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a functional block diagram of the electronic clock according to this embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing the appearance of the electronic timepiece according to the present embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 A state transition diagram of the electronic clock according to the present embodiment is shown.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a running preparation screen displayed on the display unit of the electronic watch according to the present embodiment.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a running preparation completion screen displayed on the display unit of the electronic watch according to the present embodiment.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a running screen displayed on the display unit of the electronic watch according to the present embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7 This is a running rest screen displayed on the display unit of the electronic watch according to the present embodiment.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of the measurement start process executed by the electronic timepiece according to the present embodiment in the running preparation state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] An electronic clock as an electronic device for implementing the present invention is described below. In addition to the time display function, the electronic clock displays the running (running) time or running distance to the runner.

[0019] Figure 1 1 is a functional block diagram of the electronic timepiece 100 according to the present embodiment. The electronic timepiece 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 110 , a memory 120 , a display unit 130 , an operation unit 140 , a position measurement module 150 , and a movement distance detection sensor 160 .

[0020] The CPU 110 controls the electronic timepiece 100 by executing a program stored in the memory 120. The memory 120 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, etc., and stores a program for realizing the functions of the electronic timepiece 100, a program for controlling the power supply of the position measuring module 150, and data required for executing the program.

[0021] The display unit 130 displays the time or the reception status of satellite radio waves, the travel time, and the travel distance. The operation unit 140 includes the following Figure 2 The rotary switch 141 and buttons 142 to 145 are shown in FIG.

[0022] Position measurement module 150 is a sensor that receives GNSS satellite radio waves, and performs position measurement processing based on the received radio wave information to output the current position to CPU 110. Movement distance detection sensor 160 is, for example, an acceleration sensor, which detects walking and counts the number of steps, thereby detecting movement distance and outputting it to CPU 110.

[0023] The electronic clock 100 includes various sensors including an azimuth sensor, a battery, and a communication module for communicating with other electronic devices, but is not described in the Figure 1 middle.

[0024] Figure 2 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of an electronic timepiece 100 according to the present embodiment. The electronic timepiece 100 is a wristwatch and includes a rotary switch 141 and buttons 142 and 143 on the right side of the body and buttons 144 and 145 on the left side of the body. The display unit 130 displays the date and day of the week, the current time, and the remaining battery level.

[0025] Figure 31 is a state transition diagram showing the electronic timepiece 100 according to the present embodiment. The states include a time display state 201 , a stopwatch state 202 , a timer state 203 , a running preparation state 204 , a running preparation complete state 205 , a running state 206 , and a running rest state 207 .

[0026] The time display state 201 is a state in which the electronic clock 100 displays the date or time (see Figure 2 ).

[0027] The stopwatch state 202 is a state in which the electronic timepiece 100 functions as a stopwatch, the button 142 serves as a start / stop button, and the button 143 serves as a reset button.

[0028] The timer state 203 is a state in which the electronic timepiece 100 functions as a timer. The timer time is set by rotating the rotary switch 141 , and the countdown is started / stopped / restarted by pressing the button 142 .

[0029] By pressing the button 144, the time display state 201, the stopwatch state 202, and the timer state 203 are sequentially changed.

[0030] When the button 145 is pressed in the time display state 201, the electronic clock 100 is switched to the running preparation state 204, and the running preparation screen 310 (see the following description) is displayed. Figure 4 ) is displayed on the display unit 130. The running preparation state 204 is a state in which the movement (running) record is prepared to be acquired, and the position measurement start processing is executed (refer to the later described Figure 8 In the running preparation state 204, if the position measurement start processing is completed, the state is changed to the running preparation completed state 205. In addition, in the running preparation state 204, if the rotary switch 141 is pressed, the state is changed to the running state 206.

[0031] Figure 4 This is the running preparation screen 310 displayed on the display unit 130 of the electronic timepiece 100 according to the present embodiment. The satellite icon on the upper left side flashes, and "Searching Positioning Satellites..." is displayed, so that the user can easily understand that the electronic timepiece 100 is in the running preparation state 204.

[0032] return Figure 3 The running preparation completion state 205 is a state in which the acquisition preparation of the movement record is completed and the acquisition can be performed. The electronic clock 100 displays the running preparation completion screen 320 on the display unit 130 (refer to the later described Figure 5 ). If the position measurement start process is successful (see below Figure 8In step S103 → Yes), in the subsequent processing, the electronic clock 100 records the movement based on the position information output by the position measurement module 150. In addition, in the case where the position measurement start processing fails (refer to the following Figure 8 In step S104 → Yes, S105), in the subsequent processing, the electronic clock 100 records the movement based on the moving distance output by the moving distance detection sensor 160. If the rotary switch 141 is pressed in the running preparation completion state 205, it changes to the running state 206.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a running preparation completion screen 320 displayed on the display unit 130 of the electronic timepiece 100 according to the present embodiment. The lower part of the screen displays "ready", and the user can easily understand that the electronic timepiece 100 is in the running preparation completion state 205. Since it is before running (moving), the moving distance or moving time displayed in the middle part of the screen is 0. If the positioning start processing is successful and the positioning satellite radio wave is received, the icon of the upper left satellite is displayed. If the positioning start processing fails and the positioning satellite radio wave is not received, the icon of the upper left satellite is not displayed. Figure 5 This is the running preparation completion screen 320 when receiving the positioning satellite radio wave.

[0034] return Figure 3 The running state 206 is a state in which movement is recorded based on the position information output by the position measurement module 150 or the moving distance output by the moving distance detection sensor 160. The running screen 330 (see below) Figure 6 ) is displayed on the display unit 130. If the rotary switch 141 is pressed in the running state 206, the state changes to the running rest state 207.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a running screen 330 displayed on the display unit 130 of the electronic timepiece 100 according to the present embodiment. "Running" is displayed in the lower part of the screen, and the user can easily understand that the electronic timepiece 100 is in the running state 206. The moving distance and moving time are displayed in the middle part of the screen. If the positioning start process is successful and the positioning satellite radio wave is received, the icon of the upper left satellite is displayed. If the positioning start process fails and the positioning satellite radio wave is not received, the icon of the upper left satellite is not displayed. Figure 6 This is a running screen 330 when receiving positioning satellite radio waves.

[0036] return Figure 3 The running rest state 207 is a state in which the movement record is temporarily stopped, and a running rest screen 340 (see the following description) is displayed on the display unit 130. Figure 7). If the rotary switch 141 is pressed in the running rest state 207, the state changes to the running state 206. In addition, if the button 145 is pressed in the running rest state 207, the state returns to the time display state 201.

[0037] Figure 7 This is a running rest screen 340 displayed on the display unit 130 of the electronic timepiece 100 according to the present embodiment. "Stopping" is displayed in the lower part of the screen, and the user can easily understand that the electronic timepiece 100 is in the running rest state 207. The moving distance and moving time so far are displayed in the middle part of the screen. If the positioning start process is successful and the positioning satellite radio wave is received, the icon of the upper left satellite is displayed. If the positioning start process fails and the positioning satellite radio wave is not received, the icon of the upper left satellite is not displayed. Figure 7 This is a running rest screen 340 when the positioning satellite radio signal is not received.

[0038] Figure 8 2 is a flowchart of the measurement start process executed in the running preparation state 204 of the electronic timepiece according to the present embodiment. Figure 8 , which describes the processing executed by CPU 110 from receiving the user's instruction to prepare for running to successfully receiving the positioning satellite radio wave and successfully measuring the position, or until the positioning measurement fails.

[0039] In step S101 , CPU 110 detects switching to running preparation state 204 . Specifically, CPU 110 detects that the user presses button 145 in time display state 201 , and switches to running preparation state 204 .

[0040] In step S102, the CPU 110 turns on the power of the position measuring module 150 to start up the position measuring module 150. Thereafter, the CPU 110 executes a loop process of repeating steps S103 to S108.

[0041] In step S103, if the position measurement module 150 fails to measure the position (step S103→No), the CPU 110 proceeds to step S104. If the position measurement is successful (step S103→Yes), the position measurement start processing is terminated. At this point, if the measurement start processing is terminated, the electronic clock 100 successfully receives the radio wave from the position measurement satellite and the position measurement is successful, so it is converted to the running preparation completion state 205.

[0042] Failed position measurement (search timeout) means that position measurement via satellite radio waves failed within a first predetermined time (search timeout period), or position measurement failed due to insufficient number of satellites receiving radio waves. The search timeout period is, for example, 2 minutes.

[0043] In step S104, if a third predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes) has passed since the location measurement module 150 was activated (see step S102) and a search timeout has occurred each time (step S104 → Yes), the CPU 110 proceeds to step S105. If the third predetermined time has not passed or a search timeout has not occurred (step S104 → No), the CPU 110 proceeds to step S106.

[0044] Search timeout means that in step S103, the position measurement cannot be performed by the position measurement module 150 during the search timeout period. Each time means that the processing of steps S103 to S108 is repeated each time. Each search timeout means that each time steps S103 to S108 are repeated, the state in which the position measurement cannot be performed by the position measurement module 150 in step S103 continues for the search timeout period.

[0045] In step S105, CPU 110 turns off the power of position measurement module 150 and ends the position measurement start processing. Unlike the end of the position measurement start processing in step S103 when the position measurement is successful (step S103 → Yes), if the position measurement start processing is ended at this point in time, the reception of the radio wave from the position measurement satellite fails, and the electronic timepiece 100 enters the running preparation completion state 205.

[0046] In step S106 , the CPU 110 starts sleeping (stopping) the position measuring module 150 .

[0047] In step S107, the CPU 110 calculates the moving distance after the position measurement module 150 is activated (refer to step S102). When the position measurement module 150 has moved a predetermined distance (e.g., 100 m) or more, or when the position measurement module 150 has been put into sleep mode for a predetermined time (second predetermined time) or more, the CPU 110 proceeds to step S108 (step S107 → Yes). Prior to this, the CPU 110 repeats step S107 (the CPU 110 calculates the moving distance based on the output from the moving distance detection sensor 160) (step S107 → No). For example, the number of steps taken by the user since the position measurement module 150 was activated is calculated with reference to the output value of the acceleration sensor as the moving distance detection sensor. In addition, the stride is calculated based on predetermined physical information of the user, and the moving distance is calculated based on the calculated number of steps and stride.

[0048] In step S108 , the CPU 110 wakes up (activates) the position measurement module 150 .

[0049] If the answer is yes in step S107, the CPU 110 interrupts the sleep state of the position measurement module 150, wakes up (activates) the position measurement module 150 (see step S108), and starts the position measurement again. If the user (electronic clock 100) moves to a position where satellite radio waves can be received, the position measurement is successful (see step S103 → yes), and the position measurement start process ends.

[0050] In this way, while the position measurement module 150 is in sleep mode, the unit other than the position measurement module 150 detects movement of a predetermined distance or more and performs position measurement again, so that position measurement can be started earlier than in the conventional method in which the position measurement module 150 continues to sleep without detecting movement. In addition, the time for running preparation can be shortened, and the waiting time of the user can be shortened.

[0051] The position measurement start processing in the above-mentioned embodiment (see Figure 8 ) is a process executed in the running preparation state 204. Not limited to the running preparation state 204, in the running preparation completion state 205, the running state 206, and the running rest state 207, in order to restart the position measurement when the satellite radio wave cannot be received, the same process as the position measurement start process can be executed.

[0052] In the above-mentioned measurement start processing, the movement of the position measurement module 150 during the sleep period is detected by the movement distance detection sensor 160, but other methods can also be used. For example, the electronic clock 100 can have a radio wave sensor of a mobile phone, and when the signal strength of the radio wave of the mobile phone increases by more than a predetermined value, it is determined that the movement has occurred. Alternatively, it can have a receiving sensor for short-range wireless communication, and when the radio wave strength of the short-range wireless communication changes, it is determined that the movement has occurred.

[0053] In addition, a moving direction detection sensor may be provided to detect the moving direction when the moving distance is calculated by the moving distance detection sensor 160. When it is determined that the moving distance is in a predetermined direction, the position measurement module 150 is controlled to be released from sleep mode and the position measurement is performed. By performing such control, for example, the possibility of performing the position measurement again when the position measurement module 150 is not significantly moved from the position where the position measurement module 150 is started, such as when the person moves a predetermined distance, can be reduced, thereby increasing the possibility of successful position measurement. In addition, since the number of position measurements is reduced, power consumption can be suppressed.

[0054] In the above-mentioned measurement start processing, sleep (see step S106 ) and wake-up (see step S108 ) are repeated. The CPU 110 may turn off the power of the position measurement module 150 instead of sleep, and turn on the power instead of wake-up.

[0055] In the above-mentioned measurement start processing, when the distance is started (refer to step S102) and the movement exceeds the predetermined distance (refer to step S107→Yes), wake-up (refer to step S108) is performed. The predetermined distance is not limited to one distance, and can be multiple distances. The predetermined distance can be, for example, 30m, 50m, 70m, and 90m. When movement of any one of 30m, 50m, 70m, and 90m is detected, step S108 is entered to wake up.

[0056] Alternatively, the wake-up may be performed when the moving distance from the most recent sleep start (see step S106 ) is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance, rather than the moving distance from the start-up.

[0057] In addition, when the measurement start processing is not executed in the running preparation state 204, but is executed in the running state 206 or the running rest state 207, compared with the running preparation state 204, the running state 206 or the running rest state 207 is more likely to be able to receive satellite radio waves, and the sleep time is shortened first to execute the measurement start processing.

[0058] In step S104 of the above-mentioned measurement start processing, when the third predetermined time has passed since the location measurement module 150 was activated and each search timeout occurs, the process proceeds to step S105 to end the measurement start processing. When the sleep start (see step S106) and wake-up (see step S108) are repeated a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to step S105 to end the measurement start processing.

[0059] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the electronic clock 100 records the moving distance or moving time, but it can also be set to record the position or display the moving history. In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the electronic clock 100 is taken as an example, but it can be an electronic device without clock functions such as time display or stopwatch, and it can also be an electronic clock with other functions such as alarm.

[0060] Several embodiments of the present invention are described above, which are merely illustrative and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention may adopt various other embodiments, and various changes such as omission or substitution may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. These embodiments or their variations are included in the scope or gist of the invention described in this specification, etc., and are included in the invention described in the technical solution and its equivalent.

Claims

1. An electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises: a position measuring unit that receives radio waves from a position measuring satellite and performs position measuring; a first sensor that detects a moving distance; and a control unit that performs a position measuring unit stop processing for stopping the position measuring unit when, after performing a position measuring unit start processing for starting the position measuring unit, the position measuring unit is not successfully measured even if a first predetermined time has passed since the position measuring unit start processing, and performs the position measuring unit start processing when, after the position measuring unit stop processing is started, the moving distance detected by the first sensor is greater than a predetermined distance, The control unit stops supplying power to the position measurement unit if the position measurement by the position measurement unit fails even after the position measurement unit activation process and the position measurement unit stop process are repeated a predetermined number of times and a first predetermined time has passed since each activation process of the position measurement unit.

2. An electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises: a position measuring unit that receives radio waves from a position measuring satellite and performs position measuring; a first sensor that detects a moving distance; and a control unit that performs a position measuring unit stop processing for stopping the position measuring unit when, after performing a position measuring unit start processing for starting the position measuring unit, the position measuring unit is not successfully measured even if a first predetermined time has passed since the position measuring unit start processing, and performs the position measuring unit start processing when, after the position measuring unit stop processing is started, the moving distance detected by the first sensor is greater than a predetermined distance, The control unit stops supplying power to the position measurement unit when the position measurement unit has not been successful in repeating the process of starting and stopping the position measurement unit, even if the third predetermined time has passed since the initial start-up of the position measurement unit and the first predetermined time has passed since each start-up of the position measurement unit.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The electronic device further comprises a second sensor for detecting the moving direction. The control unit calculates the moving distance by the first sensor and detects the moving direction by the second sensor at the same time, and activates the position measuring unit when it can be determined that the moving distance is only a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first sensor is any one of a movement distance detection sensor, a radio wave sensor, and a short-range wireless communication receiving sensor.

5. A control method for an electronic device, the electronic device comprising: a position measuring unit that receives radio waves from a position measuring satellite and performs position measurement; a first sensor that detects a moving distance; and a control unit, wherein the control method is characterized in that: The control unit performs the following steps: After the position measuring unit start-up process for starting the position measuring unit is performed, if the position measurement by the position measuring unit is not successful even if a first predetermined time has passed since the position measuring unit start-up process, the position measuring unit stop process for stopping the position measuring unit is performed, and after the position measuring unit stop process is started, when the moving distance detected by the first sensor is greater than a predetermined distance, the position measuring unit start-up process is performed, If the position measurement by the position measurement unit fails even after the position measurement unit activation process and the position measurement unit stop process are repeated a predetermined number of times and a first predetermined time has passed since each of the position measurement unit activation processes, power supply to the position measurement unit is stopped.

6. A control method for an electronic device, the electronic device comprising: a position measuring unit that receives radio waves from a position measuring satellite and performs position measurement; a first sensor that detects a moving distance; and a control unit, wherein the control method is characterized in that: The control unit performs the following steps: After the position measuring unit start-up process for starting the position measuring unit is performed, if the position measurement by the position measuring unit is not successful even if a first predetermined time has passed since the position measuring unit start-up process, the position measuring unit stop process for stopping the position measuring unit is performed, and after the position measuring unit stop process is started, when the moving distance detected by the first sensor is greater than a predetermined distance, the position measuring unit start-up process is performed, In the process of repeating the start-up process of the position measurement unit and the stop process of the position measurement unit, if the position measurement performed by the position measurement unit is not successful even if the third predetermined time has passed since the initial start-up of the position measurement unit and the first predetermined time has passed since each start-up process of the position measurement unit, the power supply to the position measurement unit is stopped.

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