Multi-band Pedometer Step Counting with Dominant Harmonic Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pedometers face challenges in accurately counting user steps due to false and missed step detections, primarily because the orientation of the device varies among users and over time, affecting the analysis of accelerometer signals.
Innovation Solution
A multi-band step counting system processes frequency bands of sensor signals to select the primary frequency band of interest based on signal characteristics, using bandpass filters to isolate dominant harmonics associated with user activity, and combines these signals to enhance step count accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional pedometers use single-frequency analysis of accelerometer signals, then the device complexity is low, but step count accuracy deteriorates due to false and missed detections caused by varying device orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the accelerometer signal into multiple frequency bands using bandpass filters, allowing analysis of different harmonic components separately. This segmentation enables the system to identify dominant harmonics associated with user activity while filtering out noise and irrelevant frequencies, thereby improving step detection accuracy without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-frequency analysis to multi-frequency band analysis by introducing a frequency domain dimension. By analyzing multiple frequency bands and selecting the dominant harmonic, the system gains additional information about user activity patterns, improving measurement precision while managing complexity through systematic frequency band processing
2Measurement precision
If the pedometer analyzes all frequency bands equally, then comprehensive signal analysis is achieved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the dominant harmonic from multiple frequency bands for step detection, rather than processing all frequency bands equally. By identifying and focusing on the most significant frequency component associated with user activity, the system achieves accurate signal analysis while minimizing unnecessary processing of less relevant frequency bands
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively processing only the necessary frequency bands needed for accurate step detection. Instead of exhaustive analysis of all possible frequencies, the system identifies dominant harmonics and processes primarily those bands, achieving sufficient measurement precision with reduced processing time and computational resources
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for reliably counting user steps. Various aspects may, for example, comprise processing a plurality of frequency bands of at least one sensor signal to accurately count user steps. A plurality of filtered sensor signals may be formed by filtering a sensor signal with a plurality of band-pass filters from which a dominant filtered sensor signal may be selected. The selected dominant filtered sensor signal may then be used to count user steps. Further, a frequency band of a sensor signal may be selected such that if it is determined the user is not engaged in a non-stepping activity, user steps may be counted using the content of the signal in the selected frequency band. Still further, user steps may be counted using an identified dominant harmonic.