ENERGY SCAVENGING STEP-COUNTER DEVICE AND RELATED STEP-COUNTING METHOD

摘要

A step-detection device for detecting the steps taken by a user (for counting) includes a transducer that generates an electrical transduction signal as a function of step mechanical activity. An energy scavenging system, coupled to the transducer, generates electrical energy starting from the mechanical activity in order to supply an output supply signal in response to the electrical transduction signal. A voltage-regulator generates a regulated supply signal from the output supply signal. A transmission stage, supplied by the voltage-regulating stage, initiates a wireless transmission indicative of step detection, that wireless transmission causing an increment of a step count at a remote location. The transmission stage makes the wireless transmission when the regulated supply signal exceeds a first threshold. Completion of the wireless transmission is indicative of the occurrence of a step.

主权项

1. A step device, comprising:
a transducer configured to generate an electrical transduction signal as a function of mechanical activity generated during steps; an energy scavenging system coupled to said transducer and configured to generate electrical energy from the mechanical activity generated during each step and supply an output supply signal from said electrical transduction signal; a regulator stage configured to generate a regulated supply signal starting from said output supply signal; and a transmission stage supplied by said regulator stage for radio transmission of information associated to said count, wherein said transmission stage is configured to implement a transmission, to the outside world, of a count-increment signal upon exceeding of a first threshold by the regulated supply signal, wherein completion of said transmission is indicative of the occurrence of a step.