US6472888B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus constructed by one-chip integrated circuit
Assignee: Tanita Corp
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Filing: 2001-01-29
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Granted: 2002-10-29
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Expires: 2021-01-29
Abstract
Abstract The bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus according to the present invention employs a microcomputer having almost all the functions necessary for the measurement of bioelectrical impedance integrated into a circuit on a one-chip. Further, the bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus of the present invention employs also the one-chip microcomputer to provide almost all the functions necessary for the measurement at a plurality of frequencies or for that using a plurality of electrodes. Yet further, the bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus of the present invention employs also the one-chip microcomputer to provide almost all the functions necessary for the measurement of other parameters, adding to those for measuring the bioelectrical impedance, using the external sensor connected thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Koji Oguma
- 👤 Tsutomu Miyoshi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/053; A61B5/0537; A61B5/48; A61B5/4869; A61B5/4872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus for measuring a bioelectrical impedance of a test subject based on the bioelectrical impedance method, comprising: an input device which inputs a personal body data of the test subject; at least a pair of current supply electrodes for applying a current into a living body, at least a pair of voltage measuring electrodes for measuring a voltage of the living body, a display unit for indicating a result of measurement, and a one-chip microcomputer including an alternating current signal generating device, an amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, a control and processing device, a storage unit, an output terminal and an oscillator, wherein: said alternating current signal generating device generates an alternating current signal to be applied to a living body through said current supply electrodes; said amplifier amplifies a measured alternating voltage signal; said analog-to-digital converter converts an analog value representative of said amplified alternating voltage signal to a digital value; said control and processing device estimates a factor relating to a body constitution of the test subject based on the inputted personal body data and a measured bioelectrical impedance value, and controls each device; said storage unit stores the inputted personal body data, the estimated factor concerning the body constitution of the test subject, or the like; said output terminal outputs a signal for indicating a set of estimated data concerning the body constitution; and said oscillator generates a clock signal to actuate the control and processing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus for measuring a bioelectrical impedance of a test subject based on the bioelectrical impedance method, comprising: an input device which inputs a personal body data of the test subject; at least a pair of current supply electrodes for applying a current into a living body, at least a pair of voltage measuring electrodes for measuring a voltage of the living body, a display unit for indicating a result of measurement, and a one-chip microcomputer including an alternating current signal generating device, an amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, a control and processing device, a storage unit, an output terminal and an oscillator, wherein: said alternating current signal generating device generates an alternating current signal to be applied to a living body through said current supply electrodes; said amplifier amplifies a measured alternating voltage signal; said analog-to-digital converter converts an analog value representative of said amplified alternating voltage signal to a digital value; said control and processing device estimates a factor relating to a body constitution of the test subject based on the inputted personal body data and a measured bioelectrical impedance value, and controls each device; said storage unit stores the inputted personal body data, the estimated factor concerning the body constitution of the test subject, or the like; said output terminal outputs a signal for indicating a set of estimated data concerning the body constitution; and said oscillator generates a clock signal to actuate the control and processing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a body weight input device for inputting the body weight value of the test subject.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or 2 , in which said one-chip microcomputer further includes a divider and a frequency switching device, in which: said divider generates an alternating current signal of multi-frequency; and said frequency switching device selectively outputs the alternating current signal of multi-frequency generated by said divider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2 , in which said one-chip microcomputer further includes a switch and another switch, in which; said switch is connected to a plurality of power supply electrodes for measuring a bioelectrical impedance disposed out of said one-chip microcomputer, and switches alternating current signals from said alternating current power supply to output the signal therefrom; and said another switch is connected to a plurality of voltage detection electrodes disposed out of said one-chip microcomputer, and switches alternating voltages to be measured.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2 , in which said one-chip microcomputer further includes a constant voltage generating device, a low voltage detecting device, a constant voltage supply device, a sensor input switching device, an amplifier, a converter, in which: said constant voltage generating device is connected to a power supply disposed out of said microcomputer and generates a constant voltage; said low voltage detecting device determines whether or not the level of voltage of said power supply disposed out of said one-chip microcomputer is on or over a specific level; said constant voltage supply device supplies the constant voltage to a sensor disposed out of the one-chip microcomputer; said sensor input switching device switches signals from the sensors disposed out of the microcomputer; said amplifier amplifies an output signal from said sensor input switching device; and said converter converts an analog value representative of said amplified output signal to a digital value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2 , in which said alternating current signal generating device comprises a storage unit, an output device, and a converter, in which: said storage unit stores a sine wave voltage value; said output device outputs a voltage signal based on said sine wave voltage value stored in said storage unit for each input of clock signal; and said converter converts said voltage signal to a current signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A bioelectric impedance measuring apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2 , in which said analog-to-digital converter comprises a calculator which calculates a digital value for every clock signal during a sampling period and measures an alternating voltage waveform to calculate an alternating voltage effective value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2 , in which said alternating current signal generating device comprises a low pass filter and a voltage-to-current converter, in which: said low pass filter removes high frequency components from an alternating square wave voltage outputted from said divider to convert it into a sine wave voltage; and said voltage-to-current converter converts said sine wave voltage to said alternating current signal to be applied to the living body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
A bioelectrical impedance measuring apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2 , in which said analogue-to-digital converter comprises a rectifier, a filter circuit and a calculator, in which: said rectifier rectifies the alternating voltage signal amplified by said amplifier said filter circuit makes said rectified alternating voltage signal be an effective value; and said calculator calculates a digital value from said signal made into effective value for each clock during sampling period.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-28 | 2006-04-29 | 2006-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-28 | 2010-04-29 | 2010-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-28 | 2014-04-29 | 2014-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |