Pacer device

An electronic device for measuring the time interval between the occurrence of any two successive ones of a plurality of similar events, specificially, the time interval between footsteps in jogging, running, or walking, or the leg or arm motion associated with bicycling, rowing, swimming, cross-country skiing or the like, and for providing bio-feedback information in the form of an alarm signal:

• if the measured interval is less than a predetermined low limit;
• or if the measured interval is greater than a predetermined high limit;
• said device comprising:
• transducer means for detecting the occurrence of each one of said events and for providing an output signal at each such detection;
• a timing circuit for measuring the time interval between the occurrence of two successive such events, the output signal of said transducer being fed to said timing circuit;
• a detection circuit for detecting whether the measured interval is less than said low limit or greater than said high limit;
• an output circuit to provide an output signal when interval is less than said low limit or greater than said high limit;
• said timing circuit comprising a two state device having a first period and a second period;
• said first period being equal to said low limit;
• the sum of said first period and said second period being equal to said high limit;
• said two state device comprising a multivibrator, said first period being determined by a first timing circuit associated with a first half of the multivibrator, and said second period being determined by a second timing circuit associated with a second half of said multivibrator;
• said first and second timing circuits comprising RC circuits, the R's of both circuits being adjustable;
• whereby said first and second periods are adjustable;
• and
• said detection circuit comprising a first D type flip-flop and a second D type flip-flop;
• each said flip-flop having a D terminal, a clock terminal and a reset terminal;
• an output of said first half of said multivibrator being fed to the D terminal of said first flip-flop;
• the inverse of said output of said first half of said multivibrator being fed to the D terminal of said second flip-flop;
• an output of said second half of said multivibrator being fed to the reset terminals of both flip-flops;
• and
• an output of said transducer means being fed to the clock terminals of both flip-flops and to an input terminal of the first half of said multivibrator.