U.S. patent application number 11/148097 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-14 for system integrating display interface and control interface of running machine.
Invention is credited to Yi-Chun Ho, Huan-Chen Lo.
Application Number | 20060281605 11/148097 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37524777 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060281605 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lo; Huan-Chen ; et
al. |
December 14, 2006 |
System integrating display interface and control interface of
running machine
Abstract
A system that integrates a graphic display and a control
interface of a running machine includes a graphic display, a top
control unit for receiving biological information and control
information having at least running speed information so as to show
the information on the graphic display according to one of mode
setting choices on the graphic display and a control device
operably connected to the graphic display and the top control unit
so as to transmit a control signal for control of the running
machine. Therefore, a user is able to use the control information
on the graphic display to send a command to the control device so
as to accomplish interaction requirements.
Inventors: |
Lo; Huan-Chen; (Yang Mei
Town, TW) ; Ho; Yi-Chun; (Yang Mei Town, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LIN & ASSOCIATES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
P.O. BOX 2339
SARATOGA
CA
95070-0339
US
|
Family ID: |
37524777 |
Appl. No.: |
11/148097 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/54 ;
482/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0622 20130101;
A63B 22/0257 20130101; A63B 2230/04 20130101; A63B 2230/60
20130101; A63B 22/0023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/054 ;
482/008 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00; A63B 22/02 20060101 A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. A system for integrating a graphic display and a control
interface of a running machine, the integrating system comprising:
a graphic display; a top control unit for receiving biological
information and control information having at least running speed
information so as to show the information on the graphic display
according to one of mode setting choices on the graphic display;
and a control device operably connected to the graphic display and
the top control unit so as to transmit a control signal for control
of the running machine, whereby a user is able to use the control
information on the graphic display to send a command to the control
device so as to accomplish interaction requirements.
2. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
control device may be selected from a group consisting of a remote
control and a touch panel.
3. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
a video/audio transformer having multiple video/audio interfaces
for receiving and processing video or audio information so as to
send processed video or audio signal to the top control unit and a
switch to switch among control information, biological information,
or specific video/audio information such that the top control unit
is able to display or play the specific video/video information via
the graphic display or a speaker.
4. The integrating system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
video/audio information is selected from a group consisting of DVD,
VCD, CD, or MP3.
5. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
an adjusting device adapted to be mounted on handles of the running
machine for sending a control signal to the top control unit.
6. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
graphic display is selected from a group consisting of a liquid
crystal display, a plasma display, a CRT screen or a projector.
7. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
graphic display has multiple mode setting choices stored in a
memory card readable for a card reader.
8. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
graphic display has multiple mode setting choices stored in a
memory readable for the top control unit.
9. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
a bottom control unit controlled by the top control unit to control
a transmission subsystem.
10. The integrating system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
transmission subsystem includes a motor for controlling rotation
speed of a running belt of the running machine so as to adjust
speed o the running belt.
11. The integrating system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the
transmission subsystem includes an elevation motor for elevating a
running board of the running machine so as to control slope of the
running belt.
12. The integrating system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising
an emergency stop mechanism which includes two terminals
respectively connected to a magnetic seat formed on the bottom
control unit via a magnetic connector formed on a distal end of a
rope and the runner via a clip formed on a proximal end of the rope
such that when the runner is tripped or falls to the running belt,
the magnetic connector is pulled away from the magnetic seat, which
results in that the electrical connection in the bottom control
unit is cut off and thus the machine is terminated.
13. The integrating system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
biological information includes blood pressure, pulse, muscle
signal or any other measured information.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an integrating system, and
more particularly to an integrating system for integrating a
display interface and a control interface of a running machine.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With reference to FIG. 1, a conventional running machine is
shown. The conventional running machine is composed of a control
console 12, a top control unit 10, a bottom control unit 14, a
running board 20, a running belt 22 and a transmission subsystem
which includes an elevation motor 18 and a running belt motor
16.
[0005] The elevation motor 18 is able to change the inclination of
the running board 20 via an elevation post (not shown) and the
running belt motor 16 is able to control the rotation of the
running belt 22. Therefore, when a runner presses buttons on the
control console 12 to control the speed of the running belt 22, a
command is transmitted from the top control unit 10 to the bottom
control unit 14, which in turn changes the rotation speed of the
running belt 22 and the inclination of the running board 20.
[0006] As the consumer's demands vary, running machine
manufacturers provide different running machines to meet the
demands. For example, a runner wants to exercise his/her endurance
and strength after warning up, the running machine will
automatically adjust inclination of the running board 20 for
simulating an uphill scenario after detecting that the runner has
run for a mile. Later, for the purpose of providing a chance to
take a rest, the running machine will automatically adjust the
inclination of the running board 20 and the rotation speed of the
running belt 22. However, in order to accomplish various demands,
the running machine is equipped with large quantity of buttons and
complicated setting procedures, which affects customers' buying
desire. Further, if a heart beat monitoring device 24a is mounted
on both handles 24, the control console 12 is difficult to read,
let alone to properly set the machine in the desired mode.
[0007] In addition, to prevent accidents of all kinds, a running
machine is equipped with an emergency stop mechanism. The mechanism
has two terminals respectively connected to a magnetic seat 26a
formed on the top control unit 10 via a magnetic connector 26b
formed on a distal end of a rope 26c and the runner via a clip 26d
formed on a proximal end of the rope 26c. Under normal conditions,
the magnetic connector 26b is connected to the magnetic seat 26a
and the clip 26d is connected to the runner. If the runner is
tripped or falls to the running belt 22, the magnetic connector 26b
is pulled away from the magnetic seat 26a, which results in that
the electrical connection in the top control unit 10 is cut off and
thus the machine is terminated. However, in this emergency stop
mechanism, the complete shutoff mechanism depends solely on the
termination of the bottom control unit 14 to cut off the operation
of the transmission subsystem, which delays the respond time to
emergency.
[0008] To overcome the aforementioned disadvantages, the present
invention tends to provide an improved integrating system for
integration between a display interface and a controlling interface
to obviate the aforementioned disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an improved system for integrating a display interface and a
control interface of a running machine.
[0010] From one aspect of the present invention, the integrating
system of the present invention is able to graphically present
control information on the graphic display so that the user is able
to use the control information to transmit controlling demands to
accomplish interaction with the running machine.
[0011] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional running
machine;
[0013] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the integration system
for integrating the display interface and the control interface;
and
[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views showing the graphic
display of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] With reference to FIG. 2, the running machine in accordance
with the present invention includes a graphic display 28, a top
control unit 30 and a remote control 32. Because the bottom control
unit 14, transmission subsystem 34 (element 16 and 18), running
board 20, running belt 22 and the heat beat monitor 24a are the
same as those disclosed in the prior art, detailed description
thereof is omitted for clarity. It is noted that the connection of
the emergency stop mechanism (26a-26d) is not the same as that
disclosed in the prior art. Also the control device may be mounted
on the touch panel (not shown) of the graphic interface 28. The
graphic interface 28 may be a liquid crystal display, a plasma
display, CRT monitor, or a projector. The heat beat monitor 24a may
be applied to measure blood pressure, pulse, muscle signal and may
be replaced by any suitable devices that can detect the above
information.
[0016] With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, after the top control
unit 30 receives information (possibly transmitted by the remote
control 32) such as biological information (possibly transmitted by
the heat beat monitor 24a), the received information will be
presented on the graphic display 28 so that the runner is able to
use the specific buttons on the remote control 32 to interact with
the integration system of the present invention and every
information will be shown on the graphic display 28. Therefore,
when compared with the conventional running machine, the user will
no longer deal with complicated buttons to control complex setting
modes and only use the remote control 32 to proceed with choices
and setting. As a consequence, the user is able to use the remote
control 32 to control the bottom control unit 14 so as to
simultaneously or respectively control the motor 16 and the
elevation motor 18 of the transmission subsystem 34.
[0017] With reference to FIG. 3B, it is noted that the graphic
display 28 is able to changed to adapt to different customer
requirements. For example, the top control unit 30 is able to show
information such as control information or biological information
or any other calculated information on the graphic display 28. The
mode setting information preferably may be stored in a memory card
38 readable for a card reader 36 which is operably connected to the
top control unit 30.
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, it is noted that there
are three different mode setting choices 28a, 28b and 28c on the
graphic display 28. If the mode is set according to the information
in mode setting choice 28b, the top control unit 30 will
automatically display running speed, running slope and heart beat
on the graphic display 28. Furthermore, prior running history
information will also be presented on the graphic display 28 in
curve pattern for comparison.
[0019] When running speed is to be adjusted, the runner is able to
move the option via the buttons on the remote control 32 to running
speed. Then the runner is able to use the control button on the
remote control 32 to adjust the numeral on the graphic display 28,
which not only adjusts the numeral i.e. 15 as shown on the graphic
display 28, but also adjust the rotation speed of the running belt
(as shown in FIG. 2) via signals transmitted by the top control
unit 30. When the mode setting choice is moved to 28c, because
there is no information the same as that stored in mode setting
choice 28b, the graphic display 28 will be showing different
information to what is shown on the graphic display 28 when the
mode is set according to mode setting choice 28b. For example,
there will no more running speed, running slope, heart beat and
prior running history on the graphic display 28.
[0020] When the integration system of the present invention further
has a video transformer (not shown), the top control unit 30 may be
provided with multiple video/audio interfaces to receive video
information and then display on the graphic display 28. Therefore,
the user is able to use the video/audio transformer to watch/listen
to pictures and music stored in DVD, VCD, CD, or MP3 from the
graphic display 28 or speakers (not shown). Furthermore, a switch
may be provided on the top control unit 30 so that the user is able
to switch from control screen showing different biological or
control information to selected screen showing specific picture.
Also, to facilitate the control of screen change, the switch may be
mounted on the handle 24 as shown in FIG. 2. In addition, to
prevent accidents of all kinds, a running machine is equipped with
an emergency stop mechanism. The mechanism has two terminals
respectively connected to a magnetic seat 26a formed on the bottom
control unit 14 via a magnetic connector 26b formed on a distal end
of a rope 26c and the runner via a clip 26d formed on a proximal
end of the rope 26c. Under normal conditions, the magnetic
connector 26b is connected to the magnetic seat 26a and the clip
26d is connected to the runner. If the runner is tripped or falls
to the running belt 22, the magnetic connector 26b is pulled away
from the magnetic seat 26a, which results in that the electrical
connection in the bottom control unit 14 is cut off and thus the
machine is terminated. Because the transmission subsystem 34 is
terminated directly without the influence from the top control unit
30, the runner's safety is ensured.
[0021] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be
made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
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