U.S. patent application number 11/409066 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-25 for system for monitoring exercise performance.
Invention is credited to Min-Chang Chen.
Application Number | 20070249468 11/409066 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38620152 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070249468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Min-Chang |
October 25, 2007 |
System for monitoring exercise performance
Abstract
A system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring
exercise performance includes: a pulse detecting unit adapted for
detecting a pulse of a user; a torque detecting unit adapted to
detect a torque exerted by the user; a user interface unit for
allowing user input of user-specific parameters and displaying data
to the user; and a control unit electrically coupled to the other
elements. The control unit determines a target exercise amount for
the user with reference to the pulse, the torque, and the
user-specific parameters. The control unit further determines an
actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with reference
to the torque. The user interface unit displays the target exercise
amount through an exercise indicating pattern that is selectively
activated according to the actual exercise amount.
Inventors: |
Chen; Min-Chang; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 8910
RESTON
VA
20195
US
|
Family ID: |
38620152 |
Appl. No.: |
11/409066 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/8 ;
482/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2230/06 20130101;
A63B 24/0075 20130101; A63B 24/00 20130101; A63B 2220/54 20130101;
A63B 2230/75 20130101; A63B 2230/70 20130101; A63B 2220/34
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/008 ;
482/009 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Claims
1. A system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring
exercise performance, said system comprising: a pulse detecting
unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise
machine; a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation to
input user-specific parameters; and a control unit electrically
coupled to said pulse detecting unit and said user interface unit,
said control unit automatically selecting an exercise mode of the
user with reference to the pulse detected by said pulse detecting
unit, said control unit determining a target exercise amount for
the user with reference to the user-specific parameters and the
exercise mode automatically selected by said control unit, said
control unit further determining an actual exercise amount during
exercise by the user with reference to the pulse detected by said
pulse detecting unit.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface unit allows
user manipulation to select the exercise mode, said control unit
determining the target exercise amount for the user with reference
to the user-specific parameters and the exercise mode selected by
the user.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said user interface unit
displays, according to control by said control unit, an exercise
indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the
user, the exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of
regions that are selectively activated according to the actual
exercise amount of the user.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the regions of the exercise
indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise
amount of the user in a progressively increasing manner from none
of the regions to all of the regions.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the regions of the exercise
indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise
amount of the user in a progressively decreasing manner from all of
the regions to none of the regions.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the target exercise amount is a
total number of calories to be consumed by the user operating the
exercise machine.
7. A system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring
exercise performance, said system comprising: a pulse detecting
unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise
machine; a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation to
input user-specific parameters; and a control unit electrically
coupled to said pulse detecting unit and said user interface unit,
said control unit determining, following a predetermined period of
exercise by the user, a target exercise amount for the user with
reference to the pulse detected by said pulse detecting unit and
the user-specific parameters, said control unit further determining
an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with
reference to the pulse detected by said pulse detecting unit.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein said user interface unit
displays, according to control by said control unit, an exercise
indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the
user, the exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of
regions that are selectively activated according to the actual
exercise amount of the user.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the regions of the exercise
indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise
amount of the user in a progressively increasing manner from none
of the regions to all of the regions.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the regions of the exercise
indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise
amount of the user in a progressively decreasing manner from all of
the regions to none of the regions.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein the target exercise amount is a
total number of calories to be consumed by the user operating the
exercise machine.
12. A system adapted for use with an exercise machine for
monitoring exercise performance, said system comprising: a pulse
detecting unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating
the exercise machine; a torque detecting unit adapted to detect a
magnitude of torque exerted by the user when the exercise machine
is operated; a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation
to input user-specific parameters; and a control unit electrically
coupled to said pulse detecting unit, said torque detecting unit,
and said user interface unit, said control unit determining,
following a predetermined period of exercise by the user, a target
exercise amount for the user with reference to the pulse detected
by said pulse detecting unit, the torque detected by said torque
detecting unit, and the user-specific parameters, said control unit
further determining an actual exercise amount during exercise by
the user with reference to the torque detected by said torque
detecting unit.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein said user interface unit
displays, according to control by said control unit, an exercise
indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the
user, the exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of
regions that are selectively activated according to the actual
exercise amount of the user.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the regions of the exercise
indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise
amount of the user in a progressively increasing manner from none
of the regions to all of the regions.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the regions of the exercise
indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise
amount of the user in a progressively decreasing manner from all of
the regions to none of the regions.
16. The system of claim 12, wherein the target exercise amount is a
total number of calories to be consumed by the user operating the
exercise machine.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a system adapted for use
with an exercise machine for monitoring exercise performance.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] An exercise system is disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Model
Publication No. M257858 entitled, "Handle Capable of Detecting
Human Physiological Characteristics For Exercise Apparatus." The
handle is adapted for use with an exercise apparatus and includes a
pair of grip bars, a pair of conductive strips, a processing unit,
and a display interface.
[0005] The grip bars are mounted on the exercise apparatus, and may
be grasped by a user operating the exercise apparatus. The
conductive strips are respectively mounted on the grip bars, and
are adapted to detect physiological parameters of the user
operating the exercise apparatus, such as a pulse of the user. The
display interface displays fitness data to the user and allows user
input of user-specific parameters, such as height, weight, and sex.
The processing unit is electrically coupled to the conductive
strips and the display interface.
[0006] The processing unit receives signals from the conductive
strips, the display interface, and various sensors, and processes
the signals to display various data, such as calculated distance,
on the display interface. The processing unit is capable of
calculating fitness data of the user operating the exercise
apparatus, examples of which include heart rate, body fat, and
amount of exercise performed by the user (calculated as, for
example, consumed calories) . The processing unit may factor the
user-specific parameters into these calculations of the fitness
data of the user.
[0007] A drawback of the above conventional device, however, is
that any time that the user may pause from exercising (e.g., to
take a drink or go to the restroom) is not included in the
calculations of the fitness data. This may result in the inaccurate
calculation of the fitness data. For example, if a heart rate of
the user, which is calculated with reference to the pulse of the
user detected by the conductive strips, is used to determine
consumed calories of the user operating the exercise apparatus, any
temporary stop by the user results in inaccuracies in the
determination of the calories consumed by the user.
[0008] In addition, if it is assumed the exercise apparatus is a
stationary bicycle, since the energy exerted by the user operating
the exercise apparatus is different during simulated uphill or
downhill travel, it would be inaccurate to calculate consumed
calories simply on the basis of speed and distance. Similarly, the
determination of other fitness data may become inaccurate if such
uphill and downhill travel is not factored into the
calculations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a
system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring
exercise performance that increases the accuracy of exercise amount
determinations, and that displays data in an easy-to-understand
manner.
[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the
system comprises: a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a
pulse of a user operating the exercise machine; a user interface
unit for allowing user manipulation to input user-specific
parameters and to select an exercise mode, and for displaying data
to the user; and a control unit electrically coupled to the pulse
detecting unit and the user interface unit. The control unit
determines a target exercise amount for the user with reference to
the user-specific parameters and the exercise mode selected by the
user. The control unit further determines an actual exercise amount
during exercise by the user with reference to the pulse detected by
the pulse detecting unit. The user interface unit displays,
according to control by the control unit, an exercise indicating
pattern representing the target exercise amount of the user, the
exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of regions that
are selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount
of the user.
[0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the
system comprises: a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a
pulse of a user operating the exercise machine; a user interface
unit for allowing user manipulation to input user-specific
parameters and for displaying data to the user; and a control unit
electrically coupled to the pulse detecting unit and the user
interface unit. The control unit determines, following a
predetermined period of exercise by the user, a target exercise
amount for the user with reference to the pulse detected by the
pulse detecting unit and the user-specific parameters. The control
unit further determines an actual exercise amount during exercise
by the user with reference to the pulse detected by the pulse
detecting unit. The user interface unit displays, according to
control by the control unit, an exercise indicating pattern
representing the target exercise amount of the user, the exercise
indicating pattern including a plurality of regions that are
selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount of
the user.
[0012] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the
system comprises: a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a
pulse of a user operating the exercise machine; a torque detecting
unit adapted to detect a magnitude of torque exerted by the user
when the exercise machine is operated; a user interface unit for
allowing user manipulation to input user-specific parameters and
for displaying data to the user; and a control unit electrically
coupled to the pulse detecting unit, the torque detecting unit, and
the user interface unit. The control unit determines, following a
predetermined period of exercise by the user, a target exercise
amount for the user with reference to the pulse detected by the
pulse detecting unit, the torque detected by the torque detecting
unit, and the user-specific parameters. The control unit further
determines an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user
with reference to the torque detected by the torque detecting unit.
The user interface unit displays, according to control by the
control unit, an exercise indicating pattern representing the
target exercise amount of the user. The exercise indicating pattern
includes a plurality of regions that are selectively activated
according to the actual exercise amount of the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a device for
monitoring exercise performance according to a first preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is schematic view, illustrating an example of data
displayed by a user interface unit shown in FIG. 1; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a system for
monitoring exercise performance according to a second preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit block diagram of a first
preferred embodiment of a system adapted for use with an exercise
machine (not shown) for monitoring exercise performance. The system
includes a pulse detecting unit 1, a torque detecting unit 2, a
speed detecting unit 3, a body fat detecting unit 4, a control unit
5, and a user interface unit 6.
[0019] The pulse detecting unit 1 is adapted for detecting a pulse
of a user operating the exercise machine. As an example, the pulse
detecting unit 1 may be mounted on hand grips of the exercise
machine. Since the different techniques for detecting the pulse of
the user operating the exercise machine are well known in the art,
a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein for the sake
of brevity.
[0020] The torque detecting unit 2 is adapted for detecting a
magnitude of torque exerted by the user when the exercise machine
is operated. As an example, the torque detecting unit 2 may be
mounted on a drive gear of the exercise machine.
[0021] The speed detecting unit 3 is adapted for detecting a
motional speed of an element of the exercise machine undergoing
some form of repetitive motion. As an example, if it is assumed
that the exercise machine is a stationary bicycle, the speed
detecting unit 3 may be mounted on a rotating wheel rim of the
stationary bicycle to thereby detect a rotational speed of the
wheel rim.
[0022] The body fat detecting unit 4 is adapted to detect a body
fat amount of the user operating the exercise machine. As an
example, the body fat detecting unit 4 may be mounted on the hand
grips of the exercise machine, and may cooperate with the control
unit 5 to utilize bioelectrical impedance analysis in a known
manner to predict a body fat level of the user operating the
exercise machine.
[0023] The user interface unit 6 allows user manipulation to input
user-specific parameters (e.g., sex, height, weight, and age) , and
to select an exercise mode. The user interface unit 6 further
operates to display data to the user.
[0024] The control unit 5 is electrically coupled to the pulse
detecting unit 1, the torque detecting unit 2, the speed detecting
unit 3, the body fat detecting unit 4, and the user interface unit
6. The control unit 5 performs control to display the motional
speed detected by the speed detecting unit 3, and the body fat
amount of the user through the user interface unit 6. In addition,
the control unit 5 determines, following a predetermined period of
exercise by the user, a target exercise amount, which is a goal
amount of exercise to be performed by the user, as well as an
actual exercise amount, which is a real-time calculation of the
actual amount of exercise performed by user. It is to be noted that
the control unit 5 may automatically determine the exercise mode of
the user, rather than the user inputting the desired exercise mode
via the user interface unit 6 as described above. As an example,
the control unit 5 may automatically select the exercise mode
following a predetermined period of detecting the pulse of the
user.
[0025] The target exercise amount may be determined by the control
unit 5 with reference to any one or a combination of the pulse
detected by the pulse detecting unit 2, the body fat amount
detected by the body fat detecting unit 4, the torque detected by
the torque detecting unit 2, the user-specific parameters input by
the user, and the exercise mode selected by the user (or
automatically selected by the control unit 5). In this embodiment,
the control unit 5 determines the actual exercise amount with
reference to the torque detected by the torque detecting unit 2.
Alternatively, the control unit 5 may determine the actual exercise
amount with reference to the torque detected by the torque
detecting unit 2, in combination with one or both the motional
speed detected by the speed detecting unit 3 and the pulse detected
by the pulse detecting unit 1.
[0026] Through control by the control unit 5, the user interface
unit 6 displays an exercise indicating pattern 61 representing the
target exercise amount of the user, as shown in FIG. 2. The
exercise indicating pattern 61 includes a plurality of regions 611,
612, 613, 614 that are selectively activated according to the
actual exercise amount of the user. As an example, the region 611
represents a warm-up period, the activation of which indicates
completion of an amount of exercise by the user equal to a
predetermined warm-up amount, the regions 612 respectively
represent progressive exercise periods, the progressive activation
of which indicates that the user has performed progressively
increasing amounts of exercise, the region 613 represents an
exercise goal period, the activation of which indicates that the
user has performed an amount of exercise equal to the target
exercise amount, and the region 614 represents a challenge exercise
period, the activation of which indicates that the user has
performed an amount of exercise that exceeds the target exercise
amount. Alternatively, the regions 611, 612, 613, 614 of the
exercise indicating pattern 61 may be activated to indicate the
actual exercise amount of the user in a progressively decreasing
manner from all of the regions 611, 612, 613, 614 to none of the
regions 611, 612, 613, 614.
[0027] The target exercise amount may be a total number of calories
to be consumed by the user operating the exercise machine. In this
case, the exercise indicating pattern 61 represents the total
number of calories that is targeted for burning through exercise by
the user operating the exercise machine.
[0028] The control unit 5 may perform control to display other data
through the user interface unit 6. For example, utilizing one or
more of the user-specific parameters, such as age, and the pulse
detected by the pulse detecting unit 1, the control unit 5 may
determine if the user performing exercise is exceeding a safe level
of exercise and provide a visual or sound indication to the user of
the same.
[0029] As another example, using the torque detected by the torque
detecting unit 2, and using a heart rate calculated with reference
to the pulse detected by the pulse detecting unit 1, the control
unit 5 is able to calculate a cardio-respiratory fitness level map
of the user operating the exercise machine. In this case, the
control unit 5 displays the cardio-respiratory fitness level map on
the user interface unit 6 as shown in chart 1 of FIG. 2, and
selects one of the levels as a suitable fitness level for the user
operating the exercise machine.
[0030] As yet another example, using the torque detected by the
torque detecting unit 2 and the user-specific parameters, the
control unit 5 is able to translate the information of chart 1 into
a chart of target and challenge calorie ranges for the different
levels as shown in chart 2 of FIG. 2.
[0031] The regions 611, 612, 613, 614 of the exercise indicating
pattern 61 are then activated while the user is performing exercise
(i.e., on a real-time basis) based on the calculated target and
challenge calorie ranges, as well as on the selected suitable
fitness level.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a second preferred embodiment of a system
adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring exercise
performance. In the second preferred embodiment, the torque
detecting unit 2 of the first preferred embodiment (see FIG. 1) has
been omitted from the configuration.
[0033] With this structure, the control unit 5 determines the
actual exercise amount with reference to the pulse detected by the
pulse detecting unit 2. The target exercise amount may be
determined by the control unit 5 with reference to any one or a
combination of the pulse detected by the pulse detecting unit 2,
the body fat amount detected by the body fat detecting unit 4, the
user-specific parameters input by the user, and the exercise mode
selected by the user (or automatically selected by the control unit
5). All other aspects of the second preferred embodiment are
identical to the first preferred embodiment.
[0034] The system for monitoring exercise performance of the
present invention has the following advantages:
[0035] 1. In the first preferred embodiment, since the actual
exercise amount is determined by the control unit 5 at least
partially with reference to the torque detected by the torque
detecting unit 2, an accurate calculation of the actual exercise
amount is possible. That is, the actual exercise amount is
calculated only when the user is actually performing exercise and
not when the user is temporarily resting. Furthermore, this use of
torque ensures that the varying exercise amounts when simulating
uphill and downhill travel (such as when the exercise machine is a
stationary bicycle) are taken into account in the calculations.
[0036] 2. The target exercise amount may be a total number of
calories to be consumed by the user operating the exercise machine,
and the exercise indicating pattern 61 may represent the total
number of calories that is targeted for burning through exercise by
the user operating the exercise machine. Hence, the target and
actual exercise amounts are displayed in an easy-to-understand
format to thereby allow the user to quickly ascertain his or her
present exercise state, thus enhancing the overall exercise
experience.
[0037] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *