U.S. patent application number 13/852404 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for detection apparatus of a traning machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mu-Chuan WU. Invention is credited to Mu-Chuan WU.
Application Number | 20140296034 13/852404 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54541248 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140296034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WU; Mu-Chuan |
October 2, 2014 |
DETECTION APPARATUS OF A TRANING MACHINE
Abstract
A detection apparatus of a training machine has a shifting
device, four sensors and a controller. The shifting device is
mounted on an exercise device along a circular motion trace divided
into four segments. The four sensors are respectively mounted on
the body and correspond to the four segments. The controller
determines multiple exercise states, including the rotation speed,
the rotational direction, the first rotation speed, the second
rotation speed and the force exerted on the exercise device,
according to detecting signals from the sensors at a same time. The
structure of the detection apparatus is simplified for ease of
use.
Inventors: |
WU; Mu-Chuan; (Tainan City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WU; Mu-Chuan |
Tainan City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
54541248 |
Appl. No.: |
13/852404 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 24/0087 20130101;
A63B 2024/0071 20130101; A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 2220/51
20130101; A63B 2220/805 20130101; B62J 45/40 20200201; A63B
2024/0009 20130101; A63B 2220/34 20130101; A63B 2220/30 20130101;
A63B 24/0062 20130101; A63B 2220/16 20130101; A63B 2024/0078
20130101; A63B 2220/801 20130101; A63B 2071/0652 20130101; A63B
2024/0065 20130101; A63B 2220/89 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/7 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/06 20060101
A63B022/06; A63B 24/00 20060101 A63B024/00 |
Claims
1. A detection apparatus of a training machine having a body and an
exercise device, the detection apparatus comprising: a shifting
device mounted on the exercise device and movable along a circular
motion trace, wherein the circular motion trace is divided into a
first segment, a second segment, a third segment and a fourth
segment; four sensors mounted on the body and respectively
corresponding to the four segments, wherein each sensor generates a
detecting signal when the sensor detects the shifting device; and a
controller electrically connected to the sensors to receive the
detecting signals, so as to calculate a first time duration (T1), a
second time duration (T2), a third time duration (T3) and a fourth
time duration (T4), to calculate a rotation speed (RPM), to
determine a rotational direction of the exercise device according
to a sequence of the detecting signals, to determine a first
rotation speed (RPML) and a second rotation speed (RPMR), and to
determine a force exerted on the exercise by a user according to
the time durations, wherein T1 is a duration of time for the
shifting device to pass through the first segment; T2 is a duration
of time for the shifting device to pass through the second segment;
T3 is a duration of time for the shifting device to pass through
the third segment; T4 is a duration of time for the shifting device
to pass through the fourth segment; the rotation speed (RPM) is
60/T, T=T1+T2+T3+T4; the first rotation speed (RPML) is 60/(T1+T2);
and the second rotation speed (RPMR) is 60/(T3+T4).
2. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the
controller sequentially receives the detecting signals in a forward
sequence, the controller determines that the exercise device
rotates along a first rotational direction; and when the controller
sequentially receives the detecting signals in a backward sequence,
the controller determines that the exercise device rotates along a
second rotational direction in reverse to the first rotational
direction.
3. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprises
multiple sensors mounted on the body, such that the four segments
comprise different numbers of sensors.
4. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprises
multiple sensors mounted on the body, such that the four segments
comprise different numbers of sensors.
5. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first
rotational direction is a clockwise direction; and the second
rotational direction is a counterclockwise direction.
6. The detection apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprises
multiple sensors mounted on the body, such that the four segments
comprise different numbers of sensors.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a detection apparatus, and
more particularly to a detection apparatus of a training machine.
The detection apparatus is adapted to detect an exercise state of a
user.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] The advantage of doing exercise is well known. Doing
exercises not only strengthens the heart and lungs, but also
improves blood circulation. In order to do exercise in a limited
indoor space, most of the gyms are equipped with physical training
machines, such as exercise bikes. A user can also purchase an
exercise bike to do exercise at home.
[0005] A conventional training machine has a detector. The detector
is electrically connected to a controller. The controller receives
signals from the detector to determine the user's exercise
state.
[0006] One detector can detect only one type of exercise state. For
example, a rotation speed detector only detects a rotation speed. A
rotational direction detector only detects a rotational direction.
When the information of rotation speed and the rotational direction
are both needed, the two detectors have to be mounted on the
training machine. As more detectors occupy more space, the wire
layout is more complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An objective of the invention is to provide a detection
apparatus of a training machine. The structure of the detection
apparatus of the invention is simplified. The detection apparatus
can detect multiple exercise states of a user at a same time.
[0008] The training machine has a body and an exercise device. The
detection apparatus of the invention comprises a shifting device,
four sensors and a controller.
[0009] The shifting device is mounted on the exercise device and
movable along a circular motion trace. The circular motion trace is
divided into a first segment, a second segment, a third segment and
a fourth segment.
[0010] The four sensors are mounted on the body and respectively
correspond to the four segments. Each sensor generates a detecting
signal when the sensor detects the shifting device.
[0011] The controller is electrically connected to the sensors to
receive the detecting signals, so as to calculate a first time
duration (T1), a second time duration (T2), a third time duration
(T3) and a fourth time duration (T4), to calculate a rotation speed
(RPM), to determine a rotational direction of the exercise device
according to a sequence of the detecting signals, to determine a
first rotation speed (RPML) and a second rotation speed (RPMR), and
to determine a force exerted on the exercise device by a user
according to the time durations.
[0012] T1 is a duration of time for the shifting device to pass
through the first segment. T2 is a duration of time for the
shifting device to pass through the second segment. T3 is a
duration of time for the shifting device to pass through the third
segment. T4 is a duration of time for the shifting device to pass
through the fourth segment.
[0013] The rotation speed (RPM) is 60/T, T=T1+T2+T3+T4. The first
rotation speed (RPML) is 60/(T1+T2). The second rotation speed
(RPMR) is 60/(T3+T4).
[0014] For example, the body of the training machine can be a bike
frame and the exercise device can be a crank. When a user steps on
the crank, the shifting device is moved along the circular motion
trace. The sensors then correspondingly generate detecting signals.
The controller determines the multiple exercise states, including
the rotation speed, the rotational direction, the first rotation
speed, the second rotation speed and the force exerted on the
exercise device. Hence, the detection apparatus of the invention
can determine multiple exercise states at a same time. The
detection apparatus of the invention only has the shifting device,
the sensors and the controller, such that the structure of the
detection apparatus is simple and can simplify the wire layout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the detection apparatus of the
invention mounted on a training machine;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the detection apparatus
of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of the sensors, the shifting
device and the circular motion trace; and
[0018] FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the sensors, the shifting
device and the circular motion trace.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the detection apparatus of
the invention is mounted on a training machine. The training
machine can be an exercise bike or an elliptical trainer. The
training machine mainly comprises a body and an exercise device.
The exercise device is mounted on the body and movable along a
circular motion trace relative to the body.
[0020] For example, the training machine is an exercise bike. The
body is a bike frame 10. The exercise device comprises a gear 11, a
chain 12, two cranks 13 and a flywheel 14. The cranks 13 include a
left crank and a right crank. When a user steps on the cranks 13,
the cranks 13 rotate the flywheel 14 through the gear 11 and the
chain 12.
[0021] The detection apparatus of the invention comprises a
detection unit 20 and a controller 30. The detection unit 20 is
mounted on a side of the bike frame 10. In this embodiment, the
detection unit 20 is on the same side with the left crank. The
detection unit 20 comprises multiple sensors 21-24 and a shifting
device 25.
[0022] The shifting device 25 can be a magnet or an LED. In this
embodiment, the shifting device 25 is a magnet as an example. The
magnet is securely mounted on the cranks 13. With reference to FIG.
3, when a user steps on the cranks 13, the cranks 13 rotate around
a fixed axis (A) relative to the bike frame 10, such that the
shifting device 25 moves along a circular motion trace 40.
[0023] The sensors 21-24 can be Hall devices or optical sensors. In
this embodiment, the sensors 21-24 are Hall devices as an example.
Each sensor 21-24 is mounted on a circuit board mounted on the bike
frame 10. The sensors 21-24 are mounted along the circular motion
trace 40 and respectively generate a detecting signal (S) according
to the magnetic field of the magnet. Therefore, when the user steps
on the cranks 13, the shifting device 25 moves to sequentially pass
through the sensors 21-24, such that the sensors 21-24 sequentially
generate the detecting signals (S1)-(S4).
[0024] The shifting device 25 can be mounted on the gear 11 or the
flywheel 14, such that the shifting device 25 moves with the
rotating gear 11 or the rotating flywheel 14. The sensors 21-24 can
be mounted on the bike frame 10 and correspond to the positions of
the shifting device 25 on the circular motion trace 40. The
controller 30 is electrically connected to the sensors 21-24 to
receive the detecting signals. The controller 30 determines an
exercise state of the training machine according to a timing of the
detecting signals. With reference to FIG. 3, in this embodiment,
the circular motion trace 40 is divided into a first segment 41, a
second segment 42, a third segment 43 and a fourth segment 44,
wherein the lengths of the four segments are equal to each other.
The detection unit 20 has a first sensor 21, a second sensor 22, a
third sensor 23 and a fourth sensor 24. The four sensors 21-24 are
respectively mounted on the four segments 41-44. When the user
steps on the crank 13, the shifting device 25 sequentially passes
through the four sensors 21-24. When the shifting device 25 is
moving through a complete revolution along the circular motion
trace 40, the four sensors 21-24 respectively generate a first
detecting signal (S1), a second detecting signal (S2), a third
detecting signal (S3) and a fourth detecting signal (S4). The
controller 30 defines a first time duration (T1), a second time
duration (T2), a third time duration (T3) and a fourth time
duration (T4). The first time duration (T1) stands for duration of
time for the shifting device 25 to pass through the first segment
41. Similarly, the second time duration (T2), the third time
duration (T3) and the fourth time duration (T4) respectively stand
for durations of time for the shifting device 25 to pass through
the second segment 42, the third segment 43 and the fourth segment
44.
[0025] When the controller 30 acquires the four time durations
(T1)-(T4), the controller 30 calculates a total time (T) of the
four time durations (T1)-(T4). The controller 30 calculates a
rotation speed (RPM) of the cranks 13, wherein RPM=60/T (second).
Therefore, the invention uses only the detection unit 20 to
determine the rotation speed of the cranks 13. The rotation speed
stands for effort with which the user steps on the cranks 13.
[0026] The controller 30 can determine a rotational direction of
the cranks 13 according to a sequence of the detecting signals. For
example, when the controller 30 sequentially receives the detecting
signals of . . . S.sub.n, S.sub.1, S.sub.2, . . . S.sub.n-1,
S.sub.n, S.sub.1, S.sub.2 . . . in a forward sequence, wherein n is
a number of the sensors 21-24 and in this embodiment n=4, the
controller 30 determines that the cranks 13 rotate along a first
rotational direction, such as a clockwise direction. When the
controller 30 sequentially receives the detecting signals of . . .
S.sub.1, S.sub.n, S.sub.n-1, . . . , S.sub.2, S.sub.1, S.sub.n . .
. in a backward sequence, the controller 30 determines the cranks
13 rotate along a second rotational direction, such as a
counterclockwise direction.
[0027] Furthermore, the controller 30 can respectively determine
the effort of the user's right foot and left foot according to the
detecting signals. The detection unit 20 is mounted on the left
side of the bike frame 10. In general, the user's left foot easily
exerts force on the crank 13 in the first segment 41 and the second
segment 42. The controller 30 calculates a left foot rotation speed
(RPML), wherein
RPML = 60 2 TL ##EQU00001##
and TL=T1+T2. Similarly, the user's right foot easily exerts force
on the other crank 13 mounted on a right side of the bike frame 10
in the third segment 43 and the fourth segment 44. The controller
30 calculates a right foot rotation speed (RPMR), wherein
RPMR = 60 2 TR ##EQU00002##
and TR=T3+T4. Therefore, the controller 30 determines the user's
left foot effort and right foot effort according to the left foot
rotation speed (RPML) and the right foot rotation speed (RPMR).
When the rotation speed is faster, the effort is greater.
[0028] The controller 30 determines a force exerted on the crank 13
by the user's left foot and right foot according to the time
durations (T1)-(T4) and determines if the user's feet slow down or
stop exercising. In the first segment 41 and the second segment 42,
when the second time duration T2 is longer than the first time
duration T1 (T2>T1), the user's left foot slows down or stops
exerting force on the crank 13 in the second segment 42. Similarly,
when the fourth time duration (T4) is longer than the third time
duration (T3) (T4>T3), the user's right foot slows down or stops
exerting force on the crank 13 in the fourth segment 44
[0029] In addition, with reference to FIG. 4, the detection
apparatus of the invention can further comprise multiple sensors
26-29 mounted on the body. When the circular motion trace 40
comprises more sensors, the controller 30 can acquire more
detection signals to precisely determine the exercise state in
detail. The user can mount more sensors on a particular segment of
interest. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, when a user wants
to detect in detail the exercise state of the left foot in the
first segment 41, the user can mount the sensors 26-29 in the first
segment 41. Hence, the four segments 41-44 comprise different
numbers of sensors, and among the segments, the first segment 41
has more sensors. The controller 30 can acquire more detecting
signals in the first segment 41. The exercise state of the left
foot determined by the controller 30 can be more detailed.
[0030] In conclusion, the structure of the invention is simplified
for ease of use. The rotation speed determined by the controller 30
represents the effort of the user. Hence, the user knows the body
condition and can adjust the exercising tempo and intensity.
* * * * *