U.S. patent number 3,797,010 [Application Number 05/276,470] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-12 for jogging computer.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Gary Coates, Wayne Johnson, SAID Adler and Bax. Invention is credited to Ronald E. Adler, Ronald F. Bax.
United States Patent |
3,797,010 |
Adler , et al. |
March 12, 1974 |
JOGGING COMPUTER
Abstract
This disclosure relates to a portable solid-state device for
measuring and indicating physical exercise achievement attained
through exercises, for example, walking, running and/or jogging in
place or over a distance course in accordance with a predetermined
exercise regimen. The device includes a digital computer to which
is fed the output from an electromechanical sensor adapted to
generate an electrical impulse in response to each step taken by an
individual while walking, running or jogging at or above a
predetermined rate. The computer counts the number of steps taken
by the exerciser and measures the rate thereof, and integrates the
product of the number and rate over the period of the exercise. The
level of the integral is continuously compared to a pre-programmed
schedule of a predetermined exercise regimen, and either audible or
visual signal means or both are provided for indicating desired
levels of achievement of the exercise regimen.
Inventors: |
Adler; Ronald E. (Washington,
DC), Bax; Ronald F. (Springfield, VA) |
Assignee: |
SAID Adler and Bax (Ashton,
MD)
Coates; Gary (Ashton, MD)
Johnson; Wayne (Alexandria, VA)
|
Family
ID: |
23056777 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/276,470 |
Filed: |
July 31, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/323R; 377/24;
377/24.2; 482/8; 482/74; 324/161; 377/39; 482/51; 600/595 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
5/22 (20130101); G01C 22/006 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
5/22 (20060101); G01C 22/00 (20060101); G08b
023/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/323,263
;128/2.1R,2.1A,25R,26F ;272/DIG.6 ;324/161 ;73/507,518
;235/92CA,92FQ |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Caldwell; John W.
Assistant Examiner: Mooney; Robert J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wigman & Cohen
Claims
1. A device for measuring and indicating physical exercise
achievement in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen
involving a series of repetitive energy-consuming events comprising
in combination: means for sensing each of said repetitive
energy-consuming events performed, means for establishing a
threshold rate, means coupled to said means for sensing and to said
means for establishing a threshold rate and responsive to outputs
therefrom for providing a positive rate difference output,
accumulator means coupled to said means for providing a rate
difference and responsive to its rate difference output for
accumulating its output over time up to a given maximum for
developing an output representative of degree of exercise
achievement of said exercise regimen, and signaling means coupled
to said accumulator means and responsive to output therefrom
2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said accumulator means
includes
3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said threshold means
includes an
4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said device is portable
and adapted to be carried on the person of an individual while
walking,
5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for sensing
includes an accelerometer adapted to generate an electrical impulse
signal in response to each step taken by an individual while
running, walking or
6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said device has a
self-contained
7. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said accelerometer
includes a mass loaded cantilevered piezo-electric crystal for
converting mechanical
8. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means
comprises an
9. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means
comprises a
10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said visual indicator
includes
11. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for
determining
12. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for
determining
13. A device as defined in claim 11 including means for indicating
elapsed
14. A device as defined in claim 12 including means for
indicating
15. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means
comprises
16. A device as defined in claim 15 wherein said digital display
means comprises liquid crystal means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of physical
exercising, and more particularly to the art of measuring and
indicating physical exercise achievement attained by an individual
in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen or program.
Routine physical exercise has long been extolled by virtually every
medical authority as essential to good health and longevity.
Because of modern conveniences and work-saving technology, the
average person expends less physical energy today than did his
counterparts in generations past. As a result, the current
generation, particularly in the Unites States, by and large does
not get the physical exercise necessary for good health.
In the past several years, there has been a gradual awakening to
the need for a more systematized approach to the problem of
exercise. Particularly, individuals in the over-thirty years age
bracket are having routine exercise prescribed by their physicians
as a preventive measure against heart disease and other associated
cardio-vascular disorders. Numerous recent publications have
recognized a correlation between physical fitness and exercise and
have delineated detailed regimens or programs of exercise intended
to yield the desired results.
Chief among these publications are two books, Cooper, Aerobics, M.
Evans and Company, Inc., New York, N. Y. (1968) and Cooper, The New
Aerobics, M. Evans and Company, Inc., New York, N. Y. (1970). These
books stress the benefits of exercises, particularly running and
jogging, which increases blood circulation, breathing, and the use
of lungs. The author, Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., has devised a
detailed exercise regimen which produces output or achievement in a
point system, the "aerobics" point system. These books, and others
like them, have contributed in large part to a virtual jogging boom
in the United States and elsewhere. On any given day, in parks,
playgrounds, gymnasiums and streets, people can be found walking,
running and jogging to earn their "points."
The "aerobics" system, as well as other similar systems, requires
an individual to walk, to run or to jog in place or on a measured
track with a stop watch to determine his rate of speed. Thereafter,
the individual must refer to tables and charts and make mental
computations to arrive at his earned number of "points." The
problems inherent in such a program are, of course, numerous. Not
only does the individual have to find a measured track, but he must
make frequent reference to the books and tables, stop watches,
distances, pacers, and finally make his computations. Moreover,
after running a given distance, the exerciser may find that he was
running too slowly and thus not qualify for any "points." The
exerciser may in some instances run at too high a rate, not
realizing that he may be over-exerting himself, until he finishes
running the selected measured track and then notes the elapsed
time. Such over-exertion may be physically harmful to some
individuals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of this invention to simplify adherence to
an exercise regimen involving a "points" system.
Another object of this invention is to promote running and jogging
as a form of systematized exercise by eliminating the need for a
measured track, stop watch and mental computations from "points"
system regimens.
More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a
device for measuring and indicating directly in "points" physical
exercise achievement attained through walking, running or jogging
in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will
provide a continuous or periodic indication that an exerciser is
moving above a threshold rate commensurate with a predetermined
exercise regimen.
A further object of this invention is to provide a device for
measuring and indicating in "points" physical exercise achievement
attained in accordance with a predetermined exercise regimen which
avoids the possibility of an exerciser inadvertently over-exerting
himself.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a portable
solid-state device adapted to be carried by a person and which is
operatively arranged to sense and to count the number of steps
taken by the person while walking, running or jogging, as well as
to determine the rate thereof, and which will make mathematical
computations to determine the energy output of the exerciser and
compare that output to a predetermined exercise regimen schedule,
and which will signal the exerciser to indicate desired levels of
achievement of the exercise regimen.
Briefly, these and other objects are accomplished in accordance
with this invention by providing a portable, solid-state, miniature
digital computer adapted to be strapped to the belt or otherwise
conveniently carried on the person of an individual while walking,
running or jogging, and which is adapted to sense automatically, to
compute and to report exercise achievement directly in "aerobic"
points. By "aerobic" points, of course, is meant the measure of
exercise achievement in accordance with Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper's
system of earned points, as explained in his books, Aerobics,
supra, and The New Aerobics, supra. It should be understood, of
course, that while the invention is specifically described herein
as keyed to the "aerobics" point system, the computer of this
invention could be pre-programmed in accordance with any other
similar point system or exercise regimen which lends itself to
measuring achievement in specific units.
The device includes an electromechanical transducer, in the form of
an accelerometer, which is capable of sensing each step taken by an
exerciser while walking, running or jogging either in place or over
a distance course. The accelerometer in conjunction with associated
circuitry produces a train of electrical impulses which are used as
an input to the computer. Preferably, the transducer may be a
piezo-electric crystal having a cantilevered weight for converting
mechanical impulses to electric signals. It should be understood,
however, that other type sensors may be used within the scope of
the invention.
The number of electrical impulses coming from the sensor (which
corresponds to the number of steps taken by the exerciser),
provided they accrue at least at a minimum rate, are counted by the
computer which also measures the rate thereof with respect to time.
The product of the number of steps and the rate at which they are
taken is integrated continuously over the full period of the
exercise. The computer accumulates the integrated input data and
constantly compares the level of the integral to a pre-programmed
exercise regimen schedule. When the level of the integral
corresponds to predetermined points on the exercise regimen
schedule, the computer indicates to the exerciser the achievement
directly in the units of the regimen; for example, "points" in the
"aerobic" point system. The signal may be either an audible signal
or a visual signal, or a combination of both audible and visual
signals. Moreover, the reporting system is preferably continual;
i.e., periodic indications are given to the exerciser as he attains
cumulative levels of achievement of the exercise regimen, even in
circumstances which exist during exercise periods involving changes
in the exercising rate. Thus, an exerciser can avoid the
possibility of inadvertently over-exercising and need not during a
single exercise period exercise at a fixed rate.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as described herein,
"aerobics" tables from Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper's books, Aerobics,
supra, and The New Aerobics, supra, are plotted as curves on a
chart and programmed into the computer. The curves plot walking,
jogging and running speed against earned "aerobic" points and yield
a certain amount of "points" for running at a given rate for a
given distance. Moreover, the curves are exponential rather than
linear such that the yield in "points" is greater at the higher
rates of running speed.
It has been found that the computer of this invention will report
"aerobic" points within a fifteen percent error of the "aerobic"
tables. This error may be attributed primarily to the variations
under actual running conditions from the assumed constant length of
stride and average grade conditions programmed into the computer.
In the case of stationary running or jogging, the stride rate error
is non-existent and the primary errors are due to variations in
fitting the computer curve to the aerobics curve and to variations
due to battery aging and temperature variations. These errors, at
maximum, are about .+-.7.0 percent.
In keeping with the "aerobics" system, the computer includes an
internal clock which advances at a predetermined rate against which
the rate of the incoming data is measured. If the rate of the
incoming data is below the rate of the clock, the data is rejected
and thus does not contribute to the integrated output level.
Consequently, if the exerciser is walking, running or jogging below
the predetermined threshold level, his efforts will not count
towards the attainment of his exercise objective. In one embodiment
of the invention, the computer will signal the exerciser when he is
running below the threshold level. In any event, even if the
exerciser is running above the threshold rate, the computer
mathematically performs a subtraction of the threshold rate from
the incoming signal such that the only data which is integrated is
that which exceeds the threshold level. Preferably, the threshold
level may be set by the exerciser in accordance with his desire to
run, to jog or to walk, so as to exclude signals developed in the
last or the two lesser speed modes from contributing to the
"points" which are to be accumulated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the above and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear,
the nature of the invention can be more clearly understood by
reference to the several views illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, the following detailed description thereof, and the
appended claimed subject matter.
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an exerciser who has a portable
exercise measuring and indicating device constructed in accordance
with this invention on his person.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of an
exercise measuring and indicating device constructed according to
the present invention, audible and visual indicating means being
provided.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second preferred embodiment of an
exercise measurement and indicating device constructed according to
the present invention, visual and audible indicating means being
provided.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are a detailed schematic and block diagram of a
major portion of the device illustrated in FIG. 3, and illustrates
detailed circuitry for some of the elements shown as blocks in FIG.
3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, an exerciser, generally designated by the numeral 6, is
provided with a belt 7 which carries a portable, battery powered,
solid-state exercise measuring and indicating device 8 constructed
in accordance with the present invention. It is to be understood,
of course, that the device 8 could be carried equally well on the
person of the exerciser 6 by other conventional means.
As shown in FIG. 1, the exercise measuring and indicating device 8
includes an on-off switch 9 for energizing the device 8. A
threshold lever selector switch 10 is provided to allow the
exerciser 6 to select either a walking, a jogging or a running
threshold level. A shaded visual indicator 11, preferably in the
form of a liquid crystal two-digit decimal number display, is
positioned on the uppermost surface of the device 8 so as to be
readily readable by the exerciser 6. An audible signal-producing
means, such as a loud speaker 12, is provided in addition to the
visual indicator 11. It is to be understood that, in some
applications, the device 8 could be provided only with the visual
indicator 11 or the loud speaker 12. A three-position selector
switch 13 is provided which allows the exerciser 6 to select for
display on the visual indicator 11 data representing either
distance, elapsed time or accumulated "aerobic" points. A control
knob 14 is provided to adjust the device 8 so as to accommodate for
different strides, e.g., short, medium and long.
Referring to FIG. 2, the exercise measuring and indicating device
includes an accelerometer 16, in the form of a loaded,
cantilevered, piezo-electric crystal or an electromagnetic pickup,
which generates a distinct electrical impulse once for each step
taken by an exerciser, such as the exerciser 6, shown in FIG. 1.
The electrical impulses which are processed by a monostable
multivibrator are electrical signal representation of the rate of
change of acceleration (the second derivative a vertical velocity
with respect to time) commonly known as "jerk." The distinct
electrical impulses from the accelerometer 16 are fed to a
monostable multivibrator 17 which responds to the distinct impulses
and produces a train of regularly shaped pulses, the pulse
repetition rate corresponding to the repetition rate of the
distinct processed electrical impulses received from the
accelerometer 16. The monostable multivibrator 17 acts essentially
as a pulse shaper.
A pulse rate comparator 18 has a first input operatively coupled to
the output from the monostable multivibrator 17 and a second input
coupled to the output from a threshold clock pulse generator 20.
The threshold clock pulse generator 20 generates a train of pulses
having a predetermined repetition rate which corresponds to an
exercise rate which is to be excluded from the computation of
"aerobic" points. It is preferred that the threshold clock pulse
generator be settable to one or another of three rates, the lowest
rate being a threshold level for the earning of "aerobic" points by
walking, the highest rate being a threshold level for the earning
of points by running and the middle rate being a threshold level
for earning points by jogging.
The pulse rate comparator 18 has two output signals. A first output
signal, which appears only when the pulse repetition rate of the
pulse from the multivibrator 17 is less than the pulse repetition
rate of the pulse from the clock pulse generator 20, is fed via an
inhibit gate 21 to a low frequency audio oscillator 22 as its
enabling signal. The output of the low frequency audio oscillator
22 is coupled to a drive coil 23 which drives a speaker 24. It is
to be understood that the speaker 24 and its associated drive coil
23 may be advantageously replaced by a small, lightweight ceramic
transducer of known construction. Such transducers have high
acoustic output with low power input. Whenever an exerciser is
performing at too low a rate to accumulate "aerobic" points in a
selected regimen, as determined by the output from the clock pulse
generator 20, the low frequency audio-oscillator 22 produces a
distinct, low frequency output signal which is reproduced by the
speaker 24 thereby signaling the exerciser to increase the rate of
his exercise activity for example, his jogging speed.
A second difference output signal from the rate comparator 18, in
the form of a train of pulses corresponding to the positive
difference between the train of pulses produced by the mutivibrator
17 and the train produced by the clock pulse generator 20, appears
only when the pulse repetition rate of the pulses from the
multivibrator 17 is equal to or greater than the pulse repetition
rate of the pulses from the clock pulse generator 20. This second
output signal is fed to an accumulator 25 which is operatively
arranged to count the number of pulses and provide a digital output
signal indicative of the number of "aerobic" points or the like
being earned by the exerciser.
The digital output signal from the accumulator 25 is fed to the
input of a digital-to-analog converter 26 which produces an analog
output signal, the analog output signal being fed, via the first
input terminal of a multiposition selector switch 36, to a meter 27
which is calibrated and preferably includes a scale which can be
directly read in "aerobic" points.
The train of pulses from the monostable multivibrator 17 are also
fed to the input of a second accumulator 32 which is operatively
arranged to count the number of pulses and provides a digital
output signal indicative of the distance or effective distance, in
the case the exerciser is exercising in place. The accumulator 32,
as well as the accumulator 25, is preferably adjustable so as to
accommodate different strides, the adjustment being made by the
particular exerciser. The digital output signal from the
accumulator 32 is fed to a digital-to-analog converter 33 which
produces an analog output signal. The analog output signal from the
converter 33 is fed to the second input terminal of the
multiposition selector switch 36. Thus, an exerciser while
exercising may by manipulating the selector switch 36 provide an
input to the meter 27 directly representing the distance of
effective distance. In this case, the meter 27 would be provided
with a second scale which can be directly read in distance
units.
The threshold clock pulse generator 20 has a second output, in the
form of a train of pulses of fixed repetition rate, which is fed to
a third accumulator 34. The third accumulator 34 is operatively
arranged to count the number of pulses received from the threshold
clock pulse generator 20 and provides a digital output signal
indicative of the elapsed time of the exercise period. The digital
output signal from the third accumulator 34 is fed to a
digital-to-analog converter 35 which, in turn, produces an analog
output signal representative of elapsed time. The output signal
from the digital-to-analog converter 35 is fed to the third input
terminal of the multiposition selector switch 36. During an
exercise period, an exerciser, again by manipulating the selector
switch 36, may select an input for the meter 27 which directly
represents the elapsed time. The meter 27, in this case, has a
third scale calibrated in time units.
A second from the accumulator 25, which appears whenever a given
number of "aerobic" points, for example, one (1) or one-tenth
(0.1), have been earned by the exerciser as determined by the
accumulator 25, is fed to the input of a monostable multivibrator
28. In turn, the multivibrator 28 produces two pulse output signs
in response to the output signal from the accumulator 25. The first
output signal is fed to the inhibiting input of the inhibit gate 21
to prevent any enabling signal to pass to the low frequency
audio-oscillator 22 from the comparator 18. This first output
signal pulse from the multivibrator 28 is also fed to a high
frequency audio-oscillator 30 as its enabling signal. The output of
the high frequency audio-oscillator 30 is coupled to the drive coil
23 which drives the speaker 24. Thus, whenever an exerciser has
earned the preprogrammed number of "aerobic" points, for example
one (1) or one-tenth (0.1), the high frequency audio-oscillator 30
produces a distinct high frequency output signal which is
reproduced by the speaker 24. In this manner, the exerciser
determines that he has earned a given point level. If his goal is
to earn three (3) points during one exercise period, for example,
and the high frequency audio-oscillator responses to each earned
point, he simply counts the number of times the high frequency tone
is heard.
A second output signal pulse from the monostable multivibrator 28
is fed to a reset gate 31 which, in turn, produces a reset signal
for resetting the accumulators 25, 32 and 34, and the
digital-to-analog converters 26, 33 and 35.
The preferred embodiment of the exercise measuring and indicating
device, as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes an accelerometer 37, an
underdamped loaded cantilever piezo-electric crystal or the like.
The accelerometer 37 is operatively arranged to ring and produces a
series of damped oscillations, one damped oscillatory wave being
produced for each step taken by an exerciser. The output signals
from the accelerometer 37 are fed to an amplitude comparator 38 via
a unity gain, high input impedance amplifier 39. The function of
the amplitude comparator 38 is to compare the first derivative of
vertical acceleration (jerk) produced by the just-taken step with
the first derivative of the vertical acceleration (jerk) of the
preceding step. If the signal produced by the present step does not
reach a predetermined level, for example 50 percent, of the signal
produced by the previous step, the signal is rejected and not
passed to a lockout circuit 40, preferably a one-shot
multivibrator. This comparison functions essentially as a variable
amplitude discriminator to reject low level and spurious
signals.
The amplitude comparator 38 essentially passes a portion of the
highest magnitude half wave signal it receives from the amplifier
39 to the lockout circuit 40. The lockout circuit 40 is a one-shot
multivibrator which produces an output pulse of approximately 0.2
seconds duration for each signal it receives from the amplitude
comparator 38. This 0.2 second pulse is fed to a clock control
circuit 41 which, in turn, in response to the pulses it receives
produces, by integration, a variable direct voltage control signal,
the magnitude of which is directly related to the repetition rate
of the input pulses. The variable direct voltage control signal
from the control circuit 41 is fed to the threshold clock pulse
generator 42 and is effective to vary the pulse repetition rate of
its signal output thereby providing that at higher exercise rates a
single event sensed by the accelerometer 37 represents a greater
contribution to an "aerobic" point than at the lower rates. The
output pulses from the clock pulse generator 42 are fed to a
counter 43 which, in turn, provides a divided-by-four output pulse
train to the first input of a rate comparator 44.
A function of the one-shot lockout circuit 40, in addition to
supplying an input to the control circuit 41, is to assure that the
device of the present invention is immune to noise signals and
other spurious signals which otherwise may appear shortly after the
piezo-electric crystal forming the active part of the accelerometer
37 rings and which otherwise would affect the output from the rate
comparator 44.
A second input of the rate comparator 44 is coupled to receive
pulse signals from the one-shot lockout circuit 40. The threshold
clock pulse generator 42, when not disabled by action of the
control circuit 41, generates a train of pulses having a
predetermined repetition rate which corresponds to an exercise rate
which is to be excluded from the computation of "aerobic" points.
As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the threshold clock pulse
generator 42 is a generator whose rate can be varied or set to one
or another of three basic rates depending on the type of exercise
involved, i.e., walking, jogging or running. As illustrated, the
rate comparator 44 has two output signals. A first output signal,
which appears only when the pulse repetition rate of the train of
pulses from the lockout circuit 40 is less than the pulse
repetition rate of the train of pulses from the counter 43, is fed
to a low rate tone generator 45 which produces a low frequency
audio signal which is fed to an audio output driver 46 of a speaker
47, the audio output driver 46 has two other inputs, which are to
be explained below, and acts as a linear mixer. The speaker 47 and
its associated coil (unnumbered) may be replaced, if desired, by a
ceramic transducer. Wherever an exerciser is performing at too low
a rate to accumulate "aerobic" points in a selected regimen, the
tone generator 45 responds, signaling the exerciser, via the
speaker 47, to increase the rate of his activity, for example, his
walking speed. It is to be understood that the tone generator 47 is
not essentially element of this invention and may be omitted.
A second difference output signal, in the form of a train of
pulses, from the rate comparator 44 is fed to a first accumulator
48. This train of pulses has a repetition rate determined by the
positive rate difference between the train of pulses supplied from
the lockout circuit 40 and the train of pulses supplied from the
threshold clock pulse generator 42 via the divide-by-four output
from the counter 43.
The first accumulator 48 is a digital counter which responds to the
train of pulses it receives from the rate comparator 44 and
provides, as its principal output, a coded digital signal,
preferably in the form of a binary coded decimal signal
representing one-tenth of an "aerobic" point. This binary coded
decimal signal is fed to a decoder, In the form of a four-input AND
gate 49, which produces a pulse output signal for each accumulated
tenth of an "aerobic" point. This pulse output signal is fed via a
differentiator 50 to a three-input NOR gate 51 which gates on an
audio oscillator 52 producing an audio tone of short duration, such
as a tenth of a second, so as to provide a "beep" upon the
accumulation of every one-theth of an "aerobic" point. The "beep"
sound is audibly produced in the speaker 47 which receives an audio
output from the gated audio oscillator 52 via the audio output
driver 46.
The decoder 49 also supplies a reset signal to the first
accumulator 48 for resetting the accumulator 48 upon the occurrence
of each tenth one of the accumulated tenths of an "aerobic" point.
It is to be understood that the first accumulator 48 is preferably
adjustable so as to be accommodated to an individual exerciser's
stride.
The decoder 49 also supplies each of its pulse signals representing
a tenth of an "aerobic" point to a second accumulator 53 which is a
decade counter, responding to the train of pulses received from the
decoder 49. The second accumulator 53, in turn, provides as its
principal output a coded digital signal, in the form of a binary
coded decimal representing tenths of an "aerobic" point. This
binary coded decimal signal is fed, in bit parallel, to a decoder
54 which decodes the received binary coded decimal signal received
from the second accumulator 53 into a seven segment coded signal
which is fed to a conventional seven segmented liquid crystal
display member 55, a decimal number being produced in the display
member 55 which allows the exerciser to read his currently earned
tenths of an "aerobic" point during the period of exercising.
The second accumulator 53 is provided with an output circut which
produces a pulse output signal for each full "aerobic" point. This
pulse output signal is fed to a differentiator 56. The output from
the differentiator 50 is fed to the gated oscillator 52 via the NOR
circuit 51. In response to the output from the differentiator 56,
the gated oscillator 52 produces a distinct audio signal of greater
duration that the duration of the tone produced for each tenth of
an "aerobic" point. The duration of the audio signal produced by
the gated oscillator 56 in response to the signal from the
differentiator 56 may be, for example, of about one and one-half
seconds in duration, as determined by the time constant of the
differentiator 56. This audio signal is also audibly produced in
the speaker 47 used to produce the audible "beep" mentioned
above.
The second accumulator 53 is not provided with an externally wired
reset in the same manner as the first accumulator 48 since the
second accumulator is a decade counter and essentially resets
itself.
When a full "aerobic" point has been accumulated in the second
accumulator 53, the NOR gate 51 receives inputs from both the
differentiator 50 and the differentiator 56, but since the output
from the differentiator 56 is of longer duration, the shorter
duration output from the differentiator 44 is effectively masked,
only the relatively longer duration audible tone signal being
produced by the speaker 47.
Each pulse signal representing a full "aerobic" point from the
second accumulator 53 is fed to a third accumulator 57 which, like
the second accumulator 53 is a decade counter which responds to the
train of pulses received from the second accumulator 53. The third
accumulator 57 is preferably a digital counter which counts up to
five, the number five being suitable simply because many exercise
routines are designed to require the earning of five full "aerobic"
points during one exercise period.
The third accumulator 57 provides an output signal, in the form of
a binary coded decimal signal representing full "aerobic" points.
This output signal is fed, in bit parallel to a decoder 58 which,
in turn, decodes the received signal into a seven segmented coded
signal which is fed to a seven segmented liquid crystal display
member 60. A decimal number appears in the display member 60
representing full "aerobic" points.
The third accumulator 57 provides a second output signal indicating
that five "aerobic" points have been earned. This second output
signal is fed to an AND gate 59 which has a second input connected
to a divide-by-two output from the counter 43, which is a square
wave having a 50 percent duty cycle. The output from the AND
circuit 59, which can be considered a warble control signal, is fed
to the gated oscillator 52 via the NOR gate 51. Thus, the gated
oscillator 52 produces a warbled output signal which is audibly
reproduced by the speaker 47 upon the completion of exercise equal
to five earned "aerobic" points. The gated oscillator 52 continues
to produce its distinct warbled audio signal, until the device is
either turned off or manually reset, by means of a push button
switch or the like, as indicated diagrammatically by the numeral
61.
The audio output driver 46 includes a battery check input which
functions as a check of battery voltage each time a tone is sounded
during routine operation. If the battery voltage falls below a
certain level, the audible tone signals cease.
It is to be understood that the device illustrated in FIG. 3 may
include a selector switch, further accumulators, similar to the
accumulators 32 and 34 of FIG. 2, and associated digital-to-analog
converters which could be alternatively connected to the decoders
54 and 58 to provide directly readable distance and elapsed time
data. Thus, this addition data could be available to an exerciser
on demand via the selector switch.
In the event an elapsed time data readout is desired, the device of
FIG. 3 would be provided with a separate timing oscillator as its
source of timing signals. This is necessary because the threshold
clock pulse generator 42 is not fixed as to its output signal
repetition rate.
It is to be understood that the decoders 54 and 58 can be
eliminated provided that the second accumulator 53 and the third
accumulator 57 are operatively arranged to provide output signals
in a seven segmented code. Such accumulators are known in the art.
In this instance the digital coded signals from the accumulators 53
and 57 would be fed respectively directly to the liquid crystal
display members 55 and 60.
In FIGS. 4a and 4b, detailed circuit diagrams are seen for the
circuit elements 37-44, 46-53, 56, 57, 59 and 61 of FIG. 3, these
circuit elements being enclosed in dotted lines and provided with
corresponding reference numerals. Numeral values for the
significant resistors and capacitors are set out in FIGS. 4a and
4b, other circuit parts being designed as to type on the
drawings.
While there has been shown and described above possible embodiments
of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited thereto and that various changes, alterations and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.
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