Exercise assistance apparatus, exercise assistance method, and exercise assistance program

• US 10,143,891 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawabata, Yasuhiro, Shen, Nina, Nishiyama, Kengo, Fujita, Reiji, Yamashita, Yuki, Murai, Toshimichi
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US15/812,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20180093134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731, 34053912, 482 8, 482 9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02416 using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation A61B5/14552 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/067 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

An exercise assistance apparatus, an exercise assistance method, and an exercise assistance program, according to which it is possible to cause a user to perform exercise at an appropriate load. An exercise assistance apparatus includes: a pulse measurement unit that measures a pulse rate of a user, a movement pace measurement unit that measures a movement pace of the user and a guide unit that guides the movement pace of the user based on a pulse rate range set in advance by the user, the pulse rate measured by the pulse measurement unit, and the movement pace measured by the movement pace measurement unit.

Claims

1. An exercise assistance apparatus comprising:

a pulse measurement unit configured to measure a pulse rate of a user;

a movement pace measurement unit configured to measure a movement pace of the user; and

a guide unit configured to guide the movement pace of the user based on a pulse rate range set in advance by the user, the pulse rate measured by the pulse measurement unit, and the movement pace measured by the movement pace measurement unit,

wherein if the pulse rate measured by the pulse measurement unit is outside of the range, the guide unit guides the movement pace by correcting the movement pace measured by the movement pace measurement unit according to the pulse rate and reporting the corrected movement pace, and

furthermore, if the pulse rate measured by the pulse measurement unit is within the range and is in an upward trend, the guide unit guides the movement pace by correcting the movement pace measured by the movement pace measurement unit so that the movement pace is smaller the greater the degree of rising of the pulse rate is and reporting the corrected movement pace, if the pulse rate measured by the pulse measurement unit is within the range and is in a downward trend, the guide unit guides the movement pace by correcting the movement pace measured by the movement pace measurement unit so that the movement pace is greater the greater the degree of falling of the pulse rate is and reporting the corrected movement pace, and if the pulse rate measured by the pulse measurement unit is within the range and is stable, the guide unit guides the movement pace by reporting the movement pace measured by the movement pace measurement unit.

2. The exercise assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the guide unit guides the movement pace of the user by illuminating a light-emitting element, causing a vibration element to vibrate, or causing a sound to be output from a speaker, at a movement time interval per step calculated based on the movement pace to be reported and a step width of the user.

3. An exercise assistance method comprising:

a pulse measurement step of measuring a pulse rate of a user;

a movement pace measurement step of measuring a movement pace of the user; and

a guide step of guiding the movement pace of the user based on a pulse rate range set in advance by the user, the pulse rate measured in the pulse measurement step, and the movement pace measured in the movement pace measurement step,

wherein in the guide step, if the pulse rate measured in the pulse measurement step is outside of the range, the movement pace is guided by correcting the movement pace measured in the movement pace measurement step according to the pulse rate and reporting the corrected movement pace, and

furthermore, if the pulse rate measured in the pulse measurement step is within the range and is in an upward trend, the movement pace is guided by correcting the movement pace measured in the movement pace measurement step so that the movement pace is smaller the greater the degree of rising of the pulse rate is and reporting the corrected movement pace, if the pulse rate measured in the pulse measurement step is within the range and is in a downward trend, the movement pace is guided by correcting the movement pace measured in the movement pace measurement step so that the movement pace is greater the greater the degree of falling of the pulse rate is and reporting the corrected movement pace, and if the pulse rate measured in the pulse measurement step is within the range and is stable, the movement pace is guided by reporting the movement pace measured in the movement pace measurement step.

4. An exercise assistance program for causing a computer to execute the steps of the exercise assistance method according to claim 3.