Distance sensor for console positioning

• US 10,343,017 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Jackson, Spencer Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US15/787,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20180117419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A treadmill includes an exercise deck. The exercise deck includes a platform, a first pulley incorporated into the platform at a front end, a second pulley incorporated into the platform at a rear end, a tread belt surrounding the first pulley and the second pulley, and multiple tilt actuators incorporated into the platform. The treadmill also includes an upright structure. The upright structure includes a console, a tilt controller incorporated into the console in communication with the multiple tilt actuators, and the tilt controller having a two dimensional input mechanism.

Claims

1. An exercise device, comprising:

a frame;

a console movably attached to the frame;

a sensor associated with the exercise device;

memory and a processor;

the memory including programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

automatically measure, with the sensor, a distance between the console and a portion of the frame at predetermined intervals; and

adjust a position of the console based on the measurement.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the position is an angle of the console with respect to a user.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the position is height position.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is connected the console.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is connected to the portion of the frame.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a time-of-flight sensor.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor configured to measure an angular position of the portion of the frame relative to a neutral baseline.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor located in a side post of the frame.

9. The exercise device of claim 1, further including:

an exercise deck;

wherein the portion of the frame is incorporated into the exercise deck.

10. The exercise device of claim 9, further including:

an incline mechanism that adjusts an orientation of the exercise deck; and

wherein the programmed instructions further, when executed, cause the processor to measure the distance between the console and the portion of the frame incorporated into the exercise deck in response to the incline mechanism adjusting the orientation.

11. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the programmed instructions, when executed, further cause the memory to store a user profile.

12. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the programmed instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to change a console height in response to information in the user profile.

13. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the exercise device comprises a treadmill.

14. A treadmill, comprising:

an upright structure;

an exercise deck independently movable of the upright structure;

a console movably attached to the upright structure;

a sensor connected to the treadmill;

an incline mechanism that adjusts an orientation of the exercise deck; and

memory and a processor;

the memory including programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

measure a first distance between the console and the exercise deck with the sensor in response to the incline mechanism adjusting the orientation;

measure a second distance between the console and the exercise deck with the sensor;

determine a difference between the first distance and the second distance; and

adjust a position of the console based on the difference.

15. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the programmed instructions, when executed, further cause the memory to store a user profile.

16. The treadmill of claim 15, wherein the programmed instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to change a console height in response to information in the user profile.

17. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the sensor is connected to the console.

18. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the sensor is connected to the exercise deck.

19. The treadmill of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a time-of-flight sensor.

20. A treadmill, comprising:

an upright structure;

an exercise deck independently movable of the upright structure;

a console movably attached to the upright structure;

a time-of-flight sensor connected to the console;

an incline mechanism that adjusts an angular orientation of the exercise deck; and

memory and a processor;

the memory including programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to;

measure a distance between the console and the exercise deck with the time-of-flight sensor in response to the incline mechanism adjusting the orientation;

determine the angular position of the exercise deck; and

adjust a position of the console based on the measurement and the angular orientation, wherein the position of the console is maintained relative to a user.