Sporting apparatus and controlling method thereof

• US 10,456,625 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Ai, Tsu-Hua, Chen, Chih-Yang, Wu, Yen-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Loan B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abyaneh, Shila Jalalzadeh
• Application Number:
  US15/247,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20160367859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• 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 21/0053 using alternators or dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0055 the produced electric power used as a source for other equipment, e.g. for TVs
• 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 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/625 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• 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: F03G 5/00 Devices for producing mechanical power from muscle energy driving cycles B62M
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/025 Treadmills for animals F03G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/064 Circuit arrangements for actuating electromagnets circuit arrangements for obtaining special operating characteristics H01F7/18; driving circuits for electromagnets making use of a switching regulator H01H47/325
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1607 Armatures entering the winding

Abstract

A sporting apparatus comprises a structure body, an endless belt, an electricity generating unit, a position sensing unit and a modulation unit for continuously outputting electricity as the sporting apparatus is continuously operated. The electricity generating unit transforms kinetic energy, which is transmitted from the endless belt, into electric power. The position sensing unit senses a position of a user on the endless belt so as to generate a sensing signal. The modulation unit includes a DC/AC inverter, a current sensing element, an inductor and a semiconductor switch with a controller. The current sensing element senses an armature current outputted from the electricity generating unit and outputs a signal to the controller. The controller controls the duty ratio of the semiconductor switch to control the armature current, so that the armature current is adjusted according to the sensing signal for controlling the rotation speed of the endless belt.

Claims

1. A sporting apparatus, which is capable of continuously outputting electricity, comprising:

a structure body;

an endless belt disposed on the structure body and rotated by kinetic energy by a user;

an electricity generating unit disposed in the structure body and configured to transform kinetic energy transmitted from the endless belt into electric power;

a position sensing unit disposed in the structure body and configured to sense a position of the user on the endless belt so as to generate a sensing signal; and

a modulation unit electrically connected with the electricity generating unit and the position sensing unit for receiving the sensing signal;

wherein, the modulation unit comprises a DC/AC inverter, a current sensing element, an inductor and a semiconductor switch with a controller, the current sensing element is configured to sense an armature current outputted from the electricity generating unit and output a signal to the controller, and the controller is configured to control the duty ratio of the semiconductor switch to control the armature current, so that a counter torque of the electricity generating unit is adjusted when the armature current is adjusted according to the sensing signal for controlling the rotation speed of the endless belt.

2. The sporting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission mechanism disposed in the structure body and connected with the endless belt and the electricity generating unit.

3. The sporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the current sensing element senses the armature current flowing through the inductor, the controller controls the duty ratio of the semiconductor switch to control the armature current.

4. The sporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the current sensing element senses the current flowing through the conducted semiconductor switch, the controller controls the duty ratio of the semiconductor switch to control the armature current.

5. The sporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modulation unit adjusts the armature current according to the sensing signal for changing the rotation speed of the endless belt, so that the user is kept on a specific position of the endless belt.

6. The sporting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the modulation unit controls the armature current by pulse width modulation.

7. The sporting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least a piezo-electric element disposed in the endless belt.

8. The sporting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a start auxiliary unit electrically connected with the electricity generating unit, wherein the start auxiliary unit provides a start voltage.

9. A control method applied to a sporting apparatus, wherein the sporting apparatus comprises an endless belt rotated by kinetic energy by a user, and the endless belt rotates to drive an electricity generating unit to generate an armature current, the method comprising the following steps of:

sensing a position of the user on the endless belt so as to generate a sensing signal;

adjusting the armature current according to the sensing signal to adjust a counter torque of the electricity generating unit; and

controlling a rotation speed of the endless belt according to the adjusted armature current.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of adjusting the armature current according to the sensing signal is performed by a modulation unit.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the modulation unit controls the armature current by pulse width modulation.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the modulation unit controls the armature current by modulating an output power of the electricity generating unit.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the modulation unit alters the armature current so as to change the rotation speed of the endless belt, so that the user is kept on a specific position of the endless belt.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of sensing the position of the user on the endless belt so as to generate the sensing signal is performed by a position sensing unit.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein when the al nature current decreases, the rotation speed of the endless belt increases.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein when the armature current increases, the rotation speed of the endless belt decreases.