System and method for verifying the calibration of an exercise apparatus

• US 20030181293A1
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Racer Mate Inc.
• Inventors: Baatz, Wilfried
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/63
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0052 induced by electromagnets A63B21/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances

Abstract

A calibration verification system 20 comprises a trainer 40 having a load generator, a variable load control system (hidden by the cover of the load generator) connected in electrical communication with the load generator, and an exercise trainer computer system 140 connected in communication with the variable load control system. In operation, the exercise trainer computer system 140 outputs commands to the variable load control system. These commands can, for example, instruct the variable load control system to energize the load generator at predetermined times and power levels in order to simulate changes in terrain. The calibration verification system 20 also allows the user to verify the calibration of the trainer 40 by implementing a user initiated process, which conducts a calibration verification test of the trainer and outputs the test data at the exercise trainer computer system 140.

Claims

1. A system for verifying the calibration of an exercise apparatus, comprising:

an exercise apparatus having an operational characteristic for calibration, the exercise apparatus including a load generator, a flywheel assembly associated with the load generator, and a variable load control system including a controller, the controller being operable for initiating the load generator, obtaining signals indicative of the operation of the trainer, obtaining a current operational characteristic for calibration, and determining whether the current operation characteristic substantially matches the operational characteristic for calibration of the apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer system coupled to the variable load control system and having a controller and a display device, the controller operable to receive a user input signal and to transmit a verification start signal to the variable load control system and for displaying the results of whether the current operation characteristic substantially matches the operational characteristic for calibration of the apparatus at the display device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a counter, the signals being stored in the counter thereby generating a count value.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller calculates a time period necessary to achieve a pre-selected count value, the time period representative of the current operational characteristic for calibration.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the signals are indicative of an estimated travel speed associated with flywheel assembly rotation.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller calculates the total elapsed time from a first travel speed to a second travel speed, the total elapsed time representative of the current operational characteristic for calibration.

7. A method for verifying the calibration of an exercise trainer, the trainer having a flywheel assembly rotated through user input, and a load generator through which a portion of the flywheel assembly rotates, the method comprising:

obtaining a user start command;

obtaining an operational characteristic of the trainer;

testing the calibration of the trainer when the operational characteristic of the trainer equals a pre-selected threshold value; and

displaying results of the calibration test.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the operational characteristic of the trainer is the speed of rotation of the flywheel assembly.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein testing the calibration of the trainer includes

initiating the load generator;

obtaining signals indicative of the operation of the trainer; and

obtaining a current operational characteristic for calibration.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein obtaining signals includes obtaining counts indicative of flywheel assembly rotation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining a current operational characteristic for calibration includes measuring a period of time necessary to achieve a pre-selected count value.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the signals are indicative of an estimated travel speed associated with flywheel assembly rotation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining a current operational characteristic for calibration includes calculating the total time elapsed from a first travel speed to a second travel speed.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 7.

25. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 8.

26. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 9.

27. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 10.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 11.

29. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 12.

30. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 13.

14. In a system having an exercise trainer with a load generator and a flywheel assembly, wherein the system has an operational characteristic for calibration, a method for verifying the calibration of the exercise trainer, comprising:

initiating the load generator;

obtaining signals indicative of the operation of the trainer;

obtaining a current operational characteristic for calibration; and

determining whether the current operation characteristic substantially matches the operational characteristic for calibration.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein obtaining signals includes obtaining counts indicative of flywheel assembly rotation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein obtaining a current operational characteristic for calibration includes measuring a period of time necessary to achieve a pre-selected count value.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the signals are indicative of an estimated travel speed associated with flywheel assembly rotation.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein obtaining a current operational characteristic for calibration includes calculating the total time elapsed from a first travel speed to a second travel speed.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the operational characteristic for calibration is generic to a class of trainers.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the operational characteristic for calibration is specific to a particular user'"'"'s trainer.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the load generator includes

applying a constant current to the load generator for producing a magnetic field through which a portion of the flywheel assembly is rotated.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the load generator includes

applying a constant voltage to the load generator for producing a magnetic field through which a portion of the flywheel assembly is rotated.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein initiating the load generator includes:

initiating the load generator according to the operational characteristic for calibration; and

applying a variable current to the load generator for producing a magnetic field through which a portion of the flywheel assembly is rotated.

31. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 14.

32. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 15.

33. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 16.

34. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 17.

35. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 18.

36. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 19.

37. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 20.

38. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 21.

39. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 22.

40. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 23.