Electromechanical force-magnitude, force-angle sensor

• US 20070137307A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Original Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Matthew, Gruben, Kreg
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/774
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0046 Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0476 by rotating cycling movement arrangements on or for real bicycles A63B69/16
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/08 Pedals
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/242 by measuring and simultaneously multiplying torque and velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0004 Force transducers adapted for mounting in a bore of the force receiving structure G01L5/0009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/225 to foot actuated controls, e.g. brake pedals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2168 Pedals

Abstract

An electromechanical force sensor uses a rotating element that aligns with the force and may carry a force magnitude sensor simplifying and providing more accurate measurement of force-angle and force-magnitude. The ability to detect simply force-angle and force-magnitude enables a variety of training and exercise devices.

Claims

1. A sensor for measuring a force magnitude and force angle of a force acting on a member, the sensor comprising:

a rotating element mounted on the member to rotate according to a force angle of a force applied through the rotating element to the member;

a rotation sensor providing an electronic measurement of the rotation of the rotating element to reveal the force angle; and

a force sensor providing a measurement of force magnitude of the force.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the force sensor is a single axis force sensor mounted on the rotating element to rotate therewith to alignment with the force angle.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the rotating element has a first bearing along a first axis for receiving a shaft to rotate about a first axis along the shaft, and has a second bearing along a second axis parallel to, but displaced from, the first axis for rotating with respect to an operator, and wherein the force is applied between the operator and shaft.

4. The sensor of claim 3 wherein the shaft is attached to the member.

5. The sensor of claim 3 wherein the shaft fits within a bore of the rotating element to form the first bearing, and the rotating member fits within a bore of the operator to form the second bearing.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein the first bearing provides at least two axially separated fulcrum points, and the second bearing provides at least two axially separated fulcrum points so that one set of fulcrum points flanks the other.

7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the force sensor is at least one strain gauge.

8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the member is a crank arm of a bicycle.

9. The sensor of claim 1 including a display device attached to the rotation sensor and force sensor to provide visual feedback to indicate force magnitude and angle.

10. The sensor of claim 1 including an actuator controlling motion of the member and receiving signals from the rotation sensor and force magnitude sensor to modify resistance of the member as a function of force angle.

11. The sensor of claim 10 further providing a user input allowing a user to control the function relating the signals from the rotation sensor and force sensor to change a relative degree of exercise of muscles of a user moving the member.

12. A pedal training system comprising:

a seat supporting a user;

a pedal support attached to pedals for engaging a user'"'"'s left and right foot for movement of the pedal support when the user is supported by the seat;

at least two rotating elements, one mounted to each of two crank arms to rotate according to a force angle of a force applied to the pedals;

a rotation sensor associated with each rotating element providing an electronic measurement of the rotation of the rotating element to reveal the force angle; and

single axis force sensor mounted on the rotating element to rotate therewith to alignment with the force angle.

13. The training system of claim 12 including a computer attached to the rotation sensor and force sensor to calculate efficiency of force application.

14. The training system of claim 12 including an actuator controlling motion of the pedal support and receiving signals from the rotation sensor and force sensor to modify resistance of the pedal support as a function of force angle.

15. The training system of claim 12 further providing a user input allowing a user to control a function relating the measurement from the rotation sensor and force sensor to change a relative degree of exercise of muscles of a user moving the pedal support.

16. The training system of claim 12 including a display device attached to the rotation sensor and force sensor to provide visual feedback to indicate force and angle.

17. The training system of claim 12 including a computer attached to the rotation sensor and force sensor to detect asymmetry in force application of the left and right foot.

18. A training apparatus comprising:

a support for supporting a user;

a limb-engaging surface receiving a limb of the user when the user is supported in the user support;

actuator controlling movement of the limb-engaging surface;

a multi-axis force sensor holding the limb-engaging surface with respect to the user support;

a position sensor detecting a position of the limb-engaging surface; and

a controller holding a kinematic model of the limb and communicating with the multi-axis force sensor and the position sensor to measure a angle of applied force applied by the limb on the limb-engaging surface and the position of the limb-engaging surface, and use the model to deduce a muscle activation pattern.