TREADMILL WITH AUTOMATIC SPEED CONTROL AND CONTROL MODULE OF THE SAME

• US 20100222182A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KAE Sun Sports Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Dasan Rnd Co., Ltd. (Dasan Networks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Park, Jae-Sang
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/067 with crank and handles being on opposite sides of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. the crank is behind and handles are in front of the user
• 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 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• 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 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0059 using a frequency controlled AC motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0242 with speed variation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 : Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/64 : Heated
• 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: H02P 3/18 : for stopping or slowing an ac motor

Abstract

A treadmill includes a body having a belt for supporting an exerciser, an exerciser detecting portion installed in a predetermined area of the body to detect movement of the exerciser, a driving motor coupled to the body to drive the belt, a control portion for generating a first control signal for adjusting a rotation speed of the driving motor based on a signal received from the exerciser detecting portion, a motor driving portion for adjusting the rotation speed of the driving motor according to the first control signal received from the control portion, and an electrical braking portion for reducing the rotation speed of the driving motor. The treadmill quickly follows acceleration or deceleration of an exerciser; provides an experience as if the exerciser is exercising on the ground, thereby improve an exerciser'"'"'s exercising experience; accepts various exercising patterns of an exerciser; resolves a problem in that a motor driving portion is tripped due to a load caused by quick deceleration; and preprocesses measured values of an exerciser'"'"'s position to resolve a problem in that a speed of a belt cannot be controlled due to measurement errors contained in measured values.

Claims

1. A treadmill, comprising:

a body having a belt for supporting an exerciser;

an exerciser detecting portion installed in a predetermined area of the body to detect movement of the exerciser;

a driving motor coupled to the body to drive the belt;

a control portion for generating a first control signal for adjusting a rotation speed of the driving motor based on a signal received from the exerciser detecting portion;

a motor driving portion for adjusting the rotation speed of the driving motor according to the first control signal received from the control portion; and

an electrical braking portion for reducing the rotation speed of the driving motor.

2. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein in order to reduce the rotation speed of the driving motor, the motor driving portion generates a first braking torque, and the electrical braking portion generates a second braking torque.

3. The treadmill of claim 2, wherein the electrical braking portion generates the second braking torque when a provisional braking torque by the first control signal is equal to or greater than the first braking torque.

4. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the second braking torque is equal to or greater than a difference between the provisional braking torque and the first braking torque.

5. The treadmill of claim 3, wherein the electrical braking torque comprises a switching portion which operates to generate the second braking torque when the provisional braking torque is equal to or greater than the first braking torque.

6. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the electrical braking torque comprises a switching portion which operates when a voltage of regenerative energy flowing into the motor driving portion from the driving motor is equal to or more than a predetermined reference in case of decreasing the rotation speed of the driving motor.

7. The treadmill of claim 6, wherein the switching portion operates by a second control signal transmitted from the control portion.

8. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the electrical braking portion comprises a switching portion which operates when a voltage applied between both output terminals of a converting portion of the motor driving portion is equal to or more than a predetermined reference.

9. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the electrical braking torque comprises a braking resistor which converts regenerative energy flowing into the motor driving portion from the driving motor into heat in case of decreasing the rotation speed of the driving motor.

10. The treadmill of claim 9, wherein both ends of the braking resistor are electrically connected to both output terminals of the converting portion of the motor driving portion, respectively.

11. The treadmill of claim 10, wherein one end of the braking resistor is electrically connected to one end of a switching portion which operates when a voltage of the regenerative energy is equal to or more than a predetermined reference.

12. The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the electrical braking torque transfers at least a part of regenerative energy flowing into the motor driving portion from the driving motor to a power supplying portion for supplying electrical power to the motor driving portion in case of decreasing the rotation speed of the driving motor.

13. The treadmill of claim 12, wherein the electrical braking portion comprises a switching portion which operates when a voltage of the regenerative energy is equal to or more than a predetermined reference.

14-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A control module for a treadmill, comprising:

a base substrate with an electrical wire line formed therein;

a control portion coupled to the base substrate and having a semiconductor circuit electrically connected to the electrical wire line; and

a connecting terminal coupled to the base substrate and electrically connected to a motor driving portion for driving a driving motor and an exerciser detecting portion for measuring a position of an exerciser,

wherein the control portion adjusts a rotation speed of the driving motor based on a signal transmitted from the exerciser detecting portion and transmits a first control signal to the motor driving portion to provide an electrical braking torque to the driving motor in order to decelerate the driving motor.

38. The control module for the treadmill of claim 29, further comprising, an electrical braking portion which is electrically connected to the motor driving portion and provides the electrical braking torque.

39. The control module for the treadmill of claim 38, wherein the electrical braking torque comprises a resistor, and the control module further includes a heat sink portion which is made of a metal to discharge heat generated in the resistor.

40. The control module for the treadmill of claim 38, wherein in order to decrease the rotation speed of the driving motor, the motor driving portion generates a first braking torque, and the electrical braking portion generates a second braking torque.

41. The control module for the treadmill of claim 40, wherein the electrical braking portion generates the second braking torque when the electrical braking torque is equal to or greater than the first braking torque.

42. The control module for the treadmill of claim 41, wherein the second braking torque is equal to or greater than a difference between the electrical braking torque and the first braking torque.

43. The control module for the treadmill of claim 41, wherein the electrical braking torque comprises a switching portion which operates when the electrical braking torque is equal to or greater than the first braking torque.

30-37. -37. (canceled)

44. (canceled)