ADAPTIVE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

• US 20110195819A1
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alton Reich, David Paulus, James Shaw, Stelu Deaconu
• Original Assignee: Alton Reich, David Paulus, James Shaw, Stelu Deaconu
• Inventors: Reich, Alton, Shaw, James, Paulus, David, Deaconu, Stelu
• Application Number:
  US13/082,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20110195819A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/5
• 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 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0005 with particular movement of the arms provided by handles moving otherwise than pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load

Abstract

The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using computer configured exercise equipment and an electric motor. A computer-controlled robotic resistance system is used for training, diagnosis and/or therapy. The resistance system comprises: a subject interface, software control, a controller, an electric servo assist/resist motor, an actuator, and/or a subject sensor. The system overcomes the limitations of the existing robotic rehabilitation, weight training, and cardiovascular training systems by providing a training and/or rehabilitation system that adapts a resistance or force applied to a user interactive element in response to the user'"'"'s interaction with the training system, a physiological strength curve, and/or sensor feedback. For example, the system optionally provides for an automatic reconfiguration and/or adaptive load adjustment based upon real time measurement of a user'"'"'s interaction with the system or sensor based observation by the exercise system as it is operated by the subject.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus configured for use by an operator, comprising:

an operator interface;

a cable linked to said operator interface;

an electric motor configured to supply a resistive force to movement of said cable;

a sensor configured to provide a feedback sensor reading; and

a controller electrically connected to said motor, said controller configured to use the feedback sensor reading in control of the resistive force to movement of said cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to vary the resistive force to said cable during an exercise repetition based on the feedback sensor reading.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the feedback sensor reading relates to at least one of:

applied load on said cable;

position of said operator interface;

velocity of a movable element of said exercise apparatus; and

acceleration of a movable component of said exercise apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor reading comprises a measure of movement of at least one of:

said cable;

said motor; and

said subject interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said sensor comprising:

a stepper motor encoder linked to said electric motor, said encoder configured to generate a motor movement reading via marking rotation of a shaft of said motor, said controller determining movement and/or position of said subject interface using the motor movement reading and a measure of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said controller configured to alter the resistive force to movement of said cable based on position of said operator interface as measured by said stepper motor encoder.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, said sensor comprising:

a hand control sensor, said hand control sensor;

configured to sense operation of a hand control by the operator; and

configured to generate a resistance change signal sent to said motor via said controller, said resistance change signal altering the resistive force applied by said electric motor to said cable.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said sensor comprising:

a voice sensor configured to generate a voice control signal, said voice control signal used for altering at least one of;

velocity of said operator interface; and

the resistive force supplied by said electric motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, said sensor comprising:

a foot control sensor configured for use by the operator to alter at least one of;

a movement velocity of said operator interface; and

the resistive force supplied by said electric motor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said foot control sensor configured to measure a pressure applied by said operator.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, said sensor comprising:

a visual feedback system configured to provide information on movement of the operator.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, said controller configured within a single repetition to:

apply a first resistance to movement of said cable along an axis in a first direction during a first time period; and

apply a second resistance to movement of said cable along said axis in a direction opposed to said first direction during a second time period.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, said electric motor configured to apply assistance to movement of said cable.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said motor alters the assistance to movement using the feedback sensor reading.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, said controller configured to automatically adjust resistance applied to said resistance cable between repetitions of movement of said subject interface element.

16. A method of exercising an operator, comprising the steps of:

providing an exercise apparatus, said apparatus comprising;

an operator interface;

a cable linked to said operator interface;

supplying a resistive force to said cable using an electric motor;

generating a feedback sensor reading with a sensor; and

controlling said motor with a controller electrically connected to said motor, said controller configured to use the feedback sensor reading in control of the resistive force to said cable.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said sensor comprises a heart rate monitor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said sensor comprises a blood pressure monitor.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said sensor comprises a wireless receiver, said wireless receiver configured to receive information about the operator.

20. The method of claim 16, the feedback sensor reading comprising a velocity tracking signal, said operator using feedback related to said velocity tracking signal to alter exertion during a repetition.