METHODS AND APPARATUS TO POWER AN EXERCISE MACHINE

• US 20170340913A1
• Filed: 08/21/2017
• Published: 11/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Sutkowski, Robert, Wong, John Michael, David, Ferdinand, Jiang, Ming
• Granted Patent: US 9,943,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 22/0056 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 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• 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: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/06 other than of endless-walk type
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/064 using a bicycle or a bicycle pedal, e.g. pedal generators
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 5/086 using flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/08 with pulse width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to power an exercise machine are disclosed herein. An example exercise machine includes a power receiver to measure a power output by a generator that is to convert movement of a moveable part into electric power, the power receiver is to calculate a rotations per minute of the moveable part. A mode controller is to calculate a power supply duty cycle based on the power output by the generator, the rotations per minute of the moveable part, and a user selected wattage. A power output controller is to control power provided to a console of the exercise machine based on the power supply duty cycle.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a power receiver to measure a power output by a generator that is to convert movement of a moveable part into electric power, the power receiver to calculate a rotations per minute of the moveable part;

a mode controller to calculate a power supply duty cycle based on the power output by the generator, the rotations per minute of the moveable part, and a user selected wattage; and

a power output controller to control power provided to a console of the exercise machine based on the power supply duty cycle.

2. The exercise machine as described in claim 1, further including the console.

3. The exercise machine as described in claim 1, further including a power supply to receive power from a commercial power source, wherein the power output controller includes a first rectifier and a second rectifier in a wired-OR configuration, the first rectifier coupled to the power supply and the console, the second rectifier coupled to the generator and the console.

4. The exercise machine as described in claim 3, wherein the first rectifier is a diode.

5. The exercise machine as described in claim 3, wherein the first rectifier is a controlled switch.

6. The exercise machine as described in claim 3, wherein the power supply duty cycle is a pulse width modulated signal, and further including a converter intermediate the second diode and the generator, the converter to receive the pulse width modulated signal.

7. The exercise machine as described in claim 6, wherein the converter is an isolated flyback converter.

8. The exercise machine as described in claim 6, wherein the converter is a switch.

9. The exercise machine as described in claim 1, wherein the generator includes an electromagnetic brake controlled by a resistive load.

10. The exercise machine as described in claim 1, wherein the generator is loaded by a controlled resistive load.

11. An exercise machine comprising:

means for measuring a power output by a generator that is to convert movement of a moveable part into electric power;

first means for calculating a rotations per minute of the moveable part;

second means for calculating a power supply duty cycle based on the power output by the generator, the rotations per minute of the moveable part, and a user selected wattage; and

means for controlling power provided to a console of the exercise machine based on the power supply duty cycle.

12. The exercise machine as described in claim 11, further including the console.

13. The exercise machine as described in claim 11, further including power supply means to receive power from a commercial power source, the means for controlling including a first rectifying means and a second rectifying means arranged in a wired-OR configuration, the first rectifying means coupled to the power supply means and the console, the second rectifying means coupled to the generator and the console.

14. The exercise machine as described in claim 13, wherein the first rectifying means is a diode.

15. The exercise machine as described in claim 13, wherein the first rectifying means is a controlled switch.

16. The exercise machine as described in claim 13, wherein the power supply duty cycle is a pulse width modulated signal, and further including converting means intermediate the second rectifying means and the generator, the converting means to receive the pulse width modulated signal.

17. The exercise machine as described in claim 16, wherein the converting means is an isolated flyback converter.

18. The exercise machine as described in claim 16, wherein the converting means is a switch.

19. The exercise machine as described in claim 11, wherein the generator includes an electromagnetic brake controlled by a resistive load.

20. The exercise machine as described in claim 11, wherein the generator is loaded by a controlled resistive load.