Electronic physical trainer system

• US 4,099,713 A
• Filed: 07/15/1977
• Issued: 07/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald Spector
• Original Assignee: Donald Spector
• Inventors: Spector, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hum, Vance Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/816,255
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 272/67, 272/72, 272/73-75, 272/93, 272/99, 272/100, 272/109, 272/112, 272/114, 272/116, 272/120, 272/129, 272/DIGS.4-6, 73/379, 35/29 R, 35/29 E, 340/323 R, 340/331, 340/332, 340/384 R, 340/384 E, 273/86 B
• US Class Current: 482/3
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/16 Training devices for jumping; Devices for balloon-jumping; Jumping aids A63B25/02, A63B25/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

An electronic physical trainer system which produces periodic tone signals at an adjustable rate to establish an exercise rhythm and which senses the calisthenic activity of a performer in response to this rhythm to evaluate and improve his performance. The trainer system includes a position sensor in the form of a light beam directed toward a photodetector in a path traversing an exercise area to produce action pulses which reflect the movement of the performer as he alternately blocks and clears the beam path. Also included in the system is a pulse generator whose frequency is adjustable to produce exercise pulses which activate a tone generator whose output is amplified and reproduced to provide the tone signals. The exercise pulses and the action pulses are compared in a coincidence network which yields a "hit" pulse each time an action pulse overlaps an exercise pulse to a degree exceeding a set value and which otherwise yields a "miss" pulse. The hit and miss pulses are separately counted and displayed to score the performance.

Claims

1. An electronic physical trainer system comprising:

A. means to generate periodic exercise pulses to establish an exercise rhythm;

B. means responsive to said exercise pulses to produce corresponding tone signals to pace a performer;

C. a position sensor constituted by means projecting a light beam across an exercise area toward a detector to produce action pulses which reflect the movement of the performer as he alternately blocks and clears the beam in seeking to synchronize his movement with that of the tone signals;

D. means to compare the exercise pulses with the action pulses to produce a hit pulse each time an action pulse overlaps an exercise pulse and to produce a miss pulse in the absence of an overlap;

E. means to separately count the hit and miss pulses during a given exercise regimen; and

F. means to display the respective hit and miss counts to score the performance.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, including means to adjust the repetition rate of said exercise pulse generator means to vary said rhythm.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said exercise pulse generator means is constituted by a voltage-controlled oscillator whose output is applied to another pulse generator to produce pulses at a repetition rate corresponding to the frequency of the oscillator, and said adjusting means applies a varying voltage to said oscillator to adjust the frequency thereof.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said voltage varying means includes a potentiometer.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, further including a clock motor to operate said potentiometer to gradually increase said voltage in the course of said regimen.

6. A trainer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said tone signals are produced by a tone generator coupled to a loudspeaker and activated by said exercise pulse generator.

7. A trainer as set forth in claim 6, wherein said miss pulses are also applied to a buzzer tone generator to activate same to produce a buzzer tone which is reproduced by said speaker.

8. A trainer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display means is a single digital display device and includes means which selectively presents either the miss count or the hit count.

9. A trainer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means to compare the exercise and action pulses is constituted by a coincidence network.

10. A trainer as set forth in claim 9, wherein said network includes a coincidence gate to produce coincidence pulses whose width depends on the degree of coincidence between the action and exercise pulses, and means to integrate the coincidence pulses to produce integrated pulses from which one determines that degree of overlap that constitutes a hit.

11. A trainer as set forth in claim 1, further including means to simultaneously reset both counters.