Computerized exercise monitoring system and method for comparing present and past exercise activities

• US 4,817,940 A
• Filed: 04/04/1986
• Issued: 04/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fike Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fike Corporation
• Inventors: Shaw, Bon F., Bond, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lastova, Maryann
• Application Number:
  US06/848,215
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 272/93, 272/125, 272/129-134, 272/DIG. 6, 272/117, 272/118, 273/1 GC, 273/1 GE, 273/1 GI
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• 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 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

An exercise monitoring system and method for comparing the present movement of the exercise machine caused by the physical exertion of a user with the user'"'"'s past movement of the exercise machine. The system includes an exercise monitoring main unit, an exercise monitoring screen, a portable personal memory module, an exercise machine monitor, and an exercise monitoring analyzer. The exercise machine monitor measures the movement of the exercise machine and provides data representative thereof. The portable personal memory provides data representative of the user'"'"'s past movement of the exercise machine. The exercise monitoring main unit compares the data and generates a pacing signal on the exercise monitoring screen for the user. The user follows the pacing signal to duplicate his previous performance. The exercise monitoring screen discipline the user'"'"'s present pace compared to his past pace. The display includes a row of red, yellow and green lights which indicate whether the user is exercising too slowly or too fast. The user can optionally update the portable personal memory with his present performance. The portable personal memory can be transported to provide training on various exercise machines.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and comparing electrical signals representative of the movement of an exercise machine, said movement corresponding to a user'"'"'s exercise performance with criteria representative of the user'"'"'s previous exercise performance on the exercise machine, said system comprising:

(a) a monitoring means for measuring in real time a present movement of the exercise machine corresponding to a user'"'"'s exercise activity and for providing signals representative thereof;

(b) memory means for providing signals representative of the user'"'"'s past movement of the exercise machine; and

(c) evaluating means coupled to said monitoring means for receiving said signals representative of the user'"'"'s present movement of the exercise machine and coupled to said memory means for receiving said past signals, for comparing said present signals to said past signals, and for computing a repetition count based on a percentage change between said past and present movements and providing an output signal representative of said repetition count.

2. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 1, further comprising a user display connected to said evaluating means for receiving said output signal to provide an indication of the user'"'"'s present movement of the exercise machine compared to the user'"'"'s past movement of the exercise machine.

3. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 2, wherein said display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes in a predetermined order, each light emitting diode responsive to an output signal from said evaluating means.

4. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 2, further comprising:

(d) a user input means coupled to said evaluation means for generating a user input signal representative of a selected exercise machine configuration; and

(e) an output display connected to said evaluating means for providing an indication of a selected exercise machine configuration.

5. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 4, wherein said evaluation means comprises a programmed microcomputer.

6. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 4, wherein said evaluating means is responsive to said user input signals to generate an output signal to the memory means indicative of the exercise machine configuration.

7. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 1 or 6, wherein said memory means receives said output signal from said evaluating means and stores said output signal.

8. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 7, wherein said memory means is capable of being disconnected from said evaluating means and retains said stored signals.

9. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 8, wherein said memory means comprises an electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

10. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 9, wherein said memory means is portable.

11. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 1, wherein said movement of the exercise machine corresponds to the user'"'"'s exercise pace.

12. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 1, wherein said movement of the exercise machine corresponds to the distance moved by weights of the exercise machine.

13. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 1, wherein said monitoring means further comprises:

(a) a predetermined number of sensors for detecting the movement of a moving member of the exercise machine.

14. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 13, wherein the moving member is a chain.

15. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 13, wherein the monitoring means further comprises:

(a) a rotary member connected to the frame of the exercise machine and coupled to said moving member of the exercise machine; and

(b) said sensors detecting the rotation of the rotary member and providing an output signal representative thereof.

16. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 15, wherein said rotary member further comprises:

(c) a spring wound take-up reel having a first end of a cable attached to the moving member of the exercise machine and a second end of a cable connected to the reel, such that a movement in the exercise machine causes a corresponding rotational movement in the spring wound take up reel; and

(d) a disc having a plurality of equally spaced openings on the circumference attached at the center to the reel such that rotational movement in the reel causes a corresponding rotational movement in the disc.

17. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 16, wherein said sensor comprises an emitter of infrared light on one side of the disc and a detector of infrared light on the opposite side of the disc for producing a signal when the infrared light passes through an opening and illuminates the infrared light detector.

18. Monitoring and comparing system as claimed in 17, wherein a first sensor is located on the disc for producing a signal which is ninety degrees out of phase with a signal from a second sensor.

19. A physical exercise system comprising:

(a) an exercise machine having at least one movable member;

(b) a sensor for detecting the movement of said movable member and providing an output signal representative thereof;

(c) a memory means for providing past signals indicative of the past movement of said movable member;

(d) a first evaluation means connected to said sensors for receiving said output signal, and connected to said memory means for receiving said past signals;

for comparing said signals to generate a pacing signal indicative of the difference of said signals; and

(e) a plurality of display lamps for displaying said pacing signals.

20. The physical exercise system of claim 19, wherein said first evaluation means provides an output signal to said memory means indicative of the present movement of said movable member.

21. The physical exercise system of claim 20, wherein said memory means is portable and retains said present movement signals.

22. The physical exercise system of claim 21, further comprising:

(a) a digital indicator device for displaying data; and

(b) a second evaluation means capable of being connected to said memory means and providing data to said digital indicator device indicative of exercise data of a user of said physical exercise machine.

23. The physical exercise system of claim 22, wherein said first and second evaluation means are a programmed microcomputer.

24. In an exercise monitoring system having an evaluation means, a memory means, and a sensing means, a method of monitoring and comparing a user'"'"'s exercise performance on an exercise machine to the user'"'"'s past exercise performance, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a movement in the exercise machine caused by a physical exertion of a user and producing a signal representative thereof;

(b) retrieving data from the memory means, the data identifying the user'"'"'s past movement of the exercise machine and producing a signal proportional thereto;

(c) comparing, with the evaluation means, the signal from the present movement of the exercise machine with the signal from the past movement of the exercise machine and computing a repetition count based on a percentage change between said present and past movements; and

(d) displaying an indication of the movements and the repetition count to the user.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step (d) of displaying further comprises the step of providing a pacing signal for perception by the user, the pacing signal equal to the past exercise rate of the user.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

(e) providing data to the evaluation means, the data representative of a user selected operation; and

(f) storing into the memory means the present movement of the exercise machine.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of storing into the memory means information representative of a selected configuration of the exercise machine.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of determining the difference between the present movement of the exercise machine and the past movement of the exercise machine.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of providing a pacing signal for perception by the user, the pacing signal equal to the difference between the present movement of the exercise machine and the past movement of the exercise machine.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of displaying the pacing signal on a plurality of lights, each light representative of the difference in pacing between the user'"'"'s present movement of the exercise machine and past movement of the exercise machine.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

(g) computing a performance value representative of the user'"'"'s present performance compared to the user'"'"'s past performance; and

(h) displaying the performance value to the user.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein step (g) further comprises the step of:

(m) decreasing the performance value when the user'"'"'s present movement of the exercise machine is not equal to the user'"'"'s past movement of the exercise machine.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the step (d) of displaying further comprises the steps of:

(n) illuminating the plurality of lights, each light representative of the difference in movement between present movement and past movement.

34. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:

(o) illuminating a row of lights having a first light representative of the user'"'"'s present movement being slow compared to the user'"'"'s past movement and a last light representative of the user'"'"'s present movement being fast compared to the user'"'"'s past movement, said illumination of each light depending upon light position and difference in user'"'"'s present movement and user'"'"'s past movement.