Bicycle type training machine

• US 4,941,652 A
• Filed: 02/08/1988
• Issued: 07/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nagano, Masakazu, Nakagawa, Katsuya, Nakanishi, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US07/152,976
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 272/73, 272/129, 272/DIG. 6, 318/370
• US Class Current: 482/73
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0078 Exercise efforts programmed as a function of time
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0053 using alternators or dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• 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: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/903 Utilizing electromagnetic force resistance

Abstract

A bicycle type training machine includes a crank arm secured to a rotation shaft, pedals being attached to the both free ends of the crank arm. A rotation shaft of a generator is coupled to the rotation shaft of the crank arm. Data of load amount to be loaded to the rotation shaft of the crank arm is outputted by a microcomputer. The load value data is then compared with a count value of a counter to which a pulse train is applied from a reference oscillator, and a pulse signal having the high level and the low level in accordance with a result of the comparison is outputted from a comparator. A duty ratio of the outputted pulse signal is decided by the periods of the high level and the low level and changed in accordance with the load value data. A switching transistor electrically connected in parallel to an armature of the generator is turned-on or -off in response to the high level or the low level of the pulse signal. Braking force of the generator is changed in accordance with the duty ratio of the switching transistor. Therefore, the load that is decided by the load value data from the microcomputer is loaded to the rotation shaft of the crank arm and thus the legs of the user.

Claims

1. A bicycle type training machine, comprising:

a body;

a pedal crank, rotatably support on said body, having two ends and including pedals attached on to each end;

rotation angle detecting means provided on said body for detecting a rotation angle of said pedal crank;

data generating means, responsive to said detecting means, for generating desired load data;

a reference clock signal generation for generating a reference clock signal;

counter means which receives said reference clock signal;

comparing means which compares said desired load data from said data generating means with a counted value of said counter means; and

electrical braking means, linked to said pedal crank and responsive to said comparing means, for generating a braking force, wherein said electrical, braking means includes pulse generating means for generating a pulse having a duty ratio, said duty ratio comprising relative time periods of a first level and a second level of a pulse in accordance with said desired load data.

2. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrical braking means includes a generator having an armature having two ends, a rotation shaft coupled in association with said pedal crank, and short-circuiting means for substantially short-circuiting said armature of said generator in response to one of said first level and said second level of the pulse from said pulse generating means.

3. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said generator further includes a permanent magnet for generating field magnetic flux.

4. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein said short-circuiting means includes semiconductor switching means which is connected between said ends of said armature and short-circuits between the ends of said armature in response to said one of said first level and said second level of the pulse from said pulse generating means.

5. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein said semiconductor switching means includes a switching device which turns/on and/off an amature current of said armature in response to the pulse from said pulse generating means, and means for applying the armature current having a predetermined polarity to said switching device irrespective of a rotation direction of said pedal crank.

6. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said pulse generating means includes means for generating data of said desired load in response to said rotation angle being detected by said rotation angle detecting means.

7. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein said data generating means outputs data of said desired load in response to a load curve according to said rotation angle.

8. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 7, wherein said data generating means further includes means for outputting data of said desired load in response to at least one of said load curve and an user condition data.

9. A bicycle type training machine, comprising:

a body;

a pedal crank, rotatably supported on said body, having two ends and including pedals attached one to each end;

rotation angle detecting means provided on said body for detecting a rotation angle of said pedal crank within one rotation of said pedal crank;

data generating means, responsive to said detecting means, for sequentially generating load data, said load data varies in response to a detected rotation angle during one rotation of said pedal crank; and

electrical braking means, linked to said pedal crank and responsive to said load data, for generating a braking force.

10. A bicycle type training machine, comprising:

a body;

a pedal crank, rotatably supported on said body, having two ends and including pedals attached one to each end;

means for setting a desired load amount;

electrical signal generating means, responsive to said means for setting, for generating an electrical signal intermittent in high frequency with a variable duty ratio, said electrical signal generating means including pulse generating means for generating a pulse having a variable duty ratio, said duty ratio comprising relative time periods of a first level and a second level of said pulse determined in accordance with said desired load amount; and

electrical braking means, linked to said pedal crank and responsive to said pulse generating means, for generating a braking force, said electrical braking means including a generator having an armature, a rotation shaft mechanically coupled with said pedal crank, and short-circuiting means for substantially short-circuiting said armature of said generator in response to one of said first level and second level of said pulse from said pulse generating means.

11. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 10, wherein said generator further includes a permanent magnet for generating field magnetic flux.

12. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 10, wherein said short-circuiting means includes semiconductor switching means which is connected to said armature and short-circuits said armature in response to said one of said first level and said second level of the pulse from said pulse generating means.

13. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 12, wherein said semiconductor switching means includes a switching device which turns on and off an armature current of said armature in response to the pulse from said pulse generating means, and means for applying the armature current having a predetermined polarity to said switching device irrespective of a rotation direction of said pedal crank.

14. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 10, wherein said pulse generating means includes data outputting means for outputting data of desired load in accordance with load amount set by said setting means, counter means responsive to a reference clock, and comparing means for comparing said desired load from said data outputting means with a count value of said counter means and outputting said pulse.

15. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 14, further comprising rotation angle detecting means, provided on said body, for detecting a rotation angle of said pedal crank, wherein said electrical signal generating means further includes means for generating data of said desired load in response to said rotation angle being detected by said rotation angle detecting means.

16. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein said electrical signal generating means outputs data of said desired load in response to a load curve according to said rotation angle.

17. A bicycle type training machine in accordance with claim 21, wherein said electrical signal generating means further includes means for outputting data of said desired load in response to said load curve and an user condition data.