Controlling device with a road condition display for an exercise bicycle

• US 5,180,347 A
• Filed: 07/03/1991
• Issued: 01/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hsi-Lin Chen
• Original Assignee: Hsi-Lin Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Hsi-Lin
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US07/725,424
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 482/57, 482/63, 482/5, 482/902, 482/1, 482/4, 482/8, 482/119, 482/120, 482/901, 482/903, 482/64, 273/148 B, 273/436, 273/442, 340/707, 358/142, 358/108, 434/61, 434/67, 434/69
• US Class Current: 482/5
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4049 Rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/058 for teaching control of cycles or motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A controlling device for a road condition display for an exercise bicycle comprises a picture device for providing a different motion picture of road conditions, a sensing device for sensing different road conditions and generating a train of corresponding pulses, an first counter for counting the number of these pulses, a frictional load device for generating various frictional resistances for the exercise bicycle, a pulse generator for generating at least one pulse when the frictional load device changes the frictional resistance, a second counter for counting the number of pulses from the pulse generator and records and updates the frictional load of the frictional load device, and a comparator for comparing the counted value of the first counter and the second counter and outputting a signal to trigger the frictional load device to update the load resistance according to the present motion picture.

Claims

1. A controlling device with a road condition display for an exercise bicycle comprising:

a frictional load means comprising a motor, a gear set, a first cable, a sliding piece, a second cable, a tension belt, and a resistance wheel for generating various resistances said motor is engaged to said gear set, said gear set is connected to said first cable, said first cable is connected to said sliding piece, said sliding piece is engaged to said second cable, said second cable is engaged to said resistance wheel, said motor actuating said gear set, tightening or slackening said first cable, said sliding piece, and said second cable when said motor is electrically triggered by said driving means, thereby said resistance wheel experiences increased or decreased resistance respectively;

a picture means for providing a motion picture of different road conditions, having an indicator being displayed together with the motion picture and flashing at different frequencies in accordance with different road conditions;

said indicator flashing in a signal-output period and not flashing in an idle period;

said signal-output period and said idle period constituting a task cycle;

a sensing means disposed in front of said indicator for detecting the flashing frequencies thereof and sending out pulses to a first rectifier circuit;

said first rectifier circuit rectifying pulses from said sensing means to square pulses and coupling said square pulses to a first counter means;

said first counter means counting up or down for each pulse during a signal-output period, and holding a counting output during a following idle period;

said counting output being further coupled to a comparator;

a second counter for indicating a present magnitude of a frictional load by updating a counted output thereof, whereby the tightness of the frictional load is represented by a corresponding output of said second counter, and said counted output being further coupled to a comparator;

a comparator for comparing the outputs from said first counter and said second counter and sending out a first output for controlling said motor to forwardly rotate, a second output for controlling said motor to reversely rotate, and a fourth output and a fifth output for controlling the second counter to count up or down;

a timing means electrically connected to said first counter and said comparator for cooperating therewith and resetting said first counter and said comparator at a first pulse of every task cycle, so that said first counter counts to a new value every task cycle and said comparator compares counted values from said first counter and said second counter;

a driving circuit electrically coupled to the first output and the second output of said comparator and to said frictional load means to drive the motor to rotate either forwardly or reversely;

a pulse generator electrically engaged to said frictional load means for generating at least one pulse in response to a changing resistance of said frictional load means;

a second rectifier electrically connected to said pulse generator for rectifying the pulse therefrom to a square pulse; and

an up-down controlling means electrically connected to said second rectifier, said comparator, and said second counter, respectively, for setting said second counter to count up or down.

2. The controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first counter has a DOWN terminal connected to a DC power source and an UP terminal connected to said second rectifier and functions as an up-counter only.

3. The controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first output in a HIGH status triggers a forward revolution terminal in said driving circuit, thereby said motor rotates in a forward direction;

said second output in a HIGH status triggers a reverse revolution terminal in said driving circuit, thereby said motor rotates in a reverse direction;

said fourth output has the same status as said first output and is coupled to said up-down controlling means and to said second counter, so that said second counter counts up when said motor forwardly rotates;

said first output and said fourth output having the same status synchronizes said second counter and records a magnitude of the frictional load;

said fifth output has the same status as said second output and is electrically coupled to said up-down controlling means and to said second counter, so that said second counter counts down when said motor reversely rotates;

said second output and said fifth output having the same status synchronizes said second counter and records a magnitude of the frictional load.

4. The controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said up-down controlling means functions according to statuses of said fourth output and said fifth output, so that said second counter counts up when said fourth output is HIGH and said fifth output is LOW;

said second counter counts down when said fourth output is LOW and said fifth output is HIGH; and

said driving circuit is inactive and said motor does not rotate when said first, second, fourth, and fifth outputs are all LOW, thereby no pulses are generated from said pulse generator and said second counter does not count.

5. The controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pulse generator comprises a discrete potential disk and a conductive sensing means;

said discrete potential disk having a plurality of equally spaced conducting areas and insulating areas;

said conducting areas being connected to a direct current power source;

said conductive sensing means being engaged to a shaft of the gear set for sensing a discrete signal from said discrete potential disk, said conductive sensing means being driven to rotate by said motor via said gear train and said shaft, thereby sliding through at least one conducting area of said discrete potential disk and generate at least one pulse therefrom, so as to transmit said pulse being transmitted through said second rectifier to said second counter for updating the magnitude of the frictional load.

6. The controlling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor is a DC motor.