×

Exercise and diagnostic apparatus and method

  • US 5,348,519 A
  • Filed: 08/24/1992
  • Issued: 09/20/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1988
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An apparatus for performing a lift task comprising:

  • interface means adapted to be grasped and lifted by a human subject and having an actual mass value;

    means for setting a simulated mass value for said interface means independent of said actual mass value;

    force measuring means for measuring the value of vertical force exerted by said human subject upon said interface means, said force measuring means comprising;

    load measuring means for measuring total vertical force applied to said interface means;

    acceleration measuring means for measuring the actual vertical acceleration of said interface means;

    weight calculating means for calculating an actual mass value of said interface means;

    inertia calculating means for calculating an inertia calibration factor for said interface means; and

    force calculating means for calculating the actual force applied by said human subject as a function of the current output of said load measuring means, said actual mass value, the current output of said acceleration measuring means and said inertia calibration factor; and

    exercise control means, coupled to said interface means and responsive to said force measuring means, for providing a controlled vertical movement of said interface means as a function of said simulated mass value such that said interface means responds to a lifting force by said human subject in a manner that simulates the inertia of an object having a mass value equal to said simulated mass value in a gravitational field.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×