Fitness apparatus with heart rate control system and method of operation
First Claim
1. A method of operating a fitness apparatus to control the heart rate of a user in accordance with a predetermined scheduled heart rate, comprising the steps of:
- receiving user information including a predetermined upper resistance level of a first resistance mechanism;
sensing the heart rate of the user;
comparing the sensed heart rate with the predetermined scheduled rate; and
controlling the heart rate of the user by adjusting the resistance level of the first resistance mechanism with respect to the resistance level of a second resistance mechanism, wherein;
1) if the sensed heart rate is slower than the scheduled rate and the first resistance mechanism is not at the user'"'"'s predetermined upper resistance level, increasing the resistance level of the first resistance mechanism;
or2) if the sensed heart rate is slower than the scheduled rate and the first resistance mechanism is at the user'"'"'s predetermined upper resistance level, increasing the resistance level of the second resistance mechanism.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for maintaining the heart rate of a user of a fitness apparatus at a scheduled target rate by varying the resistance of a first resistance mechanism with respect to a second resistance mechanism. To increase the heart rate, the resistance of the first resistance mechanism is increased to a maximum level before an adjustment is made to the second resistance mechanism. To decrease the heart rate, the resistance of the second resistance mechanism is decreased to a minimum level before an adjustment is made to the first resistance mechanism. The invention may be incorporated into a treadmill having resistance mechanisms including a mechanism to vary the speed of the treadmill belt and a mechanism to vary the grade of the treadmill.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a fitness apparatus to control the heart rate of a user in accordance with a predetermined scheduled heart rate, comprising the steps of:
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receiving user information including a predetermined upper resistance level of a first resistance mechanism; sensing the heart rate of the user; comparing the sensed heart rate with the predetermined scheduled rate; and controlling the heart rate of the user by adjusting the resistance level of the first resistance mechanism with respect to the resistance level of a second resistance mechanism, wherein; 1) if the sensed heart rate is slower than the scheduled rate and the first resistance mechanism is not at the user'"'"'s predetermined upper resistance level, increasing the resistance level of the first resistance mechanism;
or2) if the sensed heart rate is slower than the scheduled rate and the first resistance mechanism is at the user'"'"'s predetermined upper resistance level, increasing the resistance level of the second resistance mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fitness apparatus for controlling the heart rate of a user with respect to a predetermined target heart rate comprising:
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pulse detection circuitry for regularly sensing the heartbeat of the user and providing a signal corresponding thereto; a first resistance mechanism having a resistance level that varies in response to electrical signals; a first resistance sensor for sensing the level of resistance of the first resistance mechanism and providing a signal corresponding thereto; a second resistance mechanism having a resistance level that varies in response to electrical signals; a controller including a processor, input circuitry operatively connected to receive external signals from the pulse detection circuitry and the resistance sensor and communicate the signals to the processor, and output circuitry operatively connected to the first resistance mechanism and the second resistance mechanism for independently transmitting electrical signals from the processor thereto, the processor receiving the pulse signal from the pulse detection circuitry and determining the heart rate of the user therefrom, and receiving the resistance level signal from the resistance sensor and determining the level of resistance of the first resistance mechanism; means connected to the processor for receiving user information including the target heart rate and a maximum predetermined resistance level of the first resistance mechanism, and for communicating the information to the processor; and the processor including first comparison circuitry for comparing the heart rate of the user with the target heart rate, and second comparison circuitry for comparing the resistance level of the first resistance mechanism with the user'"'"'s predetermined maximum resistance level, the processor responsive to the heart rate of the user to increase the heart rate of the user if it is lower than the target heart rate by providing electrical output signals from the processor to increase the resistance level of only the first resistance mechanism until the predetermined maximum resistance level is reached before providing electrical output signals to increase the resistance level of the second exercise mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A treadmill for controlling the heart rate of a user with respect to a predetermined target heart rate comprising:
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heart rate detection circuitry for regularly sensing the heart rate of the user and providing signals corresponding thereto; drive means for varying the speed of the treadmill in response to electrical signals; a speed sensor for sensing the speed of the treadmill and providing electrical signals corresponding to the speed; means for varying the incline of the treadmill in response to electrical signals; a controller including a processor, input circuitry operatively connected to receive external signals from the heart rate detection circuitry and the speed sensor and communicate the signals to the processor, and output circuitry operatively connected to the drive means and the means for varying the incline of the treadmill for independently transmitting electrical signals from the processor thereto, the processor receiving the speed signal from the speed sensor and determining the speed of the treadmill; means connected to the processor for receiving user information including the target heart rate and a maximum speed limit, and for communicating the information to the processor; and the processor including first comparison circuitry for comparing the heart rate of the user with the target heart rate, and second comparison circuitry for comparing the speed with the maximum speed limit, the processor responsive to the heart rate of the user to increase the heart rate of the user if it is lower than the target heart rate by providing electrical output signals from the processor to increase the speed of the treadmill until the maximum speed limit is reached before providing electrical output signals to increase the incline of the treadmill. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification