Exercise device with audible electronic monitor

• US 5,857,939 A
• Filed: 06/05/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EPM Development Systems Corporation, Talking Counter, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Talking Counter, Inc.
• Inventors: Kaufman, Arthur H.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US08/869,749
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900-902, 601/23, 601/33-36, 73/379.01-379.09
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/02 posture
• 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 2230/00 Measuring physiological parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/08 other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

An electronic exercise monitor for monitoring the repetitive performance of an exercise comprises a switch having a contact member connected to a displaceable member of the exercise equipment, the switch being responsive to the reciprocal motion of a displaceable member of an exercise device to output a signal for each of a plurality of sequential exercise repetitions performed by the user on the exercise equipment, a processor for receiving the signals and determining for each a starting address at which a block of corresponding sound data is stored, a memory for storing sound data for each of the plurality of sequential exercise repetitions, the sound data preferably comprising data representing a voice count number for each repetition of an exercise, and a speech generator for generating a naturally-sounding human voice or reproducing a digitized version of an actual human voice or other audible indicia in accordance with the sound data stored in the memory. The speech generator is controlled by the processing means in response to the switch to progressively count sequential exercise repetitions performed by the user. In addition to providing a verbal count of successively performed exercise repetitions, motivational speech may also be generated to encourage correct and continued performance of the exercise.

Claims

1. An exercise monitor for monitoring the performance of an exercise by a user, comprising:

an exercise motion detector for detecting a repetitive motion associated with the performance of repetitive exercise movements and outputting a corresponding signal;

processing means for receiving the signal and determining therefor a starting address at which a block of corresponding sound data is stored;

a memory for storing sound data for a selected plurality of sequential exercise repetitions, the sound data including first sound data representing a voice count number for selected repetitions of the exercise and second sound data representative of a plurality of verbal phrases for encouraging the user to continue to perform the exercise; and

a speech generator for generating a voice in accordance with the sound data stored in the memory, the speech generator being controlled by the processing means in response to the signal output by the exercise motion detector to progressively count selected exercise repetitions performed by the user and to generate a selected verbal phrase based on the count value of an exercise being performed by the user so as to motivate the user to continue to perform the exercise or to provide a verbal alarm to the user.

2. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

wherein the second sound data further comprises data representative of a verbal alarm; and

the processing means includes means for controlling the speech generator to generate a verbal alarm based on the count value of an exercise being performed by the user.

3. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

wherein the memory stores voice count numbers determined based upon the number of exercise repetitions performed by the user.

4. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

further comprising a case for housing the exercise monitor, the case being wearable by the user.

5. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

wherein the exercise motion detector comprises an accelerometer for detecting movement of the user.

6. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

wherein the processing means includes means for controlling the speech generator to generate a voice count only for selected ones but not all of the total exercise repetitions.

7. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

further comprising display means for providing a visual display indicative of performance of the exercise by the user.

8. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

further comprising a selector for selecting an enunciation pattern of the speech generator such that the voice count is generated at appropriate time intervals associated with the number of exercise repetitions performed by the user.

9. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

further comprising a selector connected to the processing means for selecting a desired number of repetitions per set such that generation of a voice count number is reset each time the user completes a set of an exercise.

10. An exercise monitor according to claim 1;

wherein the processing means includes means for controlling the speech generator to generate the selected verbal phrase between or in place of one or more successive verbal count numbers depending upon the length of the selected verbal phrase, the repetition rate and an enunciation pattern of the speech generator.

11. An exercise monitor for monitoring the performance of an exercise by a user, comprising:

detecting means mountable to a displaceable member of an exercise device, the detecting means being responsive to cyclical motion of the displaceable member to output a signal which varies in accordance with the cyclical motion;

processing means for receiving the signal and determining, based upon the variations thereof, a starting address at which a block of corresponding sound data is stored;

a memory for storing sound data for a selected plurality of sequential cycles of movement of the displaceable member, the sound data including first sound data representative of a voice count number for selected cycles of said movement and second sound data representative of a plurality of verbal phrases for encouraging the user to continue to perform the exercise; and

a speech generator for generating a voice in accordance with the sound data stored in the memory, the speech generator being controlled by the processing means in response to the detecting means to progressively count a variable determined based on the number of cycles of movement of the displaceable member, and to generate a selected verbal phrase based on the value of the counted variable of the exercise being performed by a user so as to inform the user of his or her progress, to motivate the user to continue to perform the exercise, or to provide a verbal alarm to the user.

12. An exercise monitor for monitoring the performance of an exercise by a user, comprising:

an exercise detector for monitoring a function associated with the performance of an exercise and outputting a corresponding signal which varies in accordance with the monitored exercise function;

processing means for receiving the signal and determining therefor a starting address at which a block of corresponding sound data is stored;

a memory for storing first sound data associated with the monitored exercise function and second sound data representative of a plurality of verbal phrases for encouraging the user to continue to perform the exercise;

a speech generator for generating a voice in accordance with the sound data stored in the memory, the speech generator being controlled by the processing means in response to the exercise detector to output a verbal representation of a variable determined in accordance with the monitored exercise function at selected times as a user progressively performs the exercise, and to output a selected verbal phrase selected from the second sound data based on the value of the variable so as to inform the user of his or her exercise progress, to motivate the user to continue to perform the exercise correctly, or to provide a verbal alarm to the user.