Exercising system with electronic inertial game playing

• US 5,989,157 A
• Filed: 07/11/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Walton
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Walton
• Inventors: Walton, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US08/893,487
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900, 482/902, 482/901
• US Class Current: 482/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/08 other bio-electrical signals
• 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: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

An exercise and game playing system combined, forming a method in which the user gets large muscle physical exercise while at the same time is challenged with game play. There is a torso and limb mounted electronic section incorporating accelerometers, strain gauges, and other instruments, and a microprocessor, and a short range radio or wire link to a stationary base station and a display station. Body activity and exercise produce a display icon responsive to the degree and vigor of body activity. The display is a TV type screen or a head band mounted assembly or goggles of a virtual reality system. The accelerometer signals are double integrated and manipulated to produce useful display on the screen. There is net cursor advancement activity on the screen even when the body returns to the same location, accomplished by introduction of a dead zone in the accelerometer integration paths. A score is kept of how well the user follows the game commands, such as staying within the boundaries of a screen track, or avoiding collision with game obstacles. There are special effects for games, such as triggering the imaginary throw of a javelin or discus, or firing imaginary weapons or setting up a military defense, or imaginary enemies. The display effects are proportional to the vigor of the exercise, and are also proportional to the product of acceleration and applied muscle tension. There is a music source and sounds responsive to exercise effort, and a voice report of the status of the exercise regime and the value of effort achieved. Other elements include: handles for applying force to strain gauges; heart beat sensors, nerve activity and muscle sensors, buttons, and switches.

Claims

1. A method of exercising a human body while simulating an athletic activity or game to be part of said exercise appearing on a display means comprising the steps of:

providing a portable sensing unit adapted to be coupled to said human body to sense a muscled body area activity, said sensing unit including a first means for sensing said muscled body area acceleration and direction, a second means for sensing muscle tension for indicating said muscled body area forces and a third means for sensing pulse-rate,

moving said muscled body area so that each of said first, second and third means provides signals indicative of activity of said muscled body area,

encoding said signals from said first, second and third means with an encoding means in said sensing unit into a form for transmitting from said sensing unit;

transmitting said encoded signals from said sensing unit by a transmitting means in said sensing unit to a base unit and monitor, said base unit including a decoding means and a data processing means;

decoding said encoded signals from said sensing unit with said decoding means into data signals representing said muscled body area activity signals;

processing said data signals from said decoding means with said data processing means for translating each of said muscled body area activity signals from said first, second and third means of said sensing unit to be part of a simulated athletic activity or a game programmed within said data processing means; and

displaying said simulated athletic activity or game on said display means so that the actual activity of said muscled body area appears to be part of said simulated athletic activity or game complete with all the paraphernalia and trappings associated with said athletic activity or game;

whereby the simulated athletic activity or game combined with the actual muscled body area activity provides an entertaining exercise in which a user is part of said simulated athletic activity or game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first means for sensing said muscled body area acceleration comprises:

attaching a belt means to the torso area of said human body, said belt means including first and second accelerometers for measuring acceleration and direction of said torso in the X and Y axes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first means for sensing said muscled body area acceleration comprises:

attaching a strap means to one or more limbs of said human body, said strap means including third and fourth accelerometers for measuring acceleration and direction of said one or more limbs in the X and Y axes.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said first means for sensing said muscled body area acceleration comprises:

attaching a strap means to one or more limbs of said human body, said strap means including third and fourth accelerometers for measuring acceleration and direction of said one or more limbs in the X and Y axes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said second means for sensing said muscled body area forces comprises:

attaching a strap means to one or more limbs of said human body, said strap means including a strain gauge for measuring muscle tension of said one or more limbs.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said second means for sensing said muscled body area forces comprises:

attaching a strap means to one or more limbs of said human body, said strap means including a strain gauge for measuring muscle tension of said one or more limbs.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said second means for sensing said muscled body area forces comprises:

attaching a strap mean to one or more limbs of said human body, said strap means including a strain gauge for measuring muscle tension of said one or more limbs.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said encoding means further comprises:

a multiplexer and analog-to-digital converter working in combination.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said encoding means further comprises:

first and second analog-to-digital converters, a multiplier, a summing circuit with a zero offset control circuit, an integrator and time delay circuit working in combination.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

a cable directly connecting said sensing unit to said base unit.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

a radio frequency oscillator and modulator in combination providing a radio link between said sensing unit and said base unit.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said decoding means and said data processing means of said base unit comprises:

a reverse multiplexer, first and second zero suppression circuits, first and second integrating means connected to respective first and second zero suppression circuits, a vector addition and integration circuit combination and a performance information means all working in combination to decode and data process said encoded transmitted signals to send to said display means.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said decoding means and said data processing means of said base unit comprises:

an R. F. receiver, a hysteresis or dead zone circuit, an integrating circuit, a clamp circuit, a delay circuit, a store circuit and a sum circuit cooperating with a storage of position and other values circuit to decode and data process said encoded transmitted signals to said display means.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said dead zone circuit functions to suppress low acceleration values, whereby said user may return slowly to a convenient screen viewing position, while said screen display does not show activity.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said display means is a T. V. type monitor.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said display means is a set of virtual reality goggles worn as a headband adapted for a user to wear on the head of said human body.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said data processing means of said base unit further comprises:

sound effect circuits and programs as said associated trappings of said data processing means to synchronize with said simulated athletic activity or game, said sound effects include music, crowd cheering and verbal reports directed to stimulate excitement and enhance said entertainment quality of doing said exercise.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said data processing means programs of said base unit further comprises:

video arcade game type programs such as obstacles, elements of engagement and battle as said associated paraphernalia of said simulated game in which said user appears to hold, throw and must overcome in doing said exercise.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said data processing means programs of said base unit further includes programs to track and display game or athletic activity progress, scores and results so that said user is motivated to strive for improvement in the exercise.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said portable sensing unit further comprises:

metal handles to be gripped by said user, said handles incorporating said first, second and third sensing means for sensing respectively said muscled body area acceleration, direction and pulse-rate.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said portable sensing unit further comprises:

a fourth sensing means attached to said human body for sensing temperature.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said obstacle of said simulated program responds directly proportional to actual vigor of actions of said acceleration and muscle motions.

23. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

multiplying together the acceleration values of said accelerometer and the strain gauge values from said strain gauge with a multiplier means, to create an increased response of said simulated game or athletic activity on said display.