Physical activity measuring method and apparatus

• US 6,231,481 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced BioEnergy
• Original Assignee: Kurtis Barkley Brock
• Inventors: Brock, Kurtis Barkley
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/436,065
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/8, 482/9, 482/106, 482/900-902
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/072 Dumb-bells, bar-bells or the like , e.g. weight discs having an integral peripheral handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• 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 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring the power generated by a person who is performing physical activity and displaying a readout of such measurement to the user. The apparatus senses and measures the motion of a mass that the person is moving and/or working against, derives position, velocity, and acceleration data and calculates power. The person thereby gains benefit of such information in real time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring power generated by a person lifting a weight, comprising:

a sensor for generating a signal in response to motion of said weight;

a computer for calculating power required for inducing such motion to said weight;

a display for displaying the calculated power to the person.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a cable extension potentiometer wherein a cable physically interconnects said weight and a rotatable spool connected to a potentiometer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said potentiometer produces an analog electrical signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said computer processes said signal to determine position, velocity, and acceleration of said weight.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said computer further employs weight data to calculate power.

6. A method for measuring power generated by a person, comprising the steps of:

providing a weight for said person to lift;

measuring the velocity and acceleration of said weight as it is lifted by said person; and

calculating the power required for such weight to be lifted at the measured velocity and acceleration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said velocity and acceleration measuring step further comprises the steps of:

sensing the position of said weight; and

calculating velocity and acceleration as a function of the change of said sensed position over time.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying said calculated power to said person in real time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein peak power is displayed to said person.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said power is graphically displayed to said person as a function of time.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said power is graphically displayed to said person as a function of the position of said weight.