Method and apparatus for measuring the maximum speed of a runner over a prescribed distance including a transmitter and receiver

• US 6,805,006 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BBC International LLC
• Original Assignee: BBC International Limited (BBC International LLC)
• Inventors: Guzman, Rudy
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwok, Helen
• Application Number:
  US10/234,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 734/88, 734/89, 734/90, 734/91, 734/93, 735/03, 702/141, 702/142, 702/149, 702/160, 482/3, 482/8, 235/105, 377/24.2
• US Class Current: 73/490
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• 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 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided which comprises a console including on/off push buttons and a liquid crystal display for providing messages to the user, a receiver unit, a transmitter unit and a circuit capable of calculating the speeds of the user during use as well as operate LEDs which display the status of the apparatus and flash in response to movement of the user wearing the device while he or she is running or walking.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining the maximum speed of a user over a distance, comprising:

a console adapted to mount to a body of the user, said console including a display and at least one light source;

a transmitter unit having a motion sensor, said transmitter unit being operative to transmit an RF signal in response to the detection of motion by the user, and

a circuit including a processor and a receiver unit, said receiver unit being operative to produce a trigger signal upon receipt of the RF signal from said transmitter unit, said processor being operative in response to said trigger signal to calculate and present the maximum speed of the user over a prescribed distance in accordance with the following relationship;

$V=\frac{n<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>d}{\underset{i=0}{\overset{n}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>t_i}$

Where;

n=the number of steps in the total running time T

d=distance between steps

t_i=time between steps $T=\underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>t_i,\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>d<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{total}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{running}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{time}\right)$

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said console includes a liquid crystal display which is operative to display the last recorded speed of the user, the highest speed during a use and the average miles per hour during a use.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said console includes a liquid crystal display which is operative to display the time.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said processor is operative to provide a display of AM and PM for the time and to permit changing from one display to the other.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said processor is operative to permit setting of the known display of the time, including a minute display and an hour display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said motion sensor of said transmitter unit detects the stride of the user, and produces said trigger signal for each stride.

7. The method of determining the maximum speed of a user over a distance, comprising:

(a) generating an RF trigger signal in response to the detection of motion of the user;

(b) transmitting the RE trigger signal to a processor contained within a console carried by the user;

(c) calculating the maximum speed of the user over a prescribed distance within said processor in accordance with the following relationship;

$V=\frac{n<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>d}{\underset{i=0}{\overset{n}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>t_i}$

Where;

n=the number of steps in the total running time T

d=distance between steps

t_i=time between steps $T=\underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{\sum <br><br>}}<br><br>t_i,\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>d<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\left(\mathrm{total}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{running}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{time}\right)$

and

d) displaying the maximum speed on a display of the console.

8. The method of claim 7 in which step (a) includes generating the RF trigger signal within a transmitter unit having a motion sensor.

9. The method of claim 8 in which step (a) includes sensing the stride of user with said motion sensor.

10. The method of claim 7 in which step (b) includes transmitting said RF trigger signal to a receiver unit within a circuit which includes said processor.

11. The method of claim 7 further including the step of displaying the time of the display on the console.

12. The method of claim 11 in which said step of displaying the time includes providing an AM and PM indication for the time, and permitting the user to set one or the other indication of the display.

13. The method of claim 11 which said step of displaying the time includes permitting the user to set the hour display of the time.

14. The method of claim 11 in which said step of displaying the time includes permitting the user to set the minute display of the time.