Exercise detection apparatus

• US 7,901,324 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Original Assignee: Tanita Corporation (Tanita)
• Inventors: Kodama, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US12/534,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482/51, 482/54, 482/92, 482/99, 482900-902, 7337901-37904, 600/300, 601/23, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00047 Exercising devices not moving during use benches A63B21/4029; isometric exercising devices A63B21/0023; step exercisers A63B23/0458; walk exercisers A63B23/0464
• 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 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

An exercise detection apparatus including: a load stage comprising a load surface onto which a load of parts or all of a human subject is applied; a load measurer for repeatedly or continuously measuring the load on the load surface; a calculator for calculating a difference between adjacent local maximum and minimum in the load varying over time measured by the load measurer repeatedly or continuously; and a detector for detecting a motion of the human subject when the difference calculated by the calculator is within a range.

Claims

1. An exercise detection apparatus comprising:

a load stage comprising a load surface onto which a load of parts or all of a human subject is applied;

a load measurer for repeatedly or continuously measuring the load on the load surface;

a calculator for calculating a difference between adjacent local maximum and minimum in the load varying over time measured by the load measurer repeatedly or continuously; and

a detector for detecting a motion of the human subject when the difference calculated by the calculator is within a range.

2. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion of the human subject is a reciprocating motion comprising a forward motion and a backward motion,

the calculator calculating a first difference between adjacent local maximum and minimum of a first set in the load measured by the load measurer, the detector detecting the forward motion when the first difference calculated by the calculator is within a first range,

the calculator calculating a second difference between adjacent local maximum and minimum of a second set in the load measured by the load measurer, the detector detecting the backward motion when the second difference calculated by the calculator is within a second range,

the detector detecting the reciprocating motion once the forward motion and the backward motion are detected sequentially.

3. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first range determiner for determining the first range for the human subject on the basis of a load measured by the load measurer; and

a second range determiner for determining the second range for the human subject on the basis of a load measured by the load measurer.

4. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

an information guidance device for providing first guidance for prompting the human subject to rest at a first position, and for providing second guidance for prompting the human subject to rest at a second position, a first load applied onto the load surface when the human subject holds still in the first position being less than a second load applied onto the load surface when the human subject holds still in the second position,

wherein the load measurer measures the first load and the second load on the load surface when the human subject holds still in the first position and in the second position,

wherein the first range determiner determines the first range for the human subject on the basis of the first load, and

wherein the second range determiner determines the second range for the human subject on the basis of the second load.

5. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first range determiner determines the first range for the human subject on the basis of the first load and the second load, and

wherein the second range determiner determines the second range for the human subject on the basis of the first load and the second load.

6. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an information guidance device for providing guidance for prompting the human subject to stand up and rest on the load surface, the load measurer measuring a body weight of the human subject when the human subject stands up and rests on the load surface; and

a range determiner for determining the range for the human subject on the basis of the body weight measured by the load measurer.

7. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load surface comprises a plurality of metrical regions, each of which receives a regional load which is a part of the load as a whole applied on the load surface,

the exercise detection apparatus further comprising a regional load measurement processor for measuring the respective regional loads.

8. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of the metrical regions comprises a plurality of measurement sections measurement section, each of which receives a sectional load which is a part of the load as a whole applied on the load surface,

the exercise detection apparatus further comprising a plurality of load sensors provided to the plurality of measurement sections, each of the load sensors converting the sectional load on the corresponding measurement section to an electrical signal,

wherein the load measurer measures the load on the load surface on the basis of electrical signals from all of the plurality of load sensors, and

wherein the regional load measurement processor measures the regional load on each respective metrical region on the basis of electrical signals from load sensors corresponding to the respective metrical region.

9. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the regional load measurement processor repeatedly or continuously measures the respective regional loads,

the exercise detection apparatus further comprising a statistical processor for calculating a statistical value for each of the metrical regions on the basis of the corresponding regional load varying over time measured by the regional load measurement processor repeatedly or continuously.

10. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an information device for informing the human subject or an observer of a number of motions detected by the detector.

11. The exercise detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an information device for informing the human subject or an observer that the motion has been detected whenever the detector has detected the motion.