Energy harvester for exercise equipment

• US 8,888,660 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strength Companion, LLC
• Original Assignee: Strength Companion, LLC
• Inventors: Oteman, David George
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/282,046
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247, 434/253
• US Class Current: 482/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0053 using alternators or dynamos
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0055 the produced electric power used as a source for other equipment, e.g. for TVs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/152 Bowden-type cables
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03533 With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/12 Parallel operation of dc generators with converters, e.g. with mercury-arc rectifier

Abstract

An energy harvester system is provided in and responsive to movement of a motion control arrangement of an exercise machine for converting kinetic and ambient light energy supplied from an environment of the exercise equipment into electrical power which is delivered to a feedback system associated with the exercise equipment in order to provide information corresponding to the user of the exercise equipment.

Claims

1. An energy harvester system responsive to movement of a motion control arrangement of exercise equipment configured to move in a reciprocating motion path in response to a stimulus provided by a user, the energy harvester system comprising:

a kinetic energy harvester for converting kinetic energy provided by the reciprocating movement of the motion control arrangement of the exercise equipment into electric power, the kinetic energy harvester including a generator assembly comprised of a generator operably connected to the motion control arrangement of the exercise equipment to generate electrical energy upon the movement of the motion control arrangement along the reciprocating motion path; and

a feedback system connected to the exercise equipment to provide identification and workout performance data corresponding to the user of the exercise equipment,

wherein electrical power from the kinetic energy harvester is delivered to the feedback system connected to the exercise equipment exclusive of any battery or external power source,

wherein the generator is connected to control electronics for converting the electrical energy into the electrical power delivered to the feedback system, and

wherein the control electronics includes a three phase power inverter, an electrical energy storage element, a DC/DC converter connected to the feedback system, and a harvester controller interconnected to the inverter, the electrical energy storage element and the DC/DC converter.

2. The energy harvester system of claim 1, wherein the control electronics includes an overvoltage protection arrangement connected to the inverter.