Method and apparatus for measuring power output of exercise

• US 9,216,320 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Racer Development, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Racer Development, Inc.
• Inventors: Ishii, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/973,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0724 Bar-bells; Hand bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0726 Dumb bells, i.e. with a central bar to be held by a single hand, and with weights at the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• 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: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load

Abstract

In a portable exercise tracking system, a method and apparatus for measuring power output of exercise motion by a user. The system includes a wireless motion sensor and a wireless central mass unit. The wireless motion sensor detects, measures and transmits motion data associated with a first motion by the user. The central mass unit detects and measures motion data associated with a second motion by the user. The central mass unit also computes the power output of the first motion and the second motion as a function of the first motion data and the second motion data. The disclosed method and apparatus provides a more effective means of computing total power output of a user performing free body exercises.

Claims

1. A portable exercise tracking system for measuring the power output of a plurality of motions by a user comprising:

a central mass unit placed substantially close to the center of gravity of said user, said central mass unit being adapted to;

receive a plurality of mass data, said plurality of mass data comprising a first mass data and a second mass data;

in response to detecting a first motion associated with said plurality of motions by said user, measure a first plurality of motion data associated with said first motion;

receive a second plurality of motion data;

calculate a first power output data as a function of said first plurality of motion data and said first mass data;

calculate a second power output data as a function of said second plurality of motion data and said second mass data;

calculate a third power output data as a function of said first power output data and said second power output data; and

transmit said third power output data; and

a plurality of wireless motion sensors placed substantially away from the center of gravity of said user, said plurality of wireless motion sensors being adapted to;

in response to detecting a second motion associated with said plurality of motions by said user, said second motion being executed substantially simultaneous with said first motion, measure a second plurality of motion data associated with said second motion; and

transmit said second plurality of motion data.

2. The portable exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of motion data further comprises:

a first acceleration data;

a first rotational rate data; and

a first magnetic field data.

3. The portable exercise tracking system of claim 2 wherein said central mass unit further comprises a first 3-axis accelerometer, a first 3-axis gyroscope, a first 3-axis magnetometer, a first computational unit, a first memory and a first radio circuit.

4. The portable exercise tracking system of claim 1 wherein said second plurality of motion data further comprises:

a second acceleration data, a second rotational rate data, and a second magnetic field data.

5. The portable exercise tracking system of claim 4 wherein said central mass unit further comprises a second 3-axis accelerometer, a second 3-axis gyroscope, a second 3-axis magnetometer, a second computational unit, a second memory and a second radio circuit.

6. The portable exercise tracking system of claim 1 further comprising:

a multi-purpose electronic device adapted to;

receive said third power output data; and

display said third power output data.

7. A method for measuring the power output of a plurality of motions by a user comprising:

inputting a plurality of mass data, said plurality of mass data comprising a first mass data and a second mass data;

detecting a first motion associated with said plurality of motions by said user;

measuring and producing a first plurality of motion data associated with said first motion;

detecting a second motion associated with said plurality of motions by said user, wherein said second motion is executed substantially simultaneous with said first motion;

measuring and producing a second plurality of motion data associated with said second motion;

calculating a first power output data as a function of said first plurality of motion data and said first mass data;

calculating a second power output data as a function of said second plurality of motion data and said second mass data; and

calculating a third power output data as a function of said first power output data and said second power output data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said first plurality of motion data further comprises:

a first acceleration data;

a first rotational rate data; and

a first magnetic field data.

9. The method claim 8 wherein said first plurality of motion data is produced by a central mass unit comprising a first 3-axis accelerometer, a first 3-axis gyroscope, a first 3-axis magnetometer, a first computational unit, a first memory, a first battery and a first radio circuit.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said second plurality of motion data further comprises:

a second acceleration data, a second rotational rate data, and a second magnetic field data.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said central mass unit further comprises a second 3-axis accelerometer, a second 3-axis gyroscope, a second 3-axis magnetometer, a second computational unit, a second memory, a second battery and a second radio circuit.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

displaying said third power output.

13. A portable exercise tracking system for measuring the power output of a plurality of motions by a user, said portable exercise tracking system comprising:

a central mass unit placed substantially close to the center of gravity of said user, said central mass unit comprising a first 3-axis accelerometer, a first 3-axis gyroscope, a first 3-axis magnetometer, a first computational unit, a first memory and a first radio circuit, said central mass unit being adapted to;

receive a plurality of mass data, said plurality of mass data comprising a first mass data and a second mass data;

in response to detecting a first motion associated with said plurality of motions by said user, measure a first plurality of motion data associated with said first motion, said first plurality of motion data comprising a first acceleration data;

a first rotational rate data; and

a first magnetic field data;

receive a second plurality of motion data;

calculate a first power output data as a function of said first plurality of motion data and said first mass data;

calculate a second power output data as a function of said second plurality of motion data and said second mass data;

calculate a third power output data as a function of said first power output data and said second power output data; and

transmit said third power output data;

a plurality of wireless motion sensors placed substantially away from the center of gravity of said user, each of said plurality of wireless motion sensors comprising a second 3-axis accelerometer, a second 3-axis gyroscope, a second 3-axis magnetometer, a second computational unit, a second memory and a second radio circuit being adapted to;

in response to detecting a second motion associated with said plurality of motions by said user, said second motion being executed substantially simultaneous with said first motion, measure a second plurality of motion data associated with said second motion;

said second plurality of motion data comprising a second acceleration data;

a second rotational rate data; and

a second magnetic field data; and

transmit said second plurality of motion data;

a multi-purpose electronic device adapted to;

receive said third power output data; and

display said third power output data.