System and method for measuring and adjusting physical resistance for athletic activities and fitness equipment

• US 9,962,576 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, Glen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, MEGAN M
• Application Number:
  US14/866,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0065 Evaluating the fitness, e.g. fitness level or fitness index
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/068 kayaking, canoeing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 : performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 : Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 : Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 : Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 : Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 : Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 : Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/10 : Multi-station exercising machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/605 : Floating
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 : User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/015 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 : blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 : rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/425 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/505 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/755 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/06 : for rowing or sculling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 : with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 : Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 : Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

A system and method for measuring and normalizing physical resistance for athletic activities and fitness equipment are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: measuring a level of physical resistance in an athletic activity; generating sensor data indicative of the measured level of physical resistance; using the sensor data to determine if the measured level of physical resistance will achieve a desired performance level in the athletic activity; and automatically generating control signals to adjust the level of physical resistance if the measured level of physical resistance is unlikely to achieve the desired performance level in the athletic activity.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a user-wearable sensor to measure a level of physical resistance in a first athletic activity and to generate sensor data indicative of the measured level of physical resistance, wherein the user-wearable sensor is an air flow sensor; and

a controller to receive the sensor data to (1) determine a first force-to-motion ratio based on the sensor data, (2) conduct effort normalization based on (a) the first force-to-motion ratio and (b) a second force-to-motion ratio based on data from a second athletic activity, and (3) automatically generate control signals to adjust the level of physical resistance based on the effort normalization.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first athletic activity is bicycle riding.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second athletic activity is an activity other than bicycle riding.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to obtain a user profile for each of a plurality of participants engaged in the first athletic activity and to compare the performance levels for each of the plurality of participants.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to adjust the level of physical resistance of a participant engaged in the first athletic activity if the performance level of the participant does not substantially match the performance levels of a plurality of other participants engaged in the first athletic activity.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second athletic activity is prior to the first athletic activity.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein adjusting the level of physical resistance includes applying friction to a wheel of a bicycle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first athletic activity includes use of a first equipment and the second athletic activity includes use of second equipment different from the first equipment.

9. A method comprising:

measuring a level of physical resistance in a first athletic activity using a user-wearable sensor, wherein the user-wearable sensor is an air flow sensor;

using data from the user-wearable sensor to determine a first force-to-motion ratio;

conducting effort normalization based on the first force-to-motion ratio and a second force-to-motion ratio based on data from a second athletic activity; and

automatically generating control signals to adjust the level of physical resistance based on the effort normalization.

10. The method of claim 9 including obtaining a user profile for each of a plurality of participants engaged in the first athletic activity and comparing the performance levels for each of the plurality of participants.

11. The method of claim 9 including adjusting the level of physical resistance of a participant engaged in the first athletic activity if the performance level of the participant does not substantially match the performance levels of a plurality of other participants engaged in the first athletic activity.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the second athletic activity is prior to the first athletic activity.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first athletic activity is bicycle riding.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein adjusting the level of physical resistance includes applying friction to a wheel of a bicycle.

15. A system comprising:

a user-wearable air flow sensor to measure a level of physical resistance in a first athletic activity and to generate sensor data indicative of the measured level of physical resistance;

a controller to receive the sensor data to (1) determine a first force-to-motion ratio based on the sensor data, (2) conduct effort normalization based on (a) the first force-to-motion ratio and (b) a second force-to-motion ratio based on data from a second athletic activity, and (3) generate control signals to adjust the level of physical resistance based on the effort normalization; and

a bicycle equipped with a hybrid drive mechanism to enable automatic adjustment of the level of physical resistance applied to a wheel of the bicycle.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is programmed to obtain a user profile for each of a plurality of participants engaged in the first athletic activity and to compare the performance levels for each of the plurality of participants.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is programmed to adjust the level of physical resistance of a participant engaged in the first athletic activity if the performance level of the participant does not substantially match the performance levels of a plurality of other participants engaged in the first athletic activity.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the second athletic activity is prior to the first athletic activity.