Exercise monitoring apparatus

• US 20030163283A1
• Filed: 03/04/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oʼbrien, Conor
• Original Assignee: Oʼbrien, Conor
• Inventors: OʼBrien, Conor
• Application Number:
  US10/220,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163283A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/44 with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/48 with transmitting devices, e.g. GSM or Wi-Fi®
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/14 specially adapted for animals
• 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 2220/40 Acceleration
• 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

An exercise monitoring apparatus comprising a training shoe 10 including a sensor 12 for generating a signal which varies according to the activity of the foot. A microcontroller 18 analyses the sensor signal to detect each footfall, and a radio transmitter 20 transmits data packets related to the number of footfalls detected over time. A wrist unit 24 receives the data and processes it to calculate a quantity based upon the received data, and includes a display 34 for displaying the calculated quantity.

Claims

1. An exercise monitoring apparatus comprising a component arranged to be worn on a foot of a subject whose exercise is to be monitored, the component including a sensor for generating a signal which varies according to the activity of the foot on which the sensor is worn, means for analysing the signal to detect each footfall, and a radio transmitter for transmitting data related to the number of footfalls detected over time, the apparatus further comprising a portable radio receiver for receiving the transmitted data, the receiver further including processing means for calculating a quantity based upon the received data and a display means for displaying the calculated quantity.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component comprises an article of human footwear.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component comprises a band in which said sensor and transmitter are located and said band is adapted to be worn on the foot of the subject.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radio receiver has a wristband for wearing in the manner of a wristwatch.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transmitter transmits a series of data packets at fixed intervals.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the radio receiver automatically powers up shortly before a data packet is expected and powers down afterwards.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein each data packet contains data related to the number of footfalls detected since the immediately preceding data packet.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each data packet specifies the running total of footfalls counted by modulo counting.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the analysing means also detects each foot take-off, and each data packet also contains data related to time off the ground.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein each data packet specifies the running total of time off the ground counted by modulo counting.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric or piezoresistive device.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sensor signal is filtered to remove mains frequency noise.

13. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the component automatically powers off if no footfall is detected during a predetermined time period.

14. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the transmitted data identifies if the component is powered off, and the receiver likewise powers off automatically in response thereto.