Virtual reality exercise system and method

• US 20060122035A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ronnie D. Felix
• Original Assignee: Ronnie D. Felix
• Inventors: Felix, Ronnie D.
• Application Number:
  US11/007,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• 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 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0257 Mechanical systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0285 Physical characteristics of the belt, e.g. material, surface, indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

System and method for providing virtual reality exercise equipment are disclosed. In one form, a virtual reality exercise system includes an exercise system including a video projector operably coupled to a media player. The exercise system responsive to video programming displayed by the video projector. A virtual reality control system is coupled to a platform of the exercise system and includes a mode selector operable to receive a mode of operation, a speed selector operable to receive a speed of operation and a scene selector operable to receive a scene to be displayed using the video projector.

Claims

1. An exercise system operable to project video programming during use comprising:

a video projector coupled to a treadmill platform and operable to display video programming at a distance away from the treadmill platform;

a virtual reality control system coupled to the treadmill platform and including a scenery selection button operably coupled to a virtual reality processor, the scenery selection button operable to select a type of scenery to display using the video projector; and

a treadmill motor operable to drive a treadmill belt coupled to the treadmill platform and an incline motor operable to incline the treadmill platform, each motor operable in response to the video programming and the type of scenery selected.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the virtual reality control system comprises:

a virtual reality processor coupled to a platform sensor module operable to provide an operating status of the treadmill motor and the incline motor;

an input controller coupled to the virtual reality processor and operable to input one or more parameters to determine the video programming;

a platform controller operably coupled to the virtual reality processor, the treadmill motor, and the incline motor;

wherein the platform controller receives inputs in response to the video programming; and

a media player operably coupled to the virtual reality processor to play the video programming in synch with an operating speed of the treadmill motor.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 further comprises wherein the media player is operable to:

increase the speed of playing the video programming when the treadmill motor increases the operating speed; and

decrease the speed of playing the video programming when the treadmill motor decreases the operating speed.

4. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein the media source includes one of the following:

a CD-ROM encoded with CD-ROM encoded video segments;

a DVD encoded with DVD encoded video segments;

a local video library storing plural local video segments; and

a remote video library storing plural remote video segments.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the media player is an MPEG media player and the video programming is MPEG encoded video programming.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein the virtual reality processor includes:

a frame analyzer operable to determine a current frame based on encoded media within the MPEG encoded video programming;

a speed analyzer operable to determine a current speed of the treadmill motor relative to the playing of the MPEG encoded video programming; and

an incline analyzer operable to determine a current incline of the incline motor relative to the playing of the MPEG encoded video programming;

7. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein the scenery includes at least one of the following:

a beach scene;

a city scene;

a country-side scene;

a mountain scene;

a desert scene; and

a park scene.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising;

the treadmill motor operable to produce an operating speed between zero miles per hour and fifteen miles per hour; and

the incline motor operable to provide an operating incline between one degree and twenty five degrees.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 comprising a heart rate monitor system operably coupled to the virtual reality processor, the virtual reality processor operable to provide video programming in response to a user'"'"'s heart rate detected by the heart rate monitor system.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a display coupled to the treadmill platform and operable to selectively display one or more of:

distance traveled;

elapsed time;

calories burnt; and

distance remaining.

11. A method for providing video programming for exercise equipment having a video projector to produce virtual reality environment during use comprising:

determining a platform status of one or more controllable outputs associated with an exercise equipment;

determining a selected scene to display using a video projector operably coupled to the exercise equipment;

generating a platform output based on the selected scene to control a portion of the exercise equipment;

generating video programming based on the selected scene and the platform output;

controlling the portion of the exercise equipment using the platform output to simulate the generated video programming; and

displaying the video programming in synch with controlling the portion of the exercise equipment.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

accessing a sensor module to determine an operating speed of a motor associated with the exercise equipment; and

altering the operating speed of the motor in response the video programming.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

accessing a sensor module to determine an incline of a motor associated with the exercise equipment; and

altering the incline using the motor in response the video programming.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising enabling a frame analyzer to determine the video programming to use in association with an operating status of the exercise equipment.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising displaying the video programming using a video projector coupled to the exercise equipment.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

detecting a stop mode operable to stop the exercise equipment;

reducing the platform output in response to detecting the stop mode; and

dimming the video projector.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining a selected speed of operating the exercise equipment;

determining a selected mode of operating the exercise equipment;

determining a selected incline of operating the exercise equipment;

generating a platform output control based on the selected scene, selected speed, selected mode, and selected incline to control a portion of the exercise equipment; and

generating the video programming based on the selected scene, selected speed, selected mode, and selected incline.

18. A virtual reality exercise system comprising:

an exercise system including a video projector operably coupled to a media player, the exercise system responsive to video programming displayed by the video projector;

a virtual reality control system coupled to a portion of a platform of the exercise system, the control system comprising;

a mode selector operable to receive a mode of operation;

a speed selector operable to receive a speed of operation; and

a scene selector operable to receive a scene to be displayed using the video projector; and

a virtual reality processing system coupled to the virtual reality control system and an platform control module, the virtual reality control system operable to process the selected mode, the selected speed, and the selected scene to provide an output to the platform control module to control a portion of the exercise system.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising

wherein the selectable mode include at least one of a manual mode, random mode, pre-programmed mode;

wherein the selectable speed range between zero and fifteen miles per hour;

wherein the selectable scene includes one of;

a beach scene;

a city scene;

a country-side scene;

a mountain scene;

a desert scene; and

a park scene.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprises at least one of a treadmill exercise system, a stair climbing exercise system, a rowing exercise system, and a cycling exercise system.