METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING EXERCISE PERFORMANCE

• US 20080015089A1
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artis LLC
• Original Assignee: Artis LLC
• Inventors: Hurwitz, Elisa, Brendley, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,874,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0641 enabling a lateral movement of the exercising apparatus, e.g. for simulating movement on a bicycle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0658 for cycling with a group of people, e.g. spinning classes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0096 using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• 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 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• 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 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/107 Resisting devices being of the same kind
• 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 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0084 Exercising apparatus with means for competitions, e.g. virtual races
• 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 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 : characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 : for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/003 : Position, angle or speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/226 : in which the common actuating member is moved axially , e.g. floating caliper disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/183 : with force-transmitting members arranged side by side acting on a spot type force-applying member
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising

Abstract

An integrated sensor apparatus capable of detecting exercise equipment parameters such as power output and cadence is designed so as to be easily retrofittable to existing equipment. To the extent that a particular sensor uses friction measurement, it can supplant an existing friction causing device on the equipment. Additionally, the sensor can communicate, wirelessly if desired, with a processing device. The processing device is capable of receiving and processing a plurality of sensor signals. The processing device can then output processed signals to a display, so that a plurality of people joining in a group exercise or competition can easily track their relative performance in real-time.

Claims

1. An integrated sensor apparatus comprising:

a force sensor, capable of sensing a force applied to a friction inducing portion thereof; and

a sensor transceiver to wirelessly transmit at least one packet, wherein the contents of at least one of the at least one packets are at least partially dependent on the force sensed by the force sensor,

wherein the integrated sensor is adaptable to be retrofitted to an existing exercise machine such that the friction inducing portion replaces one or more existing friction inducing portions already arranged on the exercise machine and such that a spinning portion of the exercise machine, when in motion, applies friction to the friction inducing portion of the force sensor.

2. The integrated sensor apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an optical sensor, capable of sensing at least a rotation speed of a spinning disc portion of the exercise machine on which at least one piece of reflective material is arranged, wherein

the contents of at least one of the at least one packets transmittable by the sensor transceiver are at least partially dependent on the rotation speed detected by the optical sensor.

3. A sensor feedback system comprising:

one or more integrated sensor apparatuses as claimed in claim 2, wherein each integrated sensor apparatus is arranged on a piece of exercise equipment;

at least one processor including a processor transceiver; and

at least one display;

wherein one or more of the integrated sensor apparatuses transmits a signal to the processor transceiver;

wherein the processor processes the signal received by the processor transceiver and outputs a display signal to the at least one display; and

wherein the at least one display displays at least one graphical feedback indicative of the signal transmitted by the one or more integrated sensor apparatuses.

4. The sensor feedback system of claim 3, wherein the graphical feedback includes a scenic display showing a virtual view including a representation of at least one person using one piece of the exercise equipment.

5. The sensor feedback system of claim 3, wherein the graphical feedback includes a plurality of representative images, wherein each image is indicative of one of a plurality of people each using one piece of the exercise equipment and the plurality of images shows the relative positions of the people having each traveled a virtual distance.

6. The sensor feedback system of claim 3, wherein the graphical feedback includes a representation of force being output by at least one person using a piece of the exercise equipment.

7. The sensor feedback system of claim 3, wherein the graphical feedback includes a representation of cadence being output by at least one person using a piece of the exercise equipment.

8. The sensor feedback system of claim 3, wherein the graphical feedback includes a representation of total exercise time from a start time of a session.

9. The sensor feedback system of claim 3, wherein the graphical feedback includes a menu having choices selectable by at least one user of a group of one or more users each using a piece of the exercise equipment.

10. A method of providing graphical individual and group exercise feedback for one or more people each using a piece of exercise equipment, wherein each piece of exercise equipment is outfitted with one or more integrated sensor apparatuses, the method comprising:

sensing, using an integrated sensor apparatus, at least one performance parameter of each of the one or more pieces of exercise equipment;

wirelessly transmitting a signal from each of the one or more sensor apparatuses to one or more processing devices, the signal containing information about the at least one sensed performance parameter;

processing the transmitted signals;

outputting the processed signals to a display; and

displaying a graphical representation indicative of the sensed at least one performance parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of people are using a plurality of pieces of exercise equipment, and the graphical representation shows a relative performance measurement based on the relative comparison of the sensed at least one performance parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphical representation includes individual graphics, each representative of one of the plurality of pieces of exercise equipment, and the individual graphics collectively show a relative performance of each user of the pieces of exercise equipment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the relative performance includes a relative virtual distance traveled.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the relative performance includes a relative power output.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the relative performance includes a relative cadence output.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the graphical representation includes a display of a virtual environment through which at least one of the users of the pieces of exercise equipment is shown to be virtually traveling.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the virtual environment is a three dimensional environment.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

identifying, using a unique identifier, each of the one or more people using the exercise equipment, wherein at least one sensor apparatus on each piece of equipment transmits an identification of the person using the equipment and the display further displays a graphic representation indicative of the person using the piece of equipment such that additional graphic representations of sensed parameters from that piece of equipment are identifiable as being output by the person using the equipment and having the unique identifier.

19. The method of claim 11, including:

designating one person among the plurality of people as a leader; and

providing the leader with the capability to perform at least one of initializing a group exercise, initializing a calibration of sensors outfitted on the exercise equipment of each person in the group, starting a group exercise, or terminating a group exercise.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of people are using the exercise equipment in an organized class and the leader is a pre-designated leader, wherein the graphical representations show at least one of the plurality of people who is identifiable as having achieved a particular position with the plurality of people, the method further including:

encouraging the identified person.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the encouraging further includes electronically encouraging the identified person through use of a display.

22. The method of claim 11, including a plurality of processing devices, further comprising:

associating one of the plurality of the processing devices with one or more people using exercise equipment at a given location;

connecting, over the internet, the plurality of processing devices;

communicating signals from the plurality of processing devices over the internet; and

providing graphical feedback to a plurality of displays, wherein at least one of the plurality of displays is provided at each given location.