EXERCISE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 3,802,698 A
• Filed: 02/21/1973
• Issued: 04/09/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herbert Cohen, Julius S. Impellizzeri, Paul D. Burian, Steven Hahn
• Original Assignee: Herbert Cohen, Julius S. Impellizzeri, Paul D. Burian, Steven Hahn
• Inventors: Cohen, Herbert, Burian, Paul D., Impellizzeri, Julius S., Hahn, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowe, Delbert B.
• Application Number:
  US05/334,266
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.05 272/57,73
• US Class Current: 600/520
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02455 provided with high/low alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate

Abstract

An exercise measuring system in which a person'"'"''"'"'s pulse rate while exercising is electronically detected and compared against a desired level. Pickup electrodes are strapped to the person'"'"''"'"'s chest to pick up his pulse rate while he is exercising and this pulse rate is then fed to an electronic indicating device which compares it with a preset rate, or level. Deviations above or below this level are indicated by respective lights. Lights are also provided to respectively indicate when the user'"'"''"'"'s pulse rate is maintained at the preset level and when the pulse rate has been maintained at the preset level for a predetermined length of time.

Claims

1. An exercise control system adapted for use with means for a person to exercise on, comprising, means for detecting his actual pulse, means for converting the detected pulse rate to a first electrical signal proportional to said detected pulse rate, means for setting and producing a reference electrical signal proportional to a single desired pulse rate, and means for comparing said first electrical signal to said reference signal and for indicating deviation on either the low side or the high side of said desired pulse rate, said comparing and indicating means having no connection to said exercising means.

2. An exercise control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said converting means produces a pulsating signal and includes wave forming and shaping means connected to the output of said detecting means for forming a pulsating square wave whose repetition rate is proportional to the detected pulse rate and means for converting said square wave to said electrical signal, said signal comprising, a d.c. voltage proportional to said detected pulse rate, said setting means being adapted to produce a reference signal comprising a preset reference voltage, said means to indicate deviation including two lamps operatively connected to said comparing means for providing respective light signals proportional to the actual pulse rate, when said d.c. voltage is lower than said reference voltage, and when it is higher than said reference voltage.

3. An exercise control system as defined in claim 2 wherein said indicating means includes a third lamp adapted to produce a light signal when said d.c. voltage matches said reference voltage.

4. The exercise control system as defined in claim 2 in further combination with timing means operatively connected to said comparing and indicating means for actuation thereby when said d.c. voltage matches said reference voltage, including means for indicating the termination of a preselected time period during which said d.c. voltage matches said reference voltage.

5. An exercise control system of the character described including, an electronic transducer to detect a person'"'"''"'"'s pulse rate while exercising and to provide a signal proportional to the pulse rate, said transducer comprising electrode means to sense a person'"'"''"'"'s heart beat, wave forming means to convert the pulse so detected into a repetitive wave whose repetition rate is determined by the frequency of said pulses, and means to convert said repetitive wave into a variable d.c. voltage signal the level of which is proportional to said repetition rate, said system further including comparing means, operatively connected to said means to convert, for comparing said variable d.c. voltage with a predetermined voltage value, and three switch means including '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'desired,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'high,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'low'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' circuits which respectively control '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'desired,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'high,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'low'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' indicators, said switch means being operatively connected to said comparing means for selective actuation in response to said comparing means in accordance with whether a said voltage signal is above, below or equal to said predetermined voltage value.

6. The exercise control system in claim 5 wherein said wave forming means includes a Schmitt trigger followed by a bystable multivibrator, and said switch means includes three switch SCR'"'"''"'"'s and a fourth SCR operatively connected with said first three which supplies them with pulsating direct voltage to automatically extinguish any SCR after it is on, said comparing means including means for actuating a particular one of said switch SCR'"'"''"'"'s depending on the ratios of the variable d.c. voltage produced by said means to convert to said predetermined voltage value.

7. An exercise monitoring system comprising, an exercising machine on which a person can exercise at varying levels of exertion, means to detect his pulse rate, and electronic means to convert his pulse rate into light signals proportional to his pulse rate, said electronic means having means for setting a single desired pulse rate and means operatively connected to said setting means and said detecting means for comparing said desired pulse rate with the detected pulse rate and for producing a light signal when said detected pulse rate is at said desired rate, and timing means for indicating that said desired pulse rate has been maintained at the desired level for an indicated time period.

8. An exercise monitoring system as defined in claim 7, wherein a moving part thereof includes means for stopping said timing means after a settable elapsed time.