Exercise unit and system utilizing MIDI signals

• US 7,794,370 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Tackett
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Tackett
• Inventors: Tackett, Joseph A
• Primary Examiner(s): DONNELLY, JEROME W
• Application Number:
  US11/168,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 482 48- 90, 846/45
• US Class Current: 482/83
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/10 Combat sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/22 mounted on, or suspended from, a fixed support
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/322 to instruct user where to strike
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

An exercise unit (20) and system (104) comprising a target (22) having at least one area (24) to be struck by a user and at least one sensor (26) located at the area (24) is disclosed. The sensor (26) generates an electrical signal in response to being struck by the user. A processor (48) is in operative communication with the sensor (26) and a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) converter (50) is disposed between the sensor (26) and the processor (48). The MIDI converter (50) converts the electrical signal from the sensor (26) to a MIDI signal and transmits the MIDI signal to the processor (48) for generating a MIDI strike track (52). The MIDI strike track (52) is used to determine an accuracy and a force of the strike by the user to provide interaction and feedback to the user to continue to help motivate the user.

Claims

1. An exercise unit (20) comprising:

a target (22) having at least one area (24) to be struck by a user;

a plurality of sensors (26) located at said area (24) and each of said sensors (26) associated with a unique identifier for generating an electrical signal in response to a force of the user striking the area (24) and each of said sensors (26) being different from one another for detecting an accuracy of the strike by the user;

a light source (56) for illuminating said area (24) of a portion of said target (22) to be struck by said user;

a processor (48) in operative communication with said sensors (26) and in operative communication with said light source (56), said processor (48) capable of generating a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) light track (60) and communicating said MIDI light track (60) to said light source (56) such that said light source (56) is responsive to said MIDI light track (60) for illuminating said area (24); and

a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) converter (50) disposed between said sensors (26) and said processor (48) to convert said electrical signal from said sensors (26) to a MIDI signal representing a location of the strike based upon said unique identifier and representing a force of the strike by the user and transmitting said MIDI signal to said processor (48) for generating a MIDI strike track (52).

2. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensors (26) are further defined as MIDI sensors.

3. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said MIDI sensors (26) are further defined as piezoelectric-type MIDI sensors.

4. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a digital multiplexing controller (62) in operative communication with said processor (48) and said light source (56) for converting said MIDI light track (60) into said area (24) to be struck.

5. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said MIDI light track (60) further comprises first and second MIDI values representing coordinates for said area (24) to be struck.

6. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 5 wherein said MIDI light track (60) further comprises third and fourth MIDI values representing a type of strike to be performed by the user.

7. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an audio player (100) in operative communication with said processor (48) for playing an audio track (102) synchronized with said MIDI light track (60).

8. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a camera (96) synchronized with said processor (48) for recording the user striking said area (24) and for creating a video track (98).

9. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of targets (22) such that each of said targets (22) have at least one area (24) to be struck.

10. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a user input (64) in operative communication with said processor (48) for inputting information relating to the user.

15. An exercise unit (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processor compares said MIDI light track (60) and said MIDI strike track (52) for determining a response time of the user.

11. An exercise system (104) comprising:

a plurality of exercise units (20);

each of said exercise units (20) comprise a target (22) having at least one area (24) to be struck by a user and at least one sensor (26) located at said area (24) associated with a unique identifier for generating an electrical signal in response to a force of the user striking the area (24);

a light source (56) for each of said exercise units (20) for illuminating said area (24) of a portion of said target (22) to be struck by said user;

a processor (48) in operative communication with said light source (56), said processor (48) capable of generating a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) light track (60) and communicating said MIDI light track (60) to said light source (56) such that said light source (56) is responsive to said MIDI light track (60) for illuminating said area (24);

a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) converter (50) receiving electrical signals from said exercise units (20) and converting said electrical signals into MIDI signals representing a location of the strike based upon said unique identifier and representing a force of the strike by the user and transmitting said MIDI signal to said processor (48) for generating a MIDI strike track (52); and

a communication network (106) interconnecting each of exercise units (20) for allowing the user to perform workout routines on successive exercise units (20).

12. An exercise system (104) as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said exercise units (20) further comprise a plurality of sensors (26) located at said area (24) and each of said sensors (26) associated with a unique identifier different from one another for detecting an accuracy of the strike by the user.

13. An exercise system (104) as set forth in claim 12 wherein said sensors (26) are further defined as MIDI sensors.

14. An exercise system (104) as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said exercise units (20) are further defined as having a processor (48) and a MIDI converter (50) disposed within each of said exercise units (20).