Dynamic fitness equipment user interface adjustment

• US 9,367,668 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peloton Interactive, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Precor Incorporated (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Inventors: Flynt, David W., Khilji, Salman A., Schouten, Piet H., Birrell, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYAN, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US13/407,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/4, 482/8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/067 with crank and handles being on opposite sides of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. the crank is behind and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0682 with support elements being cantilevered, i.e. the elements being supported only on one side without bearing on tracks on the floor below the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• 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 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0675 Input for modifying training controls during workout
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• 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 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• 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 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/755 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0205 Abdomen
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 : involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• 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 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

A method and exercise system obtain at least one parameter of ongoing exercise on a fitness equipment unit and adjust at least one operational characteristic of the user interface while a person is exercising and based upon the obtained at least one parameter of ongoing exercise.

Claims

1. An exercise system comprising:

a fitness equipment unit having a movable member to be contacted by an anatomy of a person to facilitate exercise by the person;

a user interface comprising a keyboard; and

a controller configured to generate control signals to dynamically adjust at least one operational characteristic of the user interface, while the person is exercising, based upon at least one parameter of ongoing exercise and only after an existing operational characteristic of the user interface has been in place for a predefined non-zero period of time, wherein once the at least one operational characteristic of the user interface has been changed, further changes to the at least one operational characteristic of the user interface are prevented until the predefined non-zero period of time has expired; and

wherein the control signals disable an input of selection to a web browser or webpage using the keyboard.

2. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of ongoing exercise further comprises a concurrent evaluation of a combination of a sensed parameter of the person exercising and a parameter of the movable member of the fitness equipment unit.

3. The exercise system of claim 2, wherein the parameter of the movable member of the fitness equipment unit is selected from a group of parameters consisting of:

a velocity of the movable member;

a resistance asserted against movement of the movable member;

an adjustable path shape through which the movable member moves;

an adjustable size of a path through which the movable member moves; and

an adjustable inclination of a path through which the movable member moves.

4. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the control signals disable use of the keyboard while the disabled keyboard remains viewable to the person exercising.

5. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the keyboard comprises a keyboard graphical user interface and wherein the control signals remove the keyboard graphical user interface.

6. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a graphical user interface and wherein the control signals adjust a size of the graphical user interface.

7. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a graphical user interface and wherein the control signals adjust a location of the graphical user interface.

8. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen and wherein the at least one operational characteristic of the user interface is selected from a group of operational characteristics consisting of:

a size of a graphical user interface on the display screen, a location of a graphical user interface on the display screen;

a display/non-display condition of a graphical user interface on the display screen;

a size of data being presented on the display screen; and

a location of data being presented on the display screen.

9. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the fitness equipment unit comprises a treadmill having a belt to contact feet of the person exercising, wherein the at least one parameter of ongoing exercise comprises at least one of a velocity and an inclination of the belt.

10. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the fitness equipment unit offers a plurality of available positions for the person during the ongoing exercise, wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen and wherein the control signals adjust a location of data being presented on the display screen based upon a sensed determination of which of the plurality of available positions on the fitness equipment unit being taken by the person, wherein the control signals rearrange a relative location of the data being presented on the display screen such that first data being presented above second data on the display screen is rearranged to be presented below the second data on the display screen.

11. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the fitness equipment unit comprises a stationary bicycle having handgrips configured to be grasped when a person is leaning forward, wherein at least one of the handgrips includes a sensor to sense gripping, wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen and wherein the control signals adjust a location of data being presented on the display screen to a lower portion of the display screen in response to the sensed gripping of the at least one of the handgrips.

12. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of ongoing exercise comprises a current workout intensity of ongoing exercise.

13. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is provided as part of a portable electronic device and wherein the controller is configured to generate control signals adjusting at least one operational characteristic of the user interface of the portable electronic device.

14. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive signals indicating selection of the at least one parameter of ongoing exercise, by the person, from a plurality of available parameters, to be used as a basis for dynamically adjusting the at least one operational characteristic of the user interface while the person is exercising.

15. The exercise system of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of ongoing exercise comprises a combination of multiple parameters of ongoing exercise.

17. The exercise system in claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter of ongoing exercise comprises a parameter of the movable member selected from a group of parameters consisting of:

a resistance asserted against movement of the movable member;

an adjustable path shape through which the movable member moves;

an adjustable size of a path through which the movable member moves; and

an adjustable inclination of a path through which the movable member moves.

18. The exercise system in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive signals indicating selection of the at least one parameter of ongoing exercise, by the person, from a plurality of different available parameters, for use in dynamically adjusting the at least one operational characteristic of the user interface;

obtain a value of the at least one selected parameter of ongoing exercise; and

dynamically adjust the at least one operational characteristic of the user interface based upon the obtained value of the at least one selected parameter of ongoing exercise.

16. The exercise system in clam 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a display screen and wherein dynamic adjustment of the at least one operational characteristic is selected from a group of adjustments consisting of:

changing a rate at which data is presented on the display screen and changing a format of data presentation between scrolling of data and presenting data in a page format.