System for automatically providing high-intensity interval training (HIIT)

• US 9,808,673 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David R. Syrowik, Julie C. Robinson
• Original Assignee: David R. Syrowik, Julie C. Robinson
• Inventors: Robinson, Julie C., Syrowik, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US14/993,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0636 3D visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0666 worn on the head or face, e.g. combined with goggles or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• 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 22/04 with movable multiple steps , i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/06 with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movementsupport stands for bicycles A63B69/16; unicycles B62K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/685 for electronic devices, e.g. phone, PDA, GPS device, notebook
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• 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: G02B 2027/0174 : holographic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 : with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking

Abstract

A system for automatically providing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is provided. The system may include exercise apparatus which a user manipulates to achieve exercise and which is controllable to provide an exercise profile having a high-intensity exercise interval to the user during user exercise. A stimulator subsystem is controllable to provide sets of stimuli to the user during user exercise including a set of stimuli capable of evoking a pupillary response in the user. An imaging assembly images a pupil of an eye of the user during user exercise to obtain a set of images of the pupil. An image processor processes the set of images to obtain measurements which measure the pupillary response. A system controller controls the exercise apparatus and the stimulator subsystem so that the exercise apparatus automatically provides the high-intensity exercise interval to the user based on the measurements.

Claims

1. A system for automatically providing high-intensity interval training, the system comprising:

exercise apparatus which a user manipulates to achieve exercise and which is controllable to provide an exercise profile having a high intensity exercise interval to the user during user exercise;

a stimulator subsystem controllable to generate sets of stimuli to the user during user exercise including a set of stimuli capable of evoking a pupillary response in the user;

an imaging assembly to image a pupil of an eye of the user during user exercise to obtain a set of images of the pupil;

an image processor to process the set of images to obtain measurements which measure the pupillary response; and

a system controller for controlling the exercise apparatus and the stimulator subsystem so that the exercise apparatus automatically provides the high-intensity exercise interval to the user based on the measurements.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exercise apparatus includes one of an exercise cycle, a treadmill, a stair climber, an elliptical machine, a skiing simulator and a rowing machine.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulator subsystem includes a display device and wherein the sets of stimuli includes visual stimuli.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pupillary response includes a change in pupil size.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging assembly includes a source of infrared light to illuminate the pupil of the eye.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least part of the stimulator subsystem is head-mounted.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an oximeter for measuring heart rate of the user during user exercise wherein the system controller controls the exercise apparatus based on measured heart rate.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulator subsystem includes at least one speaker or transducer and wherein the sets of stimuli includes audio stimuli.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the imaging assembly and stimulator subsystem is head-mounted.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sets of stimuli include audio and video stimuli.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging assembly includes an eye-tracking subsystem which compensates for head and eye movement of the user during user exercise.

12. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the display is a light-field or holographic display.

13. A system for use with exercise apparatus which a user manipulates to achieve exercise and which is controllable to provide an exercise profile having a high intensity exercise interval to the user during user exercise, the system controlling the apparatus to automatically provide high-intensity interval training, the system comprising:

a stimulator subsystem controllable to generate sets of stimuli to the user during user exercise including a set of stimuli capable of evoking a pupillary response in the user;

an imaging assembly to image a pupil of an eye of the user during user exercise to obtain a set of images of the pupil;

an image processor to process the set of images to obtain measurements which measure the pupillary response; and

a system controller for controlling the exercise apparatus and the stimulator subsystem so that the exercise apparatus automatically provides the high-intensity exercise interval to the user based on the measurements.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the exercise apparatus includes one of an exercise cycle, a treadmill, a stair climber, an elliptical machine, a skiing simulator and a rowing machine.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stimulator subsystem includes a display device and wherein the sets of stimuli includes visual stimuli.

16. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pupillary response includes a change in pupil size.

17. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the imaging assembly includes a source of infrared light to illuminate the pupil of the eye.

18. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least part of the stimulator subsystem is head-mounted.

19. The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an oximeter for measuring heart rate of the user during user exercise wherein the system controller controls the exercise apparatus based on measured heart rate.

20. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stimulator subsystem includes at least one speaker or transducer and wherein the sets of stimuli includes audio stimuli.

21. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the imaging assembly and the stimulator subsystem is head-mounted.

22. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sets of stimuli include audio and video stimuli.

23. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the imaging assembly includes an eye-tracking subsystem which compensates for head and eye movement of the user during user exercise.

24. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the display is a light-field or holographic display.