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System for monitoring exercise performanceRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Having Specific Electrical Feature, Monitors Exercise ParameterSystem for monitoring exercise performance description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070249468, System for monitoring exercise performance. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring exercise performance. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] An exercise system is disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Model Publication No. M257858 entitled, "Handle Capable of Detecting Human Physiological Characteristics For Exercise Apparatus." The handle is adapted for use with an exercise apparatus and includes a pair of grip bars, a pair of conductive strips, a processing unit, and a display interface. [0005] The grip bars are mounted on the exercise apparatus, and may be grasped by a user operating the exercise apparatus. The conductive strips are respectively mounted on the grip bars, and are adapted to detect physiological parameters of the user operating the exercise apparatus, such as a pulse of the user. The display interface displays fitness data to the user and allows user input of user-specific parameters, such as height, weight, and sex. The processing unit is electrically coupled to the conductive strips and the display interface. [0006] The processing unit receives signals from the conductive strips, the display interface, and various sensors, and processes the signals to display various data, such as calculated distance, on the display interface. The processing unit is capable of calculating fitness data of the user operating the exercise apparatus, examples of which include heart rate, body fat, and amount of exercise performed by the user (calculated as, for example, consumed calories) . The processing unit may factor the user-specific parameters into these calculations of the fitness data of the user. [0007] A drawback of the above conventional device, however, is that any time that the user may pause from exercising (e.g., to take a drink or go to the restroom) is not included in the calculations of the fitness data. This may result in the inaccurate calculation of the fitness data. For example, if a heart rate of the user, which is calculated with reference to the pulse of the user detected by the conductive strips, is used to determine consumed calories of the user operating the exercise apparatus, any temporary stop by the user results in inaccuracies in the determination of the calories consumed by the user. [0008] In addition, if it is assumed the exercise apparatus is a stationary bicycle, since the energy exerted by the user operating the exercise apparatus is different during simulated uphill or downhill travel, it would be inaccurate to calculate consumed calories simply on the basis of speed and distance. Similarly, the determination of other fitness data may become inaccurate if such uphill and downhill travel is not factored into the calculations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring exercise performance that increases the accuracy of exercise amount determinations, and that displays data in an easy-to-understand manner. [0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the system comprises: a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise machine; a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation to input user-specific parameters and to select an exercise mode, and for displaying data to the user; and a control unit electrically coupled to the pulse detecting unit and the user interface unit. The control unit determines a target exercise amount for the user with reference to the user-specific parameters and the exercise mode selected by the user. The control unit further determines an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with reference to the pulse detected by the pulse detecting unit. The user interface unit displays, according to control by the control unit, an exercise indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the user, the exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of regions that are selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount of the user. [0011] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the system comprises: a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise machine; a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation to input user-specific parameters and for displaying data to the user; and a control unit electrically coupled to the pulse detecting unit and the user interface unit. The control unit determines, following a predetermined period of exercise by the user, a target exercise amount for the user with reference to the pulse detected by the pulse detecting unit and the user-specific parameters. The control unit further determines an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with reference to the pulse detected by the pulse detecting unit. The user interface unit displays, according to control by the control unit, an exercise indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the user, the exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of regions that are selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount of the user. [0012] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the system comprises: a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise machine; a torque detecting unit adapted to detect a magnitude of torque exerted by the user when the exercise machine is operated; a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation to input user-specific parameters and for displaying data to the user; and a control unit electrically coupled to the pulse detecting unit, the torque detecting unit, and the user interface unit. The control unit determines, following a predetermined period of exercise by the user, a target exercise amount for the user with reference to the pulse detected by the pulse detecting unit, the torque detected by the torque detecting unit, and the user-specific parameters. The control unit further determines an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with reference to the torque detected by the torque detecting unit. The user interface unit displays, according to control by the control unit, an exercise indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the user. The exercise indicating pattern includes a plurality of regions that are selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount of the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: [0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a device for monitoring exercise performance according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 is schematic view, illustrating an example of data displayed by a user interface unit shown in FIG. 1; and [0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a system for monitoring exercise performance according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure. [0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of a system adapted for use with an exercise machine (not shown) for monitoring exercise performance. The system includes a pulse detecting unit 1, a torque detecting unit 2, a speed detecting unit 3, a body fat detecting unit 4, a control unit 5, and a user interface unit 6. [0019] The pulse detecting unit 1 is adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise machine. As an example, the pulse detecting unit 1 may be mounted on hand grips of the exercise machine. Since the different techniques for detecting the pulse of the user operating the exercise machine are well known in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein for the sake of brevity. [0020] The torque detecting unit 2 is adapted for detecting a magnitude of torque exerted by the user when the exercise machine is operated. As an example, the torque detecting unit 2 may be mounted on a drive gear of the exercise machine. Continue reading about System for monitoring exercise performance... Full patent description for System for monitoring exercise performance Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System for monitoring exercise performance patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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