Motivational displays and methods for exercise machine

Abstract

A stationary exercise machine includes a system for simulating a climb of a landmark or other selected geographic location or structure. The exercise machine includes an electronic control system that monitors pedal movement and that controls a display for depicting a progress in the simulated climb. For example, the control system may include a processor that determines the height of a selected landmark, determines the height of each selected step, monitors the number of steps in the simulated climb, and that outputs a signal for displaying the progress of the user's simulated climb. For instance, the display may include a silhouette of a block pyramid whose levels are filled in based on a percentage of the climb. In certain embodiments, the control system also adjusts a resistive load based on a current force of the user in pumping the pedals.

1 . A stationary exercise machine capable of simulating a climb of a structure or geographic location, the stationary exercise machine comprising: 
 an electronically-controlled resistance assembly having an alternator;    pedals operably attached to the resistance assembly such that a pumping movement of the pedals translates into rotation of the alternator;    a sensor module capable of outputting a first signal associated with the rotation of the alternator;    an electronic display; and    a processor capable of receiving the first signal and outputting one or more control signals to adjust the electronic display to associate movement of the pedals with a progress of a climb of a landmark.    
     
     
         2 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance assembly comprises a pulley assembly.  
     
     
         3 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor module comprises an encoder capable of measuring rotation of the alternator.  
     
     
         4 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive data regarding a weight of the user.  
     
     
         5 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is capable of outputting one or more load control signals to adjust the resistance of the alternator based at least upon the weight of the user.  
     
     
         6 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the landmark comprises a man-made object.  
     
     
         7 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the landmark comprises a geographic location.  
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a stationary exercise machine capable of providing a motivational exercise program, the method comprising: 
 providing a frame comprising: 
 a resistance assembly having a dynamic resistive load, and  
 pedals operably attached to the resistance assembly such that movement of the pedals translates into corresponding movement of at least a portion of the resistance assembly; and  
   providing a user interface capable of displaying exercise information correlating the movement of the pedals during an exercise routine with a progress of a climb of a selected object.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , additionally comprising providing a sensor module capable of outputting a first signal associated with the movement of the pedals.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user interface comprises a screen.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the screen comprises one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a light emitting diode (LED) screen.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the exercise information includes a depiction of the selected object.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the exercise information includes depictions of multiple objects during the exercise routine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the exercise information depicts a percentage of the climb of the selected object.  
     
     
         15 . A stationary exercise machine responsive to a user performing an exercise, the stationary exercise machine comprising: 
 a sensor responsive to an amount of user exercise; and    a processor responsive to an output signal of the sensor indicative of the amount of user exercise, the processor being capable of outputting a progress of the user in a simulated climb of a predetermined object.    
     
     
         16 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the stationary exercise machine comprises a treadmill machine.  
     
     
         17 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the stationary exercise machine comprises a natural runner machine.  
     
     
         18 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the stationary exercise machine comprises a stationary bicycle.  
     
     
         19 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the stationary exercise machine comprises a stepper machine.  
     
     
         20 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 19 , further comprising a resistance mechanism responsive to a load signal from the processor, wherein the resistance mechanism is capable of adjusting a resistance experienced by the user while performing the exercise.  
     
     
         21 . The stationary exercise machine of  claim 20 , wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises an alternator, wherein the sensor is responsive to rotation of the alternator to generate the output signal.  
     
     
         22 . A machine loadable software program for a processor of a stationary exercise machine having a motivational display, the software program comprising: 
 first software instructions capable of determining a height of a selected object;    second software instructions capable of calculating a simulated climb height associated with a movement of pedals by a user; and    third software instructions capable of instructing a processor to output at least one control signal causing an electronic user interface to display a progress of a user in a simulated climb of the selected object.    
     
     
         23 . The software program of  claim 22 , further comprising fourth software instructions capable of outputting exercise data to a computing device external to the stationary exercise machine.  
     
     
         24 . The software program of  claim 23 , wherein the exercise data comprises information indicative of at least one of user heart rate, user caloric expenditure and exercise length.  
     
     
         25 . A stepper machine having a motivational display, the stepper machine comprising: 
 means for receiving a user-applied force during a performance of a stepping exercise;    means for sensing a movement of said means for receiving, wherein said means for sensing is capable of outputting a first signal indicative of the movement of said means for receiving; and    means for displaying a progress of a simulated climb of a predetermined object based at least on said first signal.    
     
     
         26 . The stepper machine of  claim 25 , further comprising means for processing the first signal and for outputting one or more control signals causing said means for displaying to display the progress of the simulated climb of the predetermined object.  
     
     
         27 . The stepper machine of  claim 25 , further comprising means for applying a resistive load to increase or decrease a resistance experienced by a user while exercising based at least on an increase or decrease in the movement of said means for receiving.