Closed-Loop Power Dissipation Control For Cardio-Fitness Equipment

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide (a) an inexpensive apparatus enabling the measurement of power dissipated by the rider of a cardio-fitness station (or any other stationary bicycle) that does not depend on manufacturing tolerances or machine condition variations, and (b) a method of using the data measured by such an apparatus to improve the accuracy of exercise condition settings by implementing the invented apparatus into a closed-loop control system which improves the quality of the exercise experience and enhances the adoption of exercise on a cardio-fitness station employing this as a community activity.

1  . A magnetic resistance device (MRD), comprising:
 a flywheel having an ability to rotate around an axis;   at least one electromagnet; and   means for measuring a torque exerted on the at least one electromagnet around the axis.   
   
   
       2 . The MRD of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tachometer for measuring an angular velocity of the flywheel.   
   
   
       3 . A magnetic resistance device, comprising:
 a flywheel having an ability to rotate around an axis;   at least one electromagnet having an ability to rotate at least partially around the axis; and   a spring mechanically attached to the at least one electromagnet, wherein the spring is being stretched when torque is exerted on the at least one electromagnet around the axis.   
   
   
       4 . The magnetic resistance device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 means for measuring a stretch of the spring.   
   
   
       5 . The magnetic resistance device for  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a shock absorber mechanically attached to the at least one electromagnet.   
   
   
       6 . A magnetic resistance device, comprising:
 a base;   a flywheel having an ability to rotate around an axis, wherein the axis is stationary in respect to the base;   at least one electromagnet having an ability to rotate at least partially around the axis; and   a spring mechanically attached between the at least one electromagnet and the base, wherein the spring is being stretched when torque is exerted between the at least one electromagnet and the base around the axis.   
   
   
       7 . The magnetic resistance device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 means for measuring a stretch of the spring; and   means for measuring an angular velocity of the flywheel.   
   
   
       8 . The magnetic resistance device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a shock absorber mechanically attached between the at least one electromagnet and the base.   
   
   
       9 . A method for adjusting the torque in a magnetic resistance device, comprising:
 providing a magnetic resistance device including:   a flywheel able to rotate around an axis;   an electromagnet being energized with an electric current and having a parameter;   means for measuring torque exerted on the electromagnet around the axis; and   means for measuring an angular velocity of the flywheel;   providing a first torque amplitude;   providing an amplitude of the electric current;   repeating the subsequent steps at least once;   energizing the electromagnet with the electric current of the amplitude;   measuring the angular velocity of the flywheel;   measuring a second torque amplitude using the means for measuring torque exerted on the electromagnet around the axis, wherein the second torque amplitude is a measure of torque exerted on the electromagnet around the axis;   calculating a value for the parameter from one or more of the second torque amplitude, the amplitude of the electric current, and the angular velocity of the flywheel; and   calculating a new value for the amplitude of the electric current from one or more of the first torque amplitude, the angular velocity of the flywheel, and the parameter.   
   
   
       10 . A stationary exercise equipment, comprising:
 a frame;   a seat;   one or more handlebars;   pedals;   a magnetic resistance device including a flywheel and an electromagnet, wherein the flywheel and the electromagnet are cable to at least partially rotate around an axis, and the magnetic resistance device provides resistance to rotation of the pedals when the electromagnet is energized with an electric current; and   a torque-measuring device mechanically attached to and between the electromagnet and the frame, wherein the torque-measuring device provides a measure of torque exerted between the electromagnet and the frame around the axis.   
   
   
       11 . The station exercise equipment of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the measure of torque exerted between the electromagnet and the frame around the axis is used to adjust the electric current.   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a flywheel formed of a conductive material, wherein the flywheel is coupled to a pedal of a stationary bicycle;   an axle about which the flywheel is mounted;   a support panel mounted about the axle;   a first magnet mounted on the support panel, wherein the first magnet is mounted in proximity to the flywheel;   an electrical power supply coupled to the first magnet; and   a deflection measuring component coupled to the first magnet.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second magnet mounted on the support panel, wherein the second magnet is mounted in proximity to the flywheel.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second magnet is mounted opposite to the first magnet on the support panel with the axle therebetween.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second magnet is mounted in proximity to the first magnet.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the support panel is shaped with a weighted portion opposite to where the first magnet is mounted, wherein the weighted portion is sized and positioned to rotatably counterbalance the first magnet.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a counterweight mounted on the support panel opposite to the first magnet with the axle therebetween, wherein the counterweight is sized and mounted to rotatably counterbalance the first magnet.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a counterweight mounted on the support panel opposite to the first magnet and the second magnet with the axle therebetween, wherein the counterweight is sized and mounted to collectively rotatably counterbalance the first magnet and the second magnet.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the deflection measuring component is an optical component.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the deflection measuring component is a spring and tension measuring component.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 means for receiving signals from a computer.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a power regulator coupled to the electrical power supply.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a control bus included in the power supply.   
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a conversion component to convert an output of the deflection measuring component into a digital signal.   
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a data bus coupled to the deflection measuring component.   
   
   
       26 . A method, comprising:
 receiving power from a stationary exercise equipment;   transferring the power to a flywheel;   generating electric currents within the flywheel with an electromagnet;   resisting rotation of the flywheel with the electric currents;   measuring a magnitude of resisting rotation;   comparing the magnitude to a predetermined value; and   adjusting the electric currents responsive to a result from the comparing step.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 looking up the predetermined value.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 slowing the stationary exercise equipment in response to the resisting rotation.   
   
   
       29 . A stationary exercise equipment, comprising:
 a computer running a computer program;   a video monitor in communication with the computer;   a stationary bicycle including handlebars and pedals, wherein the pedals being able to rotate;   a flywheel formed of a conductive material, wherein the flywheel is coupled to a pedal of the stationary bicycle;   an axle about which the flywheel is mounted;   a support panel mounted about the axle;   a first magnet mounted on the support panel, wherein the first magnet is mounted in proximity to the flywheel;   an electrical power supply coupled to the first magnet, wherein the electrical power supply is controlled by the computer program;   a deflection measuring component coupled to the first magnet; and   a movable member mechanically coupled to a first electrical sensor, wherein the first electrical sensor provides a first electrical signal to the computer when the movable member is set in motion, wherein the electrical signal provided by the first electrical sensor to the computer is used to adjust the force resisting pedal rotation mechanism.   
   
   
       30 . The stationary exercise equipment of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the stationary bicycle further includes a heart-rate monitor, wherein the heart-rate monitor communicates electronically with the computer.   
   
   
       31 . The stationary exercise equipment of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the handlebars is steered by the rider of the stationary exercise equipment, wherein the handlebars is mechanically coupled to a second electrical sensor and the second electrical sensor provides a second electrical signal to the computer when the handlebars are steered.   
   
   
       32 . The stationary exercise equipment of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the computer program, upon execution by the computer, simulates a virtual bicycle riding through a predetermined landscape, wherein forward motion of the virtual bicycle through the predetermined landscape is controlled responsive to the rotation of the pedals and the first electrical signal, and direction of the virtual bicycle is determined responsive to the second electrical signal.   
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a second magnet mounted on the support panel, wherein the second magnet is mounted in proximity to the flywheel.   
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the second magnet is mounted opposite to the first magnet on the support panel with the axle therebetween.   
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a power regulator coupled to the electrical power supply.   
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a control bus included in the power supply.   
   
   
       37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a conversion component to convert an output of the deflection measuring component into a digital signal.   
   
   
       38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 a data bus coupled to the deflection measuring component.   
   
   
       39 . A cardio-fitness station system comprising:
 a first stationary exercise equipment, including:
 a first computer, running a first computer program, wherein the first computer program simulates moving images seen by a first rider of a first virtual bicycle while riding through a predetermined landscape; 
 a first video monitor in communication with the first computer, wherein the first video monitor displays the moving images seen by the first rider of the first virtual bicycle while riding through the predetermined landscape; and 
 a first stationary bicycle including:
 first steerable handlebars; 
 first rotatable pedals; 
 a first movable gear-shifting member; and 
 a first pedal rotation resistance component including:
 a first flywheel formed of a conductive material, wherein the first flywheel is coupled to the first rotatable pedals; 
 a first axle about which the first flywheel is mounted; 
 a first support panel mounted about the first axle; 
 a first magnet mounted on the first support panel, wherein the first magnet is mounted in proximity to the first flywheel; 
 a first electrical power supply coupled to the first magnet; and 
 a first deflection measuring component coupled to the first magnet; 
 
 
   a second stationary exercise equipment, including:
 a second computer running a second computer program, wherein the second computer program simulates moving images seen by a second virtual rider of a second virtual bicycle while riding through a predetermined landscape; 
 a second video monitor in communication with the second computer, wherein the second video monitor displays the moving images seen by a second rider of the second virtual bicycle while riding through the predetermined landscape; and 
 a second stationary bicycle including:
 second steerable handlebars; 
 second rotatable pedals; 
 a second movable gear-shifting member; 
 a second pedal rotation resistance component including:
 a second flywheel formed of a conductive material, wherein the second flywheel is coupled to the second rotatable pedals; 
 a second axle about which the flywheel is mounted; 
 a second support panel mounted about the second axle; 
 a second magnet mounted on the second support panel, wherein the second magnet is mounted in proximity to the second flywheel; 
 a second electrical power supply coupled to the second magnet; and 
 a second deflection measuring component coupled to the second magnet, wherein a wireless communication is established between the first computer and the second computer. 
 
 
   
   
   
       40 . The cardio-fitness system of  claim 39 , further characterized by the first virtual bicycle may be placed at any location in the predetermined virtual landscape. 
   
   
       41 . The cardio-fitness system of  claim 39 , wherein the first virtual bicycle and the second virtual bicycle jointly ride in the same predetermined landscape.