Exercise machine with adaptive interface

Abstract

An exercise machine with an adaptive interface comprises: a processing unit ( 7 ) for managing and controlling the machine; sensor means ( 9 ) for transferring information about the machine operating state to the processing unit ( 7 ); a user interface ( 10 ) equipped with means ( 11 ) for displaying the machine current operating state; manual control means ( 12 ) for the machine functions; optimization means ( 19 ), controlled by the processing unit ( 7 ) and designed to modify the display means ( 11 ) and the manual control means ( 12 ) when there are variations in at least one machine operating parameter detected by the sensor means ( 9 ).

1 . An exercise machine with an adaptive interface, comprising at least one processing unit ( 7 ) designed to manage and control the machine, sensor means ( 9 ) for transferring information about the machine operating state to said processing unit ( 7 ), at least one user interface ( 10 ) equipped with means ( 11 ) for displaying the machine current operating state and manual control means ( 12 ) for the machine functions, wherein the machine comprises optimization means ( 19 ), controlled by the processing unit ( 7 ) and designed to modify the display means ( 11 ) and the manual control means ( 12 ) when there are variations in at least one machine operating parameter detected by the sensor means ( 9 ). 
   
   
       2 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the optimization means ( 19 ) are designed to modify the dimensions of the machine operating state display means ( 11 ) when there are variations in at least one machine operating parameter. 
   
   
       3 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the optimization means ( 19 ) are designed to modify the dimensions of the manual control means ( 12 ) when there are variations in at least one machine operating parameter. 
   
   
       4 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter consists of the speed at which the user performs the exercise, the optimization means ( 19 ) being designed to reduce the dimensions of the machine operating state display means ( 11 ) according to a predetermined calculation algorithm when said speed increases, allowing improved concentration of the user's gaze on the interface ( 10 ). 
   
   
       5 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter consists of the speed at which the user performs the exercise, the optimization means ( 19 ) being designed to increase the dimensions of the manual control means ( 12 ) according to a predetermined calculation algorithm when said speed increases, so that they are more easily and rapidly accessible. 
   
   
       6 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter consists of the speed at which the user performs the exercise, the optimization means ( 19 ) being designed to reduce the dimensions of the display means ( 11 ), allowing improved concentration of the user's gaze on the interface ( 10 ), and to increase the dimensions of the manual control means ( 12 ), so that they are more easily and rapidly accessible, according to respective predetermined calculation algorithms, when there is an increase in the speed. 
   
   
       7 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter consists of the speed at which the user performs the exercise and also wherein the manual control means ( 12 ) comprise primary manual controls ( 17 ), of fundamental importance for correct machine management, and secondary manual controls ( 18 ), designed to manage the machine entertainment content, the optimization means ( 19 ) being designed to remove the secondary manual control means ( 18 ) from the user interface, according to at least one predetermined calculation algorithm, when there is an increase in the speed. 
   
   
       8 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the optimization means ( 19 ) are designed to increase, according to at least one predetermined calculation algorithm, the dimensions of at least an upper area ( 15 ) of the display means ( 11 ) designed to show the machine operating parameters, when there is an increase in the speed at which the user performs the exercise. 
   
   
       9 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the optimization means ( 19 ) comprise at least one hardware module which is operatively connected to the processing unit ( 7 ) and controlled by the processing unit. 
   
   
       10 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the optimization means ( 19 ) are of the software type. 
   
   
       11 . The exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the display means ( 11 ) comprise at least one “touch screen” type display ( 14 ). 
   
   
       12 . The exercise machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the manual control means ( 12 ) comprise at least one push-button in the “touch screen” type display which is designed to manage at least one respective machine operating parameter. 
   
   
       13 . The exercise machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the operating parameter consists of the distance separating the user's head from the interface ( 10 ), the optimization means ( 19 ) being designed to vary the dimensions of the display means ( 11 ), according to at least one predetermined calculation algorithm, depending on the posture of the user on the machine. 
   
   
       14 . The exercise machine according to  claim 13 , wherein it comprises sensor means ( 9 ), located along the machine handgrip ( 26 ), being designed to detect the position of the user's hands so as to identify the user's posture on the exercise machine, and therefore the distance separating the user's head from the display means ( 11 ). 
   
   
       15 . A process for optimizing the user interface ( 10 ) of an exercise machine, wherein it implements the following steps one after another:
 detecting the speed at which the exercise is performed on the exercise machine;   reducing the dimensions of the machine operating state display means ( 11 ), according to at least one predetermined calculation algorithm, when there is an increase in said speed;   increasing the dimensions of the primary manual control means ( 17 ), according to at least one predetermined calculation algorithm, when there is an increase in said speed.   
   
   
       16 . The process according to  claim 15 , wherein it comprises a step of removing the secondary manual control means ( 18 ) from the display means ( 11 ), according to at least one predetermined calculation algorithm, when there is an increase in said speed. 
   
   
       17 . A process for optimizing the user interface ( 10 ) of an exercise machine, wherein it implements the following steps one after another:
 detecting the user's posture on the exercise machine, using sensor means ( 9 );   modifying the dimensions of the exercise machine operating state display means ( 11 ), according to at least one predetermined calculation algorithm, when there is a variation is said posture.