Wireless Sensor to Provide Parameters to a Fitness Tracking Device

Abstract

A monitoring system includes a sensing unit removably attachable to an exercise machine to record a number of repeated movements of a component of the exercise machine over a time period and a wireless transmitter to send the number and fitness information based on the number toward a remote fitness tracking device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A monitoring system, comprising:
 a sensing unit removably attachable to an exercise machine to record a number of repeated movements of a treadbelt of the exercise machine over a time period, the sensing unit comprising an attachment mechanism attachable to an external surface of the exercise machine;   memory and a processor, wherein the memory comprises programmed instructions to cause the processor to determine fitness information based on the recorded number of repeated movements; and   a wireless transmitter to send the recorded number of repeated movements to a remote fitness tracking device.   
     
     
         2 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the repeated movements comprise reciprocating movements. 
     
     
         3 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the repeated movements comprise rotational movements. 
     
     
         4 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit comprises an optical sensor to count at least one marking on the treadbelt that pass through an optical view of the optical sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit comprises a magnetic sensor to count a passage of a magnetic field associated with the treadbelt. 
     
     
         6 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the fitness information is selected from a group consisting of a distance, a speed, and a calorie count. 
     
     
         7 . The monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the programmed instructions cause the processor to receive an input from a heart rate monitor. 
     
     
         8 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit is programmed to take time discrete measurements where an intervening time between measurement durations is at least twice as long as a measurement duration. 
     
     
         10 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1 , wherein the treadbelt comprises a tread belt incorporated a running deck capable of supporting a weight of a user;
 wherein the tread belt extends from a first pulley to a second pulley incorporated into the running deck;   wherein the sensing unit includes an optical sensor that tracks the number of times that a marking of the tread belt passes through an optical field of the sensing unit; and   wherein the monitoring unit further comprises:
 a field containing a distance value associated with the marking; 
 a counter containing a number of times that the marking passes through the optical field; 
 a timer to record when the marking is in the optical view; 
 a processor and memory, where the memory includes programmed instructions to cause the processor to:
 cause the processor to determine the speed at which the tread belt is moving based on timer information and the number of times that the marking passes through the optical field; and 
 send the speed to the remote fitness tracking device. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The monitoring unit of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit is programmed to take time discrete measurements of a number of rotations of a tread belt over a time period where an intervening time between measurement durations is at least twice as long as a measurement duration, wherein the memory comprises programmed instructions, which when accessed, cause the processor to determine fitness information based on the time discrete measurements; and