Exercise apparatus with integrated holographic display

Abstract

Stationary exercise machine with integrated holographic display to simulate depth and motion is disclosed. The disclosure uses an integrated and responsive 3-dimensional (3D) or holographic display attached to and/or integrated with stationary exercise equipment to create a more immersive, engaging and enjoyable stationary exercise experience. The 3D or holographic display provides a more stimulating sensory experience and can better simulate the perception of depth and motion through a 3D virtual environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 one or more sensors configured to capture user exercise data;   a face-tracking camera configured to track the eye movements of a user of the exercise apparatus;   a processor configured to
 receive the captured user exercise data from the one or more sensors, 
 receive data on the eye movements of the user from the face-tracking camera, and 
 generate a virtual environment based on the user exercise data and the eye movements of the user; and 
   a display configured to display the virtual environment to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise apparatus is a stationary exercise bike and the virtual environment comprises a virtual race course. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises one or more of potentiometers, gyroscopes, accelerometers, pressure sensors, rotation sensors, position sensors, cadence sensors, and vibration sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to track a movement of the user in response to the user exercise data captured by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a 3-dimensional or holographic display. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a lenticular display configured to be paired with the face-tracking camera to detect the user's eye positions. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the lenticular display is configured to rapidly output image frames directed alternately at the user's right and left eyes to simulate stereoscopic depth perception. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the display is further configured to display an imagery that adapts to the position of the user's eyes to simulate visual parallax. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a light-field configured to direct photons along the proper vector to simulate their trajectory from a virtual scene and create a perception of depth. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises holographic projectors configured to simulate depth perception by tracking the user's eye position using the face-tracking camera and project different images into each of the user's eyes to create a stereoscopic view of a virtual scene. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the one of more sensors is configured to detect a position or an orientation of the display; and wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a horizon in the virtual environment in response to the position or orientation of the display. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to download information from a remote server, the information comprising software updates or content for use in generating the virtual environment. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise apparatus is a treadmill and the virtual environment comprises a simulation of a real world location. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a setting of the exercise apparatus in response to the virtual environment being displayed on the display. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the setting of the exercise apparatus comprises a degree of incline and the degree of incline is adjusted in response to a displayed change of elevation in the virtual environment. 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing an immersive exercising experience to a user of an exercising apparatus, the exercising apparatus comprising one or more sensors, a face-tracking camera, a display, and a processor in communication with the one or more sensors, the face tracking camera, and the display, the method comprising:
 capturing, by the one or more sensors, user exercise data;   tracking, by the face-tracking camera, the eye movements of a user of the exercise apparatus;   receiving, by the processor, the captured user exercise data from the one or more sensors,   receiving, by the processor, data on the eye movements of the user from the face-tracking camera, and   generating, by the processor, a virtual environment based on the user exercise data and the eye movements of the user; and   displaying, on the display, the virtual environment to the user.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprises tracking a movement of the user in response to the user exercise data captured by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the display comprises holographic projectors, and wherein the method further comprises simulating, by the holographic projectors, depth perception by tracking the user's eye position using the face-tracking camera; and projecting different images into each of the user's eyes to create a stereoscopic view of a virtual scene. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising adjusting, by the processor, a setting of the exercise apparatus in response to the virtual environment being displayed on the display. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising downloading, by the processor, information from a remote server, the information comprising software updates or content for use in generating the virtual environment.