Exercise device with force sensors to estimate foot position

Abstract

An exercise device includes a platform on which a user can stand, and an electromagnetic force generator for generating an exercise force. The platform includes force sensors. The exercise device or an associated processor detects at least one foot position on the platform using the force sensors of the platform. Based on the at least one foot position being outside of a threshold of a preferred foot position, the electromagnetic force generator is disabled. Based on the at least one foot position being within a threshold of the preferred foot position the electromagnetic force generator is enabled to permit a user to exercise.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an exercise device including a platform on which a user can stand, and an electromagnetic force generator for generating an exercise force, the platform including force sensors, the method comprising:
 detecting at least one foot position on the platform using the force sensors of the platform;   based on the at least one foot position being outside of a threshold of a preferred foot position, disabling the electromagnetic force generator; and   based on the at least one foot position being within a threshold of a preferred foot position, activating the electromagnetic force generator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold of the preferred foot position is in a front-back direction of the platform from a central exercise position on the platform. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device further includes one or more lights, comprising:
 based on the at least one foot position being outside of a threshold of an ideal foot position, prompting movement of a user's foot towards an ideal foot position using the one or more lights.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the electromagnetic force generator comprises generating an exercise force corresponding to an exercise force specified in an exercise routine. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one foot position comprises a left foot position and a right foot position, and wherein the detecting at least one foot position comprises detecting the left foot position and detecting the right foot position, the method further comprising:
 based on the left foot position and the right foot position being within a threshold of alignment with each other from a central left/right position, activating the electromagnetic force generator; and   based on the left foot position and the right foot position being outside the threshold of alignment with each other from the central left/right position, disabling the electromagnetic force generator.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the threshold of alignment is in a front-back direction of the platform. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the threshold of alignment is in a side-to-side direction of the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the exercise device further includes one or more lights, comprising:
 based on the left foot position and the right foot position being outside the threshold of alignment with each other, prompting movement of one of a user's feet towards the other one of the user's feet using the one or more lights.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to operate an exercise device including a platform on which a user can stand, and an electromagnetic force generator for generating an exercise force, the platform including force sensors, by performing operations comprising:
 detecting at least one foot position on the platform using the force sensors of the platform;   based on the at least one foot position being outside of a threshold of a preferred foot position, disabling the electromagnetic force generator; and   based on the at least one foot position being within a threshold of a preferred foot position, activating the electromagnetic force generator.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the threshold of the preferred foot position is in a front-back direction of the platform from a central exercise position on the platform. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the exercise device further includes one or more lights, the operations further comprising:
 based on the at least one foot position being outside of a threshold of an ideal foot position, prompting movement of a user's foot towards an ideal foot position using the one or more lights.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein activating the electromagnetic force generator comprises generating an exercise force corresponding to an exercise force specified in an exercise routine. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one foot position comprises a left foot position and a right foot position, and wherein the detecting at least one foot position comprises detecting the left foot position and detecting the right foot position, the operations further comprising:
 based on the left foot position and the right foot position being within a threshold of alignment with each other from a central left/right position, activating the electromagnetic force generator; and   based on the left foot position and the right foot position being outside the threshold of alignment with each other from the central left/right position, disabling the electromagnetic force generator.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the exercise device further includes one or more lights, comprising:
 based on the left foot position and the right foot position being outside the threshold of alignment with each other, prompting movement of one of a user's feet towards the other one of the user's feet using the one or more lights.   
     
     
         15 . An exercise device system, comprising:
 a platform on which a user can stand, the platform including force sensors;   an electromagnetic force generator for generating an exercise force; and   one or more processors, the one or more processors in use performing operations comprising:   detecting at least one foot position on the platform using the force sensors of the platform;   based on the at least one foot position being outside of a threshold of a preferred foot position, disabling the electromagnetic force generator; and   based on the at least one foot position being within a threshold of a preferred foot position, activating the electromagnetic force generator.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise device system of  claim 15 , wherein the threshold of the preferred foot position is in a front-back direction of the platform from a central exercise position on the platform. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device system of  claim 15 , wherein the exercise device system further includes one or more lights, the operations further comprising:
 based on the at least one foot position being outside of a threshold of an ideal foot position, prompting movement of a user's foot towards an ideal foot position using the one or more lights.   
     
     
         18 . The exercise device system of  claim 15 , wherein activating the electromagnetic force generator comprises generating an exercise force corresponding to an exercise force specified in an exercise routine. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise device system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one foot position comprises a left foot position and a right foot position, and wherein the detecting at least one foot position comprises detecting the left foot position and detecting the right foot position, the operations further comprising:
 based on the left foot position and the right foot position being within a threshold of alignment with each other from a central left/right position, activating the electromagnetic force generator; and   based on the left foot position and the right foot position being outside the threshold of alignment with each other from the central left/right position, disabling the electromagnetic force generator.   
     
     
         20 . The exercise device system of  claim 19 , wherein the exercise device system further includes one or more lights, comprising:
 based on the left foot position and the right foot position being outside the threshold of alignment with each other, prompting movement of one of a user's feet towards the other one of the user's feet using the one or more lights.