Braking systems and methods for exercise equipment

Abstract

Systems and methods for adjusting resistance on an exercise device. An actuator configured to selectively position the resistance apparatus relative to a flywheel. Control components configured to control operation of the resistance system in response to instructions, and a processor configured to output media for an exercise class to a user, the exercise class comprising one or more target resistance ranges corresponding to a segment of the exercise class. The processor further configured to selectively implement auto-follow logic configured to determine a target resistance value for a current segment of the exercise class and instruct the control components to adjust the resistance system to the target resistance value.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An exercise device, comprising:
 a resistance mechanism; and   a computing device configured to:
 output media for an exercise class on the exercise device, the exercise class comprising one or more target resistance ranges corresponding to a segment of the exercise class; 
 implement an auto-follow logic configured to determine a target resistance value for a current segment of the exercise class; and 
   generate instructions to adjust a resistance system to the target resistance value in accordance with the one or more target resistance ranges.   
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein the auto-follow logic further comprises:
 an auto-follow mode that automatically implements one or more instructor cues or exercise device settings included in the exercise class to adjust the resistance system to the target resistance during the exercise class.   
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the computing device further comprises:
 a user interface configured to:
 display an icon associated with the auto-follow mode; and 
 receive instructions at the icon for enabling and disabling the auto-follow mode. 
   
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the resistance system is further configured to receive manual instructions at the exercise device to re-adjust the target resistance after the adjustment using the auto-follow mode. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a flywheel; and   wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises an actuator configured to selectively position the resistance mechanism relative to the flywheel, wherein a distance between the resistance mechanism to the flywheel corresponds to a resistance applied to the flywheel.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises:
 an encoder configured to generate a command in response to the instructions, wherein the command is configured to activate the actuator to selectively position the resistance mechanism relative to the flywheel.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises:
 a torque adjusting unit comprising a brake compression spring and an adjustable shaft, wherein the brake compression spring is configured to bias the adjustable shaft in an upward position such that the resistance is not applied to the flywheel absent a downward force on the adjusting shaft.   
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises:
 an adjusting bracket disposed around a periphery of the flywheel;   a plurality of brackets connected to the actuator;   a braking mounting bracket; and   a stepper motor comprising a stepper motor rod pivotably attached to the braking mounting bracket,
 wherein the actuator is configured to move up and down along the stepper motor rod and cause an up and down movement of the plurality of mounting brackets to cause movement of the adjusting bracket relative to the flywheel. 
   
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 9 , wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises:
 one or more pairs of magnetic members disposed on opposite sides of the flywheel, such that the up and down movement of the actuator changes magnetic flux of the one or more pairs of magnetic members and provides the resistance to the flywheel.   
     
     
         11 . A method for adjusting resistance in an exercise device, comprising:
 outputting, via a display of a computing device, media for an exercise class for a user using the exercise device, the exercise class comprising one or more target resistance ranges corresponding to a segment of the exercise class;   implementing, via the computing device, an auto-follow logic configured to determine a target resistance value for a current segment of the exercise class; and   generating, via the computing device, instructions to adjust a resistance mechanism to the target resistance value in accordance with the one or more target resistance ranges.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 automatically implementing, using an auto-follow mode in the auto-follow logic, one or more instructor cues or exercise device settings to adjust the resistance mechanism associated with a flywheel to the target resistance during the exercise class.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 displaying, via a user interface, an icon associated with the auto-follow mode; and   receiving, via the icon, instructions for enabling and disabling the auto-follow mode.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the resistance mechanism, manual instructions to re-adjust the target resistance after the adjustment using the auto-follow mode to another resistance value; and   re-adjusting a resistance of the flywheel to the other resistance value.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selectively positioning, using an actuator of the resistance mechanism, the resistance mechanism relative to a flywheel, wherein a distance between the resistance mechanism and the flywheel corresponds to a resistance applied to the flywheel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 generating, using an encoder of the resistance mechanism, a command in response to the instructions; and   activating, using the command, the actuator to selectively position the resistance mechanism relative to the flywheel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 biasing, using a brake compression spring in a torque adjusting unit, an adjustable shaft; and   applying the resistance to the flywheel by applying a downward force to the adjusting shaft.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises:
 an adjusting bracket disposed around a periphery of the flywheel;   a first mounting bracket and a second mounting bracket connected to the actuator;   a braking mounting bracket;   a stepper motor comprising a stepper motor rod pivotably attached to the braking mounting bracket; and   further comprising:
 moving the actuator up and down along the stepper motor rod; 
 in response to moving the actuator, moving the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket up and down; and 
 in response to moving the first and second bracket, moving the adjusting bracket relative to the flywheel. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the resistance mechanism further comprises:
 one or more pairs of magnetic members disposed on opposite sides of the flywheel; and   further comprising:
 changing, in response to the up and down movement of the actuator, magnetic flux of the one or more pairs of magnetic members, wherein the magnetic flux provides the resistance applied to the flywheel. 
   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 outputting, via a display of a computing device, media for an exercise class to a user, the exercise class comprising one or more target resistance ranges corresponding to a segment of the exercise class;   implementing, via the computing device, an auto-follow logic configured to determine a target resistance value for a current segment of the exercise class; and   generating, via the computing device, instructions to adjust a resistance system of an exercise device to the target resistance value in accordance with the one or more target resistance ranges.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 automatically implementing, using an auto-follow mode, one or more instructor cues or exercise device settings to adjust the resistance system to the target resistance during the exercise class.