Visual targeting aided training device

Abstract

The present invention (101) relates to the field of interactive exercise machines. Specifically, the present invention (101) provides a visual target assisted training device that can be used both indoors and outdoors. The present invention (101) projects an image as a visual target for the user to run towards and measures the user's position during the course of training. The present invention (101) also calculates the distance traveled by the user during training and the time it took to travel that distance, thereby allowing the user to calculate his / her acceleration, speed, stamina, and reflexes.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to the field of interactive training equipment. The present invention provides a visual target assisted training equipment. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a visual target assisted training equipment that projects an image as a visual target and can be used both indoors and outdoors. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Background of the Invention In today's age of hectic and stressful lifestyles, many people turn to aerobic exercise to maintain their physical and mental health. Exercise is one of the important parts of lifestyle modification. It is known that exercise can help reduce weight gain, obesity, maintain muscle mass, reduce fatigue, strengthen the cardiovascular system, improve lung health, increase energy levels, and prevent or reduce certain chronic health conditions. Exercise also improves mental health by reducing anxiety, low mood, and depressed mood, and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Furthermore, exercise can provide antioxidant protection, slow signs of aging, and improve brain health and memory.

[0003] Daily physical training is also important for athletes and sportspeople to perform their daily practice and improve themselves. Often, users want to own specific equipment for their daily training or enroll themselves in online classes. Numerous indoor exercise facilities are also available where amateurs / athletes can get the right equipment and train with the help of professional trainers. However, these methods become boring and tedious after a while, reducing the consistency of users. Users are always faced with the constant need to stimulate their mind and body with creative and innovative forms of exercise. Thus, if one enjoys exercising / has fun doing it, it is easier to make it a habitual part of one's lifestyle. Furthermore, athletes cannot get a detailed report and analysis (SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis) of their skills such as agility, reflexes, and stamina while training independently or within an indoor exercise facility.

[0004] Although different kinds of interactive machines are available on the market, most of them do not specifically interact with the user in real-time in a manner that provides visual targets to make the machine user-friendly. Many of the previously available machines opt for physical targets such as cones and pods, which reduces the flexibility of target locations and number of exercises. Some of the previously available interactive exercise machines project targets using additional lenses and wall projectors, which ultimately makes these machines more expensive.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to provide an interactive exercise machine that interacts with a user in a manner that provides visual targets in real time and can be used by amateurs or athletes for target-assisted training, where these targets are images projected by a light source instead of physical targets, and do not require lenses or wall-mounted projectors, making the interactive exercise machine affordable and compact.

[0006] Prior Art and Its Shortcomings US Patent No. 6,430,997 discloses a system and method for tracking and evaluating athletic performance in a multi-dimensional space. The invention provides accurate simulation of sports to quantify and teach performance configurations by using sensing electronics and computer-controlled sport-specific cueing that essentially measures the player's three-dimensional positional changes in three or more degrees of freedom (three dimensions) in real time; the cueing evokes or prompts sport-specific responses from the player that are measured to provide meaningful performance indications. The sport-specific cueing is characterized as a virtual opponent that responds to and interacts with the player in real time. The virtual opponent continuously delivers and responds to stimuli to generate realistic challenging movements for the player.

[0007] However, this invention does not provide a machine that provides a visual target to the user and measures the user's position to track the user's movements. This invention also does not eliminate the need for a projection screen or wall to project the laser target. In addition, this invention does not capture the user's form while performing the workout.

[0008] Another such US Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 074716 provides a target system that can detect the position of a projection object disposed within a target and can then change the image displayed on the target in response to the detected position of the projection object. The target system includes a sensor, an image source, a portable electronic device, and a computing device. The sensor can be disposed on the target to detect the position of the projection object on the surface of the target. The image source can project an image onto the surface of the target. The portable electronic device can receive input from a user to read the image displayed on the target. The computing device can be communicatively coupled to the sensor, the image source, and the portable electronic device, and can cause the target system to detect the position of the projection object and then change the image displayed on the target in response to the position.

[0009] Although the invention described therein refers to images being displayed as targets, it does not provide the user with a visual target without the need for a projection screen or wall surface. The invention also does not provide an interactive exercise machine that measures and tracks the user's position. In addition, the invention does not analyze the agility and reflexes of the athlete, and does not provide the athlete with a detailed skill analysis report.

[0010] Shortcomings of the prior art Existing technologies used for visual target assisted training devices suffer from all or any of the following drawbacks: · Conventionally available machines do not offer visual target assisted training equipment. Most of the prior art does not provide a visual target assisted training device that projects a visual target for a user. · Most of the prior art does not provide a visual target assisted training device that projects a visual target for a user without the need for some kind of projection screen or wall surface. Most of the prior art does not provide a visual targeting assisted training device that measures and tracks the user's distance in real time. Much of the prior art does not provide a visual target assisted training device that interacts with a user in real time and projects continuous visual targets in response. Much of the prior art does not provide a visual target assisted training device that allows a user to calculate the user's acceleration and velocity during the course of a workout. Much of the prior art does not provide visual target assisted training equipment that captures a user's form during the course of a workout. Most of the prior art does not provide a visual target assisted training device that analyzes a user's agility and reflexes and provides the user with a detailed skill analysis report. Much of the prior art does not provide visual target assisted training equipment that ensures accuracy of a user's form and technique during training. · Many of the prior art techniques do not provide a visual target assisted training device that can be connected to any smart device and is therefore user friendly. Much of the prior art does not provide a cost-effective visual target assisted training device.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need to develop an invention that satisfies the objective of providing a visual target assisted training device, and more specifically, a visual target assisted training device that can be used both indoors and outdoors, since such a visual target assisted training device eliminates the need for a projection screen or wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,997 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 074716 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] Object of the invention It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a visual target assisted training device. In one aspect, the present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that can be used both indoors and outdoors.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a visual target assisted training device that projects a visual target for a user.

[0015] In yet another object, the present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that measures and tracks a user's position relative to the visual target assisted training device in real time.

[0016] In yet another object, the present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that tracks the user's position and provides continuous visual targets, thereby interacting with the user in real time.

[0017] In yet another object, the present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that analyzes a user's skills in real time by calculating the user's acceleration, speed, agility and reflexes during training.

[0018] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a visual target assisted training device that captures / records a user's form while performing training.

[0019] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a visual target assisted training device that ensures accuracy of a user's form and technique during training.

[0020] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a visual target assisted training apparatus, which can be connected to any smart device to control the operation of the visual target assisted training apparatus, and therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly visual target assisted training apparatus.

[0021] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cost-effective visual target assisted training device by eliminating the need for additional lenses to project the target.

[0022] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a visual target assisted training device that is small, portable and can be taken anywhere. [Means for solving the problem]

[0023] Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to an interactive exercise machine and provides a visual target assisted training device. The present invention projects an image as a visual target for a user. The target is projected without surface orientation restrictions, and thus the device of the present invention can be used indoors or outdoors without the need for a projection surface. The present invention also measures the user's position in real time, measures the distance traveled by the user during the course of a workout, and the time it takes to travel that distance, and thus calculates the user's speed, acceleration, reflexes, and stamina. Furthermore, the present invention facilitates recording the user's form throughout the workout, and compares this recording with previously recorded videos, thus ensuring the accuracy of the user's form during the workout. The present invention thereby provides a visual target assisted training device that is simple, user-friendly, cost-effective, small, and portable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1]2A-2C are diagrams illustrating the operation of a visual target assisted training device of the present invention by a user. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic diagram of a projection means for use in the visual target assisted training device of the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the mechanism of the visual target assisted training device of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Description of the Invention The present invention provides a visual target assisted training device. The present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Furthermore, the visual target assisted training device of the present invention is a simple, user-friendly, cost-effective, small and portable device. Thus, the present invention provides a technologically advanced and significantly more efficient solution to the problems of the prior art.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the visual target assisted training device (101) of the present invention comprises: ·Projection means (102) ·Support structure (108) Controllers(109) ·Storage means (110) Input means (111) ·Wireless devices(112) ·Power(113) ·Video capture devices (114) Processing means (115).

[0027] where: The projection means (102) is disposed on the support means (108). The projection means (102) facilitates the projection of a visual target and determines the position of the user based on the target.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, the projection means (102) further comprises: ·Light source(113) Sensors (104) Holder(105) Motor X(106) Motor Y(107).

[0029] where: The light source (103) can be, but is not limited to, a laser light projector and a video projector. The light source (103) is connected at one end to a sensor (104) and at the other end to multiple motors, namely Motor X (106) and Motor Y (107). The light source (103) projects multiple visual targets at different locations relative to the user. These visual targets can be projected onto any surface, such as, but not limited to, the ground and / or floor, thus eliminating the need for a projection screen and / or wall.

[0030] The sensor (104) may be, but is not limited to, a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor, a distance-sensitive camera, and a depth camera sensor, and constantly measures the distance between the user and a previously projected visual target, as well as the user's distance relative to the support structure (108). The sensor (104) is connected to the light source (103). The sensor (104) measures the user's position in real time during training. The sensor (104) checks whether the user has reached the visual target. The sensor (104) measures the distance traveled by the user during the course of training and the time it takes to travel that distance.

[0031] The holder (105) holds the light source (103) and the sensor (104) such that the light source (103) and the sensor (104) have parallel fields of view, thereby defining the position of the projection of the light source (103).

[0032] A number of motors, namely Motor X (106) and Motor Y (107), which may be, but are not limited to, servo motors or any other motors and / or actuators, are connected to a power source (113) to facilitate providing rotational movement of the light source (103) about a first axis by Motor X (106) and a second axis by Motor Y (107).

[0033] Motor X (106) is directly connected to the sensor (104) and the controller (109). Motor X (106) drives rotational movement of the light source (103) about a first axis, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support structure (108). Motor X (106) determines the distance of the projection from the light source (103).

[0034] Motor Y (107) is connected to the sensor (104) and the controller (109). Motor Y (107) drives the rotational movement of the light source (103) about a second axis, which is collinear with the longitudinal axis of the support structure (108). Motor Y (107) determines the position of the simultaneous projection of the target.

[0035] The support structure (108) provides an elevated base for the projection means (102).

[0036] The controller (109) controls the operations, including but not limited to ascertaining whether the user has reached the target based on the readings of the sensor (104) and simultaneously controlling the rotation of the motors to project the next visual target at the desired location. The controller (109) is connected on one end to the light source (103) and the sensor (104) and on the other end to the motor X (106) and motor Y (107).

[0037] A storage means 110 is connected to the controller 109. The storage means 110 may be, but is not limited to, an external secure digital (SD) card and facilitates storage of visual target projection information associated with the angles of rotation of a number of motors, i.e., Motor X 106 and Motor Y 107, for projecting the visual target at a desired location.

[0038] The input means (111) is connected to the controller (109) through wireless means (112). The input means (111) is a smart device, including, but not limited to, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or a smart watch. Alternatively, the controller (109) can be connected to multiple input means (111) to generate simultaneous communication back and forth and establish synchronized operation between the multiple input means (111). The input means (111) provide communication, including, but not limited to, allowing a user to communicate with the device of the present invention to select from pre-defined available exercises or to create his own exercises depending on the connected smart device, and to monitor the user's heart rate and / or pulse during the course of the workout. These exercises are methods or instructions for training, where the user can determine the time limit, number of targets, or difficulty of his workout.

[0039] The wireless means (112) may be (but is not limited to) a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) connection, providing a wireless connection to efficiently deploy modes of communication between the controller (109) and the input means (111).

[0040] The visual target assisted training device (101) of the present invention is connected to a power source (113), which may be, but is not limited to, a lithium ion battery, and the power source (113) is connected to a controller (109), a light source (103), a sensor (104), and a number of motors, namely, motor X (106) and motor Y (107).

[0041] A video capture means (114) is connected to the controller (109) and is disposed within the holder (105) for capturing the user's form during the course of the workout.

[0042] The processing means 115 is connected to the controller 109 and the storage means 110. The processing means 115 compares the video captured by the video capture means 114 with previously captured video to ensure accuracy of the user's form and technique during training.

[0043] Implementation of the invention Hereinafter, a detailed step-by-step implementation of the present invention (101) will be described, which provides a visual target assisted training device that is implemented simultaneously and in parallel, and therefore highly efficient. Switch the device on: The visual target assisted training device of the present invention has an on / off switch that is used to turn the device on. When the device is switched on, the power supply (124) switches the controller (109) to an on state, which provides power to the light source (103), the sensor (104) and other components such as the motors (106, 107). Connecting the input means: After turning on the device, the user connects the input means (111) to the controller (109) through the wireless means (116). The user then gives inputs through the input means (111). These inputs are in the form of items giving the user's name, selecting the device and the exercises to be performed. These exercises can be selected based on the number of targets in the training, the duration of the training, or the difficulty of the training. Selecting parameters: The parameters to be selected may be pre-entered in the storage means (110) or may be selected by user selection via the input means (111). After the exercise is selected, the projection means (102) gets a signal to provide an output from the controller (109). The input provided to the controller (109) through the input means (111) activates the light source (103) and the sensor (104). Projecting a visual target: The light source (103) projects a visual target, which gives directions to the user. The visual target serves as an indication to the user as to where he is supposed to reach. The visual target is followed by the user performing the training. The light source (103) and the sensor (104) are connected to a number of motors, i.e., motor X (106) and motor Y (107), and are held by a holder (105), which defines the position of the light source. A controller (109) provides inputs to the motors to project at the desired position, causing motor X (106) to rotate 0-270 degrees and motor Y (107) to rotate 0-360 degrees. Tracking the user's position: instead of scanning the whole area, the sensor (104) scans only the spot (small area) where the light source (103) is projecting the target, because this spot is the only spot the user is supposed to reach. When the user reaches the target, the sensor (104) communicates with the motors to rotate motor X (106) 0-270 degrees and motor Y (107) 0-360 degrees to move the holder (105) with input from the controller (114) to project the next visual target. Generate data: The sensor (104) measures the distance traveled by the user during training and the time it takes to travel that distance. The sensor (104) also determines if the user has reached a target and sends an input to the light source (103) through the controller (109) to project the next visual target. · Transmitting data: Data regarding the time taken and the time taken to travel one's distance are stored in the storage means (110) and transmitted to the input means (111) via the wireless means (112). The input means (111) calculates the acceleration and speed of the user during training: the faster the user runs towards the visual target, the more intense the training. Accessing the data: The user accesses said data through input means (111) connected to the device of the invention (101). When the video capture means (114) is turned on, it captures the user's form during training. The video capture means (114) analyzes the user's movements as he moves towards the projected target. The captured video is then stored in the storage means (110). The processing means (115) is connected to the storage means (110) to access videos previously captured by the video capture means (114). The captured user videos can be further compared and analyzed either by the processing means (115) or by the input means (111).

[0044] [Table 1]

[0045] Selecting a pre-set workout, User A covered a distance of 20 meters in 8 seconds, while User B covered the same distance in 10 seconds. User A's speed remained constant throughout the workout, so his stamina was ranked 7 / 10. User B, on the other hand, started the workout at a high speed, but gradually slowed down, which resulted in his stamina being ranked 5 / 10. Thus, the present invention efficiently and accurately measures the distance covered by a user over the course of a workout, and the time it took to cover that distance, and thereby calculates the user's speed and stamina, as shown in Table 1.

[0046] Advantages of the Invention The visual target assisted training device of the present invention has several advantages over the prior art: The present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that can be used both indoors and outdoors. · The present invention projects visual targets instead of using physical targets such as cones and / or pods, which allows flexibility in target location and number of exercises. The present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that measures a user's position relative to a light source and therefore allows the user to calculate acceleration and velocity during training. The present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that measures the user's position and provides the next successive visual targets, thus interacting with the user in real time. The present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that analyzes a user's skills by calculating the user's acceleration, speed, agility and reflexes during training. The present invention provides a visual target assisted training device that captures a user's form during the course of training and compares this form with previously captured video to check the accuracy of the user's form and technique. The visual target assisted training device of the present invention provides a user-friendly visual target assisted training device because it is adapted for any smart device. The visual target assisted training device of the present invention, in conjunction with an input means, monitors the user's heart rate and / or pulse rate during the course of training and provides analysis results according to the projected targets. The visual target assisted training device of the present invention eliminates the use of additional lenses for target projection and is therefore cost effective. The visual target assisted training device of the present invention is small and portable and can be carried anywhere. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 101: Visual target assisted training device of the present invention 102: Projection means 103: Light source 104: Sensor 105: Holder 106: Motor X 107: Motor Y 108:Support structure 109: Controller 110: Storage means 111: Input method 112: Wireless means 113: Power supply 114: Video capture means 115: Processing means

Claims

1. A visual target assisted training device (101), said device (101) being small and portable and connected to a power source (113), comprising: a projection means (102) on a support structure (108); A holder (105), A storage means (110); Input means (111); a video capture means (114) inside said holder (105); and processing means (115), the projection means (102) is configured to project a visual target and determine a user's position based on the visual target; the support structure (108) is a height base for the projection means (102); the projection means (102) comprises a light source (103) connected at one end to a sensor (104) and at the other end to a plurality of motors, motor X (106) and motor Y (107), and configured to project the plurality of visual targets at varying positions for the user; the sensor (104) is configured to measure in real time a distance between the user and a previously projected visual target and the user's distance relative to the support structure (108), to determine in real time whether the user has reached the visual target, and to measure a distance traveled by the user during training and a time taken to travel that distance; the holder (105) holds the light source (103) and the sensor (104) so ​​that the light source (103) and the sensor (104) have parallel fields of view, and defines the position of the projection of the light source (103); the plurality of motors, the motor X (106) and the motor Y (107), are connected to the sensor (104) and the controller (109) and configured to rotate the light source (103) around a first axis and a second axis, respectively; the controller (109) has one end connected to the light source (103) and the sensor (104) and the other end connected to the motor X (106) and the motor Y (107), and is configured to control the rotation of the plurality of motors (106, 107) and project the visual target accordingly; the storage means (110) is connected to the controller (109) and configured to store projection information of the visual target associated with angles of rotation of the plurality of motors (106, 107); the input means (111) is connected to the controller (109) through wireless means (112) and is configured to facilitate communication between the user and the device (101) to communicate pre-set exercises and to monitor the user's heart rate and pulse in real time during the workout; the wireless means (112) is a wireless connection for communicating with the device (101) through the controller (109) and the input means (111); the video capture means (114) is connected to the controller (109) and configured to capture video of the user during the course of the training; The processing means (115) is connected to the controller (109) and the storage means (110) and is configured to compare the video captured by the video capture means (114) with previously captured video to ensure accuracy of the user's form and technique during the training. Visual targeting aided training equipment.

2. 2. The visual target assisted training device (101) of claim 1, wherein the sensor (104) is a distance-sensitive camera or depth camera sensor, preferably a LiDAR sensor.

3. 2. The visual target assisted training device (101) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of motors (106, 107) are servo motors or actuators.

4. 4. The visual target assisted training device (101) of claim 1 or 3, wherein the first axis of the motor X (106) is set to define a distance of projection from the light source (103) and is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support structure (108).

5. 4. The visual target assisted training device (101) of claim 1 or 3, wherein the second axis of the motor Y (107) is set to simultaneously define a position for projecting the visual target and is the longitudinal axis of the support structure (108).

6. A visual target assisted training device (101) as described in claim 4, wherein the second axis of the motor Y (107) is set to simultaneously determine the position for projecting the visual target and is the long axis of the support structure (108).

7. 2. The visual target assisted training device (101) of claim 1, wherein the input means (111) is a smart device, a smartphone, or a tablet, or a smart watch, or a laptop computer.

8. 10. The visual target assisted training device of claim 1 or 7, wherein the controller (109) can be connected to a plurality of the input means (111) to simultaneously generate simultaneous back and forth communication and establish synchronized operation between the plurality of input means (111) and the device (101).

9. 8. A visual target assisted training device (101) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 7, wherein the visual target is projected onto a surface that is not limited to the ground or floor.

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