Motorized Exercise Machine Dynamic Resistance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exercise equipment fails to provide a dynamic force curve during exercise, leading to inefficient muscle loading, particularly during the eccentric phase, and requires additional safety measures due to the need for a second person to assist with operation and manage potential mechanical shocks.
Innovation Solution
The development of exercise machines that can selectively operate in various modes, including isokinetic, isometric, isotonic, and isoinertial, using a motor with a microprocessor for controlled direction, speed, and torque output, along with position and torque sensors, to dynamically adjust resistance based on user input and programmed instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional exercise equipment provides constant weight resistance, then the equipment structure is simple, but the muscle loading efficiency is poor because it cannot match the user's maximal force output during exercise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from constant weight resistance to a dynamic resistance system using a motor controlled by a microprocessor. The motor's torque and speed are dynamically adjusted based on real-time feedback from position and torque sensors, enabling the resistance to match the user's force output throughout the exercise range of motion. This resolves the contradiction by making the equipment structure adaptable rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the resistance parameter from constant to variable by controlling motor torque and speed as functions of position and time. The microprocessor modifies electrical parameters (voltage, current) to the motor based on sensor feedback, creating a dynamic resistance curve that optimizes muscle loading. This allows the equipment to provide different resistance levels at different points in the exercise motion.
2Productivity
If isoinertial training with weighted flywheel is used to load muscles during eccentric phase, then muscle loading efficiency improves, but safety deteriorates due to significant mechanical shocks requiring excellent balance and proper form
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control using position sensors and torque sensors that continuously monitor the user's motion and applied force. The microprocessor uses this feedback to dynamically adjust motor torque, preventing excessive forces and mechanical shocks. This closed-loop control system maintains safety while achieving effective eccentric muscle loading by responding in real-time to user conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical flywheel system with an electromechanical system where an electric motor provides controlled resistance. This substitution eliminates the uncontrolled mechanical shocks of passive flywheels while maintaining the ability to load muscles during eccentric phase, improving safety without sacrificing effectiveness.
3Productivity
If prior art systems use multiple sensors to track user position and provide dynamic force curves, then exercise effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases requiring custom built equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal exercise equipment platform where a single motor-sensor-microprocessor assembly can provide multiple exercise modalities (isokinetic, isotonic, isoinertial, and hybrid modes). The system is adaptable to different exercises and users through software control rather than requiring custom hardware for each application, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the user's own motion and force application as input signals, eliminating the need for complex external sensing systems. The position sensor tracks the attachment point movement, and the torque sensor measures user-applied force, allowing the microprocessor to derive all necessary control information from the user's natural exercise behavior without requiring additional specialized sensors.
4Reliability
If prior art exercise equipment requires a second person or spotter for safety, then user safety is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates due to additional personnel requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the equipment self-monitoring and self-regulating through integrated sensors and microprocessor control. The system automatically detects user position, force application, and motion speed, and adjusts resistance accordingly without human intervention. This eliminates the need for spotters while maintaining safety, allowing independent operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous feedback from position and torque sensors enables the microprocessor to monitor exercise conditions in real-time and make automatic safety adjustments. The system can detect fatigue, improper form, or dangerous conditions and modify resistance or provide warnings, replacing the safety function previously provided by a second person.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables more effective muscle loading during the eccentric phase, eliminates the need for a second person to assist with equipment operation, and enhances safety by continuously monitoring user position, force, and speed, automatically adjusting resistance to prevent injury.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical motor attached to the frame, the motor having a motor shaft
Implementation Method 2
a position sensor configured to determine the position of the motor shaft
Implementation Method 3
a torque sensor configured to determine the torque output of the motor
Data Source
AI summary
Exercise machines and methods are provided for purposes of increasing a person's physical fitness. The systems are computer-controlled and are devoid of any stacks of weights associated with conventional exercise equipment. The systems feature isotonic modes, isokinetic modes, isometric modes and hybrid exercise modes. The systems are programmed to be suited to a particular individual user, based on their range of motion for a particular selected exercise and body part, which is determined during an initialization process. Force experienced by users is not dampened, and forces experienced by a user are responsive by the system to the force input by the user. In some embodiments the position of a user's limb is employed as an input for determining the torque output of a resistance unit which supplies resistive force for undertaking a selected exercise.