Motorized Treadmill with Sensor-Based Exercise Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional exercise apparatus with motor-driven operating members, such as treadmills and stairclimbers, can be easily manipulated to generate falsified exercise use data, rendering them ineffective for demonstrating actual user exercise habits to insurance companies, which has led to a market preference for user-driven devices.

Innovation Solution

An exercise apparatus with a motor-driven operating unit, a sensor, and a controller that verifies user engagement by analyzing current fluctuations, movement detection, or other signals to differentiate between valid and invalid exercise use data, ensuring accurate reporting of exercise habits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If exercise apparatus uses motor-driven operating members to enable easier operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of exercise data is worsened because users can falsify exercise use data without actual physical exercise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability of exercise data

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates multiple sensors (force sensors, optical sensors, current sensors) that continuously monitor operating conditions and provide feedback to the controller. The controller analyzes this feedback data to verify that exercise parameters fall within valid ranges, automatically detecting and preventing falsified data while maintaining ease of motor-driven operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification system between the motor-driven operating member and the exercise data recording. Multiple sensors act as intermediaries to detect actual user engagement and exercise intensity, mediating between the motor's operation and the final exercise data to ensure authenticity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If exercise apparatus uses user-driven operating members to ensure data authenticity, then reliability of exercise data is improved, but ease of operation is worsened because users must physically drive the operating member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of exercise dataVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of both user-driven and motor-driven systems by combining motor assistance with user-driven verification mechanisms. The system records exercise data from motor-driven operation but validates it using sensors that detect user engagement, effectively merging the ease of motor operation with the reliability of user-driven verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If exercise apparatus adds verification functions to prevent data falsification, then reliability of exercise data is improved, but device complexity is worsened due to additional sensors and controllers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of exercise dataVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions: it not only records exercise data but also analyzes sensor feedback, verifies exercise authenticity, and prevents falsified data. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated verification devices, managing complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The solution effectively prevents falsification of exercise data by validating user engagement, allowing users to reliably demonstrate their exercise habits to insurance companies, thereby enhancing the credibility of exercise-related insurance incentives.

Implementation Method 1

a current sensor configured to detect the input current into the motor during rotation of the motor-driven operating member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical current detection: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

an optical sensor configured to detect whether or not a user is engaging with the motor-driven operating member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

a force sensor configured to detect whether or not a user is engaging with the motor-driven operating member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce detection: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS20240420248A1Exercise apparatus with exercise use verification function and verifying method

Publication Date: 2024.12.19 JOHNSON HEALTH TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A motorized treadmill provided for allowing a user to perform a programed workout. The motorized treadmill includes a base, an endless belt movable relative to the base for allowing a user to exercise thereon, a motor coupled to the endless belt for driving the endless belt to rotate, a signal receiver, and a controller in communication with the motor and the signal receiver. The signal receiver is configured to receive a weight training signal when the user performs the programed workout with free weight equipment. The controller is configured to transmit validated exercise use data when the user is engaging the endless belt. When the signal receiver receives the weight training signal from the free weight equipment, the controller will determine that the user is not engaging the endless belt and stops transmitting the validated exercise use data.