WO2006008704A1

WO2006008704A1 - Exercise system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2006008704A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/052314
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francis Chu; Tah Ching Yang; Kanarak Isarankura Na Ayudhya
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2004-07-17
Filing date: 2005-07-12
Publication date: 2006-01-26
Also published as: GB0416042D0

Abstract

An exercise system comprises a mobile device and a central station, the mobile device comprising a motion sensor and a signal transmitter, and the central station comprising a signal receiver, a processor, a storage device and a projecting unit for projecting an image. The signal transmitter communicates with the signal receiver, and the processor controls the projecting unit according to the output of the motion sensor.

Description

DESCRIPTION

EXERCISE SYSTEM AND METHOD

This invention relates to an exercise system and method.

A wide variety of different exercise systems are known. At a basic level there are machines such as rowing and cycling machines that a person can use in a gym or in their own home. These machines are designed to imitate the effort and skills required to participate in the actual sporting activity. More complicated exercise systems are also known.

For example, United States of America patent 5577981 discloses a virtual reality exercise machine and computer controlled video system. This patent relates to computer controlled exercise machines and provides the user with a wide variety of interactive exercise options controlled by software. A virtual reality hybrid of virtual and real environments is provided which permits the user to perform significant physical exertion by applying forces to the machine while viewing images on a head mounted display. The invention permits the user to view his own hands and body superimposed over a computer generated image of objects that are not actually present while maintaining parts of the exercise machine that the user physically contacts, such as a handle, superimposed over the computer generated image. As the user exerts forces against the machine (such as the handle) he perceives that he is exerting forces against the objects the images represent. The system includes a video camera and computer adapted to record images from the real world, which may be combined with computer generated images while retaining the proper spatial orientation to produce a composite virtual reality environment. Unfortunately, this exercise machine is excessively complicated, and requires the user to wear a head mounted display while using the machine. It is wholly unsuitable for use in the vast majority of environments, such as in a user's home or in hotel. International patent application publication WO 96/38205 discloses an interactive exercise apparatus. The interactive exercise apparatus engages a user's mind and body, and comprises an exercise mechanism and a steering mechanism for manipulation by the user to achieve exercise and to indicate a direction of motion. The exercise mechanism can be, for example, the steps of a stair climbing simulator or the pedals of a bicycle, preferably a recumbent bicycle. A simulated environment (for example, an interactive simulated three- dimensional environment or an interactive simulated three-dimensional fluid environment) is generated by a computer and displayed on a display system for the user. The user manipulates the exercise mechanism and the steering mechanism to travel substantially unrestricted throughout the simulated environment. The computer controls the exercise mechanism and monitors the exercise mechanism and the steering mechanism to determine user position in the simulated environment. The display provides a visual display of the user's position in the simulated environment. A plurality of the interactive exercise apparatus can be networked together to allow group participation in the simulated environment. The exercise apparatus of this patent application is a dedicated piece of equipment that requires the user to perform a single exercise. The machine is not portable, nor is it flexible in the range of possible exercises that it can support.

International patent application publication WO 98/42413 discloses an exercise monitoring system. The disclosed system includes a body mounted motion sensor, a user sensible output indicator (a display device) indicating to a user an exercise motion parameter derived from an output of the body mounted motion sensor, as well as a desired exercise motion parameter fro comparison therewith. While this system measures the amount of movement of the user's body, it does not measure the specific movements that a user makes, nor does it provide an image with which the user can interact.

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exercise system comprising a mobile device and a central station, the mobile device comprising a motion sensor and a signal transmitter, the central station comprising a signal receiver, a processor, a storage device and a projecting unit for projecting an image, the signal transmitter communicating with the signal receiver, and the processor controlling the projecting unit according to the output of the motion sensor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exercise method comprising moving a mobile device, which mobile device comprises a motion sensor and a signal transmitter, communicating with a signal receiver of a central station, and controlling a projecting unit, with a processor of the central station, according to the output of the motion sensor.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide an interactive exercise system that projects an image on any suitable surface, and allows the user to take part in an exercise program from, for example, a hotel room.

The invention satisfies a number of objectives, providing an interactive system to motivate user to perform physical activities, guiding the level of the activities according to a set of user specific parameters (e.g. user's heart rate, body temperature), guiding the level of the activities according to other parameters not specific to the user (e.g. time of day) and guiding the level of the activities according to a combination of parameters specific and not specific to the user (e.g. user's heart rate and the time of day).

Preferably the exercise system further comprises a sensing device comprising a sensor and a signal transmitter, the signal transmitter communicating with the signal receiver, and the processor controlling the projecting unit additionally according to the output of the sensor. Ideally the sensor is a heart rate monitor. This allows the processor to include data showing the physical performance of the user, when it is controlling the projected image. For example, if the user's heart rate is too high, it can slow down the rate of the change of the projected image, thereby slowing down the movement of the user. Advantageously, the processor controls the projecting unit additionally according to the output of an internal clock. The internal clock of the processor can be used to determine the pace of the exercise that the user is undertaking, with, for example, a faster paced exercise being provided in the early evening. In a preferred embodiment, the processor controls the projecting unit to include within the image an indicator illustrating the relative position of the mobile device. The indicator can be seen by the user, and this allows them to interact more fully with the exercise program.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic view of an exercise system,

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the exercise system, and

Figure 3 is a flow diagram of an exercise method.

The exercise system of Figure 1 comprises a mobile device 10, and a central station 12. The central station 12 comprises a projecting unit 26, a media storage device 24 for storing interactive content, a processor 22 and a signal receiver 20. An image 14 is projected onto a suitable surface (for example, the ceiling) by the projecting unit 26, according to the interactive content. A motion sensor 16 and wireless signal transmitter 18 are embedded in a mobile (handheld) device 10. As the user moves the mobile device 10, motion signals are generated. These signals are detected by the motion sensor 16 and received by the signal receiver 18.

An indicator 28 representing the current position and movement of the handheld device 10, relative to the image 14, is projected on the ceiling. In a simple example, the user is encouraged to fill in holes in the image 14 with the indicator 28 by moving the mobile device 10. The "holes" will continuously change position and the user needs to chase the changing pattern. The speed of change of the "holes" depends on the level set, which can be set by the user.

In the simplest application example of regular exercise, the user switches on the projecting device 26, and adjusts the projecting device 26 so that the image 14 can be seen clearly. The user then picks up the mobile device 10, which contains the motion sensor 16 (for example an electronic gyro based motion sensor). As the user performs physical movement (exercise) the indicator 28 (for example, a cursor) moves about on the image 14 in response to the performance of the user. The image 14 projected by the projecting unit 26 will change according to the content stored in the media storage device 24.

Figure 2 shows a more advanced embodiment of the exercise system, in which the system further comprises a sensing device 30 comprising a sensor 32 and a signal transmitter 34. The signal transmitter 34 communicates with the signal receiver 20, and the processor 22 controls the projecting unit 26, additionally, according to the output of the sensor 32. This allows the processor 22 to automatically set the level of the exercise program according to various different parameters One example of such a parameter is the heart rate of the user, detected by wearing a heart rate sensor 32 and transmitter 34. Another example of such parameter is the body temperature of the user. The system shown in Figure 2 includes a user heart rate moderator function. In addition to the first system shown in Figure 1 , there is an additional component, which is the sensing device 30, which includes a heart rate sensor 32 and a wireless signal transmitter 34. The heart rate data is processed dynamically and the system is able to respond to changes in the user's heart rate to optimise the effectiveness of the exercise. For example, when the heart rate of the user hits a predefined maximum rate the speed of the game slows down. The processor 22 can also control the projecting unit 26, additionally, according to the output of an internal clock. By combining the user specific parameter (for example, heart rate) and user independent parameters (for example, the time of day), the exercise system is able to suggest more intelligently the level of exercise best suited for a specific user during a particular exercise session. For example, during early morning the system suggest mild exercise and monitors the heart rate performance such that it does not exceed a range between 90-150 beats per minute for a specific user, while in the late afternoon exercise the system suggest more intense exercise and monitor the heart rate performance such that it does not exceed a different range of 110-180 beats per minute. The beat rate range is determined by a number of different factors including the user's age, the user's normal pulse rate and also the purpose of the exercise (for example, whether it is light exercise, or aerobic).

Figure 3 is a summary of the exercise method utilising the above- described system. The exercise method in its basic embodiment comprises moving 40 the mobile device 10, which mobile device 10 comprises the motion sensor 16 and the signal transmitter 18, communicating 42 with the signal receiver 20 of the central station 12, and controlling 44 the projecting unit 26, with the processor 22 of the central station 12, according to the output of the motion sensor 16.

A further step in the method is the step of sensing 46 via the sensor 32, and controlling the projecting unit 26 additionally according to the output of the sensor 32, the sensor 32 being a heart rate monitor 32. The method can further include controlling the projecting unit 26 additionally according to the reading 48 of the output of an internal clock in the processor 22.

Claims

1. An exercise system comprising a mobile device (10) and a central station (12), the mobile device (10) comprising a motion sensor (16) and a signal transmitter (18), the central station (12) comprising a signal receiver (20), a processor (22), a storage device (24) and a projecting unit (26) for projecting an image (14), the signal transmitter (18) communicating with the signal receiver (20), and the processor (22) controlling the projecting unit (26) according to the output of the motion sensor (16).

2. An exercise system according to claim 1 , and further comprising a sensing device (30) comprising a sensor (32) and a signal transmitter (34), the signal transmitter (34) communicating with the signal receiver (20), and the processor (22) controlling the projecting unit (26) additionally according to the output of the sensor (32).

3. An exercise system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor (32) is a heart rate monitor (32).

4. An exercise system according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the processor (22) controls the projecting unit (26) additionally according to the output of an internal clock.

5. An exercise system according to any preceding claim, wherein the processor (22) controls the projecting unit (26) to include within the image

(14) an indicator (28) illustrating the relative position of the mobile device (10).

6. An exercise method comprising moving a mobile device (10), which mobile device (10) comprises a motion sensor (16) and a signal transmitter (18), communicating with a signal receiver (20) of a central station (12), and controlling a projecting unit (26), with a processor (22) of the central station (12), according to the output of the motion sensor (16).

7. An exercise method according to claim 6, and further comprising sensing via a sensor (32), communicating with the signal receiver (20), and controlling the projecting unit (26) additionally according to the output of the sensor (32).

8. An exercise method according to claim 7, wherein the sensor (32) is a heart rate monitor (32).

9. An exercise method according to claim 6, 7 or 8, and further controlling the projecting unit (26) additionally according to the output of an internal clock in the processor (22).

10. An exercise method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, and further controlling the projecting unit (26) to include within the image (14) an indicator (28) illustrating the relative position of the mobile device (10).