COMMUNICABLE EXERCISE APPARATUS

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an exercise apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a communicable exercise apparatus.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] General indoor exercise apparatuses, such as treadmills, stationary bicycles or steppers, are more and more popular. The exercise apparatus usually has a console for the user to input a control command. The console often has a display member configured to show a vision content to the user. The display member might be basically illustrated as a LED matrix display member configured to show numeral, letter, or graph, or might be illustrated as a color LCD display member configured to show media image (such as film, animation, photo, graphics, web browser, picture of the game or any combination thereof), or something (such as exercise program information or operation state information). In order to further satisfy the user, the console might have a storage unit, such as a memory unit or a hard disc, configured to store exercise program file, video file, video game file, etc. In addition, the console might be able to communicate with a mobile device (such as iphone or ipad) which stores exercise program file, video file, video game file, etc. As a result, a controlling member of the console, such as CPU, GPU, etc., processes the file so as to create a certain signal (such as an exercise program signal, a video signal or a video game signal) and carry out a corresponding certain action (such as performing the exercise program, showing the video or generating game feedback). Therefore, the user could exercise under the exercise program, or enjoy the video, the video game, etc., during exercise session.

[0005] However, the format of the file is more and more developed. For example, the display resolution format of the file is developed from XGA (1024×768) to WUXGA (1920×1200). The color deep format of the file is developed from 16 bit to 32 bit. The frame rate format of the file is developed from 30 FPS to 60 FPS. Therefore, the controlling member needs to be leveled up so as to satisfy the developed format of the file. Otherwise, the file would be processed unsmoothly because the developed format of the file is more complicated; as a result, the corresponding certain action would be carried out unsmoothly. For example, there might be video signal delay when the user enjoys the video. In addition, if the manufacturer levels up the controlling member, it would not be cost-effective because the CPU (or GPU) utilization would be very low when there is no command from the user to request the controlling member to process the file.

[0006] Furthermore, even if the manufacturer levels up the controlling member before selling, the format of the file would be further developed in the future. For example, the display resolution format of the file would be further developed from WUXGA (1920×1200) to WQUXGA (3840×2400) in the future. When the moment comes, the controlling member would not satisfy the further developed format of the file. Maybe the manufacturer would go to the user's house to replace the controlling member with a further one which satisfies the further developed format of the file, but it would be very inconvenient for the user and the manufacturer.

[0007] By the way, the console might be able to communicate with a nonlocal server (such as internet server) which stores exercise program file, video file, video game file, etc. As a result, the nonlocal server processes the file therein so as to create a certain signal. Thereafter, the certain signal is transmitted to the console via the communication, so as to carry out a corresponding certain action as said description. Therefore, the user could exercise under the exercise program, or enjoy the video, the video game, etc., during exercise session. However, there are still the same issues as said description. For example, the frame rate format of the file would be further developed from 60 FPS to 90 FPS in the future. When the moment comes, the nonlocal server would not satisfy the further developed format of the file. Maybe the server dealer would upgrade the nonlocal server thereat so as to satisfy the further developed format of the file, but it would be very inconvenient for the user and the server dealer. In addition, if the internet transmitting speed is too slow to smoothly transmit the certain signal to the console, the corresponding certain action would be carried out unsmoothly.

[0008] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional method of building an exercise program. Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0009] The present invention involves an exercise apparatus. Generally speaking, the exercise apparatus is to provide a communication with a mobile device during exercise session. Specially, the mobile device computes for driving the exercise apparatus to operate under an advanced mode to carry out at least one advanced action.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the exercise apparatus includes a frame, an operating unit operably set on the frame, an electrical adjusting member electrically associated with the operating unit for adjusting an operation of the operating unit, a console device set on the frame, the console device having a user control interface configured to receive a control command, a vision output interface configured to output a vision content, and a communicating interface configured to locally interactively communicate with a mobile device, the vision content having an image, the vision output interface having a display member configured to show the image, a controlling member electrically connected to the user control interface, the vision output interface, the communicating interface and the electrical adjusting member, the control command transmitted from the user control interface to the controlling member for controlling the vision output interface and the electrical adjusting member, the controlling member operating under a basic mode to carry out at least one basic action when there is no communication between the communicating interface and the mobile device, the controlling member operating under an advanced mode to carry out at least one advanced action when there is a communication between the communicating interface and the mobile device, the effect of the basic action unequal to that of the advanced action, wherein the mobile device creates a communicating command via computing, the communicating command transmitted from the mobile device to the controlling member for controlling the vision output interface and the electrical adjusting member, the mobile device creating an advanced image signal via computing, and the advanced image signal transmitted from the mobile device to the display member for showing the image which is advanced under the advanced action for a predetermined amount of time.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, the controlling member creates at least one parameter and transmits the parameter to the mobile device via the communicating interface. The advanced image signal is created via computing with the parameter.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, the controlling member creates the parameter, according to a user input on the operating unit.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, the controlling member creates the parameter, according to the control command.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, the mobile device creates the advanced image signal via real-time computing.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the mobile device has a graphics processing unit. The graphics processing unit processes the advanced image signal via real-time rendering, into a three-D advanced image signal.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, the controlling member creates a basic image signal via computing. The basic image signal is transmitted from the controlling member to the display member for showing the image which is basic under the basic action. An image quality difference between two statuses respectively under the basic action and the advanced action is at least one selected from the group consisting of resolution, chromatic number and frame rate.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, the console device has an audio output interface electrically connected to the controlling member. The mobile device creates an advanced audio signal via computing. The advanced audio signal is transmitted from the mobile device to the audio output interface for outputting one of an advanced audio sound and a certain audio signal under the advanced action.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, the controlling member controls the electrical adjusting member in a basic status under the basic mode. The controlling member controls the electrical adjusting member in an advanced status under the advanced mode. The basic status and the advanced status are switched with the switch between the basic mode and the advanced mode.

[0019] The reader is advised that this summary is not meant to be exhaustive. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

[0020] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically depicted in order to simplify the drawings.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a communicable exercise apparatus 10 is described as follows. The communicable exercise apparatus 10 comprises a frame 20, an operating unit 30, an electrical adjusting member 40, a console device 50 and a controlling member 58. The frame 20 is configured to support the components, so as to assemble the communicable exercise apparatus 10 as a whole. The frame 20 has a base designed for placement on a support surface such as a floor. The frame 20 is substantially made of metal. The operating unit 30 is configured for a user to exercise. The operating unit 30 is operably set on the frame 20. The electrical adjusting member 40 is connected to the operating unit 30 and electrically associated with the operating unit 30 for adjusting an operation of the operating unit 30, such as difficulty level for the user. The difficulty level might be illustrated as belt rotation speed and incline angle of treadmill, crank resistance of stationary bike, etc. The console device 50 is set on the frame 20. The console device 50 is configured for the user to interact with the communicable exercise apparatus 10. For example, the user could input a certain command for controlling the electrical adjusting member 40 of the communicable exercise apparatus 10, via the console device 50. The console device 50 could also output certain information for the user.

[0026] Examples of the communicable exercise apparatus 10 could include a treadmill (as shown in FIG. 1), a stationary bike, a stepper, a slide board, an air walker, a horse riding machine or an elliptical cross-trainer, and could also include other types of exercise equipment not listed here. In addition, the details, such as the structure, the operation and the operation theory of the frame 20, the operating unit 30 and the electrical adjusting member 40, are well-known and will not be further described here.

[0027] The console device 50 has a user control interface 52 configured to receive the control command, a vision output interface 54 configured to output a vision content, and a communicating interface 56 configured to locally interactively communicate with a mobile device 90. The controlling member 58 is electrically connected to the user control interface 52, the vision output interface 54, the communicating interface 56 and the electrical adjusting member 40. The console device 50 is located at a reachable distance of the user who performs exercise at the communicable exercise apparatus 10; usually, the console device 50 is located below the line of sight of the user. In another embodiment, the console device 50 might be located at the upper portion or the side portion of the user, according to the type of exercise equipment. In addition, the console device 50 might be foldable or adjustable. For example, the user could unfold the console device 50 when he (she) wants to operate the console device 50, or fold the console device 50 when he (she) wants to stop operating the console device 50. The user could adjust the facing direction of the console device 50. Specially, although the interfaces of the console device 50, and the controlling member 58 are illustrated as one assembly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, these components shouldn't limit the present invention; in other words, those might be independent pieces from one another. For instance, those could be located at different portions of the whole exercise apparatus according to the design of the exercise apparatus, under the present invention.

[0028] The user control interface 52 has an entering device and a circuit device. The entering device might be illustrated as a button, a touch switch, a knob, a fader, a joystick, a trackball, a touch-pad, a touch-screen, etc., in which way the user could directly touch the entering device for inputting the control command, or might be illustrated as a photointerrupter, a motion detector, etc., in which way the user could input the control command without touching anything. The circuit device is configured to create a certain signal, according to the control command. The certain signal would be transmitted to the controlling member 58. The detail, such as the detail structure of the entering device or the circuit device, or how to operate the user control interface 52 is well-known and will not be further described here. The user control interface 52 is located at a reachable distance of the user who performs exercise at the communicable exercise apparatus 10; usually, the user control interface 52 is located on a principle body of the console device 50. In another embodiment, the user control interface 52 might be located at somewhere other than that, such as an armrest or a handle of the exercise apparatus.

[0029] The vision content has an image. The image is defined by an image signal. The vision output interface 54 has a display member 55 configured to show the image for the user. The display member 55 might be touch screen, liquid-crystal display, plasma display panel, organic light-emitting diode display, electronic paper, cathode ray tube display, projector, head up display, etc. The image might be film, animation, photo, graphics, web browser, picture of the game or any combination thereof. The display member 55 is usually illustrated as a colour display member. In another embodiment, the display member 55 might be a monochromatic display member. The vision output interface 54 might further have a vision output member, such as seven-segment display, fourteen-segment display, sixteen-segment display, LED matrix display configured to show numeral, letter, or graph, or single LED signal light. In addition, the association between the controlling member 58 and the vision output interface 54 is well-known and will not be further described here.

[0030] The console device 50 has an audio output interface 59. The audio output interface 59 is configured to output an audio sound or a certain audio signal. The audio output interface 59 is electrically connected to the controlling member 58. The controlling member 58 controls the audio output interface 59. The audio output interface 59 might be speaker, buzzer, etc., which directly shows the audio sound to the user. In another embodiment, the audio output interface 59 might be a certain port so as to connect to a wired earphone via cable, or a wireless module (such as a Bluetooth module) so as to wirelessly connect to a wireless earphone (such as a Bluetooth earphone). Therefore, a connection could be defined between the audio output interface 59 and the earphone, and the certain audio signal would be transmitted form the audio output interface 59 to the earphone. As a result, the earphone converts the certain audio signal into the audio sound, and directly shows the audio sound to the user.

[0031] The mobile device 90 is an electrical device which is portable and has functions of general-purpose computer, such as notebook, tablet, smart phone, PDA, wearable computer, etc. Clearly, the mobile device 90 has principle components of computer, such as CPU, GPU, RAM, ROM, communicating ports, operating system, electronic file (such as multimedia file or text file) and software (such as libraries and application programs). The user could administrate the operating system and the software of the mobile device 90, such as upgrading the operating system, installing the software, or deleting or editing the electronic file. Recently, the computing performance of the mobile device 90 approaches to that of a desk-top computer. For example, the smart phone on the market usually has Quad-Core CPU, 3 GB of RAM, 64 GB of ROM and highly efficient GPU. Specially, the manufacturer always advances the hardware level of the smart phone every minute and every moment, so that there might be a smart phone with 16-Core CPU, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of ROM and super highly efficient GPU in the future. Interestingly, people often change their smart phone into a new one frequently, so as to satisfy their desire or requirement. In addition, the communicating port of the mobile device 90 might be RS232 port, USB port, certain port from apple Inc., lightning port, etc., or replaced with a first wireless communicating module so as to define a wireless connection therebetween, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

[0032] The communicating interface 56 of the console device 50 is configured to locally interactively communicate with the communicating port of the mobile device 90, either wirelessly or via cable. For example, designed for a wired connection, the communicating interface 56 might be illustrated as a dock on a top plane of the console device 50. A communicating plug is extended from a bottom of the dock. Under this arrangement, when the mobile device 90 is placed on the dock, the communicating plug is also inserted into the communicating port so as to define the wired connection therebetween. In another embodiment, the communicating interface 56 might be illustrated as a cable with a communicating plug. The cable is extended from the console device 50. Under this arrangement, the user could insert the communicating plug into the communicating port so as to define the wired connection therebetween. In addition, the communicating plug of the console device 50 might be RS232 plug, USB plug, certain plug from apple Inc., lightning plug, etc., or replaced with a second wireless communicating module so as to define the wireless connection therebetween, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

[0033] The controlling member 58 is usually received in the console device 50. The controlling member 58 is substantially illustrated as a hardware, software and firmware assembly which is configured to process each signal according to each corresponding command. For example, the controlling member 58 has a microcontroller unit, at least one electronic circuit and at least one circuit board. A certain program is read in the microcontroller unit. The microcontroller unit and the electronic circuit are assembled on the circuit board so as to define an assembly as a whole. In addition, the assembly is associated with another one, or an electric device via a wired connection (such as bus wire) or a wireless connection (such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi). The control command is transmitted from the user control interface 52 to the controlling member 58. As a result, the controlling member 58 controls the vision output interface 54 and the electrical adjusting member 40, according to the control command. Furthermore, certain information (such as a certain command or signal) could be transmitted between the controlling member 58 and the mobile device 90 via the communicating interface 56.

[0034] The certain program drives the controlling member 58 to operate under a basic mode or an advanced mode. Clearly, when there is no communication between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90, the controlling member 58 operates under the basic mode to carry out at least one basic action. When there is a communication between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90, the controlling member 58 operates under the advanced mode to carry out at least one advanced action. Specially, when the communicating port of the mobile device 90 is connected to the communicating interface 56 of the console device 50, the communication would be automatically defined between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90. In another embodiment, the communication might be manually defined by the user. For example, when the communicating port of the mobile device 90 is connected to the communicating interface 56 of the console device 50, the user might need to further manipulate the console device 50 so as to define the communication. In addition, when the communication is defined between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90, the user manually could cancel the communication via manipulating the console device 50. Furthermore, the controlling member 58 controls the electrical adjusting member 40 in a basic status under the basic mode. The controlling member 58 controls the electrical adjusting member 40 in an advanced status under the advanced mode. The basic status and the advanced status are switched with the switch between the basic mode and the advanced mode.

[0035] When the communication is defined between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90, the mobile device 90 computes for driving the controlling member 58 to operate under the advanced mode to carry out the advanced action. Specially, the effect of the basic action is unequal to that of the advanced action. For example, when the controlling member 58 operates under the basic mode, only the controlling member 58 creates a basic image signal via computing. Then, the controlling member 58 transmits the basic image signal to the display member 55. As a result, the display member 55 converts the basic image signal into the image which is basic under the basic action, and finally shows it to the user. In another embodiment, the controlling member 58 only controls the vision output member (such as single LED signal light) and doesn't control the display member 55. In contrast, when the controlling member 58 operates under the advanced mode, the mobile device 90 creates an advanced image signal via computing. Then, the mobile device 90 transmits the advanced image signal to the display member 55 via the controlling member 58. As a result, the display member 55 converts the advanced image signal into the image which is advanced under the advanced action, and finally shows it to the user. Specially, the mobile device 90 must currently create the advanced image signal; in other words, the advanced image signal would never be preserved. By the way, there must be some electronic file (such as multimedia file) stored in the mobile device 90. When the electronic file is opened, the mobile device 90 currently creates the advanced image signal via computing, according to the format or content of the electronic file. In addition, the mobile device 90 might only create a communicating command via computing. The communicating command is transmitted from the mobile device 90 to the controlling member 58 for controlling the vision output interface 54 and the electrical adjusting member 40. Furthermore, the mobile device 90 might not do anything under the advanced mode, if there is not received any control command to operate the mobile device 90.

[0036] The exercise apparatus usually further comprises some monitoring members such as a detecting member 60 and a calculating member, so as to measure the user status (such as running speed or running direction). The detail of this feature is well-known and will not be further described herein.

[0037] In this embodiment, an environment simulation exercise program is stored in the mobile device 90 (or in the console device 50). When the communication is defined between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90, the user could execute this exercise program to enjoy a simulated environment. Clearly, the mobile device 90 creates the advanced image signal and the communicating command via computing, and respectively transmits the advanced image signal and the communicating command to the display member 55 and the controlling member 58. The display member 55 shows the image of which the content is illustrated as the simulated environment, such as street track or hillside track, to the user. The communicating command corresponds to the content of the image. The controlling member 58 controls the electrical adjusting member 40 according to the communicating command. For example, when the simulated environment is a hillside track, the difficulty level for the user would be increased. When the simulated environment is a street track, the difficulty level for the user would be decreased. In addition, the user status also determines the advanced image signal and the communicating command created by the mobile device 90. Furthermore, the mobile device 90 creates the advanced image signal via real-time computing. The mobile device 90 has a graphics processing unit. The graphics processing unit processes the advanced image signal via real-time rendering, into a three-D advanced image signal. Moreover, the controlling member 58 creates at least one parameter and transmits the parameter to the mobile device 90 via the communicating interface 56. The advanced image signal is created via computing with the parameter. The controlling member 58 creates the parameter, according to a user status on the operating unit 30, or according to the control command. For example, when the user changes his (or her) running direction or the user presses some button for changing his (or her) running direction, the visual angle of the simulated environment would be changed therewith.

[0038] By the way, if there is no communication defined between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90, the user could also execute this exercise program. In this way, only the controlling member 58 creates the basic image signal via computing, and controls the electrical adjusting member 40 according to the exercise program. However, an image quality under the basic action would be worse than that under the advanced action. The image quality difference between two statuses respectively under the basic action and the advanced action is at least one selected from the group consisting of resolution, chromatic number and frame rate. For example, the resolution of the image which is advanced under the advanced action might be 1920×1200, but that of the image which is basic under the basic action might be 1024×768. The frame rate of the image which is advanced under the advanced action might be 60 FPS, but that of the image which is basic under the basic action might be 30 FPS. In another embodiment, if there is no communication defined between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90, the exercise program cannot be executed.

[0039] The mobile device 90 creates an advanced audio signal via computing. The advanced audio signal is transmitted from the mobile device 90 to the audio output interface 59 for outputting one of an advanced audio sound and a certain audio signal under the advanced action. If there is no communication defined between the communicating interface 56 and the mobile device 90, the user could also execute this exercise program. In this way, only the controlling member 58 creates the basic audio signal via computing. However, an audio quality (such as kbps) under the basic action would be worse than that under the advanced action.

[0040] Furthermore, the user could download the further multimedia file or the further exercise program into the mobile device 90 via internet. Therefore, the user could update the database of the mobile device 90 via internet.

[0041] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.