Patent Publication Number: US-2012040798-A1

Title: Treadmill with Man-Machine Interaction Speed Regulation and Control Method Thereof

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
     The present invention relates to a treadmill and a speed or direction control method for the treadmill, and more particularly to an electric treadmill capable of dynamically regulating a transmission speed of a treadmill belt based on monitored indices including arm swinging information (frequency and amplitude), heart rate and blood pressure of a user, and a control method for accomplishing speed control and virtual scene direction control, which belongs to a technical field of physical fitness equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A treadmill is a popular physical fitness equipment and may be divided into a mechanical treadmill and an electric treadmill based on the working principle. 
     The mechanical treadmill is an early age product. When doing fitness exercises on the mechanical treadmill, a user drives the treadmill belt to move by treading. The mechanical treadmill has the advantage of controlling the running speed at will, but the kicking action for driving the treadmill belt in running may cause the strain of the leg joints, which is harmful to the human health. Therefore, the mechanical treadmill is substantially faded out of the market nowadays. 
     Currently, the electric treadmill is the most popular. The electric treadmill employs an electric motor that drives the treadmill belt to move by a transmission device. When the user runs on the treadmill belt, the user regulates the running speed to get consistent with the moving speed of the treadmill belt. If the user wants to change the running speed, the user is required to press the corresponding button on the control panel in the front of the treadmill to change the motor velocity, so as to change the moving speed of the treadmill belt, and then passively changes the running speed, which disobeys the living habits of changing the running speed at will in the nature. Meanwhile, the human body is unsteady in the running state. When searching for the corresponding button on the control panel of the treadmill with eyes and pressing the corresponding button with fingers, it is quite inconvenient and may distract the attention of the user, which may affect the exercise effect. For the group of young or senior users or the users with poor physical conditions, they may be exposed to certain risks. 
     To solve the problem that the speed regulation of the electric treadmill is inconvenient, several corresponding technical solutions have been proposed. For instance, Patent No. ZL 02148196.2 entitled “Optical Induction Virtual Reality Running Machine” discloses a running machine whose front end, rear end and side ends are equipped with optical inductors, so that when the sportsman is running on it, his running form can be detected by optical inductors, thereby regulating the speed of the treadmill. In the Patent No. ZL 02112184.2 entitled “Process for Controlling Electric Treadmills”, in two proper positions of the electric tread mill, emitting sensing assembly is set so as to form one spatial sensing area. The user may control the treadmill speed by swinging arts in the corresponding spatial sensing area. In addition, in the PRC Patent No. ZL 200410104202.7, a system for regulating running machine running belt velocity according to the current loading differences is disclosed. The load inducing detection circuit transmits the current load signal produced by treading the band to the microprocessor unit; and the microprocessor unit calculates the time difference between signals, compares the time difference with the smooth difference and sends one signal to the motor driver for regulating the speed of the band. The present invention makes it possible for the exerciser to regulate his speed based on his physical ability, so as to reach optimal body building effect and avoid tumble. 
     The treadmill adopting the above speed regulation method has a certain progress as compared with the treadmill that realizes the speed regulation by pressing the button on the control panel, which is still tricky in comparison with the outdoor running during which people can regulate the running speed at will, and this treadmill may still cause the distraction of attention of the user in running and interrupt the normal running On the other hand, the detecting system of the treadmill takes a long time for detecting the running and regulating the motor speed to a designated speed, so the time for accelerating or reducing the running speed of the human is shorter than the time for the treadmill belt to regulate the speed, and the acceleration of the treadmill cannot catch up the acceleration of the human, which may cause the user hit the dashboard when accelerating or moving or even falling backwards when reducing the running speed. 
     PRC Utility Model No. 200720032627.0 provides an adaptive speed regulation control device of running devices. The input end of the running machine adaptive timing control module is connected to an electrocardiograph monitoring module, a speed closed-loop module and a keyboard/display module. The input end of the speed closed-loop module is connected to the running machine. The adaptive timing control system in the running machine can adjust the speed of the running machine according to the heart rate situation of the exerciser, can reach the expected fitness purpose, can avoid the problems that the fitness effect is not met due to insufficient exercise or the body health is harmed by over exercise. However, the heart rate situation is one of the factors for regulating the running speed of the user. Different users have different body conditions. Therefore, this speed control method for the treadmill has limited applications and the practicability is not satisfactory. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve the deficiencies in the speed regulation mode of the treadmill in the prior art, the present invention is directed to an electric treadmill capable of dynamically regulating a transmission speed of a treadmill belt based on monitored indices including arm swinging information (frequency and amplitude), heart rate and blood pressure of a user, and a control method for accomplishing speed control and virtual scene direction control. 
     To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical scheme. 
     A treadmill with man-machine interaction speed regulation is provided, which includes a base, a runner frame and a motor mounted on the base, a running deck mounted on the runner frame, a treadmill belt tensioned on front and rear rollers and wound around the running deck, a standing frame mounted on the base, a control panel and a control circuit mounted on the standing frame. The motor and the control panel are respectively connected to the control circuit. 
     The treadmill further includes an arm swinging detection unit. 
     The control circuit may also be connected to a computation unit by an interface circuit. 
     The treadmill further includes a heart rate detecting unit and a blood pressure detecting unit, and the heart rate detecting unit and the blood pressure detecting unit are connected to the control circuit. 
     The treadmill may further include an arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit. The analyzing unit may be connected to the control circuit and may also be connected to the computation unit. 
     The arm swinging detection unit is a physical quantity sensor such as a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor or a gyroscope hand-held by a user or worn on wrist of a user. 
     Alternatively, the arm swinging detection unit is a video capture system, and the video capture system directly captures an arm swinging video image and works out an arm swinging amplitude or frequency according to the video image. 
     A control method for a treadmill with man-machine interaction speed regulation is provided, which is accomplished based on the above treadmill. The treadmill control method includes: 
     (1) when the user runs on the treadmill, the arm swinging detection unit detecting the arm swinging amplitude or frequency of the user; 
     (2) determining whether the arm swinging amplitude or frequency changes; 
     (3) in the situation that a variation of the arm swinging amplitude or frequency is greater than a preset threshold value, working out a new transmission speed of the treadmill belt according to a new arm swinging amplitude or frequency; otherwise, the treadmill belt keeping the former transmission speed; 
     (4) according to the new transmission speed of the treadmill belt, changing a velocity of the motor by the control circuit to make the treadmill belt perform transmission at the new transmission speed. 
     In step (1), the arm swinging detection unit is a physical quantity sensor, such as a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor or a gyroscope. The physical quantity sensor detects arm swinging speed, acceleration and direction parameters, works out the arm swinging amplitude or frequency based on the parameters and transfers data to the control circuit. 
     Alternatively, in step (1), the arm swinging detection unit is a video capture system, and the video capture system directly captures an arm swinging video image, works out the arm swinging amplitude or frequency according to the video image and transfers data to the control circuit. 
     The arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit automatically records the arm swinging frequency and amplitude of the user and the corresponding treadmill speed. By recording and analyzing multiple arm swinging frequencies and amplitudes of the user at different treadmill speeds, the arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit may acquire parameters of the calculation formula or function of the arm swinging frequency, amplitude and running speed of the user, so that the treadmill can work out the treadmill speed quickly and accurately according to the arm swinging frequency or amplitude. 
     The user may use the arm swinging detection unit separately, or wear the heart rate detecting unit and the blood pressure detecting unit optionally. The heart rate detecting unit and the blood pressure detecting unit dynamically detect the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters of the user when running If the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters are within a normal range, the transmission speed of the treadmill belt is increased or reduced according to the arm swinging amplitude or frequency of the user. If the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters exceed the normal range, the transmission speed of the treadmill belt is only reduced according to the arm swinging amplitude or frequency. 
     In the situation that a display of the control panel displays a virtual scene, the arm swinging detection unit detects the arm swinging amplitude or frequency of two arms respectively. If a difference between the arm swinging frequencies or amplitudes of the two arms is smaller than a preset threshold value, the virtual scene displays a straight running status. If the difference between the arm swinging frequencies or amplitudes of the two arms is greater than the preset threshold value, a turning direction and a turning radius in the virtual scene are changed according to the difference between the arm swinging frequencies or amplitudes of the two arms. 
     Compared with the prior arts, the treadmill with man-machine interaction speed regulation and the control method thereof of the present invention automatically regulate the treadmill speed based on dynamically monitored arm swinging information (including the swinging amplitude and the swinging frequency), which effectively overcomes the defects in the prior art and allows the user to change the transmission speed of the treadmill belt in a natural way and gain a perfect use experience. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block view of a system structure of an electric treadmill according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block view of a system structure of an electric treadmill according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block view of a system structure of an electric treadmill according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which an arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit is added based on the first embodiment, and the unit is connected to a control circuit in the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a block view of a system structure of an electric treadmill according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which an arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit is added based on the first embodiment, and the unit is connected to a computation unit in the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a block view of a system structure of an electric treadmill according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which an arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit is added based on the second embodiment, and the unit is connected to a control circuit in the fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a block view of a system structure of an electric treadmill according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which an arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit is added based on the second embodiment, and the unit is connected to a computation unit in the sixth embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of processes for accomplishing man-machine interaction speed regulation of an electric treadmill of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a method of dynamically regulating a transmission speed of a treadmill belt and a virtual scene direction by detecting an arm swinging frequency in man-machine interaction speed regulation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Similar to the electric treadmill in the prior arts, the electric treadmill with man-machine interaction speed regulation of the present invention has a base, a runner frame, a motor mounted on the base, front and rear rollers mounted on the runner frame and driven by the motor, a running deck mounted on the runner frame, a treadmill belt tensioned on the front and rear rollers and wound around the running deck, a standing frame mounted on the base, and a control panel mounted on the standing frame. Furthermore, the electric treadmill may additionally have left and right handle bars fixed on the standing frame, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) mounted on the control panel and control buttons thereof. The design and mounting of the functional elements are common technology known to persons of ordinary skills in the art, and will not be illustrated in details herein. 
       FIG. 1  is a block view of a structure of the first embodiment. The motor and the control panel of the electric treadmill are respectively connected to the control circuit. The control circuit may further be connected to a computation unit by an interface circuit. In addition, instruments including an external arm swinging detection unit, a heart rate detecting unit and a blood pressure detecting unit may also be connected to the control circuit. The connection may be realized by a cable circuit or may be realized by wireless connection such as bluetooth or infrared radiation. In this embodiment, the arm swinging detection unit is a physical quantity sensor such as a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor or a gyroscope hand-held by a user or worn on wrist of a user. The heart rate detecting unit and the blood pressure detecting unit may be realized by a high-end wrist electronic blood pressure meter such as EW3003, HEM-6021. It should be explained that the electric treadmill is not limited to adopting the arm swinging detection unit, the heart rate detecting unit and the blood pressure detecting unit mentioned above. All the biomedical instruments capable of monitoring the body indices of the user when running may be employed in the electric treadmill of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an electric treadmill according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the motor and the control panel are respectively connected to the control circuit, and the control circuit is connected to a computation unit by an interface circuit. The computation unit may be a computer, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) or the like. The arm swinging detection unit is directly connected to the computation unit. This embodiment is adapted for the arm swinging detection unit realized by a video capture system that analyzes the arm swinging image. Hereinafter, the details will be described. 
     For realizing the man-machine interaction speed regulation of the electric treadmill, a dedicated arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit may be added for working out a new transmission speed of the treadmill belt according to a new arm swinging amplitude or frequency. The arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit automatically records the user arm swinging frequency, amplitude and the corresponding treadmill speed. By recording and analyzing the multiple arm swinging frequencies and amplitudes of the user at different treadmill speeds, the arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit may acquire parameters of the calculation formula or function of the arm swinging frequency, amplitude and running speed of the user, so that the treadmill can work out the treadmill speed quickly and accurately according to the arm swinging frequency or amplitude. In the third to sixth embodiment of  FIG. 3-FIG .  6 , the arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit may be connected to the control circuit and may also be connected to the computation unit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , for realizing the man-machine interaction speed regulation, the electric treadmill of the present invention creatively combines the indices including the heart rate and the blood pressure and the arm swinging information (frequency and amplitude) of the user, and is tailored to regulate the transmission speed of the treadmill belt mainly based on the arm swinging information according to the body reaction of the user, thereby bringing about the perfect use experience. 
     In the use of the electric treadmill, the heart rate detecting unit and the blood pressure detecting unit are firstly worn on the wrist of the user. The heart rate detecting unit and the blood pressure detecting unit dynamically detect the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters of the user when running. The heart rate and the blood pressure parameters may be displayed on the LCD screen of the control panel, so as to present the exercise effect to the user. When the user is running, if the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters are within a normal range, they may be presented to the user in a soft and moderate manner (for example, in inconspicuous colors or small-sized fonts). If the heart rate or the blood pressure parameters exceed the normal range, the user is prompted by glare letters or by making a sound. 
     However, every user has different body conditions. In actual, people have different body feelings to the abnormal range of the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters specified by the medical rules. Some users have a strong tolerance of the heart-hurry but some users are hard to tolerate the short term heart-hurry. Therefore, the method of directly regulating the transmission speed of the treadmill belt according to the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters is hard to take the individual difference of the users into account, and is a routine method. 
     The present invention automatically regulates the treadmill speed by dynamically monitoring the arm swinging information (including the swinging amplitude and the swinging frequency), which effectively overcomes the defects of the above method and allows the user change the transmission speed of the treadmill belt in a natural way. 
     A physiology and kinesiology research reveals that for maintain balance, the running amplitude and frequency of human in running is substantially in a direct proportion to the arm swinging amplitude and frequency. The faster the arm swinging frequency is, the quicker the running frequency will be. The larger the arm swinging amplitude is, the wider the step will be. In addition, when turning, the turning direction has a relation to the arm swinging. When turning left, the swinging amplitude of the right arm is large and the swinging amplitude of the left arm is small. When turning right, the swinging amplitude of the left arm is large and the swinging amplitude of the right arm is small. 
     If we directly change the running frequency or amplitude on the electric treadmill, as the speed changing of the treadmill cannot catch up the speed changing of us, people are exposed to the risk of hitting on the dashboard or falling backwards. If we change the arm swinging frequency or amplitude on the treadmill firstly, then the detecting unit detects and gradually changes the treadmill speed after calculation, the running frequency and amplitude of the user will change with the speed changing of the treadmill in a natural way and people will not dash or falling over. After the treadmill reaches the new speed, the arm swinging frequency or amplitude gets consistent to the running frequency or amplitude once again. Therefore, the treadmill speed regulation realized by capturing and analyzing the arm swinging information makes the entire speed regulation process natural and safe. 
     According to this principle, refer to the flow chart of the method in  FIG. 8 . When the user is running on the treadmill, the arm swinging is consistent with the running To increase the treadmill speed, the user may increase the arm swinging frequency or the arm swinging amplitude, and the detecting system detects that the arm swinging frequency or amplitude is increased and immediately increases the treadmill speed. Then, the running frequency or amplitude is increased accordingly to get consistent to the arm swinging once again. To reduce the treadmill speed, the user may reduce the arm swinging frequency or amplitude, and the detecting system detects that the arm swinging frequency or amplitude is reduced and immediately reduces the treadmill speed. Then, the running frequency or amplitude is reduced accordingly to get consistent to the arm swinging once again. 
     The speed of the treadmill and the arm swinging amplitude and frequency of the user approximately satisfy a calculation formula: V=F(r, f). Here, V is the speed of the treadmill, r is the arm swinging amplitude of the user, f is the arm swinging frequency, F ( ) is a function. The parameters of the function are related to individual running characteristics, and are substantially constant for one user, thereby forming a relatively smooth changing curve. For example, if the arm swinging frequency remains unchanged and the arm swinging amplitude is increased by m times, in the outdoor running situation, the running amplitude is increased by n times (the ratio of m and n directed to one person substantially satisfies a relatively smooth changing curve), which is equivalent to that the running speed of the user is increased by n times, and thus the velocity of the treadmill may be increased by n times. In another example, if the arm swinging amplitude remains unchanged and the arm swinging frequency is increased by m times, in the outdoor running situation, the running frequency of the user is increased by n times (in the normal situation, m and n are substantially equal), which is equivalent to the running speed of the user is increased by n times, and thus the velocity of the treadmill may be increased by n times. If the arm swinging amplitude and frequency change at the same time, the treadmill speed is regulated by taking the two factors into consideration at the same time. 
     To enable the user to get used to the new running speed easily, when the treadmill speed changes along with the arm swinging frequency or amplitude, the treadmill gradually changes the former speed to the new speed, which allows the user to get used to the new speed and prevents the sudden changes of the speed of the treadmill to cause the falling over or other discomforts of the user. 
     Before the delivery of the treadmill, a set of function calculation parameter values directed to a majority of people may be preset in the control circuit of the treadmill, which can meet the needs of ordinary users. If the treadmill is expected to suit one user, the user may set the embodied calculation parameter values of the function or curve on the control panel of the treadmill, so as to best suit the running characteristics of one certain user. 
     To obtain the parameter values of the function directed to one certain user, the arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit is disposed in the treadmill. When the treadmill is in use, the user may choose the regular control mode that uses the control panel to control the treadmill speed or switch to the arm swinging control mode by a transfer switch. In the regular control mode that uses the control panel to control the treadmill speed, the arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit automatically records the arm swinging frequency or amplitude of the user and the corresponding treadmill speed. In the arm swinging control mode, when the arm swinging frequency and amplitude and the running speed become smooth, the arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit may automatically record the arm swinging frequency or amplitude of the user and the corresponding treadmill speed. By recording and analyzing multiple arm swinging frequencies and amplitudes of the user at different treadmill speeds, the arm swinging and running speed function parameter analyzing unit may acquire the parameters of the calculation formula or function of the arm swinging frequency, amplitude and running speed of the user by a self-learning method such as an artificial neural network. In the arm swinging control mode, the parameters may be directly used, which is convenient and accurate. The self-learning algorithm such as the artificial neural network is a common technology to persons of ordinary skills in the software area, and the details will not be described herein. 
     Several methods for detecting the arm swinging amplitude and frequency exist. According to the first method, each hand of the user holds one acceleration sensor or gyroscope. The acceleration sensor or gyroscope detects parameters like the arm swinging speed, acceleration and direction, works out the frequency and amplitude, and then transfers to the control circuit through bluetooth or a wireless module. According to the second method, a device with the acceleration sensor or gyroscope inside is worn on each arm or wrist of the user, for detecting the parameters like the arm swinging speed, acceleration and direction, works out the frequency and amplitude, and then transfers to the control circuit through bluetooth or a wireless module. The above two methods are suitable for the electric treadmill in the first embodiment. 
     According to the third method, the video capture system directly captures the arm swinging video image, works out the arm swinging amplitude and frequency according to the video image, and transfers the data to the control circuit. The method is suitable for the electric treadmill in the second embodiment. 
     In the implementation of the third method, to prevent the changes of the arm swinging frequency or amplitude unwittingly caused by the arm swinging in running influencing the operating of the treadmill, a threshold value may be set in the control circuit. When the difference between the changed arm swinging frequency or amplitude and the former smooth value is greater than the threshold value, the control circuit sends a command to the treadmill to change the speed. This method may enable the treadmill run constantly even if the arm swinging amplitude or frequency has some changes when the user is running at a constant speed normally. The threshold value may be regulated via the dashboard on the treadmill according to personal situation, so that the treadmill speed regulation better suits the personal habits. 
     To protect the physical and mental health of the user, in the process of automatically regulating the treadmill speed based on the dynamically monitored arm swinging information, if the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters are within a normal range, the transmission speed of the treadmill belt is increased or reduced according to the arm swinging amplitude or frequency of the user. If the heart rate and the blood pressure parameters exceed the normal range, the transmission speed of the treadmill belt is only reduced according to the arm swinging amplitude or frequency without increasing the transmission speed. 
     The arm swinging may change the speed and also may change the direction. To prevent the unsynchronized swinging of the two arms of the user when controls the turning of the people in the virtual scene to cause the changes of the treadmill speed and reduce the smoothness, the detecting process may be divided into two situations according to the difference between the arm swinging frequencies or amplitudes of the two arms. If the difference between the arm swinging frequencies or amplitudes of the two arms is smaller than one threshold value, it is the straight running status, and the system changes the treadmill speed according to the arm swinging frequency or amplitude without changing the running direction. If the difference between the arm swinging frequencies or amplitudes of the two arms is greater than one threshold value, it is the turning running status, and a turning direction and a turning radius of the human in the virtual scene are changed by the system according to the difference between the arm swinging frequencies or amplitudes of the two arms and regardless of the arm swinging frequency or amplitude change treadmill speed. Definitely, if the speed and the direction of the treadmill need to be controlled directly regardless of the smoothness, the limitation may be discarded. 
     In the present invention, the treadmill is connected to the computation unit by a data interface, so as to transfer the running speed or direction of the user to the virtual scene software of the computation unit instantly. The virtual scene software may present the virtual scene through the display on the control panel, and may also achieve the combination of sports and entertainment by controlling the running speed and direction of the figure in the virtual scene based on the running speed and direction of the user. In this situation, to make the figure in the virtual scene turning, the user makes the swinging frequencies or amplitudes of the two arms being inconsistent. When turning left, the swinging amplitude or frequency of the right arm is increased and the swinging amplitude or frequency of the left arm is reduced. When turning right, the swinging amplitude or frequency of the left arm is increased and the swinging amplitude or frequency of the right arm is reduced. 
     The treadmill with man-machine interaction speed regulation and the control method thereof of the present invention are illustrated in details in the above paragraphs. It will be apparent to persons 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.