Patent Publication Number: US-2015065302-A1

Title: Exercise Recording Device and Exercise Recording System Thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an exercise recording device and exercise recording system thereof, and more particularly, to an exercise recording device and exercise recording system thereof for collecting numerical data for reference during weight training. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Weight training, which is also called Isotonic training, is a type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction. Weight training uses a variety of specialized equipment to target specific muscle groups and types of movement, wherein weight machines are most popular and widely used. 
     In general, a coach or trainer plans an exercise menu or program based on physical conditions of a trainee and the specific muscle groups which the trainee wants to develop, and the exercise menu may include a type of exercise, a movement, a weight, a number of repetitions, and a number of sets. Under a circumstance that the trainee can use the equipment correctly, the trainee may perform the weight training by himself according to the exercise menu. After the weight training is finished, the trainee may report to the trainer about his achievement to discuss whether a difficulty of the exercise menu is proper or not, such that the trainer may accordingly modify and plan the exercise menu for the next weight training. 
     However, there maybe a communication gap between the trainee and the trainer due to a lack of numerical reference records for the weight training, such as the type of exercise, the movement, the weight, the number of repetitions, and the number of sets that the trainee actually performed during the weight training. When using only verbal discussions, the trainee and trainer may not be able to objectively judge whether contents and the difficulty of the exercise menu is proper or not. 
     Therefore, there is a need to design an exercise recording device for collecting numerical data when the trainee performs the weight training. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an exercise recording device and exercise recording system for collecting numerical data when the performing the exercise menu. 
     The present invention discloses an exercise recording device, comprising a communication unit for receiving an equipment information, a gravity sensor for generating a sensing signal, a processor coupled to the communication unit and the gravity sensor for generating an exercise record according to the equipment information and the sensing signal, and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the exercise record according to a display signal generated by the processor. 
     The present invention discloses an exercise recording system, comprising an exercise recording device comprising a first communication unit for receiving an equipment information, a gravity sensor for generating a sensing signal, a first processor coupled to the communication unit and the gravity sensor for generating an exercise record according to the equipment information and the sensing signal, and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the exercise record according to a display signal generated by the processor, and at least one exercise equipment, wherein each of the at least one exercise equipment comprises a plurality of second communication units for transmitting the equipment information. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of an exercise recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an appearance diagram of the exercise recording device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partial appearance of the exercise recording device and the exercise equipment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an appearance of the exercise equipment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an exercise menu according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an exercise record according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 , which is a functional block diagram of an exercise recording system  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The exercise recording system  1  includes an exercise recording device  10 , at least one exercise equipment  20  and an exercise database  30 . The exercise recording system  1  may be used for a gymnasium or a sports center. The exercise recording device  10  may download an exercise menu from the exercise database  30 , and a trainee may follow an instruction of the exercise menu to perform weight training by using the instructed exercise equipment  20 . When the trainee is performing the weight training, the exercise recording device  10  may collect numerical exercise records and transmit the exercise records to the exercise database  30 . The exercise database  30  is used for storing the exercise menu and the corresponding exercise records, which allows a trainer to modify and plan the exercise menu for the next weight training according to exercise records for this time. Or, the trainee may review the exercise record to ask for further requirements. As a result, once the weight training is finished, both of the trainee and trainer may objectively review an achievement of the weight training according to exercise record to plan the exercise menu for the next weight training, which improves a communication gap between the trainee and trainer and improves an efficiency of the weight training. 
     In detail, the exercise recording device  10  includes a communication unit  11 , a processor  12 , a storing unit  13 , a gravity sensor  14  and a display  15 . The communication unit  11  may be used for performing wireless communication to receive an equipment information W_info from the exercise equipment  20 , and receive an exercise menu E_menu from the exercise database  30 . The gravity sensor  14  may be used for generating a sensing signal G_sig. The processor  12  is coupled to the communication unit  11  and the gravity sensor  14  and used for generating an exercise record E_rcd according to the equipment information W_info and the sensing signal G_sig, wherein the exercise record E_rcd corresponds to an exercise menu E_menu. In addition, the processor  12  may generate a display signal D_sig according to the exercise menu E_menu and the exercise record E_rcd. The display  15  is coupled to the processor  12  and used for displaying the exercise record E_rcd according to the display signal D_sig generated by the processor  12 , such that a user, i.e. the trainee, may watch a recording status instantly. The storing unit  13  is coupled to the processor  12  and used for being accessed by the processor  12  to store the exercise menu E_menu and the corresponding exercise record E_rcd. 
     Each of the exercise equipment  20  includes a plurality of communication units  21  for transmitting the equipment information W_info to the exercise recording device  10 . The equipment information W_info may indicate a type of exercise, a machine code and a weight. 
     The exercise database  30  includes a communication unit  31 , a processor  32  and a storing unit  33 . The processor  32  is coupled to the storing unit  33  and the communication unit  31 . The communication unit  31  is used for performing wireless communication with the communication unit  11  to transmit the exercise menu E_menu to the exercise recording device  10  and receive the exercise record E_rcd from the exercise recording device  10 . The storing unit  33  is used for storing the exercise menu E_menu and the exercise record E_rcd. 
     In operation, please refer to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates an appearance diagram of the exercise recording device  10 . The exercise recording device  10  is preferably a wearable recording device such as a wristband, foot ring, eyeglasses or necklace to be worn on the trainee. The exercise recording device  10  shown in  FIG. 2  is illustrated with a wristband, which is not limited. Before the trainee performs the weight training, the trainee may download the exercise menu E_menu from the exercise database  30  by the communication unit  11  of the exercise recording device  10 , and the processor  12  may generate the display signal D_sig according to the exercise menu E_menu, such that the display  15  displays the content of the exercise menu E_menu. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a machine code (e.g. L2), a suggested number of repetitions (e.g. fifteen times), a current number of repetitions (e.g. thirteen times), a suggested weight (e.g. eight kilograms), a tip for next item (e.g. H4) and a serial number of a locker (e.g. twenty-two) are indicated on a screen of the display  15 . However, items shown in the screen of the display  15  may be adjusted based on different exercises. Take running for example, the display  15  may display a duration (e.g. 10 minutes) to instruct a suggested running time, and the processor  12  further times an actual duration to record how many minutes and seconds that the trainee has run. In addition, the exercise recording device  10  may be used as a personal identification or a pass card for a membership management of the gymnasium or the sports center. For example, the storing unit  13  may store personal information of the trainee, such as name, phone number, membership number an so on, thereby the exercise database or other host computers may communicate with the exercise recording device  10  to read the personal information to identify the trainee. As a result, by the exercise recording device  10 , the trainee may be authorized to use the exercise equipments, record an expenditure (e.g. information of rented locker and towel), and enter restricted areas (e.g. dressing room, group classroom and weight training room) in the gymnasium or the sports center. 
     Moreover, the processor  12  may generate the display signal D_sig according to the current exercise record E_rcd to display a connection status D_stu on the display  15 . The connection status D_stu is used for indicating whether the communication unit  11  of the exercise recording device  10  is communicating with other communication units  21  or  31 . For example, the communication unit  11  is connected with other communication units or the communication unit  11  has transmitted/received data successfully when the connection status D_stu emits a blue light; and the communication unit  11  is not connected to any communication unit or the communication unit  11  fails to transmit/receive data when the connection status D_stu emits a red light. Therefore, the connection status D_stu may indicate whether the exercise recording device  10  has successfully transmitted/received data to ensure an intactness of the exercise record E_rcd. 
     Furthermore, the processor  12  may generate the display signal D_sig according to the current exercise record E_rcd to display an exercise progress E_prg on the display  15 . The exercise progress E_prg is used for indicating a progress of an exercise item that the trainee is performing. For example, half or over half of the exercise item has been performed (e.g. the trainee has performed eight times of the suggested number of repetitions fifteen times) when the exercise progress E_prg emits a yellow light; one quarter of the exercise item is left to be completely performed (e.g. the trainee has performed twelve times of the suggested number of repetitions fifteen times) when the exercise progress E_prg emits an orange light; and the exercise item has been completely performed (e.g. the trainee has performed fifteen times) when exercise progress E_prg emits a green light. In addition, the exercise progress E_prg may be denoted with a block or cube representing a specific exercise item, which means the more green cubes there are, the more exercise items have been completely performed. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  at one time,  FIG. 3  illustrates the exercise recording device  10  and a partial appearance of the exercise equipment  20 . Take a weight machine for example, the weight machine is generally equipped with a plurality of stacks having a same weight, the trainee may move a location of a latch to adjust a number of stacks and determine a strength or loading of each movement. The plurality of communication units  21  may be respectively disposed on one of the stacks or at locations corresponding to one of the stacks of the exercise equipment  20  to transmit the strength or loading of each movement to the exercise recording device  10 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the exercise recording device  10  further includes a holder  16  for holding the exercise recording device  10 , such that the exercise recording device  10  may be attached to or removed from the holder  16 . In  FIG. 3 , the trainee may remove the exercise recording device  10  from the holder  16  and place the exercise recording device  10  onto a latch  22  of the exercise equipment  20  before using the exercise equipment  20 , which is assumed to be a weight machine. The communication unit  11  may read the equipment information W_info to record a machine code of the exercise equipment  20  and a weight (e.g. eight kilograms of the stacks) by communicating with the communication unit  21  of the exercise equipment  20 . In addition, when using a treadmill, the trainee may place the exercise recording device  10  onto the holder  16  to wear the exercise recording device  10  on his or her wrist. 
     In general, every time that the trainee performs one movement on the weight machine, the stacks of the weight machine are vertically lifted and dropped once, which allows the trainee to train his muscle by repeatedly performing the movement. The gravity sensor  14  is used for sensing a vertical movement to generate the sensing signal G_sig, such that the processor  12  accumulates a number of repetitions according to the sensing signal G_sig. For example, as the trainee performs one movement, the gravity sensor  14  may sense one vertical movement and output the sensing signal G_sig to the processor  12 . The processor  12  may accumulate the number of repetitions once the sensing signal G_sig is received to display a current number of repetitions on the display  15 , i.e.  FIG. 2  illustrates thirteen times of the current number of repetitions. 
     On the other hand, some of the weight machines are designed for multifunction, which allows the trainee to train different muscle group by different usages, but the stacks are the same. In other words, an exercise machine having a machine code and a set of stacks may be used to perform multiple exercises, and thus different types of exercise are introduced. Hence, to identify different types of exercise, additional communication units may be disposed on the exercise equipment  20  for transmitting the equipment information W_info indicating the type of exercise to the exercise recording device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the exercise equipment  20  further includes a plurality of communication units  23  for transmitting the equipment information W_info indicating the type of exercise to the exercise recording device  10 . 
     In such a structure, during the weight training, the exercise recording device  10  may guide the trainee to perform suggested exercise items according to the exercise menu E_menu, and the exercise recording device  10  may instantly demonstrate information such as an exercise progress and an achievement rate to record the exercise record E_rcd thorough the weight training. Of course, the trainee may adjust the weight of the stacks based on physical conditions during the weight training. 
     After the trainee has completed the weight training, the exercise menu E_menu and the corresponding exercise record E_rcd may be transmitted to the exercise database  30  by the communication unit  11  of the exercise recording device  10 . The exercise database  30  may receive the exercise recording device  10  by the communication unit  31  to store in the storing unit  33 . As a result, the trainer may plan the content of the next exercise menu E_menu according to the current exercise menu E_menu and the exercise record E_rcd, so as to meet practical requirements of the trainee. 
     Specifically, please refer to  FIG. 5 , which is a schematic diagram of an exercise menu E_menu according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a first exercise item indicated by the exercise menu E_menu is warm-up, and the type of exercise/machine code is E, the duration is five minutes and the movements includes head stretch, arm twist and abdominal stretch. A second exercise item indicated by the exercise menu E_menu is running, and the type of exercise/machine code is R3, the duration is thirty minutes, and the movements includes level one to level five, level five to level fifteen, level two to level ten. A third item indicated by the exercise menu E_menu is leg kick, and the type of exercise/machine code is L2, the duration is fifteen minutes, the number of repetitions is five, the weight is four pounds, and the number of set is three. A fourth exercise item indicated by the exercise menu E_menu is dumbbell, and the type of exercise/machine code is H4, the duration is eighteen minutes, the number of repetitions is six, the weight is five pounds, and the number of set is three. In addition, the exercise menu E_menu also indicates a rest time between two exercise items. For example, a rest time between the running and the leg kick is five minutes, a rest time between the leg kick and the dumbbell is three minutes. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6 , which is a schematic diagram of an exercise record E_rcd according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , corresponding to the exercise menu E_menu shown in  FIG. 5 , the exercise record E_rcd records that the trainee has completed the running, leg kick and dumbbell items, and the achievement rate shown in the display is one hundred percent. 
     Moreover, the communication unit  11 ,  21 ,  23  and  31  may perform wireless communication by Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), WiFi, ZigBee or infrared, which is not limited. 
     To sum up, the exercise recording system of the present invention may collect exercise records and transmit exercise records to the exercise database with the exercise recording device, so as to provide the numerical data (e.g. movement, a number of repetitions, a number of sets, duration, a type of exercise, a machine code and weight that the trainee is actually performed during the weight training) to both of the trainee and the trainer, which may improve a communication barrier between the trainee and the trainer. As a result, the trainer may objectively review the achievement rate of the weight training according to the current exercise record to plan the next exercise menu. Or, the trainee may also review the current exercise record and ask for further requirements to reach better efficiency and effectiveness of the weight training. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.