Closed loop control of resistance in a resistance-type exercise system

Abstract

An exercise system includes a user input arrangement; a rotatable member that rotates in response to an input force applied by a user on the user input arrangement; a power sensing arrangement that senses power applied to the rotatable member due to the input force applied by the user; and a variable resistance arrangement interconnected with the power sensing arrangement and with the user input arrangement. The resistance arrangement applies resistance to rotation of the rotatable member, and is variable in response to the power sensing arrangement to vary the resistance applied to the rotatable member. The variable resistance arrangement may be a brake that interacts with the rotatable member to resist rotation of the rotatable member, and to thereby resist the input force applied by the user. The variable resistance arrangement includes a controller for controlling the brake in response to the power sensing arrangement.

1 . An exercise system, comprising: 
 a user input arrangement;    a rotatable member that rotates in response to an input force applied by a user on the user input arrangement;    a power sensing arrangement configured to sense power applied to the rotatable member due to the input force applied by the user; and    a variable resistance arrangement interconnected with the power sensing arrangement and with the user input arrangement, wherein the resistance arrangement is operable to resist rotation of the rotatable input member, and wherein the resistance arrangement is variable in response to the power sensing arrangement to vary the resistance to rotation of the rotatable member.    
     
     
         2 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the variable resistance arrangement comprises a brake arrangement that interacts with the rotatable member to resist rotation of the rotatable member, and to thereby resist the input force applied by the user.  
     
     
         3 . The exercise system of  claim 2 , wherein the variable resistance arrangement includes a controller for controlling the brake arrangement in response to the power sensing arrangement.  
     
     
         4 . The exercise system of  claim 3 , wherein the power sensing arrangement comprises a resistance measuring arrangement for measuring the degree of resistance to rotation of the rotating member applied by the brake arrangement and to thereby determine the power applied by the user to rotate the rotatable member.  
     
     
         5 . The exercise system of  claim 3 , wherein the power sensing arrangement comprises a rotatable power sensing member interposed between the user input arrangement and the rotatable member.  
     
     
         6 . The exercise system of  claim 5 , wherein the rotatable power sensing member is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is concentric with an axis of rotation about which the rotatable member is rotatable.  
     
     
         7 . The exercise system of  claim 6 , wherein the rotatable power sensing member comprises a power sensing hub member to which the rotatable member is mounted.  
     
     
         8 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member comprises the wheel of a bicycle and the resistance arrangement is associated with a bicycle trainer that supports the bicycle, wherein the bicycle wheel is engaged with a roller that is interconnected with the resistance arrangement.  
     
     
         9 . The exercise system of  claim 8 , wherein the power sensing arrangement is carried by the bicycle and senses power applied by the user on the user input arrangement for imparting rotation to the bicycle wheel.  
     
     
         10 . The exercise system of  claim 9 , wherein the power sensing arrangement comprises a power sensing hub to which the bicycle wheel is mounted.  
     
     
         11 . The exercise system of  claim 8 , wherein the power sensing arrangement is associated with the bicycle trainer and senses power applied by the bicycle wheel for imparting rotation to the roller.  
     
     
         12 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member comprises the wheel of an exercise cycle and the resistance arrangement acts on the exercise cycle wheel to resist rotation of the exercise cycle wheel.  
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling operation of a resistance arrangement incorporated in an exercise system, wherein the exercise system includes a rotatable member that rotates in response to a user-applied input force, comprising the acts of: 
 sensing input power applied to the rotatable member in response to the input force; and    controlling resistance applied by the resistance arrangement to the rotatable member in response to the sensed input power.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the act of controlling resistance is carried out by controlling a brake arrangement that resists rotation of the rotatable member.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the act of controlling resistance is carried out using a controller that controls the brake arrangement in response to the sensed input power.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the act of sensing input power is carried out by measuring the degree of resistance to rotation of the rotating member applied by the brake arrangement and to thereby determine the power applied by the user to rotate the rotatable member.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the act of sensing input power is carried out using a rotatable power sensing member interconnected with the rotatable member.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the act of sensing input power is carried out using a rotatable power sensing hub member to which the rotatable member is mounted.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rotatable member comprises the wheel of a bicycle and wherein the resistance arrangement is associated with a bicycle trainer, and including the act of engaging the bicycle wheel with a roller that is interconnected with the resistance arrangement.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the act of sensing input power applied to the rotatable member is carried out by sensing power applied by the user for imparting rotation to the bicycle wheel.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the act of sensing input power applied to the rotatable member is carried out using a power sensing hub to which the bicycle wheel is mounted.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the act of sensing input power applied to the rotatable member is carried out by sensing power applied by the bicycle wheel for imparting rotation to the roller.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rotatable member comprises the wheel of an exercise cycle, and including the act of resisting rotation of the exercise cycle wheel.  
     
     
         24 . A resistance arrangement, comprising: 
 an input area for applying user input power;    a rotatable member that rotates in response to application of the user input power;    a power sensor that senses the user input power;    a resistance arrangement that acts on the rotatable member for resisting rotation of the rotatable member; and    a controller that controls the resistance of the resistance arrangement in response to the sensed user input power.    
     
     
         25 . The resistance arrangement of  claim 24 , wherein the rotatable member comprises a wheel of a bicycle, wherein the input area comprises a pedal arrangement associated with the bicycle, and wherein the resistance unit includes a roller engaged with the bicycle wheel, and wherein the controller is operable to control the resistance to rotation of the bicycle wheel through the roller.  
     
     
         26 . The resistance arrangement of  claim 25 , wherein the power sensor is associated with a hub of the bicycle wheel.  
     
     
         27 . The resistance arrangement of  claim 25 , wherein the power sensor is interposed between the roller and the resistance arrangement.  
     
     
         28 . The resistance arrangement of  claim 24 , wherein the rotatable member comprises a flywheel forming a part of an exercise device, and wherein the resistance arrangement acts on the flywheel to resist rotation of the flywheel.  
     
     
         29 . The resistance arrangement of  claim 28 , wherein the power sensor is incorporated in the resistance arrangement.