System for monitoring exercise performance

Abstract

A system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring exercise performance includes: a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user; a torque detecting unit adapted to detect a torque exerted by the user; a user interface unit for allowing user input of user-specific parameters and displaying data to the user; and a control unit electrically coupled to the other elements. The control unit determines a target exercise amount for the user with reference to the pulse, the torque, and the user-specific parameters. The control unit further determines an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with reference to the torque. The user interface unit displays the target exercise amount through an exercise indicating pattern that is selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount.

1 . A system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring exercise performance, said system comprising: 
 a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise machine;    a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation to input user-specific parameters; and    a control unit electrically coupled to said pulse detecting unit and said user interface unit, said control unit automatically selecting an exercise mode of the user with reference to the pulse detected by said pulse detecting unit, said control unit determining a target exercise amount for the user with reference to the user-specific parameters and the exercise mode automatically selected by said control unit, said control unit further determining an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with reference to the pulse detected by said pulse detecting unit.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface unit allows user manipulation to select the exercise mode, said control unit determining the target exercise amount for the user with reference to the user-specific parameters and the exercise mode selected by the user.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface unit displays, according to control by said control unit, an exercise indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the user, the exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of regions that are selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount of the user.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the regions of the exercise indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise amount of the user in a progressively increasing manner from none of the regions to all of the regions.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the regions of the exercise indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise amount of the user in a progressively decreasing manner from all of the regions to none of the regions.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target exercise amount is a total number of calories to be consumed by the user operating the exercise machine.  
   
   
       7 . A system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring exercise performance, said system comprising: 
 a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise machine;    a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation to input user-specific parameters; and    a control unit electrically coupled to said pulse detecting unit and said user interface unit, said control unit determining, following a predetermined period of exercise by the user, a target exercise amount for the user with reference to the pulse detected by said pulse detecting unit and the user-specific parameters, said control unit further determining an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with reference to the pulse detected by said pulse detecting unit.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said user interface unit displays, according to control by said control unit, an exercise indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the user, the exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of regions that are selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount of the user.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the regions of the exercise indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise amount of the user in a progressively increasing manner from none of the regions to all of the regions.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the regions of the exercise indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise amount of the user in a progressively decreasing manner from all of the regions to none of the regions.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the target exercise amount is a total number of calories to be consumed by the user operating the exercise machine.  
   
   
       12 . A system adapted for use with an exercise machine for monitoring exercise performance, said system comprising: 
 a pulse detecting unit adapted for detecting a pulse of a user operating the exercise machine;    a torque detecting unit adapted to detect a magnitude of torque exerted by the user when the exercise machine is operated;    a user interface unit for allowing user manipulation to input user-specific parameters; and    a control unit electrically coupled to said pulse detecting unit, said torque detecting unit, and said user interface unit, said control unit determining, following a predetermined period of exercise by the user, a target exercise amount for the user with reference to the pulse detected by said pulse detecting unit, the torque detected by said torque detecting unit, and the user-specific parameters, said control unit further determining an actual exercise amount during exercise by the user with reference to the torque detected by said torque detecting unit.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said user interface unit displays, according to control by said control unit, an exercise indicating pattern representing the target exercise amount of the user, the exercise indicating pattern including a plurality of regions that are selectively activated according to the actual exercise amount of the user.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the regions of the exercise indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise amount of the user in a progressively increasing manner from none of the regions to all of the regions.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the regions of the exercise indicating pattern are activated to indicate the actual exercise amount of the user in a progressively decreasing manner from all of the regions to none of the regions.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the target exercise amount is a total number of calories to be consumed by the user operating the exercise machine.