Method of Harvesting Energy from Exercise Equipment

Abstract

Electricity is generated in response to use of exercise equipment in a reciprocating motion. An energy harvester system is provided in and responsive to movement of a motion control arrangement of an exercise machine for converting kinetic and ambient light energy supplied from an environment of the exercise equipment into electrical power which is delivered to a feedback system associated with the exercise equipment in order to provide information corresponding to the user of the exercise equipment.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 generating a DC link voltage as a result of rotating a shaft of an electricity generator in two directions,   wherein the generator shaft is rotated in both of the two directions as a result of a reciprocating motion of a user of exercise equipment.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the DC link voltage fluctuates during the reciprocating motion. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of clamping the DC link voltage. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of converting the DC link voltage to a DC output voltage having a generally constant average value. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of delivering the DC output voltage to a feedback system associated with the exercise equipment. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising the steps of:
 generating a DC link voltage having a varying amplitude,   wherein the generating step is caused by a single repetition of a reciprocating motion of a user of exercise equipment, and   wherein the varying amplitude has a plurality of maximum amplitudes.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of clamping the DC link voltage. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the step of converting the DC link voltage to a DC output voltage having a generally constant average value. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of delivering the DC output voltage to a feedback system associated with the exercise equipment. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of maximum amplitudes are separated by a time period of lower amplitude. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing and utilizing electrical power in exercise equipment having a motion control at moveable in repeating cycles of movement along a reciprocating motion path, the method comprising the steps of:
 converting kinetic energy created due to the reciprocating movement of the motion control arrangement of the exercise equipment into a variable electrical power output utilizing a generator assembly, wherein the variable electrical power output is dependent upon a velocity of movement of the motion control arrangement along the reciprocating motion path;   converting the variable electrical power from the generator assembly into a DC link voltage;   clamping the DC link voltage if the velocity of movement of the motion control arrangement exceeds a threshold;   converting the DC link voltage into a DC output voltage having a generally constant average value; and   delivering the DC output voltage resulting from the converted kinetic energy to a feedback system associated with the exercise equipment, wherein the DC output voltage powers the feedback system such that the feedback system provides information related to use of the exercise equipment.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the generally constant average value of the DC output voltage is independent from the instantaneous velocity of movement of the motion control arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the DC link voltage is controlled such that the DC link voltage varies during each cycle of movement and has a generally constant average over one or more cycles of movement of the motion control arrangement.