Exercise apparatus with sensors and methods thereof

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a resistance assembly, a flexible member, and a sensor network. The sensor network includes sensors that generate signals responsive to the amount of resistance selected by a user of the exercise apparatus and the user's interaction with the flexible member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a resistance assembly, wherein the resistance assembly has a user-selective resistance;   a flexible member coupled to the resistance assembly;   an interaction member coupled to the flexible member;   a sensor network, wherein the sensor network comprises:
 a controller; 
 a first sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the first sensor configured to generate a first signal responsive to movement of the flexible member; 
 a second sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of an amount of user-selected resistance; 
 wherein the controller, based on the first signal and the second signal, is configured to determine quantified exercise data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is in electrical communication with the controller via any of a wired communication coupling and a wireless communication coupling, and the second sensor is in electrical communication with the controller via any of a wired communication coupling and a wireless communication coupling. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is local to the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance assembly comprises a weight stack comprising a plurality of weight plates and a locking pin. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second sensor is a load cell, wherein the second signal generated by the load cell is indicative of an amount weight plates resting on the load cell. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the second sensor is an optical sensor, wherein the second signal generated by the optical sensor is responsive to a visual inspection of an amount of selected weight plates. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pulley, wherein the flexible member is operatively coupled to the pulley, and first sensor is positioned to sense rotation of the pulley.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first sensor is any of an optical sensor and a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first signal generated by the first sensor is indicative of a rotational direction of the pulley. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor, and wherein the flexible member comprises graphical indicia trackable by the optical sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first sensor is an RFID reader, and wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of RFID tags trackable by the RFID reader. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adjustable member; and   a third sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the third sensor configured to generate a third signal responsive to a position of the adjustable member.   
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable member is any of a shuttle, a seat back, a seat bottom, a pin, a lever, and a lap bars. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the interaction member is any of a handle, a bar, a lever, and a pedal. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a weight stack comprising a plurality of weight plates;   a first flexible member coupled to the weight stack;   a first pulley operatively coupled to the first flexible member;   a first interaction member coupled to the first flexible member; wherein movement of the first interaction member away from the first pulley causes rotation of the first pulley in a first direction and a selected portion of the weight stack to be lifted from a remaining portion of the weight stack;   a sensor network, wherein the sensor network comprises:
 a controller; 
 a first sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the first sensor configured to generate a first signal responsive to rotational movement of the first pulley; 
 a second sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the second sensor configured to generate a second signal responsive to a weight of the weight stack; and 
 wherein the controller, based on the first signal and the second signal, is configured to determine quantified exercise data. 
   
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second flexible member;   a second pulley operatively coupled to the second flexible member;   a second interaction member coupled to the second flexible member; wherein movement of the second interaction member away from the second pulley causes rotation of the second pulley in a second direction;   wherein the sensor network further comprises:
 a third sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the third sensor configured to generate a third signal responsive to rotational movement of the second pulley. 
   
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the second flexible member is coupled to the weight stack. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a second weight stack, wherein the second flexible member is coupled to the second weight stack. 
     
     
         19 . An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a resistance assembly, wherein the resistance assembly has a selective resistance;   a flexible member coupled to the resistance assembly;   a sensor network, wherein the sensor network comprises:
 a controller; 
 a first sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the first sensor configured to generate a first signal responsive to movement of the flexible member; 
 a second sensor in electrical communication with the controller, the second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of an amount of selected resistance; 
 wherein the controller, based on the first signal and the second signal, is configured to determine quantified exercise data; and 
   a graphical user display, wherein based on the quantified exercise data, exercise event data is displayable on the graphical user display.   
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising an identification module configured to receiving user indicia from a user. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the controller is in communication with a data store, and wherein the quantified exercise data is stored in the data store. 
     
     
         22 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the data store is remote from the controller and is in communication with the controller via networked communications.