Exercise monitor and method thereof

Abstract

An exercise monitor and method thereof having: a displacement sensor; a processing unit having a processor, clock, a memory storage device, and instructions for (1) computing a bounce rate using only displacement data and time data, (2) computing upper and lower displacement thresholds using only displacement data, and (3) for computing intensity using only bounce rate (beat frequency) and upper and. lower displacement thresholds. There is a display unit and a wireless connection to a handheld device on which computed information is displayed. Such automatically monitors workout intensity by receiving displacement data from a single displacement sensor and calculating upper and lower displacement thresholds to use to determine both heat frequency and intensity per beat via which intensity over a period may be displayed to a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . an exercise monitor comprising:
 a displacement sensor coupled to a mat coupling system configured to functionally couple the displacement sensor to a mat of a trampoline   a processing unit in communication with the sensor and including:
 a processor; 
   
       a clock functionally coupled to the processor;
 a memory storage device in communication with the processor; 
 instructions for computing a bounce rate using only displacement data and time data; 
 instructions for computing upper and lower displacement thresholds Using only displacement data; and 
 instructions for computing intensity using only bounce rate and upper and tower displacement thresholds. 
 
     
     
         2 . The exercise monitor of  claim 1 , further including a display unit functionally coupled to the processing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise monitor of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is functionally coupled to a handheld device through wireless telemetry. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise monitor of  claim 1 , further including instructions for computing calories burned using only bounce rate and intensity. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise monitor of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit further includes a user input device. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise monitor of  claim 1 , wherein the displacement sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         7 . A method for automatically monitoring workout intensity, comprising the steps of:
 receiving, over an input port, displacement data from a single displacement sensor over a first period of multiple exercise action cycles;   calculating, using a processor, upper and lower displacement thresholds based on received displacement data from the first period;   receiving, over an input port, displacement data from the displacement sensor over a second period of multiple exercise action cycles;   
       calculating, using a processor, a bounce rate by comparing actual displacement during the second period with the upper and lower displacement thresholds and clock data from a hardware clock; and 
       calculating, using a processor, intensity of the second period by determining, an intensity per action cycle from the upper and lower displacement thresholds and multiplying by the bounce rate of the second period. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further including the step of calculating, using a processor, calories burned based on the calculated bounce rate and intensity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upper and lower displacement threshold values are calculated using a predetermined constant value in conjunction with the received displacement value. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the intensity value is calculated using a predetermined constant value in conjunction with the received upper and lower displacement thresholds and bounce rate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further including the step of determining, using a processor, whether the displacement is more than the lower displacement threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further including the step of displaying, via a display unit, one of the calculated values. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further including the step of incrementing a counter. 
     
     
         14 . a method for automatically monitoring workout intensity, comprising the steps of:
 receiving, over an input port, displacement data from a single displacement sensor over a first period of multiple exercise action cycles;
 calculating, using, a processor, upper and lower displacement thresholds based on received displacement data from the first period; 
 receiving; over an input port, displacement data from the displacement sensor over a second period of multiple exercise action cycles; 
   determining, using a processor, whether the displacement is more than the lower displacement threshold and incrementing a counter if the displacement value is more than the lower displacement threshold;   calculating, using a processor, a bounce rate by comparing actual displacement during the second period with the upper and lower displacement thresholds and clock data from a hardware clock; and   calculating, using a processor, intensity of the second period by determining an intensity per action cycle from the upper and lower displacement thresholds and multiplying by the bounce rate of the second period.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including the step of calculating, using a processor, calories burned based on the calculated bounce rate and intensity. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the step of incrementing a timer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 . further including the step of displaying, via a display unit, one of the calculated values. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the step of resetting the upper and lower displacement thresholds. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the upper and lower displacement threshold values are calculated using a predetermined constant value in conjunction with the received displacement value. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the intensity value is calculated using a predetermined constant value in conjunction with the received upper and lower displacement thresholds and bounce rate.