Accessory systems enabling exercise device and computing device interactions

Abstract

Accessory systems configured to convert motion from a given exercise device into computer readable instructions for a given general-purpose computer. The accessory systems include a microcontroller and a sensor. The microcontroller is in data communication with the given general-purpose computer. The sensor is in data communication with the microcontroller and mounted in a position to monitor the given exercise device. The sensor is configured to detect motion of the given exercise device and to send motion data to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programed with computer executable instructions to convert the motion data into computer readable instructions for the given general-purpose computer. In some examples, the accessory system includes a magnet, a first supplementary input, a second supplementary input, and/or a user input device.

1 . An accessory system for converting motion from a given exercise device into computer readable instructions for a given general-purpose computer, comprising:
 a microcontroller in data communication with the given general-purpose computer; and   a sensor in data communication with the microcontroller and mounted in a position to monitor the given exercise device;   wherein the sensor is configured to detect motion of the given exercise device and to send motion data to the microcontroller; and   wherein the microcontroller is programed with computer executable instructions to convert the motion data into computer readable instructions for the given general-purpose computer.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory system of  claim 2 , further comprising a magnet mounted on a moving component of the given exercise device. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory system of  claim 3 , wherein the magnet is mounted on a wheel of the given exercise device. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory system of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor is mounted on the given exercise device in a position to electromagnetically interact with the magnet. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor is stationarily mounted to an axle of a wheel of the given exercise device. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the motion data includes frequency data. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the computer executable instructions include instructions for obtaining a threshold frequency value; and   the computer executable instructions include instructions for sending a keyboard input to the given, general-purpose computer when the frequency data exceeds the threshold frequency value.   
     
     
         10 . The accessory system of  claim 9 , wherein the keyboard input corresponds to pressing a combination of keyboard keys. 
     
     
         11 . The accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the computer executable instructions include instructions for assigning the frequency data to a frequency variable;   the computer executable instructions include instructions for updating the frequency variable based on the frequency data; and   the computer executable instructions include instructions for sending the frequency variable to the given, general-purpose computer.   
     
     
         12 . The accessory system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user input device in data communication with the microcontroller. 
     
     
         13 . The accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer readable instructions are configured to control a computer game running on the given, general-purpose computer. 
     
     
         14 . The accessory system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first supplementary input in data communication with the microcontroller and configured to provide first supplementary data to the microcontroller. 
     
     
         15 . The accessory system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first supplementary input is in data communication with the given exercise device; and   the first supplementary data corresponds to a resistance level of the given exercise device.   
     
     
         16 . The accessory system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second supplementary input in data communication with the microcontroller and configured to provide second supplementary data to the microcontroller. 
     
     
         17 . The accessory system of  claim 16 , wherein the second supplementary data corresponds to a duration of use of the given exercise device. 
     
     
         18 . The accessory system of  claim 17 , wherein the duration of use corresponds to how long the motion data reflects motion within a given frequency range. 
     
     
         19 . The accessory system of  claim 17 , wherein the duration of use corresponds to how long the given exercise device is used at a given resistance level. 
     
     
         20 . An accessory system for converting motion from a given exercise device into computer readable instructions for a given general-purpose computer, comprising:
 a microcontroller in data communication with the given, general-purpose computer; and   a magnet mounted on a moving component of the given exercise device   a magnetic sensor in data communication with the microcontroller and mounted on the given exercise device in a position to electromagnetically interact with the magnet;   wherein the sensor is configured to detect motion of the given exercise device and to send motion data to the microcontroller;   wherein the motion data includes frequency data; and   wherein the microcontroller is programed with computer executable instructions to convert the motion data into computer readable instructions for the given, general-purpose computer.