EP0769310A1 - Device for physical exercises - Google Patents

Abstract

The exercise device includes a treadmill with a moving belt (1) on which a person can run. A sensor is attached to the user via a belt (7) fixed around the user's waist to measure the user's cardiac frequency. A cable connects this sensor to a device (9) which transmits the information regarding heart rate to a detector (12) on a remote monitoring unit (11). The monitoring unit includes a display screen (3) and a loudspeaker (4) arranged to provide video and audio information to the user. The information displayed on the screen is then altered as a function of the detected heart rate. The video display may show a film sequence to the user and may also be used to display warnings if necessary as a function of the detected heart rate.

Description

The present invention relates to devices for carrying out physical or gymnastic exercises, which can be used particularly for sports training, for fitness exercises and / or for cardiac rehabilitation exercises. .

invention est celui de la fabrication d'appareils d'exercices de gymnastique.The technical field of

invention is that of the manufacture of gymnastic exercise equipment.

Patent application FR 2 879 145 (ELION Robert) describes a device intended to make the use of "healthy bike" attractive by adding a "healthy bike" to a television screen intended for play a film for the user; the film specially intended for the device is recorded on the road under the conditions of vision of the cyclotourist with magnetic track capturing the percentages of the road profile traveled; the device comprises a special video recorder adapted to receive by mechanical or electromechanical link the order of advance of the special film as soon as the pedal set of the bicycle is put into action, and a system reflecting, in the form of variable pressure, the data of the profiles recorded on the film magnetic strip.

The present invention aims to provide improved systems for performing physical exercises.

The present invention more particularly aims to provide systems increasing the motivation of users which is likely to be weak after a certain time at least, due in particular to the need to perform relatively long exercises as well as physically and psychically demanding.

The present invention also aims to provide physical exercise systems which can be adapted to any type of exercise device, namely in particular cycles, endless treadmills, or weight training device in which masses are moved by the user.

An object of the invention is to provide a stimulation system for a user, for carrying out physical exercises with or without a physical exercise device.

An objective of the ivention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out exercises using a physical exercise apparatus, which does not require any connection with a sensor or an actuator of the exercise apparatus.

An object of the invention is to improve the control of the heart rate of a user performing physical exercise.

• un capteur de la fréquence cardiaque du patient ou utilisateur,
• un transducteur visuel, de préférence de grande performance, tel qu'un écran graphique haute résolution,
• un transducteur sonore, de préférence de haute performance tel qu'un(de préférence au moins 2) haut parleur(s),
• des moyens pour délivrer (ou distribuer ou acheminer) auxdits transducteurs des séquences d'images et/ou de sons (ou paroles) et/ou vidéo, lesquelles séquences sont enregistrées sous forme numérisée, et constituent un film,
• des moyens pour commander lesdits moyens pour délivrer les séquences auxdits transducteurs, en fonction du signal délivré par ledit capteur de fréquence cardiaque ; l'invention permet ainsi de modifier en fonction dudit signal, le déroulement, l'ordre, l'apparence, le contenu, ou le rythme desdites séquences d'images et de sons et/ou de vidéo, afin de proposer à l'utilisateur effectuant un exercice, pendant toute la durée de celui-ci, un court métrage (ou moyen ou long métrage) à scénario variable (ou adapté) en fonction de l'effort réalisé par l'utilisateur, et/ou en fonction de la conformité du rythme cardiaque mesuré par rapport à un histogramme prédéterminé de la fréquence cardiaque.

The solution to the problem posed consists in providing a device for the practice of physical or sports exercises or of gymnastics for cardiac rehabilitation in particular, comprising:

• a patient or user heart rate sensor,
• a visual transducer, preferably of high performance, such as a high resolution graphic screen,
• a sound transducer, preferably high performance such as a (preferably at least 2) speaker (s),
• means for delivering (or distributing or routing) to said transducers sequences of images and / or sounds (or words) and / or video, which sequences are recorded in digital form, and constitute a film,
• means for controlling said means for delivering the sequences to said transducers, according to the signal delivered by said heart rate sensor; the invention thus makes it possible to modify, as a function of said signal, the sequence, order, appearance, content, or rhythm of said sequences of images and sounds and / or video, in order to offer the user performing an exercise, throughout its duration, a short film (or medium or long film) with variable scenario (or adapted) according to the effort made by the user, and / or according to compliance heart rate measured against a predetermined histogram of heart rate.

• ledit dispositi comporte un moyen (ou organe tel qu'un microprocesseur ou micro-ordinateur fonctionant sous le controle d'un programme) de comparaison du signal délivré par le capteur de fréquence cardiaque à des valeurs prédéterminées (et enregistrées dans une mémoire électronique de l'appareil) de consigne de fréquence cardiaque, et des moyens d'émission de messages visuels et/ou vocaux (numérisés et enregistrés dans une deuxième mémoire de l'appareil) d'avertissement de l'utilisateur qui sont commandés par le moyen de comparaison ;
• ledit dispositif compte un moyen de liaison sans fil entre ledit capteur de fréquence cardiaque et les moyens de commande de délivrance de séquences d'images et de sons,
• ledit dispositif comporte un lecteur d'un support amovible (tel qu'un CD ROM) d'enregistrement sous forme numérisée desdites séquences,
• ledit dispositif comporte une interface de communication avec un réseau de télécommunication ;
• ledit dispositif comporte un organe de lecture de données (numériques) d'identification de chaque utilisateur, tel qu'un lecteur de carte ou badge électronique ou magnétique ou bien un lecteur de disquettes ;
• ledit dispositif comporte en outre un interface de saisie tel qu'un clavier ou un récepteur infrarouge sensible aux signaux infrarouges émis par un émetteur (télécommande) actionné par l'utilisateur, permettant le choix d'une séquence et/ou d'un programme de plusieurs séquences parmi un ensemble de séquences ou de programmes préalablement enregistrés, permettant le choix d'un type d'exercice et du chronogramme de fréquence cardiaque correspondant parmi une pluralité de chronogrammes prédéterminés et enregistrés dans une mémoire de l'appareil, et permettant l'introduction d'une donnée d'identification de l'individu utilisateur ;
• ledit dispositif comporte des moyens d'enregistrement (d'un chronogramme) du signal délivré par le capteur de fréquence cardiaque et des moyens de sélection d'un ou plusieurs types d'exercices possibles en fonction du signal enregistré, lors d'un test qui est préalable à un exercice dont la durée est supérieure à la durée du test ;
• lesdites séquences sont enregistrées sur un ou plusieurs supports portatifs d'enregistrement, tels que des disques CD ROM, ou bien sur un ou plusieurs disques durs ;
• ledit dispositif comporte un capteur supplémentaire représentatif d'un paramètre physique caractéristique de l'effort développé par l'utilisateur ;
• le dispositif comporte un lecteur de CD ROM au moins et le cas échéant un magasin de CD ROM équipé de moyens de transfert automatique d'un disque parmi plusieurs disques contenus dans ledit magasin ;
• le dispositif comporte des moyens de synthèse et d'émission de messages vocaux numérisés qui sont de préférence enregistrés dans une mémoire ROM associée à un micro processeur de commande de la délivrance des séquences d'images et de sons auxdits transducteurs ;
• le dispositif comporte une sangle thoracique formant support d'électrodes placées au contact de la peau de l'utilisateur, comportant en outre un dispositif de prétraitement des signaux délivrés par lesdites électrodes, une source d'énergie électrique telle qu'une pile, l'ensemble étant apte à être porté par l'utilisateur, et des moyens de liaison avec lesdits moyens de traitement du signal représentatif du rythme cardiaque qui de préférence comporte un émetteur radio lié par un câble au capteur de fréquence cardiaque, et le dispositif comporte en outre un récepteur radio apte à coopérer avec ledit émetteur ; alternativement, ledit dispositif comporte une liaison par fil ou par transmission de signaux infrarouges entre ledit capteur de fréquence cardiaque et lesdits moyens de traitement des signaux représentatifs de la fréquence cardiaque ;
• le dispositif comporte un meuble incorporant ledit écran et un haut parleur au moins, lequel meuble comporte également un lecteur de CD ROM et un dispositif de contrôle et de commande à micro processeur tel qu'un micro ordinateur par exemple ;
• ledit meuble est équipé de roulettes ;
• le dispositif comporte un capteur musculaire et/ou un capteur de tension artérielle,
• le dispositif comporte un casque portable par ledit utilisateur qui est muni d'au moins un écran et d'au moins un haut parleur ou transducteur sonore ;

According to preferred embodiments:

• said device comprises a means (or organ such as a microprocessor or microcomputer operating under the control of a program) for comparing the signal delivered by the heart rate sensor with predetermined values (and recorded in an electronic memory of the 'device) heart rate setpoint, and means for transmitting visual and / or voice messages (digitized and saved in a second memory of the device) warning the user which are controlled by the comparison means ;
• said device has a wireless connection means between said heart rate sensor and the control means for delivering sequences of images and sounds,
• said device comprises a reader of a removable medium (such as a CD ROM) for recording in digitized form said sequences,
• said device comprises an interface for communication with a telecommunications network;
• said device comprises a member for reading (digital) data identifying each user, such as an electronic or magnetic card or badge reader or else a floppy disk reader;
• said device further comprises an input interface such as a keyboard or an infrared receiver sensitive to infrared signals emitted by a transmitter (remote control) actuated by the user, allowing the choice of a sequence and / or a program of several sequences among a set of sequences or programs previously recorded, allowing the choice of a type of exercise and the corresponding heart rate chronogram among a plurality of predetermined chronograms and saved in a memory of the device, and allowing the introduction of data identifying the individual user;
• said device comprises means for recording (a chronogram) of the signal delivered by the heart rate sensor and means for selecting one or more types of possible exercises as a function of the signal recorded, during a test which is prior to an exercise the duration of which is greater than the duration of the test;
• said sequences are recorded on one or more portable recording media, such as CD ROM discs, or on one or more hard discs;
• said device comprises an additional sensor representative of a physical parameter characteristic of the effort developed by the user;
• the device comprises at least one CD ROM drive and, where appropriate, a CD ROM magazine equipped with means for automatically transferring a disc from among several discs contained in said store;
• the device comprises means for synthesizing and transmitting digitized voice messages which are preferably recorded in a ROM memory associated with a microprocessor for controlling the delivery of the sequences of images and sounds to said transducers;
• the device comprises a chest strap forming an electrode support placed in contact with the skin of the user, further comprising a device for preprocessing the signals delivered by said electrodes, a source of electrical energy such as a battery, the assembly being able to be worn by the user, and means of connection with said means for processing the signal representative of the heart rate which preferably comprises a radio transmitter linked by a cable to the heart rate sensor, and the device also comprises a radio receiver capable of cooperating with said transmitter; alternatively, said device comprises a connection by wire or by transmission of infrared signals between said heart rate sensor and said means for processing signals representative of heart rate;
• the device comprises a piece of furniture incorporating said screen and at least one loudspeaker, which piece of furniture also includes a CD ROM drive and a microprocessor control and command device such as a microcomputer for example;
• said piece of furniture is fitted with casters;
• the device includes a muscle sensor and / or a blood pressure sensor,
• the device comprises a helmet portable by said user which is provided with at least one screen and at least one speaker or sound transducer;

Thanks to the invention, one obtains, automatically, by these control means for displaying images and broadcasting sounds (words or music) (preferably at least partly produced in the form of software or program recorded in a memory of a microcomputer integrated into a piece of furniture for example), an automatic modification of the sequences of animated images and sounds, for example constituting short films with sound, which are optionally associated with means for controlling delivery to said audit transducer of visual and audio or spoken messages, which makes it possible to encourage the user or the patient to continue his effort, when a relaxation of the effort developed by the patient is detected compared to the pursued objective, which makes the subject to a predetermined histogram of variation in time of the heart rate, said messages can also encourage the patient to slow down the exercise so that he does not get too exhausted quickly ; this allows to control the attendance or the behavior of the user performing the exercise, during this one, and thus makes it possible to reinforce his interest to continue the exercise until its end, thanks to the "interactive" character of computer-controlled exercise, thereby increasing the patient's motivation.

The invention also has the result of providing an apparatus making it possible to make a patient perform cardiovascular rehabilitation exercises in complete safety, thanks to the permanent monitoring of the patient's heart rate.

invention est doté d'une grande souplesse grâce aux moyens d'enregistrement numérique et de restitution des séquences d'images "sonorisées" par les transducteurs, ce qui permet d'adapter en temps réel les séquences vidéo ou les films en fonction de l'objectif de l'exercice d'une part, et permet également de moduler la difficulté des exercices par exemple en fonction de la personnalité du patient.A device according to l

invention is endowed with great flexibility thanks to the means of digital recording and restitution of the image sequences "sounded" by the transducers, which makes it possible to adapt in real time the video sequences or the films according to the exercise objective on the one hand, and also allows to modulate the difficulty of the exercises, for example depending on the personality of the patient.

invention à un coût relativement faible, l'essentiel des éléments étant par exemple intégré dans un meuble mobile pouvant être utilisé en coopération avec divers types d'appareils d'exercices physiques.It is possible to perform a physical exercise system according to the

invention at a relatively low cost, most of the elements being for example integrated in a movable piece of furniture which can be used in cooperation with various types of exercise equipment.

est à dire des courts ou moyens métrages (ou "clips") à scénarios adaptatifs ou conditionnels ou multiples, et sont de préférence des courts métrages relatifs à des manifestations non sportives, culturelles ou à des spectacles de strip tease par exemple, c

est à dire dont le contenu est sans rapport direct avec l'activité physique de l'utilisateur.The invention uses short films whose variable scenarios are determined in real time by the control means as a function of the signal delivered by the heart rate sensor, c

ie short or medium-length films (or "clips") with adaptive or conditional or multiple scenarios, and are preferably short films relating to non-sporting, cultural events or strip tease shows for example, c

ie the content of which is not directly related to the physical activity of the user.

invention seront mieux compris au travers de la description suivante qui se réfère aux dessins annexés, qui illustrent sans aucun caractère limitatif des modes préférentiels de réalisation de l'invention.The many benefits of

The invention will be better understood through the following description which refers to the appended drawings, which illustrate without any limiting character the preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a user of a physical exercise device whose heart rate is delivered to a piece of furniture (on casters) incorporating means for controlling and distributing sequences of moving images and of sounds and / or speech .

invention.FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the main components or modules of the signal processing and image and sound control devices in an apparatus according to the invention.

invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, particularly the patient or user 6 using a physical exercise device 1 such as a treadmill 5 is equipped with a chest band or strap 7 supporting electrodes in contact with the patient's skin which are connected by a cable 8 to a transducer equipped with a radio transmitter 9, which is placed near the patient on a support 10 which makes it possible to optimize the transmission of radio waves between the transmitter 9 and a radio wave receiver 12 integrated into a cabinet 11 connected to the mains for its supply of electrical energy and mounted on casters 13.

As an example, the sensor / transmitter assembly can be constituted by a system proposed by the company POLAR USA inc 470 West avenue-STAMFORD, CT06902 - USA, under the name "Polar Digital Receiver Module Set".

The cabinet 11 includes a screen 3 of large dimensions and of high resolution controlled by a fast and high performance video (graphic) card and makes it possible to display in the field of view of the patient a film on which the development depends of the patient's heart rate in accordance with the invention and is possibly interspersed with visual and / or audible messages to encourage them to continue or moderate the effort.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cabinet 11 receives in a preferred embodiment all of the means for controlling and delivering sequences of images and sounds which are for example delivered by a reader 23 of digital optical discs or CD ROM disc , which piece of furniture is equipped for example with a magazine 24 for automatic loading and unloading of discs, making it possible to increase the quantity of programs (films) available in this piece of furniture thus constituting a sort of digital juke box. The quantity of scanned images can be at least tens of thousands of images; the image sequences are displayed at a rate of at least 15 to 20 images per second, to constitute films from a few minutes up to several tens of minutes.

The control of the assembly can be carried out by a microprocessor card 18 equipped with a memory 20 and connected on the one hand to a keyboard 19 for example and on the other hand to a receiver 12 of the radio signals emitted by the transmitter 9 transmitting the signals 8 delivered by the heart rate sensor 2 essentially constituted by said electrodes held by said chest strap illustrated in FIG. 1.

The signals 14 can therefore be transmitted from the radio transmitter 9, to the receiver 12 or alternatively can be transmitted by a wired link or by an infrared beam, or ultrasound for example.

The signals representative of the patient's heart rate which are delivered by the receiver 12 are processed by a signal processing unit 15, which is interfaced with a central microprocessor unit 18 which, according to said signals and the comparison of these. ci with a previously determined histogram of variation of said signals during the exercise, determines for example the sequence of a sequence chosen from a plurality of sound or musical or visual sequences, in order to attract the attention of the user, on the conformity of his effort and the resulting heart rate compared to the effort to be made during this physical exercise.

A second sensor 16 (and / or a remote control operated by the user) can also be provided, which can be connected to said central microprocessor unit via an interface 17 for processing the signals delivered by said sensor 16 .

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the central microprocessor unit 18, controls by links 25, 26 the delivery of images and sounds such as words or music delivered by the reader 23 of recording media, intended for a conversion unit of these digital data so as to make them compatible in order to deliver them respectively to the screen 3 and to a loudspeaker 4 at least; such interface modules can be respectively a high resolution graphics card 21 and a digital analog converter and amplifier module 22.

The terminal (the furniture) can also be connected to a computerized exercise device and the microprocessor control unit can directly manage the control of the device according to the patient's heart rate and the type of exercise determined ( acceleration or deceleration of the treadmill).

The speakers and the screen can be located outside the cabinet (e.g. a screen and wall speakers) the cabinet could thus disappear, since there would only remain the computer which could be placed on a console.

The central unit 18 is connected to a reader 30 of a "smart" card 31 specific to a specific user, which card contains identification and physiological data which can be read by the reader 30 and transmitted to the processor 18, who under the control of a program can select one or more types of exercises adapted to the user according to the data read.

The reader 30 can be supplemented by a writing device capable of recording on the card specific to each user, physiological data introduced by the user or else resulting from the measurement of the heart rate of the user during one or more tests. (s) or exercise (s).

An interface 32 with a network, which may include a modem for connection to a telephone network, can be used to route digital data coming from a remote computer to the device; this data may in particular constitute a video sequence (film).

Claims (11)

Device for carrying out physical exercises, characterized in that it comprises: - a sensor (2) of the heart rate of the user of the exercise apparatus, - a visual transducer (3), - a sound transducer (4), means for delivering sequences of images and sounds to said transducers, which sequences are recorded in digitized form and constitute a video film, - means (18, 20) for controlling said means for delivering the sequences to said transducers, according to the signal delivered by said heart rate sensor. Device according to claim 1, which comprises means (18) for comparing the signal delivered by the heart rate sensor with predetermined values (and recorded in an electronic memory of the device) of heart rate, and transmission means visual and / or voice messages digitized and recorded in a second memory of the user warning device, which are controlled by the comparison means. Device according to claim 1 or 2 which comprises means for wireless connection between said heart rate sensor and the means (18, 20) for controlling the delivery of sequences of images and sounds. Device according to

any one of claims 1 to 3 which comprises a reader (23) of a removable medium (such as a CD ROM) for recording in digitized form of said sequences. Device according to

any one of claims 1 to 4 which comprises an interface (32) for communication with a telecommunications network. Device according to

any one of claims 1 to 5 which comprises a member (30) for reading digital data identifying each user, such as a card reader (31) or electronic or magnetic badge or else a floppy disk reader. Device according to

any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprising an input interface, such as a keyboard (19) or an infrared receiver sensitive to infrared signals emitted by a transmitter actuated by the user, allowing the choice of a sequence and / or a program of several sequences from a set of sequences or programs previously recorded, allowing the choice of an exercise type and the corresponding heart rate chronogram from a plurality of predetermined chronograms and stored in a memory of the device, and allowing the introduction of an identification data of the individual user. Device according to

any one of claims 1 to 7 comprising a thoracic strap (7) forming an electrode support placed in contact with the skin of the user, further comprising a device for preprocessing the signals delivered by said electrodes, a source of electrical energy such as a battery, the assembly being able to be carried by the user, and means of connection with said processing means which preferably comprise a radio transmitter (9) connected to the heart rate sensor, and the device comprises furthermore a radio receiver (12) able to cooperate with said transmitter (9). Device according to

any one of claims 1 to 8 comprising a piece of furniture (11) incorporating a screen (3), two speakers (4), a CD ROM drive, a microprocessor control and command device such as a microcomputer, and further comprising a muscle and / or blood pressure sensor. Device according to

any one of claims 1 to 9 comprising a headset portable by said user which is provided with at least one screen and at least one sound transducer. Device according to

any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising means for recording the signal delivered by the heart rate sensor and means (18, 20) for selecting one or more types of exercise possible according to the recorded signal, when '' a test which is prior to an exercise the duration of which is greater than the duration of the test.

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