FR2740044A1 - PHYSICAL EXERCISE DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices for carrying out physical or gymnastic exercises, which can be used particularly for sports training, for fitness exercises ("fitness") and / or for cardiac rehabilitation exercises. . A physical exercise device comprises: - an exercise device (1), - a sensor (2) of the heart rate of the user of the exercise device, - a visual transducer (3), - a transducer (4), - means for delivering to said transducers video image sequences, which sequences are recorded in digitized form, - means (18, 20) for controlling said means for delivering the sequences to said transducers, as a function of the signal delivered by said heart rate sensor. The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of gymnastic exercise apparatus.

Description

PHYSICAL EXERCISE DEVICE

  The present invention relates to devices for performing physical exercises or gymnastics, which can be used especially for sports training, for fitness exercises and / or for exercise exercises.

cardiac rehabilitation.

  The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture

  gymnastic exercise equipment.

  The patent application FR 2 879 145 (ELION Robert) describes a device intended to make the use of the "health-bike" attractive by adding to the "health-bike" a television screen intended for broadcast a movie for the user; the film specifically intended for the device is recorded on the road under the cyclo- tourist's sight conditions with a magnetic track capturing the percentages of the road profile traveled; the device comprises a special video recorder adapted to receive, by mechanical or electromechanical connection, the advance order of the special film as soon as the pedal of the bicycle is actuated, and an echoing system in the form of variable pressure, the data of the profiles.

  recorded on the magnetic track of the film.

  The present invention aims to propose systems

improved physical exercises.

  The present invention more particularly objective of providing systems increasing the motivation of users that is likely to be low after a certain time at least, especially because of the need to perform relatively exercises

  long as well as physically and psychologically demanding.

  The present invention also aims to provide exercise systems that can be adapted to any type of exercise machine, namely in particular endless treadmills, or

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  exercise machine in which masses are moved by the user. The solution to the problem posed is to provide a device for physical exercise or sports or gymnastics for cardiac rehabilitation in particular, comprising: - an exercise machine such as a cycle, a moving carpet, or a weight training device, motorized or not, - a heart rate sensor of the patient or user of the exercise machine, - a high performance visual transducer such as a high resolution graphic display, - a high performance sound transducer such as a high speaker, - means for delivering or distributing or conveying to said transducers sequences of images and / or sounds (or words) and / or video, which sequences are recorded in digitized form, - means for controlling said means for delivering the sequences to said transducers, as a function of 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 propose to the user performing an exercise, throughout the duration of the exercise, a short film (or medium-length film) with a variable scenario (or adapted) according to the effort made by the user, and / or according to the conformity measured heart rate against a predetermined histogram of heart rate. According to preferred embodiments - said sequences are recorded on one or more portable recording media, such as CD ROM disks, or on one or more hard disks;

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  said device comprises an input interface such as a keyboard allowing the choice of a sequence and / or a program of several sequences from among a set of sequences or programs recorded on said portable recording medium, and or which comprises a portable remote control operable by the user, infrared signal transmission for example, and / or which 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, if necessary, a CD ROM magazine equipped with means for automatically transferring a disk from among several disks contained in said magazine; 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 image and sound sequences to said transducers; the device comprises a thoracic strap forming an electrode support placed in contact with the skin of the user, further comprising a device for pretreatment of the signals delivered by said electrodes, a source of electrical energy such as a battery, assembly being able to be worn by the user, and connection means with said signal processing means representative of the heart rate which preferably comprises a radio transmitter connected by a cable to the heart rate sensor, and the device comprises in in addition to a radio receiver capable of cooperating with said transmitter; alternatively, said device comprises a wire bond or infrared signal transmission between said heart rate sensor and said signal processing means representative of the heart rate; the device comprises a piece of furniture incorporating said screen and at least one loudspeaker, which piece of furniture also comprises a CD-ROM reader and a microprocessor-based control and control device such as a microcomputer, for example, said piece of furniture is equipped with casters; the device comprises a muscular sensor; the device comprises a portable helmet by said user which is provided with at least one screen and at least one loudspeaker or sound transducer; Thanks to the invention, these image display and sound broadcasting (speech or music) control means (preferably at least partly implemented in the form of software or programs recorded in a memory of a micro-computer integrated into a piece of furniture for example), an automatic modification of the sequences of moving pictures and sounds, for example constituting short films with sound, which are optionally associated with delivery control means auditing transducer of visual and audible 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 with respect to the objective pursued, which makes the subject of a predetermined histogram of time variation of the heart rate, said messages may also induce the patient to slow down the exercise so that it does not run out too much quick; this allows to control the attendance or the behavior of the user carrying out the exercise, during this one, and thus makes it possible to strengthen its interest to continue the exercise until its term, thanks to the character "interactive" of controlled exercise

  by computer, and thus increases the motivation of the patient.

  The invention also has the result of providing an apparatus enabling a patient to perform cardiovascular exercises in a safe manner, thanks to permanent monitoring.

the patient's heart rhythm.

  A device according to the invention is provided with a great flexibility thanks to the means of digital recording and restitution of

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  sequences of images "sonorized" by the transducers, which makes it possible to adapt in real time the video sequences or the films according to the objective of the exercise on the one hand, and also makes it possible to modulate the difficulty of the exercises for example depending on the personality of the patient. It is possible to achieve a physical exercise system according to the invention at a relatively low cost, most of the elements being for example integrated in a mobile cabinet that can be used in

  cooperation with various types of exercise machines.

  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, ie short or medium lengths (or "clips") to adaptive or conditional or multiple scenarios, and may for example be short films relating to sporting, cultural

  or to strip shows for example.

  The many advantages provided by the invention will be better

  understood through the following description which refers to the drawings

  annexed, which illustrate, without any limiting

  preferential embodiments of the invention.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a user of a physical exercise machine whose heart rate is delivered to a piece of furniture (on wheels) incorporating control and distribution means

  sequences of moving pictures and sounds and / or speech.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the main constituents or modules of the signal processing and image and sound delivery control devices in an apparatus according to the invention. With reference to FIG. 1, particularly the patient or user 6 using a physical exercise device such as a treadmill is equipped with a ribbon band or strap 7 supporting electrodes in contact with the patient's skin which are

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  connected by a cable 8 to a transducer equipped with a radio transmitter 9, which is arranged near the patient on a support 10 which optimizes the transmission of radio waves between the transmitter 9 and a radio wave receiver 12 integrated in a furniture 1 1 connected to the mains for its supply of electrical energy and mounted on wheels 13. For example, the sensor / transmitter assembly may 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 has a screen 3 of large dimensions and high resolution driven by a video card (graphic) fast and high performance and can display in the field of view of the patient a film whose evolution (the flow) depends the patient's heart rate according to the invention and is optionally interspersed with visual messages and / or sound incentive to continue the effort. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cabinet 11 receives, in a preferred embodiment, all the means for controlling and delivering the sequences of images and sounds that are for example delivered by a reader 23 of digital optical disks or CD-ROM discs. , Which piece of furniture is equipped for example with a magazine 24 for loading and unloading automatically disks, to increase the amount of programs (films) available in this piece of furniture thus constituting a kind of digital juke box. The quantity of digitized images can be several tens of thousands of images at least; the sequences of images are displayed at a rate of at least 15 to 20 images per second, to constitute films

  from a few minutes to several tens of minutes.

  The control of the assembly can be performed 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 signals

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  radio transmitted by the transmitter 9 transmitting the signals 8 delivered by the heart rate sensor 2 consisting essentially of 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 may be transmitted by a

  wired link or by an infrared beam, or ultrasounds for example.

  The signals representative of the patient's heart rhythm that are output from the receiver 12 are processed by a signal processing unit 15, which is interfaced with a microprocessor central unit 18 which, based on said signals and the comparison of these signals. ci with a previously determined histogram of variation of said signals during the exercise, determines for example the sequence of a sequence selected from a plurality of sound or musical or visual sequences, for the purpose of attracting the attention of the user, on the conformity of his effort and the resulting cardiac rhythm in relation to the effort to be made during this

physical exercise.

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

  processing signals delivered by said sensor 16.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the microprocessor central unit 18 controls, via links 25, 26, the delivery of images and sounds such as speech or music delivered by the recording medium reader 23, intended for a conversion unit. of these digital data so as to make them compatible for delivery 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 converter module

analogue and amplifier 22.

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  The terminal (the furniture) can also be connected to a computerized exercise machine 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 (for example a screen and wall speakers) the furniture could disappear, since it would remain only the computer

  which could be placed on a console.

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Claims (10)

  1. Exercise device characterized in that it comprises: - an apparatus (1) for exercise, - a sensor (2) of the heart rate of the user of the exercise machine, - a transducer visual (3), - a sound transducer (4), - means for delivering to said transducers sequences of video images, which sequences are recorded in digitized form, - means (18, 20) for controlling said means for delivering sequences to said transducers, depending on the   signal delivered by said heart rate sensor.   2. Device according to claim 1 further comprising an input interface such as a keyboard (19) allowing the choice of a sequence and / or a program of several sequences among a   set of previously saved sequences or programs.   3. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 2   having at least one CD ROM reader (23) and, if applicable, a CD ROM magazine (24) equipped with automatic transfer means   of a disk among several disks contained in said magazine.   4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   comprising means (18, 20) for synthesizing and transmitting digitized voice messages, which are preferably stored in a ROM associated with a microprocessor for controlling the delivery of messages.   sequences of images and sounds to said transducers.   5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4   comprising an electrode support chest strap (7) placed in contact with the skin of the user, further comprising a device for pretreatment of the signals delivered by said electrodes, 1o 2740044 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 further comprises a receiver ( 12) radio adapted to cooperate with said transmitter (9).   6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5   comprising a piece of furniture (11) incorporating a screen (3), a speaker (4), a CD ROM reader and a control and command device   micro processor such as a micro computer.   7. Device according to claim 6 wherein said furniture is equipped with wheels (13).   8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7   further comprising a muscle sensor.   9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8   comprising a portable helmet by said user who is provided with   least one screen and at least one sound transducer.   10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9   wherein said digitized image and sound sequences are recorded on hard disk.