Patent Grant
8360934
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exercise apparatus and, more particularly to a method which facilitates operation of the exercise apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
General indoor exercise apparatus, such as treadmills, stationary bicycles, or steppers, usually have a console which has a control interface for a user to input orders and providing feedback to the user via image or audio. Prior control interfaces usually adopt a common input method that is disposed several keys which respectively have different functions on the console. The user can press corresponding keys according to his requirement. Besides, a common feedback method uses various LED to show information regarding to numerals, characters, or exercise process charts. Some advanced control interfaces use LCD screen to achieve the same feedback function. Furthermore, some control interfaces adopt touch screen which concurrently has the functions of input and feedback and can simplify the control interfaces by showing virtual keys on the touch screen.
No matter what kinds of exercise apparatus, setting “quantifiable exercise intensity”, such as speed of a treadmill, incline angle of a treadmill, and resistance of a stepper, is almost the most used function. In prior control interface, value of the quantifiable exercise intensity is often displayed by a plurality of LED, or showed in numerals or characters. For example, prior control interface shows the characters of “3.5 mph” or “level 10” thereon. Besides, prior control interface usually provides several keys for inputting numerals from “0” to “9” and adjusting keys for a user to use these keys to control the exercise intensity.
However, it is inconvenient to use keys to control an exercise apparatus. For instance, if a user wants to adjust a present value of “7.0” to a new value of “3.5”, generally, he may adopt one of following three methods. The first is touching keys corresponding to the numeral “3” and the numeral “5” in turn, and then touching an “Enter” key to input. The second is holding down a “minus” key to make the value of “7.0” keep decreasing until the value of “3.5”. The third is touching a hotkey to make the value of “7.0” to become “4.0” or “3.0”, and then pressing the “minus” key or a “plus” key five times or pressing over a period of time to achieve the values of “3.5”. These methods are inconvenient and may waste much time.
Besides, prior control methods about displaying and adjusting the control interface have another disadvantage. Because prior control interface only displays the current value, the user can not simultaneously understand all of the information and the relationship therebetween. Therefore, when the user adjusts the exercise intensity, it is difficult for him to control variation. For example, a user can not understand what a numeral “3.5” means and the numeral is at high intensity or low intensity within the overall adjusting range as operating prior control interface of an exercise apparatus. When the user wants to exercise in the middle exercise intensity of the exercise apparatus or 1.5 times against current exercise intensity, it is hard for prior control method and control interface to achieve the requirements.
In addition, prior control interfaces often use and arrange a plurality of LED to show the exercise process chart for concretely presenting the exercise intensity during the exercising time. Usually, the plurality of LED composes of a LED matrix display. A transverse axle of the LED matrix display represents time and a vertical axle thereof represents the exercise intensity. A user can recognize the current exercise intensity and exercising time from the LED matrix display. But, the rise and fall boundary between light LED and dark LED often make the user have misunderstanding. For instance, when the user uses a treadmill, he may imagine the boundary as an incline real road. This is wrong, because the decline boundary does not represent a decline road.
The present invention involves a method for controlling an exercise apparatus via a control interface of the exercise apparatus. Generally speaking, the present invention is capable of simultaneously displayed all of information regarding to the exercise apparatus to a user in an easy to understand format and allow the user for quickly and instinctively setting the exercise apparatus.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the method in a preferred embodiment includes: controlling a touch screen to display an information field thereon; graphically displaying an input zone having a plurality of sensing areas in the information field, the plurality of sensing areas constituting an adjusting path; displaying a first tag in the information field, the first tag having a portion pointing to a first sensing area of the input zone and displaying a parameter having a first value on the first tag corresponding to the first sensing area of the input zone; dragging the first tag along the adjusting path from the first sensing area to a second sensing area of the input zone; displaying a confirmation message on the first tag awaiting for a confirmation input; displaying a second value of the parameter on the first tag corresponding to the second sensing area of the input zone after receiving the confirmation input; operating the exercise apparatus from a first condition using the first value of the parameter to a second condition using the second value of the parameter; and displaying a second tag in the information field, the second tag having a portion pointing to the first sensing area of the input zone wherein the relative positions of the first and second tags graphically show the difference between the first and second values of the parameter.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a control unit has a display screen to show an information field, and a graphic history group is displayed therein for showing the transition about exercise intensity. The graphic history group substantially comprises a level indicator which is made up of one or more line segments. The number and the length of the line segments according to different time spans within entire exercising time. Each of the line segments respectively has an included angle relative to a base line of the information field. Each of the included angles is proportion to exercise intensity within corresponding exercising time span.
This summary is not meant to be exhaustive. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.
FIGS. 4-a to 4-e are diagrams which illustrate operation of dragging a first tag as a user operating the control interface of the preferred embodiment;
FIGS. 5-a to 5-c are diagrams about how the control interface of the preferred embodiment deals with an action of dragging on the input zone from the user;
FIGS. 6-a and 6-b are diagrams which illustrate operation of choosing a random position on the input zone as a user operating the control interface of the preferred embodiment;
FIGS. 7-a and 7-b are diagrams which illustrate operation of using a plus key and a minus key to adjust the first tag as a user operating the control interface of the preferred embodiment;
FIGS. 8-a to 8-c are diagrams which illustrate operation of using a second tag to control the first tag move to a specific location;
FIGS. 9-a to 9-d are diagrams for illustrating huge variation between a prior position of the first tag and a new position thereof;
FIGS. 10-a to 10-e are diagrams of a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 11-a to 11-c are diagrams of a third embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 12-a to 12-d are diagrams for illustrating a graphic history group in
Referring now specifically to the figures, in which identical or similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, a detailed description of the present invention is given. It should be understood that the following detailed description relates to the best presently known embodiment of the invention. However, the present invention can assume numerous other embodiments, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the appended claims.
The present invention provides a method which facilitates operation of controlling cardio exercise apparatus such as elliptical cross trainers, steppers, stationary bikes and treadmills, and anaerobic exercise apparatus such as strength training machines. Generally speaking, the present invention provides a convenient method which is embedded in an instinctive control interface to make an exercise apparatus more user-friendly.
The control unit 11 could be a CPU (Central Processing Unit) generally used in a computer system. The control unit 11 is used to recognize the information and process it properly. Essentially, the control unit 11 is a system itself which comprises at least one programming microprocessor and related hardware, software, or firmware. Details of the control unit 11 are regarded as prior art and should be appreciated by people skilled in the art.
The storage unit 12 is disposed for storing preset data or for temporarily saving data that is generated and used during the operation of the exercise apparatus. The storage unit 12 may comprise a ROM (Read-Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Assess Memory) which are commonly used in a computer system. The control unit 11 can read data from the storage unit 12 or save data therein. Practically, the control unit 11 and the storage unit 12 can be integrated into a single IC (Integrated Circuit) or an electrical module. Therefore, the storage unit 12 can also be regarded as part of the control unit 11.
The touch screen 13 comprises a display panel 14 and a transparent sensing panel 15 covered on the display panel 14. Generally, the display panel 14 is a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and can be controlled by the control unit 11 to display an information field 19 (illustrated as
The complementary input units 16 comprise several input devices such as keys or emergency switch. The complementary input units 16 are disposed to assist or complement functions which the touch screen 13 does not provide. However, in particular embodiments, the present invention may not need the complementary input units 16.
Generally, the audio output unit 17 is a speaker for outputting audio information to the user. The audio information may be clicking sounds in order to provide feedback along with the tactile sense when the user presses the keys, or the audio information may be short melody prompts that alert the user to the status of the exercise apparatus.
Afore-mentioned are prior arts which are commonly used in a control interface of an exercise apparatus or computer equipments. Each of the units mentioned above are known by people skilled in the art so that the units are not described in detail. The present invention is related to contents of the information field 19 displayed by the touch screen 13 and interaction between the contents and a user.
In the current embodiment, the exercise apparatus is a treadmill. The control unit 11 directs the touch screen 13 to display an appropriate information field according to the status of the treadmill and/or a display mode which the user chose. As shown in
In the embodiment, the first graphical setting group 41A is used to show the incline angle of the treadmill and can be operated to adjust the incline angle relative to the ground. The second graphical setting group 41B is used to show the speed of the treadmill and can also be operated to adjust the speed of the treadmill.
Referring to FIG. 4-a-4-e, only the first graphical setting group 41A is shown, but other than the fact that the first graphical setting group 41A displays and controls the incline angle of the treadmill, and the second graphical setting group 41B displays and controls the speed of the treadmill, it is to be understood that both the first and second graphical setting groups 41A, 41B operate in substantially the same way. Each of the first and second graphical setting groups 41A, 41B comprises a substantially rectangular input zone 42. Each of the input zones 42 presents a vertically extending adjusting path 43. Each of the adjusting paths 43 has a first end 431 (bottom end of the adjusting path) and a second end 432 (top end of the adjusting path). In the embodiment shown, there are sixteen calibration tails 44 between the first and second ends 431, 432 to equally divide the adjusting path 43 into fifteen segments. Furthermore, a minimum value 451 (0.0) and a maximum value 452 (15.0) are respectively marked beside the first end 431 and the second end 432 to teach a user the range of adjustment of the incline angle or the speed. In addition, there is also a minus key 46 and a plus key 47 respectively near the first end 431 and the second end 432 of the adjusting path 43. Indicia 48 marked under each of the first and second graphical setting groups 41A, 41B clearly show the corresponding adjustable matters and units thereof. For example, “Incline” and “%” are marked under the first graphical setting groups 41A, and “Speed” and “mph” are marked under the second graphical setting groups 41B.
The storage unit 12 contains much information, and a portion thereof is several groups of a range of values. Each of the groups of values is respectively corresponding to the adjustable matters of the treadmill. For example, there is a group of values within a specific range belonging to the incline angle and the other group belonging to the speed. In the embodiment, each of the adjustable matters has a range from the minimum value 0.0 to the maximum value 15.0 and the differential step value is 0.1. Therefore, the storage unit 12 may contains a group of one hundred and fifty-one values which are “0.0,” “0.1,” “0.2,” . . . “14.8,” “14.9,” and “15.0,” or an equation for calculating the series of numbers providing to the control unit 11 to read and apply. According to the numbers of the steps of each of the adjustable matters, the control unit 11 allots equal amount of sensing areas (not shown) to the adjusting path 43 of the input zone 42. According to the assigned position, each of the sensing areas respectively represents a value of the group. In other words, the sensing area located at the first end 431 of the adjusting path 43 represents the value “0.0”, and the next upper sensing area represents the value “0.1” . . . the sensing area located at the second end 432 of the adjusting path 43 represents the value “15.0.” The plurality of sensing areas constitutes the adjusting path 43. However, the arrangement of the plurality of sensing areas is not necessarily related to the segments of the input zone 42. In the embodiment, the input zones 42 of the first and second graphical setting groups 41A, 41B are separately divided into 15 segments and each of the segments are split up into 10 invisible sensing areas by a computer program. For example, each of the segments longitudinally covers twenty pixels of the touch screen 13 and each of the sensing areas is assigned two pixels in the embodiment. The sensing area is related to the resolution of the touch screen 13. While the embodiment shown divides both of the respective input zones 42 for the first and second graphical setting group 41A, 51B into 15 segments having one hundred and fifty one sending areas, there is nothing that requires both the first and second graphical setting groups to have identical input zones 42. For example, in other possible embodiments, one input zone 42 may be divided into three segments and the other input zone 42 may be divided into ten segments, but both of them could still have one hundred and fifty-one sensing areas. The number of sensing areas utilized in an input zone 42 is dependent upon many things, including the resolution of the sensing panel 15 and the size of the input zone 42.
Referring to
As previously mentioned, the user can clearly read not only a status of the treadmill but also the possible adjusting range of the present status through the display of the input zone, the first tag, and the parameter.
Referring to
Referring to
At step 2 (S2), the control unit 11 records the present sensing area which is pointed at by the first tag 51 as a first sensing area or the present value as a former status. If the user cancels following operation, the exercise apparatus can immediately revert back to the former status or stay in a status which is corresponding to the first sensing area.
In
If a touch action belongs to one of the four types of specific actions in the process of step 3 to step 6 (S3˜S6), the process will respectively proceed with step 8 (S8), step 9 (S9), step 10 (S10), or step 11 (S11) which are respectively specific calculation 1, specific calculation 2, specific calculation 3, and specific calculation 4.
After completing one of the calculation steps, step 8 to step 11 (S8˜S11), the control unit 11 determines whether a specific action should be taken at step 12 (S12). If the specific action is determined at step 12 (S12) to be disengaged by the user, meaning that the control unit 11 determines that the user has disengaged contact with the touch screen 13, then the process will move on to step 13 (S13). If the user is still in contact with the touch screen 13, and therefore still performing one or more specific actions so that the user is not disengaged from the touch screen 13, the process will return back to step 3 to step 6 (S3˜S6) and repeatedly process responses.
Regarding the specific action 1 and the specific calculation 1, if a user touches the display region of the first tag 51 in the information field 19 with his finger 61 and keeps contact with the region to move upward or downward, the control unit 11 will cause the first tag 51 to move correspondingly. From the perspective of the user, the user feels like he is using his fingertip to drag the first tag 51 along the adjusting path 43 of either the first or second graphical setting group 41A, 41B from one position to another in order to adjust the value of the parameter 52 associated with the corresponding graphical setting group 41A, 41B and the first tag 51. Referring to FIG. 4-a, the first tag 51 points to a sensing area which represents a first value “3.0”. The touched location 62 shown in FIG. 4-b is moved to another touched location 62′ shown in FIG. 4-c along a touching trajectory 63. The control unit 11 gets an equivalent trajectory 55 through calculation based on the touching trajectory 63. The equivalent trajectory 55 starts at the sensing area which represents the first value “3.0” and ends at another sensing area which represents a second value “10.0”. The first tag 51 is controlled to move along the equivalent trajectory 55 from the position of the first value “3.0” to another position of the second value “10.0”, thereby closely following the path of the touching trajectory 63. Meanwhile, the value shown by the parameter 52 is changed from “3.0” to “10.0” as shown in FIG. 4-c.
During the drag process, if the user completes the drag process over a very short time period, the first tag 51 may directly be relocated from the position where the first tag 51 is pointing to “3.0” to the position where the first tag 51 is pointing to “10.0.” If the user completes the drag process over a relative long time period, the control unit 11 may repeatedly process the step 3 (S3) and the step 8 (S8) several times. Therefore, the user may see the first tag 51 gradually change position from “3.0” to “4.0” . . . until “10.0.”
Referring to FIG. 4-a, each of the first and second graphical setting groups 41A, 41B further comprises a realistic index 54. In the embodiment, the realistic index 54 is a telescopic color bar extending upward from the first end 431 of the adjusting path 43. The top end of the realistic index 54 is formed as a designate portion 541. The sensing areas designated by the realistic indices 54 of the first and second graphical setting groups 41A, 41B respectively represent the current incline angle and the current speed of the treadmill. For instance, refer to FIG. 4-a to FIG. 4-c, where the first tag 51 of the first graphical setting group 41A is moved from pointing at the sensing area which represents the first value “3.0” to another sensing area which represents the second value “10.0”. The second value “10.0” is adopted (step 7), and the control unit 11 then changes a first condition of the mechanical assembly 18 to a second condition of the mechanical assembly 18 to conform with the second value “10.0”. That is, the incline angle corresponding to the first value “3.0” gradually increases to another incline angle corresponding to the second value “10.0”. In the lifting process, the designate portion 541 of the realistic index 54 correspondingly gradually rises to immediately reflect the current condition as shown in FIG. 4-c to FIG. 4-e. In other words, in FIGS. 4-a through 4-c, the user drags the first tag 51 along the sensing area of the first graphical setting group 41A from a first sensing area pointing at a value of “3.0” to a new location, a second sensing area, pointing at a value of “10.0”, and the first tag 51 immediately is moved to the new location to represent the target value of the incline angle. The control unit 11 will start to adjust the incline angle of the mechanical assembly 18 to match the target value of the incline angle. The designate portion 541 of the realistic index 54 corresponds to the actual incline angle of the mechanical assembly 18, thus displaying to the user the current actual incline angle of the mechanical assembly 18. As illustrated in FIG. 4-d, the designate portion 541 of the realistic index 54 moves toward the new location of the first tag 51 as the control unit 11 gradually changes incline angle of the mechanical assembly 18 to approach the target value of the incline angle of the mechanical assembly 18. As illustrated in FIG. 4-e, the control unit 11 stops adjusting the incline angle of the mechanical assembly 18 when the designate portion 541 of the realistic index 54 corresponds to the new location of the first tag 51, so that first tag 51 and the designate portion 541 of the realistic index 54 are both corresponding to the value of “10.0”.
One of the conditions of invoking specific action 1 and specific calculation 1 is that the user must have his touch in the display region of the first tag 51 in the beginning. However, the display region is not limited to the contour of the first tag 51. For example, when a user touches a point within a rectangle 56 which circumscribes the first tag 51 as shown in FIG. 5-a, the control interface 10 still regards the touch as direct contact with the first tag 51. If it is desired to have a more strict standard, it is also possible to require the user to make his touched location 62 within the borders of the first tag 51.
As illustrated in FIG. 5-a and FIG. 5-b, if the touching trajectory 63 does not run completely parallel to the adjusting path 43, as long as the divergence therebetween is still within a predetermined tolerance range, the control unit 11 can still get the equivalent trajectory 55. As illustrated in FIG. 5-c, the length of the equivalent trajectory 55 is equal to a length which the touching trajectory 63 projects on the adjusting path 43.
Regarding the specific action 2 and the specific calculation 2, if a user touches a random position in the input zone 42, excluding the positions that would trigger specific action 1, the touched location 62 is superimposed on the sensing area corresponding to the input zone 42 and the control unit 11 directly relocates the first tag 51 to make the indicating portion 511 thereof point to the touched location 62. Referring to FIG. 6-a, the indicating portion 511 of the first tag 51 points to a sensing area which represents a value “3.0” and the touched location 62 is located on another sensing area which represents a values “10.0”. The first tag 51 is subsequently relocated to the touched location 62 and the parameter 52 is correspondingly changed as shown in FIG. 6-b.
The specific action 1 and the specific action 2 may be complementary. For example, a user could use the specific action 2 to change the first tag 51 to a position and then use the specific action 1 to further adjust the position thereof. In this situation, the process in
Regarding the specific action 3 and the specific calculation 3, illustrated in FIG. 7-a, when the first tag 51 is not at the second end 432 of the adjusting path 43, (i.e. the value represented by the sensing area is not the maximum value), and a user touches the plus key 47 which is near the second end 432 of the adjusting path 43, the first tag 51 will move to the next sensing area which is closer to the second end 432 of the adjusting path 43. That is, every touch on the plus key 47 increases the original value by the differential step value “0.1” to obtain a next value. For instance, the first tag 51 in the FIG. 7-a originally points to the sensing area representing a value “3.0”. After one touch on the plus key 47, the first tag 51 is moved upwardly one differential incremental step to point to the next sensing area representing a value “3.1”, and one more touch increases the value to become “3.2”, then “3.3”, “3.4”, and finally “3.5”. When a user keeps touching the plus key 47 over a period of time, it is as if the user is holding down a button to increase the value displayed, and the first tag 51 is moved upward continuously. Referring to FIG. 7-b, when a sensing area pointed by the first tag 51 is not at the first end 431 of the adjusting path 43, (i.e. the value represented by the sensing area is not the minimum value), a user touching the minus key 46 causes the first tag 51 to move to the next sensing area which is closer to the first end 431 of the adjusting path 43. In other words, every touch on the minus key 46 decreases the value by the differential step value “0.1”. For instance, the first tag 51 in the FIG. 7-b originally points to the sensing area representing a value “3.0”. After one touch on the minus key 46, the first tag 51 is moved downwardly one differential incremental step to point to the next sensing area representing a value “2.9”, and one more touch decreases the value to become “2.8”, then “2.7”, “2.6”, and finally “2.5”. When a user keeps touching the minus key 46 over a period of time, it is as if the user is holding down a button to decrease the value displayed, and the first tag 51 is moved downward continuously.
The specific action 1, the specific action 2, and the specific action 3 may also be complementary. For example, a user could use the specific action 2 to reposition the first tag 51 from pointing from a first value to a second value. Possibly, the second value may be very close the exact target value desired by the user. The user can then take the specific action 3 to make the first tag 51 move up or down to obtain a third value corresponding to the exact target value.
Regarding the specific action 4 and the specific calculation 4, illustrated in FIG. 8-a, the second graphical setting group 41B further comprises a second tag 53. The shape of the second tag 53 is also similar to a water drop. The tip 531 thereof points to a sensing area. When a user touches the second tag 53, the control unit 11 relocates the first tag 51 pointing back to the position of the second tag 53 as shown in FIG. 8-b and FIG. 8-c.
In the embodiment, the current position of the sensing area pointed to by the second tag 53 is the former position of the first tag 51. As illustrated in FIG. 8-c, a treadmill that was currently set to run at a speed of 4.5 mph is currently set to run at a speed of 8.5 mph. The first tag 51 is pointing to the sensing area representing the current value “8.5” of the second graphical setting group 41B, while the second tag 53 is pointing to the sensing area representing the previous value of “4.5”. When the first tag 51 is moved from the sensing area representing a first value “8.5” to next sensing area representing a second value “4.5”, meanwhile, the second tag 53 is moved to the former position of the first tag 51 and points to the latest sensing area representing the first value “8.5”. And the treadmill is operated from a first condition corresponding to the first value “8.5” to a second condition corresponding to the second value “4.5”. A user can touch the second tag 53 to conveniently switch the first tag 51 back to the former position and operate the treadmill to a third condition corresponding to the former position. The treadmill can quickly revert back to the previous condition with just a single touch by the user. An additional benefit is that the information field 19 graphically displays the current value of the parameter 52, the previous value of the parameter 52, the difference between the two, and the actual current operating condition of the mechanical assembly 18. Referring to FIG. 8-a, the current target speed of the treadmill is 8.5 mph, the actual speed of the treadmill is also 8.5 mph (as displayed by the designate portion 541 of the realistic index 54), the previous target speed of the treadmill had been set to 4.5 mph, and a user can graphically see the difference between the current value target speed and the previous value of the target speed by observing the distance between the first tag 51 and the second tag 53. All of the information is displayed simultaneously to the user in an easy to understand format. In the invention, the second tag 53 is capable of showing the value which is corresponding to the sensing area pointed by the second tag 53.
In the program process, after adopting the value (step 7) represented by a current sensing area which is pointed at by the first tag 51, the second tag 53 is displayed so as to point at value that was previously pointed at by the first tag 51. For example, referring to FIG. 8-a, the first tag 51 points to the sensing area representing the first value “8.5”. The sensing area is adopted as the first sensing area. When a user uses the specific action 1 to drag the first tag down, or first up and then down, the first tag 51 is finally dragged to point to the next sensing area which represents the second value “4.5” and the user release his finger 61 from the first tag 51 and disengaged from operation as shown in FIG. 8-c. The second value “4.5” is adopted via the step 7 (S7). The second tag 53 will be displayed to point to the first sensing area which represents the value “8.5” rather than any sensing areas pointed at by the first tag 51 during the drag process.
At the step 12 (S12) of the process illustrated in
At the step 14 (S14), the information field 19 displays a message to query the user whether they confirm that they want to make this change in speed, and the control unit 11 monitors whether the user makes a confirmation input. When the confirmation input is received, the control unit 11 will then proceed to the step 7 (S7). If the confirmation input is not received, the control unit 11 proceeds to the step 15 (S15), resets the value of the parameter 52 to its previous value, displays the first tag 51 in its previous location, and then proceeds to the step 2 (S2). In other words, previous operation is all canceled.
As illustrated in FIG. 9-a to FIG. 9-d, the user adjusts the current value from “4.5 mph” to the maximum value “15.0 mph” and disengages from operation. The control unit 11 estimates the difference is greater than the predetermined value of 3 miles per hour and displays a confirmation message 57 on the first tag, such as the confirmation message 57 “OK?” shown on the first tag 51 in FIG. 9-d. Preferably, the confirmation message and the value “15.0” could be displayed intermittently to remind the user. If the user touches the confirmation message within a predetermined time span of 3 seconds or 5 seconds, the control unit 11 will regard the touch as receiving the confirmation input. If the user does not touch the confirmation message within the predetermined time span, the control unit 11 will proceed to the step 15 (S15) and the first tag 51 and the second tag 53 will respectively be returned to the initial positions as depicted in FIG. 9-a.
The action of the user touching the confirmation message can be taken as a positive control, and the action of the user not touching (or the inaction of the user to touch) the confirmation message can be taken as a negative control. In a possible embodiment, a cancel icon (not shown) may be displayed in the information field 19. An action of touching the cancel icon is regarded as the negative control. When the control unit 11 receives the positive control, or when the control unit 11 does not receive a negative control within a predetermined time span, the first tag 51 is displayed to point to the new sensing area. When the control unit 11 receives the negative control, or when the control unit 11 does not receive the positive control within a predetermined time span, the first tag 51 is relocated and back to point to the first sensing area.
The overall procedures from the step 1 (S1) to the step 7 (S7) as illustrated in
FIG. 10-a to FIG. 10-e illustrate another embodiment of the graphic setting group of the present invention. A tag 51′ of a graphic setting group 41C is filled in an input zone of the graphic setting group 41C. The tag 51′ comprises a first color block 512 which extends upwardly and a second color block 513 which extends downwardly. The boundary between the first color block 512 and the second color block 513 forms an indicating portion 511′ to indicate a sensing area on a vertical adjusting path. A parameter 52′ is shown on the second end 432 of the adjusting path 43. A realistic index 54′ is presented as two opposite arrows positioned at the sides of the adjusting path to visually display a value representative of the current status of a mechanical assembly. When a touched location is in the input zone and dragged along a touching trajectory 63 from one position to another, the indicating portion 511′ of the tag 51′ correspondingly rises or descends according to an equivalent trajectory 55 calculated based on the touching trajectory 63. If a user touches a random chosen position in the input zone without dragging, the indicating portion 511′ of the tag 51′ will directly be repositioned to the chosen position.
FIG. 11-a to FIG. 11-c illustrate third embodiment of the graphic setting group of the present invention. An adjusting path 43′ of the graphic setting group 41D has an arc shape. There are a minimum value 451′ “0” and a maximum value 452′ “15.0” respectively marked at the ends 431′, 432′ of the adjusting path. In addition, there are several numerals 45 marked between the ends 431′, 432′ for convenience. A tag 51″ comprises a circle portion 514 located at the centerpoint of the arc-shaped adjusting path 43′ and an indicating portion 511″ located at the periphery of the circle portion 514. A parameter 52″ is shown at the center of the circle portion 514 of the tag 51″. When a touched location 62 is in the display region of the tag 51″ and dragged to another location 62′ along a touching trajectory 63, the indicating portion 511″ of the tag 51″ is correspondingly rotated along an equivalent arc trajectory 55 calculated based on the touching trajectory 63, similar to rotating a circular knob.
Referring to
As the exercise progresses, the time index 24 gradually increases the length of a colored bar along the level indicator 23 from the lower-left to the upper-right. The distal end 241 of the time index 24 indicates the current time.
While the level indicator of the present invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art of the invention will recognize that additions, deletions, substitutions, modifications and improvements can be made while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, the level indicator 23 of the present invention is described in this embodiment as a two dimensional representation of a three dimensional “road”, but a completely two dimension representation is also possible. Additionally, the time index 24 is described as a colored bar moving along the level indicator 23, but it is not constrained to this embodiment.
Referring to
The state partitions 71 displayed at the lower side of the information field 19 are used for displaying various arguments related to the exercise process, such as “time elapsed”, “calories”, and “heart rate.” Each of the state partitions 71 comprises an argument 72, a title of the current argument 73, and a title of a candidate argument 74. A user can switch the current argument 73 and the candidate argument 74 by touching the corresponding state partition 71. For example, “time elapsed” can be switched to “time remaining.”
There is a pause key 81 located at the upper-right corner of the information field 19. A user can touch the pause key 81 to stop the belt. There is a fan key 82 and three lamp symbols 83 located at the upper-left corner of the information field 19. A user can touch the fan key 82 to switch a status of a fan coupled on a console of the treadmill, switching the status of the fan between strong, middle, weak, or off. The three lamp symbols 83 are configured to change color between an “unlit” color and a “lit” color, so that all three lamp symbols are “unlit” when the fan is off, one lamp symbol is “lit” when the fan is blowing at the weak level, two lamp symbols are “lit” when the fan is blowing at the middle level, and three lamp symbols are “lit” when the fan is blowing at the strong level.
There is a group of page tags 85 above the exercise history chart 21. The group of page tags 85 comprises a current tag 851 and several candidate tags 852. Touching one of the page tags 85 can partially or totally change the information field 19 to display other information. For example,
As described, by utilizing the method of of the present invention to control an exercise apparatus, a user can intuitively recognize and control the current status of the exercise apparatus. By using a variety of graphs to show operational conditions of an exercise apparatus, a user can easily understand the current status of the exercise apparatus, as well as a multitude of possible ranges for changing the status of the exercise apparatus. The user can also conveniently and instantly change the parameters of an exercise apparatus. In addition, the user can directly recognize a detailed history of exercising process through the graphic history group.
The present invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment thereof. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiment thereof, other embodiments are possible. While the present invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art of the invention will recognize that additions, deletions, substitutions, modifications and improvements can be made while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98117912 A | May 2009 | TW | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/605,375 filed on Oct. 26, 2009 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,113,990.
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| 5559301 | Bryan et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
| 5908997 | Arnold et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
| 6848263 | Hafner et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
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| 20090291805 | Blum et al. | Nov 2009 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120196724 A1 | Aug 2012 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12605375 | Oct 2009 | US |
| Child | 13349549 | US |
