The present invention relates to a rocking-type exercise device for applying an exercise load to a user sat on a seat by subjecting the seat to rocking movement.
Conventionally, there are proposed a variety of rocking-type exercise devices for applying an exercise load to a user sat on a seat by subjecting the seat to rocking movement. The rocking-type exercise devices are simple and convenient exercise machines that can be used by anybody from children to old persons. The rocking-type exercise devices have been spread to rehabilitation-purpose medical institutions and then to general households. One typical prior art example of the rocking-type exercise devices is disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2006-149468.
In the rocking-type exercise device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2006-149468, a pressure sensor or the like is provided in at least one of, e.g., the upper surface of the seat, the side surface of the seat (or the saddle flap) and the inside of the stirrup. The exercise posture of a user is determined from the information provided by the pressure sensor. In this rocking-type exercise device, the seat is configured to make reciprocating movement in response to the notification of an exercise posture based on the detected information or in response to the detected information itself.
Although the rocking-type exercise device cited above proposes a configuration in which a notification unit is used to urge a user to correct his or her posture, it fails to suggest a method for accurately leading the user's posture or motion to a target one. Thus, demand has existed for the development of a rocking-type exercise device capable of bringing the user's posture into close proximity to a target posture with increased accuracy.
In view of the above, the present invention provides a rocking-type exercise device capable of accurately leading the user's exercise posture to a target exercise posture.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a rocking-type exercise device including:
a seat on which a user can sits; a seat rocking unit for reciprocating the seat at least in one direction; a control unit for controlling the seat rocking unit so as to reciprocate the seat; and a detector unit for detecting a user's exercise posture to obtain detected information, wherein the control unit includes a feedback stimulus output unit for comparing the detected information obtained by the detector unit with a target value and for outputting, if a difference exits between the detected information and the target value, a feedback stimulus by which to make the detected information come close to the target value.
With such configuration, by outputting the feedback stimulus by which to make the detected information come close to the target value depending on the difference between the detected information and the target value, it is possible to accurately lead the user's exercise posture to a target exercise posture corresponding the target value. The term “feedback stimulus” used herein denotes a stimulus for guiding the user's exercise posture by at least one of a sound, an image, a seat operation amount and a seat operation pattern. Hereinafter, the term “feedback stimulus” will be used in this sense.
The feedback stimulus outputted by the feedback stimulus output unit may be kept unchanged in meaning but changed in expression over time.
In this regard, description will be made on a sound as the feedback stimulus. In case where the user takes a target exercise posture, it may be conceivable to generate feedback stimuli identical in meaning but differing in expression, e.g., voices saying “good job”, “it's OK” and “keep it up”. By outputting the feedback stimuli identical in meaning but differing in expression over time, it becomes possible to avoid application of monotonous stimuli and to keep the user from getting weary. This makes it possible to keep the user motivated. Even in an instance where the user has a difficulty in understanding a specific feedback stimulus, it is possible to help the user understand the feedback stimulus by outputting a feedback stimulus of other expression. This assists in coping with the difference among individual users.
The feedback stimulus output unit may be configured to redefine the target value or the feedback stimulus based on the detected information, if the detected information fails to come close to the target value for a predetermined time period in spite of the outputting of the feedback stimulus by which to make the detected information come close to the target value.
With such configuration, it is possible to set a user-specific target value or to output a user-specific feedback stimulus. In addition, the above configuration makes it possible to reduce the target value or to output a safety-purpose feedback stimulus. As a result, the user can safely use the present device with no overwork even when the user has reduced physical strength or when the target value set at first is too high.
In the rocking-type exercise device, if the detected information is kept smaller than the target value for a predetermined time period, the feedback stimulus output unit may reduce the target value or output a safety-purpose feedback stimulus in order for the seat to safely make the reciprocating movement.
With such configuration, the user can safely use the present device with no overwork even when the user has reduced physical strength or when the target value set at first is too high.
In the rocking-type exercise device, the feedback stimulus output unit may be configured to stop outputting the feedback stimulus, if the detected information fails to come close to the target value for a predetermined time period in spite of the outputting of the feedback stimulus by which to make the detected information come close to the target value.
In other words, if the detected information fails to come close to the target value, it is determined that the target value is too high or the user gets tired. Thus, the feedback stimulus output unit ceases to output the feedback stimulus. This makes it possible for the user to safely perform an exercise in a favored posture with no overwork, instead of compelling the user to do an exercise at the target value.
In the rocking-type exercise device, the detector unit may include a plurality of posture detector units for detecting postures of different bodily parts of the user to get a plurality of detected posture information, and wherein the feedback stimulus output unit may be configured to output feedback stimuli reflecting the difference between the detected posture information and the target value in the order of greater deviation of the detected posture information from the target value.
In other words, depending on the difference between the detected information for the respective bodily parts and the target value, feedback stimuli are outputted one after another in the order of greater deviation of the detected information from the target value. By merely moving the bodily parts in response to the feedback stimuli thus outputted, the user can accurately take a target exercise posture (corresponding to the target value).
In the rocking-type exercise device, the detector unit may include a plurality of posture detector units for detecting postures of different bodily parts of the user, the posture detector units being given a priority order, and wherein the feedback stimulus output unit may be configured to output feedback stimuli in the priority order.
In other words, the posture detector units are given a priority order in which to output feedback stimuli regardless of the difference between the detected information of the posture detector units and the target value. By outputting feedback stimuli in the priority order, it is possible to urge the user to accurately take the target exercise posture without having to recognize the operation order which is important in leading the user to the target exercise posture.
In the rocking-type exercise device, the feedback stimulus output unit may include a notification unit through which to notify the user of the feedback stimulus or the feedback stimuli by at least one of a voice and an image, and wherein the feedback stimulus output unit may be configured to output, when notification is performed by the notification unit, the feedback stimulus or the feedback stimuli together with incidental effects varying with the difference between the detected information and the target value.
In other words, at least one of the voice and the image is not merely outputted as the feedback stimulus or the feedback stimuli but outputted together with incidental effects varying with the difference between the detected information and the target value. This helps prevent the feedback stimulus or the feedback stimuli from becoming monotonous, which makes it possible to keep the user highly motivated.
In the rocking-type exercise device, the feedback stimulus output unit may be configured to output the feedback stimulus or the feedback stimuli after altering the emotion-appealing information contained in the feedback stimulus or the feedback stimuli depending on the difference between the detected information and the target value.
Use of this configuration helps prevent the feedback stimulus or the feedback stimuli from becoming monotonous, which makes it possible to keep the user highly motivated.
In the rocking-type exercise device, the feedback stimulus output unit may be configured to output the feedback stimulus or the feedback stimuli in such a way as to remind the user of the moving images of the bodily parts.
In this regard, description will be made on a sound as the feedback stimulus. In order to remind the user of the moving images of the bodily parts, the names of the user's bodily parts may be mentioned by, e.g., saying “bend the knees” or “stretch the legs” or a metaphor may be used by, e.g., saying “make round as if hugging the knees” or “stretch the legs straight”. This makes it possible to accurately lead the user to the target exercise posture (corresponding to the target value). Accordingly, it is possible to draw the user's attention to the bodily parts at issue, which assists in effectively leading the user to the target exercise posture.
With the present invention, it is possible to provide a rocking-type exercise device capable of accurately leading the user's exercise posture to a target exercise posture.
The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As shown in
An operation unit 15 is arranged in the frontal portion (on the left side in
In the so-called saddle flap lying on the frontal side surface of the seat 13 and making contact with the inner part of a thigh, a pressure sensor α as a detector unit is arranged as shown in
Next, the seat rocking mechanism 12 will be schematically described with reference to
As can be seen in
As shown in
The distance between the front and rear lower pivot pins 31a and 31b is set shorter than the distance between the front and rear upper pivot pins 32a and 32b. Therefore, the rear link 26b makes a specified angle with respect to the base 21 when the front link 26a makes a generally right angle relative to the base 21 as indicated by solid lines in
A drive unit 35 is accommodated between the base 21 and platform 27. The drive unit 35 includes a motor 36 fixed to the base 21 so that the output shaft 37 thereof can protrude upwards. A motor gear 38 is fixed to the output shaft 37. A first gear 40 engages with the motor gear 38. The first gear 40 is coaxially fixed to a first shaft 39 whose transverse ends are pivotally supported on the platform 27. An eccentric crank 41 is connected to one end portion of the first shaft 39. The first end portion of an arm link 43 is pivotally attached to the eccentric crank 41 by a pivot pin 42, while the second end portion of the arm link 43 is pivotally attached to the front link 26a by a pivot pin 44. As the eccentric crank 41 makes eccentric circular movement with respect to the first shaft 39 upon rotation of the motor 36, the front link 26a reciprocates in the back-and-forth direction X and the seat 13 makes rocking movement in the direction indicated by the arrow M in
As shown in
The gear ratios of the respective gears in the first drive unit and the second drive unit are set to ensure that the seat 13 reciprocates twice in the back-and-forth direction while reciprocating once in the transverse direction. Therefore, the seat 13 is rocked in such a way as to describe the numeral “8” when the rocking-type exercise device 10 is seen from above, consequently reproducing an operation just like horse riding.
By the first and second drive units configured as above, the seat 13 is rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow M in
As mentioned above, the angle sensor β detects the angle of the stirrup 16. Based on the result of detection of the angle sensor β, the microcomputer 17 estimates the knee angle of a user. The pressure sensor α detects the pinching force of the user's thigh and outputs the result of detection to the microcomputer 17.
A voice data storage unit 67 and a speaker 68, which constitutes the feedback stimulus output unit and the notification unit, are connected to the voice signal processing IC 65. Thus, the voice signal processing IC 65 can notify the speaker 68 of, e.g., music data pre-stored in the voice data storage unit 67.
Tables corresponding to various kinds of operation patterns, such as a feedback data selection table group 69 and the like, are stored in the database 66.
Next, one example of the output of a vocal feedback stimulus in the rocking-type exercise device 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to
The pinching force (pressure) of the user's thigh is detected by the pressure sensor α and the result of detection is outputted from the pressure sensor α to the microcomputer 17 of the control circuit 62 (step S100). The microcomputer 17 acquires the result of detection (step S200). After sampling the detection results for a specified time, the microcomputer 17 calculates a representative value Sn, i.e., an average value of the detection results outputted from the pressure sensor α (step S300).
Then, the microcomputer 17 compares the representative value Sn with threshold values pre-divided into a plurality of steps (five steps in the present embodiment) as illustrated in
Then, the microcomputer 17 allows the speaker 68 to output the feedback voice data selected in step 5500 (step S600). Thereafter, the microcomputer 17 is operated to repeat step S100 through step S600.
By employing the afore-mentioned configuration in which a voice as a feedback stimulus is outputted from the speaker 68 depending on the difference between the target value 3V and the representative value Sn, i.e., the average value of the detection results outputted from the pressure sensor α, the user can recognize the difference between the target posture and the current posture. This makes it possible to lead the user's posture so that the representative value Sn can become equal to the target value 3V. Thus, it becomes possible to rapidly and accurately lead the user's exercise posture to the target posture.
Next, description will be made on the advantageous effects specific to the present embodiment.
The control circuit 62 as a control unit includes the pressure sensor α as a detector unit for detecting the exercise posture of the user who sits on the seat 13, and the microcomputer 17 as a feedback stimulus output unit that makes comparison between the detected information (representative value Sn) obtained in the pressure sensor α and the target value (or the threshold values 3V). Depending on the difference between the detected information and the target value, the microcomputer 17 outputs through the speaker 68 a voice for making the representative value Sn come close to the target value. By outputting the voice for making the representative value Sn come close to the target value depending on the difference between the detected information and the target value, it is possible to rapidly and accurately lead the user's exercise posture to the target exercise posture corresponding the target value.
The embodiment of the present invention may be modified as follows.
Although only one feedback data selection table is used to apply a vocal feedback stimulus to the user in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. As an alternative example, a plurality of feedback data selection tables may be used as shown in
At this time, a posture/operation determination algorithm 70 stored in the database 66 may be called out by the microcomputer 17 so that the algorithm 70 can change the feedback data selection tables of the feedback data selection table group 69 over time. In this case, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which only the wording of the voice data applied to the user is changed over time without changing the meaning thereof. More specifically, it may be conceivable to employ a configuration in which the data of “it's OK.wav” selected in case of the threshold value 3V in the foregoing embodiment is changed to the data of “keep it up.wav” which is a voice record saying “keep it up” as illustrated in
Although the target value is set equal to the threshold value 3V in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in
The configuration noted above is effective in broadening the width of target value by setting the threshold values 2V and 3V as target values, in such an instance where the representative value Sn fails to reach the target value even when a voice as a feedback stimulus has been outputted from the speaker 68 as a feedback stimulus output unit while the user using the rocking-type exercise device 10 for a predetermined time period. The broadened target value allows a user with a weak muscular force to safely use the rocking-type exercise device 10 with no overwork. By changing the target value depending on the detected information (or the representative value Sn) in this manner, it becomes possible to set a user-specific target value.
Although the voltages of 1V through 5V are used as the threshold values in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. In the feedback data selection table illustrated in
The configuration by which to reduce the threshold values in the course of using the rocking-type exercise device 10 can be effectively used in such an instance where the detected information from the sensors (e.g., the pressure sensor α) fails to reach the target value (namely, in case where the detected information is smaller than the target value) even when a voice as a feedback stimulus has been outputted from the speaker 68 as a feedback stimulus output unit while the user using the rocking-type exercise device 10 for a predetermined time period. The reduction in the target value results in a reduction in exercise amount and sets a user free from excessive burdens. Even if the target value set at first is too high, the user can safely use the rocking-type exercise device 10 with no overwork. By changing the target value depending on the detected information (or the representative value Sn) in this manner, it becomes possible to set a user-specific target value.
Alternatively, a configuration in which only the target value is changed may be employed as illustrated in
Although not specifically mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, the target value may be kept unchanged in order to safely perform the reciprocating movement, if the detected information supplied from the pressure sensor α as a detector unit remains smaller than the target value (or the threshold value 3V) for a predetermined time period. For example, it may be conceivable to employ a configuration by which to output a voice data of “it's OK.wav” or other voice data as a safety-purpose feedback stimulus through the speaker 68. Employment of this configuration helps prevent a user from taking an overload posture, thereby enabling the user to safely use the present device 10.
Although not specifically mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, it may be conceivable to employ a configuration in which, if the representative value Sn as the detected information supplied from the pressure sensor α does not come close to or gets away from the target value (or the threshold value 3V), the feedback control is stopped by not outputting the voice as a feedback stimulus through the speaker 68, namely by ceasing to output the feedback stimulus.
More specifically, as illustrated in
As set forth above, if the detected information fails to come close to the target value, it is determined that the target value is too high or the user got tired. Thus, the microcomputer 17 ceases to output the feedback stimulus (or the voice). This makes it possible for the user to safely perform an exercise in a favored posture with no overwork, instead of compelling the user to do an exercise at the target value.
In the foregoing embodiment, only one sensor (i.e., the pressure sensor α) is used when the voice as a feedback stimulus is outputted through the speaker 68 depending on the difference between the detected information and the target value. Alternatively, a plurality of sensors (e.g., the pressure sensor α and the angle sensor β) may be used in outputting the voice as a feedback stimulus through the speaker 68.
In addition to the above, it may be conceivable to employ a configuration in which voices as feedback stimuli are outputted one after another through the speaker 68 in the order of greater deviation or badness of the detected information (or the representative value Sn) from the target value. More specifically, if the target values of the pressure sensor α and the angle sensor β are all 3V as illustrated in
It may also be conceivable to employ a configuration in which a priority order is applied to the respective sensors α and β and voices as feedback stimuli are outputted through the speaker 68 in the priority order. For example, the user may be urged to change his or her posture from the state illustrated in
Although not specifically mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, it may be conceivable to employ a configuration in which the emotion-appealing information of a voice is altered by changing the voice data to the ones showing encouragement or appreciation for the user's efforts. More specifically, the feedback data selection table shown in
Although not specifically mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, it may be conceivable to employ a configuration by which to output a feedback stimulus specifying the names of components making contact with the user's bodily parts. For example, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the voice data of “let's lower the stirrup.wav”, i.e., a voce record saying “let's lower the stirrup”, is selected when the user's posture is to be changed from the state illustrated in
Although not specifically mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, it may be conceivable to employ a configuration by which to output a feedback stimulus mentioning the user's bodily parts. For example, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the voice data of “further stretch the knees.wav” illustrated in
Although the feedback stimulus is outputted in the form of a voice according to the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the feedback stimulus may be a sound such as background music or the like rather than the voice. As a further alternative, the feedback stimulus may be outputted in the form of an image or the like. For example, as illustrated by dot lines in
Although not specifically mentioned in the foregoing embodiment, it may be conceivable to employ a configuration by which to output a feedback stimulus together with incidental effects. One example of the incidental effects is to change the sound volume, sound quality, sound pitch and peak frequency of a voice or background music outputted as a feedback stimulus. It is preferred that the degree of these effects varies with the difference between the target value and the detected information (or the representative value Sn). Use of this configuration helps prevent the feedback stimulus from becoming monotonous, which makes it possible to keep the user highly motivated.
Although the pressure sensor α and the angle sensor β are used as detector units in the embodiment and modified examples described above, the detector units may include, e.g., an image sensor γ indicated by a dot line in
In the foregoing embodiment, the representative value Sn refers to the average value obtained by sampling, for a specified time period, the detected information outputted from the pressure sensor α. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As an alternative example, the representative value Sn may be a peak value rather than the average value.
In the foregoing embodiment, the seat 13 is operated in such a way as to describe the numeral “8”, consequently performing a rocking motion just like horse riding. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As an alternative example, it may be possible to employ a configuration in which the seat 13 is allowed to make rocking motions only in the back-and-forth direction or the transverse direction.
Although the values of the threshold and the target and the like are exemplified in the embodiments described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The threshold value and the target value and the like may be varied as necessary.
While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2008-297154 | Nov 2008 | JP | national |