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In an exercise machine where an electric motor is used to simulate a weight stack a more realistic feel plus stability of operation is achieved by compensating the torque output of the motor for the mechanical characteristics of the machine including inertia, friction and gravitational effects on th

In an exercise machine where an electric motor is used to simulate a weight stack a more realistic feel plus stability of operation is achieved by compensating the torque output of the motor for the mechanical characteristics of the machine including inertia, friction and gravitational effects on the user interface. Also by controlling the motor so as to increase its output torque as a function of the displacement of the user interface, it is possible to produce a measure of the user\s strength. A heavy negative feature which may be selected by the user is provided as well. The exercise machine additionally includes a computer control which allows a pyramid type exercise program to be implemented. The pyramid exercise program has a progressive phase in which the force opposing the user is increased from a starting level to a plateau level over a first group of repetitions; a plateau phase in which the force opposing the user is maintained constant over a second group of repetitions; and a regressive phase in which the force opposing the user is decreased from the plateau level to the starting level over a second group of repetitions. The exercise machine is capable of measuring the maximum force which can be opposed by the user. The heavy negative feature allows the force opposing the user to be gradually increased on a return stroke of an exercise repetition from the force applied on the forward stroke of the repetition.

대표청구항 ▼

An exercise machine comprising: a user interface; an electric motor; linkage means for mechanically connecting said user interface to said electric motor; control means operatively connected to said electric motor for generating a power input signal for controlling the torque output of said electric

An exercise machine comprising: a user interface; an electric motor; linkage means for mechanically connecting said user interface to said electric motor; control means operatively connected to said electric motor for generating a power input signal for controlling the torque output of said electric motor; user input means operatively connected to said control means for permitting a user to operate the exercise machine; and compensation means operatively connected to said control means for subtracting from said power input signal a compensation factor effective to reduce the torque output of said electric motor to compensate for at least a portion of the inertia of said electric motor. In an exercise machine having a user interface engaged by a user to exert a force, means for exerting against the user a counterforce simulating a weight stack comprising: a D.C. motor coupled to the user interface for providing a counterforce against the user; input means operable by the user for selecting the level of difficulty of an exercise formed of a plurality of repetitions; programmable processing means responsive to said input means for controlling the amount of counterforce provided by said D.C. motor to provide said exercise formed of a progressive phase in which the counterforce is gradually increased from a starting level to a plateau level over a first group of repetitions followed by a plateau phase in which the counterforce is maintained constant at the plateau level over a second group of repetitions followed by a regressive phase in which the counterforce is gradually decreased from the plateau level to the starting level over a third group of repetitions wherein said processing means varies the magnitude of the plateau level counterforce and the number of different progressive level and regressive level repetitions in said exercise in response to the difficulty level selected such that as the level of difficulty increases, the magnitude of the plateau level counterforce and the number of different counterforces applied during the progressive and regressive levels increase.