METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL WORKOUTS ON STRENGTH MACHINES

Abstract

Systems and methods to control a workout on a strength machine are described. An example system includes a sensor interface to receive a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and a controller coupled to the strength machine to cause a change of an exercise parameter based on the physiological condition.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/909,283, entitled “Methods and Apparatus to Control Workouts on Strength Machines,” filed on Mar. 30, 2007, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to exercise equipment, and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus to control workouts on strength machines.

BACKGROUND

Currently, a person who is exercising, i.e., an exerciser, must rely on his or herself, an observer and/or personal trainer to determine an appropriate weight to be used for an exercise on a strength training exercise machine and to count repetitions and/or sets. Further, to record the exercise parameters (e.g., weight to be lifted, repetitions, sets, etc.) for further reference or analysis, the exerciser typically uses, for example, paper and pencil or relies on their memory. Such manual methods are inherently prone to error both during the exercising and during the recording. For example, the exerciser may record the incorrect number of repetitions if they lost count while exercising.

In addition, conventional methods for exercising on a strength machine typically do not provide a way of increasing the efficiency of an exercise. Instead, the exerciser typically analyzes and/or calculates the exercise parameters to determine the most efficient amount of weight to be lifted or repetitions or sets to perform based on their exercise goals. Performing such analyses and/or calculations during a workout takes time and may actually decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of a workout. In addition, performing such analyses and/or calculations after a workout does not provide real-time feedback and control over a workout.

Furthermore, conventional strength training exercise machines typically allow the exerciser to exert as much or as little energy as they are willing to exert. This may lead to an ineffective workout if the exerciser is not lifting a sufficient amount of weight a sufficient number of times. On the other hand, this may lead to injury if the exerciser over-exerts themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an example strength training machine that uses the example methods and apparatus to control workouts described herein.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of an alternative example of the strength training machine of FIG. 1 showing an alternative example pin connection.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the example pin connection depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an alternative example strength training machine with another alternative pin connection.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the alternative pin connection of the alternative example strength training machine of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an example display that may be used with the example strength training machines of FIG. 1 or 4.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of an example process that may be performed using the strength training machines described herein.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example processor system that may be used to implement the example methods and apparatus described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the following describes example methods, apparatus or systems including, among other components, software and/or firmware executed on hardware, it should be noted that such methods and apparatus are merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of these hardware, software, and firmware components could be embodied exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software or in any combination of hardware and software. Accordingly, while the following describes example methods and apparatus, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that these examples provided are not the only way to implement such methods and apparatus.

FIG. 1 depicts an example strength training machine 100 that may use the example methods and apparatus described herein. While the example strength training machine 100 is depicted as a chest press machine, any other type of strength training machine may incorporate the example methods and apparatus described herein. To enable exercising, the example exercise machine 100 of FIG. 1 includes user engaging contact surfaces 105 against which a user exerts force to push against an amount of strength training resistance 110. The user engaging contact surfaces 105 may be any type of surface against which a user may exert a force such as, for example, handles (as depicted in FIG. 1), a bar, a strap, a foot pedal, a pad, a grip, etc. In the illustrated example of FIG. 1, the strength training resistance 110 is provided by a stack of weights 110. However, in other examples, the strength training resistance 110 may be provided by other types of resistance including, for example, elastic resistive cords, as described in detail below.

The user engaging contact surfaces 105 are operatively coupled to the strength training resistance 110 via a flexible coupling 115, which may be any suitable flexible structure including, for example, a cable, a rope, an elastic band, a chain, a belt, etc. Further, the flexible coupling 115 engages one or more pulleys or cams 120 that guide the flexible coupling 115 as it is used to lift and lower the weight plates selected form the stack of weights 110.

The example stack of weights 110 of FIG. 1 includes any of a variety of mechanisms to select the amount of strength training resistance 110. For example, a movable pin 125, may be used to manually select a number of weight plates from the stack of weights 110 for an exercise. In the illustrated example of FIG. 1, the example pin 125 may be used to select a portion of (e.g., one or more weight plates from) the example stack of weights 110 to move upward in response to the user pushing against the handles 105.

Alternatively, the amount of strength training resistance 110 for an exercise may be automatically controlled by, for example, a controller 130 that may be communicatively coupled to the strength training machine 100 via any suitable hardwired and/or wireless communication paths or links 135. In this case, the controller 130 is communicatively coupled to a plurality of electromagnetic switches or automated pins 200, as shown in FIG. 2. The automated pins 200 may be used instead of or in addition to the pin 125. When activated, one or more of the automated pins 200 extends to engage a respective complimentary structure 300 (e.g., a recess, a magnet, an engaging surface, etc.) of a weight plate in the stack of weights 110, as shown in FIG. 3. In the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the complimentary structures 300 are located in the center of the weight plates in the stack of weights 110 similar to a hole that may be engaged by the pin 125. Thus, when the user exerts a force on the user engaging contact surfaces 105, the lowest activated automated pin 200, the weight plate in the stack of weights 110 corresponding to the lowest automated pin 200, and each automated pin 200 and weight plates in the weight stack 110 located above the lowest automated pin 200, are moved in a track 205 in response to the forces exerted by the user during the exercise. A signal from the controller 130 to change the strength training resistance 110 changes which of the pins 200 is activated to provide a different amount of strength training resistance, i.e., weight or resistive force.

The strength training machine 100 may also include one or more sensors. The sensors may be machine-based sensors such as, for example, the sensors 155 on the handles 105. The sensors 155 may be used to gather data regarding a physiological condition of the user including, for example, a heart rate. The strength training machine 100 may also include magnetic sensors 140, which may be used to gather data such as, for example, data related to an exercise parameter such as a number of repetitions that have occurred and/or an amount of weight that has been lifted. Sensors, such as the sensors 140 shown in FIG. 1, are discussed in greater in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/370,753 (“Sensor Arrays for Exercise Equipment and Methods to Operate the Same”), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In addition, the example exercise machine 100 may include remote sensors or any other type of sensors that may be used to gather data from the strength training machine 100 or the user such as, for example, thermometers, heart rate monitors and pulse sensors, clocks, respiratory rate sensors, etc. The sensors (e.g., the sensors 140 and 155 as well as other sensors) may be used to gather a wide variety of data related to various exercise parameters and/or user physiology including, for example, a number of repetitions, a number of sets, an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic resistive cords to be deformed, a heart rate, an amount of calories burned, a body temperature, a rate of respiration, a blood oxygen level, a skin moisture level, etc.

The sensors 140 and 155 are operatively coupled to the controller 130, and the controller 130 may control or change the strength training resistance during a workout in a variety of ways. For example, the controller 130 may send a signal that changes the amount of weight to lifted or resistive force provided to the user. In particular, the controller 130 may increase or decrease a number of weights plates to be lifted or a number of elastic resistive cords (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) to be deformed. A deformation of an elastic resistive cord includes activating, stretching, bending, twisting, or otherwise deforming a cord. Such elastic cords are discussed in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5. Further, the controller 130 may change the number of repetitions or sets the user is to perform, and/or the controller 130 may change the ability of the strength training machine 100 to operate (e.g., the controller 130 may disable the strength training machine 100).

The changes in the workout or exercise parameter(s) caused by the controller 130 may be based on a physiological condition or conditions of the user. For example, the controller 130 may compare a heart rate of the user with a threshold or predetermined (e.g., target) heart rate. If the heart rate of the user exceeds the threshold or predetermined heart rate, the controller 130 may send a signal to the strength training machine 100 indicating that the amount of strength training resistance should be reduced. For example, this signal may decrease the strength training resistance by, for example, decreasing the weight to be lifted or the number of elastic resistive cords to be deformed. A change in the strength training resistance may be indicated by the controller 130 based on any of a variety of physiological conditions of the user. Thus, for example, if a user starts using the strength training machine 100, and the sensor 155 detects or measures the heart rate of the user to be 150 beats per minute (bpm), and the threshold heart rate is 120 bpm, the controller 130 may send a signal to the strength training machine 100 to decrease the amount of strength training resistance. A decrease in the amount of strength training resistance reduces the force exerted by the user to perform the exercise, which should result in a lower user heart rate. Successive reductions in the amount of strength training resistance may b performed until the heart rate of the user equals or falls below the threshold heart rate (e.g., a target heart rate). Alternatively, for example during circuit training, the user may want to maintain a certain or minimum level of activity (e.g., a minimum hear rate). Thus, the controller 130 may send signals to increase the amount of strength training resistance until the heart rate of the user is above a threshold rate (e.g., a minimum heart rate).

Furthermore, the controller 130 may indicate changes to a workout or the exercise parameters based on one of the exercise parameters. Thus, for example, if a user is performing a workout that is to increase the amount of weight to be lifted or number of elastic resistive cords to be deformed after a set of a certain number of repetitions then, on the performance of the certain number of repetitions, the controller 130 provides signals to cause an increase in strength training resistance. For example, if a user is to start using the strength training machine 100 at 150 pounds and increase 25 pounds of weight after every ten repetitions then, on the completion of ten repetitions at 150 pounds, the controller 130 sends a signal to the strength training machine 100 to increase the weight to be lifted to 175 pounds. After ten more repetitions, the weight is again increased to 200 pounds via a similar signal. Finally, after ten repetitions at 200 pounds of weight, the controller 130 may send a signal to disable the strength training machine 100, send a signal to change the amount of strength training resistance to any other amount, etc.

The controller 130 may also delay any change from any amount of strength training resistance based on the amount of time spent at that level or amount of resistance. If the amount of time spent exercising at a certain level has been less than a certain threshold delay amount such as, for example five minutes, the controller 130 will not change to another amount of strength training resistance. This ensures the user will spend an adequate amount of time with any particular amount of strength training resistance to realize the greatest benefit from the workout.

The threshold values may also be based on an individualized workout routine for a specific user. Thus, the controller 130 may be communicatively coupled to a processor 160 that includes memory containing data related to thresholds associated with the physiological condition(s) of the user and/or exercise parameter(s) specific to the user's workout. The memory may be, for example, a read only memory (RAM), random access memory (ROM), any other type of memory, or any combination thereof. Alternatively or additionally, the user may carry a card or other device such as, for example, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on which data may be stored, and which may be read by the controller 130 and subsequently used to control the user's workout. The controller 130 manages the user's individualized workout in a manner similar to that described above.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another example strength training machine 400, which has many features similar to those of the example strength training machine 100 of FIGS. 1-3. Similar numbers are used to designate similar structures. However, instead of a weight stack, the example strength training machine 400 of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes elastic resistive cords 500 (FIG. 5) to provide strength training resistance. Each elastic resistive cord 500 provides a corresponding amount of strength training resistance. The strength training machine 400 includes a plurality of pins 405 that may be manually or automatically engaged. When engaged, one or more of the pins 405 are coupled to corresponding recesses 505 of corresponding bars 510. When the user moves the handles 105, the bars 510 and any elastic resistive cords 500 that have been coupled to the bars 510 move (e.g., are stretched) in a direction such as, for example, upward. Any elastic resistive cord 500 that has not been coupled to one of the bars 510 will not move in response to the user's performance of the exercise. Changing the number of pins 405 coupled to the recesses 505 (i.e., the number of elastic resistive cords 500 coupled to the bars 510) changes the amount of strength training resistance provided to the user. When automatically activated, the pins 405 are signaled via a communication from the controller 130 in a manner similar to that described above.

The example strength training machines 100 and 400 may also include a display 190, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The display 190 provides information regarding the exercise parameter(s), the real-time physiological condition(s) of the user, the stored user threshold physiological condition(s), and/or the stored individualized exercise parameter(s) (e.g., user goal(s) or target exercise parameter(s)). The example display 190 displays the target exercise parameter(s) and physiological condition(s) for viewing by the user and then, as the user exercises, the display 190 displays the target exercise parameter(s) and physiological condition(s) versus actual exercise parameter(s) and physiological condition(s) determined from the data gathered by the sensors 155. Upon completion of the workout, the display 190 shows the actual exercise parameter(s), which may be stored in the processor 160 or on the user's memory card for later recall, use or analysis.

Looking at the specific example display 190 shown in FIG. 6, the example display 190 includes an RFID tag reader 600 to identify the user. When the user, for example, passes a membership card over the RFID tag reader 600, the RFID tag reader 600 obtains information about the user such as an identification number associated with the user and/or other information. Once the user is identified, the display 190 shows an identification of the user such as, for example, the user's name 605. As shown, the example display 190 includes many exercise parameters including, for example, a range of motion display 610, a number of repetitions in the current set display 615, the weight being lifted or amount of strength training resistance 620, and/or the number of sets 625. Further, the example display 190 may include user goals or target exercise parameters including, for example, a target number of repetitions 630, a target amount of weight to be lifted 635, and/or a target number of the current set 640. The display 190 may also display user physiological conditions such as, for example, a user heart rate 645, as well as corresponding target physiological conditions 650.

The display 190 may also include one or more outputs 655. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the output 655 may be a light and/or a sound. The output 655 may be activated as a notification such as, for example, a notification that the user has over-exerted his or herself and needs to cease or otherwise reduce activity. In the illustrated example, the output 655 is shown as a cross-shaped light. However, the light may be of any desired shape or color and may blink. In addition, any sound associated with the output 655 may be any sort of sound such as, for example, a beep, a repetitive noise, a loud and sustained noise, or any other type of alarm or sound.

The output 655 may be triggered based on a user physiological condition that is surpassed. For example, if a user's heart rate rises above a certain threshold heart rate, in addition to causing decrease in the amount of strength training resistance, the controller 130 may cause that the output 655 to be activated as well to call attention to the user's physiological condition to the user and/or fitness club staff. Similarly, the output 655 may be triggered when any number of physiological conditions or exercise parameters exceed an upper threshold or fall below a lower threshold. The output 655 may also be sent to another display elsewhere in the facility in which the strength training machines 100 and 400 are located to indicate to appropriate personnel (e.g., personal training or other fitness club personnel) that the user of the strength training machine 100 and 400 may need assistance and/or monitoring.

FIG. 7 depicts a flow diagram of an example process or method that may used to control a workout on a strength machine (e.g., the example machine 100 and 400). In an example implementation, the operations depicted in the flow diagram of FIG. 7 may be implemented using machine readable instructions that are executed by the example strength machines 100 and 400 and associated controller 130. Some or all of the machine readable instructions may form a program executed by a processor such as the processor 160 discussed above. The program may be embodied in software stored on a tangible medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (“DVD”), or a memory associated with the processor 160 and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware in a well-known manner. For example, the apparatus and system discussed above may be implemented using software, hardware, and/or firmware. Further, although the example programs or processes are described with reference to the flow diagrams illustrated in FIG. 7, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many other methods of implementing control of a strength machine may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, or combined.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting an example strength machine control process 700 that may be performed by the exercise machines 100 and 400 and associated controller 130, processor 160 and/or processor system 800 (described below). The example strength machine control process 700 initially begins when a strength training machine is activated for a workout (block 705). The activation may include identifying a user and loading an individualized exercise program (block 710) (by, e.g., the RFID tag reader 600 of FIG. 6). The example strength machine control process 700 then determines if machine based-sensors or remote sensors are to be used (block 715) (e.g., the sensors 155 on the handles 105 of the machines 100 and 400 are machine-based sensors). Sensors coupled to the user's person such as, for example, a thermometer, or a strap-on heart monitor could be used as a remote sensor). If remote sensors are used, the sensors are coupled to a processing system (block 720) (e.g., to the controller 130 associated with the strength training machines 100 and 400). Alternatively, the either the machine-based sensors and/or the remote sensors may be automatically sensed and block 715 may be skipped.

After the user begins his or her workout (block 725), data is gathered by the sensors and sent to the processing system (block 730). Shortly thereafter, or concurrently, the gathered data is displayed (block 735) (for example on the display 190 of FIGS. 1, 4 and 6). The gathered data may be any physiological condition of the user and/or exercise parameter of the strength training machine. In addition, stored information regarding the user's goals and target exercise parameter(s) and/or target physiological condition(s) may also be displayed.

In addition to displaying gathered and/or stored data, the strength machine control process 700 also determines if any gathered physiological condition or exercise parameter has surpassed (i.e., has exceeded or fallen below) a threshold (block 740) (e.g., the user's actual heart rate exceeds the user's target heart rate or a maximum heart rate stored in the strength training machine 100 and 400). The threshold may be set by the manufacturer of the machine, by a health or fitness club facility, and/or by the user. If a threshold has been surpassed, the strength machine control process 700 automatically reduces the strength training resistance (e.g., via the controller 130 of FIGS. 1 and 4, as described above), automatically reduces the speed at which the machine operates, prompts the user (e.g., on the display 190) to reduce the strength training resistance and/or to slow down, or any combination thereof (block 745). In addition, the strength machine control process 700 determines if the threshold value has been surpassed by a specific amount, for example by a certain percentage (block 750) (e.g., the user's actual heart rate is 20% higher than the user's target heart rate). If the threshold of the physiological condition or the exercise parameter has been surpassed by a certain percentage, the strength machine control process 700 causes a notification (e.g., a warning) to be displayed (block 755).

After a notification has been displayed (block 755), the strength machine control process 700 then may cause the strength training machine to stop and/or display a message indicating that the workout has ended (block 760), and the results of the workout are displayed and/or sent to the processing system or elsewhere (e.g., the user's memory card, an RFID tag, a central database in the fitness facility, etc.) (block 760).

If a user has not surpassed the physiological condition(s) or exercise parameter threshold(s) by a certain percentage, the strength machine control process 700 determines if the workout has otherwise been completed (block 765) by, for example, determining if the user has met any of his or her pre-programmed goals. If the workout has been completed, then the workout has ended and the results of the workout are displayed and sent to the appropriate recipient (block 760). However, if the workout is not complete and/or a user has not met specific goals, then the workout continues (block 770) and control returns to block 730, where data regarding the physiological condition(s) and exercise parameter(s) are gathered, and the strength machine control process 700 continues through blocks 735 and 740 as described above.

If, at block 740, the strength machine control process 700 determines that no threshold of a physiological condition or exercise parameter has been surpassed, the workout continues. Further, the strength machine control process 700 considers a delay time period during which the strength machine control process 700 does not change the amount of strength training resistance such as, for example, the first five minutes of a workout at an amount of strength training resistance. This ensures that the user exercises for a period of time with a particular amount of strength training resistance and does not proceed too quickly through his or her workout. Strength training workouts are more efficient when time is spent in the workout, and the user is not pushing too quickly through repetitions. If the user has not worked out for a period of time longer than the delay time (block 775), the workout continues (block 780) and control returns to block 730, where data regarding the physiological conditions and exercise parameters are gathered, and the strength machine control process 700 continues through blocks 735 and 740 as described above.

However, if the user has worked out for a period of time longer than the delay time (block 775), then the strength machine control process 700 determines if the current strength training resistance is greater than the resistance with which the user should be exercising at this stage in the workout, including an incremental resistance increase (i.e., “the increased strength training resistance”) (block 785). For example, the user may have an individualized exercise parameter set so that strength training resistance is increased increments of, for example, 10 pounds, which may be previously loaded at block 710. If the current strength training resistance is greater than the increased strength training resistance, then the workout continues (block 780) and control returns to block 730, where data regarding the physiological condition(s) and exercise parameter(s) are gathered, and the strength machine control process 700 continues through blocks 735 and 740 as described above.

If the current strength training resistance is less than the amount of increased strength training resistance, then the strength training resistance is increased (block 790) (e.g., via the controller 130 of FIGS. 1 and 4, described above). After increasing the amount of strength training resistance (block 790), the workout continues (block 780) and control returns to block 730, where data regarding the physiological condition(s) and exercise parameter(s) are gathered, and the strength machine control process 700 continues through blocks 735 and 740 as described above. Ultimately, the workout may continue through the above-described blocks until the workout is complete and the user's goal is achieved (block 765) or a threshold of a physiological condition and/or exercise parameter is surpassed by a certain percentage (block 750).

As described above, the systems and methods described herein enable a controlled workout, which allows a user to workout and achieve specific goals including, for example, achieving a target heart rate, reaching a number of calories burned, finishing the workout in a specific time frame, lifting a certain amount of weight, controlling a workout intensity, etc.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example processor system 800 that may be used to implement the systems and methods described herein, including the controller 130. The example processor system 800 of FIG. 8 is in communication with a main memory (including the ROM 805 and the RAM 810) via a bus 815. As shown in FIG. 8, the processor system 800 includes the processor 160 that is coupled to the bus 815. The processor 160 may be any suitable processor, processing unit or microprocessor. Although not shown in FIG. 8, the processor system 800 may be a multi-processor system and, thus, may include one or more additional processors that are identical or similar to the processor 160 and that are communicatively coupled to the interconnection bus 815.

The example RAM 810 of FIG. 8 may be implemented by dynamic random access memory (DRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), and/or any other type of RAM device, and the example ROM 805 of FIG. 8 may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device including mass storage devices such as, for example, hard disk drives, optical drives, tape storage devices, etc. Access to the example memories 805 and 810 is typically controlled by a memory controller (not shown) in a conventional manner.

To receive data from the sensors 155 and 140, the example processor system 800 includes any variety of conventional interface circuitry such as, for example, an external bus interface 820. For example, the external bus interface 820 may provide one input signal path (e.g., a semiconductor package pin) for each of the sensors 140 and 155. Additionally or alternatively, the external bus interface 820 may implement any variety of time multiplexed interface to receive outputs signal from the sensors via fewer input signals.

The example processing system 800 also includes a display interface 825 to communicate with the display 190. The display interface 825 may be used to communicate generated outputs (e.g., the warning output 655, discussed above). In addition, the processing system 800 may include a speaker 830 to alternatively or additionally generate outputs.

In addition, to allow a user to be identified, the example processor system 800 include any variety of user identification interface 835. Example interfaces 835 include a keypad, an RFID tag reader, a universal serial bus (USB) memory interface, etc. For example, an exerciser may identify themselves by passing an associated device containing an RFID tag (e.g., a membership card) near an RFID tag reader 600, as described above. When the membership card is detected and/or identified by the RFID tag reader 600, the example RFID tag reader 600 of FIG. 6 provides to the example processor system 800, for example, the exerciser's identification number (e.g., membership number) read and/or otherwise determined from the membership card.

To allow the example processor system 800 to interact with a remote server, the example processor system 800 of FIG. 8 includes any variety of network interface 840 such as, for example, a wireless LAN interface in accordance with, for instance, the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.15.4 (a.k.a. ZigBee) etc. standards. The example processor system 800 of FIG. 8 may use the example network interface 840 to obtain target exercise parameters for an identified user and/or to provide exercise parameters determined while the identified user exercises.

Although an example processor system 800 has been illustrated in FIG. 8, the example processor system 800 may be implemented using any of a variety of other and/or additional devices, components, circuits, modules, etc. Further, the devices, components, circuits, modules, elements, etc. illustrated in FIG. 8 may be combined, re-arranged, eliminated and/or implemented in any of a variety of ways. For simplicity and ease of understanding, the following discussion references the example processor system 800, but any processor system could be used instead.

Although certain example apparatus, methods, and machine readable instructions have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a user engaging contact surface;

a pulley or a cam; and

a flexible coupling to operatively couple an automatically controlled strength training resistance to the user engaging contact surface via the pulley or the cam.

2. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the user engaging contact surface comprises at least one of a handle, a bar, a strap, a foot pedal, a pad, or a grip.

3. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the automatically controlled strength training resistance is provided by one of a weight stack or an elastic cord.

4. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the flexible coupling comprises at least one of a cable, a rope, an elastic band, a chain, or a belt.

5. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1, further comprising a control unit to automatically control the strength training resistance.

6. An exercise machine as defined in claim 5, wherein the control unit is to automatically control the strength training resistance by changing an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, or a number of repetitions.

7. An exercise machine as defined in claim 5, wherein the control unit is to automatically control the strength training resistance based on a physiological condition of the user during use of the strength machine.

8. An exercise machine as defined in claim 7, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a heart rate or an amount of calories burned.

9. An exercise machine as defined in claim 7, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.

10. An exercise machine as defined in claim 7, further comprising a display to display at least one of the physiological condition or information associated with strength training resistance.

11. An exercise machine as defined in claim 7, further comprising an output to output a notification based on the physiological condition.

12. An exercise machine as defined in claim 5, wherein control unit is to automatically control the strength training resistance based on an individualized exercise program for the user.

13. A system to control a workout on a strength machine, the system comprising:

a sensor interface to receive a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and

a controller coupled to the strength machine to cause a change of an exercise parameter based on the physiological condition.

14. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the controller is to automatically change the exercise parameter.

15. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the change of the exercise parameter is performed by the user in response to a signal from the controller.

16. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a heart rate or an amount of calories burned.

17. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.

18. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the exercise parameter is at least one of an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, or a number of repetitions.

19. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, further comprising a display to display at least one of the physiological condition or the exercise parameter.

20. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, further including an output to provide a notification based on the physiological condition.

21. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

an input to identify the user; and

an individualized exercise program for the user, wherein the individualized exercise program includes a stored individualized user parameter and a stored individualized exercise parameter.

22. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 21, wherein the controller is to change the exercise parameter based on one or more of the physiological condition, the stored individualized user parameter, or the stored individualized exercise parameter.

23. A system to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 21, wherein the stored individualized user parameter is at least one of a heart rate, an amount of calories burned, a time, a number of repetitions, an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.

24. A method to control a workout on a strength machine, the method comprising:

receiving a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and

changing an exercise parameter of the strength machine based on the physiological condition.

25. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, wherein the physiological condition is at least one of a body temperature, a skin moisture level, or a blood oxygen level.

26. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, wherein the exercise parameter is at least one of an amount of weight to be lifted, a number of elastic cords to be deformed, or a number of repetitions.

27. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, further including outputting a notification based on the physiological condition.

28. A method to control a workout on a strength machine as defined in claim 24, further comprising:

identifying the user; and

accessing an individualized exercise program for the user, wherein the individualized exercise program includes a stored individualized user parameter and a stored individualized exercise parameter.

29. An exercise machine comprising:

means for applying a strength training resistance to a user;

means for flexibly coupling the strength training resistance to the means applying the strength training resistance to the user; and

means for automatically changing the strength training resistance.

30. A system to control a workout on a strength machine, the system comprising:

means to receive a physiological condition of a user during use of the strength machine, and

means to change an exercise parameter of the strength machine based on the physiological condition.