Sensing applications for exercise machines

A method of determining a cadence value of a user exercising on a treadmill, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of output signal from a sensor generated in response to consecutive footfalls of a user impacting a deck of the treadmill during an exercise session;
• processing the plurality of output signals from the sensor to determine a magnitude value of a peak or a trough value of the output signal;
• detecting whether a first output signal has a first new peak or trough value and detecting whether a second output signal has a second new peak or trough value;
• determining a time interval between the first new peak or trough value detected and the second new peak or trough value detected;
• and
• calculating the cadence value of a user by counting the time intervals between consecutive new peak or trough values generated by the output signals for each footstrike impacting the deck of the treadmill during the exercise session.

A system for profiling an exercise session of an exercise machine, comprising:

• a user interface to enable a user to input physical characteristics or workout parameters;
• a plurality of sensors operatively coupled to the exercise machine that generate output signals in response to a user impacting the exercise machine during the exercise session, wherein the sensors produce output signals that are proportional to the magnitude of the forces imparted on the exercise machine by a user during the exercise session, and wherein the control system determines the peak or trough values of the output signal;
• and
• a control system to process the output signals to determine the magnitude of the peak or trough values of the output signals, wherein the control system is to process the peak or trough values of the output signals to profile matrices of the user during the exercise session.