# US 2021/0279813 A1 · Exercise apparatus with exercise use verification function and verifying method

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- Number: US 2021/0279813 A1
- Document ID: US20210279813A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/327,418
- Filed: 2021-05-21
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-30
- Assignees: Johnson Health Tech Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Johnson Health Tech Co., Ltd
- Inventors: Nathan Pyles
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210279813A1

## CPC

- G06Q 40/08: Insurance
- A63B 22/0235: {driven by a motor}
- A63B 24/0062: {Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance}
- A63B 24/0087: {Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load}
- G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
- A63B 22/025: {electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control}
- A63B 22/04: with movable {multiple} steps {, i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders (steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048)}
- A63B 2024/0093: {the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed}
- A63B 2024/0096: {using performance related parameters for controlling electronic or video games or avatars}
- A63B 2220/13: Relative positions
- A63B 2220/20: Distances or displacements
- A63B 2220/30: Speed
- A63B 2220/56: Pressure
- A63B 2220/62: Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
- A63B 2220/805: Optical or opto-electronic sensors
- A63B 2225/20: with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
- A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
- A63B 2230/50: temperature
- A63B 2230/505: used as a control parameter for the apparatus
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a base, an operating unit that is movable relative to the base, and a motor that is coupled to the operating unit. The exercise apparatus also includes a sensor that is operable to detect engagement of a user with the operating unit, and a controller that is in communication with the operating unit and the sensor. The controller con generate validated exercise use data in response to the sensor detecting engagement of the user with the operating unit and movement of the operating unit relative to the base.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An exercise apparatus comprising:
a base;
an operating unit movable relative to the base;
a motor coupled to the operating unit;
a sensor operable to detect engagement of a user with the operating unit;
a controller in communication with the operating unit and the sensor, the controller configured to generate validated exercise use data in response to the sensor detecting engagement of the user with the operating unit and movement of the operating unit relative to the base.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate non-validated exercise use data in response to the sensor detecting the user not engaged with the operating unit and movement of the operating unit relative to the base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein on startup of the motor and movement of the operating unit relative to the base, the controller is configured to generate the non-validated exercise use data, and wherein the controller is further configured to record the non-validated exercise use data as validated exercise use data in response to the sensor detecting engagement of the user with the operating unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the validated exercise use data includes an amount of user exercise time defined by a duration that the sensor detects engagement of the user with the operating unit during movement of the operating unit relative to the base.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the validated exercise use data includes a distance traveled by the user, wherein the distance traveled is defined while the sensor detects engagement of the user with the operating member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to record the validated exercise use data in response to the sensor detecting engagement of the user with the operating unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to establish communication with a remote location, and wherein the controller is configured to maintain communication between the exercise apparatus and the remote location while the user is determined by the controller not to be engaged with the operating member.

### Claim 8

An exercise apparatus comprising:
a motor;
an operating member driven by the motor;
a sensor operable to detect engagement of a user with the operating member;
a controller in communication with the operating member and the sensor; and
a communication interface in communication with the controller,
wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the user is engaged with the operating member in response to a signal from the sensor and movement of the operating member,
wherein the controller is configured to report exercise use data to the communication interface in response to the controller determining that the user is engaged with the operating member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to stop reporting the exercise use data to the communication interface in response to the controller determining that the user is not engaged with the operating member and the operating member is driven by the motor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is in communication with the communication interface while the operating member is driven by the motor and the user is determined by the controller not to be engaged with the operating member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The exercise apparatus of claim 10, wherein the communication interface is in communication with a remote storage device while the operating member is driven by the motor and the user is determined by the controller not to be engaged with the operating member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to report the exercise use data to the communication interface only in response to the controller determining that the user is engaged with the operating member and the operating member is being driven by the motor.

### Claim 13

A method of verifying the use of an exercise apparatus, the method comprising:
operating an operating member driven by a motor;
generating exercise use data in response to operating the operating member;
receiving, at a controller, sensor data from a sensor;
comparing, at the controller, the sensor data with a known data parameter that is indicative of a user not engaging the operating member; and
reporting, by the controller, the exercise use data to a communication interface in response to the comparison step indicating that the user is engaged with the operating member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising ceasing reporting of the exercise use data to the communication interface in response to the controller determining that the user is not engaged with the operating member while the operating member is driven by the motor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising generate the exercise use data in response to the determination that the user is engaged with the operating member and in response to the determination that the user is not engaged with the operating member while the operating member is being driven by the motor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising reporting, by the controller, the exercise use data to the communication interface only in response to the controller determining that the user is engaged with the operating member.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising determining, by the controller, an amount of user exercise time defined by a duration that the sensor detects engagement of the user with the operating member during movement of the operating member.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the known data parameter is recognized by the controller during operational use of the operating member.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the reported exercise use data is defined as validated exercise use data.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising connecting the exercise apparatus with a remote location, communicating the exercise use data to the remote location, and maintaining communication between the exercise apparatus and an remote location while the operating member is driven by the motor and the user is determined by the controller not to be engaged with the operating member.