Exercise system and method for managing physiological intensity of exercise

An exercise apparatus for maintaining a user's level of exercise intensity near a target level while exercising, comprising:

• (a) movement means for engaging the user in an exercise movement, said movement means being selectively adjustable in response to a load signal for varying the intensity of exercise performed by the user;
• (b) physiological sensor means engaged with the user for sensing a physiological condition of the user and generating a physiological signal indicating the user's physiological exercise intensity;
• (c) rate sensor means for generating a rate signal indicating the user's rate of said exercise movement;
• and
• (d) control means responsive to said physiological and rate signals for generating said load signal in accordance with said physiological and rate signals to establish and maintain the user's exercise intensity near the target;
• wherein said control means varies said load signal in accordance with said rate signal only after said physiological signal indicates that the user's level of exercise intensity has reach the target level.

An exercise apparatus for maintaining a user's heart rate near a preselected target rate while exercising, comprising:

• (a) movement means adopted for engagement by a user for providing the user with an exercise movement;
• (b) resistance means for applying a variable level of resistance in opposition to said exercise movement, said resistance means being selectively adjustable in response to a load control signal for varying said level of resistance;
• (c) a first sensor adapted for engagement with the user for generating a heart rate signal representing the user's heart rate;
• (d) a second sensor operatively associated with said movement means for generating an exercise rate signal representing the rate of said exercise movement;
• and
• (e) load control means for generating said load control signal in accordance with said heart rate signal to establish the user's heart rate at a level near the target rate and for generating said load control signal in accordance with said heart rate signal and said exercise rate signal once the user's heart rate is established at a level near the target rate to maintain the user's heart rate near the target rate.

An exercise management system for maintaining a user's heart rate near a target heart rate during exercise on an exercise apparatus having movement means adapted for manipulation by the user in an exercise movement and an adjustable load device for applying a selectively variable level of resistance in opposition to the exercise movement, comprising:

• (a) first sensor means adapted for engagement with the user for generating a heart rate signal representing the user's heart rate;
• (b) second sensor means operatively associated with said movement means for generating an exercise rate signal representing the rate of said exercise movement;
• and
• (c) control means coupled to said first and second sensor means for
• adjusting the load device in accordance with said heart rate signal to establish and maintain the user's heart rate near the target heart rate;
• periodically inviting the user to disengage said first sensor means for a time period of selected duration;
• and
• adjusting the load device in accordance with said exercise rate signal during said time period when the user has disengaged said first sensor means to maintain the user's heart rate near said target heart rate.

An exercise apparatus for maintaining a user's heart rate near a preselected target while exercising, comprising:

• (a) movement means for engaging the user in an exercise movement, said movement means being adjustable for selectively applying a level of resistance in opposition to said exercise movement, said level of resistance being variable within a range;
• (b) sensor means engaged with the user for generating a heart rate signal representing the user's heart rate;
• (c) level selection means operatively associated with said movement means for enabling the user to select a maximum level of resistance within said range;
• and
• (d) control means responsive to said heart signal, said level selection means, and said movement means for adjusting said level of resistance in accordance with said heart rate signal to establish and maintain the user's heart rate near the target;
• said control means further including means for maintaining said level of resistance below a variable soft maximum value that is a function of the said user-selected maximum level of resistance.

A method for maintaining a user's level of exercise intensity at a target level while exercising on an exercise apparatus having movement means for providing the user with a exercise movement of selectively variable intensity, comprising the steps of:

• (a) periodically measuring the user's level of physiological exercise intensity;
• (b) periodically measuring the user's rate of exercise movement;
• (c) adjusting the movement means in accordance with the measured level of physiological exercise intensity to establish and maintain the user's physiological exercise intensity near the target level;
• and
• (d) adjusting the movement means in accordance with the measured rate of exercise movement once the user's physiological exercise intensity has reached the target level.

A method for maintaining a user's heart rate at a target level while exercising on an exercise apparatus having movement means for providing the user with an exercise movement of selectively adjustable intensity, comprising the steps of:

• (a) periodically measuring the user's heart rate;
• (b) adjusting said movement means in accordance with the measured heart rate to establish and maintain the user's heart rate at the target level;
• (c) once the user's heart rate reaches the target level suspending the measurement of the user's heart rate for a selected time period;
• (d) periodically measuring the rate of said exercise movement;
• (e) during said selected time period when measurement of the user's heart rate is suspended, adjusting said movement means in accordance with the measured rate of exercise movement to maintain said heart rate at the target level.

A method for maintaining a user's heart rate at a target level while exercising on an exercise apparatus having movement means for providing the user with an exercise movement of selectively variable intensity, comprising the steps of:

• (a) engaging a sensor to the user to sample the user's heart rate;
• (b) adjusting said movement means in accordance with said sampled heart rate to establish said heart rate near the target level;
• and
• (c) once the user's heart rate reaches the target level, sampling the user's rate of exercise movement and adjusting said movement means in accordance with said sampled rate of exercise movement to maintain the user's heart rate near the target level for a selected time period.