Video game difficulty level adjuster dependent upon player's aerobic activity level during exercise

An exercise motivation apparatus useable with an aerobic exercise device and a video game having at least one user operated control for controlling the actions of said one player and at least one player, and which controls the relative actions of one of an opposition piece or obstacle, and which displays the one player and the one of said opposition piece or obstacle, comprising:

• means for sensing the activity output level of an aerobic exercise device, and for outputting an activity level signal having a characteristic indicative of said activity level;
• means for sensing the heart rate of a user of the aerobic exercise device;
• and
• regulating means for increasing the speed of both the one player and the one of the opposition piece or obstacle by increasing the speed of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to and in proportion to the activity level, the regulating means further including means for rendering the video game more difficult for the one player relative to the opposition piece or obstacle in response to the heart rate of the user falling below a first predetermined level.

A combination exercise device and game apparatus, comprising:

• an exercise device for aerobic activity;
• means for sensing the activity output level of said aerobic exercise device, and for outputting an activity level signal having a characteristic indicative of said activity level;
• means for sensing the heart rate of the user;
• timing means for measuring the length of time that a user has been using the exercise device, to provide at least two different exercise phases, including a first phase until a certain first time period is reached and a second phase after said first time period is reached;
• a video game having at least one user operated control for controlling the actions of at least one player, regulating means for regulating the relative action of said one player and one of an opposition piece or obstacle, and display means for displaying the one player and the one of said opposition piece or obstacle;
• said regulating means further including means for increasing the speed of both the one player and the one of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to and in proportion to the activity level;
• said regulating means including means for rendering the game more difficult for the one player relative to the opposition piece or obstacle by increasing the speed of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to the heart rate of the user rising above a first predetermined level when the timing means indicates that the user is in the first phase;
• and
• said regulating including means for rendering the video game more difficult for the one player relative to the opposition piece or obstacle by increasing the speed of the opposition piece or obstacle in response to the heart rate of the user falling below the first predetermined level when the timing means indicates that the user is in the second phase.

A combination exercise device and game apparatus, comprising:

• a) an exercise device for aerobic activity;
• b) means for sensing the output level of said exercise device, and for outputting an output level signal having a characteristic indicative of said output level;
• c) means for sensing the heart rate of a user, and for outputting a heart rate signal having a characteristic indicative of said heart rate;
• d) a video game including display means for displaying said video game;
• and
• e) regulating means including:
• i 1) means for adjusting the difficulty of the play of said video game according to said heart rate signal;
• and
• 2) means for adjusting the difficulty of the play of said video game according to said output level signal.

A game apparatus useable with an exercise device, comprising:

• a) means for sensing the output level of said exercise device, and for outputting an output level signal having a characteristic indicative of said output level;
• b) means for sensing the heart rate of a user, and for outputting a heart rate signal having a characteristic indicative of said heart rate;
• c) a video game including display means for displaying said video game;
• and
• d) regulating means including:
• 1) means for adjusting the difficulty of the play of said video game according to said heart rate signal;
• and
• 2) means for adjusting the difficulty of the play of said video game according to said output level signal.

An exercise motivation apparatus useable with an exercise device and a video game including display means for displaying said video game, comprising:

• a) means for sensing the output level of said exercise device, and for outputting an output level signal having a characteristic indicative of said output level;
• b) means for sensing the heart rate of a user, and for outputting a heart rate signal having a characteristic indicative of said heart rate;
• and
• c) regulating means including:
• 1) means for adjusting the difficulty of the play of said video game according to said heart rate signal;
• and
• 2) means for adjusting the difficulty of the play of said video game
• according to said output level signal.

A combination exercise device and game apparatus, comprising:

• a) an exercise device for aerobic activity;
• b) means for sensing the output level of said exercise device, and for outputting an output level signal having a characteristic indicative of said output level;
• c) means for sensing the heart rate of a user, and for outputting a heart rate signal having a characteristic indicative of said heart rate;
• d) a video game including:
• 1) display means for displaying said video game;
• 2) a plurality of levels of difficulty of play;
• and
• 3) at least one user-operated control for controlling the play of said video game;
• e) regulating means including:
• 1) means for adjusting the level of difficulty of said video game according to said heart rate signal, wherein said level of difficulty is increased in response to said heart rate signal falling below a first predetermined level;
• 2) means for adjusting the level of difficulty of said video game according to said output level signal, wherein said level of difficulty increases as said output level signal decreases and said level of difficulty decreases as said output level signal increases;
• and
• 3) means for adjusting the level of difficulty of said video game according to a specified exercise profile having at least two exercise phases.