US20120157265A1

US20120157265A1 - Smartphone Capable of Replacing Meter of Electronic Exercise Machine

Info

Publication number: US20120157265A1
Application number: US13/159,824
Authority: US
Inventors: Ying-So KAO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-16
Filing date: 2011-06-14
Publication date: 2012-06-21
Also published as: CN102572090A; TW201228338A

Abstract

A smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine includes a main body, a communication interface, a central processing unit (CPU), and a storage unit. A second man-machine interface and the communication interface are disposed on the main body, in which the communication interface is corresponding to an output terminal of a first man-machine interface of an electronic exercise machine. The CPU is disposed in the main body and is electrically connected to the communication interface. Being driven by an interface application software of the electronic exercise machine, the CPU may correspondingly control the electronic exercise machine, and an operation panel is formed on the second man-machine interface. The storage unit is disposed in the main body and is electrically connected to the CPU. The interface application software corresponding to at least one model of the electronic exercise machine is stored in the storage unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine and particularly to a smartphone provided with a functional interface as a meter applied for electronic exercise machines.
2. Description of the Related Art
With People becoming busier and busier in the modern city, how to use time well to take exercise for heath is an important issue must be paid attention. Using a treadmills, a flywheel machine, a rowing machine, a gliding machine or the other exercise machine are widely popular options to take exercise in an efficient way. With reference to FIG. 1, for a user's optimum exercise efficiency and better handling, the conventional exercise machine 1 designed in the current technology comprises an electronic meter indicating each corresponding exercise index and giving each user-friendly service, such as running speed, distance, exercise time and the like. Moreover, in a high-level exercise machine, the electronic meter 2 further indicates a specified exercise course or giving an instructive function, such as exercise teaching.
Although the electronic meter 2 provided in the exercise machine 1 designed in the existing technology has many functions, the exercise machine is not common as the price of such exercise machine 1 is quite high, for the users. Besides, the appearance of the meter 2 does not interest the users, and the software of the electronic meter 2 might be frequently updated or upgraded for providing an optimum, faster or accurate service, as the interface of such electronic meter is not universal, the software update is complicated such that the user must engage a specialist to update the software. Moreover, if the electronic meter partly malfunctions, the whole machine must be delivered for repairing, such that the maintenance of the electronic machine makes the cost increase and takes more time. Therefore, owing to the defects mentioned above, a smartphone with meter function is provided in this invention to improve the current technical defects and increase its availability in industries.
Consequently, because of the technical defects of described above, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly through wholehearted experience and research to develop the present invention, which can effectively improve the defects described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the mentioned-above defects of prior art, an object of the present invention is that a smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine that is novel, progressive and available in industries.
In order to achieve the object, in a means applied to this invention, the smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine may be correspondingly connected to an electronic exercise machine. At least one measuring function circuit is provided in the electronic exercise machine. In the electronic exercise machine, an output terminal of a first man-machine interface is provided for outputting the measuring function circuit. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine comprises a main body, a communication interface, a central processing unit (CPU), and a storage unit.
The main body is a smartphone of which one side is disposed with a second man-machine interface. The second man-machine interface allows a user to read messages, input messages and the like. The communication interface is disposed on a housing of the main body. The communication interface is corresponding to the output terminal of the first man-machine interface of the electronic exercise machine, further making the main body electrically connected to the measuring function circuit for signal communication. The CPU is disposed in the main body and is electrically connected to the communication interface. Being driven by an interface application software of the electronic exercise machine, the CPU may correspondingly control the measuring function circuit, and an operation panel is formed on the second man-machine interface. The operation panel further comprises at least one operation block and at least one display block. Direct input operation may be done on the operation block to drive the measuring function circuit for controlling and operating the electronic exercise machine. The display block may show users indicative information such as corresponding data and a movement prompt or a warning message in the manner of onscreen display. The storage unit is disposed in the main body and is electrically connected to the CPU. The interface application software corresponding to at least one model of the electronic exercise machine is stored in the storage unit.
The display block comprises a travel distance display area, being corresponding to an actual travel distance at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine. Moreover, the display block comprises an exercise time display area. The exercise time display area shows an exercise time the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine. Besides, the display block comprises a speed display area. The speed display area shows a movement speed at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine.
The electronic exercise machine that may be correspondingly connected to the smartphone is a treadmill, a sliding machine, a stepper, an exercise bike, a flywheel machine, a rowing machine, or an elliptical trainer. Alternatively, the second man-machine interface may be a touch panel. The communication interface may be a universal serial bus (USB) port, a bluetooth device, or a wireless communication device.
Besides, in order to achieve the object, in this invention, another smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine is provided and may be correspondingly connected to an electronic exercise machine. At least one measuring function circuit and at least one course function circuit are provided in the electronic exercise machine. In the electronic exercise machine, an output terminal of a first man-machine interface is provided for outputting the measuring function circuit and the course function circuit. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine comprises a main body, a communication interface, a central processing unit (CPU), and a storage unit.
The main body is a smartphone of which one side is disposed with a second man-machine interface. The second man-machine interface allows a user to read messages, input messages and the like. The communication interface is disposed on a housing of the main body and is corresponding to the output terminal of the first man-machine interface of the electronic exercise machine, further making the main body electrically connected to the measuring function circuit and the course function circuit for signal communication. The CPU is disposed in the main body and is electrically connected to the communication interface. Being driven by an interface application software of the electronic exercise machine, the CPU may correspondingly control the measuring function circuit and the course function circuit, and an operation panel is formed on the second man-machine interface. The operation panel further comprises at least one operation block and at least one display block. Direct input operation may be done on the operation block to drive the measuring function circuit and the course function circuit for controlling and operating the electronic exercise machine. The display block may show users indicative information such as corresponding data and a movement prompt or a warning message in the manner of onscreen display. The storage unit is disposed in the main body and is electrically connected to the CPU. The interface application software corresponding to at least one model of the electronic exercise machine is stored in the storage unit.
The display block comprises a travel distance display area. The advance travel distance display area shows an actual travel distance at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine. Moreover, the display block comprises an exercise time display area. The exercise time display area shows an exercise time the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine. Besides, the display block comprises a speed display area. The speed display area shows a movement speed at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine. Furthermore, the display block comprises a feedback signal display area. The feedback signal display area may show a movement prompt or warning signal for each exercise flow of the course function circuit.
The electronic exercise machine that may be correspondingly connected to the smartphone is a treadmills, a sliding machine, a stepper, an exercise bike, a flywheel machine, a rowing machine, or an elliptical trainer. Alternatively, the second man-machine interface is a touch panel. The communication interface is a universal serial bus (USB) port, a bluetooth device, or a wireless communication device.
Regarding the design of the smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine, a humanized operation interface is formed by means of software design in the smartphone provided with the CPU, and thus the smartphone, after being connected to the electronic exercise machine, may serve directly as an operation and display panel of the electronic exercise machine. After such a design is promoted and applied, the cost of electronic exercise machine may be significantly lowered, the machine being thereby popular. Besides, replacing the meter on the conventional electronic exercise machine with the smartphone is advantageous to users to update the software and will not cause the whole machine not to work, for example, by the failure of meter. Furthermore, the electronic virtual operation interface easily shows a rich, fine operation menu, attracting users to take exercise and keep fit with its big advantage applied at the time of implementation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the appearance of a conventional exercise machine provided with an electronic meter;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a circuit layout for a smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an exercise machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view of a smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of the smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to an embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to an embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to this invention may be correspondingly connected, for example, to a treadmills, a sliding machine, a stepper, an exercise bike, a flywheel machine, a rowing machine, or an elliptical trainer as an electronic exercise machine 90 designed for movement capability training. At least one measuring function circuit 91 is provided in the electronic exercise machine 90. The measuring function circuit 91 may enable the electronic exercise machine to show an actual travel distance, measure the user's movement speed, or measure the user's exercise time. Furthermore, at least one course function circuit 92 is provided in the electronic exercise machine 90. The course function circuit 92 may correspondingly arrange a plurality of exercise flows, which may drive the electronic exercise machine 90 to correspondingly operate, for example, in the condition of different speeds, different total travel lengths, or different total time lengths, and thus the users may be allowed to further follow an exercise flow at their will for effectively taking exercise on the electronic exercise machine 90. The layout patterns of the measuring function circuit 91 and the course function circuit 92 is widely used, thereby unnecessary details being not given here. In the electronic exercise machine 90, an output terminal of a first man-machine interface 93 for outputting the data generated by the measuring function circuit 91 and the course function circuit 92 is provided. The output terminal of the first man-machine interface 93 may be a communication cable port, such as a universal serial bus (USB) port, or a communication cable that may be connected to the smartphone, or even a wireless communication means, such as a bluetooth or wireless networking communication device.
In a preferred embodiment, the smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine comprises a main body 10, a communication interface 20, a central processing unit (CPU) 30, and a storage unit 40.
The main body 10 is a smartphone of which one side is disposed with a second man-machine interface 11. The second man-machine interface 11 allows the user to read messages, input messages and the like. Alternatively, the second man-machine interface 11 may be a touch panel.
The communication interface 20 is disposed on a housing of the main body 10. The communication interface 20 is corresponding to the output terminal of the first man-machine interface 93 of electronic exercise machine 90, further making the main body 10 electrically connected to the measuring function circuit 91 and the course function circuit 92 for signal communication. The communication interface 20 may be a USB port, a Bluetooth device, or a wireless communication device, such as a WiFi communication unit.
With further reference to FIG. 4, the CPU 30 is provided in the main body 10 and is electrically connected to the communication interface 20. Being driven by an interface application software of the electronic exercise machine, the CPU 30 may correspondingly control the measuring function circuit 91 and the course function circuit 92. Furthermore, an operation panel 80 is formed on the second man-machine interface 11 such that a user can control the electronic exercise machine by the operation panel 80. The operation panel 80 further comprises at least one operation block 81 and at least one display block 82. Direct input operation may be done on the operation block 81 to drive the measuring function circuit 91 and the course function circuit 92 for control and operation of the electronic exercise machine 90. The display block 82 may show users indicative information such as corresponding data (e.g., advance travel distance, exercise duration, movement speed, revolving speed, calories or power consumption or the like), and a movement prompt or a warning message in the manner of onscreen display.
The display block 82 may further comprise a travel distance display area 821, an exercise time display area 822, a speed display area 823, and a feedback signal display area 824. The travel distance display area 821 shows an actual travel distance at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine 90. The exercise time display area 822 shows an exercise time the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine 90. The speed display area 823 shows a movement speed at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine 90. The feedback signal display area 824 may show a corresponding movement prompt, such as a string “you must continue taking exercise for 20 minutes long”, or a warning signal, such as a string “Speed up will start; be carful”, for each exercise flow of the course function circuit 92.
The storage unit 40 is disposed in the main body 10 and is electrically connected to the CPU 30. The interface application software corresponding to at least one model of the electronic exercise machine 90 is stored in the storage unit 40. Such a manner helps the users update software installed in a mobile phone through Internet.
With reference to FIG. 5, regarding the design of the smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine, the humanized operation interface 80 is formed by means of software design in the smartphone provided with the CPU 30, and thus the smartphone, after being connected to the electronic exercise machine, may serve directly as an operation and display panel of the electronic exercise machine 90. After such a design is promoted and applied, the cost of electronic exercise machine 90 may be significantly lowered, the machine 90 being thereby popular with more people for increasing their exercise efficiency. Besides, replacing the meter on the conventional electronic exercise machine with the smartphone is advantageous to users to update the software and will not cause the whole machine not to work, for example, by the failure of meter. Furthermore, the operation interface 80 is used to help manufacturers offer a rich, fine operation menu, attracting the users to take exercise and keep fit. Thus, the advantage is apparent.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims

1. A smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine, being correspondingly connected to the electronic exercise machine that is provided with at least one measuring function circuit, which is output by an output terminal of a first man-machine interface in the electronic exercise machine, and the smartphone comprising:

a main body, being a smartphone, of which one side is formed with a second man-machine interface allowing a user to read messages and input messages;

a communication interface disposed on a housing of the main body and corresponding to the output terminal of the first man-machine interface of the electronic exercise machine, such that the main body is electrically connected to the measuring function circuit for signal communication;

a central processing unit (CPU) disposed in the main body, electrically connected to the communication interface, and driven by an interface application software of the electronic exercise machine to correspondingly control the electronic exercise machine, such that a operation panel corresponding to the interface application software is generated on the second man-machine interface, and the user is allowed to operate and control the electronic exercise machine; and

a storage unit disposed in the main body, electrically connected to the CPU, and storing the interface application software corresponding to at least one model of the electronic exercise machine.

2. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation panel further comprises at least one operation block and at least one display block, wherein a direct input operation on the operation block drives the measuring function circuit for controlling and operating the electronic exercise machine, and the display block displays indicative information including corresponding data and a movement prompt or a warning message.

3. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein the display block at least comprises a travel distance display area, an exercise time display area, or a speed display area, the travel distance display area shows an actual travel distance at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine, the exercise time display area shows an exercise time the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine, and the speed display area shows a movement speed at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine.

4. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein the electronic exercise machine that is correspondingly connected to the smartphone is a treadmills, a sliding machine, a stepper, an exercise bike, a flywheel machine, a rowing machine, or an elliptical trainer.

5. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein the second man-machine interface is a touch panel.

6. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein the communication interface is a universal serial bus (USB) port.

7. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein the communication interface is a bluetooth device.

8. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 2, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication device.

9. A smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine, being correspondingly connected to the electronic exercise machine that is provided with at least one measuring function circuit and at least one course function circuit, which are output by an output terminal of a first man-machine interface in the electronic exercise machine, and the smartphone comprising:

a communication interface disposed on a housing of the main body and corresponding to the output terminal of the first man-machine interface belonging to the electronic exercise machine, such that the main body is electrically connected to the measuring function circuit and the course function circuit for signal communication;

a central processing unit (CPU) disposed in the main body, electrically connected to the communication interface, and driven by an interface application software to correspondingly control the electronic exercise machine, such that an operation panel corresponding to the interface application software is generated on the second man-machine interface, and the user is allowed to operate and control the electronic exercise machine; and

a storage unit, being disposed in the main body and electrically connected to the CPU, and storing the interface application software corresponding to at least one model of the electronic exercise machine.

10. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 9, wherein the operation panel further comprises at least one operation block and at least one display block, wherein a direct input operation on the operation block drives the measuring function circuit and the course function circuit for controlling and operating the electronic exercise machine, and the display block displays indicative information including corresponding data and a movement prompt or a warning message.

11. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the display block comprises a travel distance display area and a feedback signal display area, the travel distance display area displays an actual travel distance at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine, and the feedback signal display area displays a movement prompt or warning signal corresponding to each exercise flow of the course function circuit.

12. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the display block comprises a exercise time display area and a feedback signal display area, the exercise time display area displays an exercise time the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine, and the feedback signal display area displays a movement prompt or warning signal corresponding to each exercise flow of the course function circuit.

13. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the display block comprises a speed display area and a feedback signal display area, the speed display area displays a movement speed at which the user takes exercise on the electronic exercise machine, and the feedback signal display area displays a movement prompt or warning signal corresponding to each exercise flow of the course function circuit.

14. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the electronic exercise machine that is correspondingly connected to the smartphone is a treadmills, a sliding machine, a stepper, an exercise bike, a flywheel machine, a rowing machine, or an elliptical trainer.

15. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the second man-machine interface is a touch panel.

16. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the communication interface is a universal serial bus (USB) port.

17. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the communication interface is a bluetooth device.

18. The smartphone capable of replacing a meter of an electronic exercise machine according to claim 10, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication device.