Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD OF CONTROLLING RUNNING STATUS OF TREADMILL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a
treadmill, and more particularly to a method of controlling
the running status of a treadmill.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional electrical treadmill has a motor to
drive a belt, on which a user can run. The user also can
adjust the speed of the belt by controlling the motor, such
that the user can choose a suitable condition to exercise on
the treadmill.
For the safety of the user, the conventional
electrical treadmill is provided with a safety apparatus to
detect the speed of motor. When the speed of the motor is
lower than a predetermined value, which may indicate that
the belt is jammed, the safety apparatus will stop the motor
automatically for the safety of user.
In the situation of a heavier user running on the
belt of the treadmill at a lower running speed, or at the
moment a user steps onto the belt, the speed of the motor is
lowered because of the sudden greater loading. For such a
situation, the safety apparatus may result in a false alarm
and stop the motor immediately.
In a conventional treadmill, a feedback control
system is provided to overcome the drawback described above.
Such a feedback control system has a sensor to
detect the voltage and current of a treadmill motor and the
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feedback control system controls the speed of motor
according to the detected voltage and current. For example,
in the case of a heavier user running on the belt, if he/she
is running faster, which increases the loading of the motor,
the sensor will detect the increase and increase the voltage
and current supplied to the motor to increase the speed or
torque of the motor that would approach the speed of the
belt to the actual condition. For an opposite condition,
the safety apparatus decreases the voltage and current
supplied to the motor to lower the speed or torque of the
motor.
If the belt is jammed by extremities, a shoelace
or clothes of the user, which may also increase the loading
of the motor, the safety apparatus increases the voltage and.
current supplied to the motor after it detects that
condition so as to maintain movement of the belt. However,
this would make it difficult for the user to get off or
dislodge themselves from the treadmill, and he/she might
fall down and get injured.
If the user gets off the treadmill, the safety
apparatus detects the loading of the motor is lower and
decreases the voltage and current supplied to the motor. In
this condition, the belt keeps running with nobody on it.
This may be problematic because, for example if the
treadmill has not been turned off, and a child steps on it,
the child may get injured.
In addition, if the treadmill is shown at an
exhibition, for example to display the device to consumers,
and no one stands on the belt, the safety apparatus will
restrict the belt to running at a lower speed. This might
result in a person mistakenly assuming that the treadmill
can only run at a lower speed.
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STJNMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of some embodiments of the present
invention is to provide a method of controlling a running
status of a treadmill, which involves a sensor detecting
whether a motor is in an idle running condition or a loaded
running condition. The idle running condition indicates
that nobody is on the treadmill. The motor may be
maintained at a designated running speed. The motor may be
stopped after the expiry of a predetermined time or by an
input to a control panel of the treadmill. If the motor is
in the loaded running condition, a further step of the
method involves determining whether it is in a continuous
loaded condition or an intermittent loaded condition. The
intermittent loaded condition indicates that a user is
running on the treadmill. The motor may be maintained at a
designated running speed. The motor may be stopped after
the expiry of a predetermined time or by an input to the
control panel of the treadmill. The continuous loaded
condition indicates that the user has stopped running, but
is standing on the treadmill or the belt is jammed. In such
a case, the motor is stopped. Some embodiments of the
present invention enable the treadmill to be exhibited at
demonstrations and also be safely stopped when in use or
following use by a user.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of controlling an automated
treadmill, the treadmill comprising a microprocessor, a
power supply, a control panel, a motor, at least one sensor,
a belt and a transmission device coupled to the motor for
driving the belt, the method comprising the steps of:
operating the control panel to turn on the power supply;
placing each of the microprocessor, the motor and the at
least one sensor, respectively, to a standby condition after
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the power is turned on; providing at least one input to the
control panel; determining a running status of the motor
comprising detecting whether the motor is running or not;
wherein if the motor is not running, providing a malfunction
alarm; and if the motor is running; determining whether the
motor is in an idle running condition or a loaded running
condition; A) wherein if the motor is in the idle running
condition, entering an idle running mode, the idle running
mode comprising: i) sensing the motor continuously; ii)
controlling the motor until a predetermined time has expired
or an input to the control panel indicates that the motor
should be stopped; and iii) stopping the motor; iv) turning
the motor to a standby condition after the motor has been
stopped; and B) if the motor is in the loaded running
condition, entering a loaded running mode, the loaded
running mode comprising: i) sensing the motor continuously;
and ii) determining whether the motor is in a continuous
loaded condition or an intermittent loaded condition; iii)
wherein if the motor is in the continuous loaded condition;
a) stopping the motor to avoid an accident; and b) turning
the motor to the standby condition when the motor is
stopped; and iv) if the motor is in the intermittent loaded
condition: a) detecting the motor continuously; b)
controlling the running of the motor until: a predetermined
time has expired; the intermittent loading is sensed to have
stopped; or an input to the control panel indicates that the
motor should be stopped; c) stopping the motor; and d)
turning the motor to the standby condition when the motor is
stopped.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an automated treadmill, the
treadmill comprising a microprocessor, a power supply, a
control panel, a motor, at least one sensor, a belt and a
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transmission device coupled to the motor for driving the
belt, the treadmill configured to: receive a signal from the
control panel to turn on the power supply; place each of the
microprocessor, the motor and the at least one sensor,
respectively, to a standby condition after the power is
turned on; receive at least one further input to the control
panel; determine a running status of the motor comprising
detecting whether the motor is running or not; wherein if
the motor is not running, provide a malfunction alarm; and
if the motor is running; determine whether the motor is in
an idle running condition or a loaded running condition; A)
wherein if the motor is in the idle running condition: i)
sense the motor continuously; ii) control the motor until a
predetermined time has expired or an input to the control
panel indicates that the motor should be stopped; and iii)
stop the motor; iv) turn the motor to a standby condition
after the motor has been stopped; and B) if the motor is in
the loaded running condition: i) sense the motor
continuously; and ii) determine whether the motor is in a
continuous loaded condition or an intermittent loaded
condition; iii) wherein if the motor is in the continuous
loaded condition; a) stop the motor; and b) turn the motor
to the standby condition when the motor is stopped; and iv)
if the motor is in the intermittent loaded condition: a)
sense the motor continuously; b) control the running of the
motor until a predetermined time has expired, the
intermittent loading is sensed to have stopped, or an input
to the control panel indicates that the motor should be
stopped; c) stop the motor; and d) turn the motor to the
standby condition when the motor is stopped.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the
present invention; and
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FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing an example of a
method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of a feedback system for use with an
automated treadmill will now be described with respect to
FIG. 1. The treadmill of an embodiment of the present
invention has a microprocessor 11, a power supply 12, a
control panel 13, a motor 14 and at least one sensor 15.
The automated treadmill also includes a belt (not shown) on
which a user walks or runs and a transmission device 16 used
to drive the belt.
The power supply 12 is coupled to the control
panel 13, the microprocessor 11, the at least one sensor 15
and the motor 14. The control panel 13 is also coupled to
the microprocessor 11. The microprocessor 11 is coupled to
the motor 14. The at least one sensor 15 is coupled to the
motor 14. The motor 14 is coupled to the transmission
device 16 used to drive the belt.
In operation, the control panel 13 is responsive
to inputs from a user. For example, a power button (not
shown) on the control panel 13 would allow the user to turn
on the treadmill by providing power from the power supply 12
to the various other components of the treadmill such as the
microprocessor 11, the motor 14 and the at least one sensor
15. The at least one sensor 15 is used to monitor the motor
14, as will be described in further detail below. The
microprocessor 11, powered by the power supply 12, receives
inputs provided to the control panel 13 and provides signals
to the motor 14, for example to turn the motor 14 on or off.
The microprocessor is further adapted to receive signals
from the at least one sensor 15 to control the motor 14.
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An example of a method of controlling an automated
treadmill will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 2.
A first step of the method involves turning on the
power 2-1. The power supply is turned on via the control
panel 13.
A second step 2-2 involves placing several of the
components in a standby mode. The microprocessor 11, the
motor 14 and the sensor 15 are each turned to standby
condition after the power is turned on.
A third step 2-3 involves providing an input 2-3
to the control panel 13. The input is passed along to the
microprocessor 11. An example of an input is an input to
start the belt moving so that the user can start running.
A fourth step 2-4 involves determining a running
status of the motor 14. The sensor 15 senses the motor 14
for determination of whether the motor is running or not.
If the motor 14 is not running (no path `N'), the
microprocessor 11 determines that there has been a
malfunction 2-5. If the motor is detected to be running
(yes path `Y'), the method advances to step 2-6.
Step 2-6 involves determining the running
condition of the motor. The sensor 15 detects whether the
motor 14 is in an idle running condition or a loaded running
condition. A variation of voltage and/or current of the
motor 14 is detected by the sensor 15 to determine if the
motor 14 is in the idle running condition or the loaded
running condition. If the motor 14 is in the idle running
condition, the microprocessor 11 enters an idle running mode
2-7, if the motor 14 is in the loaded running condition, the
microprocessor 11 enters a loading running mode 2-11.
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The idle running mode 2-7 indicates that nobody is
running on the treadmill. The sensor 15 continually senses
2-8 the motor 14 for determination of the motor's condition.
If the motor 14 is maintained in the idle running mode, the
microprocessor stops the motor 14 after a predetermined time
2-9 or stops the motor 14 in response to an input 2-10 from
the control panel 13. The motor 14 is turned to the standby
condition 2-2 when it is off. If during the continuous
sensing of the motor 14 at step 2-8, the motor 14 is
determined to have a loading 2-6, which means a user stands
and runs on it, the microprocessor 11 enters the loaded
running mode 2-11.
The loaded running mode 2-11 indicates that the
motor 14 has a load, for example that a user is standing
and/or running on the treadmill. The sensor 15 senses the
motor 14 continuously, and the microprocessor 11 determines
whether it is a continuous loading condition 2-12 or an
intermittent loading condition 2-13.
The continuous loading condition 2-12 indicates
that the user has stopped running and is standing on the
belt, or the belt is jammed, for example, by extremities, a
shoelace or clothes of the user. In this case the
microprocessor 11 stops 2-14 the motor 14 to avoid an
accident. The motor is turned to the standby condition 2-2.
The intermittent loading condition 2-13 indicates
that the user is running or walking on the belt and each
step provides loading to the motor 14. The sensor 15
continually senses 2-15 the motor 14 for determination of
the motor's condition. The motor 14 is monitored to
determine if there is intermittent and repeated loading.
For example, for an intermittent and repeated loading the
motor 14 is detected to have a first loading and subsequent
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loadings are detected with a predetermined spacing in time,
such as one or two seconds later. If the intermittent
loading occurs within a predetermined time, (yes path `Y' of
decision step 2-17), the microprocessor 11 controls the
motor 14 for the predetermined time. When the predetermined
time expires, the microprocessor 11 stops 2-18 the motor 14.
Alternatively, the motor 14 is stopped 2-19 when the user
operates the control panel 13 to stop the motor 14. If it
is sensed that the intermittent loading stops (no path `N'
of decision step 2-17) during the predetermined time, which
indicates that there is nobody running or walking on the
belt, the microprocessor 11 stops 2-16 the motor 14 and
returns it to the standby condition 2-2.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the
sensor 15 is also enabled to initially detect the running
status of the motor 14 to determine whether the motor 14 is
in the idle running condition or in the loaded running
condition to determine whether the treadmill is in use or is
being used for exhibition or demonstration. If the
treadmill is in the latter condition, the treadmill is
overseen by people and there is no safety issue. In such a
case, the microprocessor 11 controls the motor 14 to run
continuously according to the input supplied to the control
panel to demonstrate the performance of the treadmill until
a predetermined time expires or another input to the control.
panel is received.
If the treadmill is in the loaded running
condition, the sensor 15 and the microprocessor 11 determine
whether the motor 14 is in the continuous loading condition
or in the intermittent loading condition. If the motor 14
is determined to be in the intermittent loading condition,
which indicates that someone is running on the treadmill,
the microprocessor 11 controls the running of the motor 14
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according to a previous input provided by the control panel
13 until a predetermined time is up or the user stops the
motor via the control panel 13.
If the motor 14 is determined to be in the
continuous loading condition, which indicates that the user
has stopped running or the belt is jammed, the
microprocessor 11 stops the motor. In comparison with a
conventional device in which a feedback control system
increases the speed and torque of the motor when the motor
is in the continuous loading condition, some embodiments of
the present invention enable a safer operating condition for
the user.
If the motor is in the intermittent loading
condition, and there is no further loading to the motor in a
predetermined time, which indicates the user has left the
belt, the microprocessor 11 stops the motor 14 to avoid an
accident.
In some embodiments, the methods of present
invention not only determines whether the treadmill is
operating in a demonstration condition-or an actual use
condition, but also automatically stop the treadmill when
the user leaves the treadmill. The methods of the present
invention may also fully stop the treadmill when the belt is
jammed to control the treadmill in both the demonstration
condition and the actual use condition.
