US3744480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ergometer
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1971-11-29
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-11-29
Abstract
Abstract An ergometer including a pedal driven direct current motor as a load and including a frame for supporting the body of a person in either a sitting or a prone position whereby the pedals may be operated by either the feet or the hands and the electrical circuitry of the ergometer includes means for limiting the load applied to the pedals as a function of work being performed, heart rate, and increases in heart rate.
Inventors
- 👤 R Gause
- 👤 B Bynum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:07
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/06; A63B22/0605; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1107; A61B5/22; A61B5/221; A61B5/222; A63B21/00; A63B21/005; A63B21/0053; A63B22/0002; A63B22/0005; A63B22/0007; A63B69/00; A63B69/0064; A61B5/70; A61B5/704; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/02; A63B2208/0242; A63B2208/0257; A63B2220/00; A63B2220/30; A63B2220/34; A63B2220/50; A63B2220/54; A63B2230/00; A63B2230/04; A63B2230/06; A63B2230/062; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S482/00; Y10S482/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
375 words
An ergometer comprising: exercise means adapted to be operated by limbs of the body and providing a mechanical output; electrical load means connected to the said output of said exercise means for applying resistance to the operation of said exercise means; load control means responsive to an input signal for varying said resistance applied to said exercise means; work signal means responsive to the speed of operation of said exercise means and resistance force applied to said exercise means for providing a work output signal; physiological monitoring means responsive to a condition of an operator of said exercise means for providing an electrical output corresponding to heart beats of said operator; first and second integrating means responsive to the output of said physiological monitoring means, said first integrating means having a longer time constant than said second integration means; first differential means responsive to the outputs of said first and second integrating means for providing a first difference signal of a value proportional to actual heart rate less a value proportional to increasing heart rate, or plus a value proportional to decrease in heart rate; heart rate signal reference means for providing an output representative of a desired heart rate from said operator; second differential means responsive to the outpuTs of said first integrating means and said heart rate signal means for providing an output corresponding to an error signal indicating the difference between desired heart rate and actual heart rate of said operator; summing means responsive to the outputs of said first and second differential means for providing a heart rate demand signal which is proportional to required change in heart rate to achieve said desired heart rate less a value proportional to the presence of increasing heart rate or plus a value proportional to the presence of decreasing heart rate; and third differential means responsive to the output of said work signal means and said summing means for providing said input signal to said load control means; whereby a work rate imposed upon an operator of said exercise means is determined by a desired heart rate activity of the operator as modified by rate of change of heart rate experienced by the operator during an imposed change from one heart rate to another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
375 words
An ergometer comprising: exercise means adapted to be operated by limbs of the body and providing a mechanical output; electrical load means connected to the said output of said exercise means for applying resistance to the operation of said exercise means; load control means responsive to an input signal for varying said resistance applied to said exercise means; work signal means responsive to the speed of operation of said exercise means and resistance force applied to said exercise means for providing a work output signal; physiological monitoring means responsive to a condition of an operator of said exercise means for providing an electrical output corresponding to heart beats of said operator; first and second integrating means responsive to the output of said physiological monitoring means, said first integrating means having a longer time constant than said second integration means; first differential means responsive to the outputs of said first and second integrating means for providing a first difference signal of a value proportional to actual heart rate less a value proportional to increasing heart rate, or plus a value proportional to decrease in heart rate; heart rate signal reference means for providing an output representative of a desired heart rate from said operator; second differential means responsive to the outpuTs of said first integrating means and said heart rate signal means for providing an output corresponding to an error signal indicating the difference between desired heart rate and actual heart rate of said operator; summing means responsive to the outputs of said first and second differential means for providing a heart rate demand signal which is proportional to required change in heart rate to achieve said desired heart rate less a value proportional to the presence of increasing heart rate or plus a value proportional to the presence of decreasing heart rate; and third differential means responsive to the output of said work signal means and said summing means for providing said input signal to said load control means; whereby a work rate imposed upon an operator of said exercise means is determined by a desired heart rate activity of the operator as modified by rate of change of heart rate experienced by the operator during an imposed change from one heart rate to another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An ergometer as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a work rate signal reference means and selection means for coupling either said heart rate demand signal or the output of said work rate signal reference means to said third differential means, whereby said load control means may, selectively, be controlled as either a function of a selected work rate or a selected heart rate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ergometer as set forth in claim 2 wherein said heart rate signal reference means includes programming means for selectively applying in sequence, predetermined, discrete said outputs for predetermined periods of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An ergometer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said load control means includes pulse width modulation means responsive to the output of said third differential means for generating variable width control signals proportional to the output of said third differential means for controlling said electrical load means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
An ergometer as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pulse modulation means comprises: a comparator, a saw-tooth oscillator operating at a predetermined frequency and providing a first input to said comparator; said third differential amplifier provides a second input to said comparator, whereby said variable width pulses are obtained by coincidence of signal levels between said saw-tooth oscillator and said output of said third differential amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An ergometer as set forth in claim 4 further comprising integration means coupling said summing means to said third differential means for smoothing the coupled signal to provide gradual rather than step changes in the coupled signal during heart rate changes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |