WO2009051354A1

WO2009051354A1 - Signal processing unit for treadmill, and control module of the same

Info

Publication number: WO2009051354A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/005649
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae-Sang Park
Original assignee: Dasan Rnd Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-10-16
Filing date: 2008-09-23
Publication date: 2009-04-23

Abstract

A signal processing apparatus for a treadmill, includes: a first input connector that is physically separated from a first treadmill that includes a first belt for supporting a first exerciser and is electrically connected to the first treadmill to receive a first exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of the first belt; and an extended control portion that is electrically connected to the first input connector to determine first symbol display coordinates using the first exerciser speed and output a symbol corresponding to the first exerciser at the first symbol display coordinates through a display device. Therefore, since a function of the existing treadmill is extended, resolved is a problem in that a program or a necessary apparatus has to be additionally installed in the existing treadmill. By providing a discrete signal processing apparatus, a plurality of treadmills can be easily connected. Also, since a plurality of treadmills can be connected to a single signal processing apparatus, it is possible to resolve a problem in that a program or a necessary apparatus has to be additionally installed in all of a plurality of treadmills.

Description

SIGNAL PROCESSING UNIT FOR TREADMILL, AND CONTROL MODULE OF THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a treadmill, and more particularly, to a signal processing apparatus which is connected to a treadmill to process a signal received from a treadmill and a control module for the same, and to an apparatus for connecting a plurality of treadmills. Background Art

[2] A fitness apparatus is commonly classified into one of a weight apparatus for strengthening the muscle strength and an aerobic exercise apparatus for strengthening the muscle strength and a cardiopulmonary function.

[3] Particularly, as an aerobic exercise apparatus, a treadmill upon which an exerciser can run on an endless belt, a cycle having pedals like a bicycle, a cyclerun, which is commonly called an elliptical, in which a handle and pedals are interconnected so that an exerciser can exercise like they are skiing, and a stepper for providing an effect that an exerciser travels up the stairs, are widely used.

[4] In most of such aerobic exercise apparatuses, an exerciser exercises by foot, and a function for providing an exerciser with information, such as a current speed of an exerciser, a traveled distance during an exercising time, or a consumed calorie, which are derived by using an exercise speed and an exerciser time, through a display device attached to a fitness apparatus, is provided.

[5] Some of fitness apparatuses, such as a treadmill, also provide a function that an exerciser can select a profile containing speed change information over a predetermined time that is stored in a storing portion thereof and can set a corresponding profile as an exercise target before exercising in order to increase exercise effect.

[6] However, a conventional fitness apparatus, such as a treadmill, simply displays on a display device only a speed change curve with respect to an exercise course stored in a storing portion of a fitness apparatus, i.e., a profile selected among speed profiles per time or displays terrain over an exercise course through computer graphic processing. Accordingly, there is a problem in that it is difficult to motivate an exerciser to complete the whole target exercise course.

[7] Also, if an exerciser excises according to a selected profile, an exerciser easily feels tedious. Therefore, in order to overcome the problem, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0003654 discloses a technique that includes a plurality of exercisers that can race on a fitness apparatus like a marathon. [8] However, according to Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2005-0003654, a display image corresponding to an exerciser himself/herself is positioned at a certain point of a display device, and then a display image corresponding to another exerciser is displayed on a display device by using a moving distance difference between an exerciser himself/herself and another exerciser, thereby resolving a tedious feeling that an exerciser has when simply exercising according to a profile alone. However, since a display image corresponding to an exerciser himself/herself is fixed at a certain point of a display device, it can implement a simple running race but cannot provide a game function that can provide a fun experience to an exerciser.

[9] In a conventional treadmill, in order to control a speed of a rotating belt, an exerciser has to manipulate a speed control button while walking or running and has to passively follow the manually controlled speed of the rotating belt. Therefore, such a conventional treadmill does not provide a good exercising experience to an exerciser and is also difficult to realize a natural feeling that an exerciser can have while walking or running on the ground.

[10] In order to overcome the above problems, techniques for measuring a position of an exerciser to automatically control a speed of a rotating belt have been developed. For example, Korean Patent No. 10-0398330 discloses a treadmill which measures a position of an exerciser using an ultrasonic sensor arranged below a control panel to locate an exerciser in a central region of the treadmill belt. The treadmill accelerates the rotating belt speed to move the exerciser back to the central region if the exerciser is ahead of the central region, and the treadmill decelerates the belt speed to return an exercise to the central region if the exerciser is behind the central region.

[11] The treadmill disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0398330 performs acceleration or deceleration when a position of the exerciser is within a certain range from the central region, but the treadmill cannot handle various situations such as quick deceleration when an exerciser desires to abruptly stop while running at a high speed.

[12] In addition, when a quick deceleration occurs, an overload occurs in a motor driving portion, and the motor driving portion stops driving the motor to protect itself. Thus, a conventional treadmill cannot execute a quick deceleration.

[13] Also, a conventional treadmill performs a deceleration at a fixed slow speed, independently of a driving speed, within a range of a deceleration which does not exceed an allowable range of a motor driving portion, and performs an emergency stop operation of the motor driving portion using a natural friction force which works on a belt and a driving motor.

[14] Also, since an abrupt deceleration during exercise can cause an exerciser to fall due to inertia and potential injury risks, a conventional treadmill has implemented a slow deceleration or a deceleration using a natural friction force. [15] For the foregoing reasons, an exerciser who exercises on a conventional treadmill has a different feeling from what he/she has while walking or running on the actual ground. Further, such a conventional treadmill cannot effectively implement various exercising patterns of an exerciser.

[16] In order to improve an overall exercise experience and to cope with various exercising patterns of an exerciser, a treadmill needs to rapidly follow acceleration and deceleration of an exerciser, but a conventional treadmill cannot perform quick deceleration and thus cannot provide a satisfactory automatic speed control function.

[17] In the treadmill disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0398330 which measures a position of an exerciser by an ultrasonic sensor in order to control a speed of a belt to locate an exerciser in a central region, a measured value of an exerciser's position received from an ultrasonic sensor may contain erroneous values. Therefore, it is difficult to implement an automatic speed control function using only a technique for measuring an exerciser's position by an ultrasonic sensor in a treadmill.

[18] In addition, measured values received from an ultrasonic sensor can be distorted due to various ambient noise, and undesired measured values, for example, a position value of an arm or a leg, may be obtained while an exerciser walks or runs. Such signal distortion and undesired measured values make it difficult for a treadmill to automatically control a speed of a belt.

[19] Korean Patent Publication Nos. 10-2007-0015687, 10-2007-0081476,

10-2007-0082277, and 10-2007-0082929 disclose techniques and mechanisms in which load sensors are arranged below front and rear portions of a belt, measured values obtained by load sensors are used to calculate an exerciser's position, and a speed of a rotating belt is controlled based on a difference between a calculated exerciser's position and a reference position.

[20] However, the above-described techniques using load sensors have a problem in that a cycle of a load that is applied to a load sensor depends on a speed of an exerciser, and a cycle of a load of when an exerciser runs at a highest speed is 2 or 3 times per second. This makes it very difficult to smoothly control the belt speed.

[21] Also, a position of an exerciser's foot continuously varies due to a movement of the belt even at a moment that an exerciser's foot pushes the belt, and the frequency with which the exerciser's feet make contact with the belt when an exerciser walks on the belt is not equal to that when an exerciser runs on the belt. Thus, it is difficult to accurately calculate a position of an upper body of an exerciser or the center of gravity.

[22] In addition, the above-mentioned Korean Patent Publications have not mentioned a control method for coping with various exercising patterns of an exerciser, such as quick acceleration or quick deceleration, and so it is difficult to automatically control the belt speed only using a difference between an exerciser's position and a reference position in a manner that provides satisfactory automatic speed control.

[23] Also, even though a treadmill with an automatic speed control function that has resolved the above problems is implemented, in order to provide additional functions, such as a game, in addition to an automatic speed control function based on a position of an exerciser, programs and apparatus necessary for additional functions have to be installed in a control portion that performs an automatic speed control function.

[24] Therefore, it is required not to revise a function of a control portion necessary for an automatic speed control function but to continuously install programs and apparatus necessary for additional functions, such as a game.

[25] Meanwhile, in case of a treadmill that includes a control portion having both an automatic speed control function and an additional function, such as a game, and a large-scale display device for performing an additional function, such as a game, a user may want not an additional function, such as a game, but only an automatic speed control function. In this instance, a user feels it unnecessary to purchase the treadmill having undesired features and an increased high price, thereby lowering a desired to make the purchase.

[26] A treadmill that has an additional function, such as a game, as well as an automatic speed control function is more desirable when multiple users use it together. Korean Patent Publication Nos. 10-2007-0043325, 10-2007-0082275, 10-2007-0095007, and 10-2007-0115210 disclose that a plurality of treadmills with an automatic speed control function are connected so that a plurality of users can participate in a marathon course, and that one treadmill functions as a host, and the other treadmills functions as a slave, so that the slave treadmills are driven according to a belt speed of the host treadmill, thereby providing a training function.

[27] However, according to the above-cited patent documents, a program for performing a corresponding additional function has to be installed in all of a plurality of treadmills, and a signal exchanged among a plurality of treadmills has to be standardized. Therefore, a user who possesses a non- standardized treadmill has to purchase a new treadmill, and thus it is very difficult to connect a plurality of treadmills via a network.

[28] Also, according to the above-cited patent documents, even in case of a gym that has a plurality of treadmills, in order to provide an additional function, such as a game, a program and an apparatus necessary for performing an additional function have to be installed in all of a plurality of treadmills. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[29] It is an object of the present invention to resolve a problem in that a conventional treadmill simply displays only a speed change curve on a display device with respect to a profile selected by an exerciser or displays terrain over an exercise course through computer graphic processing, and so it is difficult to motivate an exerciser to complete the whole target exercise course.

[30] It is another object of the present invention to provide a treadmill with a game function that an exerciser can enjoy while exercising.

[31] It is still another object of the present invention to resolve a problem in that a conventional treadmill does not accept various exercising patterns of an exerciser.

[32] It is yet still another object of the present invention to resolve a problem in that, in a conventional treadmill, a motor driving portion does not endure an overload caused by quick deceleration.

[33] It is yet still another object of the present invention to resolve a problem in that a conventional treadmill cannot control a speed of a belt due to measurement errors contained in measured values of an exerciser's position.

[34] It is another object of the present invention to resolve a problem in that a program and an apparatus necessary for performing an additional function, such as a game, have to be installed in a treadmill with an automatic speed control function.

[35] It is still another object of the present invention to more easily connect a plurality of treadmills with an automatic speed control function.

[36] It is yet still another object of the present invention to resolve a problem that even in case of a gym which has a plurality of treadmills, in order to provide an additional function, such as a game, a program and an apparatus necessary for performing an additional function have to be installed in all of a plurality of treadmills. Technical Solution

[37] In order to achieve the above objects, one aspect of the present invention provides a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill, comprising: a first input connector that is physically separated from a first treadmill that includes a first belt for supporting a first exerciser and is electrically connected to the first treadmill to receive a first exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of the first belt; and an extended control portion that is electrically connected to the first input connector to determine first symbol display coordinates using the first exerciser speed and to output a symbol corresponding to the first exerciser at the first symbol display coordinates through a display device.

[38] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, the extended control portion determines icon display coordinates and outputs an icon independent of the first exerciser at the icon display coordinates through the display device.

[39] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, the extended control portion changes the first symbol display coordinates corresponding to the first exerciser speed if the icon display coordinates is within a predetermined range based on the first symbol display coordinates.

[40] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, the extended control portion changes the symbol and outputs the changed symbol at the first symbol display coordinates of the display device if the icon display coordinates is within a predetermined range based on the first symbol display coordinates.

[41] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, in the first symbol display coordinates, one of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is changed corresponding to the first exerciser speed.

[42] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, in the first symbol display coordinates, the other of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is fixed.

[43] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, the extended control portion determines profile mark display coordinates corresponding to speed information contained in a profile including one of speed information per a unit time and a unit distance, and outputs a profile mark at the profile mark display coordinates through the display device.

[44] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, in the profile mark display coordinates, one of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is determined corresponding to the speed information, and the other is determined corresponding to the lapse of a time.

[45] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, a driving speed of the first belt is adjusted using a signal obtained by measuring a position of the first exerciser.

[46] Preferably, the signal processing apparatus further comprises a second input connector that receives a second exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of a second belt of a second treadmill that includes the second belt for supporting a second exerciser, wherein the extended control portion is electrically connected to the second input connector to determine second symbol display coordinates using the second exerciser speed and to output a symbol corresponding to the second exerciser at the second symbol display coordinates through the display device.

[47] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, the extended control portion determines one of an X-axis and a Y-axis coordinate value difference between the first symbol display coordinates and the second symbol display coordinates by using a difference between the first exerciser speed and the second exerciser speed.

[48] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, the extended control portion computes a first exerciser moving distance using the first exerciser speed, computes a second exerciser moving distance using the second exerciser speed, and determines one of an X-axis and a Y-axis coordinate value difference between the first symbol display coordinates and the second symbol display coordinates by using a difference between the first exerciser moving distance and the second exerciser moving distance. [49] Preferably, the signal processing apparatus further comprises a modem for processing a second exerciser speed corresponding to a second exerciser who uses a second treadmill from another signal processing apparatus for a treadmill connected to a second treadmill.

[50] Preferably, the signal processing apparatus further comprises an operation signal receiving portion that communicates with a remote controller that generates a command signal by a manipulation of the first exerciser, receives the command signal, and transmits the command signal to the extended control portion.

[51] Preferably, the signal processing apparatus further comprises an output connector for transmitting a signal containing the symbol to the display device.

[52] Preferably, the signal processing apparatus further comprises a storing portion for storing one of the symbol and an image to be displayed on the display device.

[53] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, the symbol includes one of a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[54] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, the icon includes one of a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[55] Another aspect of the present invention provides a control module of a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill, comprising: a base substrate including an electrical wire line; a first input connector that receives a first exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of a first belt from a first treadmill that includes the first belt for supporting a first exerciser; an extended control portion that is coupled to the base substrate, and includes a semiconductor circuit electrically connected to the electrical wire line, and determines first symbol display coordinates using the first exerciser speed received by the first input connector; and an output connector that electrically connects the extended control portion and a display device to output a symbol corresponding to the first exerciser at the first symbol display coordinates.

[56] Preferably, in the control module, the extended control portion determines icon display coordinates and outputs an icon independent of the first exerciser at the icon display coordinates through the display device.

[57] Preferably, in the control module, the extended control portion changes the first symbol display coordinates corresponding to the first exerciser speed if the icon display coordinates is within a predetermined range based on the first symbol display coordinates.

[58] Preferably, in the control module, the extended control portion changes the symbol and outputs the changed symbol at the first symbol display coordinates of the display device if the icon display coordinates is within a predetermined range based on the first symbol display coordinates.

[59] Preferably, in the control module, in the first symbol display coordinates, one of X- axis and Y-axis coordinate values is changed corresponding to the first exerciser speed.

[60] Preferably, in the control module, in the first symbol display coordinates, the other of

X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is fixed.

[61] Preferably, in the control module, the extended control portion determines profile mark display coordinates corresponding to speed information contained in a profile including one of speed information per a unit time and a unit distance, and outputs a profile mark at the profile mark display coordinates through the display device.

[62] Preferably, in the control module, in the profile mark display coordinates, one of X- axis and Y-axis coordinate values is determined corresponding to the speed information, and the other is determined corresponding to the lapse of a time.

[63] Preferably, in the control module, the first exerciser speed is adjusted using a signal obtained by measuring a position of the first exerciser.

[64] Preferably, the control module further comprises a second input connector that elect rically connects a second treadmill that includes a second belt for supporting a second exerciser and the extended control portion and receives a second exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of the second belt, wherein the extended control portion determines second symbol display coordinates using the second exerciser speed and outputs a symbol corresponding to the second exerciser at the second symbol display coordinates of the display device through the output connector.

[65] Preferably, in the control module, the extended control portion determines one of an

X-axis and a Y-axis coordinate value difference between the first symbol display coordinates and the second symbol display coordinates by using a difference between the first exerciser speed and the second exerciser speed.

[66] Preferably, in the control module, the extended control portion computes a first exerciser moving distance using the first exerciser speed, computes a second exerciser moving distance using the second exerciser speed, and determines one of an X-axis and a Y-axis coordinate value difference between the first symbol display coordinates and the second symbol display coordinates by using a difference between the first exerciser moving distance and the second exerciser moving distance.

[67] Preferably, the control module further comprises a modem for processing a second exerciser speed corresponding to a second exerciser who uses a second treadmill from another signal processing apparatus for a treadmill connected to a second treadmill.

[68] Preferably, the control module further comprises an operation signal receiving portion that communicates with a remote controller that generates a command signal by a manipulation of the first exerciser, receives the command signal, and transmits the command signal to the extended control portion.

[69] Preferably, the control module further comprises a storing portion for storing one of the symbol and an image to be displayed on the display device. [70] Preferably, in the control module, the symbol includes one of a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[71] Preferably, in the control module, the icon includes one of a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[72] Another aspect of the present invention provides a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill, comprising: an input portion that receives an exerciser speed signal obtained by measuring one of a position and a position change of an exerciser who exercises on a belt of a treadmill from the treadmill; and a control portion that determines symbol display coordinates for displaying a symbol representing the exerciser on a display device by using the exerciser speed signal.

[73] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, in the symbol display coordinates, one of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is changed corresponding to the exerciser speed signal.

[74] Preferably, in the signal processing apparatus, in the symbol display coordinates, the other of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is fixed.

[75] Preferably, the signal processing apparatus further comprises the display device for displaying the symbol representing the exerciser by using the symbol display coordinates.

Advantageous Effects

[76] A fitness apparatus according to the present invention has an advantage in that an exerciser can enjoy exercise without feeling tedious since a game function is provided.

[77] A fitness apparatus according to the present invention has an advantage in that an exerciser can control display coordinates of an exerciser avatar displayed on a display device, whereby various game functions can be implemented.

[78] The treadmill according to the present invention has an advantage of accepting various exercising patterns of an exerciser.

[79] The treadmill according to the present invention has an advantage of resolving a problem in that a motor driving portion is tripped due to a load caused by quick deceleration.

[80] The treadmill according to the present invention adjusts a location of a sensor for measuring an exerciser's position and thus has an advantage of minimizing noise and measurement errors contained in measured signals.

[81] The treadmill according to the present invention pre-processes measured values of an exerciser's position and thus has an advantage of resolving a problem in that a speed of a belt can not be controlled due to measurement errors contained in measured values.

[82] Also, according to the present invention, a discrete signal processing apparatus that provides an additional function, such as a game, is connected to a treadmill with an automatic speed control function to thereby extend a function of the existing treadmill, thereby resolving a problem in that a program and an apparatus necessary for performing an additional function, such as a game, have to be additionally installed. [83] Also, according to the present invention, a plurality of treadmills can be easily connected by a discrete signal processing apparatus. [84] Also, according to the present invention, since a plurality of treadmills can be connected by a single signal processing apparatus, resolved is a problem in that a program and an apparatus necessary for performing an additional function, such as a game, have to be additionally installed in all of a plurality of treadmills.

Brief Description of the Drawings [85] FIG. 1 is a measurement graph to set up a load of a treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [86] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [87] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [88] FIGs. 4 to 6 are various circuit diagrams illustrating an electrical braking method using an AC motor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [89] FIGs. 7 to 9 are various circuit diagrams illustrating electrical braking methods using a DC motor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [90] FIGs. 10 to 12 are block diagrams illustrating a control portion of a treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [91] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the control portion of the treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [92] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a state determining portion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [93] FIGs. 15 and 16 are flowcharts illustrating an operation of a data converting portion according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention; [94] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a reference position generating portion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [95] FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating a method for restricting a maximum acceleration/deceleration according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [96] FIGs. 19 and 20 are flowcharts illustrating a sensitivity adjusting method performed by a sensitivity adjusting portion according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention; [97] FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a treadmill and a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [98] FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating a treadmill and a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [99] FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating main configurations of a treadmill and a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [100] FIGs. 24 and 25 are perspective views illustrating a connection relationship between a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill and a plurality of treadmills according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [101] FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration which represents a connection relationship of FIG. 24 or 25; [102] FIGs. 27 to 30 show various embodiments of display information displayed through a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [103] FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control portion to display an exerciser avatar on a display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and [104] FIG. 32 a perspective view illustrating a control module for a treadmill and a control module of a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [105]

[106] * Description of Major Symbol in the above Figures [107] 400 : base substrate [108] 402 : wire line [109] 410 : connecting terminal [110] 1000 : exerciser [111] 2100 : body [112] 2200 : control panel [113] 2220 : display device [114] 3000 : exerciser detecting portion [115] 3100 : speed detecting portion [116] 4000 : driving motor [117] 5000 : belt [118] 6000 : motor driving portion [119] 7000 : control portion [120] 7100 : pre-processing portion [121] 7110 : state determining portion [122] 7120 : data converting portion

[123] 7130 : data storing portion

[124] 7200 : reference position generating portion

[125] 7300 : driving command portion

[126] 7310 : control gain portion

[127] 7320 : sensitivity adjusting portion

[128] 7330 : control signal generating portion

[129] 10000 : treadmill

[130] 30000 : signal processing apparatus

[131] 31000 : extended control portion

[132] 32000 : operation signal receiving portion

[133] 33000 : storing portion

[134] 34000 : modem

[135] 38000 : base substrate

[136] 39000 : connector

Mode for the Invention

[137] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. However, it should be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like parts.

[138] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[139] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[140] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising,", "includes" and/or "including", when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components or a combination thereof these, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[141] In describing a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill according to the present invention, a configuration and a control method for automatically controlling a speed of a treadmill will be first described with reference to FIGs. 1 to 20, and then a configuration, a control method and a control module of a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGs. 21 to 32.

[142] Hereinafter, a current value X r represents a current measured value X r or a current converted value X r ', and is a representative term for describing current data in a stream of time. That is, a current value X means data corresponding to a current time (e.g., current measuring cycle).

[143] Similarly, a past value X (i=l,...n) represents a past measured value X (i=l,...n) or a past converted value X r-i ' (i=l,...n), and is a representative term for describing past data in a stream of time. That is, a past value X (i=l,...n) means data corresponding to a past time (e.g., past measuring cycle). [144] Also, a data value X ° (i=0,...n) is a representative term for describing data r-i containing a current value X ^τ and a past value X ^τ (i=l,...n). r r-i

[145] Also, a belt speed, a driving belt speed, a rotation speed of a driving motor, and a driving speed have the same meaning, and so even though one term is described as an example, it may contain the meaning of other terms. [146] That is, a belt speed or a driving belt speed can be calculated by operating a rotation speed of a driving motor and a constant like a radius of a roller, can be calculated by using/operating a signal provided to a driving motor from a motor driving portion, or can be calculated by using a control signal (i.e., a first control signal) provided to a motor driving portion from a control portion. [147] A belt speed, a driving belt speed, a rotation speed of a driving motor may be directly measured by using a predetermined measuring means. [148] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described below in detail with reference to attached drawings. [149] First, a detailed configuration and various embodiments of an automatic speed control portion according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGs. 1 to 20. [150] FIG. 1 is a measurement graph illustrating various load patterns of a treadmill that can be used according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The graph of FIG. 1 comparatively shows maximum allowable decelerations 110 and 120 of a motor driving portion that can be generated, due to a trip occurring in a motor driving portion, when braking a driving motor according to a driving speed of a belt if an electrical braking portion of the present invention is not provided. The graph of FIG. 1 also shows the target decelerations 210 and 220 used to provide an exerciser with an exercising feeling like what an exerciser has while exercising on an actual ground.

[151] In additional, FIG. 1 shows problems which occur when a fixed small deceleration

310 and a fixed high deceleration 320 are provided according to a conventional art in a state that does not variably control a deceleration depending on a driving speed of a belt.

[152] Since an experiment for performing quick deceleration while an exerciser exercises on a treadmill at a high speed is very risky, data in the graph of FIG. 1 are ones measured without an exerciser on the treadmill. The maximum allowable deceleration 110 is measured by using a motor driving portion with a capacity of 2.2kW, and the maximum allowable deceleration 120 is measured by using a motor driving portion with a capacity of 3.7kW.

[153] The graph of FIG. 1 is first described below centering on the maximum allowable deceleration 110 measured using a motor driving portion with a capacity of 2.2kW.

[154] The maximum allowable deceleration 110 represents a maximum allowable load of a motor driving portion to brake a belt in a treadmill which does not have an electrical braking portion of the present invention. Areas A-a, A-b and A-c below a maximum allowable deceleration 110 line segment are deceleration areas containing an allowable load of a motor driving portion, and a deceleration in these areas can be performed only by a braking torque (first braking torque) of a motor driving portion itself without using the electrical braking portion of the present invention.

[155] Areas B-a, B-b and B-c above the maximum allowable deceleration 110 line segment are deceleration areas which exceed an allowable load of a motor driving portion, and a deceleration in these areas needs a braking torque (second braking torque) provided by the electrical braking portion of the present invention.

[156] As can be seen in the graph of FIG. 1, a maximum allowable deceleration depends on a driving speed of a belt.

[157] In a low speed section in which a driving speed of a belt is 5km/h, a maximum allowable deceleration is about 7.9km/h per second, but in a high speed section in which a driving speed of a belt is 19km/h, a maximum allowable deceleration is about 2.3km/h per second. [158] Since a kinetic energy is larger as a driving speed of a belt is faster, a motor driving portion requires a larger load for braking, and so a maximum allowable deceleration at which a trip occurs in a motor driving portion becomes smaller. That is, if the electrical braking portion of the present invention is not provided, a larger deceleration is impossible as a driving speed of a belt is faster, and so it can be seen that there is a problem in that a belt which rotates at a speed of, for example, 19km/h cannot perform a deceleration of more than 2.3km/h per second.

[159] In the present invention, it has been determined that an exerciser has a tendency to stop within a predetermined time regardless of a driving speed of a belt when an exerciser desires to stop while walking or running on a treadmill. Through an experiment for a relationship between a belt speed and a stop time using a plurality of subjects, it was determined that most exercisers feel satisfied when a stop time is in a range of 1.5 seconds to 5 seconds, preferably 2 seconds to 4 seconds.

[160] It was also found through an experiment that a deceleration of an initial decelerating stage corresponds to a stop time which is a time taken for a belt which rotates at a certain speed to completely stop, and a deceleration tendency of an exerciser described above can be satisfied even when a stop time is varied during a deceleration.

[161] Hereinafter, a stop time means the time taken for a belt to stop according to a deceleration of an exerciser.

[162] A ratio between a belt driving speed and a stop time corresponds to an exerciser's desired deceleration, and so, in the graph of FIG. 1, target decelerations 210 and 220 with respect to a belt driving speed are respectively indicated by an upper target deceleration 220 corresponding to a stop time of 2 seconds and a lower target deceleration 210 corresponding to a stop time of 4 seconds.

[163] Therefore, it is preferable that areas A-b and B-b between the lower and upper target deceleration 210 and 220 are set as target deceleration areas where a deceleration of a belt is controlled. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a target deceleration is set to 3 seconds.

[164] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the target decelerations 210 and 220 are increases as a belt driving speed increases, but in a conventional treadmill having no electrical braking portion as in the present invention, there is a problem in that the maximum allowable decelerations 110 and 220 decreases as a belt driving speed increases.

[165] That is, it is necessary to use braking areas B-a, B-b and B-c where a braking torque (second braking torque) of the electrical braking portion is additionally provided since it is impossible to brake only by using a braking torque (first braking torque) of a motor driving portion itself. A relationship with the target decelerations 210 and 220 is described in more detail below.

[166] Areas A-a and B-a defined by the upper target deceleration 220 are areas which may pose a risk to an exerciser due to a very fast deceleration, and, in these areas, there is a need for restricting a maximum deceleration.

[167] Areas A-b and B-b defined by the upper target deceleration 220 and the lower target deceleration 210 are areas which provide a fast deceleration while not risking an exerciser. Particularly, the left area A-b defined by the maximum allowable deceleration 110 is an area in which a braking torque (first braking torque) of a motor driving portion is provided, and the right area B-b defined by the maximum deceleration 110 is an area which needs a braking torque (second braking torque) of an electrical braking portion.

[168] Areas A-c and B-c defined by the lower target deceleration 210 are areas which provide a slower deceleration than the areas A-b and B-b but need a provision of a braking torque. Particularly, the left area A-c defined by the maximum allowable deceleration 110 is an area in which a braking torque (first braking torque) of a motor driving portion is provided, and the right area B-c defined by the maximum allowable deceleration 110 is an area which needs a braking torque (second braking torque) of the electrical braking portion.

[169] Therefore, as can be seen in FIG. 1, an exerciser who requires the upper target deceleration 220 needs a braking torque (second braking torque) of the electrical braking portion at a belt speed of more than about 8km/h, and an exerciser who requires the lower target deceleration 210 needs a braking torque (second braking torque) of the electrical braking portion at a belt speed of more than about 11.5km/h.

[170] An exerciser usually exercises on a treadmill at a speed of 7km/h to 15km/h, and there are exercisers who exercise on a treadmill even at a speed of more than 20km/h.

[171] A treadmill with only a braking torque (first braking torque) provided by a motor driving portion cannot realize a braking of a deceleration desired by an exerciser even in a general exercising speed range. Such a problem is resolved by providing the electrical braking portion of the present invention.

[172] A conventional treadmill provides a fixed slow deceleration 310 at a driving speed of the whole section and so cannot provides a deceleration desired by an exerciser.

[173] If a motor driving portion with a large capacitor of 3.7kW is employed, then the maximum allowable deceleration 120 is increased compared to a motor driving portion with a capacity of 2.2kW, but its increment rate is large in a low speed section and is small in a high speed section.

[174] The maximum allowable deceleration 120 is increased with an opposite tendency to the target decelerations 210 and 220.

[175] That is, the target deceleration requires a large deceleration at a high speed rather than a low speed, but even though a motor driving portion with a large capacity is employed, an incremented rate of a deceleration at a low speed is large, and an in- cremented rate of a deceleration at a high speed is small. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is impossible to provide a braking torque corresponding to a target deceleration. For such reasons, it is preferable to provide a braking torque (second braking torque) through the electrical braking portion of the present invention.

[176] Also, if a fixed high speed deceleration 320 is provided at a driving speed of the whole section in order to overcome the above problem of a conventional treadmill, a large deceleration with which an exerciser is difficult to cope is generated in a low speed section, whereby there is a problem in that such a deceleration is contained in the areas A-a and B-b which can cause potential risks to an exerciser.

[177] For the foregoing reasons, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a deceleration is preferably variably controlled corresponding to a driving speed of a belt.

[178] By using a variable deceleration control method according to the present invention, the treadmill of the present invention variably controls a deceleration corresponding to a driving speed of a belt within the lower areas A-b and A-c defined by the target decelerations 210 and 220 and the maximum allowable decelerations 110 and 120, without using an electrical braking portion of the present invention, thereby significantly improving an exercising feeling compared to the conventional treadmill.

[179] Such a variable deceleration control is provided within a range of the target deceleration and is performed by a deceleration control method which will be described with reference to FIGs. 10 to 20.

[180] That is, a target deceleration means a deceleration which is on a target to improve an exerciser's exercising feeling corresponding to a rotation speed of a driving motor or a speed of a belt corresponding thereto, and a provision deceleration means a decele ration provided by a treadmill in consideration of various factors such as a position change rate of an exerciser within a range of the target deceleration. The provision deceleration corresponds to a first control signal provided to a motor driving portion 6000 from a control portion 7000.

[181] Here, the target deceleration corresponds to a target braking torque, the provision deceleration corresponds to a provision braking torque, and the maximum allowable deceleration corresponds a braking torque (first braking torque) provided by the motor driving portion 6000.

[182] Therefore, a braking torque (second braking torque) provided by the electrical braking portion 8000 of the present invention is generated such that a switching portion contained in the electrical braking portion 8000, which will be described later, operates when the provision braking torque is equal to or more than the first braking torque.

[183] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The treadmill of the present invention comprises a body portion 2100, an exerciser detecting portion 3000, a driving motor 4000, a belt 5000, a motor driving portion 6000, and a control portion 7000.

[184] The belt 5000 on which the exerciser 1000 walks or runs, the driving motor 4000 for driving the belt 5000, the motor driving portion 6000 for driving the driving motor, and the control portion 7000 are installed in the body portion 2100. The body portion 2100 can be variously configured depending on a design of a frame 2110.

[185] The frame 2110 is arranged on one side of the body portion 2100, and a control panel 2200 which has an operating portion 2210 with buttons manipulated by the exerciser 1000 and a display device 2220 for displaying various information, and the exerciser detecting portion 3000 for detecting a position of the exerciser 1000 are arranged on one side of the frame 2110.

[ 186] The belt 5000 is endlessly rotated by a pair of rollers 2310 and 2320 installed in the body portion 2100 and substantially supports the exerciser 1000. One roller 2310 of a pair of rollers 2310 and 2320 is engaged with the driving motor 4000 to receive torque from the driving motor 4000.

[187] A torque transferring means 2400 arranged between the driving motor 4000 and the roller 2310 may be realized by a gear or a belt. Preferably, the torque transferring means 2400 is realized by a belt which has relatively small noise.

[188] The exerciser detecting portion 3000 comprises a non-contact type sensor such as an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor and serves and measures a distance between the exerciser detecting portion 3000 and the exerciser 1000.

[189] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an ultrasonic sensor is used as the exerciser detecting portion 3000 since an optical sensor has a problem in that light emitted from an optical sensor may be absorbed by clothes of the exerciser 1000.

[190] Such a non-contact type sensor measures a distance between the exerciser detecting portion 3000 and the exerciser 1000 by transmitting a signal at a predetermined interval and receiving a signal reflected from the exerciser 1000. For example, an ultrasonic sensor measures a distance between the exerciser detecting portion 3000 and the exerciser 1000 by calculating half of a reciprocating distance which is obtained by multiplying a speed at which a signal moves in the air and a time taken for a signal to return.

[191] In case of an ultrasonic sensor, if a radiation angle (θ) is small, a noise is small, and so a measurement error which may occur when the exerciser 1000 shakes an arm or a leg is reduced, but its price is high. To the contrary, if a radiation angle (θ) is large, its price is low, but noise and a measurement error of the inexpensive sensor are increased.

[192] In order to overcome the above problem, an ultrasonic sensor with a radiation angle (θ) of equal to or less than about 25° is preferably used. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a relatively cheap ultrasonic sensor with a radiation angle (θ) of about 25° is used, and a noise and a measurement error resulting from a cheap sensor are compensated by a control method programmed in the control portion 7000 which will be described later.

[193] The exerciser detecting portion 3000 is arranged on one side of the body portion

2100 at a height of 50cm to 150cm from a top surface of the belt 5000 in consideration of an adult average height and a detecting area. Preferably, the exerciser detecting portion 1000 is arranged at a height of 70cm to 110cm from a top surface of the endless belt 5000 in consideration of a height of a lower pelvis of when the exerciser lifts a leg and a height of an elbow of when the exerciser 1000 swings an arm in order to measure a position of an abdomen of the exerciser 1000.

[194] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a position of the exerciser 1000 is measured at a predetermined measuring cycle (for example, more than 10Hz) by using an ultrasonic sensor as the exerciser detecting portion 3000. Since the exerciser 1000 swings an arm at a cycle of about 2Hz to 3Hz if he/she exercises at a fast speed, a position of an arm or knee of the exerciser 1000 other than an upper body of the exerciser 1000 may be contained in a measured value. In order to minimize this measurement error, an installation height of the exerciser detecting portion 3000 is adjusted, and the measured value is compensated by the control portion 7000.

[195] Preferably, a measuring cycle of an ultrasonic sensor is greater than or equal to 4Hz which is twice the variation cycle of a measured signal (for example, a position variation cycle of an upper body of the exerciser when the exerciser exercises) and less than or equal to 10Hz in consideration of the maximum distance between the exerciser detecting portion 3000 and the exerciser 1000 which is about 1.5 m and a moving speed of a sonic wave. More preferably, a measuring cycle of an ultrasonic sensor is equal to or more than 6Hz which is three times of a variation cycle of a measured signal.

[196] When the exerciser 1000 rapidly runs to accelerate from a current speed, a current position X of the exerciser 1000 is ahead of a reference position X , and the exerciser r 0 detecting portion 3000 transmits a signal corresponding to a current position of the exerciser 1000 measured or a current-position measured value X r corresponding thereto to the control portion 7000.

[197] The control portion 7000 calculates a difference between the reference position value X and the current-position measured value X of the exerciser 1000 and transmits a first control signal corresponding to the difference to the motor driving portion 6000. The motor driving portion 6000 controls electrical power supplied from a power supply portion 2500 to increase a rotation speed of the driving motor 4000. [198] When a rotation speed of the driving motor 4000 is increased, a speed of the belt

5000 engaged with the driving motor 4000 is increased, which moves the exerciser

1000 backward in a direction of the reference position X . [199] Similarly, when the exerciser 1000 slowly runs to decelerate from a current speed, the current-position measured value X of the exerciser 1000 is behind the reference r position X , and the exerciser detecting portion 3000 transmits a signal corresponding to a current position of the exerciser 1000 measured or the current-position measured value X corresponding thereto to the control portion 7000. r

[200] The control portion 7000 calculates a difference between the reference position value X and the current-position measured value X and transmits the first control signal corresponding to the difference to the motor driving portion 6000. The motor driving portion 6000 controls electrical power supplied from the power supply portion 2500 to decrease a rotation speed of the driving motor 4000.

[201] When a rotation speed of the driving motor 4000 is decreased, a speed of the belt 5000 engaged with the driving motor 4000 is decreased, which moves the exerciser 1000 moves forward in a direction of the reference position X .

[202] Accordingly, when the exerciser 1000 desires to accelerate or decelerate, a speed of the belt is automatically controlled so that the exerciser 1000 can be located in the reference position X .

[203] A rotation speed of the driving motor 4000 is controlled by the motor driving portion 6000, and torque of the driving motor 4000 is transferred to the roller 2310 engaged with the belt 5000 through the torque transferring means 2400.

[204] As the driving motor 4000, a direct current (DC) motor or an alternating current (AC) motor which is usually used may be used. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an AC motor is used.

[205] The motor driving portion 6000 is supplied with electrical power from the power supplying portion 2500 and controls a rotation speed of the driving motor 4000 in response to the first control signal transmitted from the control portion 7000.

[206] The motor driving portion 6000 comprises either of an inverter and a converter depending on a kind of the driving motor 4000 as shown in FIGs. 4 to 9. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an inverter for supplying an AC current to an AC motor is used.

[207] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first control signal transmitted from the control portion 7000 to the motor driving portion 6000 is a frequency modulation (FM) signal, and in order to increase a speed of the driving motor 4000, the first control signal with a high frequency is generated. [208] An electrical braking portion 8000 provides a braking torque to the driving motor 4000 to decelerate the driving motor 4000 when the exerciser 1000 desires to decelerate while walking or running at a certain speed.

[209] When the driving motor 4000 is an AC motor, the electrical braking portion 8000 may be variously realized by, for example, dynamic braking, regenerative braking, DC braking, single-phase braking, or reversed-phase braking. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrical braking portion 8000 is realized by the dynamic braking and comprises a resistor which reduces kinetic energy of the driving motor 4000 to heat energy.

[210] Even when the driving motor 4000 is a DC motor, the electrical braking portion 8000 may be realized by, for example, dynamic braking, regenerative braking, or reversed- phase braking.

[211] At this point, since the motor driving portion 6000 has a braking means contained therein, the motor driving portion 6000 can provide a first braking torque to the driving motor 4000. However, a required braking torque exceeds the first braking torque when the electrical braking portion 8000 is not provided, a trip occurs, as shown in FIG. 1.

[212] For the forgoing reason, the electrical braking portion 8000 generates a second braking torque to brake the driving motor 4000.

[213] The present invention resolves the above-described problem such that only the first braking torque which is a part of a target braking torque is provided by the motor driving portion 6000 and the rest is provided by the electrical braking portion 8000.

[214] The second braking torque of the electrical braking portion 8000 preferably corresponds to a part of the target braking torque which exceeds the first braking torque. That is, the target braking torque minus the first braking torque is the second braking torque.

[215] FIGs. 4 to 6 are various circuit diagrams illustrating electrical braking methods using an AC motor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventions. The power supplying portion 2500 for supplying an AC power, the driving motor 4000, the motor driving portion 6000 for controlling a speed of the driving motor 4000, and the electrical braking portion 8000 for providing a braking torque to the driving motor 4000 are shown in FIGs. 4 to 6, respectively.

[216] In case where the power supplying portion 2500 supplies an AC power and the driving motor 4000 is an AC motor, the motor driving portion 6000 may comprise a typical inverter.

[217] The inverter comprises a converting portion 6100 for rectifying an AC power supplied to the motor driving portion 6000, a DC smoothing portion 6200 for smoothing a voltage rectified by the converting portion 6100, and an inverting portion 6300 for frequency-modulating a DC power smoothed by the DC smoothing portion 6200 through the control portion 7000 and providing the frequency-modulated power to the driving motor 4000. The driving motor 4000 changes its rotation speed depending on a frequency.

[218] When the first control signal for deceleration is transmitted to the motor driving portion 6000 from the control portion 7000 while the driving motor 4000 is rotating at a certain speed, the kinetic energy corresponding to a difference between a current speed and a decelerated speed flows to the motor driving portion 6000 from the driving motor 4000 as regenerative energy. Accordingly, the sum of a voltage of the power supplying portion 2500 and a voltage of the regenerative energy is applied between both output terminals of the converting portion 6100 or between both output terminals of the DC smoothing portion 6200.

[219] FIG. 4 shows that in order to emit the regenerative energy from the motor driving portion 6000, the electrical braking portion 8000 uses a braking resistor 8200 to reduce the regenerative energy to the heat energy.

[220] A switching portion 8100 of the electrical braking portion 8000 operates when a voltage applied between both output terminals of the converting portion 6100 or between both output terminals of the DC smoothing portion 6200 exceeds a predetermined reference voltage, that is, when a braking torque which exceeds a braking torque (first braking torque) of the motor driving portion 4000 is required, so that at least part of the regenerative energy which flows to the motor driving portion 6000 from the driving motor 4000 is emitted as the heat energy by the braking resistor 8200 which comprises a resistor connected between one end of the switching portion 8100 and one end of either the converting portion 6100 or the DC smoothing portion 6200.

[221] The switching portion 8100 may be configured to operate in response to a second control signal transmitted from the control portion 7000.

[222] The braking resistor 8200 is preferably designed, corresponding to a capacity of the motor driving portion 6000 and a load applied to the driving motor 4000, for example, a braking torque (first braking torque) of the motor driving portion 6000 and a maximum target braking torque which is a braking torque for providing the target decelerations 210 and 220 described in FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the motor driving portion 6000 with a capacity of 2.2KW and the braking resistor 8200 with a resistance of 50O are used.

[223] FIGs. 5 and 6 show that the regenerative energy is sent back to the power supplying portion 2500 by the electrical braking portion 8000 for emitting the regenerative energy out of the motor driving portion 6000 or consuming it.

[224] In FIG. 5, the electrical braking portion 8000 has a similar configuration to the inverting portion 6300 of the motor driving portion 6000 and is connected between both terminals of the converting portion 6100 or between both terminals of the DC smoothing portion 6200.

[225] When a voltage applied between both terminals of the converting portion 6100 or between both terminals of the DC smoothing portion 6200 is more than a predetermined reference voltage due to the regenerative energy flowing into the motor driving portion 6000 from the driving motor 4000, that is, when a braking torque which exceeds a braking torque (first braking torque) of the motor driving portion 6000 is required, then the switching portion 8100 of the electrical braking portion 8000 operates to transfer the regenerative energy to the power supplying portion 2500.

[226] At this time, a plurality of switching portions 8100 of the electrical braking portion

8000 are respectively controlled to synchronize a phase of the regenerative energy with an AC power of the power supplying portion 2500.

[227] The switching portion 8100 may be configured to be operated by a circuit configuration of the inverter 6000 itself or to be operated by the second control signal transmitted from the control portion 7000.

[228] In FIG. 6, the regenerative braking similar to that of FIG. 5 is used, but unlike that of FIG. 5, the switching portion 8100 is added to the converting portion 6100 to serve as the electrical braking portion 8000.

[229] Diodes arranged in the converting portion 6100 or the electrical braking portion 8000 serve to rectify an AC power of the power supplying portion 2500 when a forward power is supplied to the driving motor 4000 from the power supplying portion 2500, and the switching portion 8100 serves to transfer the regenerative energy to the power supplying portion 2500 from the driving motor 4000. The diodes and the switching portion 8100 of FIG. 6 are the same in operating principle as those of FIG. 5.

[230] The circuit configurations of FIGs. 4 to 6 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention are described below in more detail.

[231] The power supplying portion 2500 supplies an AC power which is usually supplied to home.

[232] The converting portion 6100 is configured by three pairs of diodes for rectifying an AC power supplied from the power supplying portion 2500, and outputs the rectified power through its output terminal.

[233] The DC smoothing portion 6200 is configured by electrically connecting a capacitor to both output terminals of the converting portion 6100 in parallel and serves to smooth the rectified wave form.

[234] The inverting portion 6300 is electrically connected to the output terminal of the DC smoothing portion 6200 and is configured by three pairs of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) in which a switching element like a transistor and a diode are connected in parallel. A signal of a frequency modulator (not shown) for modulating a frequency corresponding to the first control signal transmitted from the control portion 7000 is input to gates of the IGBTs, and electrical power of a predetermined frequency is supplied to the driving motor 4000, thereby controlling a speed of the driving motor 4000.

[235] In case of the DC braking, a braking torque can be provided by blocking a path of from the power supplying portion 2500 to the driving motor 4000 and then making a DC current to flow to a primary winding of the driving motor 4000 in the configurations of FIGs. 4 to 6.

[236] In case of the single phase braking, a braking torque can be provided to the driving motor by connecting two terminals of a primary winding to each other and then applying a single-phase AC current between the connected terminal and the other terminal in the configurations of FIGs. 4 to 6.

[237] In case of the reversed-phase braking, a braking torque can be provided to the driving motor 4000 by operating the IGBTs of the inverting portion 6300 to adjust a phase in the configurations of FIGs. 4 to 6.

[238] Here, the electrical braking portion 8000 serves to emit the regenerative energy out of the motor driving portion 6000 or consume it and also serves to provide a braking torque of an opposite direction to a forward torque of the driving motor 4000.

[239] FIGs. 7 to 9 are various circuit diagrams illustrating electrical braking methods using a DC motor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The power supplying portion 2500 for supplying an AC power, the driving motor 4000 which comprises a DC motor in which a rotation speed is controlled by a voltage difference, the motor driving portion 6000 for controlling a speed of the driving motor 4000, and the electrical braking portion 8000 for providing a braking torque to the driving motor 4000 are shown in FIGs. 7 to 9, respectively.

[240] In case where the power supplying portion 2500 supplies an AC power and the driving motor 4000 is a DC motor, the motor driving portion 6000 may comprise a typical converter.

[241] The converter comprises a converting portion 6110 for rectifying an AC power flowing to the motor driving portion 6000, and the driving motor 4000 comprises an AC field supplying portion connected to an electrical power source. A rotation speed of the motor driving portion 6000 depends on an average voltage magnitude of a pulse- width modulation wave which flows in from the motor driving portion 6000.

[242] The power supplying portion 2500 supplies an AC power which is usually supplied to home.

[243] The converting portion 6110 comprises three pairs of silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs) for rectifying an AC power supplied from the power supplying portion 2500 and outputs the rectified power through its output terminal. The converting portion 6100 controls a switching element like a transistor arranged at its output terminal to modulate a pulse width in order to control a speed of the driving motor 4000.

[244] When the first control signal for deceleration is transmitted to the motor driving portion 6000 from the control portion 7000 while the driving motor 4000 is rotating at a certain speed, the kinetic energy corresponding to a difference between a current speed and a decelerated speed flows to the motor driving portion 6000 from the driving motor 4000 as regenerative energy, so that the sum of a voltage of the power supplying portion 2500 and a voltage of the regenerative energy is applied between both output terminals of the converting portion 6110.

[245] FIG. 7 shows that the regenerative energy is reduced to the heat energy by using the electrical braking portion 8000, for example, the braking resistor 8200.

[246] The switching portion 8100 of the electrical braking portion 8000 operates when a voltage applied between both output terminals of the converting portion 6110 exceeds a predetermined reference voltage, so that the regenerative energy flowing into the motor driving portion 6000 from the driving motor 4000 is reduced to heat energy by the braking resistor 8200 which comprises a resistor electrically connected between one end of the switching portion 8100 and one end of the converting portion 6110.

[247] Here, the switching portion 8100 may be configured to operate in response to the second control signal transmitted from the control portion 7000.

[248] FIG. 8 shows that the regenerative energy is sent back to the power supplying portion 2500 by the electrical braking portion 8000 for emitting the regenerative energy out of the motor driving portion 6000 or consuming it.

[249] The electrical braking portion 8000 is connected to both ends of the converting portion 6110 which has a similar configuration of the inverting portion 6300 of the inverter shown in FIGs. 4 to 6.

[250] When a voltage applied between both output terminals of the converting portion 6110 exceeds a predetermined reference voltage due to the regenerative energy flowing into the motor driving portion 6000 from the driving motor 4000, the switching portion 8100 of the electrical braking portion 8000 operates to thereby transfer the regenerative energy to the power supplying portion 2500.

[251] Here, a plurality of switching portions 8100 of the electrical braking portion 8000 are respectively controlled to synchronize a phase of the regenerative energy with an AC power of the power supplying portion 2500.

[252] The switching portion 8100 may be configured to operate in response to a circuit configuration of the converter itself or operate by the second control signal transmitted from the control portion 7000.

[253] FIG. 9 shows a reversed-phase braking by using the electrical braking portion 8000 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[254] To accelerate the driving motor 4000, the SCRs of the converting portion 6110 are turned on, and the SCRs of the electrical braking portion 8000 are turned off, so that a voltage of a predetermined polarity is supplied to the driving motor 4000.

[255] To decelerate the driving motor 4000, the SCRs of the converting portion 6110 are turned off, and the SCRs of the electrical braking portion 8000 are turned on, so that a voltage of an opposite polarity to that for acceleration is supplied to the driving motor 4000 as a braking torque.

[256] As described above, the treadmill of the present invention processes the regenerative energy generated in the driving motor by using the electrical braking portion, thereby achieving the target braking torque.

[257] Hereinbefore, the electrical braking portion 8000, the motor driving portion 6000, and the driving motor 4000 have been described focusing on their exemplary configuration, but their configuration may be variously modified.

[258] Here, the electrical braking portion 8000 means the regenerative energy processing portion for emitting the regenerative energy generated in the driving motor 4000 out of the motor driving portion 6000 or consuming it in order to brake the driving motor 4000, and may comprise the switching portion 8100 for performing a switching operation for providing the second braking torque.

[259] FIGs. 10 to 12 are block diagrams illustrating the control portion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[260] In FIG. 10, the control portion 7000 computes a measured value X corresponding to a signal obtained by measuring a position of the exerciser 1000 by the exerciser detecting portion 3000 by using a predetermined criterion and transfers the first control signal to the motor driving portion 6000. The control portion 7000 comprises a preprocessing portion 7100, a reference position generating portion 7200, and a driving command portion 7300.

[261] FIGs. 10 to 20 show that the measured value X is transferred to the control portion r

7000 from the exerciser detecting portion 3000, but this is for easy description and is not limited to it. [262] The measured value X may be a value corresponding to an exerciser position r generated in the exerciser detecting portion 3000. Also, the measured value X may be r a value corresponding to an exerciser position which is converted from a signal transmitted to the control portion 7000 from the exerciser detecting portion 3000. [263] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention described below, the measured value X r means a value generated in the exerciser detecting portion 3000 and then transferred to the control portion 7000. [264] The pre-processing portion 7100 processes noise and undesired values included in the measured value X , which corresponds to a signal obtained by measuring a position of the exerciser 1000, transmitted from the exerciser detecting portion 3000 by a data converting criterion to generate a converted value X ' and transmits the converted value r

X ' to the reference position generating portion 7200 and/or the driving command portion 7300. [265] The pre-processing portion 7100 stores the measured values X (i=0,...,n) cor- responding to a position of the exerciser 1000 which are measured at a unit time interval or the corresponding converted values X ' (i=0,...,n) processed by the data converting criterion and transmits the measured values X (i=0,...,n) or the converted values X ' (i=0,...,n) to the reference position generating portion 7200 and the driving command portion 7300. [266] The pre-processing portion 7100 generates a current state value S which represents r which state among an accelerating state, a decelerating state and a maintaining state the treadmill is in using a state determining criterion based on the measured values X

(i=0,...,n) corresponding to a position of the exerciser 1000 which are measured at a unit time interval or the corresponding converted values X ' (i=0,...,n) processed by the data converting criterion, and transmits the current state value S r to the driving command portion 7300.

[267] The reference position generating portion 7200 generates a reference position value X which is used to determine a difference value with the measured value X or the

0 r converted value X r ' which corresponds to a current position of the exerciser 1000, and transmits the reference position value X to the driving command portion 7300.

[268] Here, the reference position value X means a distance from the exerciser detecting portion 3000 that a driving speed of the driving motor 4000 can be constantly maintained when the exerciser 1000 is at a predetermined position.

[269] The reference position generating portion 7200 adjusts the reference position value based on a driving speed containing a belt speed or a corresponding speed thereto. Here, the driving speed may be a rotation speed of the driving motor or a speed corresponding to the rotation speed, for example, a speed of the belt 5000 or the first control signal, transmitted to the motor driving portion 6000 from the control portion 7000.

[270] The driving command portion 7300 computes a difference value ΔX between the reference position value X transmitted from the reference position generating portion 7200 and the measured value X corresponding to a position of the exerciser 1000 or r the converted value X ' transmitted from the pre-processing portion 7100 to transmit r the first control signal for controlling a speed of the driving motor 4000 to the motor driving portion 6000. [271] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the converted value X r ' transmitted from the pre-processing portion 7100 is used in order to obtain the difference value ΔX with the reference position value X . [272] The driving command portion 7300 performs a closed-loop control and converts control constants contained in a control equation for a closed-loop control to adjust a control gain, thereby controlling a control sensitivity.

[273] FIG. 11 is a detailed block diagram illustrating the pre-processing portion shown in FIG. 10. The pre-processing portion 7100 comprises a state determining portion 7110, a data converting portion 7120, and a data storing portion 7130.

[274] The state determining portion 7110 determines which state among the accelerating state, the decelerating state and the maintaining state the exerciser 1000 is in using the state determining criterion and generates the current state value S corresponding to a r current state of the exerciser 1000.

[275] The data converting portion 7120 processes noise and undesired values included in the measured values X which correspond to a signal transmitted from the exerciser r detecting portion 3000 using the data converting criterion to generate the converted value X r '.

[276] The data storing portion 7130 stores the measured values X (i=0,...,n) which are measured at a unit time interval or the converted values X ' (i=0,...,n) which are generated at a unit- time interval by the data converting portion 7120. The data storing portion 7130 may store the state values S (i=0,...,n) which are generated at a unit time interval in the state determining portion 7110.

[277] In more detail, the state determining portion 7110 compares the current measured value X containing noise and undesired data transmitted from the exerciser detecting r portion 3000 to the past values X (i=l,...,n) stored in the data storing portion 7130 to determine the current state using the state determining criterion, thereby generating the current state value S which is one of the accelerating state, the decelerating state or the r mainlining state. [278] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the past converted values X '

(i=l,...,n) are used as the past values X ^τ (i=l,...,n) to be compared to the current measured value X to generate the current state value S . r r

[279] The generated current state value S may be stored in the data storing portion 7130 or r may be transmitted to the driving command portion 7300 to be used to generate the first control signal.

[280] In more detail, the data converting portion 7120 determines a forward or backward direction of the exerciser 1000 based on the past values X (i=l,...,n) and the current measured value X r to generate the current converted value X r '.

[281] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the past converted values X '

T

(i=l,...,n) are used as the past values X (i=l,...,n) to be compared to the current measured value X r to generate the current converted value X r '.

[282] The current converted value X ' generated is stored in the data storing portion 7130 for a comparison for generating the converted value X ' of the measured value X of r+l r+1 the next unit time and is transmitted to the driving command portion 7300 to be used to compute the position difference value ΔX which is a difference with the reference position value X . Also, the current converted value X ' may be transmitted to the reference position generating portion 7200 to be used to generate the reference position value X . o

[283] FIG. 12 is a detailed block diagram illustrating the driving command portion 7300 shown in FIG. 10. The driving command portion 7300 comprises a control gain portion 7310, a sensitivity adjusting portion 7320, a control signal generating portion 7330.

[284] The control gain portion 7310 generates a control gain ΔV corresponding to a speed by applying the position difference value ΔX which is a difference between the reference position value X transmitted from the reference position generating portion 7200 and the current value X , for example, the current converted value X ' r r transmitted from the pre-processing portion 7100 to a PI control of Equation 1 or a PID control of Equation 2 [285] [Equation 1]

[287] [Equation 2]

[289] Here, a proportional constant K , an integral constant K , and a differential constant K

P i which are used as control constants are adjusted by the sensitivity adjusting portion d

7320 in order to accept various exercising patterns of the exerciser 1000.

[290] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an experiment has been performed by using a PI control, which is fast in response speed and small in target value error, expressed by Equation 1, but other control methods can be used.

[291] The control signal generating portion 7330 generates the first control signal for controlling a speed of the driving motor 4000 through the motor driving portion 6000 based on the control gain ΔV transmitted from the control gain portion 7310 and transmits the first control signal to the motor driving portion 6000.

[292] The sensitivity adjusting portion 7320 changes the values of the control constants used in the control gain portion 7310 in consideration of various exercising patterns of the exerciser 1000 to adjust the sensitivity of a speed response of the belt to movement of the exerciser 1000.

[293] The respective components 7100, 7200 and 7300 contained in the control portion 7000 may be respectively configured in separate physical spaces or may be configured by a program code in a single physical space. [294] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the control portion 7000 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The control method of the control portion 7000 comprises a position measuring step SlOOO for the exer ciser detecting portion 3000 measuring a position of the exerciser, a pre-processing step S2000 for the control portion 7000 receiving a measured signal or a corresponding measured value X and converting the measured value X to the converted value X ' by r r r the pre-processing procedure, a reference position generating step S3000 for generating the reference position value X based on the driving speed, which can include the belt speed or a speed corresponding to the belt speed, and a driving command step S4000 for transmitting the first control signal to the motor driving portion 6000 based on either of the measured value X and the converted value X ' and r r the reference position value X to perform a driving command.

[295] The pre-processing step S2000 comprises a state determining step S2100 for determining a current state of the exerciser and a data converting step S2200 for converting the measured value X r to the converted value X r '.

[296] The driving command step S4000 comprises a sensitivity adjusting step S4100 for determining the driving speed containing the belt speed or the speed corresponding to the belt speed or a position change rate of the exerciser to adjust the control constant, a control gain generating step S4200 for generating the control gain by the closed-loop control equation, and a control signal generating step S4300 for transmitting a command to the motor driving portion 6000 based on the control gain.

[297] FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the state determining portion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart of FIG. 14, the portion marked as "(a)" shows steps according to performed functions, and the portion marked "(b)" shows a determining criterion of each step in the portion "(a)".

[298] The state determining step S2100 includes a data direction determining step S2110 for determining a forward or backward direction in which the measured value X or the r converted value X ' obtained at a unit-time interval changes with respect to an im- r mediately previous or previous measured value or an immediately previous or previous converted value, that is, for determining a data direction corresponding to a forward or backward direction in which a subsequent data value among data values X ° (i=0,...,n) changes in with respect to a preceding data value; an acceleration/deceleration magnitude reference comparing step S2120 for determining whether a difference between a measured value or converted value of a predetermined previous unit time which is used as a reference value, for example, a preceding data value of a pre- determined previous unit time which is used as a reference value and a current measured value or current converted value satisfies a predetermined criterion C or C or not; and a state determining step S2130 for finally determining the current state. [299] The state determining step S2130 may further include a step for generating a state value S by using a value corresponding to the current exerciser state. r

[300] The data direction determining step S2110 uses the past values X ^τ (i=l,...,n) stored in the data storing portion 7130 and the current value X . Here, an immediately pr r eviously occurring converted value and earlier previous converted values are used as the past values X (i=l,...,n), and the current measured value Xr is used as the current value X . If the past values X (i=l,...,n) and the current value X comprises only of a continuous forward direction or a maintaining direction and the difference between the past value X (j is a positive integer) of the predetermined previous unit r-J _τ time and the current value X results in a forward direction, then the procedure goes r to an acceleration magnitude reference comparing step S2121. That is, if the subsequent data value among the data values X ° (i=0,...,n) is configured to be a continuous forward direction or a maintaining direction with respect to the preceding

T data value only, and the current value X r , has a data direction (which is either a continuous forward direction or a maintaining direction with respect to the preceding data value) which is a forward direction, then the procedure goes to the acceleration magnitude reference comparing step S2121.

[301] AAllssoo,, iiff tthhee ppaasstt vvaalluueess XX ^ττ ((ii==ll,,......,,nn)) aanndd the current value X ^τ are configured as a continuous backward direction or maintaining direction and a difference between the past value X (j is a positive integer) of the predetermined previous unit time and the r-J current value X results in a backward direction, then the procedure goes to a de- r celeration magnitude reference comparing step S2122. That is, if the subsequent data value among the data values X ° (i=0,...,n) comprises only of a continuous backward direction or a maintaining direction with respect to the preceding data value, and the

T current value X has a data direction (which is generated as either a backward r direction or a maintaining direction with respect to the preceding data value) is a backward direction, then the procedure goes to the deceleration magnitude reference comparing step S2122. [302] Further, if the data values X ° (i=0,...,n) do not have a continuous direction, that is, a forward direction and a backward direction exist together in the data values X

(i=0,...,n) or the data values X ° (i=0,...,n) have a continuous maintaining direction, then the procedure does not go to the acceleration/deceleration magnitude reference comparing step S2120, and in the state determining step S2130, the current sate is determined as a maintaining state (step S2132). [303] Preferably, the data direction is determined by using the past values X ' (i= 1,2,3) of at least 3 previously occurring unit times immediately before the current unit time, for example, the values X ' (i=l,,,,n) where n is equal to or more than 3, as the past values r-i

X (i=l,...,n) and the current measured value X as the current value X . r-i r r

[304] In the acceleration magnitude reference comparing step S2121 of the acceleration/deceleration magnitude reference comparing step S2120, when a data direction is determined as a forward direction in the data direction determining step S2111, it is determined whether a difference value between a past value X (j is a positive r-J _τ integer) of a predetermined previous unit time and a current value X exceeds the pre- r determined acceleration magnitude reference value C or not (step S2121). If the a difference value exceeds the predetermined acceleration magnitude reference value C , a then the current state is determined as an acceleration state (step S2131). If the difference value is equal to or less than a predetermined acceleration magnitude reference value C , then the current state is determined as a maintaining state (step S2132).

[305] When a data direction is determined as a backward direction in the data direction determining step S2111, in the deceleration magnitude reference comparing step S2122, it is determined whether a difference value between a past value X (j is a positive r-J _τ integer) of a predetermined previous unit time and a current value X exceeds a predetermined deceleration magnitude reference value C d or not (step S2122). If the difference value exceeds the predetermined deceleration magnitude reference value C , then the current state is determined as a deceleration state (step S2133), and if the difference value is equal to or less than the predetermined deceleration magnitude reference value C , then the current state is determined as a maintaining state (step S2132). [306] The data direction is determined by using preferably the past value X ^τ of an at r-2 least second most recent or earlier previous unit time from the current unit time, more preferably the past value X ^τ of a third most recent previous unit time as the past value X (j is a positive integer) of a predetermined previous unit time to be r-J compared in difference with the current measured value X , and the current measured

T ^r value X as the current value X . r r

[307] Also, the state determining step S2130 may further include a step for generating an accelerating state, a maintaining state or a decelerating state as the current state S . The r generated current state S may be stored in the data storing portion 7130 or may be r used in the driving command portion 7300. [308] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the data converting portion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the flowchart of FIG. 15, the portion marked "(a)" shows steps according to performed functions, and the portion marked "(b)" shows a determining criterion of each step in the portion "(a)".

[309] The data converting step S2200 includes a past data direction determining step S2210 for determining a direction in which the past values X (i=l,...,n) change, a current data direction determining step S2220 for determining a direction of the current measured value X relative to the immediately previous past value X , and a r r-1 converted value generating step S2230 for converting/generating the current measured value X into the current converted value X '. r r

[310] The converted value generating step S2240 may further include a step for converting a weighted average value of a converted value X ' once converted by the above step r and the past values X (i=l,...,n) predetermined unit times (n) into the current converted value X '. r

[311] The past data direction determining step S2210 determines whether the past values X

T

(i=l,...,n) continuously results in a forward direction or a maintaining direction or continuously results in a backward direction or a maintaining direction using the past values X (i=l,...,n) of from a predetermined previous unit time (n), and determines whether there exists a constant direction that a difference with the past value X r-n of the predetermined previous unit time is generated in a forward direction or a backward direction or not (step S2211).

[312] If it is determined in the past data direction determining step S2210 that there is no constant direction, e.g., since the past values X (i=l,...,n) have only a maintaining direction (i.e., same values), or have a forward direction and a backward direction together, then the current converted value X ' is generated in the converted value r generating step S2230 using the current measured value X without going to the current r data direction determining step S2220 (step S2232). In this instance, the current measured X is used as the current converted value X '. r r

[313] If it is determined in the past data direction determining step S2210 that a constant direction exists, e.g., since the past values X ^τ (i=l,...,n) continuously results in a forward direction or a maintaining direction or continuously results in a backward direction or a maintaining direction and a difference with the past value [314] X of a predetermined previous unit time (n) also results in a forward direction or a r-n backward direction, then the procedure goes to the current data direction determining step S2220. [315] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the past values X ' (i= 1,2,3) of 3 previously occurring unit times immediately before the current unit time are used as the past values X (i=l,...,n) used in the past data direction determining step S2210. [316] The current data determining step S2220 determines whether the current value

(current measured value) maintains a direction of the past data (past converted value) determined by the past data direction determining step S2210 or not. In cases where the past values X ^τ (i=l,...,n) have a forward direction which has a continuous forward direction or maintaining direction, if the current value (current measured value) changes in a backward direction compared to the immediately previous past value X , then the current converted value X ' is generated by restricting the current r-l r measured value X (step S2231) in the converted value generating step S2230. r

[317] Similarly, in case where the past values X (i=l,...,n) have a backward direction which has a continuous backward direction or maintaining direction, if the current value (current measured value) changes in a forward direction compared to the immediately previous past value X , then the current converted value X ' is generated r-l r by restricting the current measured value X (step S2231) in the converted value r generating step S2230.

[318] That is, it is determined whether a direction of the current value (current measured value) changes with respect to the past values X (i=l,...,n) or not (step S2221). If it changes, in the converted value generating step S2230, the current measured value X r is restricted to generate the current converted value X ' (step S2231), whereas if it does not change, the current converted value X ' is generated by using the current measured value X (step S2232).

[319] This is done because it is physically impossible for the exerciser to change to a deceleration state immediately from an acceleration state or to an acceleration state immediately from a deceleration state. Thus, the current measured value X is converted r into the current converted value X ' which is a physically possible value for the current value X ^τ. r

[320] In addition to the determining steps and the determining criterions of FIG. 15, if based on the past values X ^τ (i=l,...,n) of from a predetermined previous unit time (n) and the current value (current measured value), it is determined that the past values [321] X ^τ (i=l,...,n) from a predetermined previous unit time (n) and the current value

(current measured value) continuously have only a forward direction or a maintaining direction or continuously have only a backward direction or a maintaining direction and a difference with the pas value X of the predetermined previous unit time (n) r-n generates a forward direction or a backward direction, then the current measured value X may be used to generate the current converted value X ' (step S2232). Otherwise, r r that is, if a forward direction and a backward direction exist together, then the current measured value X may be restricted to generate the current converted value X ' (step S2231). [322] In the step S2231 of the converted value generating step S2230 for restricting the current measured value X to generate the current converted value X ', the past value X r-l of a first most recent previous unit time which is the immediately previous unit time is preferably used as the current converted value X '. r

[323] After generating the current converted value X ' as described above, the current r converted value X ' may be used in a subsequent control procedure "as is" but in order r to prevent the current converted value X ' from greatly changing from the immediately r previous converted value X ', the procedure may further include a weight- averaging r-l step for generating a final converted value X ' by weight-averaging the past values X ' r r-i

(i=l,...,k) of predetermined unit times (k) and the current converted value X '. r

[324] The past converted values X ' (i= 1,2,3) of 3 (first to third) previous unit times are r-l preferably used as the past converted values X ' for a weight average. r-i

[325] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the data converting portion according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [326] Hereinafter, a term "a normal range reference N includes an acceleration normal a reference range N and a deceleration normal reference range N . The normal range a d reference N a means a reference for determining whether the current measured value is

T normal or not based on a difference with the past value X r-k (k is a positive integer) of a predetermined previous unit time (k). [327] The data converting step S2200 of FIG. 16 includes a normal range control step

S2240, a normal range determining step S2250, and a converted value generating step

S2260. [328] In the normal range determining step S2250, a result of a function using the current measured value X and/or the past value X ^τ (k is a positive integer) of a pre- r r-k determined previous unit time (k) is compared to the normal reference range N . r

[329] In the normal range determining step S2250, it is determined whether a difference between the current measured value X and the past value X (k is a positive integer) r r-k of a predetermined previous unit time (k) is in the normal reference range N or not r

(step S2251). If the difference is in the normal reference range N , the current r converted value X ' is generated by using the current measured value X "as is "(step r r

S2261), whereas if the difference is not in the normal reference range N , the current r converted value X ' is generated by restricting the current measured value X (step S2262). [330] If the difference between the current measured value X and the past value X (k is r r-k a positive integer) of a predetermined previous unit time (k) is not in the normal reference range N , a count (i, i is an integer) with a predetermined initial value is r increased by 1 (i=i+l) (step S2253), whereas if the difference is in the normal reference range N , the count (i) is reset to the initial value (step S2252). The initial value of the count (i) is preferably set to zero (0).

[331] In the normal range control step S2240, the normal reference range is adjusted, maintained or initialized by comparing the count (i) (step S2241). [332] In more detail, if the count (i) is larger than the initial value and is equal to or less than a predetermined reference (n, n is an integer), the normal reference range N is r adjusted (step S2242). Preferably, an absolute value of the normal reference range N is r adjusted. In the below description, the normal reference range N will be described r focusing on the deceleration range reference N , and the acceleration range reference N d will be easily understood from the description by reversing a sign by a person skilled a in the art. [333] The normal reference range N may be adjusted by using the same change magnitude r or difference change magnitudes. [334] If the count (i) has the initial value, the normal reference range N is initialized (step r

S2243), and if the count (i) is larger than the predetermined reference (n), the normal reference range N is maintained (step S2244). r

[335] The normal reference range N corresponding to the predetermined reference (n), i.e., r a maximum value of the normal reference range N is preferably set to correspond to a magnitude of a position change generated by an exerciser with an excellent exercising ability, and the normal reference range N of when the count (i) has the initial value, i.e., an initial value of the normal reference range N r is preferably set to be equal to or less than the maximum value of normal reference range N . [336] The acceleration range reference N a and the deceleration range reference N d may have the same value or difference values from each other. For example, in the normal range determining step S2250, if a change of the current measured value X to the past r value X (k is a positive integer) of a predetermined previous unit time (k) has a r-k forward direction, the acceleration range reference N may be applied as the normal a reference range N , whereas if a change of the current measured value X to the past r r value X ^τ (k is a positive integer) of a predetermined previous unit time (k) has a r-k backward direction, the deceleration range reference N may be applied as the normal d reference range N . In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ac- r celeration range reference N and the deceleration range reference N have different a d values from each other.

[337] The predetermined reference (n) to be compared with the count (i) when a change of the current measured value X to the past value X (k is a positive integer) of a pre- r r-k determined previous unit time (k) has a forward direction may have the same value as or may have a different value from when a change of the current measured value X to

T ^r the past value X r-k (k is a positive integer) of a predetermined previous unit time (k) has a backward direction. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined reference (n) to be compared with the count (i) when a change of the current measured value X to the past value X (k is a positive integer) of a predetermined previous unit time (k) has a forward direction has a different value from when a change of the current measured value X to the past value X (k is a positive r r-k integer) of a predetermined previous unit time (k) has a backward direction. [338] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in the step S2262 of the converted value generating step S2260 for restricting the current measured value X to r generate the current converted value X ', a value obtained by adding the normal r reference range N to the past value X ^τ (k is a positive integer) of a predetermined r r-k previous unit time (k) is generated as the current converted value X '. r

[339] That is, when the current measured value X exceeds the normal range reference N

T ^{r r} with respect to the past value X (k is a positive integer) of a predetermined previous r-k unit time (k), the current converted X ' is generated by restricting the current measured r value X such that the normal range reference N is set as a change limit of the current r r converted value X ' with respect to the past value X (k is a positive integer) of a pre- r r-k determined previous unit time (k).

[340] Of course, a value which is equal to or smaller than a value obtained by adding the normal range reference N r to the past value X r-k (k is a positive integer) of a pre- determined previous unit time (k) may be generated as the current converted value X '. [341] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the immediately previous past value X , for example, the past value of the first most recent previous unit time (k=l) is used as the past value X r-k (k is a positive integer) of a predetermined previous unit time (k) used to determine whether the current measured value X exceeds the normal range reference N or not. r

[342] After generating the current converted value X ' as described above, the current r converted value X ' may be used in a subsequent control procedure "as is" but in order r to prevent the current converted value X ' from greatly changing from the immediately r previous converted value X ', the procedure may further include a weight- averaging r-l step for generating a final converted value X ' by weight-averaging the past values X ' r r-i

(i=l,...,k) of predetermined unit times and the current converted value X ' obtained by r the above procedure. [343] The past converted values X ' (i= 1,2,3) of 3 (first to third) previous unit times are r-l preferably used as the past converted values X ' for a weight average. r-i

[344] Each step and a combination relationship between the respective steps of FIG. 16 may be variously modified by a person skilled in the art. [345] Also, a person skilled in the art can sufficiently understand that the normal range reference of FIG. 16 can be applied to the flowchart of FIG. 15. [346] For example, in the converted value generating step S2230, the step S2232 for using the current measured value X r to generate the current converted value X r ' shown in

FIG. 15 may be replaced with the step for determining the normal range reference N shown in FIG. 16. [347] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the reference position generating portion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which includes a belt speed determining step S3010 for determining a speed of the driving belt and a reference position value adjusting step S3020 for adjusting and generating a reference position corresponding to the speed.

[348] The belt speed determining step S3010 is a step for determining a driving speed containing a belt speed or a speed corresponding to the belt speed which is to be transferred to the reference position generating portion 7200. The driving speed may be computed using the first control signal transmitted to the motor driving portion 6000 from the control portion 7000 or using a signal transmitted to the driving motor 4000 from the motor driving portion 6000.

[349] The driving speed may be computed by measuring a rotation speed of the driving motor 4000 or the roller 2310 or by directly measuring a moving speed of the driving belt 5000.

[350] In the reference position value adjusting step S3020, the reference position value X is decreased if the driving speed is fast, whereas the reference position value X is increased if the driving speed is slow.

[351] While the exerciser 1000 exercises at a low speed, the reference position value X is set to be far from the exerciser detecting portion 3000 in order to achieve a fast acceleration, whereas while the exerciser 1000 exercises at a high speed, the reference position value X is set to be short from the exerciser detecting portion 3000 in order to achieve a fast deceleration.

[352] That is, the reference position value X is variably controlled depending on a speed of the driving belt such that the reference position value X is increased if the driving speed is slow and the reference position value X is decreased if the driving speed is fast.

[353] Also, based upon a moving direction of a top surface of the belt which supports the exerciser, the reference position value X is set to be short from a start point of the belt if the driving speed is fast, and the reference position value X is set to be far from the start point of the belt if the driving speed is slow.

[354] A range in which the reference position value X is varied preferably corresponds to a distance of from the start point to the end point in a moving direction of the top surface of the belt. That is, a range in which the reference position value X is varied is preferably less than the length of the top surface of the belt.

[355] More preferably, a range in which the reference position value X is varied is separated by a predetermined distance from the start point and the end point of the top surface of the belt. This is because when the reference position value X which is a reference for causing acceleration or deceleration by using a difference with the current position of the exerciser is too close to the start point or the end point of the top surface of the belt, then the risk to the exerciser may increase.

[356] FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating a method for restricting a maximum acceleration/deceleration according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[357] A maximum acceleration/deceleration is restricted depending on a speed to the extent that can prevent the treadmill from applying an acceleration/deceleration that is difficult for the exerciser 1000 to react to, thereby reducing injury risk for the exerciser 1000.

[358] Also, an abrupt acceleration/deceleration in a low speed section may cause the exerciser to feel uncomfortable and may be risky. But, a treadmill needs to rapidly follow the exerciser's acceleration/deceleration intent in a high speed section. For the foregoing reasons, a maximum acceleration/deceleration is restricted depending on a speed.

[359] As shown in FIG. 1, in case of a low speed, since the areas A-a and B-a, in which a deceleration is larger than the upper target deceleration 220, may pose risk to the exerciser as can bee seen by the target deceleration line segments 210 and 220, the maximum deceleration is thus preferably set to a value equal to or less than the upper target deceleration 220. In case of a high speed, since the upper target deceleration 220 is large, the maximum deceleration of a high speed is thus preferably set to a larger value than that of a low speed.

[360] Even though it depends on the exerciser's exercising ability, the exerciser can exercise with a good exercising feeling with a deceleration of up to the target deceleration corresponding to the driving speed containing the belt speed or a speed corresponding to the belt speed, but the exerciser may feel uncomfortable or fall down in an abrupt deceleration of more than the target deceleration.

[361] The experiment according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows that the upper target deceleration 220 is about 2.5km/h per second when the driving speed is a low speed of 5km/h, and the upper target deceleration 220 is about 9.5km/h per second when the driving speed is a high speed of 19km/h.

[362] Therefore, it is preferred that the maximum deceleration is restricted to a large value if the driving speed is fast and to a small value if the driving speed is slow.

[363] A similar principle can be applied to a restriction of the maximum acceleration depending on the driving speed.

[364] The driving speed can be computed or measured by the various methods described in FIG. 17, and the maximum acceleration and the maximum deceleration are adjusted depending on the speed.

[365] In a low speed section in which the driving speed is slow, the maximum acceleration and/or the maximum deceleration are set to a small value, and in a high speed section in which the driving speed is fast, the maximum acceleration and/or the maximum deceleration are set to a large value.

[366] Also, in a middle speed section which the driving speed is not fast nor slow, the maximum acceleration and/or the maximum deceleration are increased as the driving speed is increased.

[367] Such a restriction of the maximum acceleration/deceleration depending on the driving speed is performed by the driving command portion 7300 of the control portion 7000, preferably by the control signal generating portion 7330.

[368] The control signal generating portion 7330 restricts the first control signal to be output, based on the driving speed and a control gain ΔV which is a signal corresponding to an acceleration/deceleration generated in the control gain portion 7310.

[369] FIGs. 19 and 20 are flowcharts illustrating an operation of the sensitivity adjusting portion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[370] A control sensitivity which will be described below is computed based on a difference value between the reference position value and the data value and means a sensitivity of a control gain for generating the control signal. When a control sensitivity is large, a control gain is larger, compared to when a control sensitivity is small.

[371] That is, the control sensitivity means a response degree to the control gain output by using the difference value as an input variable.

[372] An expression that the control sensitivity is large, high or sensitive means that the response degree of the control gain which is a result of the difference value as an input variable is large. An expression that the control sensitivity is small, low or insensitive means that the response degree of the control gain which is a result of the difference value as an input variable is small.

[373] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a sensitivity adjusting method performed by the sensitivity adjusting portion according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The sensitivity adjusting method of FIG. 19 includes a current position determining step S4110 for determining whether the exerciser 1000 is located in a stable section X or not, a state determining step S4120 for determining a current state of the exerciser 1000 corresponding to a current state value of the exerciser generated by the state determining portion 7110, a period determining step S4130 for determining whether the exerciser 1000 stays in the stable section X during a predetermined time period or not, and a control sensitivity adjusting step S4140 for adjusting a control sensitivity when the exerciser 1000 stays in the stable section X during a predetermined time period.

[374] The stable section X represents a predetermined area range containing the reference position value X . When the measured value X or the converted value X ' cor- responding to the position of the exerciser 1000 is in a range of the stable section X , the control sensitivity is lowered or the previous first control signal is not changed so that the exerciser 1000 can maintain the speed.

[375] In the current position determining step S4110, it is determined whether or not the current value X corresponding to the current position of the exerciser 1000 is in a r range of the stable section X containing a predetermined area range (step S4111). If the current value X is in a range of the stable section X , the procedure goes to the r s state determining step S4120, whereas if the current value X is not in a range of the r stable section X , a count is initialized (in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an initial count is "zero")(step S4122), and then the procedure goes to the speed change section control sensitivity applying step S4142 which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 20 and/or Equation 3. [376] In the state determining step S4120, the current state value S of the exerciser r determined by performing the state determining method of FIG. 14 is received from the state determining portion 7110 or the data storing portion 7130 of the preprocessing portion 7100, and it is determined whether the current state S is an accelerating state or a decelerating state.

[377] At this time, if the current state value S is either of an accelerating state and a decelerating state (step S4122), the count is reset (i=0), and then the speed change section control sensitivity adjusting step S4142 which will be described with reference to FIG. 20 and/or Equation 3 is performed. If the current state value S is neither of an ac- r celerating state and a decelerating state, the period determining step S4130 is performed.

[378] In the period determining step S4130, a count (i) with a predetermined initial value is increased by one (1) (i=i+l) (step S4131), and it is determined whether the count is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference (k) or not (step S4132). If the count is equal to or greater than the predetermined reference (k), a stable section control sensitivity applying step S4141 is performed to apply a stable section control sensitivity as a control sensitivity of the control gain portion 7310, whereas if the count is smaller than the predetermined reference (k), a speed change section control sensitivity applying step S4142 which will be described with reference to FIG. 20 and/ or Equation 3 is performed. Preferably, "zero" is used as an initial value of the count

(i).

[379] In the stable section control sensitivity applying step S4141 of the control sensitivity adjusting step S4140, a control constant in a control equation of the control gain portion 7310 is adjusted to lower the control sensitivity, so that a speed change sensitivity of the belt with respect to a position change of the exerciser 1000 is lowered, satisfying a speed maintaining intend of the exerciser 1000. [380] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the reference (k) used in the step S4131 for determining whether the count (i) is equal to or greater than the predetermined reference (k) is set to five (5). That is, when the current value X exists in r the stable section X equal to or more than five (5) times, it is determined as the speed maintaining intend of the exerciser 1000, so that the control constant is adjusted to lower the control sensitivity.

[381] A relationship between the control constant and the control sensitivity and a method for adjusting the control sensitivity to adjust the control sensitivity will be explained later with reference to Equation 3.

[382] FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a control sensitivity adjusting method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The control sensitivity adjusting method of FIG. 20 includes a current state determining step S4150 for determining whether the current state is an accelerating state or a decelerating state, a speed/change rate determining step S4160 for determining a driving speed containing a belt speed or a corresponding speed thereto or an exerciser position change rate, and a control sensitivity adjusting step S4160 for adjusting a control sensitivity according to the determined speed/change rate. The control sensitivity adjusting method of FIG. 20 may further include a control gain adjusting step S4210 for computing a control gain obtained by a control equation that a control sensitivity is adjusted and finally adjusting a control gain.

[383] In the current state determining step S4150, it is determined whether or not the current state value S generated in the state determining portion 7110 is a value cor- r responding to either of an accelerating state and a decelerating state (step S4151). If the current state is either of an accelerating state and a decelerating state, the speed/ change rate determining step S4160 is performed, whereas if the current state is neither of an accelerating state and a decelerating state, the control sensitivity is adjusted in a stable section control sensitivity applying step S4173 corresponding to a stable section which is described with reference to FIG. 19 and Equation 3. [384] The speed/change rate determining step S4160 includes two steps. One is an exerciser position change rate determining step S4161 for determining a change rate per unit time of the measure value X (i=0,....,n) or the converted values X ' (i=0,...,n), and the other is a driving speed determining step S4162.

[385] The exerciser position change rate determining step S4161 is to determine an accelerating or decelerating trend of the exerciser 1000. A change rate per unit of the converted values X ' (i=0,...,n) is determined to determine a forward or backward speed.

[386] The exerciser can change position by accelerating or decelerating independently from the driving speed. [387] That is, if the exerciser 1000 intends to accelerate from a current speed, the current value X ^τ gets smaller than the past value X ^τ, whereas if the exerciser 1000 intends r r-1 to decelerate from a current speed, the current value X gets greater than the past r value X ^τ. r-1

[388] The exerciser position change rate determining step S4161 is a step for determining a degree which the exerciser 1000 intends to accelerate or decelerate from the current speed, and it is understood that if a change rate per unit time is large, then the exerciser intends to accelerate or decelerate quickly.

[389] If the position change rate per unit time of the exerciser 1000 is large, the control sensitivity is increased by adjusting, i.e., increasing the control constant, and if the position change rate per unit time of the exerciser 1000 is small, then the control sensitivity is decreased by adjusting, i.e., decreasing the control constant, whereby it is possible to rapidly follow an accelerating or decelerating intention of the exerciser 1000.

[390] The belt speed determining step S4162 is used to determine an actual driving speed. A method for computing the driving speed is similar to the method described in the reference position generating step S3000 of FIG. 17.

[391] If the driving speed is high, that is, if the belt speed is fast, the control sensitivity is increased, and if the driving speed is slow, that is, if the belt speed is low, the control sensitivity is decreased.

[392] If the exerciser 1000 exercising at a high speed intends to decelerate, then the control sensitivity is increased since the exerciser 1000 may face risk if a deceleration is slow.

[393] To the contrary, if the exerciser 1000 exercising at a low speed intends to decelerate, the control sensitivity is decreased since the exerciser 1000 may feel uncomfortable or face risk if a deceleration is fast.

[394] Referring to the target decelerations 210 and 220 of FIG. 1, it is understood that the target deceleration is low if the driving speed is slow, and the target deceleration is high if the driving speed is fast.

[395] In the control sensitivity adjusting step S4170, the control sensitivity is adjusted as follow, based on the determination in the speed/change rate determining step S4160.

[396] A control gain Gl is computed by adjusting the control sensitivity such that if it is determined in the exerciser position change rate determining step S4161 that a position change rate of the exerciser 1000, i.e., a backward speed of the exerciser 1000, is large, then the control constant is increased to increase the deceleration of the belt. If it is determined that it is small, then the control constant is decreased (step S4162). A control gain G2 is computed by adjusting the control sensitivity such that if it is determined in the belt speed determining step S4162 that if the driving speed is fast, then the control constant is increased, and if the driving speed is slow, then the control constant is decreased.

[397] In the control gain adjusting step S4210, an operation on the two or more control gains Gl and G2 which are obtained in an accelerating state or a decelerating state or are obtained by adjusting the control sensitivities by determinations according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be performed to thereby generate a final control gain ΔV.

[398] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control gains are weight- averaged to generate the final control gain ΔV.

[399] Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention to adjust the control sensitivity is described below.

[400] If the exerciser 1000 desires to reduce an acceleration or to decelerate in an accelerating state, the current value X which represents a current position of the r T exerciser 1000 has a larger value than the past value X , but it still has a smaller r-l value than the reference position value X , and so the belt is accelerated contrary to the decelerating intention of the exerciser 100.

[401] The exemplary embodiment of the present invention to overcome the above- described problem is described below in detail with reference to Equations.

[402] Equation 1 can be expressed by a per unit time as follows:

[403] [Equation Ia]

[404] r-i

[405] [Equation Ib]

[406] ^ t=o [407] Equation Ia is a control equation which corresponds to an immediately previous unit time (j=r-l) based on a current time (j=r), and Equation Ib is a control equation which corresponds to the current time (j=r).

[408] Equation 3 is obtained by allying Equations Ia and Ib. [409] [Equation 3]

^[410] f\ V_r- Δ V_rΛ =K_pX (X_rΛ '-X_r ^r)+K_t X ΔX_rX Δ/

[411] As can be seen by Equation 3, in case where the exerciser 1000 desires to reduce an acceleration or to decelerate in an accelerating state, in a large-small relationship of variables on a right side of Equation 3, the past value X is smaller than the current r-l value X , and the current value X is smaller than the reference position value X . r r 0

[412] In this instance, the exerciser 1000's intention is to reduce an acceleration or to decelerate. Therefore, since a current acceleration should be smaller than a difference value ΔX, a value obtained by subtracting the past speed change amount, i.e., a past acceleration ΔV from the current speed change amount, i.e., a current acceleration ΔV r-l r should be a negative value, and so a left side of Equation 3 should be a negative number. [413] However, since a value obtained by subtracting the current value X from the r reference position value X is a positive number, and a value obtained by subtracting the current value X from the past value X is a negative number, if the pro- r r-l portional constant K and the integral constant K which are the control constants

P ⁱ multiplied to them are fixed values, particularly, if a value of the integral constant K is large, the right side becomes a positive number. This produces a problem in that an acceleration is increased regardless of the exerciser's intention for reducing an acceleration or decelerating.

[414] For the foregoing reasons, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control constants are independently controlled.

[415] When the exerciser 1000 moves back in an accelerating state, that is, when the current value X corresponding to a position of the exerciser 1000 gets greater than the past value X r-l , it is possible to decrease the integral constant K i which is a control constant of a portion for determining an absolute position of the exerciser 1000 or to increase the proportional constant K which is a control constant of a portion for de-

P termining a position change rate per unit time of the exerciser 1000 until a position of the exerciser 1000 is ahead of the reference position with respect to the exerciser detecting portion 3000, that is, the current value X is smaller than the reference r position value X . [416] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the integral constant K is adjusted without adjusting the proportional constant K , but it is possible to realize

P various modifications, for example, to increase the proportional constant K and to

P reduce the integral constant K .

[417] Similarly, even when the exerciser 1000 desires to reduce a deceleration in a decelerating state or to accelerate, the same phenomenon occurs, and so it is preferred to independently adjust the control constants.

[418] In case where the exerciser 1000 desires to reduce a deceleration in a decelerating state or to accelerate, in a large-small relationship of variables on the right side of Equation 3, the past value X is greater than the current value X , and the current τ r-l r value X is greater than the reference position value X .

[419] In this instance, since the exerciser 1000's intention is to reduce a deceleration or to accelerate, a current deceleration should be smaller than a past deceleration. Therefore, a value obtained by subtracting the past speed change amount, i.e., a past deceleration ΔV r-l from the current speed change amount, i.e., a current deceleration ΔV r should be a positive value, and so the left side of Equation 3 should be a positive number. [420] However, since a value obtained by subtracting the current value X ^τ from the r reference position value X is a negative number, and a value obtained by subtracting the current value X ^τ from the past value X ^τ is a positive value, if the proportional r r-1 constant K and the integral constant K which are the control constants multiplied to

P ⁱ them are fixed values, particularly, if a value of the integral constant K is large, then the right side becomes a negative number. Thus, hat there occurs a problem in that a deceleration is increased regardless of the exerciser's intention for reducing a deceleration or accelerating. [421] When the exerciser 1000 moves forward in a decelerating state, that is, when the current value X corresponding to a position of the exerciser 1000 gets smaller than r the past value X , it is possible to decrease the integral constant K which is a control r-l i constant of a portion for determining an absolute position of the exerciser 1000 or to increase the proportional constant K which is a control constant of a portion for de-

P termining a position change rate per unit time of the exerciser 1000 until a position of the exerciser 1000 is behind the reference position with respect to the exerciser detecting portion 3000, that is, the current value X r is greater than the reference position value X . [422] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the integral constant K is adjusted without adjusting the proportional constant K , but it is possible to realize

P reduce the integral constant K .

[423] As described above with reference to FIGs. 1 to 20, a treadmill can be implemented such that a speed is automatically controlled according to a position of an exerciser detected by an exerciser detecting portion.

[424] Various extended functions can be implemented by using the automatic speed control function of the treadmill described above. For example, a game function, such as a 100m race or a marathon, can be implemented by detecting one of a position and a speed of an exerciser. Such an extended function, such as a game function, can be implemented within a treadmill.

[425] However, in order to implement such an extended function within a treadmill, a structure of the existing treadmill has to be greatly changed. For example, in order to provide an extended function, such as a game, a high resolution display device that has a graphic function used in a game has to be employed, and a processor for driving an extended function, such as a game, has to be additionally installed. Besides, it gives a big burden to a treadmill manufacturer to integrate a high resolution display device and an extended function processor into the existing treadmill that displays, for example, high speed images through an LED, since the existing treadmill production line has to be greatly changed. Also, a treadmill that includes a high resolution display device and an extended function processor is expensive. Furthermore, a high resolution display device and an extended function processor are easily damaged due to vibrations, and thus if they are integrally mounted with a treadmill, malfunctions may frequently occur in a high resolution display device and an extended function processor.

[426] In order to resolve the above problems, a signal processing apparatus which processes a signal output from a treadmill is connected to a treadmill with an automatic speed control function, and an extended function, such as a game, is implemented in the signal processing apparatus. Here, a high resolution display device may be formed integrally with or may be connected to the signal processing apparatus in a discrete form. Therefore, without greatly changing a structure of the existing treadmill, an extended function, such as a game, can be effectively provided.

[427] In this instance, some functions of the control portion 7000 and some functions of the control panel 2200 may be implemented within the signal processing apparatus.

[428] Hereinafter, a signal processing apparatus 30000 for a treadmill that is electrically connected to a treadmill 10000 that includes the control portion 7000 for performing an automatic speed control function and provides an additional extended function, as well as an automatic speed control function will be described in detail with reference to FIGs. 21 to 31.

[429] In order to discriminate a control portion 31000 installed in the signal processing portion 30000 that performs an extended function from the control portion 7000 that performs the automatic speed control function described above, the control portion 7000 that performs the automatic speed control function is referred to as "speed control portion" and the control portion 31000 installed in the signal processing portion 30000 is referred to as "extended control portion". However, formal definitions and meanings, i.e., from a dictionary, of terms "speed" and "extended" that are respectively used in the speed control portion 7000 and the extended control portion 31000 do not have to limit functions of the control portions 7000 and 31000.

[430] FIGs. 21 and 22 are view illustrating the signal processing apparatus for the treadmill that is connected to the treadmill with the automatic speed control function.

[431] The signal processing apparatus 30000 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is physically separated from the treadmill 10000 and is electrically connected to the treadmill 10000 through connectors 10300 and 39100. The treadmill 10000 transmits an exerciser speed V that corresponds to one of a belt speed and a driving motor speed obtained by measuring a position of the exerciser 1000 and controlling a belt speed to the extended control portion of the signal processing apparatus 3000 through the connector 10300 installed in the treadmill 10000 and the connector 39100 installed in the signal processing apparatus 30000. [432] The signal processing apparatus 30000 displays display information that is processed by using the exerciser speed V received from the treadmill 10000 by the extended control portion installed in the signal processing apparatus 30000 on a display device 40000. The display device 4000 may be of an integral type, as shown in FIG. 21, or of a discrete type, as shown in FIG. 22.

[433] In case of the display device 40000 of a discrete type, as shown in FIG. 22, display information generated by the extended control portion of the signal processing apparatus 30000 is transmitted to the display device 40000 through an output connector 39200 installed in the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[434] Even though in order to provide an additional extended function, such as a game, to the exerciser 1000 who uses the treadmill 10000 with the automatic speed control function, a program has to be additionally installed in the control portion 7000 of the treadmill 10000, and a large-scale high-resolution display device that is larger in size than the display device 2220 of the existing treadmill 10000 is required, without removing the display device 2220 from the existing treadmill 10000 and installing the large-scale high resolution display device, and the treadmill 10000 can be connected to the display device 40000, such a home TV or a monitor, through the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[435] FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating main configurations of the signal processing apparatus 30000, the treadmill 10000, and the display device 40000 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[436] The speed control portion 7000 detects movement of the exerciser 1000 through the exerciser detecting portion 3000 to generate the exerciser speed V by the automatic speed control configuration and method of the treadmill 10000, as described with reference to FIGs. 1 to 20, and transmits the exerciser speed V to the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[437] The signal processing apparatus 30000 includes the extended control portion 31000, and further includes an operation signal receiving portion 32000, a storing portion 33000, and a modem 34000.

[438] The extended control portion 31000 receives the exerciser speed V from the treadmill 10000 and uses it as an input value for computing display coordinates of a symbol on the display device 4000. Here, a symbol corresponds to an exerciser in an extended function, such as a game, and includes a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[439] The operation signal receiving portion 32000 receives an operation signal generated when the exerciser 1000 operates the signal processing apparatus 30000. For example, the exerciser 1000 selects various extended functions provided in the signal processing apparatus 30000 while exercising on the treadmill 1000. Since the signal processing apparatus 30000 is distant from the exerciser 1000, the exerciser 1000 is difficult to directly touch the signal processing apparatus 30000. The operation signal can be transmitted to the signal processing apparatus directly from the control panel 2200, but since a connection wiring and a program should be installed.

[440] For example, the signal processing apparatus 30000 preferably includes a wireless communication system for receiving a signal transmitted from a remote controller that has a wireless communication system. The signal processing apparatus 30000 may further include a joy stick, a button, or a gyro sensor.

[441] As a wireless communication system used in the operation signal receiving portion 32000, various methods, such as infrared ray (IR) communication, or short range wireless communication, such as a Bluetooth, can be used. Since a remote controller for communicating with the operation signal receiving portion 32000 can shake when the exerciser 1000 exercises, it is preferred to use short range wireless communication rather than IR communication. Short range wireless communication is not limited to a certain type of a short range wireless communication method.

[442] The storing portion 33000 stores various information necessary for performing an extended function, such as a game, including, for example, symbols, such as an avatar image, corresponding to an exerciser and a game scene, and also stores codes that are used to execute programs of various extended functions by the extended control portion.

[443] As the storing portion 33000, a built-in memory having a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC), a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, or an external memory having a semiconductor IC may be used.

[444] When one of programs of various extended functions stored in the storing portion

33000 is executed, it is loaded into a random access memory (RAM), which is installed in the extended control portion 31000 or is installed in a discrete type, to provide an extended function, and the extended control portion 31000 outputs various information, such as various icons, various symbols, and a game scene stored in the storing portion 33000 on the display device 40000.

[445] Programs of various extended functions are stored in the storing portion 33000, but they may be transmitted from a network server in real time. In this instance, information necessary for performing an extended function, such as various icons, various symbols, and a game scene may be directly generated.

[446] The modem 34000 is an apparatus for communicating with other signal processing apparatuses 3000 or a network server and may support various wire line/wireless communication protocols. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a modem that supports a wire line internet protocol is used.

[447] The treadmill 10000 generates a signal V, i.e., exerciser speed V, that is generated through the pre-processing portion 7100, the reference position generating portion 7200, the control gain portion 7310, and the control sensitivity adjusting portion 7320, and the control signal generating portion 7330, which are described with reference to FIGs. 1 to 20, and is used to control the motor driving portion 6000 to control the speed of the belt 5000 by using a measured value Xr generated by measuring a position of the exerciser 1000 on the belt 5000 by the exerciser detecting portion 3000. The treadmill 1000 transmits the exerciser speed V to the extended control portion 31000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[448] At this time, as the exerciser speed transmitted to the extended control portion 31000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000, the control signal V generated in the control signal generating portion 7330, a measured value of one of a signal and a voltage generated in the motor driving portion 6000, or a measured value generated by measuring a driving speed of one of the driving motor 4000 and the belt 5000 by the speed detecting portion 3100 can be used. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a signal generated in the speed control portion 7000 is used as the exerciser speed.

[449] A method that the extended control portion displays a symbol, which corresponds to the exerciser 1000 and includes a mark, a digit, a character, and an image, on the display device 4000 by using the exerciser speed V received from the treadmill 10000 will be described in detail with reference to FIGs. 27 to 30.

[450] A method that a plurality of treadmills are connected to one or plural signal processing apparatuses 30000 and the signal processing apparatus 30000 provides an extended function such as a game by using the exerciser speed V transmitted from each treadmill 10000 will be described with reference to FIGs. 24 to 26.

[451] First, a method for connecting a plurality of treadmills to one signal processing apparatus 30000 will be described with reference to FIGs. 24 and 26.

[452] Output ports 10300 of a plurality of treadmills are respectively connected to a plurality of input connectors 39100 of the signal processing apparatus 3000 via wiring. At this time, the extended control portion 31000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000 determines whether the output port 10300 of the treadmill is connected to the input connector 39100 or not to discriminate and recognize signals corresponding to the exerciser speed V input through the input connectors 39100 from each treadmill.

[453] The signal processing apparatus 30000 determines and/or generates the display coordinates on the display device 4000 by using each exerciser speed V input from each treadmill 10000 as an input value to display a symbol, such as a mark, a digit, a character, and an image corresponding to each exerciser 1000 on the display device 40000.

[454] If, for example, a marathon game as an extended function is performed by using the signal processing apparatus 30000, symbols respectively corresponding to exercisers 1000 of a plurality of treadmills 1000 who participate in a marathon game are output on the display device 40000 by using the exerciser speeds V input from a plurality of treadmills 10000, whereby a plurality of exercisers 1000 who respectively exercise on a plurality of treadmills 10000 can participate in a game together.

[455] Therefore, without installing a program and an additional apparatus that support an extended function, such as a game, in all of a plurality of treadmills 10000, a plurality of exercisers 1000 can use an extended function, such as a game, through one signal processing apparatus 30000 in which a program supporting an extended function, such as a game, is installed. That is, without changing/replacing the conventional treadmills 10000, a plurality of exercisers 1000 who respectively exercise on a plurality of treadmills can use an extended function, such as a game.

[456] A method for connecting a plurality of signal processing apparatus 30000 through respective modems 34000 to provide an extended function will be described with reference to FIGs. 25 and 26.

[457] A plurality of signal processing apparatuses 30000 can be connected directly with each other through respective modems 34000 or can be connected through a network server 50000.

[458] The extended control portion 31000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000 generates, transmits, and receives an exchange signal corresponding to an extended function that is currently being executed in other signal processing apparatuses 30000 connected directly or through network server by using the exerciser speed V received from the treadmill 1000 connected to the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[459] At this time, the exchange signal may include the exerciser speed V received from the treadmill 1000, a moving distance of the exerciser and standardized display coordinates that are computed by using the exerciser speed V, and a command signal corresponding to a command that is generated by a remote controller and executed through the operation signal receiving portion 32000 with respect to various menus or selected items provided from the signal processing apparatus 30000 or the network server 50000.

[460] As the modem 34000, as described above, any type of modem 34000 that supports a wire line or wireless communication protocol can be used. In case of using a wire line communication protocol, a communication connector 39300 for connecting a communication cable is preferably installed in the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[461] A method for displaying an avatar image among symbols corresponding to the exerciser on the display device 40000 will be described below.

[462] The extended control portion 31000 receives the exerciser speed V, particularly the control signal (first control signal) generated in the control signal generating portion 7330 of the treadmill 10000, from the treadmill 10000) to compute avatar display co- ordinates of the display device 40000, and generates a signal for displaying a symbol corresponding to the exerciser (particularly, an avatar image) at corresponding avatar display coordinates of the display device 40000 and transmits it to the display device 40000.

[463] Here, the avatar image is a symbol displayed on the display device corresponding to the exerciser and may includes a mark, a digit, a character, and an image, and the avatar display coordinates means coordinates of the display device used to display the symbol on the display device and can be also called symbol display coordinates.

[464] At this time, the exerciser speed V may be transmitted from a speed detecting portion 3100 for detecting one of a rotation speed of the roller 2310 and 2320 and the driving motor 4000 of the treadmill.

[465] The avatar display coordinates on the display device 40000 can be controlled to be change, that is, to be increased or decreased, according to an increment or a decrement of the exerciser speed. Therefore, as the exerciser 1000 accelerates or decelerates in the treadmill with the automatic speed control function, the avatar display coordinates on the display device 40000 are changed, that is, increased or decreased, whereby various game functions can be implemented.

[466] In the method for controlling the avatar display coordinates on the display device 40000, a position of the exerciser other than the exerciser speed may be used.

[467] As the method for controlling the avatar display coordinates using a position of the exerciser, the extended control portion 31000 receives a measured value X cor- r responding to a position of the exerciser measured by the exerciser detecting portion 3000 and increases or decreases the avatar display coordinates according to an increment or a decrement of a measured value X . Alternately, the display processing r portion 7500 may receive a converted value X ' from the pre-processing portion 7100, r particularly, from the data converting portion 7120 and increase or decrease the avatar display coordinates according to an increment or a decrement of a measured value X . r

[468] As described above, the avatar display coordinates can be controlled by using various input variables (e.g., exerciser speed or position of the exerciser). Preferably, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the control signal (first control signal) generated from the control signal generating portion 7330 is used as an input variable, and the avatar display coordinates is controlled by using the control signal.

[469] An input variable like the exerciser speed V and the avatar display coordinates correspond to each other. Such a relationship may be stored in the storing portion 33000 or may be hard-coded into a program code of the extended control portion 31000.

[470] The following methods may be used as the method for controlling the avatar display coordinates, corresponding to the exerciser speed V as an input variable. [471] As a first method, maximum avatar display coordinates are set corresponding to the highest exerciser speed, and minimum avatar display coordinates are set corresponding to the lowest exerciser speed, and the avatar display coordinates are computed at a ratio of the exerciser speed.

[472] For example, in case where 16Km/h is set as the highest exerciser speed and 2Km/h is set as the lowest exerciser speed, the total scale has the width of 14Km/h (16Km/h - 2Km/h). If a current exerciser speed is 9Km/h, since 9Km/h is an intermediate speed of the highest exerciser speed and the lowest exerciser speed, the avatar display coordinates are displayed at a center of the display device that proportionally corresponds to an intermediate speed of the highest exerciser speed and the lowest exerciser speed.

[473] Also, if the exerciser speed exceeds the highest exerciser speed or is less than the lowest exerciser speed, then the avatar display coordinates have a value corresponding to one of the highest exerciser speed and the lowest exerciser speed.

[474] At this time, as the highest exerciser speed and the lowest exerciser speed, predetermined values may be stored in the storing portion 33000 or may be hard-coded into a program code of the extended control portion 31000. Alternately, the highest exerciser speed and the lowest exerciser speed may be computed corresponding to an exerciser speed of a predetermined point of time, for example, a point of time when a game start or a point of time when the avatar display coordinates are initially computed.

[475] An exerciser speed of a predetermined point of time, for example, a point of time when a game start or a point of time when the avatar display coordinates are initially computed, may be set as coordinates corresponding to a center of the display device. In this instance, the avatar display coordinates corresponding to an exerciser speed may be computed by using a difference between the exerciser speed of that point of time and a current exerciser speed.

[476] As a second method for controlling the avatar display coordinate corresponding to an exerciser speed as an input variable, a resultant value computed by substituting an exerciser speed to a predetermined computation formula may be used as the avatar display coordinates.

[477] For example, in case of controlling a Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates, if it is assumed that a Y-axis resolution of the display device is Ry and the highest exerciser speed is Vmax, then an avatar display coordinate value Y corresponding to a current exerciser speed V can be expressed by the following mathematical formula:

[479] For example, in a display device having a resolution of 1024*768, Ry as a Y-axis resolution is set to 768 and the highest exerciser speed is set to 16Km/h. If a current exerciser speed V is 5Km/h, an avatar display coordinate value Y is 240.

[480] The avatar display coordinates may not be absolute coordinates on the display device. In this instance, a display screen may be implemented in a scrollable form. The above-described method can be variously modified.

[481] Further, in case of connecting a plurality of treadmills to each other to perform a game, in order to display avatars of other exercisers together with an exerciser's own avatar, the extended control portion 31000 computes avatar display coordinates corresponding to other exercisers by using signals corresponding to exerciser speeds or exerciser positions of other exercisers transmitted to the extended control portion 31000, generates signals for respectively displaying avatar images respectively corresponding to other exercisers stored in the storing portion 33000 at the avatar display coordinates of the display device 40000 and transmits the signals to the display device 40000.

[482] Alternatively, the extended control portion 31000 may receive avatar display coordinates of other exercisers through one of the input connector 39100 and the modem 34000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000 and transmits signals for respectively displaying avatar images at the avatar display coordinates of the display device 40000.

[483] An algorithm for computing the avatar display coordinates using an exerciser speed and an algorithm for computing the avatar display coordinates of other exercisers using exerciser speeds of other exercisers received through one of the input connector 39100 and the modem 34000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000 are stored in the storing portion 33000, and are loaded into one of the extended control portion 31000 and a discrete RAM and executed when a game using these algorithms is executed.

[484] A method for controlling avatar display coordinates for displaying an avatar image corresponding to an exerciser by using the exerciser speed in a game among various extended functions of the extended control portion 31000 will be described with reference to FIGs. 27 to 30.

[485] As shown in FIG. 27, avatars 21110, 21120, 21130, 21210, and 21310, a display scene 24200, a wind velocity indicator 2330, and a display coordinate axis 24100 may be displayed.

[486] The extended control portion 31000 computes the avatar display coordinates of an avatar to be displayed on the display device by using the exerciser speed V that is a signal corresponding to the belt driving speed received from one of the speed control portion 7000 and the speed detecting portion 3100.

[487] For example, in case where an X-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates is changed according to an exerciser speed, if an exerciser speed is increased, then the avatar coordinate value is changed such that the avatar 21110 at a first position is replaced with the avatar 21310 at a second position, whereas if an exerciser speed is decreased, the avatar coordinate value is changed such that the avatar 21110 at the first position is replaced with the avatar 21210 at a third position, whereby an avatar can move on an X axis of the display device according to an exerciser speed.

[488] Also, in case where a Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates is changed according to an exerciser speed, if an exerciser speed is increased, then the avatar coordinate value is changed such that the avatar 21110 at the first position is replaced with the avatar 21120 at a fourth position, whereas if an exerciser speed is decreased, the avatar coordinate value is changed such that the avatar 21110 at the first position is replaced with the avatar 21130 at a fifth position, whereby an avatar can move on a Y axis of the display device according to an exerciser speed.

[489] Further, in case where a Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates is changed according to an exerciser speed, a scrolling speed that the display scene 24200 moves in an X-axis direction may be changed corresponding to an exerciser speed.

[490] For example, as an exerciser speed is faster, a Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates is further increased, and a speed that the display scene 24200 moves in an X-axis direction is increased.

[491] The display scene 24200 can move from the right of the display device to the left thereof corresponding to one of an exerciser speed and an exerciser's moving distance.

[492] The wind velocity indicator 23300 can be adjusted by the extended control portion 31000 depending on a difficulty degree of a game, and an inclination of the belt 5000 may be adjusted depending on wind velocity.

[493] For example, if wind velocity is fast, an inclination of the belt 5000 is increased, so that an exerciser can consume larger energy even though he/she exercises at the same speed

[494] A means for adjusting an inclination of the belt 5000 may be realized by an inclination adjusting means typically used in a treadmill, and thus detailed description on that is omitted.

[495] Besides the wind velocity indicator 23300 described above, a physical operation of the treadmill, such as a belt inclination or a belt speed, may be influenced by various events or various variables, such as wind velocity, provided from the extended control portion 31000.

[496] As a variable, provided from the extended control portion 31000, to influence a physical operation of the treadmill, such as a belt inclination or a belt speed, an event, such as an icon described above, may be used. For example, if an avatar eats or takes a wind velocity icon, then an event for increasing a belt inclination may be generated.

[497] Also, a physical operation of a fitness apparatus, such as resistance of the belt or a vibration of a body portion, may be influenced by various events or various variables, such as wind velocity, provided from the extended control portion 31000.

[498] As described above, in order to control a physical operation of the treadmill by using various variables, such as various events or the wind velocity, provided from the extended control portion 31000, the extended control portion 31000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000 generates a signal for controlling a physical operation of the treadmill and transmits a control signal to a driving portion, such as a motor, for performing a physical operation, such as a belt lifting of the treadmill 10000, through the output connector 39200 and an input port of the treadmill 10000.

[499] As described above, in order to display an avatar corresponding to an exerciser on the display device, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the exerciser speed corresponding to a control signal received from one of the control signal generating portion 7330 and a signal received from the speed detecting portion 3100 is used as an input value for controlling the avatar display coordinates, and the Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates is changed according to the exerciser speed.

[500] FIG. 28 shows that the avatar display coordinates are controlled to follow a profile selected by an exerciser.

[501] If the exerciser 1000 selects one of one or more profiles having a speed value per unit time stored in the storing portion 31000 or received from a network, a profile mark 23101 corresponding to the selected profile is displayed on the display device 40000.

[502] In display coordinates of the profile mark 23101, a Y-axis coordinate value corresponds to a profile speed of a certain unit time corresponding to the profile mark 23101, and an X-axis coordinate value moves from the right to the left, and a moving speed of the X-axis coordinate value corresponds to one of an exerciser speed and an exerciser's moving distance computed according to an exerciser speed.

[503] The exerciser 1000 increases or decreases an exerciser speed to change the Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates, thereby moving an avatar on a Y axis of the display device.

[504] For example, while the exerciser is exercising at a speed corresponding to an avatar 21110 at a first position, if the height of the profile mark 23101, i.e., the Y-axis coordinate value of the profile mark 23101, is increased, then the exerciser increases an exerciser speed, so that the avatar display coordinates are changed to a second position of an avatar 21120, thereby following the profile marks 23101.

[505] FIG. 29 shows one embodiment of a game function for controlling the avatar display coordinates to take or eat an icon.

[506] A method for controlling the avatar display coordinates corresponding to an exerciser speed is the same as described above, and various icons which move from the right of the display device to the left thereof are provided to give a fun to the exerciser.

[507] An icon image which will be described later is an icon displayed on the display device independent of an exerciser and may include a mark, a digit, a character, and an image, and icon display coordinates mean coordinate values of the display device to display an icon on the display device.

[508] An icon includes positive icons 23203 and 23204 and negative icons 23201 and 23202. When an avatar contacts the negative icons 23201 and 23202, the negative effect is induced. For example, an image of an avatar may be changed to an image that is getting fatter, or the avatar display coordinates corresponding to the exerciser speed may be decreased. However, when an avatar contacts the positive icons 23203 and 23204, the positive effects is induced. For example, an image of an avatar may be changed to an image that is getting slimmer or has muscles, or the avatar display coordinates corresponding to the exerciser speed may be increased.

[509] Also, when an avatar contacts various icons, a score may be counted, thereby stimulating an exerciser's exercising desire due to a score rank.

[510] FIG. 30 shows an example that when a plurality of exercisers respectively exercises on a plurality of treadmills which are connected via a network, avatars of a plurality of exercisers are displayed by using avatar display coordinates corresponding to each exerciser, wherein an exerciser speed of each exerciser corresponding to a belt speed is used as an input variable.

[511] An avatar of each exerciser moves up or down such that a Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates is changed corresponding to an exercise speed of each exerciser.

[512] That is, an exerciser avatar 21110 which corresponds to an exerciser himself/herself among a plurality of exercisers moves up or down as a Y-axis coordinate value changes corresponding to an exercise speed of an exerciser himself/herself. A competitor avatar 22110 that corresponds to a competitor who is exercising on another treadmill and is transmitted through one of the input connector 39100 and the modem of the signal processing apparatus 30000 moves up or down as a Y-axis coordinate value changes corresponding to an exerciser speed of a competitor.

[513] Therefore, a Y-axis coordinate value difference ΔY between the exerciser avatar d

21110 and the competitor avatar 22110 corresponds to a difference between a Y-axis coordinate value of the exerciser avatar display coordinates corresponding to the exerciser speed of the exerciser himself/herself and a Y-axis coordinate value of the competitor avatar display coordinates corresponding to the competitor's exercise speed. [514] An X-axis coordinate value difference ΔX d between the exerciser avatar 21110 and the competitor avatar 22110 corresponds to a difference between a total moving (or traveled) distance accumulated according to the exerciser speed of the exerciser himself/herself after a predetermined time lapses, that is, after a game starts, and a total moving (or traveled) distance accumulated according to the competitor's exerciser speed after a predetermined time lapses, that is, after a game starts. [515] That is, if a moving distance of the exerciser is 3m and a moving distance of a competitor is 4.5m, then an X-axis coordinate value difference ΔX corresponding to a d moving distance difference of 1.5m is computed, and the competitor avatar 22110 is displayed by using an X-axis coordinate value computed by adding the X-axis coordinate value difference ΔX to the X-aix coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates of the exerciser 21110.

[516] In case where a plurality of exercisers participates in a game through one of the input connector 39100 and the modem of the signal processing apparatus 30000 as described above, an avatar corresponding to an exerciser himself/herself is the exerciser avatar 21110, and avatars corresponding to the other exercisers are competitor avatars 22110. The competitor avatar 22110 is displayed on the display device 40000 connected to the signal processing apparatus 30000 based on the exerciser avatar 21110 by using the X- axis coordinate difference ΔX d .

[517] Therefore, since an exerciser whose accumulated moving distance is longer has more opportunities for taking icons that proceed from the right of a display device to the left thereof, the exercisers are encouraged to exercise more rapidly in order to position the X-axis coordinate value of the exerciser avatar 2110 ahead of the competitor avatar 22110.

[518] The display scene 24200 moves from right to left, and a moving speed is a speed corresponding to one of a speed of the exerciser avatar 21110 and a speed determined by one of the extended control portion 31000 and the network server 50000. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a speed corresponding to a speed of the exerciser avatar 21100 is used as a moving speed of the display scene 24200.

[519] The wind velocity indicator 2330 represents velocity of a wind provided from one of the extended control portion 31000 and the network sever 50000, and a wind blows in an opposite direction to a proceeding direction of the exerciser avatar.

[520] Preferably, a belt slope is identically changed in all treadmills according to wind velocity, but different belt slopes may be realized in respective treadmills deepening on a kind of a game.

[521] It is preferred to provide through the network sever so that a plurality of exercisers can participate in a game. The game sever has a configuration of a typical sever and an operating method which are used in a conventional on-line game, and thus detailed description on it is omitted.

[522] Each extended control portion 31000 contained in each of a plurality of signal processing apparatuses 30000 connected to the network server 50000 is network- connected to the network sever through one of a wireless communication system and a wireline communication system and exchanges game-related data with the network sever.

[523] In a game according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, information, such as the display scene 24200, the display coordinate axis 24100, and the wind velocity indicator 23300, which are shown in FIG. 30, are transmitted from the network sever to the extended control portions 31000 of a plurality of signal processing apparatuses 30000 connected to the network sever.

[524] At this time, information, such as the display scene 24200, the display coordinate axis 24100, and the wind velocity indicator 23300, may be transmitted to the extended control portions 31000 of a plurality of signal processing apparatuses 30000 from the network server 50000 such that partial data other than the whole data are transmitted at a regular interval, or such that the whole data are transmitted at one time. In the later case, the extended control portion 31000 may store the whole data in the storing portion 33000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000 and receive partial data from the storing portion 33000 at a time synchronized with the signal processing apparatus 30000 to display on the display device.

[525] Also, in each of a plurality of signal processing apparatuses 30000 connected to the treadmill 10000, each extended control portion 31000 transmits, to the network server 50000, the exerciser speed of the exerciser who participates in a game or the avatar display coordinates corresponding to the exerciser speed, and the network sever transmits the exerciser speed or the avatar display coordinates of the other exercisers to the extended control portions 31000 of a plurality of signal processing apparatuses 30000.

[526] As described above, exchanged data may include the exerciser speed or the avatar display coordinates corresponding thereto, and the exerciser speed is preferably exchanged.

[527] Therefore, the extended control portion 31000 of the signal processing apparatus

30000 connected to the treadmill 10000 displays avatars on the display device 40000 by using the exerciser speed of the treadmill corresponding to the exerciser himself/ herself among a plurality of treadmills, and the exerciser speeds corresponding to the treadmills of the other exercisers that participate in a game together, as described above.

[528] FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation for realizing the game using an item according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is described with reference to FIGs. 27 to 30.

[529] The storing portion 33000 stores at least one avatar image and at least one icon image. [530] The extended control portion 31000 receives the exerciser speed V from the treadmill 10000 and generates the avatar display coordinates on the display device corresponding to the exerciser speed V (step S21100), and transmits the avatar display coordinates to the display device 40000, so that the avatar image 21110 stored in the storing portion 33000 is displayed at the avatar display coordinates on the display device 40000.

[531] It is determined whether there occurs an event that the avatar 21110 formed in an avatar image form contacts various icons displayed on the display device 40000 and so takes a corresponding icon or not (step S21200). If an event does not occur, then the display coordinates generated in the display coordinates generating step S21100 are outputted (step S21400), so that the avatar 211100 is displayed at display coordinates of the display device corresponding to the display coordinates, whereas if an event occurs, the display coordinates generated corresponding to the exerciser speed is adjusted (step S21300).

[532] At this time, the extended control portion 31000 randomly selects the icon image stored in the storing portion 33000 and outputs it to the display device 40000.

[533] The icon moves on the display device 40000 along an axis of the avatar display coordinates adjusted corresponding to the exerciser speed V. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the icon moves along an X-axis that is substantially perpendicular to a Y-axis. That is, it is preferably set to move from the right of the display device 40000 to the left thereof.

[534] The extended control portion 31000 recognizes as the icon is taken by the avatar when the icon display coordinates are positioned within a predetermined range based on the avatar display coordinates and generates an event based on the recognition result.

[535] As a method for adjusting the avatar display coordinates corresponding to the exerciser speed V as an event occurs, that is, as an icon is taken, Table 1 below may be set in the control portion.

[536] Table 1

[Table 1] [Table ]

[537] The avatar display coordinates are computed corresponding to the exerciser speed V before a certain event occurs, but when an icon is taken by an avatar, that is, when an event occurs, the avatar display coordinates are adjusted corresponding to the event.

[538] For example, let us assume that the exerciser speed V is 5Km/h, an icon is not taken by an avatar so that an event does not occur, and the Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates is 300. If an event that a negative icon is taken occurs at the same exerciser speed V, then even though the exercise speed V is not changed, i.e., 5Km/h, the Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates is 285 since -5% is applied to the avatar display coordinates.

[539] Since the Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates on the display device 40000 is smaller, in order to recover to the Y-axis coordinate value of the avatar display coordinates before the event occurs, the exerciser 1000 should exercise at a higher speed. Therefore, due to a negative event effect, a game is getting more fun.

[540] Also, if there occurs an event that a positive icon is taken by the avatar 21110, the avatar display coordinates corresponding to the exerciser speed V are positively recovered, thereby increasing the effect on the game.

[541] That is, the avatar display coordinates corresponding to the exerciser speed V are adjusted by using the number of times that the negative icon or the positive icon is taken and an added/subtracted value.

[542] Also, in order to make the game more interested, a plurality of avatar images are stored in the storing portion 33000, and when the negative icon or the positive icon is taken, that is, when an event occurs, the avatar image corresponding to the event is displayed at the avatar display coordinates of the display device computed by the above-mentioned method.

[543] For example, let us assume that in Table 1, an image of "avatar 3" is stored in the storing portion as an image of an average physique, "avatar 2" and "avatar 1" is images of a fatter physique than "avatar 3", and "avatar 4" and "avatar 5" as images of a slimmer or muscular physique than "avatar 3". If the negative icon is taken once during a game, "avatar 2" which is fatter than "avatar 3" is displayed on the display device as the avatar image.

[544] Therefore, when there occurs an event that an icon is taken by the avatar 21110, the avatar image is changed, and at the same time the avatar display coordinates corresponding to the exerciser speed V are adjusted. When a negative icon is taken, the avatar image is replaced with a fatter image, and at the same time, the avatar display coordinates are smaller than those corresponding to the same exerciser speed before the event occurs, so that the exerciser 1000 feels that a moving distance gets shorter or the height gets lower due to a weight increment. Therefore, in order to reach the moving distance or the height before the event occurs, the exerciser should increase the exerciser speed V, whereby there is the effect of increasing the exercising quantity.

[545] Also, when there occurs an event that an icon is taken by the avatar 21110, the adjustment rate of the avatar display coordinates corresponding to the change rate of the exerciser speed V may be changed.

[546] For example, let us assume that before an event occurs, when the exerciser speed is changed by lKm/h, the avatar display coordinates are adjusted by 100. After an event that a negative icon is taken occurs, when the exerciser speed is changed by lKm/h, the avatar display coordinates may be set to be adjusted by 80. Therefore, in order to increase the avatar display coordinates by 100, the exerciser should exerciser at the exerciser speed of more than lKm/h.

[547] An algorithm for computing the avatar display coordinates using one of the exerciser speed and the exerciser position as an input value and displaying the avatar image on the display device, and an algorithm for implementing a game function by using various items are stored in the storing portion 33000, and when the exerciser 1000 pushes a predetermined button on the remote controller to execute the algorithm, the corresponding algorithm is loaded to the extended control portion 31000 to be used.

[548] FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating a control module for the signal processing apparatus 30000 and a control module for the treadmill 10000 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The control module for the signal processing module 30000 includes the extended control portion 31000, the operating signal receiving portion 32000, the storing portion 31000, and the modem 34000 which are mounted on a base substrate 38000 containing a printed circuit board (PCB).

[549] First, the control module for the treadmill connected to the control module for the signal processing apparatus 30000 will be described shortly before describing the control module for the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[550] The control module for the treadmill includes the speed control portion 7000 mounted on the base substrate 400 containing the PCB and may further include the electrical braking portion 8000 that is mounted on the base substrate 400 or is mounted in a discrete type.

[551] The control module for the treadmill that has the base substrate 400 further includes connecting terminals 410 that are electrically connected, respectively, with respective components of the treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention described in FIGs. 1 to 31.

[552] The control module for the treadmill according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention uses a PCB as the base substrate 400, and the base substrate 4000 includes the speed control portion 7000 and electrical wire lines 402 that electrically connect the speed control portion 7000 and the connecting terminals 410.

[553] The base substrate 400 further includes coupling holes through which the base substrate 400 is coupled to a predetermined area of the body portion of the treadmill.

[554] A plurality of connecting terminals 410 electrically connects the exerciser detecting portion 3000, the control panel 2200, the power supply portion 2500, the motor driving portion 6000, the speed detecting portion 3100, and the electrical braking portion 8000 with the speed control portion 7000, and transmits a signal and electrical power between them.

[555] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a braking resistor is used as the electrical braking portion 8000, and a heat sink portion that is made of a metal, such as aluminum, to discharge a heat generated in the braking resistor is also arranged.

[556] Electrical braking portion coupling holes 401 for coupling the electrical braking portion 8000 to a predetermined area of the treadmill body portion 2100 are also arranged.

[557] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the electrical braking portion 800 may be arranged on the base substrate 400, and if a circuit for a regenerative braking is used as the electrical braking portion 8000 instead of the braking resistor, then an electronic circuit may be arranged instead of the heat sink portion for discharging heat.

[558] That is, the control module may be modified in configuration and form, depending on a configuration and form of the electrical braking portion 8000.

[559] One of the connecting terminals is electrically connected to the input connector

39100 of the signal processing apparatus 30000 to transfer a signal of the speed control portion 7000 of the control module for the treadmill to the extended portion 31000 of the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[560] The control module for the signal processing apparatus 30000 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention uses the PCB as the base substrate 38000, and the extended control portion 31000 containing a semiconductor circuit, the operation signal receiving portion 32000, the storing portion 33000, the modem 34000, a plurality of connecting terminals or connectors 39100, 39200, and 39300 for signal exchange between the extended control portion 31000 and the modem 34000, and an external apparatus, and the electrical wire lines 38200 for electrical connection are mounted on the base substrate 38000.

[561] The base substrate 38000 further includes coupling holes 38100 through which the base substrate 38000 is coupled to a predetermined area of the body portion of the signal processing apparatus 30000.

[562] A signal corresponding to the exerciser speed transmitted from the speed control portion 7000 of the control module for the treadmill is transmitted to the extended control portion 31000 through the input connector 39100 or the corresponding connecting terminal.

[563] The extended control portion 31000 generates the display information to be displayed on the display device 40000 by using the exerciser speed received from the control module for the treadmill and transmits the display information to the display device 40000 through one of the output connector and the corresponding connecting terminal 39200.

[564] In connecting a plurality of treadmills to each other or to the network server through the modem 34000, a communication port or the corresponding connecting terminal 39300 may be connected to the modem 32000 when a wire line communication system is used, and a frequency transceiving apparatus (not shown) my be used when a wireless communication system is used.

[565] The operation signal receiving portion 32000 performs a wireless communication with a remote controller operated by the exerciser 1000. Preferably, a frequency signal is received from the remote controller through the frequency transceiving apparatus 32100, and is transmitted to the operation signal receiving portion 32000. The operation signal receiving portion 32000 converts the frequency signal into a digital command signal, and transmits the digital command signal to the extended control portion 31000.

[566] The storing portion 33000 stores an extended function program executed by the extended control portion 31000 and also stores various images and information used in an extended function.

[567] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 31, the storing portion 33000 is realized by a semiconductor IC mounted on the base substrate 38000, but the storing portion 33000 may be realized a magnetic storage device, an optical disc, or an external memory containing a semiconductor IC that is electrically connected to the extended control portion 31000 through a corresponding input/output portion.

[568] A parallel port or a serial portion may be used as the connector or the connecting terminals described above, and a configuration and form of the connector and the connecting terminals may be modified depending on various modifications of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

[1] A signal processing apparatus for a treadmill, comprising: a first input connector that is physically separated from a first treadmill that includes a first belt for supporting a first exerciser and is electrically connected to the first treadmill to receive a first exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of the first belt; and an extended control portion that is electrically connected to the first input connector to determine first symbol display coordinates using the first exerciser speed and output a symbol corresponding to the first exerciser at the first symbol display coordinates through a display device.

[2] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extended control portion determines icon display coordinates and outputs an icon independent of the first exerciser at the icon display coordinates through the display device.

[3] The signal processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the extended control portion changes the first symbol display coordinates corresponding to the first exerciser speed if the icon display coordinates is within a predetermined range based on the first symbol display coordinates.

[4] The signal processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the extended control portion changes the symbol and outputs the changed symbol at the first symbol display coordinates of the display device if the icon display coordinates is within a predetermined range based on the first symbol display coordinates.

[5] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the first symbol display coordinates, one of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is changed corresponding to the first exerciser speed.

[6] The signal processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein in the first symbol display coordinates, the other of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is fixed.

[7] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the extended control portion determines profile mark display coordinates corresponding to speed information contained in a profile including one of a speed information per a unit time and a unit distance, and outputs a profile mark at the profile mark display coordinates through the display device.

[8] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a driving speed of the first belt is adjusted using a signal obtained by measuring a position of the first exerciser.

[9] The treadmill of claim 1, wherein the electrical braking torque comprises a braking resistor which converts regenerative energy flowing into the motor driving portion from the driving motor into heat in case of decreasing the rotation speed of the driving motor.

[10] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, a second input connector that receives a second exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of a second belt of a second treadmill that includes the second belt for supporting a second exerciser, wherein the extended control portion is electrically connected to the second input connector to determine second symbol display coordinates using the second exerciser speed and output a symbol corresponding to the second exerciser at the second symbol display coordinates through the display device.

[11] The signal processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the extended control portion determines one of an X-axis and a Y-axis coordinate value difference between the first symbol display coordinates and the second symbol display coordinates by using a difference between the first exerciser speed and the second exerciser speed.

[12] The signal processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the extended control portion computes a first exerciser moving distance using the first exerciser speed, computes a second exerciser moving distance using the second exerciser speed, and determines one of an X-axis and a Y-axis coordinate value difference between the first symbol display coordinates and the second symbol display coordinates by using a difference between the first exerciser moving distance and the second exerciser moving distance.

[13] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, a modem which a second exerciser speed corresponding to a second exerciser who uses a second treadmill from another signal processing apparatus for a treadmill connected to a second treadmill.

[14] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising, an operation signal receiving portion that communicates with a remote controller that generates a command signal by a manipulation of the first exerciser, receives the command signal, and transmits the command signal to the extended control portion.

[15] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an output connector for transmitting a signal containing the symbol to the display device.

[16] The signal processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storing portion for storing one of the symbol and an image to be displayed on the display device.

[17] The signal processing apparatus of one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the symbol includes one of a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[18] The signal processing apparatus of one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the icon includes one of a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[19] A control module of a signal processing apparatus for a treadmill, comprising: a base substrate including an electrical wire line; a first input connector that receives a first exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of a first belt from a first treadmill that includes the first belt for supporting a first exerciser; an extended control portion that is coupled to the base substrate, and includes a semiconductor circuit electrically connected to the electrical wire line to determine first symbol display coordinates using the first exerciser speed received by the first input connector; and an output connector that electrically connects the extended control portion and a display device to output a symbol corresponding to the first exerciser at the first symbol display coordinates.

[20] The control module of claim 19, wherein the extended control portion determines icon display coordinates and outputs an icon independent of the first exerciser at the icon display coordinates through the display device.

[21] The control module of claim 20, wherein the extended control portion changes the first symbol display coordinates corresponding to the first exerciser speed if the icon display coordinates is within a predetermined range based on the first symbol display coordinates.

[22] The control module of claim 20, wherein the extended control portion changes the symbol and outputs the changed symbol at the first symbol display coordinates of the display device if the icon display coordinates is within a predetermined range based on the first symbol display coordinates.

[23] The control module of claim 19, wherein in the first symbol display coordinates, one of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is changed corresponding to the first exerciser speed.

[24] The control module of claim 23, wherein in the first symbol display coordinates, the other of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is fixed.

[25] The control module of claim 19, wherein the extended control portion determines profile mark display coordinates corresponding to speed information contained in a profile including one of a speed information per a unit time and a unit distance, and outputs a profile mark at the profile mark display coordinates through the display device.

[26] The control module of claim 25, wherein in the profile mark display coordinates, one of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is determined corresponding to the speed information, and the other is determined corresponding to the lapse of a time.

[27] The control module of claim 19, wherein the first exerciser speed is adjusted using a signal obtained by measuring a position of the first exerciser.

[28] The control module of claim 19, wherein further comprising a second input connector that electrically connects a second treadmill that includes a second belt for supporting a second exerciser and the extended control portion and receives a second exerciser speed corresponding to a driving speed of the second belt, wherein the extended control portion determines second symbol display coordinates using the second exerciser speed and outputs a symbol corresponding to the second exerciser at the second symbol display coordinates of the display device through the output connector.

[29] The control module of claim 28, wherein the extended control portion determines one of an X-axis and a Y-axis coordinate value difference between the first symbol display coordinates and the second symbol display coordinates by using a difference between the first exerciser speed and the second exerciser speed.

[30] The control module of claim 28, wherein the extended control portion computes a first exerciser moving distance using the first exerciser speed, computes a second exerciser moving distance using the second exerciser speed, and determines one of an X-axis and a Y-axis coordinate value difference between the first symbol display coordinates and the second symbol display coordinates by using a difference between the first exerciser moving distance and the second exerciser moving distance.

[31] The control module of claim 19, further comprising a modem for processing a second exerciser speed corresponding to a second exerciser who uses a second treadmill from another signal processing apparatus for a treadmill connected to a second treadmill.

[32] The control module of claim 19, wherein further comprising an operation signal receiving portion that communicates with a remote controller that generates a command signal by a manipulation of the first exerciser, receives the command signal, and transmits the command signal to the extended control portion.

[33] The control module of claim 19, further comprising a storing portion for storing one of the symbol and an image to be displayed on the display device.

[34] The control module of one of claims 19 to 33, wherein the symbol includes one of a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[35] The control module of one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the icon includes one of a mark, a digit, a character, and an image.

[36] A signal processing apparatus for a treadmill, comprising: an input portion that receives an exerciser speed signal obtained by measuring one of a position and a position change of an exerciser who exercises on a belt of a treadmill from the treadmill; and a control portion that determines symbol display coordinates for displaying a symbol representing the exerciser on a display device by using the exerciser speed signal.

[37] The signal processing apparatus of claim 36, wherein in the symbol display coordinates, one of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is changed corresponding to the exerciser speed signal.

[38] The signal processing apparatus of claim 37, wherein in the symbol display coordinates, the other of X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values is fixed.

[39] The signal processing apparatus of claim 36, further comprising, the display device for displaying the symbol representing the exerciser by using the symbol display coordinates.