The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 18, 1988
Filed:
Sep. 02, 1986
Frederic D Wucherpfennig, Bloomington, MN (US);
Robert B Carlson, Bloomington, MN (US);
The Toro Company, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
An improved electronic control system for an exercise machine of the type having electrically actuated brakes as the resistance force for the exercise. The accuracy of the system in terms of actual resistance force delivered by the machine compared with the user-selected value is improved through techniques for compensating for hysteresis effects in the brakes. When changing the output of the brakes on each half cycle of the exercise in accordance with user-selected values, the system compensates for hysteresis effects in the brake in responding to increased current, decreased current, or steady-state current conditions. A simple but effective system is provided to let the user select 'soft' limits for a particular range of motion of the exercise apparatus. The limits are in the form of an audible beep rather than a hard mechanical limit, and they are set as the system learns the desired range of motion from the user on a first cycle through the exercise.