WO2017015758A1

WO2017015758A1 - System for determining workout related information on a weight stack machine

Info

Publication number: WO2017015758A1
Application number: PCT/CA2016/050882
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mordechai Aryeh BRODT; Lee SILVERSTONE; Pablo SRUGO
Original assignee: Gymtrack Inc.
Priority date: 2015-07-28
Filing date: 2016-07-28
Publication date: 2017-02-02

Abstract

A weight tracking system, and sensor strip, capable of determining a selected weight, including user selectable incremental weights, for an exercise on a weight stack machine includes a plurality of sensors arranged in a strip and a controller providing a communication interface for communicating sensor data to another device.

Description

SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING WORKOUT RELATED INFORMATION ON A WEIGHT

STACK MACHINE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] The current disclosure relates to weight stack machines used for working out, and in particular to sensors for tracking a weight amount being used for a current exercise.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Devices for determining an amount of weight selected for an exercise on a weight stack machine have been described, for example in international application Serial No. PCT/CA2015/050071 filed January 30, 2015; such devices have been incorporated into the weight plate selection pin and measure a distance from the pin to a known location such as the floor. The distance may then be correlated to the particular weight plate selected by the pin's position. While such devices may be used in a wide variety of weight stack machines, it is desirable to have an additional or alternative devices for use in determining an amount of weight selected on a weight stack machine.

SUMMARY

[0003] In accordance with the present disclosure there is provided a sensor strip for use with weight stack machines comprising: a backing securable to a weight stack machine; a plurality of individual sensors affixed to the backing, each of the individual sensors capable of providing a sensor signal indicating a presence or absence of a weight plate adjacent to the respective individual sensor; and a sensor controller connected to each of the plurality of individual sensors, the sensor controller providing a communication interface for communicating sensor data corresponding to the sensor signal from each of the plurality of individual sensors.

[0004] In accordance with an embodiment of the sensor strip, the plurality of individual sensors are spaced apart from each other by approximately a thickness of weight plates of the weight stack machine.

[0005] In accordance with a further embodiment of the sensor strip, one or more of the plurality of individual sensors is selected from: a hall effect sensor; a reed switch; an inductive sensor; an infrared range sensor; and an ultrasonic range sensor. [0006] In accordance with a further embodiment of the sensor strip, each of the plurality of individual sensors comprise a hall effect sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnet connected to a weight plate.

[0007] In accordance with a further embodiment of the sensor strip, the backing comprises a plurality of frangible sections separated by score lines, wherein one or more of the plurality of sensors are arranged on each of the frangible sections.

[0008] In accordance with a further embodiment, the sensor strip further comprises a physical interface providing power to the sensor strip and communication between the sensor strip and a computing device.

[0009] In accordance with a further embodiment, the sensor strip further comprises a second physical interface for connecting physical interface of the sensor strip to a physical interface of a second sensor strip.

[0010] In accordance with a further embodiment, the sensor strip further comprises a settable address for identifying the sensor strip.

[001 1 ] In accordance with a further embodiment of the sensor strip, the communication interface is a multi-slave device, single-ended, serial computer bus interface.

[0012] In accordance with a further embodiment of the sensor strip, the communication interface is an I2C compliant interface.

[0013] In accordance with the present disclosure there is further provided a weight tracking system for use in weight stack machines comprising: a plurality of sensors arranged adjacent to respective weight stack plates in a resting position, each one of the plurality of sensors capable of detecting a presence or an absence of an adjacent weight stack plate; and a controller coupled for determining an amount of weight in use based on the plurality of sensors.

[0014] In accordance with a further embodiment of the weight tracking system, one or more of the plurality of sensors is selected from: a hall effect sensor; a reed switch; an inductive sensor; an infrared range sensor; and an ultrasonic range sensor.

[0015] In accordance with a further embodiment of the weight tracking system, the plurality of sensors are magnetic sensors and each weight stack plate has a magnet affixed to the weight stack plate.

[0016] In accordance with a further embodiment, the weight tracking system further comprises a plurality of secondary sensors arranged adjacent to user selectable incremental weights.

[0017] In accordance with a further embodiment, the weight tracking system further comprises a distance measuring sensor for measuring a distance from a top plate of the weight stack to a stationary reference point to determine workout information including repetition counts, distance movement, and tempo.

[0018] In accordance with a further embodiment of the weight tracking system, the distance measuring sensor is an infrared sensor.

[0019] In accordance with a further embodiment of the weight tracking system, the distance measuring sensor comprises a plurality of extension sensors extending upwards adjacent a path of the weight stack plates when in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 depicts a workout tracking system, including a weight stack machine;

[0021 ] FIGs. 2A and 2B depict a weight stack machine with a weight plate determination sensor;

[0022] FIGs. 3A and 3B depict a weight stack machine with a weight plate sensor and an incremental weight plate sensor;

[0023] FIG. 4 depicts a weight plate sensor strip;

[0024] FIG. 5 depicts connectable weight plate sensor strips;

[0025] FIGs. 6A and 6B depict use of a weight plate sensor strip;

[0026] FIG. 7 depicts weight plate sensor data; and

[0027] FIG. 8 depicts a possible method of using a weight plate sensor to determine an amount of selected weigh. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Weight stack machines allow a user to select an amount of weight to use for an exercise. Typically, these weight stack machines use a pin that is inserted through or below a weight plate into a support bar that secured the weight plate, as well as any weight plates that are above the selected weight plate. The support bar and all of the selected weight plates may be raised and lowered, or otherwise moved, when performing an exercise. As described further herein, a weight plate selection sensor can be provided that determines workout related information such as an amount of weight a user has selected when performing the exercise, repetition count information, tempo information etc. Although described as using a pin to select weight plates, weight stack machines may select an amount of weight to use without the need to insert a pin through the weight plate. The weight plate selection sensor may comprise a plurality of individual sensors that are each located adjacent a respective weight plate, when the weight plates are at rest. Each of the individual sensors are able to provide an indication of the presence or absence of a weight plate next to the respective individual sensor. The amount of weight in use for an exercise can be determined based on the sensor data. The individual sensors may be provided on one or more connectable sensor strips that can be readily connected to a weight stack machine in a location adjacent the weight plates.

[0029] Weight stack machines may provide a number of weight plates in order to provide a large range of possible weight. For example, individual weight plates may each weigh 20lbs and a weight stack machine may have 10 weight plates to allow a user to perform an exercise with weight between 0 to 200 lbs, in 20 lb increments. In order to provide smaller weight increments smaller incremental weight plates may be provided. For example, 3 additional weight plates of 5 lbs each allow the user to select an amount of weight between 0 and 215 lbs in 5 lb increments. The sensors and sensor strip described herein may be used in conjunction with both the main weight plates and the incremental weight plates.

[0030] FIG. 1 depicts a workout tracking system, including a weight stack machine. The system 100 may comprise a weight stack machine 102 that allows a user to select a number of weight plates 104 to use for an exercise, for example by inserting a pin 106 through, or below, a weight plate. For example, the pin 106 is depicted as being inserted through the second weight plate. Each weight plate is 10 lbs and as such, the pin 106 is used to select 20 lbs for use. The weight stack machine 102 may further comprise additional incremental weight plates 108 for providing incremental weight in addition to the main weight plates 104. Although not depicted, the incremental weight plates 108 may be selected using a pin in a similar manner as for the main weight plates. Additionally or alternatively, incremental weight plates may be placed on top of the selected weight plates by the user. The weight stack machine 102 further includes a plurality of sensors, depicted as a sensor strip 1 10, for use in determining a selected weight amount. In addition to the weight stack machine 102, the system 100 may include a barbell 1 12 that can be used with free weight plates. A barbell sensor 1 14 may be used in determining an amount of weight present on the barbell 1 12. Regardless of whether the barbell 1 12 or the weight stack machine 102 is in use, the weight, or information that may be used to determine an amount of weight may be communicated to a user's device such as a wearable bracelet 1 16 or smart phone 1 18. The bracelet 1 16 and/or the smart phone 1 18 may communicate with one or more computing devices 120, which may include a user's personal computer, a gym's server, an internet connected server or other computing device. The computing device 120 may provide various functionality to the user, such as tracking a user's workout routine, providing workout instructions, tracking a user's workout progress, etc.

[0031 ] The sensors of the sensor strip 1 10 connected to the weight stack machine allow an amount of weight selected to be determined and used in various ways. Possible sensor implementations are described further below.

[0032] FIGs. 2A and 2B depict a weight stack machine with a weight plate determination sensor. As depicted in FIGs. 2A and 2B, a weight stack machine 200 comprises a frame 202 that supports components of the weight stack machine. A moveable support member 204 is moveable in order to lift a selected amount of weight. A number of individual weight plates 206 may each have a hole 208 through the weight plate 206. A pin 210 may be placed through a hole 208 of a weight plate to couple to the weight plate 206 as well as the weight plates above the selected weight plate to the moveable support member 204. With the pin 210 inserted, the weight plates are coupled to the moveable support member 204 and as such are raised and lowered with the moveable support member 204. FIG. 2A depicts the weight plates 206 in the resting position and FIG. 2B depicts the weight plates in the raised position.

[0033] The weight stack machine 200 further comprises a weight selection sensor 212 for determining an amount of weight currently in use. The weight selection sensor 212 comprises a plurality of individual sensors 214a-214g (referred to collectively as individual sensors 214). Each of the individual sensors 214 are arranged on the weight stack machine 200 in proximity to each of the weight plates 206 in the resting position. Each of the individual sensors 214 can provide an indication of whether or not a weight plate is adjacent the particular individual sensor. As depicted in FIG. 2A, when in the resting position, all of the weight plates will be adjacent a respective one of the plurality of individual sensors and the sensors will detect the presence of each of the weight plates. As the selected weight plates are raised, as depicted in FIG. 2B, one or more of the individual sensors, such as sensors 214d and 214e, will detect the absence of a weight plate adjacent the sensors.

[0034] The individual sensors 214 may be coupled to a sensor controller 216, which may receive individual data signals from the individual sensors 214. The sensor controller 216 may provide a communication interface to a local weight track controller 218 that uses the individual sensor data to determine the selected amount of weight being used. Although depicted as being provided by separate controllers, the sensor controller 216 and the weight track controller 218 may be provided by the same component.

[0035] In addition to the individual sensors 214 for determining an amount of weight in use, the weight stack machine 200 may further comprise a range sensor comprising a transceiver 220 for transmitting a signal that is reflected off of a reflector 222 and detected back at the transceiver 220. The transceiver 220 is fixed in place while the reflector 222 is fixed to a top weight plate, or directly to the moveable support member 204. The transceiver 220 can determine a distance between the transceiver 220 and the reflector 222. The transceiver may be an infrared transceiver, an ultrasonic transceiver or other similar type of transceiver. The distance may be determined by the weight track controller 218, or other controller component. The changing distance may be used in order to determine other workout related information such as repetitions, tempo, etc. The workout related information, which may include a combination of information from both the individual weight plate sensors 214 as well as from the distance transceiver may be communicated from the weight track controller 218 to one or more devices, such as a user's smartphone or a wearable device.

[0036] FIGs. 3A and 3B depict a weight stack machine with a weight plate sensor and an incremental weight plate sensor. The weight stack machine 300 is similar to the weight stack machine 200 described above and comprises a frame 302 and weight selection sensor 304 for use in determining an amount of weight selected on the main weight plates 306, which may be selectively connected to a moveable support member 316 by a pin 308. A second incremental weight plate selection sensor 310 may be connected to the weight stack machine 300. The incremental weight plate selection sensor 310 is similar to the main weight plate selection sensor 304 and comprises a plurality of individual sensors 312a - 312c and a connected sensor controller 314. The incremental weight plate selection sensor 310 is located adjacent user selectable incremental weight section that allows a user to connect one or more incremental weight, which are weights that weigh less than a single one of the main weight plates 306. As depicted, the incremental weight section may include a support 318 fixed to the main moveable support member 316 to which zero or more of the incremental weight plates 320a - 320c may be connected for example by a secondary pin 322. Alternatively, the user may manually place the incremental weight plates on top of the weight stack machine. As depicted in FIG. 3B, when the moveable support member 318 is raised and lowered, the selected main weight plates 306 as well as the selected incremental weight plates are also raised and lowered. The presence or absence of the weight plates adjacent the stationary weight plate select sensors 304 and 312 may be used, for example by a weight track controller 326, to determine which plates are stationary and which plates are moving. The weight plates that are determined to be moving can be used in determining an amount of weight currently in use.

[0037] The weight stack machine 300 incorporates an extended sensor 304 that includes additional individual sensors that extend past the top of the weight plates in rest and up to a highest possible point of motion. The extended sensor 304 allows the movement of the selected weight plates to be tracked throughout the entire exercise and as such allows additional workout related information, such as repetition counts, tempo, etc. to be tracked. The extended sensor 304 may be provided in addition to the range transceiver 222 described above, or may be used instead of the range transceiver.

[0038] As described above, a plurality of individual sensors, each capable of determining a presence or absence of a weight plate adjacent to the respective individual sensor, can be arranged adjacent to each weight plate when the plates are at rest. The individual sensors may use various sensor technology, including infrared and/or ultrasonic range detection transceivers, imaging-based sensors, or inductive sensors. Additionally or alternatively, rather than detecting the presence or absence of the weight plate directly, the individual sensors may detect the presence or absence of the weight plate indirectly by detecting the presence or absence of an object affixed to the weight plate. As an example, individual magnets may be secured to each weight plate and the presence or absence of the magnet may be detected by the individual sensor, which could be provided by a hall effect sensor or reed switch. Rather than securing each individual sensor to the weight stack machine individually, it is possible to combine a plurality of individual sensors together into a single strip that acts a weight plate selection sensor.

[0039] FIG. 4 depicts a weight plate selection sensor strip. The sensor strip 400 comprises a backing 401 that is mountable to the weight stack machine. The backing 401 supports a plurality of individual sensors 402a-f (referred to collectively as individual sensors 402). As described above, the individual sensors 402 may be provided by a variety of sensors, including for example a hall effect sensor. Each of the sensors are depicted as being arranged vertically and spaced apart by a fixed amount. The spacing between individual sensors is set based on an expected thickness of the weight plates, and as such, if a weight stack machine has weight plates of varying thicknesses it is possible to have the sensors spaced apart by varying amounts. Further, if the sensors are hall effect sensors, the alignment of the individual sensors with the weight plates may be more flexible as the placement of the magnet on the weight plate can help compensate for any misalignment between individual sensors and weight plates. The individual sensors 402 may be located on the backing 401 with each individual sensor located within a respective frangible section. Each frangible section may be separated by a score line 404a-e (referred to collectively as score lines 404) that allows the frangible sections to be separated from the sensor 400. The frangible sections allow a single sensor to be adapted to fit with different weight stack machines.

[0040] The backing 401 may be a printed circuit board (PCB) material that provides wire traces 406 connecting each of the individual sensors 402 to a controller 408. Connecting the plurality of sensors 402 to the controller 408 by the individual wire traces 406, either directly or indirectly through an input/output (I/O) interface connected to the controller 408, allows sensors to be broken off of the backing at a respective one of the cut lines 404 while maintaining the connections of remaining individual sensors to the controller 408. In addition to sensor wire traces 406, the backing may also provide power wire traces 410, 412, which may be for example a 5V+ line and a ground line. It will be appreciated that +5V and ground are only examples and different voltages may be provided. The power wire traces may be connected to the controller and each of the individual sensors 402. If the individual sensors 402 and the controller 408 require different operating voltages, an appropriate power circuit can be provided for supplying the required voltages to the individual components. In addition to the sensor line traces 406 and the power line traces 410, 412, the sensor 400 may include communication lines 414, 416 for connecting the controller 408 to an external device, such as the weight track controllers described above. The controller 408 may provide a communication interface for communicating with the external device, and depending upon the communication interface, additional communication lines may be provided. As depicted, two communication lines are provided and the controller 408 may provide an l²C communication interface. The l²C interface is a multi-master, multi-slave, single-ended, serial computer bus that uses a master controlled clock line and a data line for reading and writing from and to sensors. The controller 408 may include a settable address, depicted as a plurality of jumper connections 418, that allow a locally unique address to be set for the controller. The l²C interface allows multiple devices can communicate over a common data line, and as such each device should be provided with a locally unique identifier. The sensor strip 400 may also be provided with a physical interface 420 for connecting the sensor strip power and communication lines 410, 412, 414, 416 to an external device. The physical interface 420 may permanently attach individual wires 422 to the sensor strip 400, or may provide a removable connection. [0041 ] The sensor strip 400 may be secured to the to the weight stack machine in various ways. For example, the sensor strip 400 may be secured using hook and loop fasteners or adhesives. Additionally or alternatively, the backing 401 of the sensor 400 may be provided with mounting points such as holes 424a-h that can be used to secure the sensor to the machine.

[0042] As described above, an individual sensor strip 400 may provide a simple device that can be mounted onto the weight stack machine. While the sensor strip 400 may be provided with varying numbers of individual sensors which can be broken off to provide a shorter length of sensor strip, the length of the sensor strip 400 cannot be extended. If the sensor strip 400 uses an l²C interface, or similar multi-slave interface, multiple sensor strips can be connected together to provide an extended sensor strip.

[0043] FIG. 5 depicts connectable weight plate sensor strips capable of providing an extended sensor strip. The extended sensor strip 500 may comprise at least two connectable sensor strips 502a, 502b (referred to collectively as connectable sensor strips 502). Each of the connectable sensor strips 502 are similar to the sensor strip 400, and comprise a plurality of individual sensors 504a-504l (referred to collectively as individual sensors 504) separated by respective score lines 506a-506j) that allow individual sensors to be broken off from the sensor strips 502. Each of the sensor strips 502 comprise a controller or microprocessor 508a, 508b (referred to collectively as controllers 508) and a settable address means 510a, 510b, such as jumpers or breakable traces. Each of the sensor strips 502 comprise a lower physical interface 512a, 512b (referred to collectively as lower physical interfaces 512) and an upper physical interface 514a, 514b (referred to collectively as upper physical interface 514). As depicted, the sensor strips 502 may be connected to each other by connecting an upper physical interface 514a to a lower physical interface 512b. The upper physical interfaces 514 of each of the sensor strips 502 is electrically connected to the lower physical interfaces 512. Accordingly, when the sensor strips 502 are connected together, the lower physical interfaces 512 of each of the connectable sensor strips are connected to the same connections or wires 516 as each other.

[0044] As depicted, each of the sensor strips 502 comprise a settable address that allows an address of each of the sensor strips to be set different from each other. The address is used by the controllers 508 to determine when to communicate on the common data lines. The controllers 508 may be provided by microprocessors and may provide various functionality for processing the sensor signals. Additionally or alternatively, the controller may be simple I2C interface expander that allows the sensor data to be communicated back to a connected device such as the weight track controller.

[0045] FIGs. 6A and 6B depict use of a weight plate sensor strip. As depicted, a weight stack machine 600 comprises a number of selectable weight plates 602a-l (referred to collectively as weight plates 602), each depicted as weighing 10 lbs. Further each of the weight plates 602 has a magnet 604 (only one of which is labelled for clarity of FIGs. 6A and 6B). The weight stack machine 600 comprises an extended sensor strip comprising a pair of connectable sensor strips 606a, 606b that comprise a number of individual sensors 608a-3 and associated controllers 610a, 610b, settable address means 612a, 612b. As depicted, the two sensor strips 606a, 606b are connected to each other at a connector 614. Both sensor strips can communicate with an external device over an external connection 616 connected to the lower physical interface of the lower sensor strip 606b.

[0046] As depicted in FIG. 6A, when the weight plates are at rest, each of the individual sensors 608 detect the presence of the adjacent magnet attached to the weight plates. As depicted in FIG. 6B, as the selected weight plates move, one or more individual sensors, depicted as individual sensors 608e, 608f, will detect the absence of the adjacent magnet. The sensor data can be processed by the sensor strip controllers and/or external controllers such as the weight track controller, or smartphones, etc. described above, in order to determine which of the weight plates are stationary and which of the weight plates are in motion. The identification of which weight plates are stationary and/or which weight plates are in use can be used to determine the amount of weight used for the current exercise.

[0047] FIG. 7 depicts weight plate sensor data. The sensor data depicted in FIG.7 is only illustrative and depicts graphically the sensor data as a number of weights are used. In particular, FIG. 7 depicts sensor data 702, 704, 706, 708, 710, 712 for 6 different individual sensors S1 , S2, S3, S4, S5, S6. The sensors are depicted as providing an On' signal if a weight plate is adjacent to the sensor at a particular time or an Off signal if a weight plate is not adjacent to the sensor. The sensor data depicted in FIG. 7 is from when a user starts lifting the selected weight plates, through to when the selected weights are at the top of their travel, and returning to the resting position when the user stops lifting the weight. As depicted in FIG. 7, the sensor data 702, 704 from sensors S1 and S2 remains stable and On' throughout the entire exercise. Accordingly, it is clear that the weight plates adjacent to sensors S1 and S2 do not move. The sensor data 706 can be seen to transition to 'off when the exercise starts and remains stable at 'off until the exercise stops at which point the sensor data transitions back to 'on'. This corresponds to the weight plate initially adjacent to the sensor S3 being lifted up away from the sensor and lowering back down as the exercise is completed. The additional sensors depict periods of instability in the sensor data 708, 710,712 during the exercise as the values transition from 'on' to 'off and vice versa. The instability in the sensor value is a result of the lower weight plates being detected as they are raised past the sensors.

[0048] FIG. 8 depicts a possible method of using a weight plate sensor to determine an amount of selected weight. The method 800 may be implemented by a controller coupled to a weight plate sensor strip. The method 800 depicts a possible method for determining an amount of weight currently in use. Communication protocol details such as the sending of Start signals, addressing bytes, etc. are omitted from the method 800 as these details are within the common general knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0049] The method 800 begins with determining if there is any movement (802) of the weight plates indicative of the weight machine being in use. The movement can be determined from a weight plate sensor, a range sensor, or other sensor for detecting movement such as an accelerometer attached to a moveable portion of the weight stack machine. If no movement is detected (No at 802), the method may wait (804) for a period of time before determining if movement is detected. When movement does occur (Yes at 802), it is assumed that a new exercise is being performed and as such an amount of weight in use should be determined. The method 800 essentially starts with the maximum possible weight and then subtracts the weight of any stationary weight plates from this maximum value to determine an amount of weight in use. In the method 800 it is assumed that the individual sensor associated with the bottom most weight plate is the first sensor (Si). A selected weight value is set to the maximum weight (806) for the particular machine, which may be configured in the controller for particular machines. For each sensor (808), it is determined if the sensor data (Sn) is stable (810). Whether or not the sensor data is stable may be done by determining if the sensor value has changed more than a threshold number of times in a particular time period. For example, if the sensor value is the same value as during the previous measurement period, the sensor data may be considered as stable. The particular thresholds may be adjusted according to the particular machines. If the sensor Sn data is not stable (No at 810) then the associated weight plate is moving and as such the weight should not be subtracted from the selected weight amount. Further, since all additional weight plates above the currently moving one will also be moving, the for-next loop for checking each individual sensor may be exited (812) and the current value of the selected weigh returned (814). The method may then proceed with restarting the measurement process by determining if there is movement (802), or may wait until a period of inactivity, which would be required for adjusting the selected weight, is determined.

[0050] If the sensor value is stable (Yes at 810), it is determined if the sensor is ON' (816). The method 800 assumes that a sensor is ON when it detects the presence of an adjacent weight plate and OFF when it detects the absence of an adjacent weight plate. If the sensor Sn is not ON (No at 816), again the associated weight plate has moved from the resting position adjacent the sensor and as such, its weight value should not be subtracted from the selected weight value. Accordingly, the for-next loop is again exited (818) and the selected weigh returned (814). If however, the sensor data is stable (Yes at 816), then the associated weight plate that is adjacent the sensor in the resting position is not moving and so its value should be subtracted from the selected weight amount (820). Once the value is subtracted, the next sensor (822) is processed as described above. Once there are no more sensors to process the selected weight would be returned (814).

[0051 ] Various specific details have been described above. While certain features or functionality may be described in particular detail with regard to one device or component, it will be appreciated that the functionality or features may be applied to other devices or components. Further, although various embodiments of the devices, equipment, functionality, etc. are described herein, the description is intended to provide an understanding of the systems, methods and devices and as such certain aspects may not be described, or not described in as much detail as other aspects. The described systems, methods and devices are not the sole possible implementations, and the various descriptions systems, methods and devices herein will enable one of ordinary skill in the art to apply the teachings to other equivalent implementations without exercising any inventive ingenuity.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A sensor strip for use with weight stack machines comprising: a backing securable to a weight stack machine;

a plurality of individual sensors affixed to the backing, each of the individual sensors capable of providing a sensor signal indicating a presence or absence of a weight plate adjacent to the respective individual sensor; and a sensor controller connected to each of the plurality of individual sensors, the sensor controller providing a communication interface for communicating sensor data corresponding to the sensor signal from each of the plurality of individual sensors.

2. The sensor strip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual sensors are spaced apart from each other by approximately a thickness of weight plates of the weight stack machine.

3. The sensor strip of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of individual sensors is selected from: a hall effect sensor;

a reed switch;

an inductive sensor;

an infrared range sensor; and

an ultrasonic range sensor.

4. The sensor strip of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of individual sensors

comprise a hall effect sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a magnet connected to a weight plate.

5. The sensor strip of claim 1 , wherein the backing comprises a plurality of frangible sections separated by score lines, wherein one or more of the plurality of sensors are arranged on each of the frangible sections.

6. The sensor strip of claim 1 , further comprising a physical interface providing power to the sensor strip and communication between the sensor strip and a computing device.

7. The sensor strip of claim 6, further comprising a second physical interface for

connecting physical interface of the sensor strip to a physical interface of a second sensor strip.

8. The sensor strip of claim 7, further comprising a settable address for identifying the sensor strip.

9. The sensor strip of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is a multi-slave

device, single-ended, serial computer bus interface.

10. The sensor strip of claim 9, wherein the communication interface is an l²C compliant interface.

1 1 . A weight tracking system for use in weight stack machines comprising: a plurality of sensors arranged adjacent to respective weight stack plates in a resting position, each one of the plurality of sensors capable of detecting a presence or an absence of an adjacent weight stack plate; and

a controller coupled for determining an amount of weight in use based on the plurality of sensors.

12. The weight tracking system of claim 1 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of

sensors is selected from: a hall effect sensor; a reed switch;

an inductive sensor;

an infrared range sensor; and

an ultrasonic range sensor.

13. The weight tracking system of claim 1 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are

magnetic sensors and each weight stack plate has a magnet affixed to the weight stack plate.

14. The weight tracking system of claim 13, further comprising: a plurality of secondary sensors arranged adjacent to user selectable incremental weights.

15. The weight tracking system of claim 1 1 , further comprising: a distance measuring sensor for measuring a distance from a top plate of the weight stack to a stationary reference point to determine workout information including repetition counts, distance movement, and tempo.

16. The weight tracking system of claim 15, wherein the distance measuring sensor is an infrared sensor.

17. The weight tracking system of claim 15, wherein the distance measuring sensor comprises a plurality of extension sensors extending upwards adjacent a path of the weight stack plates when in use.