FR2616334A2 - Method for control and memorisation of laws of effort for muscle-development apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for control and memorisation of laws of effort for muscle-development apparatuses, making it possible to optimise the exercises according to the angle-force relationship of the joints stressed and according to modes of eccentric or concentric contraction. This method includes a position sensor which gives, at any time, the angular situation of the mechanism on which the muscle force is being exerted, and a memory in which have been defined, in two distinct zones, the angle-force relationships specific to the concentric contraction and the eccentric contraction of the muscle stressing the mechanism.

Description

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AND STORING EFFORT LAWS
FOR MUSCLE EQUIPMENT.

 The present improvement relates to a device allowing simultaneously the optimization of the contraction-elongation cycle and of the angle-force relation of a muscle or of a muscular group solicited during an exercise.

 French patent NO 2,581,552 by the same author, entitled "Programming device for muscular apparatus", did not include any means making it possible to differentiate the opposing force gradients according to the type of muscular work performed.

 He did not describe, moreover, the means making it possible to optimize the work of exercise of the musculature by offering an opposing force in exact opposition in the angle-force relation of the muscle or of the muscle group sought.

However, we know that the strength of a muscle or a muscle group is a complex relationship, in particular characterized
- by the contraction or elongation mode defining at the muscular level a work of concentric type (shortening of the muscle fibers) or of the eccentric type (stretching of the muscle fibers).

 - by an angle-force relationship of the musculoskeletal group sought.

 The work of muscle building for the purpose of bodybuilding, sports preparation, post-trauma rehabilitation, generally consists of alternation contractions-elongations thus bringing into play the angle-force relationship of the joint requested.

 It has been shown that the concentric force is less than the eccentric force (it is easier to retain a load than to lift it), that the angle-force relationship is essentially variable depending on the muscles or muscle groups used. The angle-force relationship is also different depending on the type of contraction, concentric or eccentric.

 Recent developments in traditional weight-training machines, with passive loads, working according to the principles of gravity (lifting and lowering a weight) have made it possible to develop a system for adapting to the angle-force relationship, generally consisting of a mechanical cam. The strength of the musculoskeletal lever is thus adapted by the variation of the mechanical lever of the cam.

This process has two major drawbacks
- he specializes in ultra training machines (the angle-force relationship varying from one muscle to another).

 - it only allows work of the concentric type.

According to the present improvement, in patent No. 2,581,552 which was directed to a device of the general type, an electronic assembly allows simultaneous
- differentiate the force gradients according to the alternate cycles of contraction or elongation during a muscular exercise.

 - adapt the antagonistic force of the actuator to the torce-angle relationship of the muscle requested during each concentric and eccentric contraction.

In this assembly, we have
- a position sensor giving at any time the angular position of the mechanism on which the muscular force is exerted.

 - a conventional auxiliary circuit for detecting the direction of movement of said mechanism.

 - from a memory in which the angle-force relationships specific to the concentric contraction and to the eccentric contraction of the muscle requesting the mechanism will have been configured, in two distinct zones.

 The output data from the memory will therefore be, at all times, simultaneously representative of the angular position of the mechanism and of the direction of actuation of said mechanism.

 Furthermore, there is a circuit for displaying the level of exercise force desired by the operator wishing to exercise his muscles. The product of the two pieces of information is then transmitted as a setpoint to the system for controlling the opposing forces described in patent No. 2,581,552.

 I1 is given by way of nonlimiting example an embodiment referring to the accompanying drawings.

 Figure 1: view of the device using the control method.

 Figure 2: block diagram of operation.

Figure 3: diagrams representing force-angle relationships
of the elbow joint.

 Figure 1 shows: quadriceps muscslation device using the control method where we see the position sensor connected to the axis of articulation of the mechanism on which the subject exerts its effort.

 FIG. 3 represents: the typical curves of the force-angle relationships (force on the ordinate - angle on the abscissa) of the elbow in eccentric (solid line curve) and concentric (dotted line curve) during the work of the flexor muscles (curves a) and stents (curves b).

The principle of this assembly, which consists of
A position sensor (1) allowing to know at any time the angular situation of the drive mechanism requested.

 This sensor being for example a potentiometer supplied with a fixed direct voltage, the voltage resulting from the angular position of the mechanism is converted into a digital code in a circuit of the C.A.D type (2).

 A memory (3) in which the force gradient relationships (f) of the articular angle are programmed, in two distinct zones representative of the concentric or eccentric efforts specific to the muscle or muscle group requested, the memories can be of the DEAD MEMORY type for uhe fixed relation particular to a type of device or made up of the VIVE MEMORY of a computer if one wishes to make modifications to this relation.

 In an auxiliary circuit (5), the direction of movement of the drive mechanism is detected. The sign of this sense determines the area of memory concerned by the type of contraction exerted (concentric or eccentric).

 The digital code output from the C.A.D (2) is representative of the angular position, the sign of the direction determines the eccentric or concentric relationship. These two pieces of information address the memory (3), the digital output data of which represent the desired force gradient at all times. The coefficient represented by this gradient is converted into an analog voltage by the Digital - Analog converter (4).

Furthermore, the desired exercise level is displayed by the operator in a counter (6) and transmitted to the input of a
DAC whose output function is of type aB or "a" is a coefficient O a 1 representing the force gradient, particular to the angular position and B the desired level of working force.
In order to reinforce the differentiation of concentric-eccentric work, it is possible to add, to the device as described above, a second display circuit (8) and by a switching circuit (9) in relation to the direction of movement, power to will display the levels of labor force in eccentric or concentric mode.

Claims (1)

 l) Method for controlling and storing laws of force relating to muscle exercise according to claim 3 of the main patent, characterized in that it comprises a position sensor giving at any time the angular position of the mechanism on which exerts the muscular force, and a memory in which were parameterized in two distinct zones, the angle-force relations specific to the concentric contraction and to the eccentric contraction of the muscle requesting the mechanism.  2) A method of controlling and storing the laws of effort relating to muscular exercise according to claim 1 characterized in that the detection of the direction of movement of the mechanism validates the concentric or eccentric memory area.  3) A method of controlling and storing the laws of effort relating to muscular exercise according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the desired level of exercise is displayed beforehand by the operator.  4) Method for controlling and storing laws of effort relating to muscle exercise according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that in a variant, there is added a second display circuit of the exercise level so that a switching circuit in relation to the direction of movement makes it possible to work at different intensities in concentric or eccentric mode.  5) A method of controlling and storing laws of force relating to muscle exercise according to claim 1 characterized in that the position sensor (1) is a potentiometer powered by a fixed direct voltage.  6) A method of controlling and storing laws of effort relating to muscle exercise according to claim-1 characterized in that the memory (3) can be of the read only memory type for a fixed relation particular to a type d given weight machine.  7) A method of controlling and storing laws of force relating to ltexercise muscle according to claims 1,2,3 characterized in that in an auxiliary circuit, the direction of movement of the drive mechanism is detected. The sign of this sense the area of memory concerned by the type of contraction exerted (concentric or eccentric).  The digital code output from a C.A.D is then representative of the angular position, the sign of the direction determines the eccentric or concentric relationship. These two pieces of information send a memory, the digital output data of which represents the desired force gradient at any time. The representative coefficient of this gradient is converted into an analog voltage by a Digital-Analog converter.  Furthermore, the desired exercise level is displayed by the operator in a counter and transmitted the input of a C.N.A whose output function is of type a.B or "a" is a coefficient O a 1 representing the force gradient, particular to the angular position and B the desired working force level.