GB2450338A - Device for physical fitness assessment - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for physical fitness assessment, allowing measure of physical fitness power of individuals, includes a light source (Fig. 1), light dependent resistors (Fig. 2), a microcontroller (Fig. 3), a buzzer (Fig. 4), and a liquid crystal display (Fig. 5). Microcontroller counts both the number of vertical jumps of examinee between light source and light dependent resistors and total flight time of the test person. Power of physical fitness results from equation below, commonly used for 60 seconds power assessment sportman's performance (Bosco et al, 1983): ```9.8*60*T ```P= ```4*n*(60-7'1) where, P is power in W/Kg, Tf is flight time in 60 seconds, and n is number of vertical jumps in 60 seconds.

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT

The invention relates to measurement of a person's physical power, which includes vertical jump assessment with light source and microcontroller connected light sensors.

Measurement of this physical fitness power is widely accepted, but has disadvantages of being too expensive because of need for special equipment like cycle ergometer, electronic mat and software for its precision.

The object of this invention is to provide measurement of human physical power, which allows safe, easy, and inexpensive physical assessment for all.

Accordingly this invention provides a light source (Fig. 1) and 3 light dependent resistors (Fig. 2) mounted in a row, separated from each other by 3Ocm and used as light sensors and both placed on ground level in a way that light beam is directed towards the light dependent resistors. At start of vertical jump, the examinee stands between the light source and light dependent resistors so that the light beam is broken and there is no light to the light dependent resistors. As the examinee starts to jump light sensors begin to accept light beam from time of jumping up to time of landing.

The microcontroller (Fig. 3), designed for this purpose and connected to the light dependent resistors, calculates total flight time and number ofjumps in 60 seconds. At the end of the 60 second period a buzzer (Fig. 4) sounds to signal the end of the test period and the physical power of the exarninee is displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD, Fig. 5)) using the following formula: 9.8*60 * r

I

4 * n' (60 -T1) where, P ispowerinWlKg, T1 isflighttimein60seconds,and n isnumberof vertical jumps in 60 seconds.

Equation above has been taken from Bosco, C., Luhtanen, P., and Kemi, P.V. "A simple Method for Measurement of Mechanical Power in Jumping", European Journal of Applied Physiology, 1983, 50, pp. 273-282.

Claims (4)

1. Claims: Light source (Fig. 1) together with light dependent resistors

   (Fig. 2) can assess vertical jump test allowing detecting human physical power.
2. 2. Each vertical jump of test person between light source (Fig. I) and light dependent resistors (Fig. 2), claimed in Claim 1, causes break of light beam during landing and light beam detection during flying.
3. 3. Microcontroller (Fig. 3) is connected to the light dependent resistors (Fig. 2), claimed in Claim 1, and designed to count number of light beam breaks as number ofjumps and duration of light beam detection, claimed in Claim 2, as flight time of the test person.
4. 4. Number of vertical jumps (n) and total flight time (T1) , counted during seconds of continuous vertical jumps, claimed in Claim 3, are used for power calculation (F) of physical fitness through equation, offered by Bosco et al (1983): 9.8*60*T

   P I

   4* * (60 -TI) where, P is power in W/Kg, T1 is flight time in 60 seconds, and n is number of vertical jumps in 60 seconds.