Systems and methods for detecting if a treadmill user is running or walking

1. A method for detecting whether a user is walking or running on a surface, the method including the steps of:

detecting foot interactions between a foot of the user and the surface and outputting data from the foot interactions detected;

calculating with a processing module a cadence frequency for the user based on the data from the foot interactions;

measuring with the processing module a first signal amplitude for the data from the foot interactions detected at a first multiplier of the cadence frequency calculated for the user;

measuring with the processing module a second signal amplitude for the data from the foot interactions detected at a second multiplier of the cadence frequency calculated for the user;

comparing with the processing module the first signal amplitude and the second signal amplitude to determine a cadence factor, and comparing the cadence factor to a predetermined threshold; and

detecting whether the user is walking or running based upon the comparison of the cadence factor to the predetermined threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a calorie expenditure for the user is calculated and displayed based on the data from the foot interactions, and wherein the calorie expenditure is based on one of a plurality of calorie profiles, further comprising selecting the one of the plurality of calorie profiles for the calorie expenditure based on the determination of whether the user is walking or running.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the surface is a belt of a treadmill, and wherein the calorie expenditure is displayed on the treadmill.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the one of the plurality of calorie profiles is combined with other factors to calculate the calorie expenditure.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the treadmill is configured to perform a plurality of functions, further comprising modifying how the treadmill performs at least one of the plurality of functions based on the determination of whether the user is walking or running.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of functions includes comparing the data from the foot interactions to a preselected training routine.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an accelerometer is used to detect the foot interactions.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the surface is a belt of a treadmill, and wherein the accelerometer is coupled to a deck that supports the belt.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first multiplier is the cadence frequency, wherein the second multiplier is twice the cadence frequency, and wherein the first signal amplitude is divided by the second signal amplitude to determine the cadence factor.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the user is determined to be running when the cadence factor is greater than the predetermined threshold, and wherein the predetermined threshold is 1.0.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for detecting whether a user is walking or running on a surface that when executed by a processing module is configured to perform the steps of:

receiving data from foot interactions detected by a sensor;

calculating a cadence frequency for the user based on the data from the foot interactions;

measuring a first signal amplitude for the data from the foot interactions detected at a first multiplier of the cadence frequency calculated for the user;

measuring a second signal amplitude for the data from the foot interactions detected at a second multiplier of the cadence frequency calculated for the user;

comparing the first signal amplitude and the second signal amplitude to determine a cadence factor, and comparing the cadence factor to a predetermined threshold; and

detecting whether the user is walking or running based upon the comparison of the cadence factor to the predetermined threshold.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 , further comprising calculating a calorie expenditure for the user based on the data from the foot interactions, wherein the calorie expenditure is based on one of a plurality of calorie profiles stored in the program, further comprising selecting the one of the plurality of calorie profiles for the calorie expenditure based on the determination of whether the user is walking or running.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the surface is a belt of a treadmill, and further comprising displaying the calorie expenditure calculated on the treadmill.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the one of the plurality of calorie profiles is combined with other factors to calculate the calorie expenditure.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the program is further configured for the treadmill to perform a plurality of functions, further comprising modifying how the treadmill performs at least one of the plurality of functions based on the determination of whether the user is walking or running.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of functions includes comparing the data from the foot interactions to a preselected training routine.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein the sensor is an accelerometer, and wherein the accelerometer is coupled to a deck that supports the belt.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein the first multiplier is the cadence frequency, wherein the second multiplier is twice the cadence frequency, and wherein the first signal amplitude is divided by the second signal amplitude to determine the cadence factor.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 18 , wherein the user is determined to be running when the cadence factor is greater than the predetermined threshold, and wherein the predetermined threshold is 1.0.

20. A system for detecting whether a user is walking or running on a surface, the system comprising:

a foot interaction sensor configured to detect foot interactions between a foot of the user and the surface, and configured to output data from the foot interactions detected;

a processing module in communication with the foot interaction sensor, wherein the processing module is configured to receive the data from the foot interaction sensor;

a memory module in communication with the processing module, wherein the memory module stores a program that is executable by the processing module, wherein the processing module by executing the program is configured to calculate a cadence frequency from the data received from the foot interaction sensor, to measure a first signal amplitude for the data detected at a first multiplier of the cadence frequency calculated, to measure a second signal amplitude for the data detected at a second multiplier at twice the cadence frequency calculated, and to compare the first signal amplitude and the second signal amplitude to determine a cadence factor;

wherein the program also stores a predetermined threshold, wherein the processing module is configured to compare the cadence factor to the predetermined threshold, and wherein the processing module determines whether the user is walking or running based upon the comparison of the cadence factor to the predetermined threshold.