IP Library Granted Patent US 12,179,063
Granted Patent B2
US 12,179,063 · App. 17/356,272 · Granted Dec 31, 2024

Progressive strength baseline

Inventors: Brandt Belson (San Francisco, CA); Aly E. Orady (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Tonal Systems, Inc.
A63B24/0087A63B21/0058A63B21/153A63B24/0062A63B2024/0093A63B2220/36
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,179,063
App. No.
17/356,272
Granted
Dec 31, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Controlling weight during a movement includes receiving a set of parameters comprising a nominal weight. It further includes detecting speed during a concentric phase. It further includes progressively adjusting weight during the concentric phase based on the detected speed and the nominal weight. The weight is progressively adjusted by controlling a resistance mechanism.

Claims (39)

1. A system, comprising:

a motor, wherein a cable is coupled between an actuator and the motor;

a processor configured to:

receive a set of parameters comprising a nominal weight, an upper weight, and a target speed;

determine, based at least in part on the nominal weight and the upper weight, a first rate of weight change, wherein the first rate of weight change comprises an amount of weight to add or reduce per unit time;

during a concentric phase of a repetition of a movement, control the motor to progressively adjust an amount of provided resistance according to the first rate of weight change;

detect a speed of the cable during the concentric phase of the repetition of the movement; and

determine a second rate of weight change, wherein the second rate of weight change is different from the first rate of weight change, and wherein the second rate of weight change is determined based on:

a first value comprising a fixed rate of weight change that is based on whether the detected cable speed is above or below the target speed; and

a second value that is proportional to a difference between the detected cable speed and the target speed; and

a motor controller configured to control motor torque to progressively adjust the amount of provided resistance according to the second rate of weight change.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of parameters is determined based on at least one of historical data associated with a user, and demographic data associated with the user.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detected speed is based at least in part on measuring a change in position of the cable over time.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the first rate of weight change is based at least in part on a count of the repetition.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine an N-rep max comprising an estimated max weight for a set including N amount of repetitions, and wherein N is greater than one.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to convert the N-rep max to a one-rep max.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the N-rep max is used to determine a suggested weight for a subsequent set of the movement.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the repetition is included in a calibration set.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the calibration set is included in a workout in response to an indication that a calibration should be performed.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the calibration set is included in the workout based at least in part on a period of user inactivity.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the calibration set is included in the workout based at least in part on an injury status of a user.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a set of parameters comprising a nominal weight, an upper weight, and a target speed;

determining, based at least in part on the nominal weight and the upper weight, a first rate of weight change, wherein the first rate of weight change comprises an amount of weight to add or reduce per unit time;

during a concentric phase of a repetition of a movement, controlling a motor to progressively adjust an amount of provided resistance according to the first rate of weight change, wherein a cable is coupled between an actuator and the motor;

detecting a speed of the cable during the concentric phase of the repetition of the movement;

determining a second rate of weight change, wherein the second rate of weight change is different from the first rate of weight change, and wherein the second rate of weight change is determined based on:

a first value comprising a fixed rate of weight change that is based on whether the detected cable speed is above or below the target speed; and

a second value that is proportional to a difference between the detected cable speed and the target speed; and

controlling, via a motor controller, motor torque to progressively adjust the amount of provided resistance according to the second rate of weight change.

13. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a set of parameters comprising a nominal weight, an upper weight, and a target speed;

determining, based at least in part on the nominal weight and the upper weight, a first rate of weight change, wherein the first rate of weight change comprises an amount of weight to add or reduce per unit time;

during a concentric phase of a repetition of a movement, controlling a motor to progressively adjust an amount of provided resistance according to the first rate of weight change, wherein a cable is coupled between an actuator and the motor;

detecting a speed of the cable during the concentric phase of the repetition of the movement;

determining a second rate of weight change, wherein the second rate of weight change is different from the first rate of weight change, and wherein the second rate of weight change is determined based on:

a first value comprising a fixed rate of weight change that is based on whether the detected cable speed is above or below the target speed; and

a second value that is proportional to a difference between the detected cable speed and the target speed; and

controlling, via a motor controller, motor torque to progressively adjust the amount of provided resistance according to the second rate of weight change.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2026
From: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: HERCULES CAPITAL, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075306/0212 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2025
From: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CUSTOMERS BANK
Reel/Frame 073255/0161 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2021
From: BELSON, BRANDT; ORADY, ALY E.
To: TONAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057413/0119 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63045392 · Jun 29, 2020
Related Publication 20210402259A1 · Dec 30, 2021