EXERCISE APPARATUS AND METHOD WHICH SIMULATE STAIR CLIMBING.

摘要

An exercise apparatus is disclosed which simulates a stair climber, and which determines the amount of user exercise by the speed of rotation of a flywheel. The speed of the flywheel is controlled to maintain the desired speed of stair climbing by a friction belt engaging the flywheel. A rotary electrical motor is moved in one direction to tighten the belt on the flywheel and in the opposite direction to loosen the belt on the flywheel. A slack sensor determines whether the motor has been moved to a limit in the belt-loosening direction. Incremental changes of motor energy are used to gradually reduce an error signal between command speed and actual speed. Pulse width modulation is used to vary the motor energy in accordance with the size of the error signal.