James M Sweeney

US Patent:

50899600, Feb 18, 1992

Filed:

Feb 16, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/482227

Inventors:

James S. Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA

Assignee:

Laguna Tectrix, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

G01L 502
G06C 1544

US Classification:

364410

Abstract:

A racing system for a group of exercise machines is disclosed. The race is entirely flexible, in that each exercise unit communicates electronically with all of the other potential racing units. Any user may offer a race, accept or reject another user's race offer, or join a race during a limited countdown period. More than one race can be underway. For cost reduction, a daisy chain hookup is used, in which each unit's microprocessor has an input port receiving message flow from the output port of the preceding unit, and an output port transmitting message flow to the input port of the following unit. The racing function is controlled by the same microprocessor which is embedded in each exercise machine as the controller for that machine, receiving commands from the user and feedback from the machine.

US Patent:

41684958, Sep 18, 1979

Filed:

Oct 11, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/840911

Inventors:

James S. Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA

Assignee:

Unisen, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

G08B 1322

US Classification:

340546

Abstract:

An intrusion detection unit comprises a compacitance having an "active" field, the coupling of which is significantly increased when an intruder comes into conductive relation with a doorknob. The unit is hung on the inside doorknob and is so arranged that the doorknob is the transmitting element of the capacitor, while a separate plate is the receiving element of the capacitor. The capacitor field is maintained actively charged by a battery driven oscillator which operates at a substantially uniform frequency and amplitude. The intrusion detector circuit is complete in itself and is not externally grounded by the intruder. The signal receiving portion of the circuit incorporates a square law amplifier, and also has means for adjusting the reference level to which the signal is compared.

US Patent:

49384740, Jul 3, 1990

Filed:

Dec 23, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/289563

Inventors:

Michael T. Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA
Duane P. Stark - Laguna Beach CA
James S. Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA

Assignee:

Laguna Tectrix, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A63B 2304

US Classification:

272 70

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

43581056, Nov 9, 1982

Filed:

Aug 21, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/180109

Inventors:

James S. Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA

Assignee:

Lifecycle, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A63B 2124
A63B 2304

US Classification:

272 73

Abstract:

An exerciser is disclosed, of the type providing automatically controlled variations of effort levels, wherein "random" variations of effort level are included which are not predictable by the operator. The effort levels [steps] are provided in a sequence of four: the second [step] level is random; the fourth [step] level is different from the second [step value] level by half of the range; and the first and third [steps] levels are averages of the immediately preceding and immediately following [steps] levels.

US Patent:

40635511, Dec 20, 1977

Filed:

Apr 6, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/674113

Inventors:

James Stevens Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA

Assignee:

Unisen, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61B 502

US Classification:

128 205P

Abstract:

A highly sensitive electronic blood pulse sensor and readout device is disclosed which is self-powered and can be mounted on the subject's wrist. The sensor portion has a plurality of light emitters which are arranged to emit pulsed infra-red light waves having a wavelength readily absorbed by blood constituents, and a plurality of light detectors highly responsive to the emitted wavelength. The level of detected illumination is used to control by feedback the level of emitted illumination, in order to compensate for variations in flesh translucency. A separate "noise" responsive sensor is used to counteract the noise-inducing tendencies of motion.

US Patent:

43530192, Oct 5, 1982

Filed:

Jul 29, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/173274

Inventors:

James S. Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA

Assignee:

Unisen, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

G05B 1118

US Classification:

318594

Abstract:

A motor control positioning apparatus and method are disclosed wherein variable duration pulses are fed to a DC motor. After the vicinity of the destination has been reached, the final pulsing stage is initiated, in which a short duration pulse is fed to the motor; position is then checked to determine if forward movement of the driven element has occured; and if movement has not occurred, the pulse duration is increased by an increment which is repeated until movement does occur. Thereupon a new series of such pulses is started; and this cycling continues until destination is reached.

US Patent:

48422665, Jun 27, 1989

Filed:

Aug 27, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/900720

Inventors:

James S. Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA

International Classification:

A63B 2306

US Classification:

272 69

Abstract:

A running/walking machine, or treadmill, is disclosed which has an automatically controlled speed-varying electric motor and an automatically controlled elevation-varying electric motor. The commands are entered in a display panel having a microprocessor which communicates with the motor controlling circuitry. The display panel has feedback information in a pictorial display, controlled by the microprocessor, in which an oval track simulating a running track displays both the current position of the user in moving around the track and the percentage of completion of a pre-established goal. The track has a multiplicity of segments, each represented by an LED, and each constituting a given fraction of the distance represented by the complete track. A lighted LED, which changes as the user progresses, indicates the current position of the user; and a string of LEDs behind the LED indicates the portion of the total program which has been completed. At completion of the program all the LEDs in the track are turned on.

US Patent:

43120334, Jan 19, 1982

Filed:

Jul 31, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/062416

Inventors:

James S. Sweeney - Laguna Beach CA

International Classification:

G06F 1546
G05B 1118
G05B 1128

US Classification:

364167

Abstract:

A digital motor control positioning system, and method, are disclosed in which lead screw position is measured by an encoder, and the error between that position and the destination is measured, either continuously or repetitively, to provide digital, distance-representing control pulses to the motor. In the final, settling-in portion of motor movement, it is successively started and stopped to provide incremental distance movements, which preferably are reduced in size as the destination is approached.