Systems and methods for automatic configuration and automatic calibration of continuously variable transmissions and bicycles having continuously variable transmissions

• US 10,023,266 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enviolo BV
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Contello, Wayne Leroy, Sweet, Brian Benjamin, Hilgart, Richard, Birchak, Jeffrey A., Gust, Kevin Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US15/172,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20170327184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 701 22, 701 25, 701 47
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/04 of changeable ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/06 using a single chain, belt, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/10 involving different-sized wheels, e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like bicycle hubs rotatably arranged on axle B60B27/023
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 15/28 with external friction surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66 specially adapted for continuously variable gearings control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/664 Friction gearings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A continuously variable transmission on a bicycle may be automatically configured with little or no assistance from a user. Optical scanning devices, RFIDs, and other information capturing technology can communicate with a controller. The controller may then perform a portion or all of a configuration process. In operation, a controller may determine that calibration is needed. A calibration process may be initiated and performed with little or no user interaction. A calibration process may account for a load, a power source, or an environment.

Claims

1. A system for automatic calibration of a bicycle, comprising:

a vendor computer adapted to;

determine a component installed on the bicycle based on an optical label associated with the component;

communicate with a configuration server having stored thereon information about the component to determine a first set of operating parameters of the bicycle based on specifications of the component;

determine a user profile associated with the bicycle; and

communicate the first set of operating parameters to a controller associated with the bicycle, the controller having a set of instructions to;

receive a user input;

determine a first characteristic of the bicycle based on the component; and

control a continuously variable transmission based on the component, the user profile, the user input, and the first set of operating parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the component comprises an electric motor, wherein the first set of operating parameters are associated with a road bicycle, wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission and the electric motor for paved roads.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of operating parameters are associated with a mountain bicycle, and wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission for unpaved routes.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electric motor, wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission and the electric motor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first set of operating parameters are associated with a commercial bicycle, and wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission for a rider transporting heavy items.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the first characteristic of the first component comprises determining a gear size.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein determining the first characteristic of the first component comprises determining one or more of a gear tooth count, a wheel size, a chain length, a gear ratio, a frame size, a length of a frame member, and a seat height.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the vendor computer communicates with a user profile server to determine a user profile associated with the bicycle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vendor computer is configured to communicate with a manufacturer computer to determine the component installed on the bicycle based on the optical label associated with the component.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the component comprises an electric motor, wherein the first set of operating parameters are associated with a mountain bicycle, and wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component, the user profile, the user input, and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission and the electric motor for unpaved roads.