System and method for controlling a bicycle trainer

• US 10,046,222 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wahoo Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Wahoo Fitness LLC
• Inventors: Hawkins, III, Harold M., Lyle, Michael A., Collins, Bradley Jaymes
• Primary Examiner(s): Winter, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US14/135,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 482 5, 482 6, 482 51, 482 52, 482 57- 65, 482903, 188267, 1882672
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0081 Coaching or training aspects related to a group of users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/165 rear wheel hub supports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0052 induced by electromagnets A63B21/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop

Abstract

The system includes memory having computer-executable instructions and at least one processor to execute the computer-executable instructions to wireless connect the exercise device, receive a training mode, receive at least one variable for determining a power set point, determine the power set point responsive to the training mode and the at least one variable and control a magnetic brake assembly in the exercise device responsive to the power set point.

Claims

1. An exercise device, comprising:

a frame assembly supporting a first axle, the first axle adapted to be connected to a bicycle with a rear wheel removed to operably connect the bicycle to the exercise device;

a flywheel assembly comprising a magnetic brake assembly and a flywheel member, the flywheel assembly rotatably supported on the frame assembly along a common axis such that the magnetic brake assembly and the flywheel member are permitted to rotate in a common direction and about the common axis, the magnetic brake assembly rotationally fixed by a member coupled between the magnetic brake assembly and the frame assembly, and the flywheel member coupled with the first axle such that the flywheel member spins relative to the rotationally fixed magnetic brake assembly when a rider is pedaling a bicycle connected with the first axle;

a memory having computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor to execute the computer-executable instructions to;

wirelessly connect to a computing device;

wirelessly receive a training mode from the computing device;

wirelessly receive, from the computing device, at least one variable for determining a power set point, the at least one variable formatted according to an application programming interface;

determine the power set point responsive to the training mode and the at least one variable; and

control the magnetic brake assembly in the exercise device responsive to the power set point.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to:

measure an instantaneous speed of a rider of the exercise device;

determine a power that the rider is using to pedal the exercise device based on the instantaneous speed and a torque measurement; and

adjust electromagnetic braking provided by the magnetic brake assembly responsive to a difference between the power and the power set point.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to:

wirelessly transmit realtime ride information including the power to the computing device.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to:

wirelessly receive an update to at least one of the training mode and the at least one variable; and

adjust the power set point responsive to the update to the at least one of the training mode and the at least one variable.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises firmware for the exercise device.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable comprises at least one of a static variable and a dynamic variable.

7. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein the at least one static variable comprises weight, coefficient of rolling resistance, coefficient of wind resistance, frontal area, and air density.

8. The exercise device of claim 6, wherein the at least one dynamic variable comprises speed, power, grade and wind speed.

9. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein the speed and the power are measured by the exercise device and the grade and the wind speed are wirelessly received.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the training mode comprises one of a normal mode, a simulation mode, an ergometer mode, and a resistance mode.

11. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the training mode comprises simulation mode and the at least one variable comprises a grade, a wind speed, and a bicycle type, the at least one processor further to determine the power set point responsive to the simulation mode, the grade, the wind speed, and the bicycle type.

12. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the training mode comprises simulation mode and the at least one variable comprises course information for a course and a bicycle type, the at least one processor further to determine the power set point responsive to the simulation mode, the course information for the course, and the bicycle type.

13. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the training mode comprises ergometer mode and the at least one variable comprises a target power, the at least one processor further to determine the power set point responsive to the ergometer mode and the target power.

14. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the training mode comprises resistance mode and the at least one variable comprises a percentage of resistance in a range of 0 to 100%, the at least one processor further to determine the power set point responsive to the resistance mode and the percentage of resistance in the range of 0 to 100%.

15. The exercise device of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to pair with the computing device using a wireless protocol comprising one of ANT+ and Bluetooth and to receive the training mode and the at least one variable for determining the power in a message encoded according to the application programming interface.

16. The exercise device of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to:

configure a connection with the computing device;

execute a receiver that continually waits to wirelessly receive a message having a particular format sent from the computing device;

wirelessly receive by the receiver the message having the particular format, the message having the training mode and the at least one variable, the message further configured according to the application programming interface; and

transmit to the mobile computing device in another message having the particular format realtime information responsive to the power and the power set point.

17. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor to execute computer-executable instructions further configured to:

during realtime operation, wirelessly receive and buffer in the memory a power set curve to control the magnetic brake assembly in the exercise device responsive to the power set point, the power set curve buffered in the memory with sufficient information such that if the wireless receipt is lost, control of the magnetic brake assembly may continue.

18. The exercise device of claim 2 further comprising a strain gauge mounted on the member that detects torque imparted on the member when a rider is pedaling in order to generate the torque measurement.

19. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the magnetic brake assembly comprises a plurality of electromagnets circumferentially distributed about the common axis.