Bicycle simulation system

• US 20060270522A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ichimi, Sadanao, Miyamaru, Yukio, Hanaya, Ryukou, Yonehana, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,491,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/157 Ratchet-wheel links; Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
• 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 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

To realize a light steering handle operation similar to that of a real bicycle, and to obtain an appearance similar to that of a real bicycle. A bicycle simulation system has a turnable steering handle, a left-right pair of pedals, a frame for turnably supporting the steering handle and the pedals, a monitor for displaying a scenery according to the simulated running velocity required by a first speed pickup, a controller supplying sensor signals to a main control unit which controls the monitor. The controller is provided on front forks that function as a front stand.

Claims

1. A bicycle simulation system comprising:

a dummy bicycle, said dummy bicycle including;

a steering handle for being operated by a rider;

a left-right pair of pedals for being operated by the rider;

a frame that turnably supports said steering handle and said pedals; and

a controller, said controller being provided on said frame; and

a display unit,

wherein, and said controller relays a signal from a predetermined electric apparatus to said display unit.

2. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said frame includes a stand as a support member provided at a lower portion of said steering handle, and said controller is provided at said stand.

3. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 1, further comprising a mat switch provided for detecting treading on a floor by a foot or feet of the rider, said mat switch being connected to said controller.

4. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 1, said dummy bicycle further comprising:

a rotary body that is rotated in conjunction with the operation of said left-right pair of pedals;

a first speed sensor that detects the rotation speed of said rotary body;

a second speed sensor that detects the rotation speed of a crankshaft on which said left-right pair of pedals rotate;

a simulated velocity setting unit for determining a simulated running velocity based on the rotation speed of said rotary body detected by said first speed sensor, said display unit displaying a scene based on the simulated running velocity;

a frequency setting unit that determines a frequency by multiplying a difference between a sprocket rotation speed that is obtained by multiplying the rotation speed of the crankshaft detected by the second speed sensor by a predetermined gear ratio and a virtual rear wheel rotation speed obtained from said simulated running velocity by a coefficient; and

a mimic sound generation unit for generating a mimic sound based on the frequency.

5. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 4, wherein the mimic sound is a sound obtained by recording a notch sound generated by a one-way clutch.

6. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said mimic sound generation unit stops generating the mimic sound when the sprocket rotation speed is not less than the virtual rear wheel rotation speed.

7. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 4, wherein said simulated velocity setting unit varies the simulated running velocity according to a slope inclination degree when the situation in a simulated riding assumed is a slope.

8. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 1, said dummy bicycle further comprising:

a speed sensor that detects the rotation speed of a crankshaft on which said left-right pair of pedals rotate;

a simulated velocity setting unit that sets a simulated running velocity, said display unit displaying a scene varied in correspondence with the simulated running velocity;

a frequency setting unit that determines a frequency proportional to a positive value, when a value obtained by subtracting the rotation speed of said crankshaft multiplied by a coefficient from said simulated running velocity is a positive value; and

a mimic sound generation unit for generating a mimic sound based on the frequency.

9. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said display unit is a separate element from said dummy bicycle.

10. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined electronic apparatus is a crank angle rotation sensor, a speed sensor or a steering angle sensor.

11. A bicycle simulation system comprising:

a bicycle, said bicycle including;

a pair of pedals for being operated by a rider;

a frame that turnably supports said pedals;

a controller, said controller being provided on said frame; and

a speed sensor that detects rotation of said pedals; and

a display unit,

wherein a signal from said speed sensor is relayed to said display unit by said controller, said display unit displaying a scene that corresponds to a velocity detected by said speed sensor.

12. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 11, wherein said frame includes a stand as a support member, and said controller is provided at said stand.

13. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 11, further comprising a mat switch provided for detecting treading on a floor by a foot or feet of the rider, said mat switch being connected to said controller.

14. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 11, said dummy bicycle further comprising:

a rotary body that is rotated in conjunction with the operation of said pedals;

said speed sensor is a first speed sensor that detects the rotation speed of a crankshaft on which said pedals rotate;

a second speed sensor that detects the rotation speed of said rotary body;

a simulated velocity setting unit for determining a simulated running velocity based on the rotation speed of said rotary body detected by said second speed sensor, said display unit displaying a scene based on the simulated running velocity;

a frequency setting unit that determines a frequency by multiplying a difference between a sprocket rotation speed that is obtained by multiplying the rotation speed of the crankshaft detected by the first speed sensor by a predetermined gear ratio and a virtual rear wheel rotation speed obtained from said simulated running velocity by a coefficient; and

a mimic sound generation unit for generating a mimic sound based on the frequency.

15. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 14, wherein the mimic sound is a sound obtained by recording a notch sound generated by a one-way clutch.

16. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 14, wherein said mimic sound generation unit stops generating the mimic sound when the sprocket rotation speed is not less than the virtual rear wheel rotation speed.

17. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 14, wherein said simulated velocity setting unit varies the simulated running velocity according to a slope inclination degree when the situation in a simulated riding assumed is a slope.

18. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 11, said dummy bicycle further comprising:

said speed sensor detects the rotation speed of a crankshaft on which said pedals rotate;

a simulated velocity setting unit that sets a simulated running velocity, said display unit displaying a scene varied in correspondence with the simulated running velocity;

a frequency setting unit that determines a frequency proportional to a positive value, when a value obtained by subtracting the rotation speed of said crankshaft multiplied by a coefficient from said simulated running velocity is a positive value; and

a mimic sound generation unit for generating a mimic sound based on the frequency.

19. The bicycle simulation system according to claim 11, wherein said display unit is a separate element from said dummy bicycle.