Systems and Methods of Power Output Measurement
First Claim
1. A power monitor for measuring performance of a bicyclist, which comprises:
- a mechanical linkage for linking a driver shoe member, said driver shoe member having a sole, to a driven member, wherein said driven member is configured for interlockingly engaging a pedal operatively attached to a crank of a bicycle;
said mechanical linkage comprising a force sensor layer configured for interfacing between said driver shoe member and said driven member, said force sensor layer having an output analog signal;
further characterized in that said force sensor layer is pre-stressed by a static compressive load, such that a deformation of said force sensor layer under a dynamic compressive load is detected as a positive change in said output analog signal and a deformation of said force sensor under a dynamic decompressive load is detected as a negative change in said output analog signal, said output analog signal at rest being non-zero.
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Abstract
The present invention pertains to systems and methods for measuring power output, as in an athletic activity such as cycling. One embodiment relates to a force sensing device configured to be mounted on the bottom surface of a shoe as part of a mechanical linkage through which force is exerted. For cycling, the force sensor is mounted on the bottom surface of a cycling shoe and fitted with a cleat that interlockingly engages a bicycle pedal. To measure both positive and negative pressures on the pedal, the force sensor is pre-stressed with a compressive load to an intermediate point in its dynamic range. Strains that further compress or decompress the force sensor can thus be measured. The computing module mathematically converts the measured pressures, positive and negative, to a measurement of total power exerted by the rider. In addition, the computing module may utilize cyclical regularities in the signal to compute the rider'"'"'s cadence (pedal revolutions per unit of time). Data from the force sensor is transmitted wirelessly to a remote display where it can be viewed by the rider.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A power monitor for measuring performance of a bicyclist, which comprises:
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a mechanical linkage for linking a driver shoe member, said driver shoe member having a sole, to a driven member, wherein said driven member is configured for interlockingly engaging a pedal operatively attached to a crank of a bicycle; said mechanical linkage comprising a force sensor layer configured for interfacing between said driver shoe member and said driven member, said force sensor layer having an output analog signal; further characterized in that said force sensor layer is pre-stressed by a static compressive load, such that a deformation of said force sensor layer under a dynamic compressive load is detected as a positive change in said output analog signal and a deformation of said force sensor under a dynamic decompressive load is detected as a negative change in said output analog signal, said output analog signal at rest being non-zero. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification