CYCLE CRANKS, CYCLES, METHODS OF MEASURING A CYCLE CRANK ANGULAR POSITION

• US 20130104650A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: bf1systems Limited
• Original Assignee: bf1systems Limited
• Inventors: Skipper, Gavin Mark, Ireland, Kevin James, Bailey, John, Shingleton, James Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 9,488,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/495
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/411 Torque sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/413 Rotation sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/4152 for sensing longitudinal inclination of the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/421 at the pedal crank
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/00 Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M

Abstract

A cycle crank includes a first portion for attachment to a cycle and a second portion spaced from the first portion for attachment to a pedal; wherein the crank includes a sensor for determining, in use, a value representative of a force applied to the crank; an angular rate sensor for determining, in use, the angular rated of rotation of the crank; and a processor for determining the angular position of the crank from the determined angular rate of rotation and associating the position with its corresponding value representative of a force applied to the crank.

Claims

1. A cycle crank comprising:

a first portion for attachment to a cycle and a second portion spaced from said first portion for attachment to one of a pedal and a handle;

wherein said crank comprises

a sensor for determining, in use,

a value representative of a force applied to said crank substantially throughout a revolution of said crank;

an angular rate sensor for determining, in use,

the angular rate of rotation of said crank substantially throughout a revolution of said crank;

a processor for deriving substantially throughout a revolution of said crank, the angular positions of said crank by integrating said determined angular rates of rotation with respect to time and associating said positions with corresponding values representative of the force applied to said crank substantially throughout a revolution of said crank; and

a switch for resetting said integration once per revolution.

2. A cycle crank according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals representative of the torque applied to said crank and its corresponding position.

3. A cycle crank according to claim 1, wherein said force sensor comprises a plurality of strain gauges;

each one of said strain gauges being disposed to determine distinct force characteristics substantially throughout a revolution of said crank.

4. A cycle crank according to claim 1, further comprising a power source;

wherein the power source, the wireless transmitter, the force sensor, the angular rate sensor and the processor are each integrated within the body of said crank.

5. A cycle crank according to claim 1, wherein said angular rate sensor is a single axis angular rate sensor with an active axis of rotation being parallel, in use, to the axis of rotation of the crank.

6. A cycle crank according to claim 1, wherein said angular rate sensor is a multiple axis angular rate sensor from which only the measurements of one axis are employed to derive the angular position.

7. A cycle crank according to claim 1, wherein said processor is configured to process values obtained from a second angular rate sensor located on the frame of a cycle;

and derive said angular crank positions.

8. A cycle comprising a cycle crank according to claim 1.

9. A cycle according to claim 8, further comprising a second angular rate sensor located on its frame;

said second angular rate sensor being positioned to determine the angular rate of pitching of said cycle.

10. A cycle according to claim 9, further comprising a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting signals derived from said second angular rate sensor to said processor.

11. A cycle according to claim 8, further comprising a first portion of a switch located on said frame and interacting with a second portion of said switch provided as part of said crank;

whereby a measurement cycle is reset at a fixed position of said crank relative to said frame.

12. A method of measuring a cycle crank angular position comprising:

the steps of determining the angular rate of rotation of a crank substantially throughout a revolution of said crank, determining values representative of a force applied to said crank substantially throughout a revolution of said crank;

deriving the angular positions of said crank from said angular rate of rotation by integrating said determined angular rates of rotation with respect to time;

associating said positions with corresponding values representative of a force applied to said crank substantially throughout a revolution of said crank; and

resetting said integration once per revolution.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of resetting said integration at a fixed indexing position.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of providing a first angular rate sensor as part of said crank and providing a second angular rate sensor as part of the frame of said cycle;

and processing values obtained from both said first and second angular rate sensors to derive said angular crank positions.

15. Computer software configured to operate the method of claim 12.

16. A cycle crank comprising

a pair of crank arms,

each crank arm comprising

a sensor for determining, in use,

a value representative of a force applied to said crank arm during a revolution of said crank arm;

and

a wireless transmitter;

wherein both said crank arms are configured to operate in a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation;

in said first mode of operation the wireless transmitters of said crank arms communicate together and in said second mode of operation said wireless transmitters of said crank arms communicate directly to a receiver located remotely from said crank arms.

17. A cycle crank according to claim 16, wherein in said first mode of operation said transmitters transmit at a first rate of transmission and in said second mode of operation said transmitters transmit at a second rate of transmission;

said second rate of transmission being higher than said first rate of transmission.

18. A cycle crank according to claim 16, wherein a first crank arm incorporates a sensor master channel transmitting data;

said first crank arm further incorporating a slave channel for receiving data from said second crank arm containing force or torque data from said second crank arm;

whereby the force or torque data from said second crank arm in conjunction with force or torque data and cadence data from said first crank arm allows power to be calculated.

19. A cycle crank according to claim 17, wherein a first crank arm incorporates a sensor master channel transmitting data;

said first crank arm further incorporating a slave channel for receiving data from said second crank arm containing force or torque data from said second crank arm;

whereby the force or torque data from said second crank arm in conjunction with force or torque data and cadence data from said first crank arm allows power to be calculated.

20. A cycle crank according to claim 19, wherein in a second mode of operation said first crank arm reconfigures its slave channel as a master channel for transmitting data at a higher rate of transmission and said second crank arm transmits data at a higher rate of transmission than in the first mode of operation.

21. A cycle crank comprising

at least one crank arm,

each crank arm comprising

a sensor for determining, in use,

a value representative of a force applied to said crank arm during a revolution of said crank arm;

and

a wireless transmitter;

wherein said at least one crank arm is configured to operate in a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation;

in said second mode of operation the wireless transmitter of said crank arm communicates at a higher rate of transmission than in the first mode of operation.

22. A cycle crank according to claim 21, wherein said wireless transmitter is configured to transmit in one of three modes of operation at rates of transmission pertaining to three different frequency ranges.

23. A cycle crank according to claim 22, wherein a first range comprises frequencies lower than 10 Hz.

24. A cycle crank according to claim 23, wherein a second range comprises frequencies of 10 to 150 Hz.

25. A cycle crank according to claim 24, wherein a third range comprises frequencies of 150 Hz and greater.