Magneto Cyclist Power Sensor

• US 20140224039A1
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald Greggory Bjork
• Original Assignee: Ronald Greggory Bjork
• Inventors: Bjork, Ronald Greggory
• Granted Patent: US 8,955,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.191
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/412 Speed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/131 Front derailleurs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/101 involving magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/24 Devices for determining the value of power, e.g. by measuring and simultaneously multiplying the values of torque and revolutions per unit of time, by multiplying the values of tractive or propulsive force and velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/042 by measuring vibrational characteristics of the flexible member

Abstract

This device is a sensor whose output can be used for providing the cyclist with a display of the power he/she is delivering to the wheels of the bicycle while he/she is riding. It can also be used to determine bike gear selection and bike ground speed. It is a sensor composed of magnet(s) and inductor(s) which attaches to a bikes front derailleur. Attaching the magnets and inductors to the derailleur causes them to move with the chain as the chain moves from gear to gear (also called sprocket) on the bike front gear assembly. Power is computed using a the vibrations of the bike and chain thats measured by the sensors and computed by a small signal processing chip.

Claims

1. As stated in the introduction, I claim to be the original inventor of a bicycle front derailleur mounted sensor with the intended use for incorporation into a system that determines the power delivered(through crank foot pedals) by the cyclist to propel his/her bike:

2. This device is the first front derailleur mounted device that can be used to determine the sprocket selection on the bike and bike ground speed.

3. This system is unique in its design due to the integration of the user'"'"'s smartphone geographic, bike brand and model data, (through the phones internet access), with sensor data, for calibration of power calculations.

4. This system is the first to utilize in its design the time-varying bike chain vibration (measured signal by the faraday sensors) caused by the wheels rolling over the rough road surface to determine the tension in the bike chain.