Automatic transmissions and methods therefor
First Claim
1. A bicycle comprising:
- a transmission;
a system for automatically shifting the transmission, the system comprising;
a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the bicycle;
a control unit configured to receive input from the speed sensor;
a data input interface configured to provide cadence data to the control unit, said cadence data indicative of a desired, constant input pedaling speed;
a memory in communication with the control unit, the memory having stored therein one or more data structures correlating bicycle speeds with speed ratios;
wherein the control unit is configured to determine from said data structures a target speed ratio based on the speed of the bicycle and the cadence data, andan actuator configured to selectively tilt a power transmitting ball of the transmission, in communication with the control unit, the actuator configured to adjust a speed ratio of the transmission to be substantially equal to the determined target speed ratio.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling transmissions and associated vehicles, machines, equipment, etc., are disclosed. In one case, a transmission control system includes a control unit configured to use a sensed vehicle speed and a commanded, target constant input speed to maintain an input speed substantially constant. The system includes one or more maps that associate a speed ratio of a transmission with a vehicle speed. In one embodiment, one such map associates an encoder position with a vehicle speed. Regarding a specific application, an automatic bicycle transmission shifting system is contemplated. An exemplary automatic bicycle includes a control unit, a shift actuator, various sensors, and a user interface. The control unit is configured to cooperate with a logic module and an actuator controller to control the cadence of a rider. In one embodiment, a memory of, or in communication with, the control unit includes one or more constant cadence maps that associate transmission speed ratios with bicycle speeds.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A bicycle comprising:
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a transmission; a system for automatically shifting the transmission, the system comprising; a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the bicycle; a control unit configured to receive input from the speed sensor; a data input interface configured to provide cadence data to the control unit, said cadence data indicative of a desired, constant input pedaling speed; a memory in communication with the control unit, the memory having stored therein one or more data structures correlating bicycle speeds with speed ratios; wherein the control unit is configured to determine from said data structures a target speed ratio based on the speed of the bicycle and the cadence data, and an actuator configured to selectively tilt a power transmitting ball of the transmission, in communication with the control unit, the actuator configured to adjust a speed ratio of the transmission to be substantially equal to the determined target speed ratio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An automatic shifting bicycle system comprising:
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a transmission having a shift rod; an actuator operably coupled to the shift rod; a control unit in communication with the actuator; a memory in communication with the control unit, the memory storing at least one table correlating a position of the actuator to the transmission ratio, wherein the table contains data that correlates a position of the shift rod to a transmission ratio and data that correlates the position of the shift rod to a cadence level, and wherein the control unit communicates a desired transmission ratio to the actuator based at least in part on the table. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification