Magneto cyclist power sensor

• US 8,955,395 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Greggory Bjork
• Original Assignee: Ronald Greggory Bjork
• Inventors: Bjork, Ronald Greggory
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMEL E
• Application Number:
  US13/898,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20140224039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 738/621.91
• 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

The “Magneto Cyclist Power Sensor” is a device that computes “cyclist performance” values of pedal power, pedal force, cycle speed, and used gear position of a bicycle using the a aggregated signals from several vibration sensors that are a part of an assembly attached to the bicycle front derailleur. This device, working in conjunction with data from the internet and the cyclist Bluetooth or USB connected phone, is calibrated using known geographic topography of the riders location, prior information about the particulars of the bicycle (make, model and size) and past riding logs recorded by the device. The “cyclist performance values” can be used for providing the cyclist with a display of the computed values on their phone. The device attached to the front derailleur is composed of magnets, inductors, data acquisition and processing unit. Being attached to the derailleur, the device magnets and inductors move with the chain as the chain moves from gear to gear (also called sprocket).

Claims

1. A device, mounted on a bicycle front derailleur comprised of a plurality of vibration sensors and an associated electronic measurement and signal processing unit, which computes sensors signal time correlations,

wherein, wave speed and tension transmitted by the chain is determined by calculating a chain and a bike vibrations signal time correlation, and

wherein, using the tension measurement, the device computes the force and torque applied by the pedals.

2. The device in claim 1, with measurement of auto time correlation of assembly sensor computes the time difference of forced vibration of front and rear wheel of bike, as it travels over typical irregularities of a road surface, and thereby determines the bike speed.

3. The device of claim 2, by the additional measured chain speed, determines both the sprocket selection on the bike using the relative speed of the chain to the ground speed of the bike, and the power transmitted by the chain, by multiplying the chain speed with the tension computed.

4. The device of claim 3, by the additional measurement of chain speed, determines the power delivered by the chain by computing the product of chain speed and chain tension.