Measurement apparatus and method

• US 9,010,201 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Inventors: Kodama, Yasuteru, Fujita, Ryujiro, Shioda, Takehiko, Kametani, Ryushin
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hollington, Octavia
• Application Number:
  US13/880,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20130205916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 738/626.9
• US Class Current: 73/862.69
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/413 Rotation sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/00 Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/50 characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/02 Rotary-transmission dynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/101 involving magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/1457 involving resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/162 of piezoresistors

Abstract

A measurement module that measures force being applied to a man-powered machine includes: a strain sensor that detects strain of a crank of the bicycle configured to transmit force being applied from a user through the crank and one front gear selected among one or more front gears; an MM magnetic sensor that detects the crank passing through a predetermined position; and an MM control part. The MM control part calculates a rotation angle of the crank based on an elapsed time from a time the crank passes through the predetermined position that the sensor has detected, calculates force applied to the crank based on a strain amount of the crank that the strain sensor has detected, associates the rotation angle with the force applied to the crank to calculate distribution of the force applied from the user.

Claims

1. A measurement apparatus that measures force being applied to a man-powered machine, comprising:

a strain detecting part that detects strain of a crank of the man-powered machine configured to transmit force being applied from a user through the crank and one gear selected among one or more gears;

a sensor that detects the crank passing through a predetermined position; and

a control part,

wherein;

the control part calculates a rotation angle of the crank based on an elapsed time from a time the crank passes through the predetermined position that the sensor has detected;

the control part calculates force applied to the crank based on a strain amount of the crank that the strain detecting part has detected;

the control part associates the rotation angle with the force applied to the crank to calculate distribution of the force applied from the user;

the crank connects a pedal and a crankshaft; and

the strain detecting part is disposed on the crank.

2. The measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a gear ratio detecting part that detects a gear ratio of a selected gear among two or more gears,

wherein when the gear ratio detecting part detects a change in the gear ratio, a sampling period detected by the strain detecting part is changed according to the gear ratio.

3. The measurement apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a speed detecting part that detects a speed of the man-powered machine,

wherein when the speed detecting part detects a change in the speed, a sampling period detected by the strain detecting part is changed according to the speed.

4. A measurement apparatus that measures force being applied to a man-powered machine, comprising:

a strain detecting part that detects strain of a crank of the man-powered machine configured to transmit force being applied from a user through the crank and a gear selected from plural gears;

a gear change detecting part that detects whether or not there is a gear change in a selected gear among the plural gears;

a sensor that detects the crank passing through a predetermined position; and

a control part,

wherein;

the control part calculates a rotation angle of the crank based on an elapsed time from a time the crank passes through the predetermined position that the sensor has detected,

the control part calculates force applied to the crank based on a strain amount of the crank that the strain detecting part has detected,

the control part associates the rotation angle with the force applied to the crank to calculate distribution of the force applied from the user, and

wherein the control part calculates the rotation angle of the crank based on the elapsed time from the time the crank passes through the predetermined position that the sensor has detected, and an elapsed time from a time the gear change detecting part detects the gear change.

5. A method of measuring force applied to a man-powered machine, comprising:

detecting strain of a crank of the man-powered machine configured to transmit force being applied from a user through the crank and one gear selected among one or more gears, wherein the crank connects a pedal and a crankshaft, and wherein the step of detecting stain is carried out on the crank;

detecting the crank passing through a predetermined position;

calculating a rotation angle of the crank based on an elapsed time from a time the crank passes through the predetermined position;

calculating force applied to the crank based on a strain amount of the crank; and

associating the rotation angle with the force applied to the crank to calculate distribution of the force applied from the user.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising detecting whether or not there is a gear change in a selected gear among two or more gears,

wherein the rotation angle of the crank is calculated based on the elapsed time from the time the crank passes through the predetermined position, and an elapsed time from a time the gear change is detected.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising detecting a gear ratio of a gear selected among two or more gears,

wherein when a change in the gear ratio is detected, a sampling period is changed based on the gear ratio.

8. The method according to claim 5 further comprising, detecting a speed of the man-powered machine,

wherein when a change in the speed is detected, a sampling period is changed based on the speed.