Bicycle control system

• US 9,561,836 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Thompson, Thomas Robert George
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): McPherson, James M
• Application Number:
  US14/332,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20160016626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B62K 11/00 Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/008 foldable about 2 or more axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2015/003 having a foldable crank or pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/00 Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/08 Pedals
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/65 with axle and driving shaft arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/00 Measuring force or stress, in general measuring force due to impact G01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• 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 system includes a computer in a bicycle, and the computer has a processor and a memory. The computer is programmed to determine user characteristics for a user of the bicycle, with the user characteristics including pedaling force and pedaling cadence; calculate a power contribution at least in part according to the user characteristics; select one or more operational parameters for a bicycle motor according to the power contribution; and apply the operational parameters to operation of the bicycle motor.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer in a bicycle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is programmed to:

determine user characteristics for a user of the bicycle, the user characteristics including a pedaling force and a pedaling cadence;

identify a performance objective variable for the bicycle, the performance objective variable being independent of one or more operating conditions of the bicycle, the performance objective variable being dependent on at least one of the user characteristics;

calculate a motor power contribution according to the user characteristics and the one or more operating conditions, the motor power contribution being configured to assist operation of the bicycle toward a target value of the performance objective variable;

select one or more operational parameters for a bicycle motor according to the motor power contribution; and

apply the one or more operational parameters to operation of the bicycle motor.

2. The system of claim 1, the computer being further configured to:

communicate calibration process instructions stored in the memory to the user through a user interface device;

measure user performance values during an execution of the calibration process instructions; and

populate one or more data arrays from the measured user performance values and the one or more operating conditions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein determining the user characteristics includes calculating one or more of the user characteristics according to the one or more data arrays.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user characteristics further include one or more of a user weight, a user aerodynamic form, a user fitness level, a user comfort, a user riding skill, and a user clothing.

5. The system of claim 4, the computer being further programmed to:

receive at least one of the user characteristics as an input through a user interface device.

6. The system of claim 4, the computer being further programmed to:

measure at least one of the user characteristics with a sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the target value of the performance objective variable is a predetermined value of one of the user characteristics, the predetermined value being stored in the memory.

8. The system of claim 1, the computer being further configured to:

update the user characteristics.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection of the one or more operational parameters further includes applying one or more control thresholds stored in the memory of the computer.

10. The system of claim 1, the computer being further configured to:

calculate the target value of the performance objective variable according to one or more of the user characteristics and the one or more operating conditions of the bicycle.

11. A method, comprising:

determining user characteristics for a user of a bicycle, the user characteristics including a pedaling force and a pedaling cadence;

identifying a performance objective variable for the bicycle, the performance objective variable being independent of one or more operating conditions of the bicycle, the performance objective variable being dependent on at least one of the user characteristics;

calculating a motor power contribution according to the user characteristics and the one or more operating conditions of the bicycle, the motor power contribution being configured to assist operation of the bicycle toward a target value of the performance objective variable;

selecting one or more operational parameters for a bicycle motor according to the motor power contribution and a stored operational mode; and

applying the one or more operational parameters to operation of the bicycle motor.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating calibration process instructions to the user through a user interface device;

measuring user performance values during an execution of the calibration process instructions; and

populating one or more data arrays from the measured user performance values and the one or more operating conditions.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the user characteristics includes calculating one or more of the user characteristics according to the one or more data arrays.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the user characteristics further include one or more of a user weight, a user aerodynamic form, a user fitness level, a user comfort, a user riding skill, and a user clothing.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving at least one of the user characteristics as an input through a user interface device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

measuring at least one of the user characteristics with a sensor.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the target value of the performance objective variable is a predetermined value of one of the user characteristics.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

updating the user characteristics.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting the one or more operational parameters further includes applying one or more stored control thresholds.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

calculating the target value of the performance objective variable according to one or more of the user characteristics and the one or more operating conditions of the bicycle.