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Automatic transmissions and methods therefor

  • US 9,739,375 B2
  • Filed: 02/01/2016
  • Issued: 08/22/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling a ball-planetary continuously variable transmission (CVT) on a bicycle comprising a controller, the ball-planetary CVT having a plurality of balls, each ball being rotatable about a tiltable axle, the angle of the axle defining a transmission ratio, the method comprising:

  • receiving, from a user, an input selecting one of a manual mode and an automatic mode;

    if the received input is associated with the manual mode, performing, using the controller, the steps ofreceiving an input associated with an increase or a decrease of the transmission ratio, andcommunicating a signal to tilt the angle of the axle to increase or decrease the transmission ratio; and

    if the received input is associated with the automatic mode, performing, using the controller, the steps ofreceiving from the user, an input associated with a target user pedaling speed,determining, using the controller, a present transmission ratio, andtilting the angle of the axle to adjust the present transmission ratio of the CVT to a target transmission ratio, wherein the target user pedaling speed is maintained substantially constant over a range of output speeds.

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