Bicycle electronic system and related method

• US 9,975,603 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Inventors: Bortolozzo, Gianluca, Cracco, Flavio
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Edwin A
• Application Number:
  US14/814,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20160031527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/416 Physiological sensors, e.g. heart rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/003 with gear indicating means, e.g. a display
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/006 with auxiliary shift assisting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/123 changing gears automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/132 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/133 changing gears automatically

Abstract

A method for actuating a bicycle electronic gearshift comprising the steps of: receiving a signal indicative of the heart rate of a cyclist using the bicycle; receiving a signal indicative of the power delivered by the cyclist; calculating a performance index as a function of the value of the signal indicative of the power and of the value of the signal indicative of the heart rate; obtaining a reference value for the performance index; comparing the calculated performance index with the reference value of the performance index; and, emitting a control signal as a function of the outcome of comparing step. A bicycle electronic system for practicing the disclosed method comprises an electronic gearshift, a heart rate monitor, a power sensor, and a controller configured to carry out each step of the method.

Claims

1. A method for actuating a bicycle electronic gearshift, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a signal indicative of a cyclist'"'"'s heart rate while using the bicycle,

b) receiving a signal indicative of power delivered by the cyclist,

c) calculating a performance index as a function of the value of the signal indicative of the power and of the value of the signal indicative of the heart rate,

d) obtaining a reference value for the performance index,

e) comparing the calculated performance index with the reference value of the performance index,

f) emitting a control signal, as a function of the outcome of comparing step e), to cause a gearshift to occur.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step c) comprises calculating the performance index as a ratio between the value of the signal indicative of the power and the value of the signal indicative of the heart rate.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein step e) comprises checking whether the calculated performance index is below a lower limit of a reference area about the reference value of the performance index, and:

in an affirmative case, step f) comprises emitting a signal to increase a gear ratio of the gearshift;

in a negative case, step f) comprises emitting a signal to reduce a gear ratio of the gearshift.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

g) checking whether the value of the signal indicative of the cyclist'"'"'s heart rate is above a threshold value indicative of the cyclist'"'"'s anaerobic threshold, and wherein

step f) of emitting a control signal is carried out only if the check of step g) has a negative outcome, while if the check of step g) has a positive outcome, the method comprises the step of;

h) activating an alarm mode.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein step h) of activating an alarm mode comprises emitting a signal to reduce a gear ratio of the gearshift.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps a)-f) are carried out at a sampling frequency selectable from at least two different values.

7. The method according to claim 6, comprising the step of:

i) a selecting the sampling frequency based on the signal indicative of the heart rate of the cyclist using the bicycle and/or on the signal indicative of the power delivered by the cyclist.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bicycle electronic gearshift comprises a rear derailleur and a front derailleur, and the method further comprises the steps of:

j) selectively enabling or disabling the movement of the front derailleur, and

k) actuating the control signal through a movement of the rear derailleur and/or a movement of the front derailleur in the case in which the movement of the front derailleur is enabled in step j), through a movement of only the rear derailleur in the case in which the movement of the front derailleur is disabled in step j).

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of indicating to the cyclist when the front derailleur is enabled and/or indicating gearshifting of the front derailleur in progress.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

l) receiving a gearshifting request signal from a user interface,

m) in a semi-automatic mode, step f) comprises emitting a control signal as a function of the outcome of comparing step e) and/or based on the gearshifting request signal received in step l).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein in a default mode, the control signal is emitted giving priority to the outcome of comparing step e).

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein step d) comprises:

d1) generating the reference value for the performance index with a stepped progression.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein step d1) comprises:

d2) generating the reference value for the performance index with a stepped progression that repeats cyclically.

14. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of:

n) selecting from at least two gearshifting modes selected among a light gearshifting mode, a medium gearshifting mode, a strong gearshifting mode, and wherein

if the preselected gearshifting mode is light gearshifting mode, step f) of emitting a control signal comprises emitting a request signal for changing the gear ratio into the closest one among those available—

the immediately greater one or the immediately smaller one, respectively;

if the preselected gearshifting mode is medium gearshifting mode, step f) of emitting a control signal comprises emitting a request signal for changing the gear ratio into the second closest one among those available—

the second greater one or the second smaller one, respectively;

if the preselected gearshifting mode is strong gearshifting mode, step f) of emitting a control signal comprises emitting a request signal for changing the gear ratio into the third closest one among those available—

the third greater one or the third smaller one, respectively.

15. A bicycle electronic system comprising an electronic gearshift, a controller, a heart rate monitor, and a power sensor, wherein the controller is configured to carry out the steps of claim 1.