# US 2017/0283003 A1 · Support for smooth pedalling on a bicycle

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- Number: US 2017/0283003 A1
- Document ID: US20170283003A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/510,698
- Filed: 2015-09-15
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-17
- Assignees: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
- Applicants: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
- Inventors: Ulrich Stählin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283003A1

## CPC

- B62M 6/50: characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
- B62M 6/45: Control or actuating devices therefor
- B62M 6/55: power-driven at crank shafts parts
- G01L 3/00: Measuring torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency, in general
- B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method for supporting a driver of a bicycle (2) for the pedal drive via a pedal bearing shaft (16) of a pedal bearing (12) arranged on the bicycle, comprising:—detecting a pedalling torque (34) applied by the driver of the bicycle (2) onto the pedal bearing shaft (16) via a rotational angle (68) of the pedal bearing shaft (16), and—outputting an auxiliary signal (79) when a comparison (74) of the pedalling torque (36) and the rotational angle (68) deviates from a predetermined condition (73).

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-10. (canceled)

### Claim 11

A method for assisting a rider of a bicycle during pedal-driving via a bottom bracket shaft of a bottom bracket comprised on the bicycle, the method comprising:
detecting a pedaling torque which is applied to the bottom bracket shaft by the rider of the bicycle over a rotational angle of the bottom bracket shaft; and
outputting an auxiliary signal if a comparison of the pedaling torque and of the rotational angle differs from a predetermined condition.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a fluctuation in the pedaling torque over the rotational angle is smaller than a predetermined value within the scope of the predetermined condition.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising superimposing an auxiliary torque on the pedaling torque, on the basis of the auxiliary signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising generating the auxiliary torque in such a way that a comparison of a total torque, composed of the pedaling torque, the auxiliary torque, and the rotational angle, satisfies the predetermined condition.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising pilot-controlling the generated auxiliary torque on the basis of an estimate of the profile of the pedaling torque plotted against the rotational angle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising avoiding superimposing the auxiliary torque if the comparison of the pedaling torque and of the rotational angle satisfies a further predetermined condition.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the further predetermined condition is dependent on an acceleration request and/or a braking request of the rider.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising outputting a message to the rider on the basis of the auxiliary signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a pedaling cycle acting on the bottom bracket shaft follows circular pedaling, and wherein a total torque which acts on the bottom bracket shaft is kept constant by an auxiliary motor.

### Claim 20

A control device configured to assist a rider of a bicycle during pedal-driving via a bottom bracket shaft of a bottom bracket comprised on the bicycle, the control device comprising a component for detecting a pedaling torque which is applied to the bottom bracket shaft by the rider of the bicycle over a rotational angle of the bottom bracket shaft, and system for outputting an auxiliary signal if a comparison of the pedaling torque and of the rotational angle differs from a predetermined condition.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The control device as claimed in claim 20, wherein a fluctuation in the pedaling torque over the rotational angle is smaller than a predetermined value within the scope of the predetermined condition.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The control device as claimed in claim 20 further comprising superimposing an auxiliary torque on the pedaling torque, on the basis of the auxiliary signal.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The control device as claimed in claim 22 further comprising generating the auxiliary torque in such a way that a comparison of a total torque, composed of the pedaling torque, the auxiliary torque, and the rotational angle, satisfies the predetermined condition.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The control device as claimed in claim 23 further comprising pilot-controlling the generated auxiliary torque on the basis of an estimate of the profile of the pedaling torque plotted against the rotational angle.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The control device as claimed in claim 24 further comprising avoiding superimposing the auxiliary torque if the comparison of the pedaling torque and of the rotational angle satisfies a further predetermined condition.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The control device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the further predetermined condition is dependent on an acceleration request and/or a braking request of the rider.

### Claim 27 (depends on 20)

The control device as claimed in claim 20 further comprising outputting a message to the rider on the basis of the auxiliary signal.

### Claim 28 (depends on 20)

The control device as claimed in claim 20, wherein a pedaling cycle acting on the bottom bracket shaft follows circular pedaling, and wherein a total torque which acts on the bottom bracket shaft is kept constant by an auxiliary motor.

### Claim 29

A bicycle comprising:
a frame which is movably held on an underlying surface via at least one wheel;
a bottom bracket comprising a bottom bracket shaft for driving the wheel on the basis of a pedaling torque applied by the rider; and,
a configured to assist a rider of a bicycle during pedal-driving via a bottom bracket shaft of a bottom bracket comprised on the bicycle, the control device comprising a component for detecting a pedaling torque which is applied to the bottom bracket shaft by the rider of the bicycle over a rotational angle of the bottom bracket shaft, and system for outputting an auxiliary signal if a comparison of the pedaling torque and of the rotational angle differs from a predetermined condition;
wherein a pedaling cycle acting on the bottom bracket shaft follows circular pedaling, and wherein a total torque which acts on the bottom bracket shaft is kept constant by an auxiliary motor.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The bicycle as claimed in claim 29, wherein a message is outputted to a rider on the basis of the auxiliary signal.