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US 2017/0356816 A1Published application
Systems and methods for measuring drivetrain power transmission
AssigneeLevel Engineering, Inc.
InventorsChristopher R. D'Elia, Richard R. D'Elia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Power transmitted from a cyclist to a bicycle through crank arms is indirectly measured by performing calculations on direct physical measurements. The direct physical measurements are taken from sensors that can be non-rotationally coupled to the frame of the bicycle. The sensors can be integrated into the frame or installed as a module within a standard, unmodified bicycle bottom bracket. Measured power can be viewed by the cyclist using a wirelessly connected user interface device.
Claims21
A system, comprising:
- a measurement side inner bearing cup having an outside diameter, configured to fit within a measurement side outer bearing cup having an inside diameter, wherein an open volume is formed between the outside diameter of the measurement side inner bearing cup and the inside diameter of the measurement side outer bearing cup;
- a first load sensor, coupled to the measurement side inner bearing cup at a first position along the outside diameter and within the open volume, wherein the first load sensor is configured to provide a first analog electrical signal responsive to a first applied force;
- a presence sensor configured to generate a detection signal in response to detecting proximity to a detection feature;
- an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the first analog electrical signal into corresponding digital values;
- and
- a microprocessor coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the presence sensor, and configured to:
- generate a force value corresponding to one of the digital values;
- generate a rotational position value using the detection signal;
- generate rotational velocity value using the detection signal;
- calculate a torque value by dividing a first product of multiplying the force value with a length value for a crank arm by a sine function of the rotational position;
- and
- calculate a power value by multiplying the torque value with the rotational velocity value.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- converting, by a power measurement system, a first analog electrical signal provided by a first load sensor into corresponding digital values, wherein the first analog electrical signal is response to an applied force;
- generating, by the power measurement system, a force value corresponding to one of the digital values;
- generating, by the power measurement system, a rotational position value by counting detection signals from a presence sensor, which is configured to detect rotational position changes;
- generating, by the power measurement system, a rotational velocity value by measuring arrival time intervals for the detection signals;
- calculating, by the power measurement system, a torque value by dividing a first product of multiplying the force value with a length value for a crank arm by a sine function of the rotational position;
- and
- calculating, by the power measurement system, a power value by multiplying the torque value with the rotational velocity value.
4 more elements
A system, comprising
- a measurement side inner bearing cup having an outside diameter, configured to fit within a measurement side outer bearing cup having an inside diameter;
- a first strain block, coupled to the measurement side inner bearing cup at a first position along the outside diameter and the inside diameter of the measurement side outer bearing cup;
- a first strain gauge, coupled to the first strain block, wherein the first strain gauge is configured to provide a first analog electrical signal responsive to a first applied force;
- a presence sensor configured to generate a detection signal in response to detecting proximity to a detection feature;
- an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the first analog electrical signal into corresponding digital values;
- and
- a microprocessor coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the presence sensor, and configured to:
- generate a force value corresponding to one of the digital values;
- generate a rotational position value using the detection signal;
- generate rotational velocity value using the detection signal;
- calculate a torque value by dividing a first product of multiplying the force value with a length value for a crank arm by a sine function of the rotational position;
- and
- calculate a power value by multiplying the torque value with the rotational velocity value.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.