Crank spindle set-up, control and/or evaluation method and unit for a crank spindle set-up, and vehicle

A control and/or evaluation method for a crank spindle set-up and its operation, the crank spindle set-up including:

• a crank spindle configured to receive a force and/or a torque from pedaling using crank arms attached to ends of the crank spindle,
• an output shaft configured to receive a force and/or a torque from the crank spindle,
• a mechanical coupling having a tap between the ends of the crank spindle, configured to transmit force and/or torque from the crank spindle to the output shaft,
• a first magnetic region on and/or in the output shaft configured to generate and output a first magnetic field that is a function of the state of mechanical stress of the output shaft,
• a second magnetic region on and/or in the crank spindle at an axial distance from the tap of the mechanical coupling, configured to generate and output a second magnetic field that is a function of the state of mechanical stress of the crank spindle, and
• a sensor set-up configured to detect a magnetic field output by the crank spindle set-up;
• the method comprising the following steps:
• acquiring and recording a time characteristic of a signal measured by the sensor set-up;
• recognizing sections between two directly consecutive minima in the characteristic of the signal as half phases of the signal;
• recognizing, half phases of the signal, whose signal values are shifted to greater absolute values in comparison with half phases directly adjacent in time, as caused by one side of the crank arm and correspondingly rating the half phases as “right” or “left,” on a side of which the second magnetic region of the crank arm is formed relative to the mechanical coupling, each of the half phases being recognized and rated as “left” and/or “right”;
• and
• generating for a device to be controlled with regard to the signal measured currently by the sensor set-up a control signal for a current “right” half phase and/or for a current “left” half phase, and outputting the control signal to the device for its control.

A control and/or evaluation unit for a crank spindle set-up the crank spindle set-up including:

• a crank spindle configured to receive a force and/or a torque from pedaling using crank arms attached to ends of the crank spindle,
• an output shaft configured to receive a force and/or a torque from the crank spindle,
• a mechanical coupling having a tap between the ends of the crank spindle, configured to transmit force and/or torque from the crank spindle to the output shaft,
• a first magnetic region on and/or in the output shaft configured to generate and output a first magnetic field that is a function of the state of mechanical stress of the output shaft,
• a second magnetic region on and/or in the crank spindle at an axial distance from the tap of the mechanical coupling, configured to generate and output a second magnetic field that is a function of the state of mechanical stress of the crank spindle, and
• a sensor set-up configured to detect a magnetic field output by the crank spindle set-up;
• the control and/or evaluation unit configured to:
• acquire and record a time characteristic of a signal measured by the sensor set-up;
• recognize sections between two directly consecutive minima in the characteristic of the signal as half phases of the signal;
• recognize, half phases of the signal, whose signal values are shifted to greater absolute values in comparison with half phases directly adjacent in time, as caused by one side of the crank arm and correspondingly rating the half phases as “right” or “left,” on a side of which the second magnetic region of the crank arm is formed relative to the mechanical coupling, each of the half phases being recognized and rated as “left” and/or “right”;
• and
• generating for a device to be controlled with regard to the signal measured currently by the sensor set-up a control signal for a current “right” half phase and/or for a current “left” half phase, and outputting the control signal to the device for its control.

A vehicle capable of being propelled by muscle power and additionally by motor power, and which is configured with a drive unit, the vehicle comprising:

• a crank spindle set-up including:
• a crank spindle configured to receive a force and/or a torque from pedaling using crank arms attached to ends of the crank spindle;
• an output shaft configured to receive a force and/or a torque from the crank spindle;
• a mechanical coupling having a tap between the ends of the crank spindle, configured to transmit force and/or torque from the crank spindle to the output shaft;
• a first magnetic region on and/or in the output shaft configured to generate and output a first magnetic field that is a function of the state of mechanical stress of the output shaft;
• a second magnetic region on and/or in the crank spindle at an axial distance from the tap of the mechanical coupling, configured to generate and output a second magnetic field that is a function of the state of mechanical stress of the crank spindle;
• and
• a sensor set-up configured to detect a magnetic field output by the crank spindle set-up.