Components, systems and methods of bicycle-based network connectivity and methods for controlling a bicycle having network connectivity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963199-B2
Application number	US-201514818040-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2015
Priority date	Aug 5, 2014
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A bicycle configured for communication with other bicycles, a centralized server, client computing devices and third party servers allows the rider to be connected with friends, coaches/trainers, and third party vendors including vendors associated with lodging, food, and other conveniences, vendors associated with bike servicing, equipment, warranties, and other bike related products and services, and vendors associated with routes, areas or destinations. Information may be communicated in real time or stored in memory and communicated to servers, client devices, other riders, etc., at a later date. Information may be communicated to the bike controller for route planning, service scheduling, training purposes and the like. Information communicated to or from the bicycle may be performed as indicated by the rider or there may be predetermined rules or guidelines for what information is collected and to whom the information may be sent to or received from.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle comprising:
a frame;
two wheels supported by the frame;
a transmission;
a bicycle speed sensor; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the transmission and the bicycle speed sensor, the controller having a processor and a non-transitory memory storing a set of instructions executable by the processor to
obtain rider information,
obtain bicycle information including information from the bicycle speed sensor,
obtain location information associated with the bicycle,
obtain terrain information associated with the location information, and
in response to an anticipated change in terrain, cause a change in a ratio of the transmission.

2. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory memory of the controller further stores a set of instructions executable by the processor to control the transmission according to a control scheme for the rider.

3. The bicycle of claim 1 , further comprising a motor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the ratio of the transmission comprises a speed ratio, and wherein the non-transitory memory of the controller further stores a set of instructions executable by the processor to change a speed of the motor and the speed ratio of the transmission in response to an anticipated change in terrain.

4. The bicycle of claim 1 , further comprising a motor communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the ratio of the transmission comprises a torque ratio, and wherein the non-transitory memory of the controller further stores a set of instructions executable by the processor to change a speed of the motor and the torque ratio of the transmission in response to an anticipated change in terrain.

5. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory memory of the controller further stores a set of instructions executable by the processor to:
determine a portion of a route in which anticipatory shifting is undesirable; and
suspend a control scheme when the bicycle is within the portion of the route in which anticipatory shifting is undesirable.

6. The bicycle of claim 5 , wherein the set of instructions executable by the processor to suspend the control scheme comprises instructions executable by the processor to:
terminate the control scheme; or
maintain the transmission at a last state before the bicycle entered the portion of the route in which anticipatory shifting is undesirable.

7. A method for controlling a transmission of a bicycle by a controller communicatively coupled to a bicycle speed sensor and the transmission, the method comprising:
obtaining rider information;
obtaining bicycle information including information from the bicycle speed sensor;
obtaining location information associated with the bicycle;
obtaining terrain information associated with the location information;
controlling the transmission according to a control scheme for the rider; and
in response to an anticipated change in terrain, causing a change in a ratio of the transmission.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the transmission comprises a speed ratio.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further communicatively coupled to a motor, and wherein the method comprises changing a speed of the motor and the speed ratio of the transmission in response to an anticipated change in terrain.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the transmission comprises a torque ratio.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further coupled to a motor, and wherein the method comprises changing a speed of the motor and the torque ratio of the transmission in response to an anticipated change in terrain.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises:
determining a portion of a route in which anticipatory shifting is undesirable; and
suspending the control scheme when the bicycle is within the portion of the route in which anticipatory shifting is undesirable.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein suspending the control scheme comprises terminating the control scheme.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein suspending the control scheme comprises maintaining the transmission at a last state before the bicycle entered the portion of the route in which anticipatory shifting is undesirable.

15. A bicycle comprising:
a frame;
two wheels supported by the frame;
a drivetrain configured to propel the bicycle;
a controller communicatively coupled to a network, the controller having a processor and a non-transitory memory storing a set of instructions executable by the processor to
obtain rider information for a rider of the bicycle,
obtain bicycle information,
determine location information associated with the bicycle,
obtain terrain information associated with the location information,
determine a set of routes for presentation to the rider based on the rider information, the bicycle information, the location information, and the terrain information, and
present the set of routes to the rider; and

a transmission, wherein the non-transitory memory of the controller further stores a set of instructions executable by the processor to control the transmission according to a control scheme for the rider and further executable to cause a change in a ratio of the transmission in response to an anticipated change in terrain.

16. The bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the non-transitory memory of the controller further stores a set of instructions executable by the processor to:
receive an indication of a route from the rider;
receive at least one signal from a biometric sensor; and
determine at least one alternate route based on the indicated route and the at least one signal received from the biometric sensor.

17. The bicycle of claim 16 , wherein the at least one signal includes information indicative of a heart rate, and wherein the processor is configured to determine an alternate route based on a desired maximum heart rate.

18. The bicycle of claim 16 , wherein the at least one signal includes information indicative of a heart rate, and wherein the processor is configured to communicate with a central server to determine an alternate route based on heart rates associated with other riders that rode the alternate route.

19. The bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the bicycle further comprises a battery, wherein the drivetrain comprises a motor coupled to the battery, and wherein the non-transitory memory of the controller further stores a set of instructions executable by the processor to provide supplemental propulsion to the bicycle, via the motor, based at least in part on a power level of the battery.

20. The bicycle of claim 19 , wherein the non-transitory memory of the controller further stores a set of instructions executable by the processor to provide supplemental propulsion to the bicycle to increase the speed of the bicycle based at least in part on an indication of desired bicycle speed.

21. A controller for use with a bicycle having a frame, two wheels supported by the frame, and a drivetrain including a transmission for propelling the bicycle, the controller communicatively coupled to a network and configured to:
communicate with a GPS receiver to determine a location of the bicycle,
communicate with a map source and determine terrain information based upon the determined location of the bicycle,
receive information about the bicycle,
determine a set of routes available to a rider based on the location of the bicycle, the terrain associated with the

Assignees

• Fallbrook Ip Co Llc

Inventors

• Hancock David Barton
• Vasiliotis Christopher M
• Sweet Brian Benjamin
• Lohr Charles B
• Dawe Daniel J
• Tanner Eric
• Carter Jeremy
• Birchak Jeffrey A
• Contello Wayne Leroy
• Whisler Russell Charles
• Gust Kevin Alan
• Bazyn Matthew R

Classifications

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B60W2710/1005

  Transmission ratio engaged · CPC title

• B60L2240/70

  Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres · CPC title

• B60W2510/244

  Charge state · CPC title

• B62M6/45 Primary

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title