Bicycle electronic system and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975603-B2
Application number	US-201514814172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2015
Priority date	Aug 1, 2014
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed:

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 .

Assignees

• Campagnolo Srl

Inventors

• Bortolozzo Gianluca
• Cracco Flavio

Classifications

• B62M2025/006

  with auxiliary shift assisting means · CPC title

• B62M2025/003

  with gear indicating means, e.g. a display · CPC title

• B62M9/122

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62J45/20

  Cycle computers as cycle accessories · CPC title

• B62M25/08 Primary

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title