933results about "Cycle sensors" patented technology

A center of gravity (C / G) control system for a vehicle includes sensors to measure the center of gravity shift and mass shift of the human body in relation to the vehicle, a controller to determine outputs, a dynamically adjustable vehicle system, and a power supply. The sensor measures the direction and rate of shift of the center of gravity and mass shift of the human and creates a representative input signal. The controller determines the appropriate outputs in response to the relative center of gravity shift data received. The dynamically adjustable vehicle system receives the controller output and performs the expected action.

A controller for providing user input of a desired direction of motion or orientation for a transporter. The controller has an input for receiving specification by a user of a value based on a detected body orientation of the user. User-specified input may be conveyed by the user using any of a large variety of input modalities, including: ultrasonic body position sensing; foot force sensing; handlebar lean; active handlebar; mechanical sensing of body position; and linear slide directional input. An apparatus that may include an active handlebar is provided for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle.

A leaning vehicle has a frame that pivots relative to a pivotable frame member about a pivot axis. A torque exerted on a steering assembly in a first direction causes the frame to pivot relative to the pivotable frame member in a second, opposite direction at least when the speed of the vehicle is above a first threshold speed, to steer the vehicle in the second direction. An actuator urges the frame toward an upright position when the frame is in a leaning position and a speed of the vehicle is below a second threshold speed. A method is also described, in which a torque is exerted on the frame in the direction opposite the steering torque when the speed above the first threshold speed. The torque exerted by the actuator is opposite the leaning angle when the speed of travel is below the second threshold speed.

A controller for providing user input of a desired direction of motion or orientation for a transporter. The controller has an input for receiving specification by a user of a value based on a detected body orientation of the user. User-specified input may be conveyed by the user using any of a large variety of input modalities, including: ultrasonic body position sensing; foot force sensing; handlebar lean; active handlebar; mechanical sensing of body position; and linear slide directional input. An apparatus that may include an active handlebar is provided for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle.

An electronically controlled suspension system for a bicycle includes at least one spring element between first and second parts the bicycle, both parts being movably interconnected. At least one parameter of the spring element is modified. At least one actuator influences the spring element to modify the at least one parameter. An electronic module produces a control signal for the at least one actuator. A control device is influenced by the control signal produced by the electronic module. The control device is connected to at least one of the electronic module and the actuator through a radio signal. A corresponding method controls the suspension system for the bicycle and a computer program executes the method.

Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a single-track vehicle has a retractable auxiliary-support wheel assembly and a computer control system. In an embodiment, the single-track vehicle has an elongated body. The retractable auxiliary-support wheel assembly mounts on both sides of the elongated body. The computer control system analyzes signals from one or more sensors to dynamically balance the single-track vehicle.

A bicycle suspension system includes a control unit, a velocity sensor, and a cadence sensor. The control unit is configured to obtain gear ratio information of a bicycle to control an operating state of a suspension of the bicycle based on the gear ratio information. The velocity sensor is configured to detect a forward velocity of the bicycle and output a signal indicative of the forward velocity to the control unit. The cadence sensor is configured to detect a cadence of the bicycle crank and output a signal indicative of the cadence to the control unit. The control unit is configured to obtain the gear ratio information based on the forward velocity and the cadence.

Apparatus and methods for use in measurement of applied load at a chainring assemblage of a pedal powered device are provided. The apparatus includes a link adapted for interposition between a chainring attachment site located on a conventional chainring mount, or spider, and a corresponding chainring attachment locale at a conventional chainring. The link has a geometry and / or material composition selected to accommodate measurement of load exhibited between the attachment site and the corresponding chainring attachment locale. Means for measuring the load exhibited thereby is associated with the link.

An inverted pendulum type moving body subject to a traveling control in response to a traveling instruction based on an intention of a rider while keeping a balance, a manipulation mode is performed based on the intention of the rider and an automatic operation mode is performed without being based on the intention of the rider.The inverted pendulum type moving body includes a center-of-gravity position adjusting unit for adjusting a center-of-gravity position of the rider in accordance with a manipulation signal outputted from a control device. When an instruction for switching a control mode to an automatic operation mode, where a predetermined traveling control is performed without being based on intention of the rider, is generated, and controls a wheel drive unit in accordance with a traveling instruction based on the center-of-gravity position.

A leaning vehicle has a frame that pivots relative to a pivotable frame member about a pivot axis. A torque exerted on a steering assembly in a first direction causes the frame to pivot relative to the pivotable frame member in a second, opposite direction at least when the speed of the vehicle is above a first threshold speed, to steer the vehicle in the second direction. An actuator urges the frame toward an upright position when the frame is in a leaning position and a speed of the vehicle is below a second threshold speed. A method is also described, in which a torque is exerted on the frame in the direction opposite the steering torque when the speed above the first threshold speed. The torque exerted by the actuator is opposite the leaning angle when the speed of travel is below the second threshold speed.

A control unit for a motor-assisted vehicle such as a bicycle is disclosed that effectively provides an assist drive power to a motor-assisted bicycle during a period of initial pedaling or startup on an upward slope or at the time of acceleration. A first detection signal is outputted when a vehicle speed is equal to or less than a predetermined vehicle speed. A second detection signal is outputted when acceleration is equal to or more than a predetermined value on the basis of a change in the amount of the vehicle speed. A road surface inclination is determined from a map on the basis of a ratio between an actual running resistance and a flat road running resistance. A coefficient K is retrieved form the map corresponding to either the first detection signal or the second detection signal to increase the assist power from the map on the basis of the vehicle speed. The coefficient K is inputted into an assist power calculating portion, and the required assist drive power is calculated.

This invention relates to power assisted vehicles (10) and in particular to vehicles of the type which use electrically powered motors (13) to assist in the propulsion, of the vehicle. The control system (14) for a power assisted vehicle (10) having an electric motor (13), said control system (14) including: an accelerometer-based tilt sensor (16) augmented with an input from a velocity source (46) to determine the inclination of said vehicle (10), a manual input variably adjustable sensor (23) for detecting in a non-contact manner manual propulsion input, to said vehicle (10), by sensing the rotation speed of a rotating portion of said vehicle (10); and said control system (14) being adapted to control the power supplied to said motor (13) and therefore the power assistance provided to said vehicle (10) by said electric motor (13) in accordance with, the inclination or pitch of said vehicle (10) as sensed by said augmented accelerometer-based tilt sensor (16) and the manual propulsion input from said manual propulsion sensor (23).

The field of the invention relates to bicycle systems, especially to bicycle systems adapted for use with smartphones, to smartphones configured for use with bicycle systems, and to methods and to computer software for use with such bicycle systems or smartphones, and to servers configured to communicate with such bicycle systems or smartphones. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle system including a bicycle, the bicycle system including a processor integral to the bicycle, the bicycle system further including a battery integral to the bicycle, wherein the processor is powerable by the battery, the bicycle system including a smartphone holder configurable to receive a smartphone and to connect the smartphone to the processor, wherein in use the smartphone holder is attachable to, and detachable from, the smartphone. Advantages include that the smartphone can be charged by the battery, the smartphone can communicate with the processor so as to receive various information such as maintenance-related information of the bicycle system, the bicycle system can investigate the smartphone identity to check for unauthorized use of the bicycle system, the smartphone is held during bicycle system travel which reduces the risk of damage to the smartphone, and the bicycle system shape is more aerodynamic than that of a bicycle to which a processor and / or a battery has merely been bolted-on.

A derailleur position processing apparatus includes a derailleur moving member that moves with the derailleur; an analog signal providing mechanism operatively coupled to the derailleur moving member, wherein the analog signal providing mechanism provides an analog position signal in response to movement of the derailleur moving member; and a digital signal providing mechanism operatively coupled to the derailleur moving member, wherein the digital signal providing mechanism provides a digital position signal in response to movement of the derailleur moving member.

A bank angle detecting device includes a roll rate sensor for detecting a angular velocity ωr about a longitudinal axis of the motorcycle; a yaw rate sensor for detecting a angular velocity ωy about an vertical axis of the motorcycle; a bank angle detecting unit for detecting the motorcycle bank angle δ for calibration use based on the yaw rate ωy and a traveling velocity v; and a bank angle correcting unit for correcting the basic motorcycle bank angle δr, determined from an output ωr of the yaw rate sensor, so as to approach the motorcycle bank angle δ that is detected by the bank angle detecting unit, to thereby determine the estimated bank angle δ0.

An electromechanical force sensor uses a rotating element that aligns with the force and may carry a force magnitude sensor simplifying and providing more accurate measurement of force-angle and force-magnitude. The ability to detect simply force-angle and force-magnitude enables a variety of training and exercise devices.

Apparatus and methods for use in measurement of applied load at a chainring assemblage of a pedal powered device are provided. The apparatus includes a link adapted for interposition between a chainring attachment site located on a conventional chainring mount, or spider, and a corresponding chainring attachment locale at a conventional chainring. The link has a geometry and / or material composition selected to accommodate measurement of load exhibited between the attachment site and the corresponding chainring attachment locale. Means for measuring the load exhibited thereby is associated with the link.

A two-wheel, self-balancing transportation device having a foot platform zone associated with each wheel. Various sensor or control arrangements are disclosed. In one embodiment, torsion sensing is used to determine a rider's fore-aft weight distribution on one foot platform zone relative to the other. The torsion-based sensing is preferably combined with fore-aft platform position sensing to achieve a driving and turning of the device. In another embodiment, pressure sensors are used to determine a rider's fore-aft weight distribution on one foot platform zone relative to the other. In yet another embodiment, a relative position sensor is used to determine the relative position of movable platforms sections. Other features and embodiments are also disclosed.

A measurement module that measures force being applied to a man-powered machine includes: a strain sensor that detects strain of a crank of the bicycle configured to transmit force being applied from a user through the crank and one front gear selected among one or more front gears; an MM magnetic sensor that detects the crank passing through a predetermined position; and an MM control part. The MM control part calculates a rotation angle of the crank based on an elapsed time from a time the crank passes through the predetermined position that the sensor has detected, calculates force applied to the crank based on a strain amount of the crank that the strain sensor has detected, associates the rotation angle with the force applied to the crank to calculate distribution of the force applied from the user.

A recharging system for a rechargeable battery (281) of an inverted pendulum type vehicle (1) comprises a stand (86) for holding the vehicle in a substantially upright posture by using a supporting member (91, 96) that engages a prescribed part of the vehicle, a power feed device (95, 152) is provided on the stand, and a power take device (88, 151) provided on the vehicle. The power take device is positioned so as to couple with the power feed device when the prescribed part of the vehicle is engaged by the supporting member of the stand. The stand allows the vehicle to be placed in an upright posture simply leaning the vehicle against a part of the supporting member, and the electric connection between the rechargeable battery of the vehicle and the power source can be established at the same time without requiring any extra effort.

A vehicle conspicuity / signaling system includes a projector configured to project a light pattern onto a road surface, a speed / acceleration detection unit configured to detect a vehicle speed and an acceleration, a bank angle detection unit configured to detect a bank angle, a chassis behavior detection unit configured to detect a behavior of a chassis, and a projector control unit configured to change a projection status of the light pattern projected from the projector on the basis of the detection results of these detection units.

A Kalman filter in a roll angle estimation device estimates a roll angle of a vehicle body, a vehicle speed, a roll angular velocity sensor offset, a yaw angular velocity sensor offset, and a vertical acceleration sensor offset on the basis of detected values of a roll angular velocity sensor, a yaw angular velocity sensor, a vertical acceleration sensor, a longitudinal acceleration sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, and a rear-wheel speed sensor, and also on the basis of estimated values of the roll angle, the vehicle speed, the roll angular velocity sensor offset, the yaw angular velocity sensor offset, and the vertical acceleration sensor offset obtained in a previous estimation operation.

A method, system and apparatus for carrying a user including a board for supporting the user, a ground-contacting member coupled with the board, a motorized drive assembly coupled with the ground-contacting member and one or more sensors coupled with the drive assembly. In operation, the drive assembly adjusts the velocity of the ground-contacting member based on one or more distances of the board from a surface below the board as detected by the sensors. As a result, the system is able to maintain a desired velocity when ascending, descending or traversing uneven ground without the need for excessive and sometimes impossible tilting of the board.

A vehicle headlight unit comprising a sensor-controlled corrective device for the light beam pattern generated by the dipped low beam, at least one central headlight for driving in a straight line and one respective lateral headlight positioned to the right and left thereof, with right-hand headlight for illuminating left-hand bends and the left-hand headlight for illuminating right-hand bends. Each headlight is rotated away from the horizontal position about its optical axis through an incline-compensation angle, so that the outer edge that lies at a distance from the central headlight is in a lower position than the latter. The corrective device comprises an electronic control unit, which activates at least the central headlight within a driving range for a substantially upright driving position and when bends are negotiated and a minimal tilting angle is exceeded, deactivates the central headlight and activates either the left-hand or right-hand headlight.