Bicycle Control Using Multiple Sensors for Stable Resistance Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human-powered vehicle control devices struggle to effectively and reliably control vehicle components using a single sensor value, leading to suboptimal performance and potential abnormalities due to sensor deviations.
Innovation Solution
A human-powered vehicle control device that utilizes an electronic controller to control vehicle components based on values obtained from multiple sensors, including torque sensors, wind sensors, acceleration sensors, and others, to provide more accurate and stable control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sensor is used to control human-powered vehicle components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability and measurement precision of control deteriorate due to sensor deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different types of sensors (torque sensor, wind sensor, acceleration sensor, vehicle speed sensor, inclination sensor) to detect different local characteristics of the human-powered vehicle system. Each sensor provides specialized measurement for its specific parameter, and the electronic controller integrates these diverse local measurements to achieve reliable overall control despite individual sensor limitations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the electronic controller continuously receive detection values from multiple sensors, compare them with predetermined thresholds, and adjust control signals to the human-powered vehicle components accordingly. The controller can determine when sensor values deviate from expected ranges and compensate for these deviations through feedback-based control adjustments
2Ease of manufacture
If a single sensor is used to control human-powered vehicle components, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the measurement precision and control accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor detection functions into a unified control system. The electronic controller combines detection values from torque sensors, wind sensors, acceleration sensors, vehicle speed sensors, and inclination sensors to comprehensively determine human driving force and travel resistance. This merging of multiple measurement sources achieves high measurement precision while maintaining cost-effectiveness through shared processing infrastructure
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to control human-powered vehicle components, then the reliability and measurement precision improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic controller serves multiple functions: it receives and processes detection values from various sensor types, determines human driving force, calculates travel resistance, compares values with predetermined thresholds, determines sensor deviations, and outputs control signals to vehicle components. This multi-functionality consolidates complex sensor management into a single universal control unit, managing sensor system complexity while maintaining high reliability
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to control human-powered vehicle components, then the measurement precision and control accuracy improve, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by using different sensor types that measure different physical parameters (torque, wind speed, acceleration, vehicle speed, inclination) to infer the same target quantity (human driving force). By changing the measurement parameters and using multiple indirect measurement approaches, the system achieves high measurement precision without requiring expensive direct measurement sensors for all parameters
Data Source
AI summary
A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a human-powered vehicle component in accordance with a travel resistance. The human-powered vehicle component is included in a human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to control the human-powered vehicle component in accordance with a first value and a second value. The first value is related to the travel resistance obtained using a first sensor. The second value is related to the travel resistance obtained using a second sensor.