Real-Time Bicycle-Mounted Pedal Stroke Power Analysis System

Abstract

An apparatus and system for monitoring, analyzing and displaying the power applied by a user during operation of a pedal assembly are described. A hub assembly includes a sensor such as one or more strain gauges and is mounted in the rear wheel of a bicycle for detecting the torque and angular velocity applied during pedaling. The detected information is then transmitted to a receiver module, which sends the information to a computer that is fixedly coupled to, for example, the handlebars of the bicycle. The computer then processes the received information and outputs to a display a real-time or near real-time graphical representation of the power applied during the pedal stroke.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic pictorial view of a bicycle equipped with one embodiment of the power sensing and display system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the operation of the power sensing and display system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of a representative embodiment for a graphical user interface using the power sensing and display system of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of another representative embodiment of a graphical user interface using the power sensing and display system of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bicycle, comprising: a frame and a pair of wheels, one of which is driven by operation of a rotatable pedal assembly;a sensing arrangement for measuring the force applied by a user to rotate the pedal assembly in order to impart movement to the driven wheel; anda pedal stroke analysis system carried by the bicycle that receives information from the sensing arrangement and that provides feedback to the user as to the application of force to the pedal assembly by the user while the bicycle is operated by the user.

2. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the sensing arrangement is incorporated in a hub of the driven wheel of the bicycle.

3. The bicycle of claim 2, wherein the pedal stroke analysis system provides feedback to the user in the form of a graphic representation on a display mounted to the bicycle.

4. A system for providing information to a rider as to power applied by the rider during operation of a cycle having a frame and at least one wheel that is driven by operation of a rotatable pedal assembly, comprising a sensing arrangement for measuring the power applied by the rider to rotate the pedal assembly in order to impart movement to the driven wheel; and a pedal stroke analysis system that receives information from the sensing arrangement and that provides feedback to the user as to the application of power to the pedal assembly by the rider while the cycle is operated by the rider.

5. A method of providing information to a rider as to power applied by the rider during operation of a cycle having a frame and at least one wheel that is driven by operation of a rotatable pedal assembly, comprising the acts of rotating the pedal assembly; sensing the power applied by the rider to rotate the pedal assembly in order to impart movement to the driven wheel; and analyzing information from the sensing arrangement and providing feedback to the user as to the application of power to the pedal assembly by the rider while the cycle is operated by the rider.