IP Library Granted Patent US 10,023,266
Granted Patent B2
US 10,023,266 · App. 15/172,031 · Granted Jul 17, 2018

Systems and methods for automatic configuration and automatic calibration of continuously variable transmissions and bicycles having continuously variable transmissions

Inventors: Wayne Leroy Contello (Austin, TX); Brian Benjamin Sweet (Leander, TX); Richard Hilgart (Bad Nauheim, DE); Jeffrey A. Birchak (San Diego, CA); Kevin Alan Gust (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC
B62M25/08B62M9/10H04L67/12
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,023,266
App. No.
15/172,031
Granted
Jul 17, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A continuously variable transmission on a bicycle may be automatically configured with little or no assistance from a user. Optical scanning devices, RFIDs, and other information capturing technology can communicate with a controller. The controller may then perform a portion or all of a configuration process. In operation, a controller may determine that calibration is needed. A calibration process may be initiated and performed with little or no user interaction. A calibration process may account for a load, a power source, or an environment.

Claims (18)

1. A system for automatic calibration of a bicycle, comprising:

a vendor computer adapted to:

determine a component installed on the bicycle based on an optical label associated with the component;

communicate with a configuration server having stored thereon information about the component to determine a first set of operating parameters of the bicycle based on specifications of the component;

determine a user profile associated with the bicycle; and

communicate the first set of operating parameters to a controller associated with the bicycle, the controller having a set of instructions to:

receive a user input;

determine a first characteristic of the bicycle based on the component; and

control a continuously variable transmission based on the component, the user profile, the user input, and the first set of operating parameters.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises an electric motor, wherein the first set of operating parameters are associated with a road bicycle, wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission and the electric motor for paved roads.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of operating parameters are associated with a mountain bicycle, and wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission for unpaved routes.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor, wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission and the electric motor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of operating parameters are associated with a commercial bicycle, and wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission for a rider transporting heavy items.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the first characteristic of the first component comprises determining a gear size.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the first characteristic of the first component comprises determining one or more of a gear tooth count, a wheel size, a chain length, a gear ratio, a frame size, a length of a frame member, and a seat height.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vendor computer communicates with a user profile server to determine a user profile associated with the bicycle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vendor computer is configured to communicate with a manufacturer computer to determine the component installed on the bicycle based on the optical label associated with the component.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises an electric motor, wherein the first set of operating parameters are associated with a mountain bicycle, and wherein control of the continuously variable transmission based on the first component, the user profile, the user input, and the first set of operating parameters comprises optimizing the continuously variable transmission and the electric motor for unpaved roads.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2024
From: ENVIOLO INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: ENVIOLO B.V.
Reel/Frame 067964/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2024
From: ENVIOLO INC.
To: ENVIOLO INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 068098/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2024
From: FALLBROOK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY LLC
To: ENVIOLO INC.
Reel/Frame 068511/0716 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: FALLBROOK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY LLC
To: GLAS TRUST CORPORATION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 059728/0361 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2016
From: CONTELLO, WAYNE LEROY; SWEET, BRIAN BENJAMIN; HILGART, RICHARD; BIRCHAK, JEFFREY A.; GUST, KEVIN ALAN
To: FALLBROOK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 040280/0189 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62334947 · May 11, 2016
Provisional Application 62344325 · Jun 1, 2016
Related Publication 20170327184A1 · Nov 16, 2017
Cited By (5)
US 12,442,434 US 12,488,385 US 12,496,999 US 12,662,213 US 12,715,546