IP Library Granted Patent US 11,351,434
Granted Patent B2
US 11,351,434 · App. 16/406,607 · Granted Jun 7, 2022

Power measurement device

Inventor: Martin Smits (Wassenaar, NL)
Assignee: Tacx B.V.
A63B69/16A63B22/0605A63B24/0062B62J43/30B62J45/20G01L3/242A63B2069/165A63B2220/40A63B2220/833A63B2225/02A63B2225/52
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,351,434
App. No.
16/406,607
Granted
Jun 7, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Power measurement device for a bicycle trainer, which device is built as a unitary relocatable device comprising an acceleration or velocity sensor, a microcontroller and a memory, wherein the device is equipped with or connectable to a power source, preferably a battery, and wherein the device is equipped with a communication facility to enable the device to wirelessly or through wires communicate with an external application device.

Claims (16)

1. A power measurement device for a bicycle and/or bicycle trainer comprising:

an acceleration or velocity sensor;

a microcontroller;

a memory;

wherein the power measurement device is equipped with or connectable to a power source, and

wherein the power measurement device is equipped with a communication facility to enable the device to wirelessly or through wires communicate with an external application device,

wherein the microcontroller and/or memory are provided with a computer program which is arranged to derive a power measurement from signals received from said acceleration or velocity sensor, and

wherein the power measurement device is arranged to use a frictional force or torque that applies to a wheel of the bicycle and/or bicycle trainer on which the power measurement device is mounted together with the signals received from said acceleration or velocity sensor to calculate the power supplied by a user during exercising with the bicycle or bicycle trainer,

wherein said microcontroller and/or said memory is provided with a calibration functionality to calibrate the power measurement as derived from the signals received from said acceleration or velocity sensor,

wherein said calibration functionality is arranged to derive a frictional force or torque that applies to the wheel of the bicycle and/or bicycle trainer on which the power measurement device is mounted from a measurement on the wheel of the bicycle and/or bicycle trainer, and

wherein said communication facility is equipped to receive parameters defining inertia and wheel diameter of the bicycle and/or bicycle trainer onto which the power measurement device is mounted, and

wherein said calibration functionality is arranged to apply these parameters regarding inertia and wheel diameter to derive from a run out time of the wheel the said frictional force or torque that applies to the wheel of the bicycle and/or bicycle trainer.

2. The power measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein the power measurement device is built as a unitary relocatable device.

3. The power measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein said calibration functionality is arranged to measure a run out time of a wheel of the bicycle and/or bicycle trainer onto which the power measurement device is mounted, wherein from a predetermined starting velocity of the wheel, said wheel is released to run down to a zero velocity while subjected to a predetermined load.

4. The power measurement device according to claim 2 , wherein said calibration functionality is arranged to measure a run out time of a wheel of the bicycle and/or bicycle trainer onto which the power measurement device is mounted, wherein from a predetermined starting velocity of the wheel, said wheel is released to run down to a zero velocity while subjected to a predetermined load.

5. The power measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein said power source is a battery.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Oct 8, 2020
From: TACX ROEREND EN ONROEREND GOED B.V.
To: TACX B.V.
Reel/Frame 054013/0063 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2019
From: SMITS, MARTIN
To: TACX ROEREND EN ONROEREND GOED B.V.
Reel/Frame 049567/0121 →
Priority Claims (1)
NL 2020892 · May 8, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190346320A1 · Nov 14, 2019