IP Library Granted Patent US 12,145,690
Granted Patent B2
US 12,145,690 · App. 18/206,561 · Granted Nov 19, 2024

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: enviolo B.V.
B62M25/08B62M6/45B62M9/04B62M9/06B62M9/10F16H61/66F16H15/28F16H61/664H04L67/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,145,690
App. No.
18/206,561
Granted
Nov 19, 2024
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 (19)

1. A method for automatically configuring a control system on a bicycle, comprising:

receiving, by a control system, a first set of first operating parameters for a ball-planetary continuously variable transmission (CVT), the first set of first operating parameters for the CVT being based on component data associated with components on the bicycle;

receiving, by the control system, a second set of second operating parameters for a rider preference, the second set of second operating parameters being received from user inputs and/or from a stored user profile; and

configuring the CVT and/or an electric motor cooperating with the CVT to operate according to configuration parameters, the configuration parameters being based on the first set of first operating parameters and the second set of second operating parameters, the configuration parameters defining how the CVT and/or electric motor responds to input parameters from bicycle sensors on the bicycle during a ride.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of first operating parameters is received from a server, a vendor computer or a third-party computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of second operating parameters is received from a server, a vendor computer or a third-party computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of second operating parameters for the rider preference includes information about a geographic area or jurisdiction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of first operating parameters for the CVT include information selecting an algorithm for operating the CVT.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of second operating parameters for a rider preference include selections based on user inputs.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the user inputs includes a target cadence.

8. A system, comprising:

a control system configured to receive a first set of first operating parameters for a ball-planetary continuously variable transmission (CVT), the first set of first operating parameters for the CVT being based on component data associated with components on the bicycle, and configured to receive a second set of second operating parameters for a rider preference, the second set of second operating parameters being received from user inputs and/or from a stored user profile; and

a configuration server operative to configure a CVT and/or an electric motor cooperating with the CVT to operate according to configuration parameters, the configuration parameters being based on the first set of first operating parameters and the second set of second operating parameters, the configuration parameters defining how the CVT and/or the electric motor responds to input parameters from bicycle sensors on the bicycle during a ride.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control system receives the first set of first operating parameters from a server, a vendor computer or a third-party computing device.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control system receives the second set of second operating parameters from a server, a vendor computer or a third-party computing device.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second set of second operating parameters for the rider preference includes information about a geographic area or jurisdiction.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first set of first operating parameters for the CVT include information selecting an algorithm for operating the CVT.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second set of second operating parameters for a rider preference include selections based on user inputs.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user inputs includes a target cadence.

Assignments (4)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: CONTELLO, WAYNE LEROY; SWEET, BRIAN BENJAMIN; HILGART, RICHARD; BIRCHAK, JEFFREY A.; GUST, KEVIN ALAN
To: FALLBROOK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 063976/0648 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17129564 · Dec 21, 2020
Division 16034659 · Jul 13, 2018
Continuation 15172031 · Jun 2, 2016
Provisional Application 62344325 · Jun 1, 2016
Provisional Application 62334947 · May 11, 2016
Related Publication 20240149976A1 · May 9, 2024