TW202141008A - Vehicle head power meter including at least one strain gauge, a signal processing unit, a processor, and a signal transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle head power meter includes at least one strain gauge, a signal processing unit, a processor, and a signal transmitter. The at least one strain gauge is arranged on at least one of an outer tubular wall or an inner tubular wall of a handlebar tube of a bicycle. The signal processing unit is in signal connection with the at least one strain gauge, the and based on deformation of the handlebar tube detected by the at least one strain gauge, the signal processing unit outputs a corresponding electrical signal. The processor and the signal processing unit signal are in signal connection with each other. The processor receives the electrical signal from the signal processing unit for calculating a measurement value based on the electrical signal and outputting an output signal. The signal transmitter is in signal connection with the processor in signal. The signal transmitter receives the output signal outputted from the processor for conversion into a wired or wireless signal to be transmitted to a terminal device.

Description

Head power meter

The present invention relates to a power meter; in particular, it refers to a power meter that can provide the power output by the user at the handle.

It is known that in order to monitor riding performance, cyclists generally install power meters on bicycles to quantify their riding performance as a basis for training. Existing power meters are generally installed at pedals or cranks, for example, to sense the deformation caused by the force exerted by the cyclist’s legs on the pedals or cranks, so as to calculate and output the power output by the rider during riding. For the rider's reference, so that the cyclist can effectively monitor the output power, and then improve the riding performance.

However, riding a bicycle is a whole body exercise. The power output by the cyclist is not limited to the legs. The conventional power meter is installed on the pedal or crank of the bicycle, although it can effectively provide the output of the rider. However, due to the limitation of the position of the conventional power meter, the power provided by the conventional power meter is mainly the power output by the rider’s legs, and cannot provide the power output by other parts of the cyclist’s body, so that the cyclist cannot More precise monitoring of the output power, which in turn affects the riding performance, therefore, the design of the conventional power meter is still not perfect, and there is still room for improvement.

In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide a head power meter that can provide the power output by the user at the handle of the power meter.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a head power meter for a bicycle, the bicycle includes a front and a frame, the front includes a handle tube and a vertical tube, the vertical tube is connected to the handle Tube and the frame, the head power meter includes at least one strain gauge, a signal processing unit, a processor and a signal transmitter, the at least one strain gauge is arranged on the outer tube wall or the inner tube wall of the handle tube At least one of; the signal processing unit is connected to the at least one strain gauge signal, the signal processing unit senses the deformation of the handle tube according to the at least one strain gauge and outputs a corresponding electrical signal; the processor and the signal Signal connection of the processing unit, the processor receives the electrical signal of the signal processing unit and calculates a measurement value based on the electrical signal and outputs it as an output signal; the signal transmitter is connected to the processor, and the signal transmitter receives the signal The output signal output by the processor is converted into a wired or wireless signal and then sent to a terminal device.

The effect of the present invention is that the at least one strain gauge of the head power meter is provided on at least one of the outer tube wall or the inner tube wall of the handle tube, whereby the at least one strain gauge of the head power meter It can sense the deformation of the handle tube caused by the rider riding the bicycle or performing actions such as pulling the bicycle, and calculate the measured value based on the electrical signal through the processor, and output it to the user with the output signal refer to. In this way, the user can have a more comprehensive understanding of the power output when riding the bicycle or performing actions such as pulling the bicycle, which can improve the riding performance of the cyclist. In addition, the user can also monitor the hand at the same time. The fatigue life and service life of the handle tube can be estimated by the stress and strain that the tube is subjected to.

In order to explain the present invention more clearly, a detailed description is given below with reference to preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a head power meter 1 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The head power meter 1 includes a strain gauge 10, a signal processing unit 20, a processor 30 and a signal transmitter 40. The head power meter 1 of the present invention is used for a bicycle. The bicycle includes a head and a frame 2. The head includes a handle tube 3 and a standpipe 4, and the standpipe 4 is connected to the handle pipe 3 and the frame respectively. 2 Fork the tube before, the strain gauge 10 can be attached to the handle tube 3 as shown in FIG. 2 or attached to the vertical tube 4 as shown in FIG. 3 to sense the deformation of the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4.

Please cooperate with Figure 1, the strain gauge 10 signal is connected to the signal processing unit 20, the processor 30 is respectively connected to the signal processing unit 20 and the signal transmitter 40, whereby the signal processing unit 20 senses the handle tube 3 or according to the strain gauge 10 The vertical tube 4 is deformed to output a corresponding electrical signal. The processor 30 receives the electrical signal from the signal processing unit 20 and calculates a measured value based on the electrical signal and outputs it as an output signal. The signal transmitter 40 receives the output signal from the processor 30. The output signal is converted into a wired or wireless signal and sent to a terminal device 50 for users to read.

It is further explained that the signal processing unit 20 includes a bridge circuit, an amplifier circuit, and an analog-to-digital conversion circuit. The bridge circuit is connected to the amplifier circuit, and the amplifier circuit is connected to the analog-to-digital conversion circuit. When the strain gauge 10 senses the handle tube 3 or The deformation of the vertical tube 4 generates a resistance change value, the amplifier circuit amplifies an output voltage generated by the bridge circuit based on the resistance change value, and the analog-to-digital conversion circuit converts the output voltage into a digital electrical signal and outputs it to the processor 30, thereby The processor 30 can sense the deformation of the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4 according to the strain gauge 10 and output a corresponding output signal.

The measurement value includes at least one of a power value, a torque value, a stress value, and a strain value, or a combination of at least two. The terminal device 50 includes a display 52, which is connected to the signal transmitter 40 to signal A sensing result corresponding to the strain gauge 10 is displayed for the user's reference. The terminal device may be a device such as a computer, a smart phone, or a bicycle computer. In this way, when the strain gauge 10 deforms in response to the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4, the resistance change value of the strain gauge 10 can reflect, for example, the power value output by the user, and the user applies the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube. At least one of the torque value of 4, the stress value of the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4, the strain value of the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4, or the sensing result of at least a combination of the two are sent to the terminal device 50 For the user’s reference, it can not only provide the user with the power value output on the handlebar 3 or the standpipe 4 in different situations such as road bumps, pumping, or a fixed riding position. On the other hand, it can also monitor the handlebar. 3 or the stress value of the vertical pipe 4 and the strain value of the handle or vertical pipe 4, and then estimate the fatigue life and service life of the handle or vertical pipe 4; in addition, the aforementioned data can also be applied to the auxiliary For powered bicycles, use the aforementioned data to determine whether the user currently needs auxiliary power intervention or how much power is needed for assistance.

The head power meter 1 includes a storage unit 60 that is signal-connected to the processor 30. The storage unit 60 stores a comparison value. When the processor 30 receives the signal, the processing unit 20 senses the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube according to the strain gauge 10 4 to output the corresponding electrical signal and calculate the measured value based on the electrical signal. The processor 30 will compare the measured value with the comparison value stored in the storage unit 60 (the comparison value can be a specific value or a range of values). The comparison between the comparison values produces a comparison result. When there is a specific meaning between the measured value and the comparison value, for example, when the measured value is greater than the comparison value or the measured value falls outside the comparison value range, The processor 30 sends a reminder signal to the signal transmitter 40 according to the comparison result. The signal transmitter 40 receives the reminder signal, converts it into a wired or wireless signal, and sends it to the terminal device 50 to remind the user. Thereby, when the strain gauge 10 senses abnormal deformation of the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4, it can send a reminder signal to the terminal device 50 through the processor to remind the user to pay attention in the form of text, lights, graphics, or images. The user is also reminded to replace the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4, which has the effect of preventing the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4 from being damaged or broken without warning due to long-term stress.

In this embodiment, the handle tube 3 includes two gripping sections 31 and a connecting section 32 as shown in FIG. 2. One of the two gripping sections 31 is connected to one end of the connecting section 32, and the two gripping sections The other of 31 is connected to the other end of the connecting section 32. The two holding sections 31 are for the user to grasp and use, and the strain gauge 10 is attached to the outer tube of the connecting section 32 of the handle tube 3 The wall or the inner tube wall senses the deformation of the connecting section 32 of the handle tube 3, wherein the strain gauge 10 is arranged on the outer tube wall of the handle tube 3, which is convenient for installation, replacement and maintenance. In other embodiments The strain gauge 10 can also be arranged on the inner pipe wall of the handle tube 3 as shown in Fig. 4 to reduce external force collisions and at the same time have a beautiful effect. Similarly, the strain gauge 10 can also be attached to the inner wall of the handle pipe 3 as shown in Fig. 3 The outer tube wall of the standpipe 4 can be easily installed, dismantled, and repaired or set on the inner tube wall as shown in Figure 5 to reduce external force collisions and at the same time have a beautiful effect. In practice, the strain gauge 10 can also be set in The other positions of the vertical pipe 4 are not limited to the installation positions disclosed in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. In addition, the connecting section 32 of the handle pipe 3 has a left section 321 and a right section 322 connected to each other, and the strain gauge 10 must be set on the left section 321, the right section 322 or the connecting section as shown in FIG. 6 The position at the center of 32 is used to sense the deformation of the handle tube 3 at different positions.

When the number of strain gauges 10 is two, the two strain gauges 10 can be respectively arranged on the left section 321 and the right section 322, and like the above, the strain gauge 10 can be arranged outside the handle tube 3 as shown in FIG. The wall may be arranged on the inner pipe wall of the handle pipe 3 as shown in Fig. 8, and the processor 30 can sense the deformation of the left section 321 and the right section 322 according to the strain gauges 10 arranged on the left section 321 and the right section 322 respectively. One left measurement value and one right measurement value are output as output signals, so the user can further understand the power value output by the user's left and right hands, the torque value applied to the handle tube by the user's left and right hands, and the left side of the handle tube 3. The stress value of the section 321 and the right section 322, the strain value of the left section 321 and the right section 322 of the handle pipe 3, etc.

In one embodiment, the processor 30 can also calculate the percentage of the left measurement value to the sum of the left measurement value and the right measurement value and the right measurement value to the left measurement value and the right measurement value based on the left measurement value and the right measurement value. The sum of the percentages of the sum is output as the output signal to provide the percentage of the power output by the user's left and right hands, the percentage of the torque applied to the handle tube by the user's left and right hands, and the supporting stress on the left and right parts of the handle tube. The percentage of the value, the percentage of the strain value of the left and right sections of the handlebar, etc.

Please cooperate with FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B. It is worth mentioning that the head power meter 1 of the present invention can also be used for a one-piece handle with a handle tube and a stand tube as an integral form. The integrated handle has two gripping sections. 31. A connecting section 32 and a joining section 42, one of the two holding sections 31 is connected to one end of the connecting section 32, and the other of the two holding sections 31 is connected to the other end of the connecting section 32 , The two holding sections 31 are for the user to grasp and use, the connecting section 32 has a left side section 321 and a right side section 322 connected, one end of the connecting section 42 is connected to the connecting section 32 and extends in a direction away from the connecting section 32 , The other end is connected to the upper tube of the front fork of the frame 2. The strain gauge 10 can be attached to the connecting section 32 as shown in FIG. 9A or attached to the connecting section 42 as shown in FIG. 9B to sense the deformation of the integrated handle on the connecting section 32 or the connecting section 42, and, as described above , The strain gauge 10 can also be arranged outside or inside the connecting section 32 and the connecting section 42. When the number of strain gauges 10 is two or more, the strain gauge 10 can be selectively shown in Figure 10A and Figure 10B. It is shown in the left section 321, the right section 322 or the combined section 42. It is further explained that the head power meter 1 of the present invention is not only used for the curved handlebars as shown in Figures 9 and 10, but the head power meter 1 of the present invention is also suitable for flat handles and competitions commonly used in mountain bikes. The handle of the airplane or rest.

In summary, the head power meter 1 of the present invention can not only provide the user with the power value output on the handle tube 3 or the vertical tube 4, and then more comprehensively monitor the riding performance of the user, but also monitor the The torsion, stress, and strain that the handle tube 3 or the standpipe 4 bears can be used to estimate the fatigue life and service life of the handle tube 3 or the standpipe 4.

The above descriptions are only the preferred and feasible embodiments of the present invention. Any equivalent changes made by applying the specification of the present invention and the scope of the patent application should be included in the patent scope of the present invention.

[this invention] 1: Head power meter 10: Strain gauge 20: signal processing unit 30: processor 40: Signal transmitter 50: terminal device 52: display 60: storage unit 2: Frame 3: Handle tube 31: Grip segment 32: Connection section 321: left segment 322: Right section 4: Standpipe 42: combined segment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the head power meter of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention installed on the handle tube. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention installed on the standpipe. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention installed inside the handle tube. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention installed inside the standpipe. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention arranged inside the handle tube. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention arranged on the left and right sections of the handle tube. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention arranged on the left and right sections of the handlebar. Fig. 9A is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention installed on the integrated handle. Fig. 9B is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention installed on the integrated handle. Fig. 10A is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention installed on the integrated handle. Fig. 10B is a schematic diagram of the head power meter of the present invention installed on the integrated handle.

1: Head power meter

10: Strain gauge

20: signal processing unit

30: processor

40: Signal transmitter

50: terminal device

52: display

60: storage unit

Claims (10)

A head power meter for a bicycle. The bicycle includes a head and a frame. The head includes a handlebar tube and a standpipe. The standpipe connects the handlebar tube and the frame. The power meter includes: At least one strain gauge is provided on at least one of the outer tube wall or the inner tube wall of the handle tube; A signal processing unit connected to the at least one strain gauge signal, and the signal processing unit senses the deformation of the handle tube according to the at least one strain gauge and outputs a corresponding electrical signal; A processor, which is signal-connected to the signal processing unit, the processor receives the electrical signal of the signal processing unit, calculates a measurement value based on the electrical signal, and outputs it as an output signal; and A signal transmitter is connected to the processor. The signal transmitter receives the output signal output by the processor, converts it into a wired or wireless signal, and sends it to a terminal device. The vehicle head power meter according to claim 1, wherein the handle tube includes two holding sections and a connecting section, one of the two holding sections is connected to one end of the connecting section, and the two holding sections The other one of the holding sections is connected to the other end of the connecting section, and the at least one strain gauge is arranged on the connecting section. The vehicle head power meter according to claim 1, wherein the measurement value includes at least one of a power value, a torque value, a stress value, and a strain value, or a combination of at least two. The head power meter described in claim 1, including a storage unit signally connected to the processor, the storage unit stores at least one comparison value, and the processor compares the measured value with the at least one comparison value To generate a comparison result, and selectively send a reminder signal to the signal transmitter based on the comparison result. The signal transmitter receives the reminder signal and converts it into a wired or wireless signal and sends it to the terminal device to remind use By. The head power meter according to claim 4, wherein the at least one comparison value is a numerical range, and when the comparison result is that the measurement value falls outside the numerical range, the processor returns the prompt signal to The signal transmitter. The head power meter according to claim 4, wherein the at least one comparison value is a specific value, and when the comparison result is greater than the specific value, the processor returns the prompt signal to the signal transmitter. The head power meter according to claim 2, wherein the connecting section has a left section and a right section connected, and the number of the at least one strain gauge is two, which are respectively arranged on the left section and the right section Above, the processor senses the deformation of the left section and the right section according to the strain gauges arranged on the left section and the right section to calculate a left side measurement value and a right side measurement value respectively, and outputs it with the output signal. The vehicle head power meter according to claim 7, wherein the processor calculates the percentage of the left side measurement value to the sum of the left side measurement value and the right side measurement value based on the left side measurement value and the right side measurement value, and the The right measurement value accounts for the percentage of the sum of the left measurement value and the right measurement value and is output as the output signal. The vehicle head power meter according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device includes a display connected to the signal receiver signal to display a sensing result corresponding to at least one strain gauge. The head power meter according to claim 1, wherein the handle tube and the stand tube are integrally formed.

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