Smart bicycle wheel sensor system

Abstract

A bicycle wheel sensor is provided and includes a housing configured to be at least partially disposed within a tire of a bicycle wheel. The sensor may be mounted opposite a valve stem location to help balance the bicycle wheel. The bicycle wheel sensor has one or more sensors exposed to the inside of the tire and is configured to provide data obtained from within the tire. The sensor includes an electronic control unit that receives the data from the sensors and transmits the data to a user device via a transceiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bicycle wheel sensor comprising:
 a housing mounted to a rim of a bicycle wheel such that the housing is at least partially disposed within an enclosed area by the rim and a tire of the bicycle wheel, such that the housing is aligned with a spoke hole of the rim and the housing extends along the rim from the spoke hole;   one or more sensors exposed to the enclosed area by the rim and tire, the one or more sensors configured to collect data obtained within the enclosed area; and   an electronic control unit interfaced to the one or more sensors, the electronic control unit configured to transmit the data collected by the one or more sensors to a user device via a transceiver.   
     
     
         2 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises one or more balancing weight mounts configured to receive balancing weights. 
     
     
         3 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an elongated hole to facilitate adjustable positioning of the housing to the bicycle wheel at the spoke hole. 
     
     
         4 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a pressure sensor and an accelerometer. 
     
     
         5 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate according to at least one of Bluetooth Low Energy and ANT+ protocols. 
     
     
         6 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is mounted to the rim via an adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is attached to the rim via a fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is disposed within the area via an expandable foam. 
     
     
         9 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is attached to a bicycle tube, used for inflation, disposed within the area. 
     
     
         10 . A bicycle wheel sensor comprising:
 a housing configured to be at least partially disposed within an area enclosed by a rim and a tire of a bicycle wheel, the housing extends through an opening in the rim between two spoke holes disposed on the rim;   one or more sensors exposed to the area enclosed by the rim and tire, the one or more sensors configured to collect data obtained within the enclosed area; and   an electronic control unit interfaced to the one or more sensors, the electronic control unit configured to transmit the data collected by the one or more sensors to a user device via a transceiver.   
     
     
         11 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 10 , wherein the opening is disposed opposite a valve stem of the bicycle wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises an aperture exposed to the enclosed area. 
     
     
         13 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 13 , wherein a pressure sensor is disposed within the aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 10 , wherein the housing is hermetically sealed to an outer rim wall of the rim. 
     
     
         15 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 13 , further comprises a charge port disposed on a rim wall of the rim. 
     
     
         16 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 13 , wherein the housing is comprised of a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being hermetically sealed to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The bicycle wheel sensor of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises through holes to receive fasteners to attach the housing to the rim. 
     
     
         18 . A wheel sensor comprising
 one or more sensors exposed to an area enclosed by a rim and a tire of a wheel, the one or more sensors configured to collect data obtained within the enclosed area;   an electronic control unit interfaced to the one or more sensors, the electronic control unit configured to transmit the data collected by the one or more sensors to a user device via a transceiver; and   a housing mounted to the rim opposite a valve stem location on the wheel, the housing enclosing the one or more sensors and the electronic control unit.