Method of controlling a force and/or resistance generator of an exercise apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, in particular a computer implemented method, of controlling a force and/or resistance generator of an exercise apparatus ( 1 ), which apparatus includes a plurality of physical transmission ratios ( 10 , 4 ) between a user force input device ( 7 - 9 ) and the force and/or resistance generator and at least one shifter ( 12 ) to select a desired transmission ratio. The method includes the steps of determining the engaged physical transmission ratio, mapping the engaged physical gear ratio onto a virtual transmission ratio, and adapting the generated force and/or resistance based on the virtual transmission ratio.

1 . A computer implemented method of controlling a force and/or resistance generator of an exercise apparatus, which exercise apparatus comprises a plurality of physical transmission ratios between a user force input device and the force and/or resistance generator and at least one shifter to select a desired transmission ratio, the method comprising:
 (a) determining an engaged physical transmission ratio,   (b) mapping the engaged physical transmission ratio onto a virtual transmission ratio, and   (c) adapting generated force and/or resistance generated by the force and/or resistance generator based on the virtual transmission ratio.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the engaged physical transmission ratio is determined from a difference in rotational speed of axles on both sides of a physical transmission of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises:
 (a)(1) detecting a physical transmission shift, and   (a)(2) determining the engaged physical transmission ratio from the detected physical transmission shift.   
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of selecting a virtual transmission ratio, determining the selected virtual transmission ratio, and adapting the generated force and/or resistance based on the engaged virtual transmission ratio. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the exercise apparatus is a bicycle trainer, which bicycle trainer is configured to be coupled to a bicycle or parts of a bicycle, the combination of the bicycle trainer and the bicycle or parts of a bicycle comprising (i) one or more rear sprockets, (ii) a front chainring, and (iii) a chain passing over one of the one or more rear sprockets and the front chainring, defining a physical transmission ratio. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 5 , comprising the step of determining a number of teeth of a rear sprocket or a diameter of a rear sprocket and/or a number of teeth of the front chainring or a diameter of the front chainring. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises selecting the virtual transmission ratio from a look-up table. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the look-up table comprises a plurality of virtual and user defined gears. 
     
     
         9 . Exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   an axle rotatably mounted in or to the frame;   a force input device coupled to the axle;   a force and/or a resistance generator coupled to the axle via a transmission; and   a computer configured to carry out the method of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising sprockets and a free hub body or freewheel for mounting the sprockets-and configured to be placed in frictional contact with a rear wheel of the exercise apparatus, wherein the sprockets and the free hub body or freewheel are coupled to the force and/or resistance generator. 
     
     
         11 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising an input device configured to electronically change the-virtual gears. 
     
     
         12 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the input device comprises two switch sets, one switch set for shifting up and down the-virtual rear sprockets and one switch set for shifting up and down the-virtual front chain rings. 
     
     
         13 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the computer is configured to receive input from a user to enter and/or amend the virtual gears. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions to control the exercise apparatus of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the exercise apparatus is a bicycle trainer, which bicycle trainer is configured to be coupled to a bicycle or parts of a bicycle, the combination of the bicycle trainer and the bicycle or parts of a bicycle comprising (i) one or more rear pulleys, (ii) a front pulley, and (iii) a belt passing over one of the rear pulleys and the front pulley, defining a physical transmission ratio. 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 16 , comprising the step of determining a diameter of a rear pulley and/or a diameter of the front pulley. 
     
     
         18 . Exercise apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a roller configured to be placed in frictional contact with a rear wheel of the exercise apparatus, wherein the roller is coupled to the force and/or resistance generator.