DE102023201235A1 - Controlling an electric motor of a bicycle for training purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for regulating a support or a resistance of an electric motor of an electric bicycle for training purposes of a cyclist with the following steps: - Determining, setting or providing (S1) a target value or a target interval of a heart rate of the cyclist during a ride; - Detecting (S2) the Heart rate of the cyclist while riding; - Setting (S3) a support or resistance of the electric motor of the electric bicycle to keep the heart rate in the target interval or at the target value.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for regulating a support or a resistance of an electric motor of an electric bicycle for training purposes of a cyclist, a system for carrying out the method and a computer program product.

Out of US 2012/0178592 A1 A mobile training bike with electric support is known.

The object of the present invention is to ensure cycling training in the open air, with the cyclist training in an optimal training area. The task is solved by the objects with the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous further developments result from the subclaims and the description as well as the drawings.

Accordingly, it is provided: A method for regulating a support or a resistance of an electric motor of an electric bicycle for training purposes of a cyclist with the following steps: determining, setting or providing a target value or a target interval of a heart rate of the cyclist during a ride; Detecting the cyclist's heart rate while riding; Adjusting a support or resistance of the electric motor of the electric bicycle to keep the heart rate in the target interval or at the target value.

In this patent application, a slope can be either positive (incline) or negative (descent).

Route traveled means that a route is or was traveled in the future, in the present or in the past.

Computer program products typically include a sequence of instructions that, when the program is loaded, causes the hardware to perform a specific procedure that results in a specific result.

The basic idea of the invention is to provide, set or determine a target value or a target interval of a cyclist's heart rate while driving. This can be done, for example, by suitable queries regarding the cyclist's training status, age, gender and the like. During the training ride, the cyclist's heart rate is detected and the assistance or resistance of the electric motor of the electric bicycle is adjusted to keep the heart rate in the target interval or at the target value.

This can, for example, prevent a cyclist from overexerting themselves during a training ride and thus endangering their health.

In addition, it is known that it is advantageous to maintain a heart rate within a certain target interval in order to pursue a training purpose.

According to a further development of the invention, the target value or the target interval is determined as a function of a maximum heart rate or as a function of an estimate of the maximum heart rate.

This means that the cyclist's training can be based on his or her maximum heart rate.

It is therefore conceivable, for example, that the cyclist knows his maximum heart rate and enters it via a suitable human-machine interface. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to estimate the maximum heart rate using a formula depending on the cyclist's age, gender and/or possibly other physiological parameters.

Common formulas for estimating a person's maximum heart rate include:

oder $$\text{Hf\_max}\left(\text{m}\right)=214-\mathrm{0,5}\times \text{Lebensalter}\left(\text{in Jahren}\right)-\mathrm{0,11}\times \text{K}\ddot{\text{o}}\text{rpergewicht}\left(\text{in kg}\right).$$

The maximum heart rate Hf_max(m) in men can be calculated using the formula: $$\text{HR\_max}\left(\text{m}\right)=223-0.9\times \text{age;}$$

or $$\text{HR\_max}\left(\text{m}\right)=214-0.5\times \text{age}\left(\text{in years}\right)-0.11\times \text{K}\ddot{\text{O}}\text{body weight}\left(\text{in kg}\right).$$

oder $$\text{Hf\_max}\left(\text{w}\right)=210-\mathrm{0,5}\times \text{Lebensalter}\left(\text{in Jahren}\right)-\mathrm{0,11}\times \text{K}\ddot{\text{o}}\text{rpergewicht}\left(\text{in kg}\right).$$

The maximum heart rate Hf_max(w) in women can be calculated using the formula: $$\text{HR\_max}\left(\text{w}\right)=226-\text{age}$$

or $$\text{HR\_max}\left(\text{w}\right)=210-0.5\times \text{age}\left(\text{in years}\right)-0.11\times \text{K}\ddot{\text{O}}\text{body weight}\left(\text{in kg}\right).$$

According to a further development of the invention, the target value or the target interval of the heart rate is determined depending on a training purpose.

Accordingly, it is conceivable, for example, for the cyclist to specify the purposes for which a training ride should take place via a suitable human-machine interface. It goes without saying that it is also conceivable that a cyclist specifies a training purpose for a longer period of time, approximately a month, and training sessions are set accordingly. If the cyclist specifies a training purpose for a longer period of time, it is also conceivable that the target value or the target interval of the heart rate varies between different training rides in order to ensure training with regard to various physiological aspects.

Training purposes can be based on the following physiological aspects: fat burning, endurance training of breathing, improving the cyclist's maximum strength, improving strength endurance, improving lung function.

The relationship between the purpose of training and maximum heart rate is roughly as follows: Health zone 50-60% of maximum heart rate. Strengthening the cardiovascular system and promoting health. Ideal for beginners. Fat burning zone 60-70% of maximum heart rate. Activation of fat metabolism and improvement of basic endurance. Aerobic zone 70-80% of maximum heart rate. Improving aerobic fitness and increasing endurance performance. Anaerobic zone 80-90% of maximum heart rate. Improving lactate tolerance. Training for maximum performance gains. Red zone From 90% of the maximum heart rate. Improving maximum performance and speed.

Endurance means any resistance to fatigue during sporting activities. A body capable of endurance can sustain such stress over a longer period of time without premature physical or mental fatigue, and can then recover quickly from it. Endurance requirements are differentiated according to different motor skills (strength and speed endurance) as well as temporal dimensions (short-term, medium-term and long-term endurance).

The endurance of various motor skills includes strength and speed endurance. If an athlete can exert a lot of force over a longer period of time, he or she has trained strength endurance. If an athlete can consistently exert speed over a longer period of time, he or she has good speed endurance. In strength endurance, the “strength” component determines the maximum physical performance in the individual movement, while the “endurance” component determines the long-term demand of the movement. In speed endurance, the “speed” component determines maintaining the phase of highest speed over a longer period of time (“endurance”). The body provides energy primarily anaerobically (without oxygen).

The time dimension of short-term endurance is between 30 and 120 seconds. The energy supply largely takes place with insufficient oxygen supply (anaerobic).

The time dimension of medium-term endurance is between two and ten minutes. After around three minutes of exercise, the energy supply changes from anaerobic to aerobic (oxygen-sufficient) state. For the time being, 50 percent of energy is provided anaerobically until the ratio shifts completely to the aerobic branch. During exercise times of up to ten minutes, with aerobic metabolism, predominantly carbohydrates are burned.

The so-called long-term endurance ranges from around ten minutes of exercise to several hours. Energy is mostly available aerobically. During such long periods of exercise, the metabolism switches from burning carbohydrates to burning fat.

Lung function can be trained by increasing lung volume.

According to a further development of the invention, the target value or the target interval is specified in order to carry out anaerobic and/or aerobic training. It is understood that the training state can change between aerobic and anaerobic one or more times during a training session in order to achieve optimal training effects. Different training purposes can be pursued with aerobic or anaerobic training. One way to determine aerobic or anaerobic training is to keep the heart rate within a certain target interval depending on the maximum heart rate.

Aerobic energy metabolism occurs when oxygen is consumed when carbohydrates and fats are burned. In this way, energy is obtained for muscle work. This works with low training loads such as slow endurance running, slow swimming, etc. The body uses the S fibers or red muscle fibers to help with this. These muscle fibers get their energy from oxygen, which they absorb from the blood. They contract rather slowly and are therefore used for movements with little effort and a high repetition frequency.

During quick, intense training with high levels of stress, the body needs more energy in a short period of time. Aerobic energy production is no longer sufficient. That's why the body converts carbohydrates into energy without oxygen through lactic acid fermentation. This produces lactate. This is called anaerobic energy metabolism. Fats are not burned in this area because the body needs oxygen for this. The anaerobic energy yield is much lower and cannot be maintained for as long. If you exert yourself for a long time, the lactate that accumulates can lead to hyperacidification of the muscles.

Anaerobic training uses the strong F fibers or white muscle fibers, which can increase their volume but also use more energy and tire more quickly.

The decision between aerobic or anaerobic training depends primarily on the training goal. If the training goal is to burn fat and increase endurance, aerobic training in the lower pulse range is effective for longer training periods. To increase performance and build muscle, aerobic-anaerobic training in the upper pulse range with shorter training times is recommended.

At the same time, however, the two processes of energy production do not contradict each other, but rather complement each other. Both forms often occur in combination: depending on the intensity of the training, the body switches between aerobic and anaerobic phases.

The threshold between aerobic and anaerobic training is an indication for training control.

Heart rate can serve as a guide for determining the anaerobic threshold. During aerobic training it is around 70-80% of the maximum heart rate. During anaerobic training it is approximately between 80-90% of the maximum heart rate.

According to a further development of the invention, an incline on a route traveled is taken into account when setting the support or resistance of the electric motor. This makes it possible to avoid that the cyclist's heart rate reacts to an incline traveled and consequently deviates too much from the specified target value or the target interval.

Since the heart rate may react slowly to physiological stress or slowly to physiological relief, it is advantageous to avoid heart rate peaks. Furthermore, phases of inactivity due to long gradients can be prevented.

It is useful if the gradient is determined using an inclination sensor or using image data from a camera directed in the direction of travel. An inclination sensor ensures the reliable determination of an incline or decline in real time, i.e. without delay. If the incline or decline is estimated based on image data from a camera that is aimed in the direction of travel, the support or resistance of the electric motor can be adjusted in advance.

It goes without saying that it can also be advantageous to determine an incline or a gradient using an inclination sensor and using image data from a camera directed in the direction of travel. The inclination sensor can validate the estimate of the gradient using the image data. Accordingly, it is conceivable that the image data ensures a rough estimate of the future slope and that the inclination sensor provides an exact value for the slope in the present.

It is understood that a system for carrying out a method for regulating a support or a resistance of an electric motor of an electric bicycle for training purposes of a cyclist with at least one electric bicycle, with an interface to a sensor for detecting the heart rate of the cyclist while driving, is one Interface to a human-machine interface for entering physiological parameters of the cyclist, which are used to determine or provide a target value or a target interval of a heart rate of the cyclist while driving, and with a control device for setting a support or a resistance of the electric motor of the electric Bicycle to keep the heart rate in the target interval or at the target value is advantageous.

It is also expedient if the system has an interface to a central data storage and in particular to a central computing unit, with data relating to training carried out and/or personal data of the cyclist being stored on the central data storage.

It is therefore conceivable that a cyclist recognizes training success based on the data stored and in particular evaluated in the central data storage.

Furthermore, it is also possible to ensure that one or more cyclists are looked after for training purposes, for example in the area of competitive sports or in the area of rehabilitation sports.

Accordingly, the invention is also used in bicycle fleets.

A computer program product according to a method of an embodiment of the invention carries out the steps of a method according to the preceding description when the computer program product runs on a computer, in particular an in-vehicle computer. When the subject program is used on a computer, the computer program product produces an effect of adjusting resistance or assistance to an electric motor of a bicycle in response to a sensed heart rate.

• 1 ein schematisches Blockdiagramm einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

The present invention is explained in more detail below using the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures of the drawings. It shows:

• 1 a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the invention.

The accompanying drawings are intended to provide further understanding of embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in connection with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned arise with regard to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale to one another.

In the figures of the drawings, identical, functionally identical and identically effective elements, features and components are provided with the same reference numerals - unless stated otherwise.

1 shows a schematic block diagram of a method for controlling a support or a resistance of an electric motor of an electric bicycle for training purposes of a cyclist with steps S1 to S3. In step S1, a target value or a target interval of a cyclist's heart rate while driving is determined or provided. In step S2, the cyclist's heart rate is recorded while driving. In step S3, a support or resistance of the electric motor of the electric bicycle is set to keep the heart rate in the target interval or at the target value.

Reference symbols

S1-S3

Procedural steps

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 20120178592 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Method for regulating a support or a resistance of an electric motor of an electric bicycle for training purposes of a cyclist with the following steps: - Determining, setting or providing (S1) a target value or a target interval of a heart rate of the cyclist during a journey; - Recording (S2) the cyclist's heart rate while driving; - Setting (S3) a support or resistance of the electric motor of the electric bicycle to keep the heart rate in the target interval or at the target value. Procedure according to Claim 1 , whereby the target value or the target interval is determined depending on a maximum heart rate or an estimate of the maximum heart rate. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the target value or the target interval is determined depending on a training purpose. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the training purpose is specified by the cyclist and is entered via a suitable human-machine interface to an ECU which is in a data connection with the electric bicycle, the driver having at least one training purpose from the following list can choose from: fat burning, endurance training, improving the cyclist's maximum strength, improving strength endurance, improving lung function. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the target value or the target interval is specified in order to carry out aerobic and / or anaerobic training. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an incline of a route traveled is taken into account when setting a support or a resistance of the electric motor. Procedure according to Claim 6 , whereby the gradient is determined using an inclination sensor and/or using image data from a camera directed in the direction of travel. System for carrying out a method for regulating a support or a resistance of an electric motor of an electric bicycle for training purposes of a cyclist, with at least one electric bicycle with an interface to a sensor for detecting the heart rate of the cyclist while driving, an interface to a human-machine -Interface, as well as with a control device for adjusting a support or resistance of the electric motor of the electric bicycle in order to keep the heart rate in the target interval or at the target value. System after Claim 8 , which has an interface to a central data storage and in particular a central computing unit, with data relating to training carried out and / or personal data of the cyclist being stored on the central data storage. Computer program product with program code means to carry out the method according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 carried out using a computer.

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