IT202000029306A1 - TELEMETRY SYSTEM THAT CAN BE INSTALLED ON A VEHICLE AND IN PARTICULAR ON A VEHICLE SUSPENSION FOR OFF-ROAD ACTIVITIES - Google Patents

Description

TELEMETRY SYSTEM THAT CAN BE INSTALLED ON A VEHICLE AND IN PARTICULAR ON A VEHICLE SUSPENSION FOR ACTIVITIES? OFF-ROAD

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The present invention ? generally applicable in the technical field of telemetry systems, and has particularly for object a telemetry system that can be installed on a vehicle, in particular on a bicycle or motorbike particularly suitable for the practice of activities? offroad such as motocross, mountainbike, downhill or similar.

State of the art

? the use of telemetry for studying performance and checking the settings of a vehicle is known in the motoring field. An example of use are cars and motorcycles used in speed sports competitions? such as formula1 or motoGP.

On the other hand, to date there ? the need to use telemetry even with different vehicles such as bicycles or motorcycles suitable for activities? offroad, for example motocross, mountainbike, downhill or similar. In the latter case, due to the danger? of? activity?, ? necessary to use a telemetry system to increase the performance and safety of the user.

The known telemetry systems used in the motor or automotive field on the road have large dimensions. Generally, such systems have a main receiving device, a black box, and a plurality of receivers. of additional modules and sensors connected to the latter by cables.

These systems, which may include computers or smartphones, are particularly delicate, complex and expensive and at the same time require the use of special wiring to be arranged on the vehicle.

These characteristics make the known systems particularly unsuitable for use in commercial activities. offroad where they are subjected to bumps or dirt. Furthermore, these devices are particularly unsuitable for use with bicycles or motorcycles due to their heavy weight and bulk.

Any use also requires the need? to use makeshift means such as adhesive tape or clamps to try to mount the devices of these known systems on a bicycle or motorcycle.

Finally, regardless of the vehicle, the use of the wiring ? particularly inconvenient and requires experience and long assembly times.

Presentation of the invention

Purpose of the present invention? at least partially overcome the drawbacks illustrated above, providing a highly functional telemetry system? and low cost.

Another purpose of the invention? that of making available a telemetry system of contained dimensions.

Another purpose of the invention? that of providing a particularly reliable telemetry system.

Another purpose of the invention? that of providing a telemetry system that is simple and quick to install on a vehicle.

Another purpose of the invention? that of making available a telemetry system that adapts to different vehicles or to different parts of the same vehicle.

Another purpose of the present invention ? that of providing a method for telemetry of a vehicle by a user.

These purposes, as well as others that will appear more? clearly hereinafter, they are achieved by what is described, illustrated and/or claimed herein.

The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident in the light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 ? a schematic representation of a bicycle 100 with a telemetry system 1;

FIG. 2 ? an enlarged schematic representation of a bicycle 100 with a data acquisition device 20;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are a schematic view of a kit comprising the data acquisition device 20 and different elements 40 for coupling it to the vehicle; FIG. a schematic representation of the telemetry system 1. Detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention With reference to the cited figures, a telemetry system 1 which can be installed on a vehicle 100 is described. be a bicycle or a motorcycle, even more? preferably these bicycles or motorcycles will be suitable for the practice of activities? such as motocross, mountain bike, downhill or similar.

In the drawings ? bicycle 100 is shown. However, it is understood that the telemetry system 1 can otherwise? be installed on bicycles or motorcycles suitable for different activities?, for example for motorcycles or road bicycles, so? how can I be installed on other types of vehicles 100, both road and off-road, such as quads or racing cars.

As better described below, depending on the configurations, this system 1 could be particularly suitable for analyzing telemetry data during the activity? or after the activity? itself, for example in the case of track racing performed at a non-professional level in which the data is analyzed once the performance is over.

The data analysis can be made through special programs of the type in s? known. Essentially, system 1 will be able to comprise at least one data sending device 10 and one data acquisition device 20 operatively connected with the device 10 or the plurality of devices 10 in order to receive the data from the latter.

Preferably, one or more of the devices 10 and 20 can be mutually operatively connected wirelessly, for example by means of Bluetooth? technology, preferably by means of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology. Pi? preferably, all the devices 10 can be connected with the device 20 wirelessly, for example by means of BLE technology.

Thanks to the presence of a reduced number of cables, or, preferably, the absence of cables and the wireless connection between the devices 10 and 20, the system 1 will be able to? be particularly versatile, light and with reduced dimensions.

For this purpose, the devices 10 can therefore comprise at least one sensor 11 and a unit? control logic 12, for example a microcontroller of type in s? known, configured to send the data detected by the sensor 11 to the device 20. On the other hand, the latter can? understand an? appropriate unit? data reception logic 22, for example a microcontroller of the type in itself? known, configured to receive data from devices 10.

The devices 10 may also comprise a battery 13 to power the controller 12 and, possibly, the sensor 11.

The sensor 11 will be able therefore be configured to detect at least data relating to:

- position of the motorcycle or bicycle;

- speed? motorcycle or bicycle;

- motorcycle or bicycle acceleration;

- acceleration on three axes of the motorcycle or bicycle;

- wheel pressure;

- deformation of the frame or of some components;

- fork stroke;

- speed? of the fork;

- shock absorber stroke;

- speed? of the shock absorber;

- brake lever stroke;

- brake circuit pressure;

- bicycle pedaling cadence;

- bicycle pedaling power.

Isn't that list exhaustive.

It is therefore understood that the sensors 11 could be of the type per se? known and may be different depending on the type of data to be collected. For example, the sensor will include a GPS (detection of position data), a pressure gauge (detection of brake circuit pressure data, wheel pressure), a position transducer (detection of fork and shock absorber travel, brake lever), a hall effect magnetic sensor (detection of cadence pedalling), a power meter (detecting pedaling power) or the like.

Essentially, therefore, the devices 10 can be positioned on the vehicle 100, for example on the bicycle or on the motorbike, according to the needs. For example, the pedaling cadence and power sensor 11 can be positioned in correspondence with the crankset, the fork and shock absorber stroke sensor 11 will be able to? be placed in correspondence with the fork itself.

Can the devices 10 then be coupled to the vehicle 100 in a s? known.

Furthermore, the wireless connection can allow both to facilitate and to optimize the positioning of the devices 10. In fact, the latter can also be coupled with moving or exposed parts, unlike what occurs with known systems equipped with wiring.

According to a particular embodiment, the sensor 11 and the controller 12 can be mutually connected by means of a cable 15 having particularly small dimensions.

In other words, device 10 will be able to be essentially a single piece, for example, could? comprise a rigid container which includes the sensor 11, the controller 12 and possibly the battery 13.

On the other hand, the device 10 will be able to be more set off. For example, the pedaling cadence sensor 11 could be on the crankset, while the relative controller 12 will be able? be coupled with the nearby frame so as not to interfere with the user?s pedaling action. Preferably, the cable 15 will be able to have a particularly small length, for example less than 10 cm.

Possibly, the devices 10 could also comprise a unit? of data storage 14 operatively connected to the sensor 11 and the controller 12 so as to store the detected data. Depending on the configuration of the device 10, the unit? of data storage 14 potr? be in the vicinity? of the sensor 11, of the controller 12 and/or of the battery 13. For example, in FIG.6 ? shown is a schematic example of a system 1 with different embodiments of devices 10. It is understood that this embodiment of the system 1 is not? exclusive.

Can the devices 10 be coupled with the vehicle in a per se way? known, for example by means of screws, clamps, adhesive tape or the like.

On the other hand, the capture device 20 will be able to be positioned in any position of the vehicle 100 according to preference. For example, in FIG. 1 ? shown a bicycle 100 in which the device 20 ? positioned in correspondence with the barrel of the bicycle, while in FIG.2 ? shown an enlarged detail of a bicycle 100 in which the device 20 is positioned on the handlebar of the bicycle.

Advantageously, suitable elements 40 could be provided for coupling the device 20 with the vehicle 100. These elements 40 could have a different configuration according to the needs, for example resistance to shocks or speed, of the type of vehicle, for example motorcycle or bicycle, road or cross, of the positioning of the device 20 on the vehicle, for example on the frame or on the handlebar.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show some examples of a kit comprising the device 20 and different coupling elements 40. In particular, FIG. 3 shows a support plate 41 with a plurality of holes 42 to allow the screwing of the former to the device 20, FIG. 4 shows a support plate 41 with a plurality of through seats 43 for the passage of clamps, while FIG. 5 shows a pair of holes 42 and a pair of rings 44 intended to house the handlebar of the bicycle.

Conveniently, the same device 20 can be configured to couple with different coupling elements 40 so that the same device 20 can be installed in different vehicles 100 or in different positions of the same vehicle.

In this way, system 1 will be able to be particularly versatile. Furthermore, advantageously, the system 1 will be able be particularly simple and quick to install.

The elements 40 can be configured to be particularly suitable for allowing the installation of the system 1 on a motorcycle or bicycle both for activities by road or track, which for activities? offroad, such as cross, mountain bike, downhill or similar.

It is understood that the kit may understand the device 20, one or more? connecting elements 40 and one or more? devices 10. In this way, moreover, it will be possible? add or replace one or more? devices 10 and/or coupling elements 40 in a simple and fast way without the need? to purchase an entire system 1.

Device 20 can understand the unit? data receiver 22 and a?unit? storage 24 operationally connected with the? unit? receiver 22 for storing received data.

Possibly, the device 20 could also include a switch 27 for activating/deactivating the unit? receiver 22, a switch 26 for turning on/off the device 20 and/or one or more? LEDs 25 which can indicate the switching on/off and the activation/deactivation of the device 20.

Conveniently, can be provided a battery 23 configured to feed one or more? of? unit? receiver 22, led 25, unit? memory 24. Preferably, the switch 26 could? act on the connection between the battery and the? unit? of reception 22 in order to turn on/off the latter, while the switch 27 can? act on the connection between the? unit? of reception 22 and the unit? memory 24 to save/not save any received data.

Device 20 can further comprising means 28 for operatively connecting with a unit? data processing logic 32. Preferably, the latter can? be external.

This operational link can be wireless or wired. For example, can be expected a? unit? to send wireless data to the unit? logic 32 of type in s? known and/or may be provided a USB connector 28 of type in s? Note.

The device 20 could, for example, be connected via the USB port 28 with a smartphone or computer 30 which could include, so in s? known, the unit? data processing logic 32 and a suitable unit? storage 34.

In other words, the data saved in the unit? memory 24 can be transferred to the smartphone or computer 30 in order to be stored in the unit? storage 34 and / or processed by? unit? data processing logic 32 thereof.

Advantageously, the unit? logic 32 could? then run computer programs or applications for processing the acquired telemetry data. Can these computer programs be of type in itself? known.

Possibly, the device 20 could include one or more sensors 21 which can be operatively connected with the unit? of reception 22. For example, potr? include a GPS and/or an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope.

Device 20 can preferably comprise a box-shaped body 29 which could include one or more between the? unit? of reception 22, the battery 23, the unit? memory 24, the LEDs 25, the on/off switch 26, the on/off switch 27, and possibly one or more? sensors 21.

The box-shaped body 29 will be able have particularly small dimensions. The box-shaped body 29 will be able have particularly small dimensions, for example, may? have length, width and height approximately equal to 10 cm, 6 cm and 5 cm. The box-shaped body 29 will be able have a particularly low weight, for example less than 100 g.

The box-shaped body 29 will be able be made of rigid material in order to resist shocks, especially during activities? offroad.

The box-shaped body 29 will be able be substantially hermetic in order to prevent the entry of water, mud or other dirt during the activity, in particular during the activities? offroad.

Operationally, once the system 1 has been installed on the vehicle 100 which comprises at least the device 20, preferably the device 20 and a plurality of devices 10, you can? turn on the device 20 by means of the switch 26, and activate the unit? reception using switch 27.

In particular, once the device 20 is turned on, it will be possible to perform an operation known as ?pairing?. In other words, the unit? reception 22 and the devices 10 will be able to associate each other in an unambiguous way. In this way you can avoid, for example, to acquire during the use? data of other users with the same system 1. Preferably, this operation will be able? be performed automatically once the switch 26 has been activated, preferably once the device 20 has been switched on.

On the other hand, once the device 20 is activated, it will be possible to synchronize the unit? reception 22 and all the microcontrollers 12 of the devices 10. For example, the device 20 could? send a unique code simultaneously to all the devices 10 so that the data of the different devices 10 acquired starting from that instant can be identified. In other words, the device 20 will be able to perform an operation so-called timestamping, the cio? send a timestamp code to all 10 devices, the latter can? advantageously be stored in the respective units? 14. Preferably, this operation can? be performed automatically once switch 27 has been activated.

On the other hand, the deactivation of the device 20 could then correspond to a procedure similar to that of activation. In this way only the data acquired after the first activation timestamp code and before the second timestamp code can be considered.

The devices 10 will therefore be able to detect the data with a particularly reduced interval which may vary depending on the type of detector, preferably this range will be able? be particularly small, that is? the data may be collected substantially instantaneously.

The sensor devices 10 will be able to send the data to the device 20 with predetermined time intervals which may be substantially equal to the detection time intervals or significantly greater. In other words, the detected data can be sent to the unit? logic 32 during the practice of the activity, for example during the competition.

For example, according to a configuration of the system 1, the devices 10 will be able to send the data to the device 20 in a substantially continuous manner as follows: that the latter receives the data substantially instantaneously.

This configuration? particularly suitable in case there is a need? to analyze the telemetry data during the practice of? activity? in an instantaneous way, as for example in motorsport competitions of speed? in which the boxes analyze the telemetry values every instant. In this case, the device 20 will be able to send to the unit? 32 data received by wireless systems type in s? known.

On the other hand, according to a different configuration, the devices 10 will be able to memorize the data detected in the unit? 14 and will be able to send such memorized data ?packet? with a predetermined time interval, for example every 1s, every 5s or every 10s.

because the moving vehicle or the parts of the moving vehicle compromise the correct transmission of the data, in this way the data are saved in the unit? 14 near? of the sensor 11, therefore substantially error-free, and can subsequently be sent to the device 20 as a single data packet, with a probability? particularly low error. In any case, the data acquired by the smartphone or computer 30 in this way may have a lower error than the data acquired instantly in which each data ? subjected to a high risk of error.

Thanks to this feature, the telemetry system 1 will be able to be versatile and at the same time potr? be particularly reliable. This configuration can therefore be particularly suitable for those activities? where telemetry data can be analyzed remotely without the need to receive instantaneous values, as for example in the case of activity? of cross or of activity? by bike.

Possibly, according to a particular configuration of the system 1, the data sending time interval could be particularly high, for example substantially equal to the duration of the activity? of the user.

In other words, you can turn on the device 20 and perform the pairing, activate the device 20 and perform the timestamping, and the devices 10 will be able to detect the data and store them in the respective units? 14. The stored data package will be able to therefore be sent to the device 20 only once the service has ended, for example once the vehicle ? stopped. In this way you can essentially exclude the possibility? error in data transmission.

Eventually, after the race you can? deactivate the device 20, for example by means of the switch 27, while the data stored in the devices 10 can be sent to the device 20 at a later time.

Operationally, the user can? turn on the device 20 in the pits using the switch 26 (and the pairing operation can therefore be performed), go to the start of the race, activate the device 20 using the switch 27 (and the operation can therefore be performed timestamping) and start storing the data detected in the unit? 14 for the duration of the race.

Once the race is over, the user will be able to? deactivate the device 20 by means of the same switch 27 and then send a new timestamp code, go to the pits, switch off the vehicle, and promote the sending of data from the devices 10 to the device 20. For example, this operation could be performed by means of the same switch 26 before turning off the device 20. Eventually this operation could? be performed automatically when the device is switched off 20.

The data can then be transferred from the device 20 to the smartphone or computer 30, for example via the USB port 28.

In this way, therefore, it will be possible to analyze telemetry data that is particularly precise and acquired in a substantially error-free manner.

This configuration can therefore be particularly advantageous for all professional or amateur sports users who do not need an instantaneous or almost remote analysis, but who at the same time will be able to precisely analyze their own performance or vehicle settings.

System 1 can furthermore comprise different configurations in addition to those described above. For example, different devices 10 could send data with significantly different time intervals. In fact, some devices 10 may be relatively insensitive to interference from the moving vehicle, while some devices 10 may be very sensitive. For example, a device 10 located near of the engine can? be particularly sensitive and the instantaneous sending of data to the device 20 could lead to a high degree of error, while a device 10 located near of the handlebar and in the vicinity? of the device 20 potr? send the data to the latter with a reduced degree of error.

In general, in fact, errors in the data cause poor reliability? of the acquired telemetry data and therefore of the whole system 1. On the other hand, as described above, the system 1 of the present invention allows the acquisition and therefore the subsequent processing of substantially correct data. System 1 is therefore particularly reliable.

For example, in FIG. 6 ? schematically shown is a system 1 comprising different types of devices 10. It is understood that the devices 10 can all be identical to each other and can have one or more? among the configurations illustrated in FIG.6.

The invention? susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are covered by the attached claims. All the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different according to requirements, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the attached claims.

Claims (10)

1. A telemetry system that can be installed on a vehicle (100) to acquire telemetry data relating to an activity? of a user, including: - at least a first device (10) comprising: - at least one sensor (11) for detecting first data; - a?unit? sending data (12) to send said first data; - a second device (20) operatively connected wirelessly with said at least one first device (10), comprising: - a?unit? reception data (22) to receive at least said first data from said unit? sending data (12) of said at least one first device (10); - a first unit? data storage (24) for storing said at least first received data; wherein said second data acquisition device (20) and said at least one first device (10) can be coupled with the vehicle (100) during the practice of the activity? of the user. 2. System according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one first device (10) comprises a second unit? data storage (14) operatively connected to said at least one sensor (11) to store said first detected data. 3. System according to claim 1 or 2 comprising a plurality? of first devices (10), said at least one sensor (11) of each of said first devices (10) being configured to detect data relating to one or more? between: - position of the motorcycle or bicycle; - speed? motorcycle or bicycle; - motorcycle or bicycle acceleration; - acceleration on three axes of the motorcycle or bicycle; - wheel pressure; - deformation of the frame or of some components; - fork travel; - speed? of the fork; - shock absorber stroke; - speed? of the shock absorber; - brake lever travel; - brake circuit pressure; - bicycle pedaling cadence; - bicycle pedaling power. 4. System in accordance with one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said second data acquisition device (20) comprises a box-shaped body (29) which internally includes said unit? of receiving data (22) and said first unit? data storage (24). 5. A data acquisition device usable in a telemetry system (1) in accordance with one or more? of the preceding claims, the data acquisition device (20) being connectable to at least one data sending device (10) comprising: - at least one sensor (11) for detecting first data; - a?unit? sending data (12) to send said first data; - a?unit? storage (14) of said at least first data. 6. A vehicle telemetry kit, comprising: - a data acquisition device (20) in accordance with claim 5; - a plurality? of elements (40) for coupling said data acquisition device (20) with the vehicle; in which said plurality? of elements (40) can be coupled alternatively with the same data acquisition device (20) to allow the assembly of the latter with different vehicles or with different parts of the same vehicle. 7. A method for telemetry of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: - provision of a telemetry system (1) comprising at least a first device (10) with at least a sensor (11) for detecting first data and a unit? sending data device (12) for sending said first data, and a second data acquisition device (20) operably connectable wirelessly with said at least one first device (10); - detection of said first data by said at least one sensor (11) with a first time interval; - sending of said first data through said unit? sending (12) to said second data acquisition device (20) with a second time interval; in which said first interval of time ? particularly reduced so that said at least one sensor (11) detects said first data in a substantially continuous way; in which said second interval of time ? equal to or greater than said first time interval. 8. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein said second time interval ? significantly greater than said first time interval, said at least one first device (10) comprising a unit? memory (14) for storing said first data detected by said at least one sensor (11) so that said at least one first device (10) sends said second device (20) a packet of a plurality? of said first data with a frequency equal to said second time interval. 9. Method according to the previous claim, wherein said second time interval corresponds to the duration of the activity? of? user so that said phase of sending of said first data ? performed once the? activity?. The method according to claim 7, 8 or 9, further comprising the steps of: - pairing of said at least one first device (10) and of said second device (20); - synchronization of said at least one first device (10) with said second device (20) wherein said steps are performed before said steps of detecting said first data and said step of sending said first data.