US005553007A
`5,553,007
`(11) Patent Number:
`United States Patent 5
`
`Brisson
`[45] Date of Patent:
`* Sep. 3, 1996
`
`
`UTAAATATA
`
`[54] TRAVEL COMPUTER WITH MEMORY AND
`MEANS FOR DETERMINING VARIOUS
`PERFORMANCEVARIABLESIN REAL
`TIME
`
`4,638,448
`4,820,979
`5,335,188
`
`..sssssssssesessseen 364/565
`1/1987 Cuvelier et al.
`wn 324/171
`4/1989 Schwerdhéfer etal.
`
`8/1994 Brisson ......secsecsesseessseeeees 364/551.01
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor: Lawrence J. Brisson, 574 Croyden Ct.,
`Sunnyvale, Calif. 94087
`
`Primary Examiner—Emanuel T. Voeltz
`Assistant Examiner—Hien X. Vo
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Matthew F. Jodziewicz
`
`[*]
`Notice:|The term of this patent shall not extend
`ABSTRACT
`beyond the expiration date of Pat. No.
`[57]
`5,335,188.
`
`[21]
`
`Appl. No.: 364,293
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 27, 1994
`
`[51]
`[52]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`acaecessssssnsscssesssssssnssnsensesessessseeess GOIC 23/00
`Tint, C1.
`US. Che oe eceeseneees 364/561; 364/551.01; 364/565
`Field of Search one 364/551.01, 561,
`364/565
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`A device for monitoring and comparing present, past and
`ideal performances on an exercise machine senses a prese-
`lected set of factors chosen to represent the present perfor-
`mance of the user on the machine. A Processor operates
`under a predetermined set of user controlled instructions to
`store the set of performance data for each performanceof the
`user in its memory unit, and comparethe present set against
`a stored set of performance data representing a saved prior
`performance.It generates an output display signal represen-
`tative of a comparison metric therebetween.
`
`4,156,190.
`
`5/1979 Chittenden et al. oe 324/175
`
`8 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`Control
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`Switches
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`Microprocessor
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`Battery 65
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`63
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`External
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`Wheel Motion
`Connector
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`Sensor
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`APPLE 1108
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`FIGURE 6
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`Di splay
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`Control
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`Satche, |Microprocessor|POherY 65
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`Sensor
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`Memory
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`Sheet5 of 5
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`FIGURE 7
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`5,553,007
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`1
`TRAVEL COMPUTER WITH MEMORY AND
`MEANSFOR DETERMINING VARIOUS
`PERFORMANCEVARIABLES IN REAL
`TIME
`
`NOTICE REGARDING COPYRIGHTED
`MATERIAL
`
`A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
`contains materials which are subject to copyright protection.
`The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
`reproduction by anyoneofthe patent documentor the patent
`disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office
`patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright
`rights whatsoever.
`
`10
`
`NOTICE REGARDING RELATED PATENT
`
`The present invention is an improvementover the inven-
`tor’s existing U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,188 titled: Bicycle Com-
`puter with Memory and Means for Comparing Present and
`Past Performance in Real Time issued Aug. 2, 1994.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. General and Particular Scope of the Invention
`The present invention relates to improved means for
`continuously providing information about athletic perfor-
`mance to a bicyclist during a bike ride, so that the cyclist
`may use this information to optimize his athletic perfor-
`mance. More particularly,
`the present invention provides
`means capable of retaining detailed information about a
`previous athletic performance in a memory device within a
`portable instrument and means for comparing in real time
`the previous performance with a new athletic performance
`(i.e. moment by moment while the new performanceis in
`progress), and for displaying the comparative data to the
`athlete, for use in optimizing his current performance.
`2. Known Prior Art
`When an athlete, such as a bicyclist, is competing or
`training for athletic improvement,
`it
`is very difficult
`to
`achieve optimal results without some clear and objective
`metric of performance. Without such an objective metric, the
`athlete must rely on his subjective feeling of the level of
`effort he is expending. However, such feelings are very
`imprecise.
`During a hard workout, the continuous feeling of fatigue
`may lead the athlete to believe he is performing at the
`intended level of effort, only to discover at the end of the
`workoutthat his actual performance wasquitedifferent from
`his desired goal.
`One known method for providing objective measure-
`ments during an athletic performance,is to define a limited
`numberof checkpoints along the route, and to keep track of
`how long it takes to reach those checkpoints by using a
`stopwatch.
`With this approach, the athlete receives occasional feed-
`back about how the current performanceis going, but there
`are still problems. In practice this method is too crude and
`cumbersome to be useful in all but the simplest cases, as it
`is impractical to have a large numberof these checkpoints,
`since the athlete must memorize them and the corresponding
`times.
`Similarly, keeping track of the times at each checkpointor
`even between performances,
`is difficult and error-prone,
`since the times keep changing as the athlete’s performance
`improves. Furthermore, occasional checkpointsstill do not
`give the athlete enough feedback for optimal guidance, since
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`he mustrely on the subjective feelings of exertion during the
`fairly long intervals between checkpoints as a gaugeto his
`instantaneous performance.
`At present, the best available solutions to these problems
`are embodied in portable devices known as CYCLE COM-
`PUTERS.A cycle computer comprises a processor with an
`accurate clock, a sensor to measure the motion of a bicycle
`wheel, a display visible to the rider, and software to perform
`computations and display information.
`Typically, such a cycle computer combines information
`about elapsed time with information about wheel motion, so
`as to compute and display elapsed time, distance traveled,
`average speed, and current speed. The most advanced cycle
`computers presently incorporate additional
`information
`relating to the rider’s current performance, such as pedaling
`cadence and altitude. Some cycle computers also display
`symbols (such as + and —) to indicate whether the cyclist’s
`current speed is above (+) or below (—) the average speed
`since the beginning of the presentride.
`Existing cycle computers provide continuous information
`to the athlete about
`the current performance,
`the most
`important of which is speed. If the athlete is riding along a
`level route with road conditions suitable for constant speed,
`the existing cycle computer provides adequate information.
`All the athlete needs to know is the target speed for this
`workout, and he can observe at any moment whetherheis
`performing at or above the target speed.
`However, existing cycle computers do not provide
`adequate information for the vast majority of cycling routes,
`where road conditions vary significantly, and the route may
`pass over hills or even mountains. Along such routes, it is
`not possible to maintain a constant speed, and existing cycle
`computers do not present the right kind of information to
`allow the athlete to evaluate his performance continuously.
`With existing devices, the athlete must fall back to the old
`technique of memorizing the time it should take to reach
`certain checkpoints and evaluating his performanceat those
`points.
`
`SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to provide the user
`with information that represents a practical standard of
`performanceat each point along a course, and to display this
`standard to the user continuously in a form that makesit easy
`to compare his current performance with the standard.
`Another object of the invention is to create this standard
`of performance in a way that guaranteesit to be a practical
`and appropriate standard for the particular user, and a
`standard which takes into account
`the variations in the
`particular route.
`Another object ofthe inventionis to provide a plurality of
`such customized performance standards, with a different
`standard available for each training route used by the user.
`An additional object of the invention is to provide means
`to change the standard for a route whenever the changing
`ability of the user warrants a new standard of performance
`for said route.
`
`Another object of the invention is to provide means
`wherebythe performance of one user may be recorded in the
`invention as a standard to be used by other users who wish
`to emulate the performanceofthe first user along the same
`route.
`
`Another object of the invention is to provide means to
`extract performance data from the cycle computer and
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`5,553,007
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`3
`transmit it to an external computer for processing and for
`safe-keeping. A related object of the invention is to provide
`meansto transfer such data from an external computer into
`the cycle computer.
`Oneparticular embodimentof the invention consists of a
`cycle computer similar to those in the prior art, with the
`addition of a Random Access Memory (RAM)operatively
`connected to a processor, and suitable software to provide
`the functions of the invention. The RAM is connectedto the
`processor with control and data paths so that the processor,
`undercontrolof its software program, can read and write the
`cells of the RAM. The invention records the details of a
`current performance, moment by moment,
`in the RAM.
`Once the current performance is complete, the invention
`allowsthe athlete to preserve this record in a numbered area
`of the RAM. The invention provides a plurality of such
`numbered areas in order to preserve a plurality of such
`records. At the beginning of a new performance, the inven-
`tion allowsthe athlete to select any of the previously saved
`sets of performance data foruse as a standard of comparison,
`and displays said standard data along with current data so
`that the athlete can easily compare his current performance
`at any moment with similar data relating to said saved
`performance.
`Other alternate embodiments of the present invention for
`use as a travel computer for use with all types of vehicles are
`described below.
`
`The novel features of construction and operation of the
`invention will be more clearly apparent during the course of
`the following description, reference being had to the accom-
`panying drawings wherein has beenillustrated a preferred
`form of the device of the invention and wherein like char-
`acters of reference designate like parts throughout the draw-
`ings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG.1 is a diagram of bicycle with wheel motion sensor,
`wire, and cycle computer;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a cycle computer display, showing
`current speed, elapsed time; pace speed -and elapsed time;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a cycle computer display, showing
`current speed, distance; pace speed and distance;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a cycle computer display, showing
`average speed, riding time; pace average speed and riding
`time;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a cycle computer display, showing
`current date and time; date, and memory numberof pace
`data;also, total time, total distance and average speed ofthe
`pace ride;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of processor, display, batteries,
`buttons, memory and connector for linking to an external
`computer; and,
`FIG. 7 is a diagram of the two primary data arrays of the
`present invention as maintained in memory to keep track of
`pace data from previousrides.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTOF THE INVENTION
`
`With reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred
`embodimentof the invention in a cycle computer will now
`be described. It would include an apparatus having a Ran-
`dom Access Memory (RAM)contained within the housing
`of the cycle computer, and suitable software to provide the
`functions of the invention. This RAM is connected to the
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`processor with control and data paths so that the processor,
`under control of its software program, can read and write
`any cell of the RAM.
`FIG. 1 shows the invention installed on a bicycle. A
`magnet 11 is attached to the wheel 10 so that magnet 11
`passes in proximity to the motion sensor 12 during each
`rotation of the wheel. The motion sensor 12 sends a signal
`on the connecting wires 13 to the cycle computer 14 each
`time the magnet 11 passes. Other means may be used to
`provide the wheel motion information to the cycle computer,
`such as radio or infra-red transmission in place of a con-
`necting wire.
`The cycle computer 14 is attached to the bicycle in a
`location in whichthe bicyclist can operate its control buttons
`and view the display while riding.
`The software in the invention records the details of the
`athlete’s performancein a portion of the RAM while the ride
`is in progress. This recording begins. when the timer is
`started, after having been reset to zero. Each RAM location
`within the operable RAM portion is written with numerical
`performancedatapertaining to one pointalong the course of
`the ride, such as current elapsed time, current distance,
`current speed, and altitude. Such data is recordedat intervals
`whenever the timer is operating. The intervals between
`recording points may be offixed or variable length. At the
`end of the current performance, the athlete may use the
`control buttons of the cycle computer, if desired, to save the
`recorded details of the current. performance for future ref-
`erence. In the process of saving the recorded data,
`the
`invention requires the athlete to choose an identifying num-
`ber which determines whatpreviously saved pace file will be
`replaced by the currentride’s data. In the preferred embodi-
`ment, the invention also savesthe current date along with the
`performance data as a meansof helping the athlete to select
`and use the data in the future.
`
`In general, whenever the stopwatch is started, the device
`records the details of the current performance (time versus
`distance andaltitude, etc.) in a temporary area of memory.
`If the stopwatch is stopped, recording stops, but the record
`up to that pointis retained. If timing is restarted, the record
`also restarts, creating new entries after the last. Only upon
`reset (which zeroes out the stopwatch and trip odometer)
`does the temporary historical record clear.
`Once the athlete has saved one or more sets of perfor-
`mance data,
`the invention allows the athlete to use the
`control buttons to select one of the saved sets of data to be
`used as a standard of performance for a subsequent perfor-
`mance. The display, as illustrated in FIG..5, allows the
`athlete to view certain identifying information about the
`previously saved data as an aid in choosing a standard. In the
`preferred embodiment, the athlete can see on the display
`screen the identifying numberofa set of saved data,the date
`it was saved, the total distance of the saved performance,its
`total elapsed time,andits overall average speed. The control
`buttons are used to view the identifying information for
`other sets of saved data, until the desired set is found. After
`viewing this identifying information, the athlete uses the
`control buttons to select the data to be used as a standard for
`the presentride.
`The selection of a standard normally occursat the start of
`a ride, but it is possible to change to a different standard
`during the ride, if desired. This capability is useful in case
`the user realizes after starting a ride that he has accidentally
`selected the wrong pace ride for comparison. If the user does
`switch to a different pace ride, the processor immediately
`scans the selected data to locate the points in time and
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`5
`distance that correspond to the point reached on the current
`ride. If the user has changed the standard while the timeris
`running, the processor might not be able to process the new
`pace file in time to update the display right away; if this
`happens, the comparison data from the pace ride should
`becomeblank temporarily onthe display, until the processor
`catches up and can show correct data from the new pacefile.
`Once a standard has been selected, the athlete uses the
`controlbuttonsto start timing the current ride. The invention
`then begins to display information from the selected stan-
`dard ride in proximity with similar data relating to the
`current ride, so that the athlete can easily observe at any time
`how his current performance compares to the selected
`standard. The invention uses information about the current
`ride, such as distance travelled and elapsed time, to deter-
`mine which portions of the saved standard data to display, so
`that the displayed standard data always corresponds to the
`point of the route where the athlete is presently located.
`Furthermore, when the athlete uses the control buttons to
`change the display to a different type of data, the invention
`also changes the display of standard data, so that
`the
`standard is always presented in a form similar to the data
`pertaining to the current ride, making it easy for the athlete
`to compare them. For example, if the cycle computer is
`displaying the rider’s current instantaneousspeed, the inven-
`tion will also show the speedthe rider was going at the same
`point on the selected pace ride. If the cycle computer is
`showing the elapsed time for the currentride, the invention
`also shows the amountof time that was required to reach the
`same point along the route during the selected pace ride. If
`the display showsthe distance travelled on the currentride,
`the invention also displays the distance that was reached on
`the pace ride in the same amountof time as has been spent
`on the currentride.
`
`Atthe end of each ride, the athlete always has the option
`of saving the data about the current performance. If he
`choosesto save the data, he also has the choice of which set
`number to use as an identifier. If he selects a set number
`which previously held saved data, the new performance data
`replaces the old data, which is then no longer accessible.
`In the preferred embodiment, the invention also displays
`symbols such as +, —, or = to indicate whether therideris,
`respectively, presently faster than, slower than, or equal to
`the performance of the pace ride. If the display currently
`shows more than one performance metric, such as current
`speed and elapsed time, each metric would also have a
`symbol] nearby to show how that metric compares to the
`similar metric for the pace ride. For example,if the rideris
`currently riding faster than he wasat this point on the pace
`ride, but previously was riding slower, so that his overall
`speed onthis ride is slower than the pace, the display would
`show a + near his current speed, but a — near the elapsed
`time. This lets the rider see at a glance that he is behind the
`desired pace overall, but is now improving.
`In the preferred embodiment, the invention also provides
`an audible tone that can warn the rider if he is behind oris
`falling behind the desired pace. This audible tone could be
`selected at the option of the user by pressing the control
`buttons. This audible tone would makeit easier for the rider
`to maintain his desired pace without the need to lookat the
`cycle computer display very often. Ideally, the tone would
`consist of a series of pulses or ‘beeps’ that would sound
`periodically wheneverthe rider is not meeting the goals set
`by the pace ride. For example,if the rider’s current speedis
`below the pace speed forthis part of the route, a single beep
`would sound at intervals of perhaps 5 or 10 seconds. If the
`rider’s overall average speedis below the desired pace,there
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`would be two beeps close together at each interval. If the
`rider is behind in both his current speed and his overall
`average speed, there would be three beeps at each interval.
`It will be understood that similar information may be
`conveyed by other combinations of audible tones.
`FIGS. 2 through § show four different external views of
`the display screen whichillustrate the presentation of infor-
`mation which includes information available in the priorart,
`along with information unique to the present invention. The
`bicyclist uses the control buttons to select. which of these
`screen formats to display.
`In FIG. 2, the display showsthe current speed 21 and the
`elapsed time 22 since the beginning of the current ride. The
`bicyclist uses the control buttons 24 to operate the cycle
`computer. The lower portion of the display shows informa-
`tion derived from a saved performance which is being used
`as a standard of comparison. Item 23 is the speed at which
`the bicyclist was traveling at the corresponding point on the
`selected standard ride. Item 25 is the elapsed time which was
`required to reach the corresponding point on the selected
`standard ride. Items 26 and 27 are symbols that indicate
`whetherthe athlete is currently ahead of (+), behind (—), or
`even with (=) the performanceat the corresponding point of
`the selected standard ride. Item 28 is the current time of day.
`In the preferred embodiment, the display presents corre-
`sponding information aboutthe current ride and the selected
`standard ride in proximity for easy comparison by the
`athlete. For example, items 21 and 23 represent correspond-
`ing speeds, and are located one directly above the other,
`while symbol 26 tells how the speeds compare. Similarly,
`items 22 and 25 represent corresponding times, and are also
`_ located one directly above the other, in proximity with their
`comparison symbol 27.
`In FIG.3, the display shows the current speed 31 and the
`_distance traveled 32 since the beginning of the currentride.
`The lowerportion of the display shows information derived
`from a saved performance which is being used as a standard
`of comparison. Item 33 is the speed at which the bicyclist
`was traveling at the corresponding point on the selected
`standard ride. Item 35 is the distance traveled during same
`amountof time on the selected standard ride. Items 36 and
`37 are symbols that indicate whether the athlete is currently
`ahead of (+), behind (—), or even with (=) the performance
`at the corresponding pointof the selected standardride. Item
`38 is the current time of day. In the preferred embodiment,
`the display presents corresponding information about the
`current ride and the selected standard ride in proximity for
`easy comparison by the athlete. For example, items 31 and
`33 represent corresponding speeds, and are located one
`59 directly abovethe other. Similarly, items 32 and 35 represent
`corresponding distances, and are also located one directly
`above the other.
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`In FIG.4, the display shows the average speed 41 and the
`riding time 42 since the beginning of the current ride. The
`lowerportion of the display shows information derived from
`a saved performance which is being used as a standard of
`comparison. Item 43 is the average speed the bicyclist was
`traveling up to the corresponding point on the selected
`standard ride.Item 45is the riding time required to reach the
`60 corresponding point on the selected standard ride. Items 46
`and 47 are symbols that indicate whether the athlete is
`currently ahead of (+), behind (-), or even with (=) the
`performance at
`the corresponding point of the selected
`standard ride. In the preferred embodiment,
`the display
`presents corresponding information about the current ride
`and the selected standard ride in proximity for easy com-
`parison by the athlete. For example,
`items 41 and 43
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`Tepresent corresponding average speeds, and are located one
`directly above the other. Similarly, items 42 and 45 represent
`correspondingriding times, and are also located onedirectly
`above the other.
`
`8
`described above.If such connectoris present, it may be used
`for several valuable functions. Data in the memory of the
`invention could be transmitted to the external computer for
`safekeeping, and transferred back to the cycle computer(or
`to another similar one) at a later time. This way, if the data
`FIGS. 2 to 4 merely represent three possible means of
`in memory is ever lost due to a power failure, it can be
`presenting the data available from this invention, and it
`reloaded from the external computer. Similarly, if the cycle
`should be understood that many other presentations are
`computer is damaged,lost, or stolen, the user can restore his
`possible and are within the scope of this invention. In
`particular, if the cycle computer measures other parameters
`valuable data from the external computer to a new cycle
`besides time, speed, and distance, these other metrics may
`computer.
`also be saved in the memory ofthis invention and displayed
`If the user rides bicycles on manydifferent routes, perhaps
`on suitable screens that compare these metrics on the current
`in different countries, the cycle computer itself might not
`ride with similar metrics from a saved pace ride. For
`have enough memory space to save all the pace rides the
`example, if pedaling cadence is measured, it may be saved
`user wouldlike. In such a case, the user could copy pace data
`in memory and displayed on a screen that compares current
`to an external computer where an unlimited number of
`cadence with cadence at the same point of the pace ride. If
`different pace files could exist. Then, whenever the user
`altitude is measured,
`it may be saved in memory and
`travels to a specific area or country, he could transfer into the
`displayed on a screen that comparesthe rate of ascentof the
`cycle computerjust the desired pacefiles for the routes in the
`current ride with the rate of ascent at the same point of the
`area he will beriding.
`pace ride. Similarly, the rider’s heart rate may be saved and
`Once the pace files have been transmitted to an external
`displayed for comparison. The invention also embodies
`computer, they can be copied into any other cycle computer
`having another screen which showsthe total time that was
`which embodiesthis invention. Hence, the data generated by
`required to complete the pace ride, and the estimated total
`one rider could be copied into the cycle computers of other
`time to complete the current ride, based on comparative
`riders to be used as a standard by them.In this way, one rider
`performance up to the present point of theride.
`who is the best along a particular route could create pace
`In FIG. 5,the display shows information that is useful for
`data for other riders who are trying to improvetheir perfor-
`selecting among the saved sets of historical performance
`mance to match or exceed the first rider.
`data. Such a selection is made at the beginning ofaride, to
`The data in the external computer can also be used to keep
`choosethe standard for comparison duringthe ride, and also
`track of the progress of various riders. With appropriate
`at the end of a ride,
`to choose which numbered area of
`software in the external computer,this performance data can
`memory to replace with information aboutthe ride that was
`be managed, plotted, and compared as part of a program of
`just finished, if the athlete chooses to save such information
`athletic training for an individual or a team.
`at all. Item 58 is the current date, and item 59 is the current
`time of day. Item 54 is the identifying numberof one of the
`With appropriate software, the external computer could
`saved sets of historical data whose summary information is
`also modify a pace file so as to create a different standard,
`displayed in items 51, 52, 53, and 55. Item 51 is the average
`which could then be loaded into the cycle computer. For
`speed achieved over the entire course of the saved ride
`example, an athlete might set a goal of improving his best
`identified by item 54. Item 52 is the date on which the ride
`time on a certain route by 5%. He could have the external
`identified by item 54 was executed. Item 53 is the total
`computer modify the file of pace data so that all segments of
`distance traveled during the savedride identified by item 54.
`the ride are faster by 5%, and then copy this modified pace
`Item 55 is the total
`time spent during the saved ride
`file into the cycle computer.
`identified by item 54. By pressing the control buttons which
`FIG.7 illustrates how the primary data arrays are orga-
`are provided on the preferred embodimentof the invention
`nized in memory to keep track of pace data from previous
`in a cycle computer, the user mayscroll through the different
`bikerides and to record pace data from the currentride. Pace
`saved sets of performance data and observe the key param-
`ride data is kept in the two dimensional array labeled as the
`eters of each saved set on screens such as in FIG. 5. Using
`“Pace Data Array’ in FIG.7.In this array, each column holds
`the displayed information, the user may select a specific set
`- pace data for one ride. In the example shown, the array has
`for use as a standard during the current ride by pressing the
`10 columns numbered from 0 to 9, which implies that this
`control buttons. Similarly, by pressing a different combina-
`array can retain information about 10 different rides. Since
`tion of buttons, the user may savethe information about the
`there must always be a column available to record the
`currentride in one of the numbered areas of memory.
`current ride, one of these columns is used as temporary
`FIG. 6 provides a block diagram of the preferred embodi-
`storage for the current ride, while the other nine columns
`mentof the invention. Item 60 is the display, which may be
`retain pace data from nine previously saved rides. The
`a liquid crystal type or other suitable display. Item 61is the
`numberof columns providedin an instance of the invention
`central processor. Item 62 is the control switches. Item 63 is
`depends on the size of the RAM usedin that model, among
`the wheel motion sensor. Item 64 is the battery or batteries
`other things.
`that supply electrical power. Item 65 is a small external
`The numberof entries in a column determines how long
`connector with which a cable may be connectedto link the
`a ride can be recorded. Whena ride is being recorded, each
`invention to an external computer, such as a Personal
`time a certain interval passes, a new entry is written into the
`Computer. Item 66 is the memory which can contain the
`next unused location in the column for that ride. For
`saved pace data from previous rides.
`In the preferred
`example, if a particular model records data every 15 sec-
`embodiment,this memory is constructed from a non-volatile
`onds, then a new entry is written in the proper column every
`Random Access Memory so its data is not lost when the
`15 secondsuntil the ride is done (or, until the column is full).
`battery loses power.
`In order to allow a ride of up to 12 hours without overflow-
`The connector65for linking to an external computeris an
`ing the column, the RAM should be large enough so that
`optional feature that would be present
`in the preferred
`each column hasat least 2,880 entries, if entries are written
`embodiment, but is not required for the primary functions
`every 15 seconds.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`5,553,007
`
`9
`The entries written in each column mayconsistof a single
`data field or more than onefield. Onefield is sufficient to
`provide the functions of the invention, allowing it to com-
`pute and compare distance, time, and speed at any pointof
`a ride. However, if the cycle computer has access to other
`types of data, they can also be recorded as additional fields.
`For example, it is possible to recordaltitude, cadence, and
`heart rate along with distance and time, whenever an entry
`is added to a column. If such additional data is available,
`presumably the cycle computer would also provide addi-
`tional display screens to show this data to the user, similar
`to those shownin FIGS. 2 to 4, but with different data being
`displayed. If such screensexist, in this invention, they would
`be augmented with fields that show similar data from the
`pace files, to compare with the current ride.
`To avoid having to copy an entire column ofthe data array
`to another column when saving a newride, the columnsare
`managed by use of the Mapping Array. The Mapping Array
`has one entry for each column in the Pace Data Array. Entry
`0 in the Mapping Array contains the column numberof the
`Pace Data Array column thatis to be used for recording the
`currentride. The other entries in the Mapping Array indicate
`the columnscontaining various previously saved rides. The
`index into the Mapping Array is the numberthat is associ-
`ated with each saved pace file, and it is this index that is
`shownto th