| 摘要 |
<p>Provided is a pedal force sensor which, in pedal force detection utilizing an elastic body, can detect pedal force over a wide range and reduce detection errors originating from variation in the attachment position or length etc. of the elastic body. Linkage between a drive wheel (30) that is fixed to a crankshaft (14) and a sprocket (50) that transmits rotary force of the crankshaft (14) to a propelling vehicle wheel is effected by a plurality of springs (80 to 90), and furthermore the space between each spring (80 to 90) and compression means thereof is set in such a way that the compression commencement timings of the plurality of springs (80 to 90) are offset. When detecting pedal force from the phase difference of the drive wheel (30) and the sprocket (50), the number of springs that are utilized changes in accordance with the range of the phase difference. In other words, since the spring constant that is utilised differs in accordance with the range of the phase difference, the pedal force can be detected on the basis of this changing spring constant. As a result, the relationship between the amount of displacement and the pedal force is made to be nonlinear, and a pedal force sensor is thereby obtained that approximates the desired detection characteristics.</p> |
