Bicycle control system

• US 10,457,350 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Kasai, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wallace, Donald J
• Application Number:
  US14/696,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 2001/085 Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/30 for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/044 Suspensions with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/28 with pivoted chain-stay
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/003 with gear indicating means, e.g. a display
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/006 with auxiliary shift assisting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor

Abstract

A bicycle control system is basically provided with a power supply, a first bicycle electric component and a controller. The first bicycle electric component is electrically connected to the power supply to receive electrical power from the power supply. The controller is programmed to monitor an electrical communication of the first bicycle electric component. The controller is further programmed to stop electrical power from the power supply to the first bicycle electric component upon determining no electrical communication to or from the first bicycle electric component for a first predetermined inactivity period.

Claims

1. A bicycle control system comprising:

a power supply;

a first bicycle electric component electrically connected to the power supply to receive electrical power from the power supply;

a second bicycle electric component electrically connected to the power supply to receive electrical power from the power supply; and

a controller programmed

to monitor an electrical communication of the first bicycle electric component,

to place the first bicycle electric component in a suspend mode for a predetermined suspend period to reduce electrical power consumption upon the controller determining no electrical communication to or from the first bicycle electric component,

to stop electrical power from the power supply to the first bicycle electric component upon determining no electrical communication to or from the first bicycle electric component for a first predetermined inactivity period when an operation mode of the first bicycle electric component is in the suspend mode,

to monitor an electrical communication of the second bicycle electric component,

to stop electrical power from the power supply to the second bicycle electric component upon determining no electrical communication to or from the second bicycle electric component for a second predetermined inactivity period,

to individually and independently set the first predetermined inactivity period and the second predetermined inactivity period, and

to enable a user to individually and independently set the first and second predetermined inactivity periods to desired time periods.

2. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is programmed such that the first predetermined inactivity period of the first bicycle electric component is a different length of time from the second predetermined inactivity period of the second bicycle electric component.

3. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is programmed such that the first predetermined inactivity period of the first bicycle electric component is equal to a length of time from the second predetermined inactivity period of the second bicycle electric component.

4. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first bicycle electric component is one of a bicycle electric shifting device, a bicycle electric suspension, an electric adjustable seat post and an electric power-assisted motor.

5. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, further comprising

a bicycle operating device configured to output a control signal to the first bicycle electric component.

6. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, further comprising

a bicycle operating device having a wireless transmitter;

and

a wireless receiver electrically connected to the first bicycle electric component, the wireless receiver being programmed to receive a control signal from the wireless transmitter and output an operation signal to the first bicycle electric component in accordance with the control signal.

7. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the power supply includes a fuel cell.

8. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the predetermined suspend period is shorter than the first predetermined inactivity period.

9. A bicycle control system comprising:

a power supply;

a first bicycle electric component electrically connected to the power supply to receive electrical power from the power supply;

a second bicycle electric component electrically connected to the power supply to receive electrical power from the power supply; and

a controller programmed

to monitor an electrical communication of the first bicycle electric component,

to place the first bicycle electric component in a first suspend mode that reduces electrical power consumption from the power supply upon determining no electrical communication to or from the first bicycle electric component for a first predetermined inactivity period,

to place the first bicycle electric component in a second suspend mode that further reduces electrical power consumption from the power supply to a lower consumption rate than in the first suspend mode upon determining no electrical communication to or from the first bicycle electric component for a second predetermined inactivity period when an operation mode of the first bicycle electric component is the first suspend mode,

to monitor an electrical communication of the second bicycle electric component,

to place the second bicycle electric component in the first suspend mode upon determining no electrical communication to or from the second bicycle electric component for a third predetermined inactivity period, and

to place the second bicycle electric component in a second suspend mode upon determining no electrical communication to or from the second bicycle electric component for a fourth predetermined inactivity period that is longer than the third predetermined inactivity period,

to individually and independently set the first, second, third and fourth predetermined inactivity periods, and

to enable a user to individually and independently set the first, second, third and fourth predetermined inactivity periods to desired time periods.

10. The bicycle control system according to claim 9, wherein

the controller is programmed such that the first predetermined inactivity period of the first bicycle electric component is a different length of time from the third predetermined inactivity period of the second bicycle electric component.

11. The bicycle control system according to claim 9, wherein

the controller is programmed such that the first predetermined inactivity period of the first bicycle electric component is equal to a length of time from the third predetermined inactivity period of the second bicycle electric component.

12. The bicycle control system according to claim 9, wherein

the first bicycle electric component is one of a bicycle electric shifting device, a bicycle electric suspension, an electric adjustable seat post and an electric power-assisted motor.

13. The bicycle control system according to claim 9, further comprising

a bicycle operating device electrically connected to the first bicycle electric component, the bicycle operating device being configured to output a control signal to the first bicycle electric component.

14. The bicycle control system according to claim 9, further comprising

a bicycle operating device having a wireless transmitter, and

a wireless receiver electrically connected to the first bicycle electric component, the wireless receiver being programmed to receive a control signal from the wireless transmitter and output an operation signal to the first bicycle electric component in accordance with the control signal.

15. The bicycle control system according to claim 9, wherein

the power supply includes a fuel cell.

16. The bicycle control system according to claim 9, wherein

the second predetermined inactivity period is longer than the first predetermined inactivity period.

17. The bicycle control system according to claim 16, wherein

the controller is programmed to stop electrical power from the power supply to the first bicycle electric component upon determining no electrical communication to or from the first bicycle electric component for a next predetermined inactivity period that is longer than the second predetermined inactivity period.

18. A bicycle control system comprising:

a power supply;

a first bicycle electric component electrically connected to the power supply to receive electrical power from the power supply;

a first bicycle operating device electrically connected to the first bicycle electric component;

a second bicycle electric component electrically connected to the power supply to receive electrical power from the power supply;

a second bicycle operating device electrically connected to the second bicycle electric component; and

a controller programmed

to monitor an electrical communication between the first bicycle electric component and the first bicycle operating device and the electrical communication between the second bicycle electric component and the second bicycle operating device, the electrical communication being performed by a power line communication protocol,

to stop electrical power from the power supply to the first bicycle electric component upon determining no electrical communication to or from the first bicycle electric component for a first predetermined inactivity period,

to stop electrical power from the power supply to the second bicycle electric component upon determining no electrical communication to or from the second bicycle electric component for a second predetermined inactivity period,

to individually and independently set the first and second predetermined inactivity periods, and

to enable a user to individually and independently set the first and second predetermined inactivity periods to desired time periods.