Bicycle communication device and pairing method

• US 10,511,945 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Masuda, Takaya, Suzuki, Takafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Talukder, Md K
• Application Number:
  US15/703,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20180115860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/08 Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36
• 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: B62J 45/00 Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/55 power-driven at crank shafts parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A bicycle communication device includes a communicator and a memory. The communicator is communicable with a bicycle electric component and a bicycle operation unit. The bicycle electric component includes a drive unit. The memory stores information related to the bicycle operation unit. The communicator is configured to be able to input the information related to the bicycle operation unit to the bicycle electric component in a state where the communicator is located in a predetermined range that is within thirty centimeters from the bicycle electric component.

Claims

1. A bicycle communication device comprising:

a communicator communicable with a bicycle electric component and a bicycle operation unit, the bicycle electric component including a drive unit;

a memory that stores information related to the bicycle operation unit; and

a base that includes the communicator and the memory, the base being configured to be selectively attached one at a time to the bicycle operation unit and the bicycle electric component in a removable manner,

in a state where the communicator is located in a predetermined range that is within thirty centimeters from the bicycle electric component, the communicator automatically inputting the information related to the bicycle operation unit to the bicycle electric component so that the bicycle operation unit is paired with the bicycle electric component.

2. The bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the communicator is located in the predetermined range in a state where the base is attached to the bicycle electric component.

3. The bicycle communication device according to claim 2, wherein

the base is shaped as a card that is insertable into a first card slot of the bicycle operation unit and a second card slot of the bicycle electric component.

4. The bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the base is configured to be removably attached to the bicycle operation unit in a removable manner, and

in a state where the base is in contact with the bicycle electric component or where the base is not in contact with the bicycle electric component in the predetermined range, the communicator is located in the predetermined range.

5. The bicycle communication device according to claim 4, wherein

the base is shaped as a card that is insertable into a first card slot of the bicycle operation unit.

6. The bicycle communication device according to claim 4, wherein

the communicator is configured to use power that is generated by a radio wave from the bicycle electric component to input the information related to the bicycle operation unit to the bicycle electric component.

7. The bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the predetermined range is within five centimeters from the bicycle electric component.

8. The bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the information related to the bicycle operation unit includes identification information of the bicycle operation unit.

9. The bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the communicator and the memory are coupled to the bicycle operation unit, and

the communicator is located in the predetermined range in a state where the bicycle operation unit is arranged close to the bicycle electric component.

11. The bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the bicycle electric component includes at least one of a bicycle electric transmission, a bicycle electric suspension, a bicycle electric adjustable seatpost and a bicycle assist driving unit.

12. A bicycle component operating system comprising the bicycle communication device of claim 1, and further comprising:

the bicycle electric component and the bicycle operation unit.

16. The bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the information related to the bicycle operation unit includes identification information of the bicycle operation unit.

10. A bicycle communication device comprising:

a communicator communicable with a bicycle electric component and a bicycle operation unit, the bicycle electric component including a drive unit; and

a memory that stores information related to the bicycle operation unit, the communicator being arrangeable at a first position where the communicator is coupled to the bicycle operation unit and a second position where the communicator is located closer to the bicycle electric component than a state where the communicator is arranged at the first position, and in a state where the communicator is arranged at the second position, the communicator automatically inputting the information related to the bicycle operation unit to the bicycle electric component so that the bicycle operation unit is paired with the bicycle electric component.

13. A bicycle component operating system comprising the bicycle communication device of claim 10, and further comprising:

the bicycle electric component and the bicycle operation unit.

14. A method for pairing a bicycle operation unit with a bicycle electric component that includes a drive unit, the method comprising:

removing a bicycle communication device from the bicycle operation unit, the bicycle communication device including a communicator and a memory, the communicator being communicable with the bicycle operation unit and the bicycle electric component, and the memory stores information related to the bicycle operation unit; and

arranging the communicator of the bicycle communication device in a predetermined range that is within thirty centimeters from the bicycle electric component to allow the communicator to automatically input the information related to the bicycle operation unit to the bicycle electric component so that the bicycle operation unit is paired with the bicycle electric component.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein

the information related to the bicycle operation unit includes identification information of the bicycle operation unit.

15. A bicycle communication device comprising:

a communicator communicable with a bicycle electric component and a bicycle operation unit, the bicycle electric component including a drive unit;

a memory that stores information related to the bicycle operation unit; and

a base that includes the communicator and the memory, the base being configured to be selectively attached one at a time to the bicycle operation unit and the bicycle electric component in a removable manner,

the communicator automatically inputting the information related to the bicycle operation unit to the bicycle electric component in a state where the communicator is located in a predetermined range that is within thirty centimeters from the bicycle electric component,

the communicator being arrangeable at a first position where the communicator is coupled to the bicycle operation unit and a second position where the communicator is located closer to the bicycle electric component than a state where the communicator is arranged at the first position, the second position of the communicator being within the predetermined range.

18. The bicycle communication device according to claim 15, wherein

the information related to the bicycle operation unit includes identification information of the bicycle operation unit.