Process for controlling gear shifting in a cycle, and corresponding systems and components
First Claim
1. A system for controlling when gear shifting occurs in the transmission of a cycle, the system comprising:
- at least one sensor that detects a marker that rotates about an axis parallel to an axis coaxial with a rear hub of a cycle wheel, said marker having angular positions that correspond to no, forward, and rearward movement of a transmission chain;
a control unit for activating said sensor according to a command request; and
a shifter that shifts the chain, following the command request, only if the transmission chain moves forward.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling gear shifting in a transmission of a cycle, includes at least one gear wheel or sprocket on which a transmission element is engaged to perform transmission of motion as a result of movement in a predetermined direction. The gear shifting is carried out by changing the position of engagement of the transmission member with respect to the at least one gear wheel or sprocket. The system further includes at least one sensor for detecting the movement in corresponding direction of movement of the motion transmitting element for generating a signal and a control unit for controlling the change of the position of the element for transmitting motion with respect to the at least one gear wheel or sprocket when the signal indicates that the element for transmitting motion is moving in the given direction.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for controlling when gear shifting occurs in the transmission of a cycle, the system comprising:
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at least one sensor that detects a marker that rotates about an axis parallel to an axis coaxial with a rear hub of a cycle wheel, said marker having angular positions that correspond to no, forward, and rearward movement of a transmission chain;
a control unit for activating said sensor according to a command request; and
a shifter that shifts the chain, following the command request, only if the transmission chain moves forward.
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2. A process for controlling gear shifting on a bicycle comprising the steps of:
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a) detecting a processing signal representative of an affirmative shift command;
b) detecting an angular position of a marker that rotates about an axis parallel to an axis of a hub of a rear wheel in response to the processing signal, said angular position changing with movement of a bicycle transmission element; and
c) shifting the bicycle transmission element based on the detected angular position of the marker;
wherein step (c) is performed only after steps (a) and (b). - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A bicycle chain tensioner that engages a transmission chain, said tensioner comprising a sensor that detects movement of the chain tensioner.
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6. A bicycle chain tensioner that engages a transmission chain, said tensioner comprising a sensor that detects a position of the chain tensioner.
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7. A bicycle toothed crown that engages a transmission chain, said toothed crown comprising a sensor that detects movement of the transmission chain.
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8. A bicycle toothed crown that engages a transmission chain, said toothed crown comprising a sensor that detects a position of the transmission chain.
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9. A process for controlling gear shifting in the transmission of a cycle comprising at least one gear which engages a transmission element that performs transmission of motion as a result of its advancement in a pre-determined direction;
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the gear shifting being carried out by changing the position of engagement of said transmission element with respect to said at least one gear, the process comprising the steps of;
detecting the angular position of said at least one gear;
controlling change of position of said element for transmitting motion with respect to said at least one gear depending on the detected angular position;
providing sensor means for detecting the angular position of said at least one gear; and
selectively activating said sensor means according to a command request for changing the position of said element for transmitting motion with respect to said at least one gear.
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10. A process for controlling when gear shifting occurs in a transmission of a cycle having at least one gear, the process comprising the steps of:
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assigning said at least one gear at least one given angular position in which shifting is facilitated;
providing a sensor that detects a marker located coaxial to a crank axle that drives the transmission, the sensor detecting an angular position of the marker corresponding to the angular position of the at least one gear in which shifting is facilitated; and
selectively activating said sensor according to a command request to initiate a shift.
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11. A system for controlling when gear shifting occurs in the transmission of a cycle, the system comprising:
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at least one gear having at least one angular position in which shifting is facilitated;
at least one sensor that detects a marker located coaxial to a crank axle that drives the transmission, the sensor detecting an angular position of the marker corresponding to the angular position of the at least one gear in which shifting is facilitated and generating a corresponding signal; and
a control unit for activating said sensor according to a command request.
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12. A method for controlling gear shifting on a bicycle having a plurality of gears with at least one gear including teeth with a sequence of differentiated geometries which define facilitating portions on said gears, the teeth carrying a transmission element, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) detecting a processing signal representative of an affirmative shift command;
b) detecting an angular position of the at least one gear by detecting a marker located coaxial to a crank axle of the bicycle, the detection step initiated in response to the processing signal;
c) comparing the angular position of the at least one gear to the angular position of the facilitating portions of the at least one gear;
d) shifting the transmission element from the at least one gear to another gear if the detected angular position of the at least one gear corresponds to one of the facilitating portions, wherein steps (b)-(d) are performed only after step (a).
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13. A system for controlling gear shifting in a transmission of a cycle comprising at least one gear wheel on which is engaged a transmission element that performs transmission of motion as a result of its advance in a pre-determined direction;
- the gear shifting being carried out by changing the position of engagement of said transmission element with respect to said at least one gear wheel, wherein said at least one gear wheel has at least one given angular position in which the shifting of said element for transmitting motion is facilitated, said system comprising;
at least one sensor that detects a marker located coaxial to a crank axle that drives the transmission, the sensor detecting an angular position of the marker corresponding to the angular position of the at least one gear wheel for generating a respective signal;
a control unit for controlling, starting from said respective signal, the change of the position of said element for transmitting motion;
at least one switch for selective activation of said at least one sensor according to a command for changing the position of said element for transmitting motion with respect to said at least one gear wheel; and
said control unit being configured for preventing shifting of said at least one gear wheel when the gear wheel is not in an angular position corresponding to said at least one given angular position, and then allowing change of position of said transmission element when said at least one gear wheel is rotated to a next angular position corresponding to said at least one given angular position.
- the gear shifting being carried out by changing the position of engagement of said transmission element with respect to said at least one gear wheel, wherein said at least one gear wheel has at least one given angular position in which the shifting of said element for transmitting motion is facilitated, said system comprising;
Specification