BICYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090088934A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: TAKEBAYASHI, Haruyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/863,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/413 Rotation sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

A bicycle control system is provided with a sensed element, a sensor and a cycle computer. The sensed element is mounted to a first part of a bicycle. The sensor is mounted to a second part of the bicycle at a location to selectively detect the sensed element and send an output signal as the sensor detects the sensed element. The cycle computer is mounted to a part of bicycle with the cycle computer including a receiver arranged to receive the output signal from the sensor. The sensor includes a sensing element that outputs a detection signal upon detecting the sensed element, a processing unit that calculates relative behavior between the first and second parts based on a time interval of the detection signal from the sensing element, and a transmitter that transmits the output signal to the cycle computer based a calculation result of the processing unit.

Claims

1. A bicycle control system comprising:

a sensed element configured to be mounted to a first part of a bicycle;

a sensor configured to be mounted to a second part of the bicycle at a location to selectively detect the sensed element and send an output signal as the sensor detects the sensed element; and

a cycle computer configured to be mounted to a part of bicycle with the cycle computer including a receiver arranged to receive the output signal from the sensor,

the sensor including a sensing element that outputs a detection signal upon detecting the sensed element, a processing unit that calculates relative behavior between the first and second parts based on a time interval of the detection signal from the sensing element, and a transmitter that transmits the output signal to the cycle computer based a calculation result of the processing unit.

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

the transmitter of the sensor is configured to transmit the output signal wirelessly, and

the cycle computer is configured to receive the output signal from the transmitter of the sensor wirelessly.

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

the sensed element is a magnet.

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

the processing unit of the sensor calculates a wheel rotation period in response to the detection signal from the sensing element of the sensor when one of the first and second parts is a part of a wheel and the other of the first and second parts is a frame member;

and

the transmitter of the sensor transmits the wheel rotation period in response to receiving the wheel rotation period from the processing unit.

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

the cycle computer includes a processing unit that calculates at least one of bicycle speed, travel distance and average speed in response to receiving the wheel rotation period.

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

the processing unit of the sensor calculates a crank rotation period in response to the detection signal from the sensing element of the sensor when one of the first and second parts is a bicycle crank and the other of the first and second parts is a frame member;

and

the transmitter of the sensor transmits the crank rotation period in response to receiving the crank rotation period from the processing unit.

7. The bicycle control system according to claim 6, wherein

the cycle computer includes a processing unit that calculates at least one of cadence and average cadence in response to receiving the crank rotation period.

8. A bicycle including the bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first part of the bicycle is a wheel, and

the second part of the bicycle is at least one of a front fork and a chain stay.

9. A bicycle including the bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first part of the bicycle is a crank, and

the second part of the bicycle is at least one of a seat tube, down tube and a chain stay.