BICYCLE COMPONENT OPERATING DEVICE

• US 20130151073A1
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: TETSUKA, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 9,517,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/14 Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto hand controls per se B62K23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/00 Steering devices steering devices specially adapted for one particular kind of cycle specified in groups B62K1/00 - B62K17/00, see the relevant group
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/125 Extensions; Auxiliary handlebars
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/26 Handlebar grips twist grips B62K23/04
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/00 Bicycles
• 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 25/00 Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles rider operated controls for cycles in general B62K23/00; gearing speed change mechanisms F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A bicycle component operating device includes a touch sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to control a bicycle component based on a control signal from the touch sensor. The touch sensor is separate from the bicycle component and is configured to provide the control signal to the controller based on a touching characteristic in which a user performs a subsequent touching of the touch sensor after performing an initial touching of the touch sensor such that the initial touching does not cause the controller to control the bicycle component.

Claims

1. A bicycle component operating device comprising:

a touch sensor; and

a controller configured to control a bicycle component based on a control signal from the touch sensor;

the touch sensor being separate from the bicycle component and configured to provide the control signal to the controller based on a touching characteristic in which a user performs a subsequent touching of the touch sensor after performing an initial touching of the touch sensor such that the initial touching does not cause the controller to control the bicycle component.

2. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to control the bicycle component in a first manner based on a first touching characteristic being performed as the touching characteristic such that a first signal is received as the control signal by the controller;

and

the controller is configured to control the bicycle component in a second manner, which is different from the first manner, based on a second touching characteristic being performed as the touching characteristic, which is different from the first touching characteristic, such that a second signal is received as the control signal by the controller.

3. The bicycle component controller according to claim 2, wherein

the controller is further configured to receive the first signal based on a first predetermined length of time occurring from the initial touching of the touch sensor until the subsequent touching of the touch sensor exceeds a first subsequent touching time, and

the controller is further configured to receive the second signal based on a second predetermined length of time occurring from the initial touching of the touch sensor until the subsequent touching of the touch sensor exceeds a second subsequent touching time, the first and second predetermined lengths of time being different.

4. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to receive a signal from the touch sensor to control the bicycle component based on a predetermined length of time occurring from the initial touching of the touch sensor until the subsequent touching of the touch sensor exceeds a subsequent touching time.

5. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to receive a signal from the touch sensor to control the bicycle component based on the subsequent touching being performed with a predetermined touching speed on the touch sensor.

6. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 2, wherein

the controller is further configured to receive the first signal based on the subsequent touching being performed with a first predetermined touching speed on the touch sensor, and

the controller is further configured to receive the second signal based on the subsequent touching being performed with a second predetermined touching speed on the touch sensor that is different from the first predetermined touching speed.

7. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to receive a signal from the touch sensor to control the bicycle component based on the subsequent touching being performed with a predetermined touching movement pattern on the touch sensor.

8. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 2, wherein

the controller is further configured to receive the first signal based on the subsequent touching being performed with a first predetermined touching movement pattern on the touch sensor, and

the controller is further configured to receive the second signal based on the subsequent touching being performed with a second predetermined touching movement pattern on the touch sensor that is different from the first predetermined touching movement pattern.

9. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 8, wherein

the controller is configurable by a user to identify a first user configurable pattern as the first predetermined touching movement pattern to control the bicycle component in the first manner and to identify a second user configurable pattern as the second predetermined touching movement pattern to control the bicycle component in the second manner.

10. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 8, wherein

the controller is further configured to receive the first signal based on the first predetermined touching movement pattern on the touch sensor being a first linear movement from between two locations on the touch sensor, and

the controller is further configured to receive the second signal based on the second predetermined touching movement pattern on the touch sensor being a second linear movement from between two locations on the touch sensor that is different from the first linear movement.

11. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 8, wherein

the controller is further configured to receive the first signal based on the first predetermined touching movement pattern on the touch sensor being a first non-linear movement from between two locations on the touch sensor, and

the controller is further configured to receive the second signal based on the second predetermined touching movement pattern on the touch sensor being a second non-linear movement from between two locations on the touch sensor that is different from the first linear movement.

12. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to receive a signal from the touch sensor to control the bicycle component based on the subsequent touching being performed with a predetermined touching number on the touch sensor.

13. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 2, wherein

the controller is further configured to receive the first signal based on the subsequent touching being performed with a first predetermined touching number on the touch sensor, and

the controller is further configured to receive the second signal based on the subsequent touching being performed with a second predetermined touching number on the touch sensor that is different from the first predetermined touching number.

14. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to receive a signal from the touch sensor to control the bicycle component based on the subsequent touching being performed without discontinuing touching the touch sensor between the initial touching and the subsequent touching.

15. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the bicycle part further includes a display that is configured to display at least one indicium thereon, and the touch sensor is incorporated into the display as a touch screen.

16. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller configured to control a transmission to perform a shifting operation based on the control signal.

17. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 16, wherein

the controller is configured to control the transmission in a first manner based on a first touching characteristic being performed as the touching characteristic as such that a first command is received as the control signal by the controller, and

the controller is configured to control the transmission in a second manner, which is different from the first manner, based on a second touching characteristic being performed as the touching characteristic, which is different from the first touching characteristic, such that a second command is received as the control signal by the controller.

18. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 17, wherein

the controller is configured to control the transmission to shift once based on the first command and to shift a plurality of times based on the second command.

19. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller configured to control a suspension to change suspension status based on the control signal.

20. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller configured to control a seatpost to move up or down based on the control signal.

21. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to control a cycle computer to operate in a first mode based on a first condition of the control signal and to operate in a second mode based on a second condition of the control signal.

22. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the touch sensor is disposed on a bracket of a brake or a shifter.

23. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the touch sensor is disposed on a brake lever.

24. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the touch sensor is disposed on a handlebar or a handlebar stem.