BICYCLE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM

• US 20140358387A1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Inventors: CRACCO, Flavio, BORTOLOZZO, Gianluca
• Granted Patent: US 9,676,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/132 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof

Abstract

A bicycle electronic system is described comprising a first manual command management unit having a casing configured for being fixed at a handgrip of a bicycle handlebar, comprising at least one first manually actuatable switch, a first processor and a first wireless communication device, wherein the first manual command management unit further comprises a circuit for supplying power to the first processor and the first wireless communication device, the power supply circuit comprising a battery power supply source and/or being configured for absorbing energy from a radiofrequency electromagnetic field generated within the system.

Claims

1. A bicycle electronic system comprising a first manual command management unit having a casing configured for being fixed at a handgrip of a bicycle handlebar, comprising at least one first manually actuatable, a first processor and a first wireless communication device, wherein the first manual command management unit further comprises a circuit for supplying power to the first processor and the first wireless communication device, the power supply circuit comprising a battery power supply source and/or being configured for absorbing energy from a radiofrequency electromagnetic field generated within the system.

2. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 1, further comprising at least two units preselected from a first derailleur unit, a second derailleur unit and a battery unit, and at least one electric cable connection between said at least two preselected units, wherein said at least one electric cable connection comprises a power supply connection.

3. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one electric cable connection further comprises a data and/or command communication connection.

4. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 1, comprising a second manual command management unit having a casing configured for being fixed at a handgrip of a bicycle handlebar, comprising at least one second manually actuatable switch, a second processor and a second wireless communication device, wherein the second manual command management unit further comprises a second circuit for supplying power to the second processor and the second wireless communication device, the second power supply circuit comprising a battery power supply source and/or being configured for absorbing energy from a radiofrequency electromagnetic field generated within the system.

5. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 4, further comprising an interface unit between the first manual command management unit and the rest of the system.

6. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 5, wherein the interface unit comprises a third processor and a third wireless communication device, as well as a third circuit for supplying power to the third processor and the third wireless communication device, the third power supply circuit comprising a battery power supply source configured for providing energy also to said radiofrequency electromagnetic field generated within the system.

7. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the first manual command management unit comprises the power supply circuit configured only for absorbing energy from a radiofrequency electromagnetic field, and further comprising a device for accumulating energy.

8. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication device comprises a reception and transmission antenna, and the reception and transmission antenna is made as a track of a printed circuit board (PCB) carrying the first processor.

9. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 2, wherein the units of the system on board of a same bicycle are connected in a communication network of the mesh type (mesh network), or in a communication network having at least one star subnetwork, or in a communication network having at least one tree subnetwork.

10. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is carried out in accordance with a low power wireless communication protocol selected from the group consisting of ZigBee, Blue tooth, BlueTooth Low Power consumption, NFC, WiFi, RFID, preferably in accordance with the ZigBee protocol.

11. Bicycle electronic system according to claim 9, wherein the communication network among the units of the system on board of a same bicycle is configured to be further in wireless communication with a supervisor device not mounted on board of the bicycle.

12. Control system of at least one bicycle comprising a bicycle electronic system according to claim 1, and a supervisor device not on board of the bicycle in wireless communication with one another.