CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BICYCLE

• US 20160311491A1
• Filed: 04/21/2015
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: WATARAI, Etsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,919,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/413 Rotation sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/421 at the pedal crank
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A control system for a bicycle comprises a movement-information obtaining device, an actuator, an actuation controller, and a mode controller. The movement-information obtaining device is configured to obtain movement information indicating a movement of at least part of a first bicycle portion and configured to wirelessly output the movement information. The actuator is configured to actuate at least a second bicycle portion. The actuation controller has a wake mode to control the actuator based on an input signal and a sleep mode to be suspended under an electrical power consumption lower than an electrical power consumption in the wake mode. The mode controller is configured to wirelessly receive the movement information and configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode based on the movement information.

Claims

1. A control system for a bicycle, comprising:

a movement-information obtaining device configured to obtain movement information indicating a movement of at least part of a first bicycle portion and configured to wirelessly output the movement information;

an actuator configured to actuate at least a second bicycle portion;

an actuation controller having a wake mode to control the actuator based on an input signal and a sleep mode to be suspended under an electrical power consumption lower than an electrical power consumption in the wake mode; and

a mode controller configured to wirelessly receive the movement information and configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode based on the movement information.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the mode controller includes a detector circuit configured to detect carrier wave including the movement information and is configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode in response to detection of the movement information included in the carrier wave.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the sleep mode includes a light sleep mode to be suspended under an electrical power consumption lower than an electrical power consumption in the wake mode and a deep sleep mode to be turned off.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the second bicycle portion includes a movable member, and

the movable member is configured to be movable relative to a base member that is configured to be attached to a bicycle frame.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein

the first bicycle portion includes a chain cage assembly including

at least one pulley configured to engage with a bicycle chain, and

a pulley support member configured to rotatably support the at least one pulley,

the movable member is configured to support the chain cage assembly thereon,

the actuator is configured to move the movable member to shift the bicycle chain, and

the movement-information obtaining device is configured to sense a rotation of the at least one pulley relative to the pulley support member to obtain the movement information.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first bicycle portion includes a bicycle frame and a wheel rotatable relative to the bicycle frame, and

the movement-information obtaining device is configured to sense a rotation of the wheel relative to the bicycle frame to obtain the movement information.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first bicycle portion includes a bicycle frame and a bicycle chain, and

the movement-information obtaining device is configured to sense a rotation of the bicycle chain relative to the bicycle frame to obtain the movement information.

8. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first bicycle portion includes a bicycle frame and a crank assembly rotatable relative to the bicycle frame, and

the movement-information obtaining device is configured to sense a rotation of the crank assembly relative to the bicycle frame to obtain the movement information.

9. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first bicycle portion includes a bicycle frame and a crank assembly rotatable relative to the bicycle frame, and

the movement-information obtaining device is configured to sense a pedaling force applied to the crank assembly to obtain the movement information.

10. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vibration-information obtaining device configured to obtain vibration information indicating a vibration of a bicycle, wherein

the mode controller is configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode based on the movement information and the vibration information.

11. A control system for a bicycle, comprising:

a rider-information obtaining device configured to obtain rider information indicating that a rider is on a bicycle from a third bicycle portion and configured to wirelessly output the rider information;

an actuator configured to actuate at least a second bicycle portion;

an actuation controller having a wake mode to control the actuator based on an input signal and a sleep mode to be suspended under an electrical power consumption lower than an electrical power consumption in the wake mode; and

a mode controller configured to wirelessly receive the rider information and configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode based on the rider information.

12. The control system according to claim 11, wherein

the third bicycle portion includes a suspension, and

the rider-information obtaining device is configured to obtain, as the rider information, a change in pressure in the suspension.

13. The control system according to claim 11, wherein

the third bicycle portion includes a seatpost, and

the rider-information obtaining device is configured to obtain, as the rider information, a change in pressure in the seatpost.

14. The control system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a vibration-information obtaining device configured to obtain vibration information indicating a vibration of the bicycle, wherein

the mode controller is configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode based on the rider information and the vibration information.

15. The control system according to claim 11, wherein

the mode controller includes a detector circuit configured to detect carrier wave including the rider-information and is configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode in response to detection of the movement information included in the carrier wave.

16. The control system according to claim 11, wherein

the sleep mode includes a light sleep mode to be suspended under an electrical power consumption lower than an electrical power consumption in the wake mode and a deep sleep mode to be turned off.

17. A control system for a bicycle, comprising:

an operation-information obtaining device configured to obtain operation information indicating that a user operates an input part of an operating device and to wirelessly output the operation information;

an actuator configured to actuate at least a second bicycle portion;

an actuation controller having a wake mode to control the actuator based on an input signal and a sleep mode to be suspended under an electrical power consumption lower than an electrical power consumption in the wake mode; and

a mode controller configured to wirelessly receive the operation information and to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode based on the operation information.

18. The control system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a vibration-information obtaining device configured to obtain vibration information indicating a vibration of a bicycle, wherein

the mode controller is configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode based on the operation information and the vibration information.

19. The control system according to claim 17, wherein

the mode controller includes a detector circuit configured to detect carrier wave including the operation information and is configured to switch the actuation controller from the sleep mode to the wake mode in response to detection of the movement information included in the carrier wave.

20. The control system according to claim 17, wherein

the sleep mode includes a light sleep mode to be suspended under an electrical power consumption lower than an electrical power consumption in the wake mode and a deep sleep mode to be turned off.