Liquid crystal display device for a bicycle

• US 6,023,646 A
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mavic S.a.
• Inventors: Montagnon, Bruno, Kubacsi, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/168,871
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 340/432, 474/78
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• 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 9/128 Accessories, e.g. protectors

Abstract

A display device provided to be associated, on the one hand, with an electric gearshift, and, on the other hand, with at least one sensor of at least one performance parameter of the bicycle or the cyclist. The gearshift is provided to emit a confirmation signal that a requested displacement did occur. This signal is sent to a processing circuit which elaborates information relative to the sprocket called, then sends this information to a display manager. During a period predetermined by a time delay, the display manager blackouts one of the current displays from the display unit and sends the information relative to the sprocket called to the display.

Claims

1. A display device provided to be associated, on the one hand, with an electric gearshift, comprising at least one control switch, one mobile gear shifting assembly, means for a reversible displacement of the mobile assembly step by step, and, on the other hand, with at least a sensor of at least one performance parameter of the bicycle or the cyclist or a parameter external to the bicycle and the cyclist, the unit itself comprising means for processing the different parameters picked up by the sensors, a display unit with at least one screen for displaying one of the parameter values calculated by the processing unit, wherein it comprises a processing circuit connected to the means for detecting the displacement of the mobile assembly provided to be activated by the electric gearshift and to determine the number of the sprocket on which the chain was transferred upon receiving the detection signal emitted by the detection means, a display manager associated with a display screen provided to blackout the value of the displayed parameter and to replace this value with information relative to the sprocket number determined by the processing circuit, and a time delay to disable the display manager after a predetermined lapse of time.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the display manager is inserted into the connection between the processing unit of one of the displays and the display.

3. A device according to claim 1, associated with an electric gearshift, wherein the electric gearshift has means for emitting a confirmation signal that the displacement of the gearshift did occur.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuit controls the display manager upon receiving the confirmation signal of the displacement of the gearshift.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the processing circuit sends to the display manager the information relative to the sprocket called upon receiving the confirmation signal of the displacement of the gearshift.

6. A device according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuit controls the display manager at the command to shift gears and upon receiving the confirmation signal of the displacement of the gearshift.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the processing circuit sends to the display manager the information relative to the sprocket called upon receiving the confirmation signal of the displacement of the gearshift.