Bicycle computer

• US 6,192,300 B1
• Filed: 06/27/1997
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Echowell Electronic Co., Ltd., Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Huang, Chun-Mu, Watarai, Etsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/896,309
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/48, 340/432, 482/901, 702/148, 474/70
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/07 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00

Abstract

A bicycle cycle computer includes a main unit having a primary microprocessor, a display and tlree contacts; a plurality of sensors; and a secondary microprocessor provided on the bicycle and connected between the plurality of sensors and the main unit, for receiving parallel signals outputted from the plurality of sensors, the secondary microprocessor converting the received parallel signals into a serial signal and generating a synchronous clock signal, which are transmitted to the main unit through two of the contacts of the main unit, processed by the primary microprocessor and displayed on the display.

Claims

1. A bicycle computer comprising:

a first processing unit disposed in a mounting bracket for mounting the bicycle computer to the bicycle;

a plurality of sensors, each sensor providing sensor data in parallel format to the first processing unit;

wherein the first processing unit receives the sensor data from the plurality of sensors in parallel format and outputs serial format data corresponding to the sensor data;

a separate main unit housing including a display wherein the main unit housing is detachably mounted to the mounting bracket; and

a second processing unit for receiving the serial format data from the first processing unit and for outputting display data to the display.

2. The computer according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least two sensors selected from the group consisting of a wheel speed sensor, a pedal rpm sensor, a front gear sensor, a rear gear sensor, a torque sensor, a button sensor, and a sensor for detecting physiological conditions of a rider.

3. The computer according to claim 1 further comprising a manually operated button for providing button data in parallel format to the first processing unit.

4. The computer according to claim 1 wherein the first processing unit includes a command output terminal for outputting a control command.

5. The computer according to claim 1 wherein the second processing unit is disposed in the main unit housing.

6. The computer according to claim 5 wherein the mounting bracket includes:

a first output contact operatively coupled to the first processing unit for receiving the serial format data from the first processing unit; and

a second output contact operatively coupled to the first processing unit for receiving clock data from the first processing unit;

wherein the main unit housing includes;

a first input contact operatively coupled to the second processing unit for communicating the serial format data to the second processing unit; and

a second input contact operatively coupled to the second processing unit for communicating the clock data to the second processing unit;

wherein the first output contact presses against the first input contact for forming a first contact; and

wherein the second output contact presses against the second input contact for forming a second contact.

7. The computer according to claim 6 wherein only a single first contact communicates the serial format data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

8. The computer according to claim 6 wherein only a single second contact communicates the clock data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

9. The computer according to claim 6 wherein only a single first contact communicates the serial format data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit, and wherein only a single second contact communicates the clock data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

10. The computer according to claim 9 wherein the mounting bracket includes only a single third output contact operatively coupled to the first processing unit for receiving a ground signal from the first processing unit, wherein the main unit housing includes only a single third input contact operatively coupled to the second processing unit for communicating the ground signal to the second processing unit, wherein the third output contact presses against the third input contact for forming a third contact, and wherein only the first contact, the second contact and the third contact communicate signals between the first processing unit and the second processing unit.

11. The computer according to claim 6 wherein the second processing unit communicates control command data to the first processing unit through the first contact, and wherein the first processing unit includes a command output terminal for outputting control commands in response to the control command data.

12. The computer according to claim 1 further comprising:

a first signal line operatively coupled between the first processing unit and the second processing unit for communicating the serial format data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit; and

a second signal line operatively coupled between the first processing unit and the second processing unit for communicating clock data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

13. The computer according to claim 12 wherein only a single first signal line communicates the serial format data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

14. The computer according to claim 12 wherein only a single second signal line communicates the clock data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

15. The computer according to claim 12 wherein only a single first signal line communicates the serial format data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit, and wherein only a single second signal line communicates the clock data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

16. The computer according to claim 15 wherein only a single third signal line communicates a ground signal from the first processing unit to the second processing unit, and wherein only the first signal line, the second signal line and the third signal line communicate signals between the first processing unit and the second processing unit.

17. The computer according to claim 12 wherein the second processing unit communicates control command data to the first processing unit through the first signal line, and wherein the first processing unit includes a command output terminal for outputting control commands in response to the control command data.

18. A bicycle computer comprising:

a mounting bracket for mounting the computer to the bicycle, wherein the mounting bracket includes a first processing unit;

a separate main unit housing including a second processing unit, wherein the main unit housing is detachably mounted to the mounting bracket;

a sensor for providing sensor data to the first processing unit; and

wherein the first processing unit receives the sensor data and outputs serial format data corresponding to the sensor data to the second processing unit.

19. The computer according to claim 18 wherein the mounting bracket includes:

a first output contact operatively coupled to the first processing unit for receiving the serial format data from the first processing unit; and

a second output contact operatively coupled to the first processing unit for receiving clock data from the first processing unit;

wherein the main unit housing includes;

a first input contact operatively coupled to the second processing unit for communicating the serial format data to the second processing unit; and

a second input contact operatively coupled to the second processing unit for communicating the clock data to the second processing unit;

wherein the first output contact presses against the first input contact for forming a first contact; and

wherein the second output contact presses against the second input contact for forming a second contact.

20. The computer according to claim 19 further comprising a display disposed in the main unit housing, wherein the second processing unit outputs display data to the display.

21. The computer according to claim 19 wherein only a single first contact communicates the serial format data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

22. The computer according to claim 19 wherein only a single second contact communicates the clock data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

23. The computer according to claim 19 wherein only a single first contact communicates the serial format data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit, and wherein only a single second contact communicates the clock data from the first processing unit to the second processing unit.

24. The computer according to claim 23 wherein the mounting bracket includes only a single third output contact operatively coupled to the first processing unit for receiving a ground signal from the first processing unit, wherein the main unit housing includes only a single third input contact operatively coupled to the second processing unit for communicating the ground signal to the second processing unit, wherein the third output contact presses against the third input contact for forming a third contact, and wherein only the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact communicate signals between the first processing unit and the second processing unit.

25. The computer according to claim 19 wherein the second processing unit communicates control command data to the first processing unit through the first contact, and wherein the first processing unit includes a command output terminal for outputting control commands in response to the control command data.

26. A bicycle computer comprising:

a mounting bracket for mounting the computer to the bicycle, wherein the mounting bracket includes a first processing unit having a sensor data input port;

a separate main unit housing including a second processing unit, wherein the main unit housing is detachably mounted to the mounting bracket; and

wherein the first processing unit outputs data corresponding to data received at the sensor data input port to the second processing unit.

27. The computer according to claim 26 further comprising a display for receiving display data from the second processing unit.

28. The computer according to claim 27 wherein the display is disposed on the main unit housing.

29. A bicycle computer comprising:

a first support for mounting to the bicycle;

a first processing unit disposed on the first support, wherein the first processing unit includes a parallel data input port and a serial data output port;

a second support for mounting to the bicycle;

a separate second processing unit detachably disposed on the second support, wherein the second processing unit includes a serial data input port; and

wherein the first processing unit outputs data corresponding to data received at the parallel data input port in serial format tlirough the serial data output port to the serial data input port of the second processing unit.

30. A bicycle computer comprising:

a first support for mounting to the bicycle;

a first processing unit disposed on the first support, wherein the first processing unit includes a parallel data input port and a serial data output port including an output contact disposed on an output connector;

a second support for mounting to the bicycle;

a separate second processing unit disposed on the second support, wherein the second processing unit include a serial data input port including an input contact disposed on an input connector;

a latching mechanism for detachably coupling the input connector to the output connector so that the input contact contacts the output contact; and

wherein the first processing unit outputs data corresponding to data received at the parallel data input port in serial format to the output contact.