Wireless control and/or measuring system for a cycle

• US 6,204,775 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1997
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mavic S.a.
• Inventors: Kubacsi, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US08/965,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/432, 340/441, 340/462, 340/672, 340/670, 600/500, 600/509, 128/903, 324/168, 324/178, 324/179, 327/261, 327/231, 327/235, 327/269, 327/276
• US Class Current: 340/12.16
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/04 using magnetically coupled devices

Abstract

A wireless control and/or measuring system for a cycle. The system includes a transmitter of control and/or interrogation signals whose transmitted carrier frequency is between 10 and 150 kHz, i.e., within a range for which the human body is substantially transparent to the waves at this frequency. This signals transmitted by the transmitter are messages that include a code specific to the system. The transmitter is installed within reach of the cyclist, near the front; it is intended to transmit toward the rear at least one control and/or interrogation signal.

Claims

1. A wireless control and/or measuring system for a cycle, comprising:

a transmitter of one of cycle control and cycle interrogation signals for communicating with at least one receiver, the signals having a transmitted carrier frequency range between 10 and 100 kHz,

wherein the signals transmitted by the transmitter are digital messages comprising a code specific to the system wherein the code specific to the system prevents another transmitter from causing an undesirable operation on the cycle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is disposed on the cycle at a position that is within reach of a cyclist.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the position is located in a front part of the cycle and wherein the transmitter transmits the signals towards a rear part of the cycle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the code specific to the system is a code specific to the receiver of the system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a transmission range which is limited to a distance on the order of 1.5 or 2 meters.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device for measuring at least one parameter, wherein the at least one parameter comprises one of a speed of the cycle, a power generated, and at least one parameter linked to a cyclist.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for measuring the torque exerted on a wheel of the cycle, wherein the measurement is displayed on a display which is disposed near the transmitter.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heart rate meter for measuring the heart rate of a cyclist, wherein the measurement is displayed on a display which is disposed near the transmitter.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for analyzing at least one parameter of the cycle or cyclist.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver can periodically or alternately shut itself so as to place itself in a listening mode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a duration of the listening mode is short relative to a duration of a shutoff period.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the signals transmitted by the transmitter are frequency modulated.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the signals activate a mechanism on the cycle which mechanism comprises one of a front derailleur, a rear derailleur, a front brake, and a rear brake.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each the front derailleur, the rear derailleur, the front brake, and the rear brake comprise a receiver which communicates with the transmitter.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one receiver comprises a means for continuous listening following the reception of a re-activation signal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the duration of the re-activation signal is at least equal to the duration of one period.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the period comprises two values, the first of which corresponds to the non-utilization of the cycle, and the second of which is smaller and corresponds to the utilization of the cycle.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter systematically produces two successive signals separated chronologically, the second signal comprising a signal identifying its rank in such a way that the receiver can recognize this rank so that the command is executed only once.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the two successive signals are separated by a random duration (NT_E).

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the random duration is equal to a whole number (N) times the duration (T_E) of a signal, this whole number (N) being between two predetermined values (N₁ and N₂).

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for assigning to the signals a signal indicating priority over other signals transmitted during substantially the same period.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the priority signal is transmitted after an end (t₆) of a detection of a signal transmitted by a similar system.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the signal indicating priority is transmitted with a delay (T_E) following an instant (t₅) of a request for transmission of a signal originating from a similar system, a duration (T_E) being at least equal to a duration of a control signal.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a means for counting the number of priority signals transmitted by similar systems between an end (t₆) of the detection of a signal transmitted by a similar system and a start of the transmission of its priority signal, the signal being transmitted by the system after the passage of a time (T_C+nT_E) following the end (t₆) of the detection of the signal, n being the number of priority signals detected and T_C being a duration at least equal to the sum of the duration of a message (T_E) plus the duration (T_P) of a priority signal.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver is associated with an acknowledgement transmitter for producing a signal indicating an execution of a command to the transmitter.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the transmitter transmits a second signal at the end of a determined time after the transmitter determines that it has not received any acknowledgement from the at least on receiver.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the second signal comprises a signal indicating its rank.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the determined time is a period which is equal to a whole number times a duration of a signal.

29. The system of claim 1, further comprising a detector which detects messages transmitted by a similar system such that the transmitter transmits signals only if no other message is being transmitted simultaneously in a vicinity.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the detector is disposed in proximity to the at least one receiver.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the detector is disposed in proximity to the transmitter.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein each of the detector and the transmitter are disposed within a housing.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the transmitter further comprises a means for delaying the transmission of a control or interrogation message by a determined duration (T_E) from the moment (t₁) of a command execution request when a message originating from a similar system is detected.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the determined duration (T_E) is substantially equal to the duration of a control and/or interrogation message.

35. A wireless control and/or measuring system for a cycle, comprising:

a transmitter of one of cycle control and cycle interrogation signals for communicating with at least one receiver, the signals having a transmitted carrier frequency range between 10 and 150 kHz; and

at least one receiver for activating a device on the cycle,

wherein the signals transmitted by the transmitter are digital messages comprising a code specific to the system wherein the code specific to the system prevents another transmitter from causing an undesirable operation on the cycle.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the at least one receiver can determine a transmission which originates from another cycle so that the receiver does not cause the undesirable operation.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit signals only when no interfering signals are detected by a detector.

38. The system of claim 35, further comprising a detector disposed adjacent one of the transmitter and the at least one receiver.

39. The system of claim 35, further comprising a secondary transmitter for communicating with the transmitter, the secondary transmitter being coupled to the at least one receiver.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the signals activate a mechanism on the cycle, which mechanism comprises one of a front derailleur, a rear derailleur, a front brake, and a rear brake.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein each the front derailleur, the rear derailleur, the front brake, and the rear brake comprise a receiver which communicates with the transmitter.

42. The system of claim 35, further comprising a device for measuring at least one parameter, wherein the at least one parameter comprises one of a speed of the cycle, a power generated, and at least one parameter linked to a cyclist.

43. The system of claim 35, further comprising a mechanism for measuring the torque exerted on a wheel of the cycle, wherein the measurement is displayed on a display which is disposed near the transmitter.

44. The system of claim 35, further comprising at least one mechanism for analyzing at least one parameter of the cycle or cyclist.

45. The system of claim 35, wherein the at least one receiver can periodically or alternately shut itself off so as to place itself in a listening mode.

46. The system of claim 35, wherein the transmitter comprises a transmission range which is limited to a distance on the order of 1.5 or 2 meters.

47. The system of claim 35, wherein the code specific to the system is a code specific to the receiver of the system.

48. The system of claim 35, wherein the transmitter is disposed on the cycle at a position that is within reach of a cyclist.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the position is located in a front part of the cycle and wherein the transmitter transmits the signals towards a rear part of the cycle.

50. The system of claim 35, further comprising a mechanism for detecting signals transmitted by other systems.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit signals only when no interfering signals are detected.

52. A wireless control and/or measuring system for a cycle, comprising:

a transmitter of cycle control and/or cycle interrogation signals having a transmitted carrier frequency range between 10 and 100 kHz, wherein the signals transmitted by the transmitter are digital messages comprising a code specific to the system,

wherein the transmitter further comprises a detector that detects messages transmitted by a similar system such that the transmits signals only if no other message is being transmitted simultaneously in a vicinity.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the detector is disposed in proximity to the at least one receiver.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the detector is disposed in proximity to the transmitter.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the transmitter further comprises a means for delaying the transmission of a control or interrogation message by a determined duration (T_E) from the moment (t₁) of a command execution request when a message originating from a similar system is detected.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the determined duration (T_E) is substantially equal to the duration of a control and/or interrogation message.

57. A wireless control and/or measuring system for a cycle, comprising:

a transmitter of one of cycle control and cycle interrogation signals for communicating with at least one receiver, the signals having a transmitted carrier frequency range between 10 and 150 kHz,

wherein the signals transmitted by the transmitter are digital messages comprising a code specific to the system wherein the code specific to the system prevents another transmitter from causing an undesirable operation on the cycle.

58. A wireless control and/or measuring system for a cycle, comprising:

a transmitter of one of cycle control and cycle interrogation signals for communicating with at least one receiver, the signals having a transmitted carrier frequency range between 10 and 150 kHz; and

at least one receiver for activating a device on the cycle;

the device comprising one of a brake and a derailleur,

wherein the signals transmitted by the transmitter are digital messages comprising a code specific to the system wherein the code specific to the system prevents another transmitter from causing an undesirable operation on the cycle.