Bicycle computer control arrangement and method

• US 6,682,087 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Takeda, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/227,212
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 280/236, 280/238, 280/259, 280/260, 280/261, 701/51, 701/52, 701/55, 701/56, 474/70, 474/71
• US Class Current: 280/238
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/00 Rider-operated controls specially adapted for cycles, i.e. means for initiating control operations, e.g. levers, grips specially adapted to cycle brake mechanisms B62L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

A control system for an automatic shifting bicycle transmission comprises a control unit that communicates with a memory location. The memory location stores a plurality of shift tables. The control system uses the information in the shift tables to shift gears with a powered shifting device. The powered shifting device can be manipulated using shift switches in a manual operating mode. The shift switches also are used to switch between the plurality of shift tables.

Claims

1. An electrical auto-shift bicycle comprising a control unit, a powered shifting device, said control unit being in electrical communication with said powered shifting device, said control unit also being in electrical communication with a memory location, said memory location comprising a plurality of shift tables, a first switch and a second switch being in communication with said powered shifting device through said control unit, said first switch and said second switch being adapted to initiate movement of said powered shifting device in a manual operating mode, and at least one of said first switch and said second switch being adapted to select one shift table from said plurality of shift tables for use in an automatic operating mode.

2. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein said shift tables comprise bicycle speeds at which said control unit initiates shifting of gears with said powered shifting device.

3. The bicycle of claim 2, wherein said powered shifting device is associated with a rear wheel of said bicycle.

4. The bicycle of claim 3 further comprising a pedal crank and a second shifting device that is associated with said pedal crank, said control unit being adapted to detect a positioning of said second shifting device.

5. The bicycle of claim 4, wherein said second shifting device is a powered shifting device.

6. The bicycle of claim 4, wherein said shift tables each comprise different shifting speeds for a single rear gear based upon a sensed position of said second shifting device.

7. An automatic transmission system for a bicycle capable of operating in a manual mode and an automatic mode, said system comprising a control unit, a shifting switch and a powered shifting device, said control unit comprising a memory containing a plurality of shift tables, said control unit being in communication with said shifting switch and said control unit being in communication with said powered shifting device, said shifting switch being adapted to operate said powered shifting device in said manual operating mode and to select among said plurality of shift tables for use in said automatic operating mode.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of shifting tables comprises an upshift speed for each gear combination and a downshift speed for each gear combination, and said upshift speed for at least one gear combination and said downshift speed for said at least one gear combination is different in each of said plurality of shifting tables.

9. An electrical auto-shift bicycle comprising an automatic transmission system capable of operating in a manual mode and an automatic mode, said system comprising a control unit, a shifting switch and a powered shifting device, said control unit comprising a memory containing a plurality of shift tables, said control unit being in communication with said shifting switch and said control unit being in communication with said powered shifting device, said shifting switch being adapted to operate said powered shifting device in said manual operating mode and to select among said plurality of shift tables for use in said automatic operating mode.

10. The bicycle of claim 9 further comprising a handlebar assembly that is connected to said front wheel, said shifting switch being disposed on said handlebar assembly.

11. The bicycle of claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of shifting tables comprises an upshift speed for each gear combination and a downshift speed for each gear combination, and said upshift speed for at least one gear combination and said downshift speed for said at least one gear combination is different in each of said plurality of shifting tables.

12. The bicycle of claim 9, wherein said powered shifting device is associated with a rear wheel of said bicycle.

13. A method of controlling shifting on a bicycle comprising an automatic shifting system comprising a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio, said automatic shifting system comprising a shifting switch, a control unit electrically communicating with said shifting switch, a powered shifting device and said control unit also electrically communicating with said powered shifting device, said powered shifting device being adapted to operate in a manual shifting mode and in an automatic shifting mode, said method comprising providing a plurality of shift point tables in memory associated with said control unit, selecting one of said first gear ratio and said second gear ratio in said manual shifting mode or one of said plurality of shift point tables in said automatic shifting mode with said shifting switch and said control unit being adapted to manipulate said powered shifting device in accordance with said selected shift point table.