Method and apparatus for controlling a bicycle transmission

• US 6,837,505 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Fujii, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/267,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 280/259, 280/260, 280/261, 474/69, 474/70
• US Class Current: 280/260
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling upshifting and downshifting of a bicycle transmission includes a running condition detecting mechanism that detects a running condition of the bicycle, a threshold value setting mechanism that sets at least one of an upshift threshold value and a downshift threshold value for the running condition, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism provides a signal that commands at least one of an upshift and a downshift when the running condition is beyond the corresponding upshift threshold value and downshift threshold value for a first predetermined time interval. In another embodiment, the control mechanism provides a signal that commands at least one of an upshift and a downshift when the running condition is beyond the corresponding one of the upshift threshold value and the downshift threshold value at both a first detection and a second detection, wherein the second detection occurs after the first detection. The control mechanism provides the signal after the second detection and not in a time interval between the first detection and the second detection.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling upshifting and downshifting of a bicycle transmission, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a running condition detecting mechanism comprising a wheel speed detector that detects a running condition of the bicycle;

wherein the wheel speed detector comprises an alternating current generator that rotates with a wheel of the bicycle;

a threshold value setting mechanism that sets at least one of an upshift threshold value and a downshift threshold value for the running condition; and

a control mechanism that provides a signal that commands at least one of an upshift and a downshift when the running condition is beyond the corresponding one of the upshift threshold value and the downshift threshold value for a first predetermined time interval.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the running condition detecting mechanism comprises a crank revolution detector.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an electromotive device adapted to be coupled to the bicycle transmission for operating the bicycle transmission, wherein the electromotive device is operated by the signal from the control mechanism.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the threshold value setting mechanism sets an upshift threshold value, and wherein the control mechanism provides a signal that commands an upshift when the running condition is above the upshift threshold value for the first predetermined time interval.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the threshold value setting mechanism sets a downshift threshold value, and wherein the control mechanism provides a signal that commands a downshift when the running condition is below the downshift threshold value.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the control mechanism immediately provides a signal that commands a downshift when the running condition is below the downshift threshold value.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the running condition detecting mechanism comprises a crank revolution detector.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising an electromotive device adapted to be coupled to the bicycle transmission for operating the bicycle transmission, wherein the electromotive device is operated by the signal from the control mechanism.