Shift control apparatus for a bicycle transmission that operates when signals are detected

• US 6,877,755 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Takamoto, Ryuichirou
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/605,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 280/259, 280/260, 280/261, 474/69, 474/70
• US Class Current: 280/260
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20037 Occupant propelled vehicle

Abstract

A shift control apparatus for a bicycle transmission comprises a signal detector that detects signals corresponding to motion of the bicycle, a threshold setting unit that sets a shift threshold value, and a time interval calculating unit that calculates time intervals after signals are detected. A control unit provides a signal to change a gear in the bicycle transmission only after a time interval between successive first and second signals passes the shift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector.

Claims

1. A shift control apparatus for a bicycle transmission comprising:

a signal detector that detects signals corresponding to motion of the bicycle;

wherein the signal detector is structured to detect the signals from an alternating current generator that rotates with a bicycle wheel;

a threshold setting unit that sets a shift threshold value;

a time interval calculating unit that calculates time intervals after the signals are detected; and

a control unit that provides a signal to change a gear in the bicycle transmission only after a time interval between successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the shift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the threshold setting unit sets a first downshift threshold value, and wherein the control unit provides a signal to downshift the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the first downshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the control unit provides the signal to downshift the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that is greater than the first downshift threshold value.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the threshold setting unit sets an upshift threshold value, and wherein the control unit provides a signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the upshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the control unit provides the signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after a plurality of time intervals between a corresponding plurality of successive first and second signals correspond to values that pass the upshift threshold value and a most recent second signal is detected by the signal detector.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the control unit provides the signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after the plurality of time intervals correspond to values that are less than the upshift threshold value.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the threshold setting unit sets an upshift threshold value, wherein the control unit provides a signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the upshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector, wherein the threshold setting unit sets a first downshift threshold value, and wherein the control unit provides a signal to downshift the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the first downshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the control unit provides the signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after a plurality of time intervals between a corresponding plurality of successive first and second signals correspond to values that pass the upshift threshold value and a most recent second signal is detected by the signal detector.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the control unit provides the signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after the plurality of time intervals correspond to values that are less than the upshift threshold value.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the signal detector is structured to detect signals corresponding to a wheel speed of the bicycle.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the control unit is disposed in an electronically controlled shift control device for the bicycle.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the signals comprise pulses.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the signals comprise magnetic pulses.

14. A shift control apparatus for a bicycle transmission comprising:

a signal detector that detects signals corresponding to motion of the bicycle;

a threshold setting unit that sets a shift threshold value;

a time interval calculating unit that calculates time intervals after the signals are detected;

a control unit that provides a signal to change a gear in the bicycle transmission only after a time interval between successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the shift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector;

wherein the threshold setting unit sets a first downshift threshold value;

wherein the control unit provides a signal to downshift the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the first downshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector;

wherein the threshold setting unit sets a second downshift threshold value that is different from the first downshift threshold value, and wherein the control unit provides the signal to downshift the bicycle transmission only after a plurality of time intervals between a corresponding plurality of successive first and second signals correspond to values that are between the first and second downshift threshold values and a most recent second signal is detected by the signal detector.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the control unit provides the signal to downshift the bicycle transmission after only one time interval between successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the first downshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the control unit provides the signal to downshift the bicycle transmission after only one time interval between successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that is greater than the first downshift threshold value.

17. A shift control apparatus for a bicycle transmission comprising:

a signal detector that detects signals corresponding to motion of the bicycle;

a threshold setting unit that sets a shift threshold value;

a time interval calculating unit that calculates time intervals after the signals are detected;

a control unit that provides a signal to change a gear in the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the shift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector;

wherein the threshold setting unit sets an upshift threshold value;

wherein the control unit provides a signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the upshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector;

wherein the threshold setting unit sets a first downshift threshold value;

wherein the control unit provides a signal to downshift the bicycle transmission only after the time interval between the successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the first downshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector;

wherein the threshold setting unit sets a second downshift threshold value that is different from the first downshift threshold value, and wherein the control unit provides the signal to downshift the bicycle transmission only after a plurality of time intervals between a corresponding plurality of successive first and second signals correspond to values that are between the first and second downshift threshold values and a most recent second signal is detected by the signal detector.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the control unit provides the signal to downshift the bicycle transmission after only one time interval between successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that passes the first downshift threshold value and the second signal is detected by the signal detector.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the control unit provides the signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after a plurality of time intervals between a corresponding plurality of successive first and second signals correspond to values that pass the upshift threshold value and a most recent second signal is detected by the signal detector.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the control unit provides the signal to downshift the bicycle transmission after only one time interval between successive first and second signals corresponds to a value that is greater than the first downshift threshold value, and wherein the control unit provides the signal to upshift the bicycle transmission only after the plurality of time intervals correspond to values that are less than the upshift threshold value.