Apparatus for controlling first and second bicycle transmissions

• US 6,931,958 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimaro Incorporated
• Inventors: Takeda, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, TISHA D
• Application Number:
  US10/227,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 477/97, 477/15, 743/35, 743/36.R, 474/58, 701/52, 701/62, 701/66
• US Class Current: 74/336.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1926 Speed responsive

Abstract

A transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission. The transmission control unit includes an inhibiting unit for inhibiting a second operation of the first transmission after a first operation of the first transmission.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a first transmission and a second transmission in a bicycle, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission; and

wherein the transmission control unit comprises an inhibiting unit for inhibiting a second operation of moving the first transmission from a second origin gear ratio to a second destination gear ratio after a first operation of moving the first transmission from a first origin gear ratio to a first destination gear ratio based on movement of the first transmission from the first origin gear ratio to the first destination gear ratio.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission for a prescribed time interval after the first operation of the first transmission.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission based on rotation of the rotating member.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the transmission control unit further comprises an automatic shift control unit for automatically generating the transmission commands.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a speed communication path for receiving information indicating a bicycle speed, and wherein the transmission control unit automatically generates transmission commands based on bicycle speed.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the automatic shift control unit operates in an automatic mode and in a manual mode.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein, when the automatic shift control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission for a prescribed time interval after the first operation of the first transmission.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein, when the automatic transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission based on rotation of the rotating member.

4. An apparatus for controlling a first transmission and a second transmission in a bicycle, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission;

wherein the transmission control unit comprises an inhibiting unit for inhibiting a second operation of the first transmission after a first operation of the first transmission;

wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member;

wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission based on rotation of the rotating member;

wherein the information indicating rotation of the rotating member comprises rotation indicating signals, and wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving a prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving the prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals.

9. An apparatus for controlling a first transmission and a second transmission in a bicycle, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission;

wherein the transmission control unit comprises;

an inhibiting unit for inhibiting a second operation of the first transmission after a first operation of the first transmission; and

an automatic shift control unit for automatically generating the transmission commands;

wherein the automatic shift control unit operates in an automatic mode and in a manual mode;

wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein, when the automatic shift control unit operates in the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission based on rotation of the rotating member.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the information indicating rotation of a rotating member comprises rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the automatic shift control unit operates in the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving a prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the automatic shift control unit operates in the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving the prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals.

14. An apparatus for controlling a first transmission and a second transmission in a bicycle, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission;

wherein the transmission control unit comprises;

an inhibiting unit for inhibiting a second operation of the first transmission after a first operation of the first transmission; and

an automatic shift control unit for automatically generating the transmission commands;

wherein the automatic shift control unit operates in an automatic mode and in a manual mode;

wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein, when the automatic transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission based on rotation of the rotating member;

wherein the information indicating rotation of a rotating member comprises rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the automatic transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving a first prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the automatic transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving the first prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein, when the automatic shift control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission for a prescribed time interval after the first operation of the first transmission.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein, when the automatic shift control unit operates in the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after a second prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the first prescribed number of rotation indicating signals is different from the second prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the first prescribed number of rotation indicating signals is greater than the second prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

20. An apparatus for controlling a first transmission and a second transmission in a bicycle, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission;

wherein the transmission control unit comprises;

an inhibiting unit for inhibiting a second operation of the first transmission after a first operation of the first transmission; and

an automatic shift control unit for automatically generating the transmission commands;

wherein the automatic shift control unit operates in an automatic mode and in a manual mode; and

wherein, when the automatic shift control unit switches from one of the automatic mode and the manual mode to the other one of the automatic mode and the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission for a prescribed time interval after the first operation of the first transmission.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein, when the automatic shift control unit switches from the manual mode to the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission for a prescribed time interval after the first operation of the first transmission.

22. An apparatus for controlling a first transmission and a second transmission in a bicycle, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission;

wherein the transmission control unit comprises;

an inhibiting unit for inhibiting a second operation of the first transmission after a first operation of the first transmission; and

an automatic shift control unit for automatically generating the transmission commands;

wherein the automatic shift control unit operates in an automatic mode and in a manual mode;

wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein, when the automatic shift control unit switches from one of the automatic mode and the manual mode to the other one of the automatic mode and the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission based on rotation of the rotating member.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the information indicating rotation of a rotating member comprises rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the automatic shift control unit switches from one of the automatic mode and the manual mode to the other one of the automatic mode and the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving a prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the automatic shift control unit switches from the manual mode to the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving the prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein, when the automatic shift control unit switches from one of the automatic mode and the manual mode to the other one of the automatic mode and the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission for a prescribed time interval after the first operation of the first transmission.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, wherein, when the automatic shift control unit switches from the manual mode to the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission until after receiving the prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein when the automatic shift control unit switches from the manual mode to the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the second operation of the first transmission for a prescribed time interval after the first operation of the first transmission.

27. An apparatus for controlling a first transmission and a second transmission in a bicycle, wherein a difference between a first gear ratio and an adjacent second gear ratio in the first transmission is greater than a difference between a first gear ratio and an adjacent second gear ratio in the second transmission, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission; and

wherein the transmission control unit comprises an inhibiting unit for inhibiting a second operation of moving the first transmission from a second origin gear ratio to a second destination gear ratio after a first operation of moving the first transmission from a first origin gear ratio to a first destination gear ratio based on movement of the first transmission from the first origin gear ratio to the first destination gear ratio.

28. An apparatus for controlling a first transmission and a second transmission in a bicycle, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a transmission control unit that generates transmission commands for controlling the operation of the first transmission and the second transmission;

a mode switch operatively coupled to the transmission control unit for selecting between a manual and an automatic mode of operation of at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission; and

wherein the transmission control unit comprises an inhibiting unit operatively coupled to the mode switch for inhibiting an operation of at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission after operation of the mode switch to select one of the manual and automatic mode of operation.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the mode switch comprises a manually operated mode switch.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission for a prescribed time interval after operation of the mode switch.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission based on rotation of the rotating member.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the information indicating rotation of the rotating member comprises rotation indicating signals, and wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving a prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving the prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals.

34. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the transmission control unit further comprises an automatic shift control unit for automatically generating the transmission commands.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a speed communication path for receiving information indicating a bicycle speed, and wherein the transmission control unit automatically generates transmission commands based on bicycle speed.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein, when the transmission control unit switches to the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission based on rotation of the rotating member.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the information indicating rotation of a rotating member comprises rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the transmission control unit operates in the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving a prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

38. The apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the transmission control unit operates in the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving the prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals.

39. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein, when the transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission for a prescribed time interval after operation of the mode switch.

40. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein, when the transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission based on rotation of the rotating member.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the information indicating rotation of a rotating member comprises rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving a first prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving the first prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals.

43. The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein, when the transmission control unit operates in the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission for a prescribed time interval after operation of the mode switch.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43 wherein, when the transmission control unit operates in the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after a second prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44 wherein the first prescribed number of rotation indicating signals is different from the second prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the first prescribed number of rotation indicating signals is greater than the second prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

47. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the transmission control unit is operatively coupled to a rotation information communication path for receiving information indicating rotation of a rotating member, and wherein, when the transmission control unit switches from one of the automatic mode and the manual mode to the other one of the automatic mode and the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission based on rotation of the rotating member.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47 wherein the information indicating rotation of a rotating member comprises rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the transmission control unit switches from one of the automatic mode and the manual mode to the other one of the automatic mode and the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving a prescribed number of rotation indicating signals.

49. The apparatus according to claim 48 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein, when the transmission control unit switches from the manual mode to the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving the prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals.

50. The apparatus according to claim 48 wherein, when the transmission control unit switches from one of the automatic mode and the manual mode to the other one of the automatic mode and the manual mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission for a prescribed time interval after the operation of the mode switch.

51. The apparatus according to claim 50 wherein the rotation indicating signals comprise crank rotation indicating signals, wherein, when the transmission control unit switches from the manual mode to the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission until after receiving the prescribed number of crank rotation indicating signals, and wherein when the transmission control unit switches from the manual mode to the automatic mode, the inhibiting unit inhibits the operation of the at least one of the first transmission and the second transmission for a prescribed time interval after the operation of the mode switch.