Bicycle control system

• US 7,902,967 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Takebayashi, Haruyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US11/876,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 340/432, 340/425.5, 340/427, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 327/261, 327/231, 327/235, 327/269, 327/276
• US Class Current: 340/432
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

A bicycle control system is provided with a switch device and a cycle computer. The switch device includes a switch operation member, a sensor arranged relative to the switch operation member to detect operation of the switch operation member, a processing unit operatively coupled to the sensor and a transmitter arranged to transmit an output signal. The processing unit of the switch device includes an identification code generating member, an operating signal generating member and an output member. The identification code generating member generates identification code related to identification of the switch device. The operating signal generating member generates an operation code indicative of operation of the switch operation member. The output member combines the identification code and the operation code as the output signal to be transmitted by the transmitter of the switch device.

Claims

1. A bicycle control system comprising:

a first switch device including a first switch operation member, a first sensor arranged relative to the first switch operation member to detect operation of the first switch operation member, a first processing unit operatively coupled to the first sensor and a first transmitter arranged to periodically transmit first output signals at first prescribed transmission timings;

a second switch device including a second switch operation member, a second sensor arranged relative to the second switch operation member to detect operation of the second switch operation member, a second processing unit operatively coupled to the second sensor and a second transmitter arranged to periodically transmit second output signals at second prescribed transmission timings; and

a cycle computer including a receiver arranged to receive the output signals from the transmitters of the first and second switch devices,

the first processing unit of the first switch device including

a first identification code generating member that generates first identification codes related to identification of the first switch device,

a first operating signal generating member that generates first operation codes indicative of operation of the first switch operation member, with only one of the first operation codes being generated between starting points of the first prescribed transmission timings, the first operation codes containing data indicative of a number of operations of the first switch operation member occurring since a starting point of an immediately preceding one of the first prescribed transmission timings, and

a first output member that combines the first identification codes and corresponding ones of the first operation codes as the first output signals to be transmitted by the first transmitter of the first switch device,

the second processing unit of the second switch device including

a second identification code generating member that generates second identification codes related to identification of the second switch device,

a second operating signal generating member that generates second operation codes indicative of operation of the second switch operation member, and

a second output member that combines the second identification codes and corresponding ones of the second operation codes as the second output signals to be transmitted by the second transmitter of the second switch device,

with the first and second prescribed transmission timings being such that the first and second output signals are sent to the cycle computer at recurring prescribed intervals in a non-overlapping manner,

the first operating signal generating member generating time lag data as part of the first operation codes in response to an operation of the first switch operating member which occurs prior to a subsequent one of the starting points of the first prescribed transmission timings and which is not transmitted with the only one of the first operation codes transmitted after a starting point immediately preceding the subsequent one of the starting points of the first prescribed transmission timings.

2. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first transmitter of the first switch device is configured to transmit the first output signals wirelessly,

the second transmitter of the second switch device is configured to transmit the second output signals wirelessly, and

the cycle computer is configured to receive the first output signals from the first transmitter of the first switch device and the second output signals from the second transmitter of the second switch device wirelessly.

3. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first switch device further includes a first receiver,

the second switch device further includes a second receiver, and

the cycle computer further includes a transmitter that is configured to transmit confirmation signals to the receivers of the first and second switch devices.

4. The bicycle control system according to claim 3 wherein

the transmitters and receivers of the first and second switch devices and the cycle computer are two way wireless communication devices.

5. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the first operating signal generating member of the first processing unit of the first switch device generates a first operation signal for each of the first operation codes in which operation of the first switch operation member is for a short period of time below a first prescribed time threshold and a second operation signal for each of the first operation codes in which operation of the first switch operation member is for a long period of time above a second prescribed time threshold that is equal to or greater than the first prescribed time threshold, and

the second operating signal generating member of the second processing unit of the second switch device generates a third operation signal for each of the second operation codes in which operation of the second switch operation member is for the short period of time below a third prescribed time threshold and a fourth operation signal for each of the second operation codes in which operation of the second switch operation member is for the long period of time above a fourth prescribed time threshold that is equal to or greater than the third prescribed time threshold.

6. The bicycle control system according to claim 1, wherein

the operating signal generating members of the processing units of the first and second switch devices generate numerical data as part of the operation codes upon each time the switch operation members are operated, respectively.

7. A bicycle control system comprising:

a first switch device including a first switch operation member, a first sensor arranged relative to the first switch operation member to detect operation of the first switch operation member, a first processing unit operatively coupled to the first sensor and a first transmitter arranged to periodically transmit first output signals at first prescribed transmission timings,

the first processing unit of the first switch device including

a first identification code generating member that generates first identification codes related to identification of the first switch device,

a first operating signal generating member that generates first operation codes indicative of operation of the first switch operation member, with only one of the first operation codes being generated between starting points of the first prescribed transmission timings, the first operation codes containing data indicative of a number of operations of the first switch operation member occurring since a starting point of an immediately preceding one of the first prescribed transmission timings, and

a first output member that combines the first identification codes and corresponding ones of the first operation codes as the first output signals to be transmitted by the first transmitter of the first switch device; and

a cycle computer including a receiver arranged to receive the first output signals from the first transmitter.

8. The bicycle control system according to claim 7, wherein

the first transmitter of the first switch device is configured to transmit the first output signals wirelessly, and

the cycle computer is configured to receive the first output signals from the first transmitter of the first switch device wirelessly.

9. The bicycle control system according to claim 7, wherein

the first switch device further includes a first receiver, and

the cycle computer further includes a transmitter that is configured to transmit confirmation signals to the first receiver.

10. The bicycle control system according to claim 9, wherein

the first transmitter and the first receiver and the cycle computer are two way wireless communication devices.

11. The bicycle control system according to claim 7, wherein

the first operating signal generating member of the first processing unit of the first switch device generates a first operation signal for each of the first operation codes in which operation of the first switch operation member is for a short period of time below a first prescribed time threshold and a second operation signal for each of the first operation codes in which operation of the first switch operation member is for a long period of time above a second prescribed time threshold that is equal to or greater than the first prescribed time threshold.

12. The bicycle control system according to claim 7, wherein

the first operating signal generating member generates numerical data as part of the first operation codes upon each time the first switch operation member is operated.

13. The bicycle control system according to claim 7, wherein

the first operating signal generating member generates time lag data as part of the first operation codes in response to an operation of the first switch operating member which occurs prior to a subsequent one of the starting points of the first prescribed transmission timings and which is not transmitted with the only one of the first operation codes transmitted after a starting point immediately preceding the subsequent one of the starting points of the first prescribed transmission timings.

14. The bicycle control system according to claim 7, further comprising

a second switch device including a second switch operation member, a second sensor arranged relative to the second switch operation member to detect operation of the second switch operation member, a second processing unit operatively coupled to the second sensor and a second transmitter arranged to periodically transmit second output signals at second prescribed transmission timings,

the second processing unit of the second switch device including

a second identification code generating member that generates second identification codes related to identification of the second switch device,

a second operating signal generating member that generates second operation codes indicative of operation of the second switch operation member, with only one of the second operation codes being generated between starting points of the second prescribed transmission timings, the second operation codes containing data indicative of a number of operations of the second switch operation member occurring since a starting point of an immediately preceding one of the second prescribed transmission timings, and

a second output member that combines the second identification codes and corresponding ones of the second operation codes as the second output signals to be transmitted by the second transmitter of the second switch device,

the receiver of the cycle computer being arranged to receive the second output signals from the second transmitter.

15. The bicycle control system according to claim 13, wherein

the second transmitter of the second switch device is configured to transmit the second output signals wirelessly, and

the cycle computer is configured to receive the second output signals from the second transmitter of the second switch device wirelessly.

16. The bicycle control system according to claim 13, wherein

the second switch device further includes a second receiver, and

the transmitter of the cycle computer is further configured to transmit confirmation signals to the second receiver.

17. The bicycle control system according to claim 15, wherein

the second transmitter and the second receiver and the cycle computer are two way wireless communication devices.

18. The bicycle control system according to claim 13, wherein

the second operating signal generating member of the second processing unit of the second switch device generates a first operation signal for each of the second operation codes in which operation of the second switch operation member is for a short period of time below a first prescribed time threshold and a second operation signal for each of the second operation codes in which operation of the second switch operation member is for a long period of time above a second prescribed time threshold that is equal to or greater than the first prescribed time threshold.

19. The bicycle control system according to claim 13, wherein

the second operating signal generating member generates numerical data as part of the second operation codes upon each time the second switch operation member is operated.

20. The bicycle control system according to claim 13, wherein

the second operating signal generating member generates time lag data as part of the second operation codes in response to an operation of the second switch operating member which occurs prior to a subsequent one of the starting points of the second prescribed transmission timings and which is not transmitted with the only one of the second operation codes transmitted after a starting point immediately preceding the subsequent one of the starting points of the second prescribed transmission timings.