Human-bicycle interaction device

• US 8,149,098 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Inventors: Miglioranza, Federico
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US12/021,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 340/432, 340/441, 340/438, 340/456, 340/463, 340/466, 368/69, 280/288.4, 701/1
• US Class Current: 340/432
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/102 with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/00 Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14

Abstract

A human-bicycle interaction device has an interface for a person to enter electronic commands and a display unit responding to the commands, wherein the interface has a directional button with a non-operating position and at least two operating positions. The use of the device is intuitive and requires few hardware connections and the display is tightly sealed.

Claims

1. Human-bicycle interaction device, comprising:

a display unit;

an interface for entering electronic commands to the display unit, wherein the interface comprises a directional button having a non-operating position, at least two operating positions, and a plurality of switches for changing the display unit; and

a plurality of management units, at least one of the plurality of management units includes an insulation switch that limits a supply voltage to the plurality of switches and the insulation switch is driven by a periodic signal having a short duty cycle;

wherein the display unit is only changed when the insulation switch is activated.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the operating positions are in a number selected from among a group consisting of:

two, three, five and nine.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein one of the operating positions is obtained by pressing the directional button.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein part of the operating positions are obtained by tilting a shaft of the directional button along equally angularly spaced directions.

5. Device according to claim 1, comprising a casing.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the casing is made of two tightly joined portions.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the two portions of the casing are joined through a method chosen from a group consisting of:

ultrasound gluing, gluing with interposition of a glue, and screwing with interposition of a sealing gasket between the two portions.

8. Device according to claim 5, comprising a button cover at an aperture of the casing and at the directional button, the button cover being tightly associated with the casing.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein the button cover is made of a silicone-like material, and has an abutment edge, a pressing member being provided to push the abutment edge against the casing.

10. Device according to claim 5, comprising an area of yielding material integrally made with the casing at the directional button.

11. Device according to claim 5, comprising a transparent window at the display unit, the transparent window being tightly joined with the casing.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the transparent window is integral with the casing.

13. Device according to claim 11, wherein the transparent window is inserted in an aperture of the casing, with a seal provided between the transparent window and the aperture.

14. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a data and/or power connector for removable connection, through a matching connector, with a power source and/or with one or more devices of the bicycle.

15. Device according to claim 14, comprising a tight seal between the connector and a casing of the device.

16. Device according to claim 14, comprising a collar projecting outwards from the casing around the connector.

17. Device according to claim 5, comprising a battery power source housed within the casing.

18. Device according to claim 1, comprising a wireless transceiver unit for communicating with one or more devices of the bicycle.

19. Device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of management units includes a management unit for the directional button, a management and control unit for the display unit, and a management and control unit for a plurality of selectable functions of the human-bicycle interaction device.

20. Device according to claim 19, wherein the management and control units share a single micro-processor unit.

21. Device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of switches each has a normal state and an actuation state corresponding to an operating position of the directional button, and comprising a management unit for the directional button that detects the actuation state of one of the plurality of switches.

22. Device according to claim 19, wherein the at least one of the plurality of management units comprising the insulation switch that limits a supply voltage to the plurality of switches, the insulation switch driven by a signal having a short duty cycle is the management unit for the directional button.

23. Device according to claim 21, wherein the management unit for the directional button comprises a unit for encoding the state of the plurality of switches.

24. Device according to claim 22, wherein the management unit for the directional button comprises a unit for encoding the state of the plurality of switches.

25. Device according to claim 1, in the form of a cyclecomputer.

26. Device according to claim 25, wherein the interface only comprises one directional button.

27. Device according to claim 25, wherein the directional button is accessible from an upper surface of a casing of the cyclecomputer.

28. Device according to claim 25, wherein the directional button is accessible from a lower surface of a casing of the cyclecomputer.

29. Device according to claim 1, in the form of a control device.

30. Device according to claim 29, further comprising at least one lever.

31. Device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one lever imparts mechanical commands.

32. Device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one lever actuates at least one switch.

37. Device according to claim 1,

wherein the directional button extends outwards of the casing.

33. Human-bicycle interaction device, comprising:

a display unit;

an interface for entering electronic commands to the display unit, wherein the interface comprises a directional button having a non-operating position, at least two operating positions, and a plurality of switches for changing the display unit; and

a plurality of management units, at least one of the plurality of management units includes an insulation switch that limits a supply voltage to the plurality of switches and the insulation switch is driven by a periodic signal having a short duty cycle;

wherein the display unit is only changed when the insulation switch is activated; and

the operating positions are obtained by tilting a shaft of the directional button along equally angularly spaced directions.

34. Human bicycle interaction device, comprising:

a display unit;

an interface for entering electronic commands to the display unit, wherein the interface comprises a directional button having a non-operating position, at least two operating positions, and a plurality of switches for changing the display unit; and

a plurality of management units, at least one of the plurality of management units includes an insulation switch that limits a supply voltage to the plurality of switches and the insulation switch is driven by a periodic signal having a short duty cycle; and

a casing made of two portions tightly joined through a method chosen from a group consisting of;

ultrasound gluing and gluing with interposition of a glue;

wherein the display unit is only changed when the insulation switch is activated.

35. Human-bicycle interaction device, comprising:

a display unit;

an interface for entering electronic commands to the display unit, wherein the interface comprises a directional button having a non-operating position, at least two operating positions, and a plurality of switches for changing the display unit; and

a plurality of management units, at least one of the plurality of management units includes an insulation switch that limits a supply voltage to the plurality of switches and the insulation switch is driven by a periodic signal having a short duty cycle;

a data and/or power connector for removable connection, through a matching connector, with a power source and/or with one or more devices of the bicycle; and

a tight seal between the connector and a casing of the device;

wherein the display unit is only changed when the insulation switch is activated.

36. Human-bicycle interaction device, comprising:

a display unit;

an interface for entering electronic commands to the display unit, wherein the interface comprises a directional button having a non-operating position, at least two operating positions, and a plurality of switches for changing the display unit; and

a plurality of management units, at least one of the plurality of management units includes an insulation switch that limits a supply voltage to the plurality of switches and the insulation switch is driven by a periodic signal having a short duty cycle;

a data and/or power connector for removable connection, through a matching connector, with a power source and/or with one or more devices of the bicycle; and

a collar projecting outwards from a casing around the connector;

wherein the display unit is only changed when the insulation switch is activated.