Bicycle component control apparatus

• US 9,284,016 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Kasai, Yoshiyuki, Kuroda, Mao, Ichida, Tadashi, Shirai, Toyoto, Takamoto, Ryuichirou
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao Long T
• Application Number:
  US13/411,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/08 Methods and devices for control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 15/00 Mud-guards for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a controller that is configured to operate a first electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a first signal from a first input member, and to operate a second electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a second signal from a second input member. The controller is configured to prohibit operation of the second electrical bicycle component upon starting operation of the first electrical bicycle component.

Claims

1. A bicycle component control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to output a first actuation signal to operate a first electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a first signal from a first input member, to output a second actuation signal to operate a second electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a second signal from a second input member, to store predetermined priority information indicating priority ranks for operating the first and second electrical bicycle components, and to receive a change of the predetermined priority information by a user,

the controller being configured to control the first and second electrical bicycle components based on the predetermined priority information such that

when the predetermined priority information is such that operation of the first electrical bicycle component has a higher priority rank than operation of the second electrical bicycle component, the controller prohibits outputting the second actuation signal to the second electrical bicycle component in response to receiving the second signal from the second input member if the first electrical bicycle component is being operated by the first actuation signal in response to receiving the first signal, and

when the predetermined priority information is such that operation of the second electrical bicycle component has a higher priority rank than operation of the first electrical bicycle component, the controller prohibits outputting the first actuation signal to the first electrical bicycle component in response to receiving the first signal from the first input member if the second electrical bicycle component is being operated by the second actuation signal in response to receiving the second signal.

2. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller changes a start time of operation of the one of the first electrical bicycle component and the second electrical bicycle component that has the lower priority rank.

3. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller prohibits operation of the one of the first electrical bicycle component and the second electrical bicycle component that has the lower priority rank while a current power requirement is above a first power level.

4. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is further configured to set at least two different states of at least two of a bicycle front suspension, a bicycle rear suspension, a front shift device, a rear shift device and a seatpost.

5. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is further configured such that when the controller has prohibited outputting the first or second actuation signal to the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank, the controller controls the first and second electrical bicycle components such that operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank is completed before operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank is started.

6. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is further configured such that when the controller has prohibited outputting the first or second actuation signal to the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank, the controller controls the first and second electrical bicycle components such that operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank is started before operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank is completed after starting the operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank.

7. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is further configured to suspend operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank upon receiving the one of the first signal and the second signal corresponding to the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank during the operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank, and operate the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank, and

the controller is further configured to restart the operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank if operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank has finished.

8. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is further configured to operate the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank and a third electrical bicycle component in parallel upon receiving both the first signal and a third signal from a third input member before operation of the first electrical bicycle component has finished.

9. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the controller is further configured to suspend operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank upon receiving the third signal during the operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank, and operate the third electrical bicycle component, and the controller is further configured to restart the operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank if operation of the third electrical bicycle component has finished.

10. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the controller is further configured to suspend operation of one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank upon receiving the third signal during the operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank, and operate the third electrical bicycle component, and the controller is further configured to restart the operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank before operation of the third electrical bicycle component has finished.

11. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank includes at least one of a front shift device and a rear shift device, and the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank includes at least one of a bicycle front suspension and a bicycle rear suspension.

12. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank includes a bicycle front suspension, and the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank includes a bicycle rear suspension.

13. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank includes at least one of a front shift device and a rear shift device, and the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank is a seatpost.

14. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank includes at least one of a bicycle front suspension and a bicycle rear suspension, and the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank is a seatpost.

15. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the higher priority rank includes one of a front shift device and a rear shift device, and the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank includes the other of the front and rear shift devices.

16. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a power supply arranged to supply electric power to each of the controller, the first electrical bicycle component, and the second electrical bicycle component;

the controller being configured to prohibit operation of the one of the first and second electrical bicycle components having the lower priority rank only if a power level of the power supply is below a prescribed power level.

17. A bicycle control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a bicycle shift device in response to receiving a first signal from a first input member, to operate a bicycle suspension in response to receiving a second signal from a second input member, and to store predetermined priority information indicating priority ranks for operating the bicycle shift device and the bicycle suspension,

the controller being configured to control the bicycle shift device and the bicycle suspension based on the predetermined priority information, the operation of the bicycle shift device having a first priority rank and the operation of the bicycle suspension having a second priority rank, the first priority rank being higher than the second priority rank.

18. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the controller is further configured to control the bicycle shift device and the bicycle suspension such that when the first signal and the second signal are received simultaneously or the second signal is received during operation of the bicycle shift device, then operation of the bicycle suspension is started before operation of the bicycle shift device is completed after starting the operation of the bicycle shift device.

19. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the controller is further configured to suspend operation of the bicycle suspension and operate the bicycle shift device upon receiving the first signal during the operation of the bicycle suspension, and to restart the operation of the bicycle suspension upon operation of the bicycle shift device being finished after the suspension of operation of the bicycle suspension.

20. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the controller is further configured to suspend operation of the bicycle suspension and operate the bicycle shift device upon receiving the first signal during the operation of the bicycle suspension, and to restart the operation of the bicycle suspension before operation of the bicycle shift device is completed after starting the operation of the bicycle shift device.

21. A bicycle component control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to output a first actuation signal to operate a bicycle shift device in response to receiving a first signal from a first input member, to output a second actuation signal to operate at least one other electrical bicycle component in response to receiving a second signal from a second input member, and to store predetermined priority information indicating priority ranks for operating the bicycle shift device and the at least one other electrical bicycle component,

the controller being configured to control the bicycle shift device and the at least one other electrical bicycle component based on the predetermined priority information, the operation of the bicycle shift device having a highest priority rank.

22. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

the controller is further configured to control the bicycle shift device and the at least one other electrical bicycle component such that when the first actuation signal and the second actuation signal are received simultaneously or the second actuation signal is received during operation of the bicycle shift device, operation of the at least one other electrical bicycle component is started before operation of the bicycle shift device is completed after starting the operation of the bicycle shift device.

23. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

the controller is further configured to suspend operation of the at least one other electrical bicycle component upon receiving the first signal during the operation of the at least one other electrical bicycle component, and operate the bicycle shift device, and the controller is further configured to restart the operation of the at least one other electrical bicycle component upon operation of the bicycle shift device being finished.

24. The bicycle component control apparatus according to claim 21, wherein

the controller is further configured to suspend operation of the at least one other electrical bicycle component upon receiving the first signal during the operation of the at least one other electrical bicycle component, and operate the bicycle shift device, and the controller is further configured to restart the operation of the at least one other electrical bicycle component before operation of the bicycle shift device is completed after starting the operation of the bicycle shift device.