Bicycle component operating device for controlling a bicycle component based on a sensor touching characteristic

• US 9,517,812 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Tetsuka, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kong, Sze-Hon
• Application Number:
  US13/323,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,827 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/51, 345/156, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/14 Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto hand controls per se B62K23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/00 Steering devices steering devices specially adapted for one particular kind of cycle specified in groups B62K1/00 - B62K17/00, see the relevant group
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/125 Extensions; Auxiliary handlebars
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/26 Handlebar grips twist grips B62K23/04
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/00 Bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/003 with gear indicating means, e.g. a display
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/006 with auxiliary shift assisting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/00 Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles rider operated controls for cycles in general B62K23/00; gearing speed change mechanisms F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A bicycle component operating device includes a touch sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to control a bicycle component based on a control signal from the touch sensor. The touch sensor is separate from the bicycle component and is configured to provide the control signal to the controller based on a touching characteristic in which a user performs a subsequent touching of the touch sensor after performing an initial touching of the touch sensor such that the initial touching does not cause the controller to control the bicycle component.

Claims

1. A bicycle component operating device comprising:

at least one touch sensor, the at least one touch sensor configured to detect contact on a surface of the at least one touch sensor, and the at least one touch sensor being disposed on a rightward facing side or a leftward facing side of at least one of a bracket of a brake, a bracket of a shifter, a brake lever, a handlebar and a handlebar stem; and

a controller configured to control a bicycle component based on a control signal from the at least one touch sensor;

the at least one touch sensor being separate from the bicycle component and configured to provide the control signal to the controller based on a touching characteristic in which a user performs a subsequent touching of the at least one touch sensor after performing an initial touching of the at least one touch sensor such that the initial touching does not cause the controller to control the bicycle component, the subsequent touching including a movement along the surface of the at leak one touch sensor with a touching length that is equal to or greater than a first prescribed length and smaller than or equal to a second prescribed length, the second prescribed length being larger than the firs prescribed length.

2. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the bicycle component further includes a display that is configured to display at least one indicium thereon, and the at feast one touch sensor is incorporated into the display as a touch screen.

3. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller configured to control a transmission to perform a shifting operation based on the control signal.

4. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein.

the controller configured to control a suspension to change suspension status based on the control signal.

5. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller configured to control a seatpost to move up or down based on the control signal.

6. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to control a cycle computer to operate in first mode based on a first condition of the control signal and to operate in a second mode based on a second condition of the control signal.

7. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 1, wherein,

the controller is configured to be user configurable and to be programmed and reprogrammed as desired to enable the at least one touch sensor to control the at least one bicycle component.

8. A bicycle component operating device comprisng:

at least one touch sensor, the at least one touch sensor configured to detect contact on a surface of the at least one touch sensor, and the at least one touch sensor being disposed on at least one of a bracket of a brake, a bracket of a shifter, a brake lever, a handlebar and a handlebar stem; and

a controller configured to control a bicycle component based on a control signal from the at least one touch sensor;

the at least one touch sensor being separate from the bicycle component and configured to provide the control signal to the controller based on a touching characteristic in which a user per a subsequent touching of the at least one touch sensor after performing an initial touching of the at least one touch sensor such that the initial touching does not cause the controller to control the bicycle component, the subsequent touching including a movement along the surface of the at least one touch sensor,

the controller being configured to control the bicycle component in a first manner upon the movement along the surface of the at least one touch sensor having a touching length equal to or longer than a first prescribed length and shorter than a second prescribed length such that a first signal is received as the control signal by the controller; and

the controller being configured to control the bicycle component in a second manner, which is different from the first manner, upon the movement along the surface of the at least one touch sensor having a touching length equal to or longer than the second prescribed length such that a second signal is received as the control signal by the controller.

9. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 8, wherein

the controller is configured to control a transmission in a first manner in response to the first signal being received by the controller, and

the controller is configured to control the transmission in a second manner, which is different from the first manner, in response to the second signal being received by the controller.

10. The bicycle component operating device according to claim 9, wherein

the controller is configured to control the transmission to shift once based on the first signal and to shift a plurality of times based on the second signal.