Bicycle control system

• US 9,682,743 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Miyoshi, Hiroyuki, Gao, Jun, Kato, Ayumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US14/875,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/411 Torque sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/003 with gear indicating means, e.g. a display
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A bicycle control system is basically provided with a plurality of electric units. Each of the plurality of electric units is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. Each of the plurality of electric units includes a storage unit. At least two of the storage units of the plurality of electric units store at least two common pieces of information.

Claims

1. A bicycle control system comprising:

a plurality of electric units,

each of the plurality of electric units being configured to be mounted to a bicycle and including a storage unit,

at least two of the storage units of the plurality of electric units store at least two common pieces of identical information including setting information, which is information for determining an operation of the electric units, at least two of the storage units of the plurality of electric units at least partially sharing the setting information.

2. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

the at least two common pieces of information includes identification information for identifying the electric units.

3. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

the at least two common pieces of information includes log information, which is a history of operations of the electric units.

5. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

at least one of the plurality of electric units overwrites the information stored in the storage units of another of the plurality of electric units, and stores, or accumulates and stores, this information.

6. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

at least one of the plurality of electric units determines whether or not to store the information stored in the storage units of the other of the plurality of electric units, depending on contents of the information.

7. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

at least one of the plurality of electric units outputs information that is stored in the storage unit, along with updating the output target information.

8. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

at least one of the plurality of electric units outputs information that is stored in the storage unit to the other of the plurality of electric units every time a prescribed period has elapsed.

9. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

the plurality of electric units includes at least three of the electric units.

10. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 9, wherein

at least three of the storage units of the at least three of the electric units store the at least two common pieces of information.

11. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 9, wherein

a first pair comprising any two of the at least three electric units stores the at least two common pieces of information, and a second comprising two of the at least three electric units that is a different combination from the first pair stores at least two common pieces of information that are different from the first pair of the at least three electric units.

12. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 9, wherein

at least one of the at least three electric units determines whether or not to store the information received from other of the electric units than the at least three electric units, depending on the source of the information.

13. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 9, wherein

at least one of the at least three electric units comprises a function to output information to the other electric units of the at least three electric units.

14. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 9, wherein

at least one of the at least three electric units acquires information regarding one of the other electric units, and when the information does not conform to a prescribed condition, outputs the information to another of the electric units that is different from the one of the other electric units.

15. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 9, wherein

at least one of the at least three electric units determines a destination for the information, depending on contents of the output target information.

17. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, further comprising

a power communication line connecting the plurality of electric units to each other.

18. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

at least one of the plurality of electric units is an electric component.

19. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

each of the plurality of electric units is configured to be attached to the bicycle in a traveling state.

20. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 1, wherein

each of the plurality of electric units comprises an output unit that outputs the common information stored in the storage unit outside of the bicycle control system.

4. A bicycle control system comprising:

a plurality of electric units,

each of the plurality of electric units being configured to be mounted to a bicycle and including a storage unit,

at least two of the storage units of the plurality of electric units store at least two common pieces of identical information,

the at least two common pieces of information including log information, which is the history of operations of the electric units, and at least two of the storage units of the plurality of electric units at least partially sharing the log information.

16. A bicycle control system comprising:

a plurality of electric units, each of the plurality of electric units being configured to be mounted to a bicycle and including a storage unit, at least two of the storage units of the plurality of electric units store at least two common pieces of information; and

an operating unit for changing the settings regarding at least one of an output target of the common information and the common information.