BICYCLE DETECTION DEVICE, OPERATING DEVICE FOR BICYCLE COMPONENT WITH DETECTION DEVICE, AND BICYCLE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OPERATING DEVICE

• US 20160159432A1
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Yusuke, TSUCHIZAWA, Yasuhiro, Usui, Makoto, Shahana, Satoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,908,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/00 Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/50 characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells

Abstract

A bicycle detection device is basically provided with a single sensor that is configured to output a first detection signal of a first state in response to a movement of a first operating member. The sensor is configured to output a second detection signal of a second state, which is different from the first state, in response to a movement of a second operating member.

Claims

1. A bicycle detection device comprising:

a single sensor configured to output a first detection signal of a first state in response to a movement of a first operating member, and the sensor being configured to output a second detection signal of a second state, which is different from the first state, in response to a movement of a second operating member.

2. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the sensor is configured to output the first detection signal of the first state according to a positional relationship with a first detector of the first operating member, and

the sensor is configured to output the second detection signal of the second state according to a positional relationship with a second detector of the second operating member.

3. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 2, wherein

the sensor is configured to output the first detection signal of the first state at a first level that changes continuously or in a stepwise manner as a first distance between the sensor and the first detector changes, and the sensor is configured to output the second detection signal of the second state at a second level that changes continuously or in a stepwise manner as a second distance between the sensor and the second detector changes.

4. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 2, wherein

the sensor is configured to output the first detection signal upon a first distance between the sensor and the first detector being less than a first prescribed distance, the sensor is configured not to output the first detection signal upon the first distance being equal to or greater than the first prescribed distance, the sensor is configured to output the second detection signal upon a second distance between the sensor and the second detector being less than a second prescribed distance, and the sensor is configured not to output the second detection signal upon the second distance being equal to or greater than the second prescribed distance.

5. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 2, further comprising

the first detector provided to the first operating member, and the second detector provided to the second operating member.

6. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 1, wherein

the first operating member is movably provided between a first detector and the sensor, and

the second operating member is movably provided between a second detector and the sensor.

7. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 2, wherein

the first detector includes a first magnet and the second detector includes a second magnet, and

the sensor includes a Hall element.

8. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 7, wherein

each of the first and second magnets has a magnetic pole that is arranged closest to the sensor, while the first operating member and the second operating member are disposed in a non-operated state, the magnetic poles arranged closest to the sensor have opposite magnetisms.

9. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 2, wherein

the first detector and the second detector are different colors from each other, and

the sensor includes a light receiving element.

10. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 9, wherein

the first detector and the second detector are configured to emit different color lights.

11. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 2, wherein

the first detector includes a plurality of first color portions that are different colors from each other,

the first color portions are arranged in a direction in which the first operating member is moved,

the second detector includes a plurality of second color portions that are different colors from each other, and

the second color portions are arranged in a direction in which the second operating member is moved.

12. The bicycle detection device as recited in claim 9, further comprising

a guide portion within which a window is formed for guiding light to the sensor.

13. An operating device for a bicycle component, the operating device comprising the bicycle detection device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising

the first operating member and the second operating member.

14. The operating device as recited in claim 13, wherein

the first operating member and the second operating member being configured to operate the bicycle component.

15. The operating device as recited in claim 14, wherein

the operating device includes a winding body movably mounted and configured to be connected to a cable, which is also coupled to the bicycle component,

the first operating member is operatively coupled to the winding body and rotates the winding body in a first direction in response to operation of the first operating member, and

the second operating member is operatively coupled to the winding body and rotates the winding body in a second direction in response to operation of the second operating member, the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

16. The operating device as recited in claim 14, wherein

the bicycle component is one of a transmission, a suspension and a seatpost.

17. A bicycle control system comprising the operating device as recited in claim 13, and further comprising

a control apparatus configured to control a bicycle electric component according to the first detection signal of the first state and the second detection signal of the second state.

18. The bicycle control system as recited in claim 17, wherein

the control apparatus is configured to control a motor for driving a bicycle according to a manual drive force, the first detection signal of the first state, and the second detection signal of the second state.

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

the control apparatus is configured to reduce an output of the motor according to the detection signal of the first state and the detection signal of the second state.

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

the control apparatus is configured to differentiate at least either a time to reduce the output of the motor or a reduction amount of the output of the motor between when the first detection signal of the first state is detected and when the second detection signal of the second state is detected.