Data display unit for a bicycle

• US 5,629,668 A
• Filed: 08/10/1994
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
• Original Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
• Inventors: Downs, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/288,399
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 340/432, 340/427, 340/438, 324/174, 482/51, 482/57, 482/902, 364/551.01, 364/557, 364/561
• US Class Current: 340/432
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers

Abstract

A data display unit for a bicycle includes a means for determining and displaying an operational data signal in a normal operating mode and a workout data signal of a workout window mode having predetermined data information including time, distance, average and maximum speed. The unit is configured to calculate and display the predetermined information of the operational data signal information and to allow for the manual actuation to begin separate calculation, display and resetting of the predetermined information of the workout data signal. The display includes a liquid crystal display for displaying separately operational data signals and workout data signals.

Claims

1. A data display unit for a bicycle, comprising:

wheel rotation sensor for generating plural pulse signals at a rate corresponding to the rotary speed of a wheel of the bicycle;

computing means responsive to said pulse signals for generating an operational data signal and a workout data signal of a plurality of predetermined information when said pulse rate is greater than zero, said computing means being adapted to generate said workout data signal separate from said operational data signal;

display means for displaying said predetermined information of each of said operational data and workout data signals, said display means having a plurality of screens for displaying said predetermined information, wherein each of said screens include a plurality of display fields for displaying each of said predetermined information for said operational data signal and workout data signal; and

control means for controlling the calculation and display of said operational and workout data signals of the unit, said control means connected to said computing means for controlling the operation of the unit in a normal operating mode and in a workout window mode, said control means operating to supply said display means said predetermined information of said operational data signal in said plural fields when in said normal operating mode, said control means operating to supply said display said workout data signal in said plural fields when in said workout window mode, said control means adapted to generate and display separately said predetermined information for said operational data signal and said workout data signal;

said normal mode calculating and maintaining cumulative data so long as said unit is energized;

said cumulative data including a cumulative average speed, a cumulative maximum speed and cumulative distance and selectively displaying data representing said cumulative speeds and distance;

said workout window mode calculating a workout average speed, a workout maximum speed and a workout distance and selectively displaying data representing said workout speeds and distance;

said normal mode data and said workout window mode data being independently calculated and maintained so that said workout window mode may be selected, cleared, and reset without clearing or resetting said cumulative data.

2. The data display unit of claim 1, wherein said predetermined information of said operational data signal includes timing data information for generating a trip time.

3. The data display unit of claim 2, wherein said predetermined information of said operational data signal further includes distance data information for generating a distance traveled by the bicycle.

4. The data display unit of claim 3, wherein said predetermined information of said operational data signal includes speed data information for generating a current speed of the bicycle.

5. The data display unit of claim 1, wherein said predetermined information of said workout data signal includes timing data information for generating a workout time.

6. The data display unit of claim 5, wherein said predetermined information of said workout data signal includes distance data information for generating a workout distance traveled by the bicycle.

7. The data display unit of claim 6, wherein said predetermined information of said workout data signal includes speed data information for generation a workout speed, a workout average speed, and a workout maximum speed of the bicycle.

8. The data display unit of claim 7, wherein said predetermined information of said workout data signal includes data information for an odometer.

9. The data display unit of claim 8, wherein said predetermined information of said workout data signal includes data information for a time of day clock.

10. The data display unit of claim 9, wherein said predetermined information of said workout data signal includes data information for a temperature of ambient air.

11. The data display unit of claim 10, wherein said predetermined information of said workout data signal includes data information for at least one wheel size setting, said wheel size setting adapted to provide a measurement of the distance the bicycle travels in one revolution of a wheel thereof.

12. The data display unit of claim 1, wherein said control means includes input means for inputting values of operational data information for said predetermined information of an odometer, a time of day clock and at least one wheel size setting, whereby said input means is adapted to set said values for said odometer, said time of day clock and said wheel size setting and to store said values in a memory of said computing means.

13. The data display unit of claim 1, wherein said control means includes a selection means for selecting a desired one of said plurality screens for displaying said predetermined information.

14. The data display unit of claim 1, wherein said display means is adapted to display said operational data signal in said plurality of display fields of said screens, said screens of said display means having an upper portion, a middle portion and a lower portion, said upper portion configured to display a wheel setting field, a current speed display field and a workout window mode symbol, said middle portion configured to display each of a timer display field, a distance display field, an average speed display field, and a maximum speed display field, and said lower portion configured to display a clock display field and a temperature display field.

15. The data display unit of claim 14, wherein each of said screens of said display means operating in said normal operating mode includes said workout window mode symbol to indicate the actuation of said workout window mode, whereby said control means displays said workout window mode symbol whenever said workout data signal is being calculated and stored.

16. The data display unit of claim 15 wherein said workout window symbol of said upper portion indicates the actuation of said workout window mode by pulsing on and off.

17. The data unit of claim 16, wherein said middle portion of said display means is configured to operate in said workout window mode and display said workout data signal information in said middle portion of said display, said middle portion having bracket means for indicating the display of said predetermined information of said workout data signal.

18. The data display device unit of claim 1, wherein said predetermined information of said workout data signal can be reset separate from said predetermined information of said operational data signal while the unit is operating in said workout window mode.

19. The display device unit of claim 1, wherein said display means is adapted to display independently said predetermined information of said workout data signal.

25. The data display device of claim 1, wherein said control means is configured to cause said computing means to reset said workout data independent of causing said computing means to reset said operational data.

20. A data display unit for a bicycle, comprising:

power means for supplying a source of electricity to the data display unit;

pulse signal means for providing a timing signal responsive to the time it takes the bicycle to travel a predetermined distance;

calculating means responsive to said timing signal for calculating each of an operational data signal and a performance data signal when said timing signal is greater than zero, said operational data signal includes a timer, a running speed, a running distance, a cumulative distance, a cumulative average speed, and a cumulative maximum speed of the bicycle, and said performance data signal includes a workout time, a workout distance, a workout average speed and a workout maximum speed;

display means adapted to display said operational and performance data signals calculated by said calculating means, said display means adapted to display said operational data signal in display fields of a plurality of operational screens, said display means adapted to display said performance data signal in display fields of a plurality of workout screens; and

control means for controlling the operation of said calculating means and said display means, said control means adapted to display said operational data signal when the bicycle is in motion, said control means adapted to cause said calculation means to calculate said performance data when desired by a user, said control means having a selecting means for selecting between said screens of the normal operating mode and said workout window mode and for selecting between a start or stop condition of said control means;

wherein said cumulative data is maintained so long as the unit is energized and said workout window mode data are maintained only so long as said workout window mode is selected and said data are not cleared.

21. The data display unit of claim 20, wherein said performance data signal representing an accurate time, distance, average speed, and maximum speed of a cyclist'"'"'s workout.

22. The data display unit of claim 21, wherein said control means is adapted to indicate the actuation of said performance data signal.

23. The data display unit of claim 22, further including temperature sensor means for sensing a temperature of the air relative to the unit, said sensor means providing a temperature signal to said computing means whereby said computing means supplies a temperature data signal to said control means for display on said display means.

24. The data display unit of claim 23, wherein said control means causes said calculating means to compute said performance data for display on the display means.

26. A data display unit for a bicycle, comprising:

a wheel rotation sensor for generating plural pulse signals at a rate corresponding to the rotary speed of a wheel of the bicycle;

a computer for generating a first data signal and a second data signal when said pulse rate is greater than zero, said first data signal and said second data signal being generated from said pulse signals, said computer being adapted to generate said second data signal separate from said first data signal;

a display which displays said predetermined information of each of said first data and second data signals, said display having a plurality of screens for displaying said predetermined information, wherein each of said screens include a plurality of display fields for displaying each of said predetermined information for said first data signal and second data signal; and

a control which controls the calculation and display of first and second data signals of the unit, said control connected to said computer for controlling the operation of the unit in a normal operating mode using said first data signal and in a workout window mode using said second data signal, said control operating to supply said display means said predetermined information of said first dam signal in said plural fields when in said normal operating mode, said control operating to supply said display said second data signal in said plural fields when in said workout window mode, said control adapted to generate and display separately said predetermined information for said first data signal and said second data signal,

said normal mode calculating and maintaining cumulative data so long as said unit has electrical power, said cumulative data including a cumulative speed and cumulative distance and said plural fields selectively displaying data representing said cumulative speed and distance;

said workout window mode calculating a workout speed and a workout distance and said plural fields selectively displaying data representing said workout speed and distance;

said normal mode data and said workout window mode data being independently calculated and maintained so that said workout window mode may be selected, cleared, and reset without clearing or resetting said cumulative data.