Bicycle control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10766569-B2
Application number	US-201514795902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 10, 2015
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A bicycle control system comprises a first electrical component and a second electrical component. The first electrical component comprises a first base member, a first movable member, a first actuator, and a first controller. The first movable member is movable relative to the first base member. The first actuator is configured to move the first movable member relative to the first base member. The first controller is configured to control the first actuator. The second electrical component comprises a second base member, a second movable member, a second actuator, and a second controller. The second movable member is movable relative to the second base member. The second actuator is configured to move the second movable member relative to the second base member. The second controller is configured to control the second actuator. The first controller and the second controller are configured to wirelessly communicate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle control system comprising:
a first electrical shifting device comprising:
a first base member configured to be attached to a bicycle body;
a first movable member movable relative to the first base member;
a first actuator configured to move the first movable member relative to the first base member for changing a gear ratio of a bicycle; and
a first controller including a first processor configured to control the first actuator and a first memory storing a transmission route including at least one synchro-shift points;

a second electrical shifting device comprising:
a second base member configured to be attached to the bicycle body;
a second movable member movable relative to the second base member;
a second actuator configured to move the second movable member relative to the second base member for changing the gear ratio of the bicycle; and
a second controller including a second processor configured to control the second actuator; and

an operating device having a wireless transmitter, wherein the bicycle control system has a normal mode and a synchro mode such that:
in the normal mode, the first electrical shifting device and the second electrical shifting device are independently controlled based on shift signals from the operating device without using the transmission route; and
in the synchro mode, the first electrical shifting device and the second electrical shifting device are synchronously controlled in accordance with the transmission route in response to a single shift signal from the operating device, the single shift signal being a synchro-operating signal, the transmission route including the least one synchro-shift points at which the first controller and the second controller respectively synchronously control the first actuator and the second actuator to change gears at gear positions corresponding to the at least one synchro-shift points in response to the synchro-operating signal, and

the operating device, the first electrical shifting device, and the second electrical shifting device are all attached to the same bicycle body.

2. The bicycle control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first controller is configured to wirelessly receive the synchro-operating signal from the operating device, and
the first controller is configured to wirelessly transmit the synchro-operating signal to the second controller.

3. The bicycle control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first electrical shifting device comprises a front derailleur configured to shift a bicycle chain between a plurality of front sprockets,
the second electrical shifting device comprises a rear derailleur configured to shift the bicycle chain between a plurality of rear sprockets.

4. The bicycle control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first controller and the second controller are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other via one of a one-way communication and a two-way communication.

5. The bicycle control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first actuator includes a first motor, and
the second actuator includes a second motor.

6. The bicycle control system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an intermediate communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the first controller and the second controller, wherein
the first controller and the second controller are configured to wirelessly communicate via the intermediate communication device.

7. The bicycle control system according to claim 6 , wherein
the intermediate communication device has a pairing mode in which the intermediate communication device establishes a wireless communication between the intermediate communication device and each of the first controller and the second controller,
the first controller has a pairing mode in which the first controller establishes the wireless communication between the first controller and the intermediate communication device, and
the second controller has a pairing mode in which the second controller establishes the wireless communication between the second controller and the intermediate communication device.

8. The bicycle control system according to claim 6 , wherein
the first controller has a pairing mode in which the first controller establishes a wireless communication between the first controller and the second controller, and
the second controller has a pairing mode in which the second controller establishes the wireless communication between the first controller and the second controller.

9. The bicycle control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first controller includes a first wireless receiver and a first wireless transmitter, and
the second controller includes a second wireless receiver and a second wireless transmitter.

10. The bicycle control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the second controller includes a second memory storing the transmission route including the at least one synchro-shift points.

11. The bicycle control system according to claim 4 , wherein
the first controller and the second controller are configured to wirelessly and directly communicate with each other.

12. The bicycle control system according to claim 8 , wherein
the first electrical shifting device has a first pairing mode switch configured to bring the first controller into the pairing mode in response to input of a user, and
the second electrical shifting device has a second pairing mode switch configured to bring the second controller into the pairing mode in response to input of the user.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Kasai Yoshiyuki

Classifications

• B62M2025/006

  with auxiliary shift assisting means · CPC title

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B62M9/122 Primary

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62M9/132 Primary

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title