Chain guide sensor and methods of controling a bicycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10780946-B2
Application number	US-201815916923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2018
Priority date	Jan 11, 2016
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A gear change mechanism for a bicycle may involve a tensioner that has a wheel engaged with a chain in a bicycle drivetrain. This tensioner may be configured to rotate or otherwise change orientation in response to slack in the chain to maintain tension in the chain. A sensor may be used to measure the orientation of a tensioner of a chain in a bicycle drivetrain, and/or the physical orientation of components indicative thereof. Actions may be triggered by signals generated by the sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a component of a bicycle having a plurality of gears engageable by a roller chain, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, an instruction for an action by the component;
determining, by the processor, an orientation of a chain tensioner cage;
establishing, by the processor, an engaged gear of the plurality of gears based on the orientation;
detecting, by the processor with the sensor, a change of the orientation of the chain tensioner cage to a different orientation;
comparing, by the processor, the different orientation to a collection of orientations;
determining, by the processor, a newly engaged gear of the plurality of gears based on the comparing; and
causing, by the processor, the component to perform the action in response to the determining the newly engaged gear.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the component is a drive motor providing input power for the bicycle.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the action comprises changing the input power for the bicycle.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising causing the drive motor to decrease the input power.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action is a movement of a moveable member of a rear derailleur.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action comprises a change in damping of an electronically controlled rear derailleur damper.

7. A control system for a bicycle having a plurality of components, the control system comprising:
a memory configured to store a collection of orientations associated with gears of a plurality of gears;
a sensor operable to provide a signal indicating an orientation of a bicycle chain tensioner;
a processor, in communication with the sensor, configured to:
compare an indicated orientation with the collection of orientations and verify that a gear change has occurred, and
cause a component of the bicycle to take an action when a gear change is verified.

8. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is disposed on a rear derailleur of the bicycle.

9. The control system of claim 8 , wherein the rear derailleur comprises:
a base member configured for mounting to the bicycle;
a link mechanism pivotably connected to the base member;
a moveable member pivotably mounted to the link mechanism such that the moveable member is movable in an axial direction relative to the base member
a pivot member rotatably mounted to the moveable member and configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation;
a first wheel configured to interface with the chain and rotate about a second axis of rotation; and
a positioning member extending between and connecting the pivot member and the first wheel.

10. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is configured to determine an angle of rotation of the pivot member about the first axis of rotation.

11. The control system of claim 10 , wherein the sensor is mounted on the moveable member or the pivot member.

12. The control system of claim 8 , further comprising a drive motor providing input power for the bicycle.

13. The control system of claim 12 , wherein the action comprises changing the input power for the bicycle.

14. The control system of claim 8 , wherein the action is an operation of a gear change motor to cause a movement of a moveable member of a rear derailleur of the bicycle.

15. The control system of claim 8 , wherein the action comprises a change in damping of an electronically controlled rear derailleur damper.

16. A bicycle component including a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed are operable to cause a processor to:
determine an orientation of a chain tensioner cage based on a sensor signal;
establish an engaged gear of a plurality of gears based on the orientation;
detect a change of the orientation of the chain tensioner cage to a different orientation using the sensor;
compare the different orientation to a collection of orientations;
determine a newly engaged gear of the plurality of gears based on the comparing; and
cause the component to perform the action in response to the determination that there is a newly engaged gear.

17. The bicycle component of claim 16 , wherein the action is a movement of a moveable member of a rear derailleur.

18. The bicycle component of claim 16 , wherein the action comprises a change in damping of an electronically controlled rear derailleur damper.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Braedt Henrik
• Jordan Brian

Classifications

• B62M9/122 Primary

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62M9/121 Primary

  Rear derailleurs · CPC title

• B62J45/42

  characterised by mounting · CPC title

• B62J45/413

  Rotation sensors · CPC title

• B62M9/124

  Mechanisms for shifting laterally · CPC title