Bicycle control device and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11027792-B2
Application number	US-201916445868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2019
Priority date	Oct 21, 2016
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

A bicycle control system may be configured to automatically control a bicycle, or components thereof. The bicycle control system may include a system control device configured to provide a simplified shifting system wherein large changes in speed associated with starting and stopping do not require the full attention of the automatic shifting system. The shifting system, or a system control device configured for controlling the shifting system, may be configured to determine when to enter an automatic shifting control mode, establish parameters for the automatic shifting of the automatic shifting control mode, and/or compare detected activities and values of the bicycle to the established parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system control device for a bicycle having a transmission with a plurality of gear options, the system control device comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code,
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
determining when at least one automatic mode entry condition is met;
establishing at least one automatic mode parameter as a speed parameter when the at least one automatic mode entry condition is met;
comparing an active speed of the bicycle to the at least one speed parameter;
adjusting, based on the comparison, a shifting device of the bicycle to change to a different gear of the plurality of gears;
determining if at least one automatic mode modification condition is met; and
modifying at least one automatic mode parameter based on the determination that at least one automatic mode modification condition is met.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the demining if at least one automatic mode modification is met comprises determining if a speed of the bicycle is below a low speed threshold, and the modifying at least one automatic mode parameter comprises disabling automatic mode when the speed is below the low speed threshold.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one automatic mode entry condition comprises at least two automatic entry mode conditions.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein establishing at least one automatic mode parameter comprises establishing the speed parameter during bicycle operation using one of at least two different techniques.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein establishing at least one automatic mode parameter comprises establishing a speed range including an upper speed limit and a lower speed limit.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein a different speed range is established for at least two gear options of the plurality of gear options.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the modifying at least one automatic mode parameter comprises pausing the automatic shifting mode.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the modifying at least one automatic mode parameter comprises resuming automatic shifting mode.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the resuming automatic shifting mode is performed based on a determination that a bicycle speed is above a speed threshold.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the resuming automatic shifting mode is performed based on a determination that a speed is above a speed threshold.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the resuming automatic shifting mode is performed based on a determination that a measured bicycle power has dropped below a power threshold.

12. The device of claim 7 , wherein the pausing the automatic shifting mode is based on a determination that a button has been actuated.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the button is configured to cause an adjustment of the shifting device to change to different gears when the automatic mode is inactive.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed on a computer are operable to:
determine when at least one automatic mode entry condition is met;
establish at least one automatic mode parameter as a speed parameter;
compare an active speed of the bicycle to the at least one speed parameter;
adjust, based on the comparison, a shifting device of the bicycle to change to a different gear of the plurality of gears;
determine if at least one automatic mode modification condition is met; and
modify at least one automatic mode parameter based on the determination that at least one automatic mode modification condition is met.

15. A method of operating a bicycle, the method comprising:
determining, by a processor, when at least one automatic mode entry condition is met;
establishing, by the processor, at least one automatic mode parameter as a speed parameter;
comparing, by the processor, an active speed of the bicycle to the at least one speed parameter;
adjusting, by the processor based on the comparison, a shifting device of the bicycle to change to a different gear of the plurality of gears;
determining, by the processor, if at least one automatic mode modification condition is met; and
modifying, by the processor, at least one automatic mode parameter based on the determination that at least one automatic mode modification condition is met.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Wesling Kevin

Classifications

• B62M9/122 Primary

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62J45/412 Primary

  Speed sensors · CPC title

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B62M9/133

  changing gears automatically · CPC title

• F16H61/0213

  characterised by the method for generating shift signals · CPC title