Electric component for human powered vehicle and control system for human powered vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11279443-B2
Application number	US-201815941000-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

An electric component for a human powered vehicle, comprises a transmitter, a receiver, at least one operating member, and a controller. The transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit wireless signals to an additional electric component. The receiver is configured to wirelessly receive an acknowledgement signal from the additional electric component. The controller is configured to control the transmitter to consecutively transmit one of the wireless signals as a first control signal in response to an operation of the at least one operating member until the receiver receives the acknowledgement signal. The controller is configured to control the transmitter to transmit another of the wireless signals as a second control signal when a first predetermined time period has passed since a time point from when the operation of the at least one operating member is started until when the transmitter starts transmitting the first control signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric component for a human powered vehicle, comprising:
a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit wireless signals to an additional electric component for a human powered vehicle;
a receiver configured to wirelessly receive an acknowledgement signal from the additional electric component;
an operating member; and
a controller configured to control the transmitter to consecutively transmit one of the wireless signals as a first control signal in response to an operation of the operating member until the receiver receives the acknowledgement signal, the controller being configured to control the transmitter to transmit another of the wireless signals as a second control signal when a first predetermined time period has passed regardless of operation of any other operating member than the operating member since a time point from when the operation of the operating member is started until when the transmitter starts transmitting the first control signal, the first control signal including a first setting parameter of the additional electric component, the second control signal including a second setting parameter of the additional electric component, the second setting parameter being set differently from the first setting parameter.

2. The electric component according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to control the transmitter to consecutively transmit the first control signal while the operating member is operated.

3. The bicycle electric component according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to control the transmitter to stop transmitting the first control signal when the receiver wirelessly receives the acknowledgement signal.

4. The electric component according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to control the transmitter to stop transmitting the first control signal when a second predetermined time period has passed since the time point, the second predetermined time period being equal to or smaller than the first predetermined time period.

5. The electric component according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to control the transmitter to transmit the second control signal when the first predetermined time period has passed since the transmitter starts transmitting the first control signal.

6. The electric component according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to control the transmitter to periodically transmit the wireless signals at intervals of a third predetermined time period until the receiver receives the acknowledgement signal, the third predetermined time period being smaller than the first predetermined time period.

7. The electric component according to claim 6 , wherein
the controller is configured to randomly change a length of the third predetermined time period.

8. The electric component according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a power storage to supply electric power to at least one of the controller, the transmitter, and the receiver.

9. The electric component according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a power generator to generate the electric power in response to the operation of the operating member, the power storage being configured to store the electric power generated by the power generator.

10. The electric component according to claim 8 , wherein
the power generator is configured to generate the electric power in response to a movement of the operating member between a first position and a second position different from the first position.

11. A control system for a human powered vehicle, comprising:
the electric component according to claim 1 ; and
the additional electric component.

12. The control system according to claim 11 , wherein
the additional electric component includes
an additional receiver configured to wirelessly receive the wireless signals from the transmitter, and
an additional transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the acknowledgement signal in response to at least one of the wireless signals.

13. The control system according to claim 12 , wherein
the additional transmitter is configured to wirelessly retransmit the acknowledgement signal to the receiver if the additional receiver wirelessly receives from the transmitter a wireless signal in response to which the transmitter transmits the acknowledgement signal.

14. The control system according to claim 13 , wherein
the additional transmitter is configured to retransmit the acknowledgement signal to the receiver if the additional receiver wirelessly receives the wireless signal after a fourth predetermined time period has passed since the additional transmitter transmits the acknowledgement signal, the fourth predetermined time period being smaller than the first predetermined time period.

15. The control system according to claim 12 , wherein
the additional electric component further includes a movable member and an actuator configured to move the movable member.

16. The control system according to claim 15 , wherein
the additional electric component includes a shifting device having a plurality of speed stages.

17. The control system according to claim 16 , wherein
the movable member includes a chain guide of a derailleur.

18. The control system according to claim 16 , wherein
the additional electric component is configured to sequentially change the speed stage of the additional electric component such that a gear ratio of the shifting device increases upon receiving the first control signal and upon receiving the second control signal subsequent to the first control signal in response to a first operation of the operating member, the additional electric component is configured to sequentially change the speed stage of
the additional electric component such that a gear ratio of the shifting device decreases upon receiving the first control signal and upon receiving the second control signal subsequent to the first control signal in response to a second operation of the operating member, and
the second operation is different from the first operation.

19. The electric component according to claim 1 , wherein
the second setting parameter is set differently from the first setting parameter due to continuous operation of the operating member for the first predetermined time period.

20. An electric component for a human powered vehicle, comprising:
a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit wireless signals to an additional electric component for a human powered vehicle;
a receiver configured to wirelessly receive an acknowledgement signal from the additional electric component;
at least one operating member; and
a controller configured to control the transmitter to consecutively transmit one of the wireless signals as a first control signal in response to an operation of the at least one operating member until the receiver receives the acknowledgement signal, the controller being configured to control the transmitter to transmit another of the wireless signals as a second control signal when the at least one operating member has been continuously operated for a first predetermined time period regardless of operation of any other operating member than the at least one operating member since a time point from when the operation of the at least one operating member is started until when the transmitter starts transmitting the first control signal, the first control signal including a first setting parameter of the additional electric component, the

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Masuda Takaya
• Tanaka Syou

Classifications

• B62M25/08 Primary

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B62J43/30

  for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion · CPC title

• B62J45/00

  Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62J45/20

  Cycle computers as cycle accessories · CPC title

• B62K23/02

  hand actuated (arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14) · CPC title