Bicycle communication apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11787499-B2
Application number	US-201816141053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2018
Priority date	Oct 6, 2017
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A bicycle communication apparatus is provided that contributes to usability. The bicycle communication apparatus includes a base portion and a wireless communicator provided at the base portion. The wireless communicator is configured to transmit first information related to a motor that assists propulsion of a bicycle and second information related to a shifting device of the bicycle through wireless communication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle communication apparatus comprising:
a base portion configured to be coupled to one of a side wall of an intermediate portion of a linear member and a housing of a bicycle component, the linear member including at least one of an electrical cable, a hydraulic cable and a Bowden cable of a bicycle, the bicycle component including at least one of a motor, a shifting device and an operating device that operates one or more of the motor and the shifting device, the base portion including a first face side and a second face side, the first and second face sides facing in opposite directions with respect to each other, the base portion having a hole disposed at an end of the base portion;
a first connector coupled to the base portion on the first face side of the base portion and connectable to a first electrical cable that connects the bicycle component to a wired communicator;
at least one second connector electrically coupled to the second face side of the base and connectable to a second electrical cable;
a coupling member configured to be coupled to the linear member installed on the bicycle, the coupling member having a first groove aligned with the hole of the base portion, the coupling member further having a second groove engageable with the linear member; and
a wireless communicator provided at the base portion to be electrically connected to at least one of the first and second connectors, the wireless communicator is configured to transmit first information related to the motor that assists in propulsion of the bicycle and second information related to the shifting device of the bicycle through wireless communication, the first information relating to an assist mode of the motor, the assist mode including at least one of an OFF mode and a walk mode.

2. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first information of the wireless communicator includes information for indicating a control state of the motor on an external device.

3. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the second information of the wireless communicator includes information for indicating a control state of the shifting device on an external device.

4. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the base portion has an accommodation space, and
the wireless communicator is provided in the accommodation space.

5. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the wireless communicator is configured to receive the first information and the second information from the bicycle component, and is configured to transmit the first information that was received and the second information that was received.

6. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the base portion is provided independently from the bicycle component.

7. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the base portion is provided at the bicycle component.

8. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the wireless communicator is configured to receive the first information from a first controller of the bicycle component in which the first controller controls the motor.

9. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the wireless communicator is configured to receive the second information from a second controller of the bicycle component in which the second controller controls the shifting device.

10. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the wireless communicator is configured to receive the first information and the second information from a third controller of the bicycle component in which the third controller controls the motor and the shifting device.

11. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the bicycle component includes a first bicycle component including the motor and a second bicycle component including the shifting device.

12. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the bicycle component includes the operating device that operates either the motor or the shifting device, or both the motor and the shifting device, and
the wireless communicator is configured to receive the first information or the second information from the operating device, or both the first information and the second information from the operating device.

13. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising
the wired communicator configured to communicate with the bicycle component via a wire.

14. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein
the wired communicator includes a power line communication circuit.

15. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a cover detachably coupled to the at least one second connector, the coupling member is provided at the cover.

16. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein
the cover includes a first part, and
the coupling member includes a second part coupled to the first part.

17. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein
the cover is formed integrally with the coupling member.

18. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising
an operating portion operatively coupled to the wired communicator that transmits a control signal to change a control state of the motor in response to the operating portion being operated.

19. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
an indicator provided at the base portion and configured to indicate either the first information or the second information, or both of the first information and the second information.

20. The bicycle communication apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein
the indicator includes one or more light emitting elements.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Takeshita Hiroaki
• Kakehashi Shun
• Sato Taketoshi

Classifications

• B62M6/15 Primary

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title

• B62J43/13

  on rider-propelled cycles with additional electric propulsion · CPC title

• B62J43/20

  characterised by the mounting · CPC title

• B62J50/22

  electronic, e.g. displays · CPC title

• B62K23/02

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