Bicycle component control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9229712-B2
Application number	US-201314022457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2013
Priority date	Sep 10, 2013
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a communication interface and a controller. The communication interface is configured to communicate with at least one electric bicycle component and at least one manually operated input member. The controller is electrically coupled to the communication interface, and programmed to control the at least one electric bicycle component based on operation of the at least one manually operated input member. The controller is programmed to decide an operation mode of the at least one electric bicycle component differently based on a number of manually operated input member coupled to the controller via the communication interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle component control apparatus comprising:
a communication interface configured to communicate with at least one electric bicycle component and at least one manually operated input member;
a controller electrically coupled to the communication interface, and programmed to control the at least one electric bicycle component based on operation of the at least one manually operated input member,
the controller being programmed to decide an operation mode of the at least one electric bicycle component differently based on a number of the manually operated input members coupled to the controller via the communication interface.

2. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control the operation of at least one transmission as one of the at least one electric bicycle component.

3. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control a front transmission of the at least one transmission based on an input from a first manually operated input member of the at least one manually operated input member and to control a rear transmission of the at least one transmission based on an input from a second manually operated input member of the at least one manually operated input member, while the first and second manually operated input members are coupled to the controller via the communication interface, and
the controller is programmed to control the front and rear transmissions based on an input from one of the first and second manually operated input members while only the one of the first and second manually operated input members is coupled to the controller via the communication interface.

4. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control the at least one transmission based on inputs from first and second manually operated input members of the at least one manually operated input member, while the first and second manually operated input members are coupled to the controller via the communication interface, and
the controller is programmed to control the at least one transmission based on an input from one of the first and second manually operated input members while only the one of the first and second manually operated input members is coupled to the controller via the communication interface.

5. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control the operation of at least one suspension as one of the at least one electric bicycle component.

6. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 5 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control a front suspension of the at least one suspension based on an input from a first manually operated input member of the at least one manually operated input member, and to control a rear suspension of the at least one suspension based on an input from a second manually operated input member of the at least one manually operated input member, while the first and second manually operated input members are coupled to the controller via the communication interface, and
the controller is programmed to control the front and rear suspensions based on an input from one of the first and second manually operated input members while only the one of the first and second manually operated input members is coupled to the controller via the communication interface.

7. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 5 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control the at least one suspension based on inputs from first and second manually operated input members of the at least one manually operated input member, while the first and second manually operated input members are coupled to the controller via the communication interface, and
the controller is programmed to control the at least one suspension based on an input from one of the first and second manually operated input members while only the one of the first and second manually operated input members is coupled to the controller via the communication interface.

8. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control the operation of an adjustable seatpost as one of the at least one electric bicycle component.

9. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 8 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control the adjustable seatpost based on inputs from first and second manually operated input members of the at least one manually operated input member, while the first and second manually operated input members are coupled to the controller via the communication interface, and
the controller is programmed to control the adjustable seatpost based on an input from one of the first and second manually operated input members while only the one of the first and second manually operated input members is coupled to the controller via the communication interface.

10. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control a first electric bicycle component of the at least one electric bicycle component based on an input from a first manually operated input member of the at least one manually operated input member, and to control a second electric bicycle component of the at least one electric bicycle component based on an input from a second manually operated input member of the at least one manually operated input member, while the first and second manually operated input members are coupled to the controller via the communication interface, and
the controller is programmed to control the first and second electric bicycle components based on an input from one of the first and second manually operated input members when only the one of the first and second manually operated input members is coupled to the controller via the communication interface.

11. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 10 , wherein
the controller is programmed to control the operation of a seatpost as the first electric bicycle component, and to control the operation of at least one suspension as the second electric bicycle component.

12. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the communication interface is configured to be electrically connected by an electric wire to the at least one manually operated input member.

13. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 12 , wherein
the controller is configured to receive an input signal from the at least one manually operated input member via the communication interface by power line communication.

14. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to receive an input signal from the at least one manually operated input member via the communication interface by wireless communication.

15. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is disposed on one of the at least one electric bicycle component.

16. The bicycle component control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the controller is separate and remote from the at least one electric bicycle component.

17. A bicycle component control apparatus comprising:
at least one manually operated input member;
at least one electric bicycle component;
a communication interface configured to communicate with the at least one electric bicycle component and at least one manually operated input member; and
a controller electrically coupled to the communication interface, and programmed to contr

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Takamoto Ryuichiro
• Kuroda Mao

Classifications

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B62K2025/044

  Suspensions with automatic adjustment · CPC title

• B62J1/06

  Saddles capable of parallel motion up and down · CPC title

• F16H59/02

  Selector apparatus · CPC title

• B62K25/04

  for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork (for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06) · CPC title