Electronic shifting systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540071-B2
Application number	US-201414534363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2014
Priority date	Oct 11, 2012
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

The invention provides a wireless control system for a bicycle, including at least one shift actuator generating an input signal when actuated and a master control unit transmitting a shift signal responsive to the input signal. At least one electromechanical gear changer is provided and includes a gear changer control unit. The gear changer control unit receives the shift signal from the master control unit and controls the at least one electromechanical gear changer corresponding to the received shift signal. The gear changer control unit listens for the shift signal during a part of an awake mode cycle time, the master control unit transmitting the shift signal for a message duration time which is greater than the awake mode cycle time.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wireless control system for a bicycle, comprising:
at least one shift unit;
at least one electromechanical gear changer in wireless communication with the at least one shift unit;
a mode changing mechanism on the at least one electromechanical gear changer which when actuated causes the at least one electromechanical gear changer to enter a pairing mode;
a mechanism on the shift unit generating a signal that includes at least a device identity; and
a memory component operatively associated with the at least one electromechanical gear changer that stores the device identity such that the at least one electromechanical gear changer is paired with and is responsive to shift signals from the shift unit.

2. The wireless control system of claim 1 , wherein the mode changing mechanism is a button.

3. The wireless control system of claim 2 , wherein the button is actuated for a predetermined amount of time to enter the pairing mode.

4. The wireless control system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electromechanical gear changer includes a rear derailleur.

5. The wireless control system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one electromechanical gear changer includes a rear derailleur and a front derailleur.

6. The wireless control system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one shift unit includes a pair of shift units.

7. The wireless control system of claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of shift units is paired with each of the rear derailleur and the front derailleur in four separate pairing events.

8. The wireless control system of claim 1 , wherein the signal includes a device identity and a device type.

9. The wireless control system of claim 8 , wherein the device type is one of a right shift unit and a left shift unit.

10. The wireless control system of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator operatively associated with the at least one electromechanical gear changer indicating whether the at least one electromechanical gear changer is in a pairing mode or is not in a pairing mode.

11. The wireless control system of claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical gear changer includes a gear changer control unit that scans one or more communication channels for a signal corresponding to pairing when in the pairing mode.

12. The wireless control system of claim 1 , wherein the memory component stores only one device identity at a time for each at least one shift unit.

13. The wireless control system of claim 1 , wherein the signal is a shift signal.

14. In a wireless system with at least one electromechanical gear changer and at least one shift unit, a method of pairing the gear changer to the shift unit comprising:
entering a pairing mode of the at least one gear changer by actuating a mode changing mechanism that is in operative association with the at least one gear changer;
actuating the shift unit during the time that the gear changer is in the pairing mode to generate a signal, the signal including at least a device identity;
receiving the signal with the a gear changer control unit of the at least one electromechanical gear changer;
storing the device identity of the shift unit in the at least one electromechanical gear changer; and
exiting the pairing mode.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Jordan Brian
• Squires Todd

Classifications

• B62J45/20

  Cycle computers as cycle accessories · CPC title

• B62M9/122

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• F16H59/044

  consisting of electrical switches or sensors · CPC title

• B62M25/08 Primary

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• H04W74/08

  Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA (hybrid access H04W74/02) · CPC title