Bicycle wireless control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9616964-B2
Application number	US-201514696578-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2015
Priority date	Apr 27, 2015
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle wireless control system is basically provided with a first bicycle electric component and a second bicycle electric component. The first bicycle electric component includes at least one operating member and a first wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits a control signal in response to an operation of the at least one operating member. The second bicycle electric component includes a second wireless communication unit that is configured to wirelessly receive the control signal from the first wireless communication unit and to wirelessly transmit an acknowledgement signal to the first wireless communication unit upon receiving the control signal from the first wireless communication unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle wireless control system comprising:
a first bicycle electric component including at least one operating member, a first controller, and a first wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits a control signal in response to an operation of the at least one operating member; and
a second bicycle electric component including a second wireless communication unit and a second controller,
the second wireless communication unit being configured to wirelessly receive the control signal from the first wireless communication unit and to wirelessly transmit an acknowledgement signal to the first wireless communication unit upon receiving the control signal from the first wireless communication unit, and the second wireless communication unit being configured to wirelessly transmit an additional acknowledgement signal upon a determination that the first wireless communication unit continues to wirelessly transmit the control signal after the second wireless communication unit transmits the acknowledgement signal, and
the second controller being programmed to periodically operate the second wireless communication unit for a predetermined listening period, to control the second wireless communication unit to transmit the additional acknowledgement signal during the predetermined listening period in which the first wireless communication unit continues to wirelessly transmit the control signal, and to periodically suspend the second wireless communication unit for a predetermined non-listening period after the predetermined listening period passes.

2. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first controller is programed to stop transmitting the control signal from the first wireless communication unit upon receiving the acknowledgement signal from the second wireless communication unit.

3. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 2 , wherein
the first bicycle electric component includes a first power source electrically connected to the first controller by an electrical wire.

4. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first wireless communication unit is configured to stop wirelessly transmitting the control signal after a predetermined stop period passes.

5. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 4 , wherein
the predetermined stop period is equal to or longer than the predetermined non-listening period.

6. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first bicycle electric component includes a first on-board power source.

7. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 6 , wherein
the first on-hoard power source includes a fuel cell.

8. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the second bicycle electric component includes a second on-board power source.

9. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 8 , wherein
the second on-board power source includes a fuel cell.

10. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the second bicycle electric component includes a second power source electrically connected to an electrical actuator b an electrical wire.

11. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first bicycle electric component includes an operating device; and
the second bicycle electric component includes a bicycle electric shifting device.

12. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 11 , wherein
the bicycle electric shifting device is a bicycle derailleur.

13. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 11 , wherein
the bicycle electric shifting device includes an internally geared hub.

14. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first bicycle electric component includes a suspension operating device; and
the second bicycle electric component includes a bicycle electric suspension.

15. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first bicycle electric component includes a seatpost operating device; and
the second bicycle electric component includes an electric adjustable seatpost.

16. The bicycle wireless control system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first bicycle electric component includes a driving unit operating device; and
the second bicycle electric component includes a. driving unit having an electric actuator to assist pedaling of a rider of the bicycle.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Kasai Yoshiyuki

Classifications

• B62J45/00

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

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title

• B62K2025/044

  Suspensions with automatic adjustment · CPC title

• B62M6/90

  Batteries · CPC title