NL1043142B1 - Bicycle gear shifting - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for controlling an electrically operated gear shifting system of a gearbox of a bicycle, whereby the device has switches for providing inputs to an electronic circuit arranged for controlling the system. The switches have buttons on the handle bar of the bicycle for selectively providing upshift and downshift input. Preferably a first switch provides upshift, and a second switch provides downshift. The switches are preferably multi-step switches for providing a variable input, in dependence of a (manual) force when a button of the switch is pressed and/or in dependence of the duration of the button being pressed.

Description

BICYCLE GEAR SHIFTING

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to contro! of shifting gears of a vehicle. More particular the invention relates to electronic control of shifting gears of a bicycle.

BACKGROUND An electronic gear-shifting system is a method of changing gears on a bicycle, which enables riders to shift with electronic switches instead of using conventional control levers and mechanical cables. The switches are connected by wire or wirelessly to a battery pack and to a small electric motor that drives a gear shifting system, such as a derailleur which enables switching the chain from cog to cog. An electronic system can switch gears faster, and because the system does not use Bowden cables and can calibrate itself, it may require less maintenance. An electronic system can have several advantages over a comparable mechanical system: ~ gliminate the need for the rider to switch hand positions in order to shift; - allow for an accurate and effortless shift, even in difficult circumstances, such as if the rider has cold hands or is completely exhausted; - shifting performance is not affected by contaminated, stretched, or worn Bowden cables; - automatic trim function can eliminate chain rub; - the smoothness of electronics can reduce the shock on drivetrain components. By mechanically decoupling the operation of the gear shifter, and introducing electronic operation, more options have become available for controlling the shifting of the gears. For example, 3 configuration with two buttons, which actually comprise electronic switches, may be applied, wherein one button is arranged as up-shift button and the other is arranged as down-shift button. By mechanically switching a selector in the electronic circuit which operates the gear shifter, the switches may be alternated to become down-shift bullon and up-shift button respectively. The configuration may alternatively be changed via software running on a computer or smartphone, Theelectronic circuit may Tor this purpose comprise a computer interface. Programming may be done wirelessly as well, by implementing a wirsless compuler interface in the electronic circuit. Wireless operation has also been offered. One such system comprises front and rear derailleurs with directmount batteries and slectronics which enable communicating wirelessly with the shifters. A set of small satellite shifter buttons can be connected to the shift levers and placed anywhere along the handlebars as part of the system, Shift signals under contro! of the rider of a bicycle may, instead of directly leading to shift-up or -down, be translated into a shifting action which is controlled by a controller in dependence of for example speed or torque. Hereinafter some patent publications disclosing background information are discussed.

European patent application 0539664A2 hy Fichtel & Sachs AG is summarized as a bicycle provided with a gear change mechanism which is changeable to different speeds by a mechanism mover. The mechanism mover is connected with an electrically powered positioning device through a flexible Bowden cable. The electrically powered positioning device is controlled from a keyboard provided on a handle bar of the bicycle.

USA patent 5,865 454 by Campagnolo S.r.l is summarized as an electronically controlled speed change device for bicycles with an automatic mode of operation in which, at the request of the cyclist for increase or decrease of the speed rato, the system itself automatically provides to select the pair front crown wheelrear sprocket which is most suitable to provide a progressive increase, or respectively a decrease, of the distance covered by the bicycle at each turn of the pedals.

USA patent application 2018/0167738A1 by Shimano Inc. is summarized as a bicycle transmission apparatus comprising a controller configured fo control at least one transmission device in accordance with a transmission roude in response to a shift signal. The controller is configured to adjust the transmission route based on bicycle information relating fo a running condition of a bicycle.

USA patent application 2017/0225742A1 by Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC is summarized as a method for controlling a transmission of a bicycle. A speed sensor or a torque sensor detects an operating characteristic of the bicycleand a controller controls the transmission based on the speed, torque and location information associated with the bicycle. A disadvantage of the current art solutions is that the control of the shifting action is not sufficiently dynamic and/or fast and does not allow a cyclist to easily and intuitively control the quickness of multiple speed shifting actions.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for dynamically, quickly and intuitively control gear shifting of a gearbox of a bicycle The object is realized by the following clauses.

1. A device for controlling gear shifting of a gearbox of a bicycle, the device comprising one or more swilches arranged for providing one of more inputs fo an electronic circuit arranged for controlling an electically operated gear shifting system of the gearbox, characterized in that a first switch of the one or more switches comprises a button on the handle bar of the bicycle arranged for selectively providing a first upshift input, comprising an input for up shifting of the gearbox, and a second downshift input, comprising an input for down shifting of the gearbox.

2. The device according to clause 1, characterized in that the first switch is arranged for providing an upshift input, whereby the device further comprises a second switch arranged for providing a downshift input.

3. The device according to clause 1, characterized in that the first switch is configured at a left side of the handlebar and the second switch is configured at a right side of the handle bar.

4. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that a first switch of the one or more switches is a multi-step switch arranged for providing a variable input of the one or more inputs, in dependence of a manual force exerted on the multi-step switch.

5. The device according to clause 1, characterized in that the multi-step switch comprises a lower switching element arranged as push button switch and an upper switch element arranged as push button switch and arranged for being set in a pushed down state, whereby the lower switching element is positioned beneath the upperswitching element, and whereby the lower switching element is arranged for being switched only when the upper swilch element is in a pushed down stale.

8. The device according to any one of the clauses 4-5, characterized in that the mulù- step switch comprises a force sensing resistor, arranged for detecting a variation in the exerted force, whereby a first force threshold is set and a second force threshold is sel, and whereby, upon detection of a surpassing of the first threshold a first input of the one of more inputs is provided, and upon detection of a surpassing of the second threshold, a second input of the one or more inputs is provided.

7. The device according to any one of the clauses 4-8, characterized in that the mul step switch is arranged as push button arranged for being set in a pushed down state, and whereby the electronic circuit comprises a {mer circuit, arranged for detecting a duration of the pushed down state, whereby a first duration results in a shifting of one gear and a second duration results in a shifting of multiple gears.

8. The device according to any one of the clauses 4-7, characterized in that the mult- step switch is arranged for providing a continuous input of the one or more inptds, which results in shifting gears until the gear shifting system is out of gears to switch to, or until the continuous input has stopped, whichever comes first.

9. The device according to any one of the clauses 4-8, characterized in that the multi- step switch is arranged io defect if a first default manual force or a second higher manual force is exerted on the multi-step switch, and subsequently provide respectively a first or a second input of the one or more inpuls which results in respectively a first default speed or a second higher speed of shifting gears.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the first switch is arranged for providing an upshift input for shifting up one gear, a 28 second switch is arranged for providing a downshift input for shifting down one gear, and a third and/or fourth switch arranged for providing a shift input for shifting multiple gears.

13. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the one or more inpuis comprise any of the group: - shifting one or more gears up or down sequentially; - shifting two or more gears and skipping at least one gear; - shifting one or more gears fast or slow; - shifting a front crown wheel or rear sprocket;

- changing a front crown wheel-rear sprocket combination; - preparing an upcoming shifting of one or more gears; - initiating a sequence of shifting one or more gears.

12. The device according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that 5 the gear box is configured at the position of the bottom bracket or at the rear hub.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figures show views of embodiments in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 1 shows a configuration with two shift control butions on a handlebar of a bicycle.

The following figures show sectional views of the invented device. FIGURE 2 shows a shift control button with a flexible dome covering a tactile switch on a printed circuit board, FIGURE 2 shows a shift control button with a lever for switching two tactile switches positioned next to each other sequentially.

FIGURE 4 shows a shift control bution with a knob covering a lever for making contact with two contact points sequentially.

FIGURE 5 shows a shift control button with two stacked tactile switches which can be switched sequentially.

FIGURE 6 shows a shift control butfon with two stacked switches which can be switched sequentially, whereby the holder of the upper switch is separated from the holder of the lower switch by one or more springs.

FIGURE 7 shows a shift button with multiple vertically oriented contact points which sequentially come info contact with a contact point of a knob when the knob is pressed against a spring force.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is now described by the following aspects and embodiments, with reference to the figures.

& For the ease of reading a list of the referenced numbers with a short description is provided: 101a,b shift control bution 102 flexible dome of button 101ab 103, 103a,b tactile switch 104,104a,b knob of {actile switch 105, 1058, {metallic} dome of tactile switch 108, 108a,b,c contact of tactile switch 107, 107a,b housing of tactile switch 108, 108ab lever 170 contact point of knob 104 in figure 7 108a,bc spring 113-116 housing of button 300 pressing direction when pressed by user (i.e. cyclist) 301 free end of lever 108,108a.b 302,303 contact areas of lever 108,108a.b 304 fixing point and electrical contact point of lever FIGURE 1 shows a configuration with two shift control buttons 101ab on a handlebar of a bicycle 200. Hereinafter shift control buttons are referred to as “buttons”. Buttons 101a.b may be arranged in various configurations and positioned on other parts of the vehicle as well.

Because only electric wires connect the buttons 1013,b io the gearbox (not shown), flexibility in placement on the vehicle is achieved.

Buttons 101a,b may also be equipped with a wireless communication device for connecting buttons 101ab to the gearbox wirelessly, which provides even more flexibility in placement.

The buttons may even be worn by the cyclist on histher arms or other paris of the body.

Shifting may even be performed by another person not riding the bicycle in this way.

This may be useful for training purposes for example, For this purpose, the gearbox is equipped with a wireless device for receiving input as well.

The buttons101a may be equipped with a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), electronics, and in particular a bracessor, a memory and a program running on this what is basically a microcomputer with in- and output ports.

The microcomputer may also be housed anywhere else in or on the vehicle whereby the butions 101a,b only serve as sensor or input device.

Eachbutton may be provided with a microcomputer, or the microcomputer may be housed in just one of the buttons 101ab, whereby the bulfon which does not house the microcomputer transmits and/or receives signals from the bution which houses the microcomputer. This transmission may be done wired or wirelessly. As the buttans are preferably connected fo an electronic circuit (directly, or via a wired or wireless connection), and buttons are preferably arranged as switches to produce an input for further processing by the electronic circuit, software is configured to define one or more algorithms Le. one or more sequences for switching the gearbox of bicycle 200. One or more of the buttons may also comprise a device for receiving signals and return signals from the gearbox, or other data, which may be processed by the microcomputer and which then may be used to adjust the shifting sequence and/or algorithms to further optimize response fo changing conditions in the terrain, the weather or the status of the vehicle etc, and/or optimize user interaction. A certain interaction of the cyclist in certain conditions of the terrain (which may be recorded by the microcomputer), may lead to a dynamically adjustable shifting sequence, orto a different selection out of a set of predefined shifting sequences, whenever the same or a similar condition of the terrain is encountered. This may, for example, be convenient and even provide a competitive advanlage, when a cyclist is participating in a competition, where multiple repeating laps of a circuit are completed.

The following sequences may be programmed to be activated based on the input of buttons 1014,b and/or received signals.

- Button 101a, when pressed triggers downshifting, and button 1015, when pressed, triggers upshifting. - Button 101a, when pressed a shart time, triggers downshifting and when pressed 3 longer time, triggers upshifting. Button101b may be configured the same way or the other way around, - Button 101a, when pressed a short time triggers shifting of one gear up, and when pressed longer triggers shifting 2 or more gears up, Button 101b may be configured likewise for downshifting.

- Button 101s, when pressed lightly triggers shifting of one gear up, and when pressed harder triggers shifting 2 or more gears up. Button 1015 may be configured likewise for downshifting.

- Button 101a, when pressed continuously keeps triggering shifting up as long as there are gears to be shifted up, or as long as button 101a is pressed, whichever comes first.

Button 101b may be configured likewise for downshifting. - Button 1013, when pressed multiple times with short intervals, initiates to conlinuously keep triggering shifting up, until button 101a or button 101b is pressed after a longer interval. - Button 101a, when pressed for a relative long duration and/or when pressed relatively hard, triggers shifting to a first default gear, such as to a first gear when itis obvious for the cyclist that he/she needs to stop soon Tor a traffic light or the like.

Button 101h may have a similar functionality, but may be arranged to trigger shifting to a second default gear, such a gear in the middie, when pressed hard and/or long.

These sequences are programmable for the left button 1010 or for the right button or for bath, in any combination.

There may be alsa provided third, fourth and more buttons, each programmable to have a dedicated functionality, preferably according © what is already proposed for butions 101a,b.

This allows even more combinations.

FIGURE 2 shows a button 101a, which hereinafter is an example of buttons 1014 and 101b, when both butions 101a,b are configured in a similar manner.

Various combinations of and types of presented buttons, and positioned in various manners on a vehicle may be applied.

In the embodiment of figure 2, button 101a comprises a flexible (e.g. metallic) dome 102 covering a tactile swilch 103 on a PCB 150. Tactile switch 103 may be a standard tactile switch know in the current art, Pressing down knob 104 eventually presses down dome 102 of switch 103. Switch dome 105 preferably comprises a flexible metallic dome which is electrically connected to PCB 180, and which is preferably arranged to spring back to its original shape as a dome when released.

When dome 102 is pressed down In the direction indicated by arrow 300, this presses knob 104 down in housing 107. Then knob 104 subsequently presses metallic dome 105 down, which then makes contact to contact point 106 of PCB 150. This closes a circuit on PCB 150 and consequently activates a trigger for an input, which may be processed by a processor on PCB 150. Processing may comprise that one on the switching actions as described above is executed and consequently on or more gear shifts are effectuated.

When dome 102 is released ft returns to its original dome shape and the contact between dome 105 and contact 108 is also released.

Dome 102 is arranged for providing a tactile feedback to the cyclist when pressed down.

In this way dome 102 may be designed to fit the specific use on a bicycle gear shift system such as the present inventio, which in turn enables the application of tactile switches which are freely available on the market. Button 101a,b may therefore be also applied in other applications where switches are required.

FIGURE 3 shows a button 1013, with a lever 108 for sequentially switching two tactile switches 103a.b positioned next to each other. Lever 108 is arranged as a two- step activator. Lever 108 has a fixed end 304 fixed to housing 113 and having a free end 301. Lever 108 comprises preferably a metal leaf spring, When pressing lever 108 down in the direction indicated by arrow 300 and preferably around position 301, first area 302 of lever 108 presses down button 104a, which in turns presses down dome 105a, which in tum contacts contact point 106a. In a similar way as in figure 2, an electrical circuit is closed which triggers a first input. When pressing lever 108 even further, area 303 presses down on button 104b, which pressed down dome 106b and subsequently establishes an electrical connection triggering a second input. First and second input are processed by the microcomputer (or the electronic circuit) and result in a shifting action as described above.

FIGURE 4 shows a button 101a with a knob 104 covering a lever 108 for sequentially making contact with two contact points 108a,b when knob 104 is pressed down in direction 300 in a similar manner as in figure 3, but in this case, the contacts are in direct contact with lever 108 and integrated in one housing 114. Lever 108 is preferably electrically connected to PCB 150 (not shown) at area 304, which also fixes fever 108 to housing 114. Contacts 106a,b are also electrically connected to POB 150. When lever 108 is released, lever 108 returns to the default up position and all connections are interrupted. Detection of the electrical connection and/or disconnection between lever 108 and contact points 106a,b respectively, is translated in a first and a second input respectively by software or by the electronical circuit itself.

FIGURE 5 shows a button 101a with two stacked tactile switches 103a,b which can be switched sequentially. When button 104a of the upper switch 103a is pressed down in direction 300 in housing 107a of switch 103a, a first electrical connection is established as is common in a tactile switch. Housing 107a is however pressed in downward direction also, when pressing further in housing 115, and in a second step an electrical connection is established in tactile switch 103b as well when housing 107apresses button 104b. The sequence of the first and second electrical connection and/or disconnection is detected, processed and transformed into a gear shift sequence, FIGURE 6 shows a button 101a with two stacked tactile switches 103a.b which can be switched sequentially, whereby the holder 107a of upper tactile switch 1032 is separated from the holder 107b of lower switch 103b by one or more springs 118ab. When knob 104a is pressed down in direction 300, if forces metal leaf spring 108a into electrical contact with contact 106a. When button 104a is pressed further down switch 103a moves further down in housing 115, where it is pressed against springs 1186a,b When the spring force of springs 116a,b has heen overcome, housing 107a presses down on knob 104b of lower tactile switch 103b, which in turn forces metal leaf spring 108b into electrical contact with contact 108b. When knob 104a is released ali contacts are interrupted. The sequence of the first and second electrical connection and/or disconnection is detected, processed and transformed info a gear shift sequence, FIGURE 7 shows a button with multiple vertically oriented contact poinis 1063,5,c which sequentially come into contact with a contact point 1080 of a knob 104 when the knob is pressed against a spring force of spring 109c, which comprises preferably a coll spring. Contact point 108¢ may be pressed into button 104 against a spring force (nat shown) to facilitate secure contact with contact points 106a,b,c and to facilitate smooth movement over contacts 106a,b,c. Contact point 1060 is preferably electrically z0 connected to PCB 105 through spring 1090. The sequence of the first, second and third electrical connection is detected, processed and transformed inio a gear shift sequence. The speed with which the sequence follows may be translated into a special action such as a quicker shifting of gears when the button ís pressed down faster.

Some general notes with respect to the above described embodiments.

By using springs such as metal leaf springs or coll springs it is provided that, when releasing the knob, the contacts may be electrically disconnected. The release may comprise a full release, or a partial release, where the second contact is disconnected first, but the connection of the first contact remains intact, under control of the cyclist.

Although the embodiments describe one or two switches, next to each other or stacked, it should be understood that three or more switches may be placed next to gach other or stacked as well and result in three or more steps in switching.

The buttons or the applied switches may be arranged to facilitate exchanging of springs, buttons, housing or other parts in order to allow a cyclist to adjust the buttonto histher preferences with respect to mechanical force needed for switching, size of the knobs and housing efcetera.

The butions may be provided with feedback means which help the user (Le. cyclist) to guickly notice which gear is currently active, when itis time to shift gears as calculated by the software running on the microcomputer(s), to provide information of the status of the vehicle or vehicle parts, such as the gearbox, to provide information an the trip, or the terrain etcetera.

The feedback may be provided by tactile feedback, such as vibration or variable force resistance, by lights and/or by sound. in the end the invention and its embodiment provide an intuitive, easy, customizable, quick and controllable device for shifting the gears of a bicycle.

This is especially useful for mountain (alHerrain) bikes and other sports vehicles which need full control without losing contact with the vehicle.

The invention is therefore also suitable for vehicles other than bicycles.

In particular the invention is suitable for electrically shifting gears in a gearbox placed at the bottom bracket or placed at the rear hub. it should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments Blustrate rather than limit the invention, and that a person skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims, In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim, Use of the verb “to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

The article "the" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware, The mers fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. 1043142 |

Claims (12)

CONCLUSIONS An apparatus for controlling the shifting of a gearbox of a bicycle, the apparatus comprising one or more switches configured to provide one or more inputs to an electronic circuit adapted to control an electrically operated gearbox. gear shifting system of the gearbox, characterized in that, a first switch of the one or more switches comprises a button adapted to selectively provide a first shift input which includes an input for shifting up the gearbox, and a second shift input which is an input. for lowering the gearbox. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the first switch is configured to provide a reverse set input, the device further comprising a second switch configured to provide a reverse set input. The device of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first switch is arranged on a left side of the handlebars of the bicycle and the second switch is arranged on a right side of the handlebars of the bicycle. 4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first switch of the one or more switches is a multi-stage switch arranged to provide a variable input of the one or more inputs, depending on a manual force. exerted on the multi-step switch, The appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multistage switch comprises a lower switching element which is configured as a push-button switch and an upper switching element which is configured as a push-button switch and which can be set to a depressed state, the lower switching element being positioned below the top switching element, and wherein the bottom switching element is arranged to be switched only when the top switching element is in the depressed state. The device of any one of claims 4-5, characterized in that the multi-lap switch comprises a force sensitive resistor adapted to select a variation in the applied force, setting a first force threshold and setting a second force threshold value. and wherein upon detection of an exceedance of the first threshold value, a first input of the one or more inputs is provided, and upon detection of an exceedance of the second threshold value, a second input of the one or more inputs is provided. The apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the multi-stage switch is configured as a push button which is arranged to be set in the depressed state, and wherein the electronic circuit comprises a timer circuit adapted to detect of a duration of the depressed state, where a first duration results in a shift of one gear and a second duration results in a shift of several gears. The device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the multi-stage switch is arranged to provide a continuous input of the one or more inputs resulting in shifting of gears when the gear shifting system is out of gears. to move to or until continuous feeding ends, whichever comes first D. The device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the multi-stage switch is arranged to detect whether a first standard manual force or a second higher manual force is applied to the multi-stage switch, and then a serste or a second, respectively. provide input of the one or more inputs that result in a first standard speed or a second higher speed of gear shifting, respectively. 10. The device! according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first switch is configured to provide an upset input for shifting up one gear, a second switch is arranged to provide a backset input for shifting down one gear. gear, and a third and / or fourth switch is arranged to provide a gear input for shifting multiple gears. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more inputs comprises one of the group: - successively shifting one or more gears up or down; - selecting two or more gears and skipping at least one gear; - fast or slow shifting of one or more gears; - move a front crown wheel or a rear sprocket; - changing a combination of a front and rear sprocket; - preparation of an upcoming delivery of one or more gears; - initiating a sequence of shifting one or more gears, The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gearbox is arranged at the crankshaft or rear hub,