Bicycle Electric System Sensor Sharing and Protocol Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The bicycle electric system faces challenges in reducing costs while maintaining effective control and communication between various electric components, particularly in sharing sensors and communication protocols, which affects the overall efficiency and diversity of the system.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a first electric component with a controller and sensor, sharing sensors with other components like electric suspension, shifting devices, and adjustable seatposts, and uses different communication protocols with a protocol converter for diverse communication paths, including wired and wireless connections, to optimize control and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each electric component has its own sensor, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounted on the first electric component (e.g., electric suspension) serves dual purposes: controlling the first electric component directly and providing data for controlling the second electric component (e.g., electric shifting device or electric adjustable seatpost). This multi-functional use of a single sensor reduces system complexity while maintaining control reliability across multiple components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication protocols are used for different components, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A protocol converter is introduced as an intermediary device that translates between different communication protocols. This allows the system to support multiple communication protocols (such as CAN bus, UART, I2C) without requiring each component to implement all protocols, thereby maintaining communication diversity while reducing the complexity burden on individual components.
3Device complexity
If a single power supply is used for all components, then cost and device complexity are reduced, but reliability and performance may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into multiple independent power sources, with each electric component (electric suspension, electric shifting device, electric adjustable seatpost) having its own dedicated power supply. This segmentation ensures that a failure or depletion of power in one component does not affect the operation of other components, thereby maintaining system reliability while allowing for flexible power management.
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle electric system comprises a first electric component, a second electric component, and a second controller. The first electric component includes a first controller and a sensor. The first controller is configured to control an operating status of the first electric component based on an output of the sensor. The second electric component is different from the first electric component. At least one of the first electric component and the second electric component includes an electric suspension. The second controller is configured to control an operating status of the second electric component based on the output of the sensor of the first electric component.