Bicycle Electronic Gearshift Controls With Input Multiplier Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bicycle electronic systems face issues with multiple connection cables at the handlebars, reliability concerns due to series connections, and ergonomic inefficiencies in button actuation, leading to delays and imprecision in gear shifting during high-level cycling races.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a containment casing featuring an input multiplier and manual actuation members with non-coinciding actuation axes, allowing for optimized layout and reduced bulk, and incorporating a removable housing seat for versatile use as both main and redundant devices, eliminating the need for multiple connectors and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple connection cables are used to connect control devices to the electronic system, then the system can support multiple control devices and functions, but the handlebar area becomes cluttered and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control devices into a single integrated housing unit. Multiple actuators (buttons, levers, switches) are housed together with shared electrical connections, eliminating the need for separate cables for each control device while maintaining full functionality and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control device housing serves multiple functions simultaneously - it houses multiple types of actuators (buttons, levers, switches), provides electrical connections for all of them, and maintains adaptability for different control configurations, replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate devices and cable connections
2Device complexity
If control devices are connected in series, then the system structure is simplified, but reliability decreases due to potential single points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical connections within the integrated housing into independent parallel circuits for each actuator. Each button, lever, or switch has its own independent electrical pathway to the electronic system, ensuring that a failure in one actuator does not affect the operation of others while maintaining a simplified overall connection structure
3Volume of moving object
If buttons are arranged on the same face of the control device, then the layout is compact, but actuation requires thumb movement between buttons causing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent distributes actuators across multiple faces and spatial dimensions of the housing rather than confining them to a single face. Buttons, levers, and switches are positioned on different surfaces and at different heights, allowing the cyclist's thumb to access multiple controls without lateral movement while maintaining a compact overall device volume
4Device complexity
If the actuation axis of the manual actuation member coincides with the switch actuation axis, then the mechanical connection is simple, but the layout is constrained and bulk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric actuation mechanisms where the manual actuation member's axis of movement does not coincide with the switch actuation axis. This allows for more efficient spatial arrangement of components within the housing, reducing the overall device bulk while maintaining simple mechanical connections through angled or offset linkages
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to a control device and to a control system of a bicycle electronic system as well as to a bicycle electronic system using the same, in particular a bicycle electronic gearshift. In particular, the control device (11,12) of a bicycle electronic system (100) comprises a containment casing (18), containing inside it at least one switch, and at least one manual actuation member faced at the containment casing (18) and acting on a respective switch of the at least one switch for imparting at least one manual command to the bicycle electronic system (100). The containment casing (18) is provided with a housing seat (18a) suitable for receiving at least one input multiplier (15) able to be connected to the at least one switch to receive the manual command when the at least one manual actuation member activates the respective switch. The bicycle electronic system (100) comprises at least one electronic/electromechanical unit (14) suitable for receiving manual commands and a control system (10) comprising at least one pair of control devices (11,12) to impart at least one manual command to the bicycle electronic system (100) and at least one input multiplier (15) suitable for receiving at least one manual command entered by at least one control device (11,12) of the at least one pair of control devices (11,12) and routing it towards the electronic/electromechanical unit (14).