Bicycle Suspension Control Staggering Front Rear State Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bicycle suspension control systems cause an odd feeling for users as both front and rear suspensions change operating states simultaneously when the operating device is used, leading to discomfort during adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle suspension control apparatus that allows the front and rear suspensions to change operating states differently in response to a single operation of the operating device, with one suspension's state change being delayed relative to the other, thereby preventing simultaneous state changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the operating states of both front and rear suspensions are changed simultaneously using a single operating device, then the operation efficiency is improved, but the user experiences an odd feeling and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the simultaneous state change operation into two separate sequential operations. When the operating device is operated, the front suspension and rear suspension change their operating states at different times rather than simultaneously. This segmentation of the state change timing resolves the contradiction by maintaining single-device operation efficiency while eliminating the odd feeling caused by simultaneous changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the operating states of front and rear suspensions are changed simultaneously, then the device complexity is reduced, but the suspension control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidsuspension control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic timing control where the state change of each suspension is delayed by a predetermined time period relative to the other. This dynamic approach allows the simple single-device operating structure to achieve precise control over the suspension state changes, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2492179B1Bicycle suspension control apparatus
Publication Date: 2014.08.20 SHIMANO INC
  • EP2492179B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2492179B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2492179B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A suspension control section 95 controls the operating states of a front suspension FS and a rear suspension RS of a bicycle in response to operations of a first operating device OP1 and a second operating device OP2. Each of the front suspension FS and the rear suspension RS has a plurality of operating states. The suspension control section 95 has a control means 98. The control means 98 can change the operating states of both the front suspension FS and the rear suspension RS to different operating states in response to a single operation of the first operating device OP1 and the second operating device. The control means 98 is configured to control the front suspension FA and the rear suspension RS such that an operating state change operation of one of the front suspension FS and the rear suspension RS occurs later than an operating state change operation of the other.