Bicycle Wireless Control Device Duty Cycle Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless electromechanical control systems for bicycles face challenges in achieving efficient and reliable communication while maintaining low power consumption, leading to increased latency and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

A wireless control system with a switch device configured to move through specific actuation positions, generating signals to change modes and trigger operations, and a communication device that adjusts its duty cycle based on signal reception to reduce latency and conserve power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless communication device operates in constant power mode, then power consumption is high, but communication reliability is improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless communication device alternates between active communication mode and low-power sleep mode in periodic cycles. The device activates the communication transceiver only when signal transmission or reception is required, then transitions to sleep mode during idle periods. This periodic operation reduces average power consumption while maintaining communication reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the power state of the wireless communication device based on operational requirements. A control mechanism monitors communication needs and transitions the device between power modes accordingly, optimizing the balance between power consumption and communication reliability in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If the wireless communication device is power cycled to reduce power consumption, then power efficiency is improved, but communication latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading communication protocols and maintaining buffered data ready for transmission. When the device wakes from sleep mode, the communication stack is already prepared, reducing the time required to establish communication and transmit data, thereby minimizing latency while maintaining power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device skips the full initialization sequence by maintaining minimal operational state in memory during sleep mode. Critical communication parameters and protocols are preserved in fast memory, allowing the device to resume communication operations quickly after waking, effectively rushing through the reactivation process to reduce latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS11661139B2Electromechanical control device and methods for electromechanical control of a bicycle

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICAN INC

AI summary

An electromechanical control system for a bicycle has a switch device, the switch device operating a switch between at least three positions. A control communication device transmits signals responsive to operation of the switch. The electromechanical control system includes an operation device configured to respond to signals transmitted by the control communication device. Signals transmitted by the control communication device include commands to listen and commands to operate.