Bicycle Electric Component Updates via Wireless Master Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bicycle electric components face challenges in efficiently updating software and firmware, particularly when multiple components are interconnected, as current methods often require cumbersome wired connections or inefficient wireless communication protocols.
Innovation Solution
A master bicycle electric component with a two-way wireless communication unit is introduced, capable of receiving update information from an external terminal device and wirelessly transmitting it to slave components, along with a storage device to manage updates, including software, firmware, and component settings, while utilizing CSMA/CA protocol for efficient communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired connections are used to update multiple bicycle electric components, then update reliability is improved, but device complexity and cable routing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The master bicycle electric component acts as an intermediary device between the external terminal device and multiple slave bicycle electric components. It receives update information wirelessly from the external terminal device and then distributes it to the slave components, eliminating the need for direct wired connections to each component while maintaining reliable update delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. The master component uses wireless communication protocols to receive and distribute update information, substituting the physical cable routing infrastructure with electromagnetic signal transmission.
2Device complexity
If wireless communication is used to update multiple bicycle electric components simultaneously, then device complexity is reduced, but communication interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The update process is segmented into sequential one-on-one communication sessions between the master component and individual slave components. The master component communicates with each slave component separately in turn, rather than attempting simultaneous multi-component communication, thereby avoiding signal interference while maintaining the benefits of wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The master component implements periodic communication cycles with slave components, systematically updating each component in sequence. This periodic action ensures that wireless signals are transmitted in controlled intervals, preventing interference that would occur with simultaneous transmissions.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If individual wireless updates are performed on each slave component, then communication interference is avoided, but update time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master bicycle electric component performs preliminary actions by receiving and storing the complete update information package from the external terminal device before distributing it to slave components. This preliminary reception eliminates the need for repeated communication sessions with the external device, reducing total update time despite sequential distribution to multiple slaves.
Solution Approach 2:
The master component creates copies of the update information received from the external terminal device and distributes these copies to multiple slave components. This copying mechanism allows efficient one-to-many information distribution without requiring the external terminal device to communicate with each slave individually, significantly reducing overall update time.
Data Source
AI summary
A master bicycle electric component includes a bicycle mounting part. The master bicycle electric component includes a master two-way wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly receive update information from an external terminal device that is not mounted to the bicycle.