Human-Powered Vehicle Component Pairing with Remote Trigger Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing human-powered vehicles with electric components face challenges in easily initiating wireless pairing processes between components without physical input devices.

Innovation Solution

A human-powered vehicle component equipped with wireless communicator and electronic controller circuitry that wirelessly receives a pairing trigger signal from a trigger input device, allowing remote entry into a pairing mode and subsequent communication with other components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If wireless pairing is implemented without physical input devices, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of pairing initiation may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of pairing initiationVSAvoidreliability of pairing signal reception

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a trigger input device as an intermediary between the user and the pairing system. This separate device receives user input and transmits pairing trigger signals to the human-powered vehicle component, eliminating the need for physical input devices on the vehicle itself while maintaining reliable signal transmission through a dedicated intermediary component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical/physical input devices with wireless signal transmission. Instead of requiring buttons, switches, or other physical interfaces on the human-powered vehicle component, the system uses wireless communication to receive pairing trigger signals from a remote trigger input device, substituting mechanical interaction with electromagnetic signal transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a separate trigger input device is used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversatility of input deviceVSAvoidcomplexity of pairing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger input device is designed as a universal device that can be used across different human-powered vehicle components and configurations. This separate device serves multiple functions including pairing initiation, and can potentially interface with different types of components, providing versatility without requiring each component to have its own dedicated input mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the input function from the human-powered vehicle component itself and places it in a separate trigger input device. This separation removes the complexity of integrating input devices into each component while maintaining the necessary functionality through wireless communication between the extracted input device and the component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250220732A1Human-powered vehicle component, human-powered vehicle control system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 SHIMANO INC

AI summary

A human-powered vehicle component comprises first wireless communicator circuitry and first electronic controller circuitry. The first wireless communicator circuitry is configured to wirelessly receive a pairing trigger signal generated in response to a user trigger input of a trigger input device. The trigger input device includes a display. The first electronic controller circuitry is configured to cause the human-powered vehicle component to enter a first pairing mode in response to the pairing trigger signal.