Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-27
2001-02-20
Chin, Gary (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
C340S432000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192300
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bicycle cycle computer for displaying various kinds of information regarding the speed, the pedal revolution per minute (rpm), the gear in operation, the pulse of the rider, the ambient temperature, the geographical height and the like.
Generally speaking, since a bicycle cycle computer is mounted on a bicycle and mainly used outdoors, it is required to be not only compact but also waterproof, shockproof and weatherproof. As shown in
FIG. 1
, a conventional, commercially available bicycle cycle computer comprises a main unit
10
, and a display
20
for displaying data, such as the is speed, the distance traveled, the time and the pedal rpm, is provided on the front surface of the main unit
10
. A mode button
12
for selecting different displaying modes is provided below the display
20
.
FIG. 2
shows the back of the main unit
10
. In
FIG. 2
, reference numeral
13
denotes a battery cap for covering a battery accommodating chamber,
14
denotes a set button for switching among different data setting modes,
15
and
16
denote metal contacts for transmitting respective signals representing the detected speed and the detected pedal rpm (which will be described later) to a microprocessor (not shown) installed inside the main unit
10
, and
17
denotes a metal contact as a common ground.
In addition, in order to prevent the main unit
10
from being stolen, the main unit
10
is preferably made to be detachable from the bicycle and portable. For this purpose, a conventional cycle computer is usually equipped with a bracket
30
, as shown in
FIG. 3
, which is mounted on a handlebar
90
of a bicycle by means of a screw
31
. The main unit
10
can be inserted in the direction indicated by the arrow A as shown in
FIG. 3
so as to be detachably mounted onto the bracket
30
. Thus, the rider can easily remove the main unit
10
from the bracket
30
whenever the bicycle is not in use, and mount the main unit
10
again later.
FIG. 4
shows the connection between the bracket
30
as shown in FIG.
3
and two sensors
42
and
52
via cables
46
and
56
.
FIG. 5
shows the position relationship between a magnet
44
mounted on one spoke
92
of the front wheel and the sensor
42
of
FIG. 4
mounted on the inside of the fork
94
, facing the magnet
44
, and
FIG. 6
shows the position relationship between a magnet
54
mounted on the inside of the crank
95
and the sensor
52
of
FIG. 4
mounted on the chain stay
96
, facing the magnet
54
.
Among various data which can be displayed on the display
20
of the main unit
10
, except the time data which is provided by a clock circuit built in the main unit
10
, all the other data including the speed, the distance, the pedal rpm, etc., are obtained from signals supplied by the sensors
42
and
52
mounted on the fork
94
and the chain stay
96
, respectively. The sensors
42
and
52
detect the numbers of rotation of the front wheel and the pedal crank
95
by sensing the associated magnets
44
and
54
. The sensors
42
and
52
transmit thus detected signals via the cables
46
and
56
to the bracket
30
. The signals are then transmitted to the microprocessor (not shown) in the main unit
10
through metal contacts
35
and
36
provided on the bracket
30
which are in electrical connection with the contacts
15
and
16
on the back of the main unit
10
when the main unit
10
is mounted on the bracket
30
. The microprocessor performs, for example, identification, counting and calculation, on the supplied wheel rpm and pedal rpm data, and the processed data are then displayed on the display
20
.
For example, the microprocessor of the main unit
10
calculates the speed by multiplying the wheel rpm with the circumferential length of the front wheel and calculates the distance traveled based on the calculated speed. In addition, the current pedal rpm or the average pedal rpm can be displayed to facilitate the rider's adjustment.
Therefore, as far as the main unit
10
of a cycle computer having two sensors
42
and
52
as mentioned above is concerned, it is necessary to provide two contacts
15
and
16
for transmitting signals supplied from the two sensors, respectively, to the microprocessor in the main unit
10
and a contact
17
for a common ground. That is, it is necessary to provide at least three contacts on the back of the main unit. Each of these contacts
15
,
16
and
17
has to be provided on the back of the main unit
10
with a waterproof arrangement in order to prevent water from leaking into the interior of the main unit
10
to thereby result in a short circuit phenomenon. A typical waterproof arrangement for the contact is shown in FIG.
7
. Holes
15
a
,
16
a
and
17
a
are provided at the bottom of a lower case
1
O
a
of the main unit
10
. Waterproof O-rings
15
b
,
16
b
and
17
b
are disposed in the holes
15
a
,
16
a
and
17
a
, respectively. Contact pins
15
c
,
16
c
and
17
c
are inserted to pass through the respective O-rings and protrude from the respective holes. Springs
15
d
,
16
d
and
17
d
for biasing the respective contact pins
15
c
,
16
c
and
17
c
outwards are provided between the pins and the printed circuit board
102
. It is apparent that the waterproof arrangement for the contact is relatively complicated and the manufacturing cost therefore is high.
Recently, following the development of the handlebar-type gear shifting device and the electronic gear shifting device, there is a demand for a new generation cycle computer which in addition to display the aforementioned data concerning the speed, the distance, the time and the pedal rpm, is also capable of displaying data concerning the gear in operation, the torque exerted on the crank shaft, the ambient temperature, the geographical height and even the pulse of the rider. This means a significant increase in the number of the sensors and hence the metal contacts on the back of the main unit and the corresponding metal contacts on the bracket. Due to the significantly increased number of the metal contacts, it is difficult to keep the main unit compact. In addition, it is necessary to provide a waterproof arrangement for each of the contacts, thereby resulting in a very complicated structure and an increased manufacturing cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned problem, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a bicycle cycle computer which is capable of displaying more kinds of information when compared with conventional cycle computers without increasing the number of contacts on the main unit thereof.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention, there is provided a bicycle cycle computer comprising a main unit having a primary microprocessor, a display and three contacts; a bracket mounted on the bicycle and on which the main unit is detachably mounted; a plurality of sensors including a wheel speed sensor, a pedal rpm sensor, a front gear sensor and a rear gear sensor which are mounted on the bicycle and sensors which are attached to a rider's body, for detecting various physiological conditions of the rider; and a secondary microprocessor provided on the bracket and connected between the plurality of sensors and the main unit, for receiving parallel signals outputted from the plurality of sensors, said secondary microprocessor converting the received parallel signals into a serial signal and generating a synchronous clock signal, which are transmitted to the main unit through two of the contacts of the main unit, processed by the primary microprocessor and displayed on the display.
The object of the invention can also be achieved by providing a bicycle cycle computer comprising a main unit having a primary microprocessor, a display and three contacts; a plurality of sensors including a wheel speed sensor, a pedal rpm sensor, a front gear sensor and a rear gear sensor which are mounted on the bicycle and sensors which are attached to a rider's body, for detecting va
Huang Chun-Mu
Watarai Etsuyoshi
Chin Gary
Deland James A.
Echowell Electronic Ltd.
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