Method and apparatus for controlling automatic gear-change processes of an electric gear-change apparatus of a bicycle

Abstract

Controlling automatic gear-changing of an electric gear-change apparatus of a bicycle, the method may involve assigning each of a plurality of gears of the bicycle a predetermined gearing range. Controlling the process may also involve assigning a predetermined lower limit value and a predetermined upper limit value to each gearing range, wherein the upper limit value of a gearing range is in each case larger by a predetermined value than the lower limit value of a next higher gearing range, and the upper limit value of the gearing range and the lower limit value of the next higher gearing range define between them an overlap range. Controlling the process may also involve selecting an engagement of either a gear or a next higher gear in the overlap range depending on a speed profile of the bicycle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling automatic gear-changing of an electric gear-change apparatus of a bicycle, the method comprising: assigning, to a memory of a control device, each of a plurality of gears of the bicycle a predetermined gearing range; assigning, to the memory of the control device, a predetermined lower limit value and a predetermined upper limit value to each gearing range, wherein the upper limit value of a gearing range is in each case larger by a predetermined value than the lower limit value of a next higher gearing range, and the upper limit value of the gearing range and the lower limit value of the next higher gearing range define between them an overlap range; selecting, with the control device, an engagement of either a gear or a next higher gear in the overlap range depending on a speed profile of the bicycle; assigning, to the memory of the control device, a speed at which a gear-change operation takes place as a changeover speed of the gear-change operation; and determining, with the control device, a type of gear-change operation depending on the changeover speed, wherein determining the type of gear-change operation further depends on whether a most recent gear-change operation was an upward change or a downward change.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing, with the control device, from an active gear into the next higher gear relative to the active gear when a second speed of the bicycle exceeds a lower limit value of the next higher gearing range.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: changing, with the control device, from an active gear into a next lower gear to the active gear when a second speed falls below an upper limit value of a next lower gearing range.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: making a second upward change when the most recent gear-change operation was the upward change and a second speed exceeds a lower limit value of the gearing range.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: making a second downward change when the most recent gear-change operation was the downward change and a second speed falls below an upper limit value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the type of gear-change operation further comprises: determining, with the control device, whether a second speed after the changeover speed rises or falls by a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the upward change is made if: the most recent gear-change operation was the downward change into an active gear, a second speed is higher than the changeover speed at least by a predetermined threshold value, and the second speed is higher than the lower limit value of the next higher gearing range.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the downward change is made if: the most recent gear-change operation was the upward change into an active gear, a second speed is lower than the changeover speed at least by a predetermined threshold value, and The second speed is lower than the upper limit value of a next lower gearing range.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed is detected, with a speed detecting unit, continuously or at predetermined sequential time points.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the profile of the speed is stored to the memory of the control unit as the speed profile of the bicycle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each gearing range corresponds to a predetermined range of speeds.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of the gear-change operation is detected by at least one detection unit.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing at least the type of the most recent gear-change operation and the changeover speed assigned to the most recent gear-change operation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing from an active gear into the next higher gear to the active gear comprises changing from the active gear of a derailleur system or a gear hub into the next higher gear to the active gear of the derailleur system or the gear hub.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed profile is a measure of a development of speed of the bicycle over time.

16. A control apparatus for controlling automatic gear-changing of a derailleur system or a gear hub of a bicycle, the control apparatus comprising: a gearing range assignment unit that is configured to assign, to a memory of the control apparatus, a predetermined gearing range to each gear, a limit range assignment unit that is configured to assign a predetermined lower limit value and a predetermined upper limit value to each of the gearing ranges to the memory, wherein the limit range assignment unit is configured to assign the limit values such that the upper limit value of the predetermined gearing range is in each case greater by a predetermined value than the lower limit value of a next higher gearing range, so that the upper limit value of the predetermined gearing range and the lower limit value of the next higher gearing range define between them an overlap range, a speed detection unit for detecting a speed of the bicycle, and a gear detection unit that is configured to determine whether a gear or a next higher gear can be engaged in the overlap range, depending on a speed profile and whether a most recent gear-change operation was an upward change or a downward change.

17. The control apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a changeover unit that assigns, to the memory, a changeover speed to the most recent gear-change operation.

18. The control apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a determination unit that is configured to determine whether the speed after the changeover speed rises or falls by a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

19. The control apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a detection unit that is configured to detect a type of a gear-change operation.

20. A method for controlling automatic gear-changing of an electric gear-change apparatus of a bicycle, the method comprising: assigning, to a memory of a control device, each of a plurality of gears of the bicycle a predetermined gearing range; assigning, to the memory of the control device, a predetermined lower limit value and a predetermined upper limit value to each gearing range, wherein the upper limit value of a gearing range is in each case larger by a predetermined value than the lower limit value of a next higher gearing range, and the upper limit value of the gearing range and the lower limit value of the next higher gearing range define between them an overlap range; selecting, with the control device, an engagement of either a gear or a next higher gear in the overlap range depending on a speed profile of the bicycle; and determining, with the control device, a type of gear-change operation depending on whether a most recent gear-change operation was an upward change or a downward change.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Figures are described below that serve to explain an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of individual gearing ranges and their overlap ranges;

(3) FIGS. 2a to 2d illustrate various speed profiles and changeover points;

(4) FIGS. 3 to 5 show schematic flow diagrams that illustrate the individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention; and

(5) FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a control device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of various gearing ranges G1 to G3 along with the overlap ranges 1/2 and 2/3.

(7) Gearing range G1 corresponds to 0 to 10 km/h, gearing range G2 corresponds to 8 to 18 km/h, and gearing range G3 corresponds to 16 to 26 km/h.

(8) Gearing range G1 has a lower limit value uG1 of 0 km/h and an upper limit value oG1 of 10 km/h. Gearing range G2 has a lower limit value uG2 of 8 km/h and an upper limit value oG2 of 18 km/h. Gearing range G3 has a lower limit value uG3 of 16 km/h and an upper limit value oG3 of 26 km/h.

(9) The overlap range 1/2 is located between the upper limit value oG1 of gearing range G1 and the lower limit value uG2 of gearing range G2. This means that the overlap range 1/3 between the limit value oG1, corresponds to 10 km/h, and the limit value oG2, corresponds to 8 km/h. The limit value oG1 is thus greater than the lower limit value uG2 of gearing range G2 by a predetermined value. This predetermined value between the limit value oG1 and the limit value oG2 is, according to this example, 2 km/h. This also applies to the overlap range 2/3 between gearing range G2 and G3, which lies between the upper limit value oG2 of gearing range G2 and the lower limit value uG3 of gearing range G3. In this context again, the upper limit value oG2 is greater than the lower limit value uG3 of gearing range G3 by a predetermined value. In the case of the overlap range 2/3 this value again corresponds to 2 km/h.

(10) FIG. 2a shows a diagram of a possible speed profile and of the changeover points, determined according to an embodiment. The time t has been entered on to the abscissa. The ordinate is used to enter the speed v.

(11) A plurality of speed measurement points are illustrated in the diagram according to FIG. 2a, and are indicated as v1 to v5. The gearing ranges Gi and the next higher gearing range G1+1 are illustrated schematically in the diagram. The gearing range Gi corresponds to gear i. Gear i may be an active gear. The gearing range Gi+1 corresponds to gear i+1.

(12) The overlap range i/i+1 is formed between the upper limit value oGi of gearing range Gi and the lower limit value uGi+1. The limit value oGi is greater than the lower limit value uGi+1 by a predetermined value.

(13) In the diagram according to the FIG. 2a the speed increases to speed v3. In this case the rider, or the bicycle, is accelerating. As the speed increases to speed v3, the speed v exceeds the lower limit value uGi+1 of gearing range Gi+1. The speed v is thus in the overlap range i/i+1.

(14) Since the speed has exceeded the lower limit value uGi+1 of the next higher gearing range Gi+1, a change is made into the next higher gear i, which is assigned to gearing range Gi+1. The changeover point to change into gear i corresponds, in this example, to the speed v3. The speed v3 at the changeover point from gear i into gear i+1 is assigned to this gear-change operation as the changeover speed uv. The fact that the type of this gear-change operation was an upward change into the next higher gear i+1 is also detected and/or recorded. As described herein, a gear change and/or changeover may also be referred to as a gear shift or shifting action.

(15) A short time after the changeover point (changeover speed v3) into the next higher gear i+1, the speed v of the bicycle falls. The speed v falls through speed v4 below the lower limit value uGi+1 of gearing range Gi+1.

(16) As already explained, the speed at the changeover point, i.e. the speed v3, is assigned to this gear-changing process as the changeover speed uv. In an embodiment, the question of whether the speed v rises or falls by more than a predetermined threshold value T after the changeover speed v3 is now detected and/or recorded. The speed v falls in the example according to FIG. 2a. Following the changeover speed v3 at the changeover point, the speed drops to speed v5. During this fall to speed v5, the speed falls by more than the predetermined threshold value T, so that at speed v5 it is possible to change from gear i+1 into gear i. In this case the speed profile must thus satisfy vv3T for a change into the next lower gear i.

(17) In summary, FIG. 2a demonstrates that after the detection of an upward change process into the next higher gear i+1, the further development of the speed profile is detected and/or recorded. If, following the changeover speed, the speed falls below the lower limit value uGi+1, and by more than a predetermined threshold value T, a change is made back into gear i.

(18) If the speed is more than a predetermined threshold value T below the changeover speed at the changeover point, a change is made from gear Gi+1 into gear Gi. The method according to the invention accordingly changes, following a gear-changing process in the overlap range, into a lower gear, if the speed is lower than the changeover speed by a predetermined threshold value T.

(19) FIG. 2b illustrates a diagram of a speed profile that corresponds to an acceleration phase of the bicycle. The speed v of the bicycle here increases almost continuously. As soon as the speed v exceeds a lower limit value uGi+1 of the gearing range Gi+1, the method changes, at speed v3, from gear i corresponding to gearing range Gi into the gear i+1 corresponding to gearing range Gi+1. The speed v3 is in the overlap range i/i+1.

(20) FIG. 2c illustrates a diagram of a speed profile between a deceleration phase and an acceleration phase.

(21) The speed v falls from speed v1, and falls below the upper limit value oGi of gearing range Gi. The speed v is thus in the overlap range i/i+1. At speed v2 the gear is changed from the gear i+1 corresponding to gearing range Gi+1, into the gear i corresponding to gearing range Gi. The speed v2 is assigned to this gear-change operation as the changeover speed uv. The speed v falls below the lower limit value uGi+1 of gearing range Gi+1. After this, the bicycle accelerates, and the speed v again exceeds the lower limit range uGi+1 of gearing range Gi+1. The speed v is in the overlap range i/i+1. After speed v5, the speed v exceeds the upper limit value oGi of gearing range Gi. After having exceeded the upper limit value oGi the speed v also exceeds the changeover speed v2 by more than the threshold value T. When the speed following the most recent gear-change operation exceeds the changeover speed v2 by the predetermined threshold value T it is possible to change into the higher gear i+1 corresponding to the gearing range Gi+1. Accordingly, the speed v must in this case satisfy vv2+T in order to be able to change again into the next higher gear i+1.

(22) FIG. 2d shows a further diagram of an example speed profile.

(23) The bicycle at first decelerates sharply, so that the speed v falls rapidly from speed v1 down to speed v2. In the course of this fall, the speed curve passes through the overlap range i/i+1 and falls below the lower limit value uGi+1 of gearing range Gi+1. With this drop, the speed v accordingly also falls below the upper limit value oGi of the gearing range. After having fallen below the lower limit value uGi+1 a change is made at speed v2 from gear i+1 into the gear i corresponding to gearing range Gi. The speed v2 is assigned to this gear-change operation as the changeover speed uv. The bicycle is then accelerated again, and the speed v exceeds a value that is greater than the changeover speed v2 by the predetermined threshold value T. The speed v then exceeds the lower limit value uGi+1, and is located in the overlap range i/i+1. In the overlap range i/i+1 a change is made at speed v5 from the gear i corresponding to gearing range Gi into the gear i+1 corresponding to gearing range Gi+1. The speed v then continues to rise, and leaves the overlap range i/i+1. This gear-change operation is possible because the speed profile satisfies vv2+T and the speed v is in the overlap range i/i+1.

(24) In an embodiment, a determination is made as to whether an upward change or a downward change is made in the overlap range i/i+1 with reference to the speed profile. After a preceding, or most recent, gear-change operation, it is then possible to change from gear i into gear i+1 when the speed v, after the changeover speed, rises by a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value T. Furthermore, after a preceding gear-change operation it is possible to change back from gear i+1 into gear i if the speed v, after the changeover speed, falls by a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value T.

(25) In other words, following a gear-changing process in the overlap range, the development of the speed is further detected and/or recorded. After the most recent gear-changing process there is a pause, following the changeover point or the associated changeover speed, to see whether the speed v rises or falls by a predetermined threshold value T before the next gear-changing process can be carried out.

(26) FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram that illustrates an example upward change sequence. This upward change sequence corresponds to the diagram of the speed profile according to FIG. 2d.

(27) Starting at step S1, the speed v is detected and/or recorded throughout the entire method.

(28) In step S2 a determination is made as to whether the speed v is larger than the lower limit value uGi+1 of gearing range Gi+1. If this is not true, gear i remains engaged.

(29) If the speed v is greater than the lower limit value uGi+1 then a change is made in step S3 into the next higher gear i+1 (+S).

(30) FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary downward change sequence.

(31) Step S4 is only to clarify that the speed v of the bicycle is detected and/or recorded throughout the whole of the method.

(32) In step S5 a determination is made as to whether the speed v is smaller than the upper limit value oGi of gearing range Gi. If this is not true, gear i+1 remains engaged.

(33) If the speed v is smaller than the upper limit value oGi, then in step S6 a change is made into the next lower gear i (S).

(34) FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram that can follow either of the sequences according to FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, which means that one or more gear-change operations have already been executed.

(35) Step S7 can follow either step S3 or step S6. In step S7 the speed at the changeover point between gears i and i+1 is assigned to this gear-change operation as the changeover speed uv. Regardless of whether previously an upward change process (+S) or a downward change process (S) was made, a changeover speed is assigned to the last gear-change operation.

(36) The type of the last gear-change operation, i.e. whether the most recent gear-change operation was an upward change process (+S) or a downward change process (S), is determined in step S8.

(37) If it is determined in step S8 that a downward change process (S) was carried out, then in step S9 it is determined whether the speed v since the changeover point and the associated changeover speed uv has risen by a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value T. A check is accordingly made to see whether vuv+T is satisfied.

(38) If that is the case, then in step S10 a determination is made as to whether the speed v is larger than a lower limit value uGi+1 of gearing range Gi+1.

(39) If the speed v is greater than the limit value uGi+1 then an upward change process (+S) is made in step S11.

(40) The sequence according to steps S7 to S11 corresponds largely to the cases illustrated in FIGS. 2b and 2d. Steps S9 and S10 can also each be executed in the opposite sequence.

(41) If it is determined in step S7 that an upward change process (+S) was carried out, then in step S12 it is determined whether the speed v since the changeover point and the associated changeover speed uv has fallen by a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value T. A check is accordingly made as to whether vuvT is satisfied.

(42) If that is the case, then in step S13 a determination is made as to whether the speed v is smaller than an upper limit value oGi of gearing range Gi.

(43) If the speed v is lower than the limit value oGi then a downward change process (S) is made in step S14.

(44) The sequence according to steps S7, S8 and S12 to S14 corresponds largely to the case illustrated in FIG. 2a. Steps S12 and S13 can also each be executed in the opposite sequence.

(45) FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a control device. In an embodiment, a control apparatus 10 for controlling automatic gear-changing processes of an electric gear-change apparatus of a bicycle comprises a gearing range assignment unit 20 that is configured to assign a predetermined gearing range to each gear, a limit range assignment unit 30 that is configured to assign a predetermined lower limit value and a predetermined upper limit value to each gearing range, wherein the limit range assignment unit assigns the limit values in such a way that the upper limit value of a gearing range is in each case greater by a predetermined value than the lower limit value of the next higher gearing range, so that the upper limit value of a gearing range and the lower limit value of the next higher gearing range define between them an overlap range, and a speed detection unit for detecting the speed v of the bicycle.

(46) The control device 10 may furthermore comprise a gear detection unit 50 that is configured to determine in the overlap range, depending on the profile of the speed, whether a gear i or a gear i+1 can be engaged.

(47) According to an embodiment, the control apparatus 10 may comprise a changeover unit 60 that assigns a changeover speed to a previous gear-change operation.

(48) The control device 10 may include a determination unit 70 that is configured to determine whether the speed after the changeover speed rises or falls by a value that is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

(49) The control apparatus 10 may include a detection unit 80 that is configured to detect the type of a gear-change operation.

(50) The control apparatus 10 may also include a memory unit 90.

(51) The electric gear-change apparatus may be a derailleur system or a gear hub of a bicycle.

(52) Embodiments may be used include an electric gear-change apparatus for a bicycle with a control apparatus according to the type described above, wherein the electric gear-change apparatus is a derailleur system or a gear hub.

(53) While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.