# US 10,308,319 B1 · Control device with adjustable communication period and method for adjusting communication period > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,319 B1 - Document ID: US10308319B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/899,469 - Filed: 2018-02-20 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-22 - Assignees: Tektro Technology Corporation - Applicants: Tektro Technology Corporation - Inventors: Hsun-Yu Chuang; Pao-Wen Lin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308319B1 ## CPC - B62M 25/08: with electrical or fluid transmitting systems - B62J 45/414: Acceleration sensors - B62J 45/422: on the handlebar - B62M 9/122: electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof - B62M 9/132: electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof - F16H 61/0204: {for gearshift control, e.g. control functions for performing shifting or generation of shift signal} - B62K 23/06: Levers - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS - F16H: GEARING - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE ## Abstract A control device with adjustable communication period is configured for an electromechanical gear shifter of a bicycle. The control device comprises a master controller and a trigger sensor. The master controller sends a broadcast signal with a first period when the master controller is in a working mode. The master controller sends the broadcast signal with a period selected from an idle period set when the master controller is in an idle mode. The trigger sensor is in communicable connection with a master controller, and the trigger sensor detects a trigger state to send a trigger signal. The master controller switches to the working mode when the master controller receives the trigger signal. The master controller switches to the idle mode selectively when the master controller does not receive the trigger signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control device with adjustable communication period for an electromechanical gear shifter of a bicycle, comprising: a master controller comprising a working mode and an idle mode, wherein the master controller sends a broadcast signal with a first period when the master controller is in the working mode, and the master controller sends the broadcast signal with a period selected from an idle period set and greater than the first period when the master controller is in the idle mode, wherein the idle period set comprises a second period at least and the second period is greater than the first period; and a trigger sensor electronically connecting to the master controller, wherein the trigger sensor detects a trigger state and sends a trigger signal; wherein the master controller switches to the working mode when the master controller receives the trigger signal, and the master controller selectively switches to the idle mode when the master controller does not receive the trigger signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 1, wherein the master controller is adapted to be installed close to the electromechanical gear shifter and the master controller is adapted to selectively control a motor driver according to the broadcast signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 1, wherein the master controller is adapted to be installed close to a handlebar of the bicycle, further comprising a slave controller in communicable connection with the master controller, the slave controller is adapted to be installed close to the electromechanical gear shifter and the slave controller is adapted to selectively control a motor driver according to the broadcast signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 3, wherein the slave controller comprises a working mode and an idle mode, the slave controller sends a broadcast signal with a fourth period when the slave controller is in the working mode, and the slave controller sends the broadcast signal with a period selected from an idle period set when the slave controller is in the idle mode, wherein the idle period set comprises a fifth period at least and the fifth period is greater than the fourth period; and the trigger sensor electronically connects to the slave controller, wherein the slave controller switches to the working mode when the slave controller receives the trigger signal, and the slave controller selectively switches to the idle mode when the slave controller does not receive the trigger signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 3, wherein the slave controller comprises the working mode and the idle mode that are as same as those of the master controller, the slave controller switches to the working mode or the idle mode selectively when the slave controller receives the broadcast signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 1, wherein the master controller further comprises a timer configured for accumulating an idle time when the master controller does not receive the trigger signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 6, wherein the master controller switches to the idle mode when the idle time equals to a first time interval. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 4, wherein the slave controller further comprises a timer configured for accumulating an idle time when the slave controller does not receive the trigger signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 8, wherein the slave controller switches to the idle mode when the idle time equals to a first time interval. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 1, wherein the trigger sensor is an accelerometer, an infrared transceiver, a gyroscope, a switch or a button. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 1, wherein the idle period set further comprises a third period, the third period is smaller than the second period and greater than the first period, the master controller sends the broadcast signal with the third period for a second time interval before the master controller sends the broadcast signal with the second period of the idle period set once the master controller switches to the idle mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 3, wherein the broadcast signal comprises an electricity information of the slave controller or a gear information of a motor driver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 3, wherein the master controller establishes a communicable connection to the slave controller when the master controller is in the working mode and the master controller receives a broadcast signal from the slave controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The control device with adjustable communication period according to claim 3, wherein the slave controller establishes a communicable connection to the master controller when the slave controller is in the working mode and the slave controller receives a broadcast signal from the master controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method for adjusting the communication period configured for the control device of claim 1 comprising: sending the broadcast signal with the first period when the master controller is in the working mode; keeping in the working mode when the master controller receives the trigger signal after sending the broadcast signal, and switching to the idle mode selectively when the master controller does not receive the trigger signal; sending the broadcast signal with the period selected from the idle period set by the master controller, wherein the idle period set comprises a second period at least and the second period is greater than the first period; and receiving the trigger signal and switching to the working mode by the master controller when the master controller is in the idle mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method for adjusting the communication period according to claim 15, wherein the idle period set further comprises a third period, and the master controller sends the broadcast signal with the third period before the master controller sends the broadcast signal with the second period when sending the broadcast signal with the period selected from the idle period set, wherein the third period is smaller than the second period and the third period is greater than the first period. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method for adjusting the communication period according to claim 15, wherein when the master controller is in the working mode and is sending the broadcast signal with the first period, the master controller calculates an idle time with a timer, wherein the timer accumulates the time in which the master controller does not receive the trigger signal as the idle time, and wherein the master controller switches to the idle mode when the idle time equals to a first time interval. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method for adjusting the communication period according to claim 15, wherein the broadcast signal comprises an electricity information of the master controller or a gear information of a motor driver, a mobile communication device receives the broadcast signal and shows the electricity information or the gear information in a figure form or in a text form when the master controller is in the idle mode.