Method and system for computer-controlled bicycle gear shifting

A method in a computer-controlled device shifting system for determining a next device gear in which to shift, the device having a plurality of device gears ordered by gear ratios, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining the current device gear selected;
• determining legal device gears associated with the current device gear, a legal device gear being a device gear that can be shifted into from the current device gear without shifting into another device gear that has a gear ratio that the next device gear;
• and
• selecting the next device gear from the determined legal device gears.

A method in a computer-controlled shifting system for a multigeared device for shifting from a current device gear to a new device gear, the device having a current speed, the method comprising the steps of

• shifting the device into a current device gear;
• setting a shift speed;
• while the device is in the current device gear, adjusting the shift speed;
• and
• shifting into a new device gear based on the shift speed and the current speed.

A method in a computer-controlled shifting system for a multigeared device for shifting from a current device gear to a new device gear to maintain a desired cadence, the device gears being ordered from a low gear to a high gear, the device having a current speed, the system for shifting down when the current speed decreases to a shift down speed and for shifting up when the current speed increases to a shift up speed, the method comprising the steps of:

• when the current speed decreases to the shift down speed,
• shifting into a new device gear that is lower than the current device gear;
• setting the shift up speed to be greater than the current speed;
• setting the shift down speed to be less than the current speed;
• and
• resetting the shift up speed to closer to the current speed when the current speed decreases to a predefined speed based on the desired cadence;
• and
• when the current speed increases to the shift up speed,
• shifting into a new device gear that is higher than the current device gear;
• setting the shift up speed to be greater than the current speed;
• setting the shift down speed to be less than the current speed;
• and
• resetting the shift down speed to closer to the current speed when the current speed increases to a predefined speed based on the desired cadence.

A method in a computer-controlled bicycle shifting system for shifting a bicycle, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a new bicycle gear;
• determining whether the bicycle is being pedalled in the forward direction;
• and
• shifting to the new bicycle gear when the bicycle is being pedalled in the forward direction.

A method in a computer-controlled bicycle shifting system for overriding a computer-generated bicycle gear election, the system having a computer and a shifting mechanism, the computer for generating a bicycle gear selection to maintain a desired cadence and for controlling the shifting mechanism to shift the bicycle into the generated bicycle gear selection, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a signal indicating that the computer-generated bicycle selection is to be overridden;
• determining an overriding bicycle gear selection;
• controlling the shifting mechanism to shift the bicycle into the overriding bicycle gear;
• and
• resetting the desired cadence to a new desired cadence based on a current bicycle speed and the determined overriding bicycle gear selection.

A method of controlling a bicycle shift selector, the shift selector for shifting gears of a bicycle, the shift selector having a reversible motor, a pair of latch arms, a lobe positioned between the latch arms and driven by the motor, wherein when the motor is turned in a first direction the lobe strikes a latch arm which effects a shift of the bicycle to a first gear and wherein when the motor is turned in a second direction the lobe strikes the other latch arm which effects a shift of the bicycle to a second gear, the method comprising the steps of:

• when shifting into the first gear,
• turning the motor in the second direction for a period of time that is not sufficient to effect a shift of the bicycle into the second gear;
• and
• turning the motor in the first direction for a period of time that is sufficient to effect a shift into the first gear.

A gear shifting system for shifting gears on a bicycle, comprising:

• a front gear assembly having a plurality of front gears with varying number of teeth;
• a rear gear assembly having a plurality of rear gears with varying number of teeth;
• a chain coupled to the front gear assembly for engaging any one of the front gears and to the rear gear assembly for engaging any one of the rear gears;
• a front shift mechanism for shifting the chain from engaging one front gear to engaging another;
• a rear shift mechanism for shifting the chain from engaging one rear gear to engaging another, wherein the bicycle has a plurality of bicycle gears, each bicycle gear associated with a front gear and a rear gear combination, the bicycle gears being ordered by gear ratios, the gear ratios being the ratio of the number of teeth in the associated front gear to the number of teeth in the associated rear gear;
• and
• a computer operatively connected to the front and rear shifting mechanisms, wherein the computer determines a current bicycle gear, the current bicycle gear being defined by the front gear and the rear gear currently engaged by the chain, the computer determines a next bicycle gear wherein when shifting from the current bicycle gear to the next bicycle gear, the bicycle does not shift into a gear that is outside the range of the current bicycle gear and the next bicycle gear, and the computer controls the front and rear shift mechanisms to effect a shift from the current bicycle gear to the next bicycle gear.

A computer-controlled shifting system for a multigeared bicycle for shifting from a current bicycle gear to a new bicycle gear, comprising:

• means for determining a current speed of the bicycle, the cadence indicating the pedalling rate;
• means for shifting the bicycle into a current bicycle gear;
• means for setting a shift speed;
• means for resetting the shift speed when the bicycle is in the current bicycle gear;
• and
• means for shifting into a new bicycle gear when the current speed approaches the shift speed.

A system for determining a current bicycle gear of a multigeared bicycle, the bicycle having a first gear assembly and a second gear assembly, comprising:

• a first sensor for generating a first signal indicating the angular movement of the first gear assembly;
• a second sensor for generating a second signal indicating the angular movement of the second gear assembly;
• and
• a computer for receiving the first and second signals, for determining angle of movement of the first gear assembly and the angle of movement of the second gear assembly during an interval, and for determining the current bicycle gear based on the determined angles of movement of the first and second gear assemblies.

A bicycle shifting system for shifting a multigeared bicycle, comprising:

• means for determining a new bicycle gear;
• means for determining whether the bicycle is being pedalled in the forward direction;
• and
• means for shifting to the new bicycle gear when the bicycle is being pedalled in the forward direction.

A bicycle shifting apparatus, the bicycle having a rear wheel, a hub, a crank, a front gear assembly, and a rear gear assembly, comprising:

• a rear wheel sensor for detecting the speed of the rear wheel;
• a hub sensor for detecting angular movement of the hub;
• a crank sensor for detecting angular movement of the crank;
• a front gear selector operatively connected to the front gear assembly for shifting front gears;
• a rear gear selector operatively connected to the rear gear assembly for shifting rear gears;
• and
• a computer for receiving input from the rear wheel sensor, the hub sensor, and crank sensor and controlling the front gear selector and the rear gear selector to effect the shifting of the bicycle.