US6204752B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bicycle display unit with backlight
Assignee: Shimano Inc
•
Filing: 1999-11-24
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Granted: 2001-03-20
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Expires: 2019-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A bicycle display unit is provided for displaying information to the rider. The bicycle display unit is preferably part of a bicycle computer that is battery operated. The bicycle display unit has a display panel with a front display surface and a backlight arranged to illuminate the front display surface for viewing the information displayed thereon. The battery is electrically coupled to the backlight to supply electrical energy thereto. The bicycle display unit also has a backlight switch command operatively coupled between the backlight and the battery to selectively turn the backlight “on” and “off”, and a control unit that extends the life of the battery by controlling the illumination of the backlight. The backlight switch command turns “on” the backlight upon receiving a predetermined operational command. The predetermined operational command can be a pre-selected time period, a shifting operation, a mode change, etc. Also the control unit is operatively coupled to the backlight switch command to automatically turn “off” the backlight upon lapse of a predetermined time period after switching the backlight to be turned “on”. The backlight is preferably turned “on” for predetermined time period of less than 30 seconds. Preferably, the control unit prevents the backlight from being turned “on” that during selected hours, such as daylight hours, even if a predetermined operational command is received. A measuring device is preferably connected to the display unit to output the information on the display panel, such as bicycle speed, distance traveled, lap time, running time, current time, rider cadence, torque applied to the bottom bracket axle and shift position of the shifting mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Hitoshi Kishimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:43
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62J; B62J50/00; B62J50/20; B62J50/21; B62J50/22; B62J43/00; B62J43/30; B62M; B62M25/00; B62M2025/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A bicycle display unit comprising: a display member; a backlight arranged to illuminate said display member for viewing said display member; a backlight switch command operatively coupled to said backlight to selectively turn said backlight on and off, said backlight switch command turning on said backlight in response to a predetermined operational command; and a control unit being operatively coupled to said backlight switch command to automatically turn off said backlight upon lapse of a predetermined time period after said backlight being turned on, said predetermined time period being less than 30 seconds, said control unit preventing said backlight from being turned on during a selected time interval even if said predetermined operational command is received.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A bicycle display unit comprising: a display member; a backlight arranged to illuminate said display member for viewing said display member; a backlight switch command operatively coupled to said backlight to selectively turn said backlight on and off, said backlight switch command turning on said backlight in response to a predetermined operational command; and a control unit being operatively coupled to said backlight switch command to automatically turn off said backlight upon lapse of a predetermined time period after said backlight being turned on, said predetermined time period being less than 30 seconds, said control unit preventing said backlight from being turned on during a selected time interval even if said predetermined operational command is received.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a measuring device connected to said display member to output information on said display member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 2 , wherein said measuring device includes a timing device that produces said predetermined operational command to signal said backlight to be turned on.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a battery unit electrically coupled to said backlight to supply electrical energy thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said display member and said backlight are mounted to a housing which has a mounting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit includes a microprocessor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is operatively coupled to a bicycle shifting assembly that produces said predetermined operational command during a shifting operation to signal said backlight to be turned on.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 7 , wherein said bicycle shifting assembly includes at least one shifting member with said predetermined operational command being produced by operation of said at least one shifting member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 7 , wherein said bicycle shifting assembly includes an automatic mode that automatically shifts gears and produces said predetermined operational command.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is operatively coupled to a bicycle shifting assembly that produces said predetermined operational command during a mode changing operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit has an adjustment to change the length of said selected time interval.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said selected time interval of said control unit is factory preset.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined time period is between one seconds and six seconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit has an adjustment to change the length of said predetermined time period.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said display member has a display surface for displaying information and said backlight is arranged to indirectly illuminate said front display surface for viewing said information displayed thereon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , wherein said display member is an LCD display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a bicycle shifting assembly operatively coupled to said control unit to display shifting information on said display member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 17 , wherein said bicycle shifting assembly includes at least one shifting member with said display member, said backlight and said bicycle shifting assembly being mountable on a bicycle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 18 , wherein said shifting member, said backlight, said display member and said bicycle shifting assembly being mounted together in a housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 18 , wherein said shifting member, said backlight, said display member and said control unit being mounted together in a housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 18 , wherein said backlight, said display member and said control unit being mounted together in a first housing, while said shifting member is mounted in a second housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A bicycle display unit according to claim 2 , wherein said measuring device includes a speed determining component.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |