The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 25, 1993
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1992
Ralph G Colbert, Torrance, CA (US);
George Kerster, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Thomas A Nussmeier, Moorpark, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A gear shifting system for use on a derailleur equipped bicycle having automatic and manual modes of operation. A microcontroller is mounted to the bicycle frame. Sensors are also mounted to the frame to allow the microcontroller to determine the most efficient gear ratio based on the bicycle velocity and the user pedaling rate in the automatic mode of operation. Servomotors mounted to the bicycle frame are responsive to the outputs to drive the bicycle derailleur and provide the most efficient gear ratio. A control panel mounted to the bicycle handlebars allows the user to select either the automatic or manual operating mode, the latter allowing manual activation of the gear shifters through the microcontroller and servomotors. The microcontroller has at least two input capture functions responsive to bicycle velocity and the cadence, in the automatic mode, and two output compare functions which adjust the derailleurs accordingly.