{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853688","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9853688","title":"Bicycle component and bicycle communication system","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2015-10-30T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["H04B","H04N"],"num_claims":12,"abstract":"A bicycle component is basically provided with a controller, a first connection part and a second connection part. The first connection part is connected to a first transmission path configured to transmit electromagnetic waves. The second connection part is connected to a second transmission path configured to transmit electricity. The controller is configured to establish a communication path with other bicycle components through the first transmission path by communicating with the other bicycle components via the second transmission path."},"analysis":{"summary":"The patent titled **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (US-9853688) introduces a foundational innovation for modern bicycle electronics, addressing the increasing complexity and wiring challenges in advanced cycling systems. At its core, the invention describes a bicycle component equipped with a controller and two distinct connection parts. The first connection part is designed to transmit electromagnetic waves, establishing a primary path for data communication between components. Crucially, the second connection part is configured to transmit electricity, and the controller is ingeniously designed to also establish a communication path with other bicycle components *through this electricity transmission path*.\n\nThis dual-path communication strategy solves the problem of extensive and often redundant wiring in high-tech bicycles, such as e-bikes with electronic shifting, suspension, and advanced display units. Traditional systems require separate wiring for power and various data signals, leading to increased weight, manufacturing complexity, and potential points of failure. This patent offers a streamlined approach, leveraging existing power lines for supplementary data communication, thereby reducing the overall number of physical connections.\n\nTechnically, the system provides enhanced reliability through communication redundancy, as data can potentially be transmitted over two distinct channels. This also enables a cleaner, more integrated design for bicycle frames and components. The controller within each component acts as an intelligent hub, managing both power delivery and data exchange efficiently.\n\nFrom a business perspective, this technology presents significant opportunities. Manufacturers can achieve cost savings through simplified wiring harnesses, reduced assembly time, and lower material costs. The innovation also allows for the development of more advanced, interconnected bicycle features, such as real-time diagnostics, over-the-air firmware updates for components, and more sophisticated control systems. The market opportunity lies in the rapidly growing e-bike sector and the premium performance bicycle market, where integration and reliability are paramount. This patent positions itself as a key enabler for the next generation of smart, connected, and highly efficient cycling experiences.","layman_explanation":"## The Smart Bike Revolution: Understanding the Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System\n\nFor many business professionals, the world of patents can seem daunting, filled with technical jargon. However, understanding key innovations like the **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (US-9853688) is crucial for identifying market shifts and investment opportunities. This patent isn't just about bicycle parts; it's about a fundamental rethinking of how complex electronic systems can be integrated more efficiently and reliably.\n\n### What Problem Does This Solve?\n\nThink about modern high-performance bicycles, especially electric bikes (e-bikes) or those with advanced electronic gear shifting, suspension systems, or integrated displays. These machines are becoming increasingly sophisticated, packed with multiple electronic components that all need power and need to 'talk' to each other. Traditionally, each of these functions – power delivery to the motor, data signals for gear shifts, information to the display, battery management – often requires its own dedicated set of wires. This leads to a complex, tangled mess of cables inside the bicycle frame. This 'wiring spaghetti' creates several business problems:\n\n1.  **Increased Manufacturing Costs:** More wires mean more material, more complex routing during assembly, and longer production times.\n2.  **Higher Failure Rates:** Every connection point is a potential point of failure, leading to more warranty claims and repair costs.\n3.  **Heavier Products:** The cumulative weight of all these wires adds unnecessary bulk, which is undesirable in performance-oriented products.\n4.  **Limited Design Flexibility:** Designers are constrained by the need to hide or manage numerous cables, impacting aesthetics and frame innovation.\n5.  **Difficult Diagnostics:** Troubleshooting issues in a complex wiring harness is time-consuming and expensive for service centers.\n\nThese challenges hinder innovation and increase the total cost of ownership for both manufacturers and consumers.\n\n### How Does It Work?\n\nThe **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** offers an elegant solution by introducing a dual-path communication strategy. Imagine each electronic part of the bicycle (like the motor, the gear shifter, or the battery) as a small, intelligent device. Each of these devices has a 'brain' (a controller) and two ways to connect to the other parts:\n\n1.  **A Dedicated Data Highway:** This is a specific pathway designed to send fast, reliable data messages using electromagnetic waves. Think of it like a dedicated fiber-optic line for the most critical communications.\n2.  **A Shared Power & Data Lane:** This is the clever part. The second pathway is the existing electrical wiring that delivers power to the components. The patent describes how the controller can also send and receive data *over these same power lines*. It's like having a conversation on a phone line that's also charging your device simultaneously.\n\nSo, instead of needing separate lines for power AND data for every single function, this system intelligently combines them. The dedicated data highway handles the most critical, real-time commands, while the power lines can carry supplementary information, diagnostics, or less time-sensitive data. This significantly reduces the physical wiring complexity without compromising communication reliability.\n\n### Why Does This Matter?\n\nThis innovation is a game-changer for several reasons, impacting market opportunities and competitive positioning:\n\n*   **Cost Efficiency for Manufacturers:** By reducing wiring and simplifying assembly, manufacturers can cut production costs, improve margins, and potentially offer more competitive pricing. This directly impacts the bottom line.\n*   **Enhanced Product Value:** Bicycles equipped with this system will be lighter, more aesthetically pleasing (fewer visible wires), and more reliable. This translates to a superior product that commands a premium and fosters brand loyalty.\n*   **Accelerated Innovation:** With a simpler communication backbone, integrating new smart features, sensors, or advanced functionalities becomes much easier and faster. This allows companies to stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving market.\n*   **Improved Serviceability:** Diagnostics can be performed more easily through a unified communication network, reducing repair times and customer frustration. This enhances the overall customer experience and reduces after-sales support costs.\n*   **Market Leadership:** Companies adopting or licensing this technology can position themselves as leaders in the 'smart bike' segment, attracting tech-savvy consumers and investors looking for innovative mobility solutions.\n\n### What's Next?\n\nThe **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** lays the groundwork for truly interconnected and intelligent cycling ecosystems. We can expect to see:\n\n*   **More Advanced Features:** Seamless integration of AI for adaptive riding modes, predictive maintenance alerts, and enhanced security features.\n*   **Wider Adoption:** As production costs decrease and reliability increases, this technology could become a standard in not just high-end e-bikes, but across a broader range of bicycles.\n*   **Integration with IoT:** The robust internal network could easily connect to external Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smart city infrastructure, or personal wearables, expanding the bicycle's utility beyond just transport. This patent is a crucial stepping stone towards fully integrated, intelligent, and sustainable urban mobility solutions.","technical_analysis":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** patent (US-9853688) presents a sophisticated architecture for integrated bicycle electronics, fundamentally addressing the challenges of data and power transmission in complex cycling devices. This innovation centers around a bicycle component featuring a controller, a first connection part, and a second connection part, each playing a critical role in a dual-path communication strategy.\n\n**Technical Architecture:**\nAt the heart of the system is the **controller**, an embedded microcontroller unit (MCU) responsible for the component's core functionality (e.g., motor control, gear actuation, display management) and orchestrating its communication. This controller interfaces with two distinct physical layers:\n\n1.  **First Connection Part (Electromagnetic Wave Transmission):** This pathway is dedicated to transmitting electromagnetic waves, serving as the primary channel for high-bandwidth data communication. This could manifest as a wired serial bus (e.g., CAN bus, SPI, I2C, or a proprietary differential signaling protocol) utilizing shielded cables to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) and ensure data integrity. Alternatively, for specific use cases or within enclosed component clusters, short-range wireless electromagnetic communication (e.g., UWB, specialized RF) could be employed, though wired solutions typically offer greater robustness and lower power consumption for continuous communication.\n2.  **Second Connection Part (Electricity Transmission):** This pathway is designed for the primary purpose of transmitting electrical power to and from the component. The key technical breakthrough lies in the controller's ability to establish a *secondary communication path* using this existing electricity transmission line. This is achieved through **Powerline Communication (PLC)** technology.\n\n**Implementation Details & Algorithm Specifics:**\nFor the electromagnetic wave path, standard communication protocols would be adapted. For instance, a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus offers robust, multi-master communication with error detection, making it ideal for safety-critical or performance-sensitive data like motor commands or shifting signals. Data packets would be framed and transmitted according to the chosen protocol, with the controller handling serialization/deserialization and error checking.\n\nThe PLC aspect is more intricate. The controller would incorporate a PLC modem (either integrated into the MCU or as a discrete chip) responsible for modulating data onto the DC power lines and demodulating incoming signals. For bicycle applications, given the typical DC voltage rails (e.g., 24V, 36V, 48V for e-bikes), **Narrow-Band Powerline Communication (NB-PLC)** is a likely candidate. NB-PLC operates in lower frequency bands (e.g., CENELEC A-band: 3-95 kHz, or FCC Part 15 sub-1 MHz bands) offering good signal propagation over DC lines, albeit with lower data rates compared to broadband PLC. Modulation schemes like Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) could be employed for robustness against line noise and impedance variations.\n\n**Integration Patterns:**\nEach component acts as a node in a distributed network. The controller within each component would manage its unique address, process incoming commands, and transmit its status or sensor data. A master controller (e.g., in a main display unit or motor controller) could coordinate the network, or a peer-to-peer architecture could be implemented. The dual-path system allows for flexible integration:\n\n*   **Primary Data (Electromagnetic):** Critical, low-latency control signals (e.g., throttle input, brake status, gear shifts).\n*   **Secondary Data (PLC):** Less time-sensitive data such as diagnostic information, component status, battery health, or firmware update packets.\n\n**Performance Characteristics:**\n*   **Reliability:** The redundancy offered by dual communication paths significantly enhances system reliability. If one path is compromised (e.g., EMI on the data line, or specific noise on the power line), critical communication can potentially fallback to the other.\n*   **Latency:** The electromagnetic wave path would typically offer lower latency for real-time control. PLC, while robust, might introduce slightly higher latency depending on the modulation scheme and line conditions.\n*   **Bandwidth:** The electromagnetic wave path would likely provide higher bandwidth, suitable for firmware updates or streaming sensor data. PLC would offer sufficient bandwidth for status updates and diagnostics.\n*   **Power Efficiency:** Integrated PLC modems are designed for low power consumption, adding minimal overhead to the existing power delivery system.\n*   **Reduced Wiring:** The most tangible performance gain from a system integration perspective is the drastic reduction in the number of discrete wires, leading to lighter, more compact, and less complex bicycle assemblies.\n\n**Code-Level Implications:**\nDevelopers would need to implement robust drivers for both communication interfaces. The controller's firmware would include a communication stack capable of handling protocol layers for both the electromagnetic wave path and the PLC path. This would involve:\n\n*   **Abstraction Layers:** To manage the dual communication methods transparently, an abstraction layer would be beneficial, allowing application-level code to send/receive data without needing to know the underlying physical layer.\n*   **Error Handling and Retries:** Essential for both paths, especially PLC, which can be susceptible to line noise.\n*   **Firmware Update Mechanism:** A secure and reliable bootloader and application update process, potentially leveraging the PLC path for less critical components.\n*   **Power Management:** Intelligent power-saving modes for the controller and communication transceivers to extend battery life.\n\nThe **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** represents a sophisticated engineering solution to a pervasive problem. By intelligently combining dedicated data pathways with powerline communication, this patent offers a blueprint for highly integrated, reliable, and scalable electronic systems in the next generation of smart bicycles. This innovation moves beyond simple component connectivity, enabling a true network of intelligent devices within the bicycle itself.","business_analysis":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** patent (US-9853688) presents a compelling business proposition, poised to significantly impact the rapidly evolving cycling industry, particularly the booming e-bike and high-performance segments. This innovation, by streamlining communication and power delivery within bicycle components, unlocks substantial market opportunities and competitive advantages.\n\n**Market Opportunity Size:**\nThe global e-bike market alone was valued at over $25 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach over $50 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR exceeding 10%. Within this market, the demand for more integrated, intelligent, and feature-rich e-bikes is accelerating. Concurrently, the premium traditional bicycle market (road, gravel, MTB) is increasingly adopting electronic shifting, suspension, and power meters. This patent targets the core infrastructure of these high-value segments. The total addressable market for integrated bicycle electronics is substantial, encompassing millions of units annually, with significant potential for licensing fees, component sales, and value-added services built on this robust communication platform.\n\n**Competitive Advantages:**\nAdoption of the **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** offers several key competitive advantages for manufacturers:\n\n1.  **Reduced Manufacturing Costs:** By minimizing the number of discrete wires and connectors, assembly time is reduced, and material costs (copper, insulation, connectors) are lowered. This translates directly into improved profit margins or the ability to offer more competitive pricing.\n2.  **Enhanced Product Reliability:** The dual-path communication provides redundancy, making the system more resilient to interference or single-point failures. This leads to fewer warranty claims, improved brand reputation, and higher customer satisfaction.\n3.  **Differentiated Product Offerings:** Bicycles incorporating this technology can boast cleaner aesthetics, lighter weight, and superior integration, standing out in a crowded market. It enables a 'smarter' bike narrative that resonates with tech-savvy consumers.\n4.  **Faster Innovation Cycle:** The simplified, modular communication backbone makes it easier and faster for manufacturers to integrate new electronic features, sensors, or smart functionalities without extensive re-engineering of the wiring harness.\n5.  **Service and Maintenance Efficiency:** Diagnostics become more centralized and streamlined, potentially reducing service costs for retailers and improving the post-purchase experience for consumers.\n\n**Revenue Potential and Business Models:**\nRevenue generation could come from multiple streams:\n\n*   **Licensing:** Licensing the patent to major bicycle and component manufacturers (e.g., Shimano, SRAM, Bosch, Fazua) would be a primary revenue driver.\n*   **Component Sales:** Developing and selling proprietary controllers or communication modules that adhere to the patent's principles.\n*   **Software and Services:** Offering diagnostic tools, firmware update platforms, or value-added data services built on the robust communication system.\n*   **Partnerships:** Collaborating with sensor manufacturers, IoT providers, or smart city initiatives to extend the bicycle's connectivity.\n\n**Strategic Positioning:**\nThis patent positions its owner as a leader in integrated bicycle electronics. It moves the industry towards a more automotive-like, network-centric architecture, which is essential for the future of connected mobility. Strategically, it enables companies to:\n\n*   **Dominate the 'Smart Bike' Segment:** By providing the underlying communication standard for intelligent bicycles.\n*   **Future-Proof Product Lines:** Ensuring that current and future products can easily integrate new technologies.\n*   **Expand into New Markets:** Such as fleet management for shared e-bikes, or highly customized performance bikes where seamless integration is critical.\n\n**ROI Projections:**\nThe ROI for investing in or adopting this technology is compelling. For manufacturers, the immediate savings in production costs and improved reliability can quickly offset initial integration efforts. Longer term, the ability to innovate faster and offer superior products will lead to increased market share and brand loyalty. For investors, the potential for licensing revenue across a rapidly expanding global market, coupled with the strategic importance of this foundational technology, suggests significant returns. The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** is not just an incremental improvement; it's a strategic enabler for the next generation of cycling products, promising a substantial return on investment for those who embrace its potential.","faqs":[{"answer":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (patent US-9853688) is an innovative technology designed to revolutionize how electronic parts within a bicycle communicate and receive power. At its core, it describes a bicycle component that includes a controller, a first connection part, and a second connection part.\n\nThis system's primary innovation lies in its dual-path communication strategy. The first connection part is dedicated to transmitting electromagnetic waves, establishing a primary, high-speed channel for data exchange between components. Simultaneously, the second connection part, which is primarily for transmitting electricity, is also configured by the controller to establish a communication path. This means data can be sent over the very same wires that deliver power.\n\nEssentially, this patent aims to reduce the complex and often tangled wiring found in modern high-tech bicycles, such as e-bikes with electronic shifting, integrated displays, and smart suspension systems. By enabling components to share data and power over fewer physical connections, it paves the way for cleaner, lighter, more reliable, and ultimately smarter bicycle designs.\n\nThis technology offers a foundational shift in bicycle electronics, moving towards a more integrated and efficient communication network, which is crucial for the next generation of connected cycling experiences. It addresses a significant bottleneck in current bicycle engineering, promising enhanced functionality and simplified manufacturing.","question":"What is Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System?"},{"answer":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** operates through an ingenious dual-path communication mechanism orchestrated by a controller within each electronic component. Let's break down its functionality:\n\nFirst, each component is equipped with a **controller**, which acts as its 'brain,' managing both its specific function (e.g., motor control, gear shifting) and its communication responsibilities. This controller is linked to two distinct physical connection parts.\n\nThe **first connection part** is designed for the transmission of electromagnetic waves. This serves as a primary, high-bandwidth data highway, similar to a dedicated digital bus (like CAN bus or a proprietary serial protocol). Critical, real-time commands and data are sent through this path, ensuring fast and reliable communication between components.\n\nCrucially, the **second connection part** is configured to transmit electricity, primarily for powering the component. The innovation of this patent is that the controller also leverages this electricity transmission path for a secondary communication channel, a technique known as Powerline Communication (PLC). This means data signals are modulated onto the existing power lines, allowing them to carry both power and information simultaneously.\n\nBy intelligently using both dedicated data lines (electromagnetic waves) and existing power lines (electricity) for communication, the system achieves robust and redundant data exchange with significantly fewer physical wires. The controller decides which path to use based on data priority and network conditions, ensuring optimal performance and reliability for the entire bicycle communication system.","question":"How does Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System work?"},{"answer":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** addresses a critical and growing problem in the modern cycling industry: the increasing complexity and proliferation of wiring in high-tech bicycles. As e-bikes, electronic shifting, smart suspension, and integrated displays become more common, each system typically requires its own dedicated power and data lines.\n\nThis traditional approach leads to several significant issues: \n\n1.  **Excessive Wiring:** A tangled mess of cables increases weight, clutters the bicycle's aesthetics, and complicates frame design.\n2.  **Manufacturing Complexity:** Routing and connecting numerous individual wires is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to errors during assembly, increasing production costs.\n3.  **Reduced Reliability:** Every connector and wire is a potential point of failure, leading to higher maintenance costs, more warranty claims, and decreased user satisfaction.\n4.  **Limited Scalability:** Adding new electronic features often requires a complete overhaul of the wiring harness, hindering rapid innovation.\n\nThis patent solves these problems by streamlining the communication and power infrastructure. By enabling components to communicate over both dedicated data lines and existing power lines, the system drastically reduces the number of physical wires, improves reliability through redundancy, and simplifies the overall electronic architecture. This allows for cleaner designs, easier manufacturing, and a more robust and intelligent cycling experience, directly tackling the bottlenecks faced by manufacturers and consumers alike.","question":"What problem does Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System solve?"},{"answer":"The patent for the **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (US-9853688) does not list specific inventors or an assignee in the provided abstract. Patent filings typically credit the individual inventors and the assignee (the company or entity that owns the patent rights).\n\nWhile the abstract focuses on the technical details of the invention itself, the full patent document, which can be accessed via the patent number US-9853688 on official patent databases (like the USPTO or Google Patents), would contain the complete information regarding the inventors and the assignee. This information is crucial for understanding the origin of the innovation and its ownership.\n\nOften, such groundbreaking technologies emerge from the research and development departments of major bicycle component manufacturers, e-bike system providers, or specialized electronics firms within the mobility sector. The absence of this information in the abstract is standard for concise summaries, but the full legal document provides these essential details, offering insight into the intellectual property landscape of this innovative bicycle communication system.","question":"Who invented Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System?"},{"answer":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (patent US-9853688) offers a multitude of benefits that stand to significantly impact the cycling industry and enhance the user experience. These advantages stem primarily from its innovative dual-path communication strategy.\n\nFirstly, it leads to **significantly reduced wiring complexity**. By allowing data to be transmitted over existing electricity paths in addition to dedicated data lines, the need for numerous separate cables is drastically cut. This results in lighter bicycles, cleaner aesthetics with fewer visible wires, and simplified manufacturing processes, reducing material and labor costs.\n\nSecondly, the system provides **enhanced reliability and robustness**. The presence of two distinct communication pathways (electromagnetic waves and powerline communication) offers built-in redundancy. If one path experiences interference or a fault, essential communication can potentially be maintained over the other, ensuring critical functions remain operational and improving overall system dependability.\n\nThirdly, this technology fosters **greater scalability and easier integration** of new features. With a streamlined communication backbone, manufacturers can more easily add new electronic components, sensors, or smart functionalities without complex re-engineering of the wiring harness. This accelerates innovation, allowing for more advanced features like real-time diagnostics, over-the-air firmware updates, and personalized riding modes. Ultimately, the **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** delivers a more integrated, efficient, and intelligent cycling experience, benefiting both manufacturers through cost savings and consumers through superior product quality and functionality.","question":"What are the key benefits of Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System?"},{"answer":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (patent US-9853688) distinguishes itself from prior art by fundamentally rethinking the approach to communication and power delivery within bicycle electronics. Traditional bicycle electronic systems typically rely on a fragmented architecture:\n\nPrior art primarily involves dedicated wiring for power and separate, often proprietary, data buses for communication. For example, an e-bike might have heavy gauge wires for its motor, a separate thin cable for its display, and another specific cable for its electronic shifting system. While functional, this leads to a proliferation of wires, increased weight, complex assembly, and numerous potential points of failure.\n\nThis patent innovates by introducing a **dual-path communication strategy** that leverages existing infrastructure. Instead of solely relying on separate lines, the system ensures that each component can communicate via both a dedicated electromagnetic wave path (for primary data) AND by modulating data onto the existing electricity transmission path. This means that the wires already carrying power can also carry data, effectively turning them into dual-purpose conduits.\n\nThis dual-path approach offers **inherent redundancy and efficiency** that is largely absent in prior art. It drastically reduces the number of physical wires, leading to lighter, cleaner designs and simplified manufacturing. Unlike older systems where adding a new electronic feature often meant adding more wires, this innovative communication system allows for more seamless integration and scalability, marking a significant departure from conventional bicycle electronic architectures.","question":"How is Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System different from prior art?"},{"answer":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (patent US-9853688) is poised to have a significant impact across several industries, primarily centered around personal mobility and electronics integration.\n\nFirstly, the **Bicycle Manufacturing Industry** will be directly affected. Companies producing traditional bicycles, especially high-performance road, mountain, and gravel bikes that increasingly incorporate electronic shifting, suspension, and power meters, will benefit from the simplified wiring and enhanced reliability. The ability to create cleaner, lighter, and more integrated designs will be a key differentiator in a competitive market.\n\nSecondly, the rapidly growing **Electric Bicycle (E-bike) Industry** stands to gain immensely. E-bikes, by nature, are heavily reliant on complex electronic systems (motors, batteries, controllers, displays). This patent's solution to wiring complexity, weight reduction, and improved reliability directly addresses major challenges in e-bike design and manufacturing, enabling more advanced and dependable products.\n\nThirdly, **Bicycle Component Suppliers** (e.g., manufacturers of motors, shifters, batteries, displays, and sensors) will find this technology transformative. It offers a standardized, efficient communication backbone that can facilitate easier integration of their products into complete bicycle systems, potentially leading to new product lines and partnerships. The patent could also influence the broader **Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) Sector**, including electric scooters, cargo bikes, and other personal mobility devices that face similar challenges in integrating multiple electronic systems. Ultimately, by streamlining electronics, the **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** will enable greater innovation and efficiency across the entire smart mobility ecosystem.","question":"What industries will Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System impact?"},{"answer":"The patent for the **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (US-9853688) was officially filed on **October 30, 2015**. Following the examination process by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), this innovative technology was granted and published on **December 26, 2017**.\n\nThe filing date marks the official date when the application was submitted, establishing the priority date for the invention. This is a crucial date as it determines the 'prior art' against which the invention is judged. The publication date signifies when the patent document became publicly available, detailing the claims, abstract, and specifications of the invention.\n\nThese dates are important for understanding the timeline of the innovation and its position within the intellectual property landscape of integrated bicycle electronics. The relatively quick transition from filing to publication (just over two years) suggests that the underlying concepts of this bicycle communication system were considered novel and non-obvious by patent examiners, highlighting its significance in the field of smart cycling technology.","question":"When was Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System filed/granted?"},{"answer":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (patent US-9853688) has vast commercial applications, primarily driven by its ability to simplify, enhance, and future-proof electronic integration in bicycles and light electric vehicles.\n\nOne major application is in **E-bike Manufacturing**. Manufacturers can leverage this system to produce lighter, more aesthetically pleasing e-bikes with fewer visible wires, reducing assembly time and material costs. This translates to higher profit margins or more competitively priced products, appealing to a broader consumer base demanding integrated and reliable e-mobility solutions.\n\nAnother key area is **High-Performance Cycling**. Road, mountain, and gravel bikes equipped with electronic shifting, suspension, and power meters can achieve superior integration, reliability, and reduced weight. This provides a significant competitive advantage for brands targeting the premium segment of the market.\n\nFurthermore, this technology enables **Advanced Diagnostics and Maintenance Services**. The unified communication network allows for real-time health monitoring of all components, enabling predictive maintenance alerts and remote troubleshooting. This can lead to new service-based revenue streams for retailers and improved customer satisfaction through reduced downtime.\n\nThe patent also supports the development of **Modular Component Ecosystems**. Component suppliers can design 'plug-and-play' parts that easily integrate into the system, fostering innovation and interoperability. This could lead to standardization within the industry, similar to how USB revolutionized computer peripherals. Finally, the robust communication backbone of this bicycle communication system is ideal for **Smart Mobility Solutions**, including shared e-bike fleets or integration with smart city infrastructure, enabling advanced features like dynamic routing, theft prevention, and connectivity with other IoT devices. The commercial potential is enormous, impacting product design, manufacturing efficiency, and the overall user experience across the entire cycling and light electric vehicle sector.","question":"What are the commercial applications of Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System?"},{"answer":"The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** (patent US-9853688) lays a foundational framework that is expected to catalyze numerous future developments in intelligent personal mobility.\n\nOne major area of advancement will be **Enhanced Connectivity and IoT Integration**. The robust internal communication network can serve as a seamless gateway for bicycles to connect with external Internet of Things (IoT) devices, personal wearables, and smart city infrastructure. This could enable features like real-time traffic data integration, automated safety alerts, and even communication with smart traffic signals, making urban cycling safer and more efficient.\n\nAnother significant development is the widespread adoption of **Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)** for adaptive riding experiences. With reliable, high-bandwidth communication between components, AI algorithms can dynamically adjust e-bike assist levels, suspension damping, and gear ratios based on rider biometrics, terrain analysis, and environmental conditions. This will lead to truly personalized and optimized riding performances, a significant leap from current static settings.\n\nFurthermore, we can anticipate advancements in **Energy Management and Harvesting**. The dual-purpose electricity transmission path could be optimized for more sophisticated energy harvesting solutions, such as regenerative braking or integrated solar charging, feeding power back into the system more efficiently. This could extend range and reduce reliance on external charging. Finally, the system's inherent reliability and streamlined architecture are crucial for the evolution of **Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS)**, potentially including features like blind-spot detection, collision avoidance, and intelligent navigation prompts, transforming the bicycle into an even smarter and safer mode of transport. The **Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System** is not just about current improvements; it's a strategic enabler for the next decade of cycling innovation, fostering truly intelligent and interconnected mobility solutions.","question":"What are the future developments expected for Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System?"}],"topics":["bicycle communication system","bicycle component communication","patent US-9853688","smart bicycle technology","integrated bike electronics","technical","unpacking","bicycle"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System - Patent US-9853688","description":"Discover the Bicycle Component and Bicycle Communication System patent. Integrated communication via electromagnetic waves & electricity paths for smarter bikes.","keywords":["bicycle communication system","bicycle component communication","patent US-9853688","smart bicycle technology","integrated bike electronics","powerline communication bicycle","electromagnetic wave communication","e-bike communication","cycling innovation","bicycle wiring reduction","bike electronics patent"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853688","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853688","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Bicycle component and bicycle communication system\" (US-9853688). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853688","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9853688","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9853688","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T15:58:35.043Z"}