Method for controlling and system for charging a battery power supply unit

1. A method for controlling the charging of a rechargeable battery power supply unit for a bicycle electronic device, comprising the steps of:

providing a rechargeable battery power supply unit having a closed operating temperature range between a low operating temperature and a high operating temperature;

providing a battery charging unit;

providing a sensor for detecting at least one temperature of the power supply unit;

defining a closed charging temperature range having predetermined low temperature and high temperature thresholds;

providing a power supply unit heating element;

comparing the detected temperature against the low temperature and high temperature thresholds; and

activating the power supply unit heating element whenever the detected temperature is lower than or equal to the low temperature threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of providing an external energy source and supplying electrical energy to the power supply unit.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of supplying electrical energy only occurs when the detected temperature is within the closed charging temperature range.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein activation of the battery charging unit is prohibited whenever the detected temperature is outside the closed charging temperature range.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the low temperature threshold of the closed charging temperature range is higher than the low operating temperature of the closed operating temperature range.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the power supply unit heating element is activated until the detected temperature is about 5° C. higher than the low temperature threshold of the closed charging temperature range.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of activating the power supply unit heating element provides heat as a function of a difference between the low temperature threshold of the closed charging temperature range and the detected temperature.

8. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of detecting at least one temperature of the power supply unit comprises detecting a first temperature for controlling the execution of the step of supplying electrical energy and a second temperature for controlling the execution of the step of supplying heat energy.

9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the closed charging temperature range is within the closed operating temperature range associated of the power supply unit.

10. A power supply system for a bicycle electronic device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery power supply unit having a predefined closed charging temperature range with predetermined low temperature and high temperature thresholds;

at least one sensor of a temperature of the power supply unit;

at least one selectively activatable heating element, that can be thermally associated with the power supply unit; and

a heating controller that receives in input an output of the at least one temperature sensor and actuates the heating element whenever a detected temperature is lower than or equal to a lower temperature threshold within a closed charging temperature range characteristic of the power supply unit.

11. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising an electrical circuit for receiving energy from an external energy source and for selectively supplying charging energy to the power supply unit.

12. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising a power regulator connected between a power supply line of the system and the heating element, and driven by the heating controller to selectively actuate the at least one heating element.

13. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising a charge controller that receives in input an output of the at least one temperature sensor and controls the electrical circuit to actuate the supply of electrical charging energy only when the detected temperature is within the closed charging temperature range.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises at least one first temperature sensor connected to the charge controller and at least one second temperature sensor connected to the heating controller.

15. The system according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one electronic device for controlling an electronic gearshift and/or for acquiring, displaying, and controlling bicycle riding parameters and other functions.

16. Method for controlling the charging of a rechargeable battery power supply unit for a bicycle electronic device, comprising the steps of:

defining a closed operating temperature range characteristic of the power supply unit between a first predetermined low temperature threshold and a first predetermined high temperature threshold,

defining a closed charging temperature range characteristic of the power supply unit between a second predetermined low temperature threshold and a second predetermined high temperature threshold,

wherein the first predetermined low temperature threshold is lower than the second predetermined low temperature threshold,

wherein the first predetermined high temperature threshold is higher than the second predetermined high temperature threshold,

detecting at least one temperature of the power supply unit, and

supplying heat energy to the power supply unit whenever the detected temperature is lower than or equal to a lower temperature threshold within said closed charging temperature range characteristic of the power supply unit.

17. Method for controlling the charging of a rechargeable battery power supply unit for a bicycle electronic device, comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one temperature of the power supply unit; and

supplying heat energy to the power supply unit when the detected temperature is lower than or equal to a lower temperature threshold within a closed charging temperature range characteristic of the power supply unit wherein the step of supplying heat energy to the power supply unit is carried out until the detected temperature becomes higher than an upper temperature threshold.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the upper temperature threshold is lower than an upper limit of the closed charging temperature range.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the upper temperature threshold is about 25° C. lower than an upper limit of the closed charging temperature range.

20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the upper temperature threshold is about 15° C. higher than an lower limit of the closed charging temperature range.

21. Power supply system for a bicycle electronic device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery power supply unit;

at least one sensor of a temperature of the power supply unit;

at least one selectively activatable heating element, that can be thermally associated with the power supply unit; and

a heating controller that receives in input an output of the at least one temperature sensor and actuates the heating element when the detected temperature is lower than or equal to a lower temperature threshold within a closed charging temperature range characteristic of the power supply unit,

wherein said heating controller actuates said heating element until the detected temperature becomes higher than an upper temperature threshold.

22. A power supply system for a bicycle electronic device, comprising:

a rechargeable battery power supply unit;

at least one sensor of a temperature of the power supply unit;

at least one heating element, that is selectively activatable for thermal association with the power supply unit; and

a heating controller that receives in input an output of the at least one temperature sensor and actuates the heating element when the detected temperature is lower than or equal to a lower temperature threshold within a closed charging temperature range characteristic of the power supply unit,

wherein the lower temperature threshold is higher than a lower limit of the closed charging temperature range.

23. The system according to claim 22 , wherein the lower temperature threshold is higher by about 5° C. than a lower limit of the closed charging temperature range.