IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,932,347
Granted Patent B2
US 11,932,347 · App. 16/574,796 · Granted Mar 19, 2024

Control device and transmission system

Inventors: Satoshi Shahana (Osaka, JP); Mitsuhiko Kawasaki (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Shimano Inc.
B62M25/08B60L50/20B62M9/122H02J7/1407H04B1/3827B60L2200/12B62J45/20B62J45/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,932,347
App. No.
16/574,796
Granted
Mar 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control device and a transmission system are configured to improve riding comfort of a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller that is configured to control a transmission device of a human-powered vehicle so that a transmission ratio at which the vehicle is started becomes equal to a designated transmission ratio. The electronic controller is configured to set the designated transmission ratio based on reference information that excludes information related to a gradient of a road surface, information related to manual operation of the transmission device, and information related to propulsion assistance of the human-powered vehicle.

Claims (98)

1. A control device comprising:

an electronic controller configured to control a transmission device of a human-powered vehicle; and

a storage that stores a designated transmission ratio in an updateable manner, the designated transmission ratio being a transmission ratio to which the transmission device is controlled by the electronic controller at a time when the human-powered vehicle is stopped so that the transmission device is set to the designated transmission ratio before the human-powered vehicle is started into motion from a stopped state,

the electronic controller being further configured to

acquire reference information;

determine, based on the reference information, whether to maintain the designated transmission ratio or update the designated transmission ratio to be used a next time the vehicle is started,

execute a control to maintain or update the designated transmission ratio, and

control the transmission device to the designated transmission ratio at the time when the human-powered vehicle is stopped,

the reference information excluding information related to a gradient of a road surface, information related to manual operation of the transmission device, and information related to propulsion assistance of the human-powered vehicle.

2. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the reference information includes at least one of vehicle stop information related to a stopping state of the human-powered vehicle, riding information related to riding of the human-powered vehicle, rider information related to a rider riding the human-powered vehicle, and environment information related to a riding environment of the human-powered vehicle.

3. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein

the vehicle stop information includes information related to a transmission ratio at which the human-powered vehicle is stopped.

4. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to maintain the designated transmission ratio upon determining the transmission ratio at which the human-powered vehicle is stopped is larger than or equal to the designated transmission ratio.

5. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to update the designated transmission ratio to be equal to the transmission ratio at which the human-powered vehicle is stopped upon determining the transmission ratio at which the human-powered vehicle is stopped is smaller than the designated transmission ratio.

6. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein

the riding information includes information related to a load on the human-powered vehicle.

7. The control device according to claim 6 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is decreased upon determining the load on the human-powered vehicle is larger than or equal to a first load.

8. The control device according to claim 6 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to maintain the designated transmission ratio or update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is increased upon determining the load on the human-powered vehicle is smaller than a second load.

9. The control device according to claim 6 , wherein

the load on the human-powered vehicle includes at least one of cadence, torque acting on a crank of the human-powered vehicle, and power.

10. The control device according claim 2 , wherein

the riding information includes information related to an elevation gain of the human-powered vehicle.

11. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is decreased upon determining the elevation gain is larger than or equal to a first elevation gain.

12. The control device according to claim 10 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to maintain the designated transmission ratio or update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is increased upon determining the elevation gain is smaller than a second elevation gain.

13. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein

the rider information includes fatigue information related to fatigue of the rider.

14. The control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the fatigue information includes information related to a change in biological information.

15. The control device according to claim 14 , wherein

the biological information includes information related to a heart rate of the rider.

16. The control device according to claim 15 , wherein

the electronic controller updates the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is decreased upon determining the heart rate is increased by a first rate or greater.

17. The control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the fatigue information includes information related to a change in a load on the human-powered vehicle.

18. The control device according to claim 17 , wherein

the electronic controller updates the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is decreased upon determining the load on the human-powered vehicle is increased by a second rate or greater.

19. The control device according to claim 17 , wherein

the load on the human-powered vehicle includes at least one of cadence, torque acting on a crank of the human-powered vehicle, and power.

20. The control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the fatigue information includes information related to a driving time.

21. The control device according to claim 20 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is decreased upon determining the driving time is longer than or equal to a first driving time.

22. The control device according to claim 20 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to maintain the designated transmission ratio or update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is increased upon determining the driving time is shorter than a second driving time.

23. The control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the fatigue information includes information related to a rest time.

24. The control device according to claim 23 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to maintain the designated transmission ratio or update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is increased upon determining the rest time is longer than or equal to a first reset time.

25. The control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the fatigue information includes information related to an exercise amount of the rider.

26. The control device according to claim 25 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is decreased upon determining the exercise amount is greater than or equal to a first exercise amount.

27. The control device according to claim 25 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to maintain the designated transmission ratio or update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is increased upon determining the exercise amount is less than a second exercise amount.

28. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein

the environment information includes information related to a region in which the human-powered vehicle is ridden.

29. The control device according to claim 28 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to maintain the designated transmission ratio or update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is increased upon determining the region includes an on road region.

30. The control device according to claim 28 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to update the designated transmission ratio so that the designated transmission ratio is decreased upon determining the region includes an off road region.

31. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein

the electronic controller is further configured to take the gradient of the road surface into account when updating the designated transmission ratio.

32. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the transmission device as the human-powered vehicle stops so that the transmission ratio at which the vehicle is started becomes equal to the designated transmission ratio.

33. A transmission system comprising the control device according to claim 1 and further comprising:

the transmission device.

34. The transmission system according to claim 33 , wherein

the transmission device includes an internal shifting device.

35. A control device comprising:

an electronic controller configured to control a transmission device of a human-powered vehicle so that a transmission ratio at which the vehicle is started becomes equal to a designated transmission ratio;

the electronic controller being configured to set the designated transmission ratio based on reference information that excludes information related to a gradient of a road surface, information related to manual operation of the transmission device, and information related to propulsion assistance of the human-powered vehicle,

the reference information including at least one of vehicle stop information related to a stopping state of the human-powered vehicle, riding information related to riding of the human-powered vehicle, rider information related to a rider riding the human-powered vehicle, and environment information related to a riding environment of the human-powered vehicle

the rider information including fatigue information related to fatigue of the rider, the fatigue information including information related to a rest time, and

the electronic controller being configured to set the designated transmission ratio so that the transmission ratio at which the vehicle is started is started is decreased upon determining the rest time is shorter than a second rest time.

36. A control device comprising:

an electronic controller configured to control a transmission device of a human-powered vehicle; and

a storage that stores a designated transmission ratio in an updatable manner, the designated transmission ratio being a transmission ratio to which the transmission device is controlled by the electronic controller as a crank of the human-powered vehicle is rotated so that the transmission device is set to the designated transmission ratio as the human-powered vehicle is started into motion from a stopped state,

the electronic controller being further configured to

acquire reference information,

determine, based on the reference information, whether to maintain the designated transmission ratio or update the designated transmission ratio to be used a next time the vehicle is started,

execute a control to maintain or update the designated transmission ratio, and

control the transmission device as the crank of the human-powered vehicle rotates when the human-powered vehicle is started so that the transmission ratio at which the vehicle is started is equal to the designated transmission ratio,

the reference information excluding information related to a gradient of a road surface, information related to manual operation of the transmission device, and information related to propulsion assistance of the human-powered vehicle.

37. A transmission system comprising the control device according to claim 36 and further comprising:

the transmission device.

38. The transmission system according to claim 37 , wherein

the transmission device includes an external shifting device.

39. The transmission system according to claim 38 , wherein

the external shifting device includes a rear derailleur.

40. The transmission system according to claim 38 , wherein

the internal shifting device is provided in a hub of a rear wheel of the human-powered vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2019
From: SHAHANA, SATOSHI; KAWASAKI, MITSUHIKO
To: SHIMANO INC.
Reel/Frame 050418/0425 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-187293 · Oct 2, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200102050A1 · Apr 2, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,454,334