IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,515,756
Granted Patent B2
US 12,515,756 · App. 18/304,312 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Electrical device and rotational device for human-powered vehicle

Inventor: Hitoshi Takayama (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
B62J45/421B62J45/411
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,515,756
App. No.
18/304,312
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical device of a rotational device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a force sensor and an electronic controller. The force sensor is configured to sense a force applied to the rotational device. The electronic controller is configured to adjust an output value of the force sensor at an adjustment timing in a case where vehicle information relating to the human-powered vehicle meets a determination condition. The electronic controller is configured not to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the vehicle information does not meet the determination condition.

Claims (73)

1 . An electrical device of a rotational device for a human-powered vehicle, comprising:

a force sensor configured to sense a force applied to the rotational device and configured to output an output value indicating the force applied to the rotational device; and

an electronic controller configured to adjust the output value of the force sensor at an adjustment timing in a case where vehicle information relating to the human-powered vehicle meets a determination condition, the electronic controller being configured not to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the vehicle information does not meet the determination condition.

2 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle information relates to a usage history of the human-powered vehicle.

3 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle information includes an elapsed time measured regardless of use of the human-powered vehicle,

the electronic controller is configured to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the elapsed time is longer than a first determination threshold, and

the electronic controller is configured not to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the elapsed time is shorter than the first determination threshold.

4 . The electrical device according to claim 3 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to reset the elapsed time in a case where the electronic controller adjusts the output value at the adjustment timing.

5 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle information includes a total period of use which is a total of periods of use during which the human-powered vehicle is in use state,

the electronic controller is configured to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the total period of use is longer than a second determination threshold, and

the electronic controller is configured not to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the total period of use is shorter than the second determination threshold.

6 . The electrical device according to claim 5 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to reset the total period of use in a case where the electronic controller adjusts the output value at the adjustment timing.

7 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle information includes a total travel distance which is a total of travel distances of the human-powered vehicle,

the electronic controller is configured to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the total travel distance is longer than a third determination threshold, and

the electronic controller is configured not to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the total travel distance is shorter than the third determination threshold.

8 . The electrical device according to claim 7 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to reset the total travel distance in a case where the electronic controller adjusts the output value at the adjustment timing.

9 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle information includes a total number of use of the human-powered vehicle,

the electronic controller is configured to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the total number of use is greater than a fourth determination threshold, and

the electronic controller is configured not to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in a case where the total number of use is less than the fourth determination threshold.

10 . The electrical device according to claim 9 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to reset the total number of use in a case where the electronic controller adjusts the output value at the adjustment timing.

11 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to reset the vehicle information in a case where the electronic controller adjusts the output value at the adjustment timing.

12 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the electronic controller includes a real-time clock configured to measure a passage of time.

13 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to change the determination condition in a case where an additional determination condition is met.

14 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to operate with first power consumption in a first state and to operate with second power consumption in a second state,

the second power consumption is lower than the first power consumption, and

the electronic controller is configured to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in the first state.

15 . The electrical device according to claim 14 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to change a state of the electronic controller from the first state to the second state in a case where, for a sleep determination time, the force sensed by the force sensor is lower than a force threshold.

16 . The electrical device according to claim 14 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to adjust the output value at the adjustment timing in the first state before the electronic controller changes the state of the electronic controller from the first state to the second state.

17 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a position sensor configured to sense a rotational position of the rotational device, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to calculate a reference rotational force in a reference state where the force sensed by the force sensor is lower than a force threshold and the rotational position sensed by the position sensor does not change.

18 . The electrical device according to claim 17 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to calculate, at the adjustment timing, a difference between the reference rotational force and the force sensed by the force sensor in the reference state.

19 . The electrical device according to claim 18 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to store the difference calculated based on the reference rotational force.

20 . The electrical device according to claim 18 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to subtract the difference from the force sensed by the force sensor to adjust the output value in a rotation state where the rotational position sensed by the position sensor changes.

21 . The electrical device according to claim 18 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to calculate the difference at the adjustment timing in a case where the reference state continues for a determination time.

22 . The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the electronic controller is configured to adjust the output value without a user input indicating adjustment of the output value.

23 . A rotational device for a human-powered vehicle, comprising:

a crank arm; and

the electrical device according to claim 1 .

24 . The rotational device according to claim 23 , wherein

the electrical device is at least partially provided to the crank arm.

25 . The rotational device according to claim 23 , further comprising:

a crank axle; and

a sprocket, wherein

the crank arm is secured to the crank axle.

26 . The rotational device according to claim 25 , wherein

the electrical device is at least partially provided to at least one of the crank axle, the crank arm, and the sprocket.

27 . A rotational device for a human-powered vehicle, comprising:

a pedal axle;

a pedal body rotatably coupled to the pedal axle; and

the electrical device according to claim 1 .

28 . The rotational device according to claim 27 , wherein

the electrical device is at least partially provided to at least one of the pedal axle and the pedal body.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2023
From: TAKAYAMA, HITOSHI
To: SHIMANO INC.
Reel/Frame 065315/0505 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240351657A1 · Oct 24, 2024
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Cited By (1)
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