Gear changing control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10780945-B2
Application number	US-201715605260-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2014
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A gear changing control apparatus is provided for controlling a gear changing device of a bicycle according to a plurality of operation modes of an auxiliary power device that assists a manual drive force of the bicycle. The control apparatus includes a controller and a traveling state detecting unit. The traveling state detecting unit is configured to detect a traveling state of the bicycle. The controller controls the gear changing device and controls the auxiliary power device to operate in one of the plurality of operation modes. The controller is configured to select a gear changing range to be used according to a selected operation mode from the plurality of operation modes. The controller controls the gear changing device within the gear changing range that is selected. The controller also controls the gear changing device according to a detection result of the traveling state detecting unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gear changing control apparatus for controlling a gear changing device of a bicycle according to a plurality of operation modes of an auxiliary power device that assists a manual drive force of the bicycle, the gear changing control apparatus comprising:
a gear changing controller that controls the gear changing device and controls the auxiliary power device to operate in one of the plurality of operation modes; and
a traveling state detecting unit configured to detect a traveling state of the bicycle, the gear changing controller configured to select a range of gear ratios and shift positions to be used according to a selected operation mode that was selected from the plurality of operation modes,
the gear ratios and shift positions respectively being gear ratios and shift positions of a gear changing mechanism,
the gear changing controller being further configured to control the gear changing device within the range of gear ratios and shift positions that was selected, and the gear changing controller being further configured to control the gear changing device according to a detection result of the traveling state detecting unit,
wherein the range of gear ratios and shift positions to be used is different for each of the plurality of operation modes, and each of the shift positions corresponds to a different predetermined gear ratio.

2. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim wherein
the plurality of operation modes comprises a first operation mode and a second operation mode, and
the gear changing controller is further configured to vary at least one of a maximum gear ratio and a minimum gear ratio to be used in the first operation mode and at least one of a maximum gear ratio and a minimum gear ratio to be used in the second operation mode.

3. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the gear changing controller is further configured to control the gear changing device so that a maximum gear ratio available during the second operation mode is larger than a maximum gear ratio available during the first operation mode.

4. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the gear changing controller is further configured to control the gear changing device so that the minimum gear ratio to be used during the second operation mode is larger than the minimum gear ratio to be used during the first operation mode.

5. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the first operation mode is an operation mode that assists the manual drive force with a first auxiliary force, and
the second operation mode is an operation mode that assists the manual drive force with a second auxiliary force that is larger than the first auxiliary force.

6. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the first operation mode is an operation mode that does not make the auxiliary power device generate an auxiliary force, and
the second operation mode is an operation mode that does make the auxiliary power device generate an auxiliary force.

7. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the gear changing controller is further configured to control the gear changing device according to a gear changing command.

8. A gear changing control apparatus for controlling a gear changing device of a bicycle according to a plurality of operation modes of an auxiliary power device that assists a manual drive force, the gear changing control apparatus comprising:
a gear changing controller configured to control the gear changing device such that:
in a first operation mode of the plurality of operation modes, the gear changing device is controlled according to a first delay time and a traveling state of the bicycle, the first delay time being a time from when a first shifting condition is met to when gear shifting is actually conducted in the first operation mode, and
in a second operation mode of the plurality of operation modes, the gear changing device is controlled according to a second delay time that is different from the first delay time, as well as the traveling state of the bicycle, the second delay time being a time from when a second shifting condition is met to when gear shifting is actually conducted in the second operation mode.

9. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the gear changing controller is further configured to shift the gear changing device when the first shifting condition is still being met even after the first delay time has elapsed when in the first operation mode, and
the gear changing controller is further configured to shift the gear changing device when the second shifting condition is still being met even after the second delay time has elapsed when in the second operation mode.

10. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the gear changing controller is further configured not to shift the gear changing device when the first shifting condition is not being met after the first delay time has elapsed when in the first operation mode, and
the gear changing controller is further configured not to shift the gear changing device when the second shifting condition is not being met after the second delay time has elapsed when in the second operation mode.

11. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the first delay time is shorter than the second delay time.

12. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the traveling state of the bicycle is selected from a group consisting of a speed of the bicycle, a cadence of a crank, the manual drive force, and an inclination of the bicycle in the traveling direction.

13. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the gear changing controller is further configured to control the gear changing device regarding shifting in a direction in which a gear ratio becomes smaller, according to the first delay time, the second delay time and the traveling state of the bicycle.

14. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the first operation mode is an operation mode that assists the manual drive force with a first auxiliary force, and
the second operation mode is an operation mode that assists the manual drive force with a second auxiliary three that is larger than the first auxiliary force.

15. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the first operation mode is an operation mode that does not make the auxiliary power device generate an auxiliary force, and
the second operation mode is an operation mode that does make the auxiliary power device generate an auxiliary force.

16. The gear changing control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the traveling state of the bicycle is selected from a group consisting of a speed of the bicycle, a cadence of a crank, the manual drive force, and an inclination of the bicycle in the traveling direction.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Gao Jun

Classifications

• B62M9/122 Primary

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62M6/45

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title

• F16H2306/40

  Shifting activities · CPC title

• F16H61/702

  using electric or electrohydraulic control means · CPC title