Piezoelectric sensor for bicycle component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10833246-B2
Application number	US-201715687550-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2017
Priority date	Sep 8, 2014
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A piezoelectric material contains ferroelectric particles and an adhesive resin. The ratio of the ferroelectric particles relative to the total mass of the ferroelectric particles and the adhesive resin is 40 mass % or greater and 98 mass % or less.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bicycle component comprising:
a ferroelectric film having power generating characteristics, and
one or more electrodes at least partially embedded in the ferroelectric film, the ferroelectric film having a first thickness and a second thickness which is different from the first thickness.

2. The bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein the ferroelectric film includes a mixture of ferroelectric particles and an adhesive resin.

3. The bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the ferroelectric particles relative to a total mass of the ferroelectric particles and the adhesive resin in the ferroelectric film is 40 mass % or greater and 98 mass % or less.

4. A bicycle component, comprising:
an insulation film formed on a surface of a main body of the bicycle component;
a first electrode formed on the insulation film;
a ferroelectric film having power generating characteristics and connected to the first electrode; and
a second electrode connected to the ferroelectric film.

5. A bicycle component, comprising:
a shaft body;
an insulation film formed on a surface of the shaft body;
a plurality of output electrodes spaced apart by gaps from one another and arranged on the insulation film around the shaft body;
a ferroelectric film having power generating characteristics and connected to the output electrodes, wherein the gaps between adjacent ones of the output electrodes are filled with the ferroelectric film; and
a common electrode connected to the ferroelectric film.

6. The bicycle component according to claim 5 , wherein the shaft body is selected from a group consisting of a crankshaft, a crank arm, a pedal shaft, a frame, a handle, a stem, a hub axle, a hub shell, a spoke, a seat post, and a saddle rail.

7. The bicycle component according to claim 5 , wherein
the ferroelectric film includes an inner surface and an outer surface that are substantially parallel to the shaft body, and
the output electrodes are in close contact with the inner surface of the ferroelectric film, and the common electrode is in close contact with the outer surface of the ferroelectric film.

8. The bicycle component according to claim 4 , wherein the first electrode is configured to output an output signal to a signal processor in accordance with electric energy generated by the ferroelectric film.

9. The bicycle component according to claim 8 , wherein the signal processor is operated using electric power generated by the ferroelectric film.

10. The bicycle component according to claim 8 , wherein the signal processor includes a wireless unit that performs wireless communication.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Fukuda Masahiko
• Watanabe Yoshiyuki
• Masuda Takaya

Classifications

• B62J45/421

  at the pedal crank · CPC title

• B62J45/411

  Torque sensors · CPC title

• B62J45/41

  characterised by the type of sensor · CPC title

• H02N2/18

  producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators (for measurement devices G01) · CPC title

• B62M3/08

  Pedals · CPC title