Human-powered vehicle control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11124267-B2
Application number	US-201816163983-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2018
Priority date	Oct 31, 2017
Publication date	Sep 21, 2021
Grant date	Sep 21, 2021

Abstract

A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller operatively coupled to a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle. The controller is configured to control the motor in accordance with a human driving force that is input to the human-powered vehicle and is configured to change responsivity of an output torque of the motor to a change in the human driving force in accordance with a rider's pedaling posture of a rider of the human-powered vehicle. The human-powered vehicle control device is configured to change an output performance of the motor without operation of a switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A human-powered vehicle control device comprising:
an electronic controller operatively coupled to a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle, and
the electronic controller being configured to determine a rider's pedaling posture of a rider, the rider's pedaling posture including a standing and a sitting posture of the rider, the electronic controller being further configured to control the motor in accordance with a human driving force that is input to the human-powered vehicle and being configured to change responsivity of an output torque of the motor to a change in the human driving force in accordance with a rider's pedaling posture of a rider of the human-powered vehicle.

2. A human-powered vehicle control device comprising:
an electronic controller operatively coupled to a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle, and
the electronic controller being configured to control the motor in accordance with a human driving force that is input to the human-powered vehicle and being configured to change responsivity of an output torque of the motor to a change in the human driving force in accordance with a rider's pedaling posture of a rider of the human-powered vehicle,
the electronic controller being further configured to change in accordance with the rider's pedaling posture at least one of a first responsivity of the responsivity in a case in which the human driving force decreases or a second responsivity of the responsivity in a case in which the human driving force increases.

3. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to change the first responsivity in accordance with the rider's pedaling posture.

4. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to change the first responsivity so that a delay in changing the output torque of the motor with relation to a change in the human driving force is smaller in a case in which the rider pedals in a standing posture as compared to a case in which the rider pedals in a sitting posture.

5. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to change the second responsivity so that a delay in changing the output torque of the motor with relation to a change in the human driving force is smaller in a case in which the rider pedals in a standing posture as compared to a case in which the rider pedals in a sitting posture.

6. A human-powered vehicle control device comprising:
an electronic controller operatively coupled to a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle,
the electronic controller being configured to determine a rider's pedaling posture of a rider, the rider's pedaling posture including a standing and a sitting posture of the rider, the electronic controller being further configured to control the motor in accordance with a human driving force that is input to the human-powered vehicle so that an output torque of the motor is less than or equal to a predetermined value and being configured to change the predetermined value in accordance with a rider's pedaling posture of a rider of the human-powered vehicle, and
a rider's pedaling posture detector operatively coupled to the electronic controller to determine the rider's pedaling posture, the rider's pedaling posture detector including at least one of a frame force sensor, a handlebar force sensor, a roll direction inclination sensor, and a roll direction acceleration sensor.

7. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 6 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to increase the predetermined value in a case in which the rider pedals in a standing posture as compared to a case in which the rider pedals in a sitting posture.

8. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to change a ratio of the output torque of the motor to the human driving force in accordance with the rider's pedaling posture.

9. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 8 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to increase the ratio of the output torque of the motor to the human driving force in a case in which the rider pedals in a standing posture as compared to a case in which the rider pedals in a sitting posture.

10. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rider's pedaling posture detector operatively coupled to the electronic controller.

11. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 10 , wherein
the rider's pedaling posture detector includes at least one of a crank force sensor, a pedal force sensor, a frame force sensor, a seatpost force sensor, a handlebar force sensor, a vehicle mounted camera, a roll direction inclination sensor, and a roll direction acceleration sensor.

12. A human-powered vehicle control device comprising:
an electronic controller operatively coupled to a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a human driving force that is input to the human-powered vehicle, and
the electronic controller being configured to change responsivity of an output torque of the motor to a change in the human driving force in accordance with the human driving force, the electronic controller being further configured to change in accordance with a rider's pedaling posture of a rider of the human-powered vehicle at least one of a first responsivity of the responsivity in a case in which the human driving force decreases or a second responsivity of the responsivity in a case in which the human driving force increases.

13. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 12 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to change the first responsivity in accordance with the human driving force.

14. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 13 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to change the first responsivity so that a delay in changing the output torque of the motor with relation to a change in the human driving force is smaller in a case in which the human driving force is greater than or equal to a first driving force as compared to a case in which the human driving force is less than the first driving force.

15. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a human driving force detector operatively coupled to the electronic controller.

16. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to change a delay in changing the output torque of the motor in a case in which the first responsivity is set to be greater than or equal to the delay in a case in which the second responsivity is set.

17. The human-powered vehicle control device according to claim 12 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to change a delay in changing the output torque of the motor in a case in which the first responsivity is set to be greater than or equal to the delay in a case in which the second responsivity is set.

18. A human-powered vehicle control device comprising:
an electronic controller operatively coupled to a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle, and
the electronic controller being configured to control the motor in accordance with a human driving force that is input to the human-powered vehicle

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Shahana Satoshi

Classifications

• B62M6/50 Primary

  characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof · CPC title

• B62M6/45

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title

• B62M6/40

  Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor · CPC title

• B62M23/02

  characterised by the use of two or more dissimilar sources of power, e.g. transmissions for hybrid motorcycles (transmissions for wheeled vehicles using rider propulsion with additional source of power B62M6/00) · CPC title

• B62M9/04

  of changeable ratio · CPC title