Component for human-powered vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11787494-B2
Application number	US-202117229125-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2021
Priority date	Apr 23, 2020
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A component is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The component includes a component body, a strain gauge provided on the component body, a signal processing unit electrically connected to the strain gauge, a signal output that outputs a signal from the signal processing unit, and an electric power input electrically connected to the signal processing unit and supplied with electric power from a power supply provided on at least one of the human-powered vehicle and the component body. The strain gauge includes a substrate and a resistor provided on the substrate. The resistor is formed by a metal layer having a thickness of 0.01 micrometers or greater and 1 micrometer or less.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A component for a human-powered vehicle, the component comprising:
a component body;
a strain gauge provided on the component body;
a signal processing unit electrically connected to the strain gauge;
a signal output that outputs a signal from the signal processing unit; and
an electric power input electrically connected to the signal processing unit and supplied with electric power from a power supply provided on at least one of the human-powered vehicle and the component body,
the strain gauge including
a substrate, and
a resistor provided on the substrate, and

the resistor being formed by a metal layer having a thickness of 0.01 micrometers or greater and 1 micrometer or less, the strain gauge including a gauge wire provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the resistor, the gauge wire having a lower electrical resistance per unit length than the resistor.

2. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the thickness of the metal layer is 0.05 micrometers or greater and 0.5 micrometers or less.

3. The component according to claim 2 , wherein
the thickness of the metal layer is 0.1 micrometers or greater and 0.3 micrometers or less.

4. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the component body includes at least one of a crank assembly, a crank arm, a crank axle, a pedal, a frame, a handlebar, a stem, a front fork, a seatpost, a saddle, a wheel, a hub, a carrier, and a drive unit configured to apply a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle.

5. A component for a human-powered vehicle, the component comprising:
a component body;
a strain gauge provided on the component body;
a signal processing unit electrically connected to the strain gauge;
a signal output that outputs a signal from the signal processing unit; and
an electric power input electrically connected to the signal processing unit and supplied with electric power from a power supply provided on at least one of the human-powered vehicle and the component body,
the strain gauge including
a substrate,
a resistor provided on the substrate, and
a gauge wire provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the resistor, and

the gauge wire having a lower electrical resistance per unit length than the resistor.

6. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the resistor and the gauge wire have different compositions.

7. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the gauge wire includes a first portion and a second portion that covers the first wire portion,
the resistor is molded integrally with the first portion of the gauge wire, and
the second portion has a lower electrical resistivity than the resistor and the first portion.

8. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the resistor includes at least one of CuNi, Ni, and NiCr, and
at least part of the gauge wire includes Cu.

9. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the substrate includes a first setting surface and a second setting surface that are spaced apart in a thickness direction,
the resistor is provided on the first setting surface, and
at least part of the electric wire is provided on the second setting surface.

10. The component according to claim 9 , wherein
the substrate includes a first connection hole that connects the first setting surface and the second setting surface, and
part of the gauge wire is provided in the first connection hole.

11. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the strain gauge further includes a gauge terminal provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the resistor, and
the gauge wire electrically connects the resistor and the gauge terminal.

12. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the resistor includes a first resistor and a second resistor, and
the gauge wire electrically connects the first resistor and the second resistor.

13. The component according to claim 11 , wherein
the gauge terminal is molded integrally with the gauge wire.

14. The component according to claim 11 , further comprising
a flexible printed wiring board including an electric wire, and
the gauge terminal being electrically connected to the electric wire directly or by electrically conductive particles.

15. The component according to claim 11 , further comprising
a flexible printed wiring board including a board that is molded integrally with the substrate and an electric wire that is provided on the board, and
the gauge terminal being molded integrally with at least part of the electric wire.

16. A component for a human-powered vehicle, the component comprising:
a component body;
a strain gauge provided on the component body;
a flexible printed wiring board including an electric wire;
a signal processing unit electrically connected to the strain gauge by the electric wire of the flexible printed wiring board;
a signal output that outputs a signal from the signal processing unit; and
an electric power input electrically connected to the signal processing unit and supplied with electric power from a power supply provided on at least one of the human-powered vehicle and the component body,
the strain gauge further including
a substrate,
a resistor provided on the substrate, and
a gauge terminal provided on the substrate and electrically connected to the resistor,

the gauge terminal being electrically connected to the electric wire directly or by electrically conductive particles.

17. The component according to claim 16 , further comprising
an adhesive layer that adheres the strain gauge and the flexible printed wiring board, and
the adhesive layer including the electrically conductive particles.

18. The component according to claim 16 , further comprising
a fastener that couples the strain gauge and the flexible printed wiring board so that the gauge terminal and the electric wire are in close contact.

19. The component according to claim 17 , wherein
the electric wire includes a wire terminal faced toward the gauge terminal, and,
one of the gauge terminal and the wire terminal is formed by a comb electrode.

20. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the substrate includes an insulative and flexible resin film.

21. The component according to claim 1 , wherein
the signal output includes a wireless transmission device that transmits information corresponding to a signal from the signal processing unit through wireless connection.

22. The component according to claim 1 , further comprising
a processor provided on at least one of the component body and the signal processing unit, and
the processor being configured to calculate information related to force applied to the component body.

23. The component according to claim 22 , further comprising
an operating portion provided on the component body to input a reset signal to the processor.

24. The component according to claim 1 , further comprising
a rotational state detector that detects a rotational state of at least part of the component body.

25. The component according to claim 1 , further comprising
a notification device provided on the component body and including at least one of a light generation device and a sound generation device.

26. The component according to claim 1 , farther comprising
a cover provided on the component body and defining a sealed space in which at least the strain gauge and the si

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Fujimura Shinya

Classifications

• B62J45/413 Primary

  Rotation sensors · CPC title

• B62J3/10

  Electrical devices · CPC title

• B62J6/24

  warning or informing the rider, e.g. low fuel warning lights · CPC title

• B62J45/20

  Cycle computers as cycle accessories · CPC title

• G01L1/2262

  involving simple electrical bridges · CPC title