Control device for human-powered vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11787498-B2
Application number	US-202015930833-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2020
Priority date	May 17, 2019
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A control device for a human-powered vehicle includes an electronic controller configured to control a motor, which is configured to apply a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle, so as to change a ratio of an assist force produced by the motor to a human driving force in accordance with the human driving force. The electronic controller controls the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes smaller than a maximum value upon determining a torque of the human driving force is smaller than a first predetermined value, and controls the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes equal to the maximum value upon determining the torque of the human driving force becomes equal to the first predetermined value, and the first predetermined value is a value in a range of 50 Nm or greater and 130 Nm or less.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for a human-powered vehicle, the control device comprising:
an electronic controller configured to control a motor configured to apply an assist force to the human-powered vehicle, the electronic controller controlling the motor so as to change a ratio of the assist force produced by the motor to a human driving force in accordance with the human driving force; and
a data storage,
the electronic controller being configured to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes smaller than a maximum value upon determining that the human driving force is smaller than a first predetermined value, and to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor is prevented from exceeding the maximum value upon determining that the human driving force is equal or larger than the first predetermined value, the ratio decreasing as the human driving force increases beyond the first predetermined value,
the data storage being configured to store information related to the first predetermined value in a changeable manner, and
the electronic controller being configured to communicate with an operation unit or an external device and to change the first predetermined value in response to a signal received from the operation unit or the external device.

2. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to control the motor so that the ratio becomes less than or equal to 200 percent.

3. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes smaller than the human driving force upon determining the human driving force is smaller than the first predetermined value.

4. The control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes smaller than the human driving force.

5. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to control the motor so as to change a change rate of the assist force with respect to the human driving force upon determining that the human driving force is smaller than the first predetermined value.

6. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to drive the motor in accordance with the human driving force upon determining the human driving force changes from a value smaller than a third predetermined value to a value larger than or equal to the third predetermined value, the third predetermined value being smaller than the first predetermined value.

7. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
in at least part of a range in which the human driving force is less than or equal to the first predetermined value, the electronic controller is configured to control the motor so that a first change ratio of an increase in an output of the motor to an increase in the human driving force upon determining the human-powered vehicle starts to travel from a still state becomes higher than a second change ratio of an increase in the output of the motor to an increase in the human driving force while the human-powered vehicle is traveling.

8. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to control the motor so that the ratio differs between a case where an output of the motor is increased in accordance with an increase in the human driving force and a case where the output of the motor is decreased in accordance with a decrease in the human driving force.

9. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to control the motor so that the ratio in a case where the output of the motor is increased in accordance with an increase in the human driving force is larger than the ratio in a case where the output of the motor is decreased in accordance with a decrease in the human driving force.

10. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the assist force and the human driving force is measured in units of power, and
the first predetermined value is a value in a range of 200 watts or greater and 600 watts or less.

11. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the assist force and the human driving force are measured in units of power.

12. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the assist force and the human driving force are measured in units of torque, and
the first predetermined value is a value in a range of 50 Nm or greater and 130 Nm or less.

13. The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the assist force and the human driving force is measured in units of torque.

14. A control device for a human-powered vehicle, the control device comprising:
an electronic controller configured to control a motor configured to apply an assist force to the human-powered vehicle, the electronic controller controlling the motor so as to change a ratio of the assist force produced by the motor to a human driving force in accordance with the human driving force,
the electronic controller being configured to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes smaller than a maximum value upon determining that the human driving force is smaller than a first predetermined value, and to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes equal to the maximum value upon determining that the human driving force is equal or larger than the first predetermined value, the ratio decreasing as the human driving force increases beyond the first predetermined value,
the electronic controller being configured to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes equal to or smaller than the human driving force upon determining that the human driving force is smaller than or equal to a second predetermined value that is smaller than the first predetermined value, and
the electronic controller being configured to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes greater than the human driving force upon determining the human driving force is greater than the second predetermined value.

15. A control device for a human-powered vehicle, the control device comprising:
a data storage that stores control information, the control information including a first control information and a second control information, the first control information being different from the second control information; and
an electronic controller configured to control a motor configured to apply an assist force to the human-powered vehicle, the electronic controller controlling the motor based on the control information so as to change a ratio of the assist force produced by the motor to a human driving force in accordance with the human driving force,
the control information being configured to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes smaller than a maximum value upon determining that the human driving force is smaller than a first predetermined value, and to control the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes equal to the maximum value upon determining that the human driving force is equal or larger than the first predetermined value, the ratio decreasing as the human driving force increases beyond the first predetermined value,
the electronic controller being configured to selectively use the first control information or the second control information as the control information, each of the f

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Shahana Satoshi
• Kawasaki Mitsuhiko

Classifications

• B62M6/45 Primary

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title

• B62J45/00

  Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62K11/00

  Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels (fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M) · CPC title

• B62M6/70

  power-driven at single endless flexible member, e.g. chain, between cycle crankshaft and wheel axle, the motor engaging the endless flexible member · CPC title

• B62J45/40

  Sensor arrangements (sensors for control of electrically assisted cycles B62M6/50); Mounting thereof · CPC title