Control device for human-powered vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12565284-B2
Application number	US-202117547360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2021
Priority date	Dec 28, 2020
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

A control device for a human-powered vehicle has an electronic controller that controls a motor that applies a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle to assist a human driving force. The human-powered vehicle includes a transmission device. The electronic controller is configured to assist in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle with the motor in a state in which the human-powered vehicle is propelled by the human driving force. In a case where a transmission ratio of the transmission device is changed, the electronic controller decreases an assist level of the motor in accordance with the human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle, and controls the motor so that the assist level is greater for a case where the human driving force is a first human driving force than the assist level for a case where the human driving force is less than the first human driving force.

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 that applies a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle, the human-powered vehicle including the motor and a transmission device for assisting a human driving force, the electronic controller being configured to assist in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle with the motor in a state in which the human-powered vehicle is propelled by the human driving force, and in response to determining that a transmission ratio of the transmission device is changed, the electronic controller being configured to decrease an assist level of the motor in accordance with the human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle, and being configured to control the motor so that the assist level is greater for a case where the human driving force is a first human driving force than the assist level for a case where the human driving force is a second human driving force that is less than the first human driving force, and the electronic controller being configured to maintain the assist level in a case where the transmission ratio of the transmission device is changed and the human driving force is less than a predetermined human driving force.

2 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the assist level includes a ratio of an assist force of the motor to the human driving force.

3 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the assist level includes a restriction level that restricts changes in an output of the motor in a case where the output of the motor decreases.

4 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to increase the assist level in a case where a predetermined period elapses after the assist level has decreased.

5 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to increase the assist level upon completion of the transmission ratio being changed.

6 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the electronic controller decreases the assist level, the electronic controller is configured to decrease the assist level in accordance with the transmission ratio.

7 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the electronic controller decreases the assist level, the electronic controller is configured to decrease the assist level in accordance with a gradient of a road on which the human-powered vehicle is traveling.

8 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the electronic controller decreases the assist level, the electronic controller is configured to decrease the assist level in accordance with a pitch angle of the human-powered vehicle.

9 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the electronic controller decreases the assist level, the electronic controller is configured to gradually decrease the assist level.

10 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the human-powered vehicle includes a crank to which human driving force is input, and in a case where the transmission ratio of the transmission device is changed, the electronic controller is configured to start a process for decreasing the assist level in a case where an angle of the crank is in a predetermined range.

11 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmission device includes a derailleur and sprockets aligned along a rotation axis, and in a case where the transmission ratio of the transmission device is changed, the electronic controller is configured to decrease the assist level at least during a period in which the sprockets are rotated by a predetermined angle.

12 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the electronic controller decreases the assist level of the motor, the electronic controller is configured to start a process for decreasing the assist level of the motor in accordance with a state of a shifting action of the transmission device.

13 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the electronic controller is configured to decrease the assist level in accordance with the human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle in only one of a case where the transmission ratio is increased and a case where the transmission ratio is decreased.

14 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein
in a case where the electronic controller controls the transmission device to change the transmission ratio of the transmission device, the electronic controller is configured to start a shifting action with the transmission device in a case where the human driving force decreases.

15 . A control device for a human-powered vehicle, the control device comprising:
an electronic controller configured to control a motor that applies a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle, the human-powered vehicle including the motor and a transmission device for assisting a human driving force, the electronic controller being configured to assist in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle with the motor in a state in which the human-powered vehicle is propelled by the human driving force, and in response to determining that a transmission ratio of the transmission device is changed, the electronic controller being configured to decrease an assist level of the motor in accordance with the human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle, and being configured to control the motor so that the assist level is greater for a case where the human driving force is a first human driving force than the assist level for a case where the human driving force is a second human driving force that is less than the first human driving force, and the electronic controller being configured to increase the assist level in a case where a predetermined period elapses after the assist level has decreased, the predetermined period includes a period during which a rotation amount of a wheel of the human-powered vehicle becomes a predetermined rotation amount, and the predetermined rotation amount is greater than or equal to 30 degrees and less than 460 degrees.

16 . A control device for a human-powered vehicle the control device comprising:
an electronic controller configured to control a motor that applies a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle, the human-powered vehicle including the motor and a transmission device for assisting a human driving force, the electronic controller being configured to assist in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle with the motor in a state in which the human-powered vehicle is propelled by the human driving force, and in response to determining that a transmission ratio of the transmission device is changed, the electronic controller being configured to decrease an assist level of the motor in accordance with the human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle, and being configured to control the motor so that the assist level is greater for a case where the human driving force is a first human driving force than the assist level for a case where the human driving force is a second human driving force that is less than the first human driving force, and in a case where the electronic controller decreases the assist level, the electronic controller being configured to decrease the assist level in accordance with the transmission ratio, the electronic controller being configured to decrease the assist level so tha

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Shahana Satoshi
• Takayama Hitoshi

Classifications

• B62J45/4152

  for sensing longitudinal inclination of the cycle · CPC title

• B62M9/14

  the wheels being laterally shiftable · CPC title

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B62J45/413

  Rotation sensors · CPC title

• B62M6/45

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title