Bicycle control apparatus for bicycle assist device and bicycle assist device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207589-A1
Application number	US-201514980038-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 28, 2015
Priority date	Jan 15, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bicycle control apparatus is provided for controlling a bicycle assist device. The bicycle control apparatus includes a controller that is configured to control an assist motor for assisting a manual drive force of a transmission with a plurality of sprockets. The controller is configured to control an output of the assist motor based on a rotational position of a sprocket of the plurality of sprockets when the transmission performs a shifting operation to switch a chain between two of the plurality of sprockets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bicycle control apparatus for a bicycle assist device comprising:
a controller configured to control an assist motor for assisting a manual drive force of a transmission with a plurality of sprockets, the controller being configured to control an output of the assist motor based on a rotational position of a sprocket of the plurality of sprockets when the transmission performs a shifting operation to switch a chain between two of the plurality of sprockets.

2 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the controller is further configured to restrict the output of the assist motor based on the rotational position of the sprocket.

3 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the controller is configured to release a restriction on the output of the assist motor after restricting the output of the assist motor based on the rotational position of the sprocket.

4 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the controller is configured to restrict the output of the assist motor by one of stopping an operation of the assist motor and reducing the output of the assist motor to be lower than that prior to restricting the output of the assist motor.

5 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the controller is configured to releases a restriction on the output of the assist motor by one of returning a ratio of the output of the assist motor with respect to the manual drive force to substantially the same magnitude as that prior to restricting the output of the assist motor and increasing the ratio to be greater than that after restricting the output of the assist motor.

6 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the controller is configured to determine a magnitude of the output of the assist motor when restricting the output of the assist motor based on the output of the assist motor prior to restricting the output of the assist motor.

7 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein
the controller is configured to determine a magnitude of the output of the assist motor when restricting the output of the assist motor according to each of the plurality of sprockets.

8 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising
a first sensor is configured to detect a rotational position of a shift region that is formed on the sprocket, the controller being configured to control the output of the assist motor based on a detection result of the first sensor.

9 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the first sensor is configured to one of directly detect the rotational position of the shift region and indirectly detects the rotational position of the shift region by detecting a rotational position of a crankshaft that is coupled to the sprocket.

10 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein
the controller is configured to restrict the output of the assist motor based on the rotational position of the shift region having changed from being outside of a prescribed range to being inside of the prescribed range.

11 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein
the controller is configured to releases a restriction on the output of the assist motor based on a determination that the shifting operation of the transmission has been completed.

12 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein
the controller is configured to release a restriction on the output of the assist motor based on the rotational position of the shift region having changed from being inside of a prescribed range to being outside of the prescribed range.

13 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein
the prescribed range is determined along with a position to which the transmission pushes the chain out during a shifting operation.

14 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to control the output of the assist motor before the transmission starts a shifting operation.

15 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to restrict the output of the assist motor according to the operation of the transmission based on the rotational position of the sprocket.

16 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to control the output of the assist motor based on a detection result of a second sensor for detecting an operation of a shift operation device for operating the transmission.

17 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the sprocket is a front sprocket, and the transmission is a front transmission.

18 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 17 , wherein
the front sprocket is configured to rotate synchronously with a crankshaft.

19 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 17 , wherein
the front sprocket is configured to rotate asynchronously with a crankshaft.

20 . The bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the assist motor is configured to provide a drive force to the sprocket.

21 . A bicycle assist device comprising the bicycle control apparatus as recited in claim 1 , and further comprising the assist motor.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Tsuchizawa Yasuhiro
• Noda Shinichiro
• Shahana Satoshi
• Usui Makoto
• Kataoka Yuki

Classifications

• B62M6/50

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

• B62M6/55

  power-driven at crank shafts parts · CPC title

• B62M6/45 Primary

  Control or actuating devices therefor · CPC title

• B62M6/80 Primary

  Accessories, e.g. power sources; Arrangements thereof · CPC title