Piezoelectric sensor for bicycle component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9773966-B2
Application number	US-201514814514-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2015
Priority date	Sep 8, 2014
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A piezoelectric material contains ferroelectric particles and an adhesive resin. The ratio of the ferroelectric particles relative to the total mass of the ferroelectric particles and the adhesive resin is 40 mass % or greater and 98 mass % or less.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A piezoelectric material comprising ferroelectric particles and an adhesive resin, wherein a ratio of the ferroelectric particles relative to a total mass of the ferroelectric particles and the adhesive resin is 40 mass % or greater and 98mass % or less, and an average particle diameter of the ferroelectric particles is 2 μm or greater and 10 μm or less.

2. The piezoelectric material according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the ferroelectric particles relative to the total mass of the ferroelectric particles and the adhesive resin is 40 mass % or greater and 90 mass % or less.

3. The piezoelectric material according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the ferroelectric particles relative to the total mass of the ferroelectric particles and the adhesive resin is 80 mass % or less.

4. An electric power supply comprising:
the piezoelectric material according to claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric material is configured to generate electric power when mechanical force is applied thereto; and
one or more electrodes coupled to the piezoelectric material to output the electric power.

5. The piezoelectric material according to claim 1 , wherein the ferroelectric particles are formed by sintering and then pulverizing a resulting sinter.

6. The piezoelectric material according to claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric material has a thickness of 20 μm or greater and 200 μm or less.

7. A piezoelectric sensor comprising:
the piezoelectric material according to claim 1 ; and
two electrodes coupled to the piezoelectric material.

8. The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 7 , wherein the two electrodes include an outer electrode coupled to an outer surface of the piezoelectric material and an inner electrode coupled to an inner surface of the piezoelectric material to sandwich the piezoelectric material therebetween.

9. The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 8 , wherein the inner electrode includes a plurality of inner sub-electrodes that are spaced apart by gaps from one another.

10. The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 8 , wherein the outer electrode includes a plurality of outer sub-electrodes that are spaced apart by gaps from one another.

11. A piezoelectric sensor comprising:
the piezoelectric material according to claim 1 ; and
one or more output electrodes coupled to an outer surface of the piezoelectric material.

12. The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the one or more output electrodes includes a plurality of outer sub-electrodes that are spaced apart by gaps from one another.

13. The piezoelectric sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the piezoelectric material includes an inner surface serving as a coupling surface to an article to be sensed.

14. A bicycle component comprising the piezoelectric sensor according to claim 7 .

15. A bicycle crankshaft on which the piezoelectric sensor according to claim 7 is arranged.

16. A bicycle pedal shaft on which the piezoelectric sensor according to claim 7 is arranged.

17. A bicycle crank arm on which the piezoelectric sensor according to claim 7 is arranged.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Fukuda Masahiko
• Watanabe Yoshiyuki
• Masuda Takaya

Classifications

• B62M3/00 Primary

  Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot · CPC title

• H02N2/18

  producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators (for measurement devices G01) · CPC title

• B62J45/00

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

• B62M3/08

  Pedals · CPC title

• B62J45/421

  at the pedal crank · CPC title