Bicycle control device and bicycle control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9840305-B1
Application number	US-201615168217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 30, 2016
Priority date	May 30, 2016
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle control device comprises a seat information generator and an assist controller. The seat information generator is configured to generate seat information. The assist controller is configured to control an assist actuator to assist a driving force of a bicycle based on the seat information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle control device comprising:
a seat information generator configured to generate seat information, the seat information generator including a seat position detector to detect a seat position corresponding to at least one of seat height position, seat angle position, and seat horizontal position; and
an assist controller configured to control an assist actuator to assist a driving force of a bicycle based on the seat information including the seat position.

2. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a driving force detector configured to detect the driving force, wherein
the assist controller is configured to control the assist actuator to generate an assisting force based on the driving force and to change an assist ratio of the assisting force to the driving force based on the seat information.

3. The bicycle control device according to claim 2 , further comprising
a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the bicycle, wherein
the seat information generator includes a seating sensor to detect a seat load applied to a seat or a seatpost,
the seat information includes the seat load, and
the assist controller increases the assist ratio when the bicycle speed detected by the speed sensor is over a predetermined speed and the seat load detected by the seating sensor is under a predetermined level.

4. The bicycle control device according to claim 2 , further comprising
a pedaling detector configured to detect a pedaling of a rider, wherein
the seat information generator includes a seating sensor to detect a seat load applied to a seat or a seatpost,
the seat information includes the seat load, and
the assist controller increases the assist ratio when the pedaling detector detects the pedaling of the rider and the seat load detected by the seating sensor is under a predetermined level.

5. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the seat height position corresponds to a variable overall length of an adjustable seatpost, and
the assist controller increases the assist ratio when the variable overall length increases.

6. The bicycle control device according to claim 5 , wherein
the assist controller decreases the assist ratio when the variable overall length decreases.

7. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the seat height position corresponds to a variable overall length of an adjustable seatpost, and
the assist controller decreases the assist ratio when the variable overall length decreases.

8. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the seat information generator includes a seat operation device configured to receive a seat adjustment operation input by a rider,
the seat operation device is configured to generate a seat adjustment trigger in accordance with the seat adjustment operation to transmit the seat adjustment trigger to a seat controller, and
the seat information includes the seat adjustment trigger.

9. The bicycle control device according to claim 8 , wherein
the seat operation device transmits the seat adjustment trigger to the seat controller via wireless communication.

10. The bicycle control device according to claim 8 , further comprising
the seat controller configured to control a seat actuator to change the seat position based on the seat adjustment trigger.

11. The bicycle control device according to claim 10 , wherein
the seat actuator changes the seat position while the seat adjustment operation is input.

12. The bicycle control device according to claim 10 , further comprising
the seat controller configured to control the seat actuator to change a variable overall length of an adjustable seatpost based on the seat adjustment trigger, wherein
the seat height position corresponds to the variable overall length.

13. The bicycle control device according to claim 12 , wherein
the seat adjustment operation includes inputting a seat setting value related to the variable overall length,
the seat adjustment trigger includes information related to the seat setting value, and
the seat actuator changes the variable overall length in accordance with the seat setting value.

14. The bicycle control device according to claim 13 , wherein
the assist controller increases the assist ratio when the seat setting value indicates the variable overall length is increased, and
the assist controller decreases the assist ratio when the seat setting value indicates the variable overall length is decreased.

15. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a bicycle tilt sensor configured to detect a tilt angle of a slope on which a bicycle is; and
a seat controller configured to control a seat actuator to change the seat position based on the tilt angle.

16. The bicycle control device according to claim 15 , wherein
the seat height position corresponds to a variable overall length of an adjustable seatpost, and
the seat controller increases the variable overall length to be a first length when the slope is uphill and decreases the variable overall length to be a second length when the slope is downhill.

17. The bicycle control device according to claim 16 , further comprising
a driving force detector configured to detect the driving force, wherein
the assist controller is configured to control the assist actuator to generate an assisting force based on the driving force and to change an assist ratio of the assisting force to the driving force based on the seat information,
the assist controller temporarily increases the assist ratio to be a first assist ratio when the slope is uphill until the variable overall length of the seatpost reaches the first length, and
the assist controller temporarily decreases the assist ratio to be a second assist ratio when the slope is downhill until the variable overall length of the seatpost reaches the second length.

18. The bicycle control device according to claim 17 , wherein
the assist controller decreases the assist ratio to be a third assist ratio smaller than the first assist ratio after the overall length of the seatpost reaches the first length, and
the assist controller increases the assist ratio to be a fourth assist ratio larger than the second assist ratio after the overall length of the seatpost has the second length.

19. A bicycle control system comprising:
the control device according to claim 1 ;
an adjustable seatpost having a variable overall length; and
the assist actuator.

20. A bicycle control device comprising:
a seat information generator configured to generate seat information, the seat information generator including a seat operation device configured to receive a seat adjustment operation input by a rider, the seat operation device being configured to generate a seat adjustment trigger in accordance with the seat adjustment operation to transmit the seat adjustment trigger to a seat controller; and
an assist controller configured to control an assist actuator to assist a driving force of a bicycle based on the seat information including the seat adjustment trigger.

21. A bicycle control device comprising:
a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the bicycle;
a driving force detector configured to detect a driving force of a bicycle;
a seating sensor configured to detect a seat load applied to a seat or a seatpost; and
an assist controller configured to control an assist actuator to generate an assisting force bas

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Tsuchizawa Yasuhiro
• Matsuda Hiroshi

Classifications

• B62M6/80 Primary

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

• B62J1/08

  Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars (attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36) · CPC title

• B62M6/00

  Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles with additional source of power, e.g. combustion engine or electric motor · CPC title

• B62J2001/085

  Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame · CPC title

• B62M6/50 Primary

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