Bicycle transmission control apparatus

• US 10,167,056 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Akinori, Itsukashi, Masako
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Justin
• Application Number:
  US15/183,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/412 Speed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/413 Rotation sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/4151 for sensing lateral inclination of the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/4152 for sensing longitudinal inclination of the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/421 at the pedal crank
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/006 with auxiliary shift assisting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/123 changing gears automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/132 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/133 changing gears automatically
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals

Abstract

A bicycle transmission control apparatus is provided that can perform a shift control according to the traveling environment of the bicycle. The bicycle transmission control apparatus includes a controller that operates a transmission according to a parameter that represents a traveling state of a bicycle and predetermined shifting conditions. The controller sets the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing a running state of the bicycle and on a tilt angle of the bicycle.

Claims

1. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle, the predetermined shifting condition including a threshold value related to the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle, and

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition by changing the threshold value, the controller changing the threshold value based on changes of the bicycle running state when the tilt angle changes from a predetermined angle.

2. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle is at least one from among a rotational frequency a bicycle crank of the bicycle and a traveling speed of the bicycle.

3. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein

the controller is configured to calculate the rotational frequency of the crank based on an output of a sensor that detects the rotational frequency of the bicycle crank.

4. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein

the controller is configured to calculate the rotational frequency of the crank based on an output of a sensor that detects the vehicle speed of the bicycle.

5. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to calculate the tilt angle based on an output of a tilt sensor that detects the tilt angle of the bicycle.

6. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the tilt angle of the bicycle is a tilt angle in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle.

7. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein

the tilt angle of the bicycle is a pitch angle of the bicycle.

8. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle,

the predetermined shifting condition including a threshold value related to the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle, and

the controller being configured to set the predetermined shifting condition by changing the threshold value, the threshold value including a first threshold value, and a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value, and

the controller being further configured to operate the transmission of a parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from being less than the first threshold value to be greater than or equal to the first threshold value, or, when the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from exceeding the second threshold value to being less than or equal to the second threshold value.

9. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein

the controller is configured to control the transmission so that the gear ratio of the bicycle is increased when the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from being less than the first threshold value to be i-s greater than or equal to the first threshold value, and control the transmission so that the gear ratio of the bicycle is decreased when the value of the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from exceeding the second threshold value to be less than or equal to the second threshold value.

10. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein

the predetermined shifting condition includes a first shifting condition,

the controller is configured to operate the transmission based on the parameter that represents the running state of the bicycle and the first shifting condition when the tilt angle is greater than or equal to a first predetermined angle that exceeds zero degrees,

the controller is further configured to set the first shifting condition by changing at least the second threshold value, based on the tilt angle being greater than or equal to the first predetermined angle, and on a fact that the tilt angle has changed.

11. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein

the controller is configured to set the first shifting condition by increasing at least the second threshold value, based on a rate of change being greater than or equal to a first ratio when the tilt angle has changed in an increasing direction, or, an amount of change being greater than or equal to a first change amount when the tilt angle has changed in an increasing direction.

12. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein

the controller is configured to set the first shifting condition by decreasing at least the second threshold value, based on a rate of change being greater than or equal to a second ratio when the tilt angle has changed in a decreasing direction, or, an amount of change being greater than or equal to a second change amount when the tilt angle has changed in a decreasing direction.

13. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle, the predetermined shifting condition including a first shifting condition, and

the controller being further configured to operate the transmission based on the parameter that represents the running state of the bicycle and the first shifting condition when the tilt angle is greater than or equal to a first predetermined angle that exceeds zero degrees.

14. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein

the controller is configured to set the first shifting condition when the tilt angle is greater than or equal to the first predetermined angle, based on an increased travel distance of the bicycle being greater than or equal to a first travel distance, or, an elapsed travel time of the bicycle being greater than or equal to a first travel time.

15. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein

the controller is configured to set the first shifting condition, based on a parameter representing the running state of the bicycle when the tilt angle changes from being less than the first predetermined angle to be greater than or equal to the first predetermined angle.

16. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein

the threshold value includes a first threshold value, and a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value,

the controller is configured to operate the transmission when a parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from being less than the first threshold value to be greater than or equal to the first threshold value, or, when the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from a value exceeding the second threshold value to be less than or equal to the second threshold value,

the first threshold value in the first shifting condition is greater than the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of when the tilt angle changes from being less than the first predetermined angle to be greater than or equal to the first predetermined angle, and

the second threshold value in the first shifting condition is greater than the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of when the tilt angle changes from being less than the first predetermined angle to be greater than or equal to the first predetermined angle.

17. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein

a difference between the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of when the tilt angle changes from being less than the first predetermined angle to be greater than or equal to the first predetermined angle, and

the second threshold value in the first shifting condition, is smaller than the difference between the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of when the tilt angle changes from being less than the first predetermined angle to be greater than or equal to the first predetermined angle, and

the first threshold value in the first shifting condition.

18. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein

the predetermined shifting conditions include a second shifting condition, and

the controller is configured to operate the transmission based on the parameter that represents the running state of the bicycle and the second shifting condition when the tilt angle exceeds 0 degrees and is less than the first predetermined angle.

19. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle, the predetermined shifting condition including a threshold value related to the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle, the predetermined shifting condition including a third shifting condition, and

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition by changing the threshold value, and configured to operate the transmission based on the parameter that represents the running state of the bicycle and the third shifting condition when the tilt angle is less than or equal to a second predetermined angle that is less than zero degrees.

20. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein

the threshold value includes a first threshold value, and a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value,

the controller is configured to operate the transmission when a parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from being less than the first threshold value to be greater than or equal to the first threshold value, or, when the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from a exceeding the second threshold value to be less than or equal to the second threshold value, and

the controller is configured to set the third shifting condition by changing at least the first threshold value, based on the tilt angle being less than or equal to the second predetermined angle, and on the fact that the tilt angle has changed.

21. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein

the controller is configured to set the third shifting condition by decreasing at least the first threshold value, based on the rate of change being greater than or equal to a third ratio when the tilt angle has changed in a decreasing direction, or, the amount of change being greater than or equal to a third change amount when the tilt angle has changed in a decreasing direction.

22. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein

the controller is configured to set the third shifting condition by increasing at least the first threshold value, based on the rate of change being greater than or equal to a fourth ratio when the tilt angle has changed in an increasing direction, or, the amount of change being greater than or equal to a fourth change amount when the tilt angle has changed in an increasing direction.

23. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein

the controller is configured to set the third shifting condition when the tilt angle is less than or equal to the second predetermined angle, based on the increased travel distance of the bicycle being greater than or equal to a second travel distance, or, the elapsed travel time of the bicycle being greater than or equal to a second travel time.

24. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein

the controller is configured to set the third shifting condition, based on a parameter representing the running state of the bicycle when the tilt angle changes from exceeding the second predetermined angle to being less than or equal to the second predetermined angle.

25. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein

the threshold value includes a first threshold value, and a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value,

the controller is configured to operate the transmission when a parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from being less than the first threshold value to be greater than or equal to the first threshold value, or, when the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle changes from exceeding the second threshold value to be less than or equal to the second threshold value,

the first threshold value in the third shifting condition is smaller than the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of when the tilt angle changes from exceeding the second predetermined angle to be less than or equal to the second predetermined angle, and

the second threshold value in the third shifting condition is smaller than the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of when the tilt angle changes from exceeding the second predetermined angle to be less than or equal to the second predetermined angle.

26. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein

a difference between the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of when the tilt angle changes from exceeding the second predetermined angle to be less than or equal to the second predetermined angle, and

the second threshold value in the third shifting condition, is larger than the difference between the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of when the tilt angle changes from exceeding the second predetermined angle to be less than or equal to the second predetermined angle, and the first threshold value in the third shifting condition.

27. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein

the predetermined shifting conditions include a fourth shifting condition, and

the controller is configured to operate the transmission based on the parameter that represents the running state of the bicycle and the fourth shifting condition when the tilt angle is less than 0 degrees and exceeds the second predetermined angle.

28. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle, the predetermined shifting conditions including a fifth shifting condition, and

the controller being further configured to operate the transmission based on the parameter that represents the running state of the bicycle and the fifth shifting condition until the value of the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle reaches a predetermined value, when starting from a state in which the bicycle is stopped.

29. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein

the predetermined shifting condition includes a threshold value related to the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle,

the controller is configured to set the predetermined shifting condition by changing the threshold value,

the threshold value in the fifth shifting condition includes a third threshold value and a fourth threshold value,

the third threshold value corresponds to a first gear ratio, and

the fourth gear ratio is larger than the third threshold value, and corresponds to a second gear ratio that is larger than the first gear ratio.

30. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle, the predetermined shifting conditions including a sixth shifting condition, and

the controller being further configured to operate the transmission when a signal for increasing the gear ratio of the bicycle is inputted from the operating unit, sets the sixth shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of immediately after the transmission is operated, and operate the transmission based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and the sixth shifting condition.

31. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle, the predetermined shifting conditions including a seventh shifting condition, and

the controller being further configured to operate the transmission when a signal for decreasing the gear ratio of the bicycle is inputted from the operating unit, set the seventh shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle of prior to operating the transmission, and operate the transmission based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and the seventh shifting condition.

32. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle, the controller being further configured to prohibit a control of the transmission according to the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and the predetermined shifting condition until a predetermined period has elapsed after an acceleration that is generated in the bicycle exceeds a predetermined acceleration.

33. The bicycle transmission control apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein

the predetermined period is set based on the magnitude of the acceleration.

34. A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprising:

a controller configured to operate a transmission to be operated according to a parameter representing a running state of a bicycle and a predetermined shifting condition,

the controller being further configured to set the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle and a tilt angle of the bicycle, the predetermined shifting condition including a threshold value related to the parameter representing the running state of the bicycle,

the controller being configured to set the predetermined shifting condition by changing the threshold value, the controller being further configured to change the threshold value based on one or more of a first condition and a second condition, the first condition being a rate of change of the tilt angle and the second condition being an amount of change of the tilt angle.