CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLE

• US 20200130777A1
• Filed: 10/23/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: YAMAZAKI, Azusa, SHAHANA, Satoshi, NIKI, Kazutaka, NAKAJIMA, Takehiko
• Granted Patent: US 11,319,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/00 Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/50 characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/55 power-driven at crank shafts parts

Abstract

A control system is provided to improve riding comfort of a human-powered vehicle. The control system includes an electronic controller and a receiver. The electronic controller is configured to control a first electric component of a first human-powered vehicle. The receiver is configured to receive first reference information related to a vehicle that differs from the first human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to control the first electric component based on the first reference information.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

an electronic controller configured to control a first electric component of a first human-powered vehicle; and

a receiver configured to receive first reference information related to a vehicle that differs from the first human-powered vehicle,

the electronic controller being configured to control the first electric component based on the first reference information.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle is a vehicle traveling ahead of the first human-powered vehicle.

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein

the vehicle includes a second human-powered vehicle.

4. The control system according to claim 3, wherein

the first electric component includes at least one of a transmission, a suspension, an adjustable seatpost, an electric assist unit, and a brake device.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein

the first electric component includes the transmission.

6. The control system according to claim 5, wherein

the first reference information includes traveling information related to a traveling state of the second human-powered vehicle.

7. The control system according to claim 6, wherein

the traveling information includes at least one of drive information and behavior information;

the drive information includes at least one of cadence, torque acting on a crank of the second human-powered vehicle, vehicle speed, traveling acceleration, and power; and

the behavior information includes at least one of vertical acceleration of the second human-powered vehicle, yaw of the second human-powered vehicle, roll of the second human-powered vehicle, and pitch of the second human-powered vehicle.

8. The control system according to claim 7, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the transmission so that a transmission ratio of the first human-powered vehicle increases as a value related to the drive information increases.

9. The control system according to claim 7, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the transmission so that a transmission ratio of the first human-powered vehicle decreases as a value related to the drive information decreases.

10. The control system according to claim 5, wherein

the first reference information includes environment information related to a traveling environment of the second human-powered vehicle.

11. The control system according to claim 10, wherein

the environment information includes at least one of road surface information related to a condition of a road surface, resistance information related to a traveling resistance of the second human-powered vehicle, weather information related to weather, and temperature information related to temperature.

12. The control system according to claim 11, wherein

the road surface information includes at least one of gradient information related to gradient of a road surface and unevenness information related to unevenness of a road surface.

13. The control system according to claim 12, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the transmission so that a transmission ratio of the first human-powered vehicle decreases in a case where the second human-powered vehicle travels uphill.

14. The control system according to claim 12, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the transmission so that a transmission ratio of the first human-powered vehicle increases in a case where the second human-powered vehicle travels downhill.

15. The control system according to claim 12, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the transmission so that a transmission ratio of the first human-powered vehicle decreases in a case where the second human-powered vehicle travels along an uneven road surface.

16. The control system according to claim 5, wherein

the first reference information includes handling information related to operation of a handlebar of the second human-powered vehicle.

17. The control system according to claim 16, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the transmission so that a transmission ratio of the first human-powered vehicle decreases in a case where an operation amount of the handlebar of the second human-powered vehicle is larger than or equal to a predetermined operation amount.

18. The control system according to claim 3, wherein

the first reference information includes action information related to an action of a second electric component of the second human-powered vehicle.

19. The control system according to claim 18, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the first electric component based on the action information so that the first electric component acts in the same manner as the second electric component.

20. The control system according to claim 19, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the first electric component in accordance with a timing at which the second electric component acts in a case where an inter-vehicle distance between the first human-powered vehicle and the second human-powered vehicle is shorter than a predetermined distance.

21. The control system according to claim 3, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the first electric component based on the first reference information and second reference information, and

the second reference information includes at least one of inter-vehicle information related to an inter-vehicle distance between the first human-powered vehicle and the second human-powered vehicle and history information related to a traveling history of the second human-powered vehicle.

22. The control system according to claim 21, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the first electric component based on the first reference information at a timing corresponding to the second reference information.

23. The control system according to claim 22, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to set a timing corresponding to the first reference information based on the second reference information and control the first electric component at the timing based on the first reference information.