CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLE

• US 20200130778A1
• Filed: 10/24/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: SHAHANA, Satoshi, MASUTA, Noriko, YAMAZAKI, Azusa, NAKABO, Megumi, NAKAJIMA, Takehiko, NUMATA, Fumihide, FUJITA, Hiroshi, GOTO, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 11,358,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/165 Child seats attachable to handlebars
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 2001/085 Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame
• 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 45/40 Sensor arrangements sensors for control of electrically assisted cycles B62M6/50; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/416 Physiological sensors, e.g. heart rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 7/04 arranged above or behind the rear wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 27/003 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 27/10 Other component parts or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 27/12 Coupling parts for attaching cars or the like to cycle; Arrangements thereof
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/132 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof

Abstract

A control system includes a detection device and an electronic controller. The detection device is configured to detect passenger information related to at least one passenger of a human-powered vehicle driven by a driver of the human-powered vehicle in which the at least one passenger is different from the driver. The electronic controller is configured to control at least one component of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with the passenger information.

Claims

1. A control system comprising:

a detection device configured to detect passenger information related to at least one passenger of a human-powered vehicle driven by a driver of the human-powered vehicle in which the at least one passenger is different from the driver; and

an electronic controller configured to control at least one component of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with the passenger information.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to change a control mode of the at least one component in accordance with the passenger information.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

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

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the passenger information includes at least one of information related to whether or not the passenger is present, information related to weight of the passenger, and information related to a condition of the passenger.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the at least one component in accordance with the passenger information related to the at least one passenger seated on at least one passenger seat of the human-powered vehicle.

6. The control system according to claim 5, wherein

the passenger information includes at least one of information related to a first passenger seated on a first seat of the at least one passenger seat and information related to a second passenger seated on a second seat of the at least one passenger seat.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to set a designated transmission ratio specifying a transmission ratio of a transmission device of the human-powered vehicle for starting movement of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with the passenger information.

8. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control a transmission device of the human-powered vehicle as one of the in accordance with the passenger information related to the at least one passenger being seated on at least one passenger seat of the human-powered.

9. The control system according to claim 5, wherein

the passenger information includes at least one of information related to a first passenger of the at least one passenger seated on a first seat of the at least one passenger seat and information related to a second passenger of the at least one passenger seated on a second seat of the at least one passenger seat in which the first seat is provided frontward from a saddle of the human-powered vehicle and the second seat is provided rearward from the saddle.

10. The control system according to claim 9, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to set a designated transmission ratio specifying a transmission ratio of a transmission device of the human-powered vehicle so that the designated transmission ratio for starting movement of the human-powered vehicle is less in a case where the first passenger is not seated on the first seat and the second passenger is seated on the second seat than a case where the first passenger is seated on the first seat and the second passenger is not seated on the second seat.

11. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control a first brake device that brakes a front wheel of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with a first operation and a second brake device that brakes a rear wheel of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with a second operation as the at least one component in accordance with the passenger information to change a relationship between a first ratio of an operation amount of the first operation and a braking force of the first brake device and a second ratio of an operation amount of the second operation and a braking force of the second brake device.

12. The control system according to claim 11, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the first and second brake devices in accordance with the passenger information related to the at least one passenger being seated on at least one passenger seat of the human-powered vehicle.

13. The control system according to claim 12, wherein

the passenger information includes at least one of information related to a first passenger of the at least one passenger seated on a first seat and information related to a second passenger of the at least one passenger seated on a second seat in which the first seat is provided frontward from a saddle of the human-powered vehicle and the second seat is provided rearward from the saddle.

14. The control system according to claim 13, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the first and second brake devices so that the second ratio is greater than the first ratio in a case where the first passenger is seated on the first seat and the second passenger is not seated on the second seat.

15. The control system according to claim 13, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the first and second brake devices so that the first ratio is greater than the second ratio in a case where the first passenger is not seated on the first seat and the second passenger is seated on the second seat.

16. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control an electric assist unit of the human-powered vehicle so as to increase an assist force assisting in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with a detected weight of the at least one passenger as the passenger information detected by the detection device in a case where the detected weight of the at least one passenger is greater than or equal to a first predetermined weight.

17. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control an electric assist unit of the human-powered vehicle so as to decrease an assist force assisting in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with a detected weight of the at least one passenger as the passenger information detected by the detection device in a case where the detected weight of the at least one passenger is less than a second predetermined weight.

18. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to restrict actuation of the at least one component in accordance with a detected motion of the passenger as the passenger information detected by the detection device in a case where the detected motion of the at least one passenger is greater than or equal to a predetermined motion.

19. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to restrict actuation of the component in accordance with a detected sleep related condition of the at least one passenger as the passenger information as detected by the detection device.

20. The control system according to claim 18, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to restrict actuation of at least one of a transmission device and an electric assist unit as the at least one component to limit shifting with the transmission device, decrease a transmission ratio of the human-powered vehicle, or decrease an assist force assisting in propulsion of the human-powered vehicle.

21. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to show a sleep related condition of the at least one passenger at the passenger information on a display of the human-powered vehicle.

22. The control system according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic controller is configured to control the at least one component in accordance with the passenger information and information related to the driver.

23. A control system comprising:

a detection device configured to detect towed vehicle information related to a towed vehicle of a human-powered vehicle; and

an electronic controller configured to automatically control a shifting condition of a transmission device of the human-powered vehicle,

the electronic controller being configured to change the shifting condition in accordance with the towed vehicle information.

24. The control system according to claim 23, wherein

the towed vehicle information includes at least one of information related to whether or not the towed vehicle is present, and information related to a passenger riding the towed vehicle.