Bicycle electric power unit

• US 7,342,321 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Kitamura, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg; Darren E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas; Pedro J.
• Application Number:
  US11/300,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/015 using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

A bicycle electric power unit supplies electric power to a bicycle motor unit having a power source, a power source controller, a power source voltage detector, a first power source switch and a second power source switch. The power source controller turns off the first power source switch when the power source voltage detector detects a voltage of a specific value or less. The first power source switch supplies electric power to the power source controller when the power source is on and blocks the electric power to the power source controller when the power source is off. The first power source switch is turned off by the power source controller when the power source is on. The second power source switch is disposed between the power source and the motor unit. The second power source is turned on and off by the power source controller.

Claims

1. A bicycle electric power unit comprising:

a power source;

a power source controller configured to turn the power source on or off;

a power source voltage detector configured to detect a voltage of the power source;

a first power source switch configured to selectively supply electric power to the power source controller; and

an operating switch operatively connected to the first power source switch, the operating switch configured to turn the first power source switch on by turning on the operating switch,

the power source controller being configured to turn the first power source switch off when the power source voltage detector detects a voltage of the power source being at a predetermined value or less.

2. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 1, wherein

the operating switch is configured to selectively operate the first power source switch.

3. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 2, wherein

the power source controller is configured to selectively operate the first power source switch to turn off upon detecting that the operating switch has not been operated for a predetermined time or greater.

4. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 1, further comprising

an electric current detector configured to detect an electric current value of the electric power, with the power source controller being configured to selectively turn the first power source switch off when the electric current detector detects the electric current value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

5. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 4, wherein

the electric current detector is integrated into the power source controller as a single unit.

6. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 1, wherein

the power source voltage detector is integrated into the power source controller as a single unit.

7. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 1, wherein

the power source includes a rechargeable battery that is configured to be charged and discharged.

8. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 7, wherein

the power source includes an alternating-current generator configured to generate electricity and supply the electricity to the rechargeable battery.

9. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 8, further comprising

a rectifying unit configured to rectify an alternating current of the alternating-current generator to a direct current and to charge the power source.

10. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 1, wherein

the power source includes an alternating-current generator configured to generate electricity.

11. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 1, further comprising

a speed signal generator configured to generate a speed signal, with the power source controller being configured to control the first power source switch to turn on based on an output from the speed signal generator.

12. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 11, wherein

the speed signal generator is configured to generate the speed signal based on electric power from the alternating-current generator.

13. A bicycle electric power unit comprising:

a power source;

a power source controller configured to turn the power source on or off;

a power source voltage detector configured to detect a voltage of the power source;

a first power source switch configured to selectively supply electric power to the power source controller, the first power source switch operatively connected to an operating switch, that is configured to selectively operate the first power source switch; and

a second power source switch operatively coupled to the power source and operatively controlled by the power source controller to be selectively turned on in response to electric power being supplied to the power source controller through the first power source switch,

the power source controller being configured to turn the first power source switch off when the power source voltage detector detects a voltage of the power source being at a predetermined value or less.

14. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 13, further comprising

a switch monitoring unit configured to monitor an operating state of the operating switch, the power source controller being configured to selectively operate the first power source switch to turn off upon detecting that the operating switch has not been operated for a predetermined time or greater.

15. A bicycle electric power unit comprising:

a power source;

a power source controller configured to turn the power source on or off;

a first power source switch configured to selectively supply electric power to the power source controller;

an operating switch operatively connected to the first power source switch and the power source controller such that the first power source switch is turned on by turning on the operating switch; and

a second power source switch operatively coupled to the power source and operatively controlled to be selectively turned on by the power source controller when the electric power is supplied from the power source to the power source controller through the first power source switch.

16. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 15, further comprising

a switch monitoring unit configured to monitor an operating state of the operating switch, with the power source controller being configured to control the first power source switch to turn off when the operating switch has not operated for a predetermined time or greater.

17. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 15, further comprising

an electric current detector configured to detect an electric current value of the electric power, with the power source controller being configured to selectively turn the first power source switch off when the electric current detector detects the electric current value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

18. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 15, wherein

the power source includes a rechargeable battery that is configured to be charged and discharged.

19. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 18, wherein

the power source includes an alternating-current generator configured to generate electricity and supply the electricity to the rechargeable battery.

20. The bicycle electric power unit according to claim 15, wherein

the power source includes an alternating-current generator configured to generate electricity.