Bicycle motor-assist control system

• US 8,660,728 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Saida, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US13/271,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20120109436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/1, 340/432, 180/206.3, 180/206.4, 180/206.6, 318/430, 474/70, 474/78, 474/80, 116/62, 482/57, 472/21, 472/89, 280/210, 280/238, 230/238
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 23/02 characterised by the use of two or more dissimilar sources of power, e.g. transmissions for hybrid motorcycles transmissions for wheeled vehicles using rider propulsion with additional source of power B62M6/00
• 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: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A bicycle motor control system is configured to control a drive assistance motor that can be installed on a bicycle having a drive force transmitting body. The bicycle motor control system comprises a memory device, a pedaling force detecting device, a propulsion force calculating section and a motor control section. The memory device stores a tooth count of a plurality of transmitting teeth of the drive force transmitting body. The pedaling force detecting device detects a pedaling force. The propulsion force calculating section calculates a propulsion force based on a pedaling force detected by the pedaling force detecting device and the tooth count of the transmitting teeth stored in the memory device. The motor control section controls the motor based on the propulsion force.

Claims

1. A bicycle motor control system configured to control a drive assistance motor that can be installed on a bicycle having a drive force transmitting body, the bicycle motor control system comprising:

a memory device that stores a tooth count of a plurality of transmitting teeth of the drive force transmitting body;

a pedaling force detecting device that detects a pedaling force;

a propulsion force calculating section that calculates a propulsion force based on a pedaling force detected by the pedaling force detecting device and the tooth count of the transmitting teeth stored in the memory device; and

a motor control section that controls the motor based on the propulsion force.

2. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 1, further comprising

a shift position detecting device that detects a current shift position among a plurality of shift positions of an external transmission device installed on the bicycle;

the memory device being further configured to store the current shift position of the external transmission device and the tooth count of the drive force transmitting body that corresponds to a sprocket of the drive force transmitting body that is engaged based on the current shift position detected by the shift position detecting device; and

the propulsion force calculating section is further configured to calculate the propulsion force based on the pedaling force detected by the pedaling force detecting device and the tooth count of the sprocket stored in the memory device that is engaged based on the current shift position detected by the shift position detecting device.

3. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 2, wherein

the memory device is configured to store the shift positions of the external transmission device that includes a front derailleur and a plurality of front sprockets and the tooth count of each of the front sprockets corresponding to each of the shift positions of the front derailleur with respect to the front sprockets.

4. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 2, wherein

the memory device is configured to store the shift positions of the external transmission device that includes a rear derailleur and a plurality of rear sprockets and the tooth count of each of the rear sprockets corresponding to each of the shift positions of the rear derailleur with respect to the rear sprockets.

5. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 2, wherein

the memory device is configured to store the shift positions of the external transmission device that includes a front derailleur, a plurality of front sprockets, a rear derailleur and a plurality of rear sprockets, and the tooth count of each of the front and rear sprockets corresponding to each of the shift positions of the front and rear derailleur with respect to the front and rear sprockets, respectively.

6. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 2, wherein

the shift position detecting device is configured and arranged to be provided on the external transmission device.

7. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 2, wherein

the memory device is further configured to store the tooth count of both a front sprocket and a rear sprocket, and

the propulsion force calculating section is further configured to calculate the propulsion force by multiplying the pedaling force by an inverse of a value obtained by dividing the tooth count of the front sprocket by the tooth count of the rear sprocket.

8. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 1, further comprising

a shift position detecting device that detects a current shift position of a plurality of shift positions of an internal transmission device installed on the bicycle;

the memory device is further configured to store the shift positions of the internal transmission device and a gear ratio corresponding to each of the shift positions; and

the propulsion force calculating section is configured to calculate the propulsion based on the pedaling force, the gear ratio stored in the memory device corresponding to the current shift position detected by the shift position detecting device, and the tooth count of the transmitting teeth of the drive force transmitting body stored in the memory device.

9. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 1, wherein

the memory device is further configured to store the tooth count of the drive force transmitting body that includes one of a sprocket, a toothed pulley and a bevel gear.

10. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 1, further comprising

an interface section operatively coupled to the memory device to overwrite information stored in the memory device.

11. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 10, further comprising

an input device connected to the interface section.

12. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 10, wherein

the interface section is configured to communicate using electric power line communication.

13. The bicycle motor control system according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of transmitting teeth includes a plurality of sets of teeth, with each set of teeth having a fixed tooth count.