# US 11,440,617 B2 · Human-powered vehicle control device and human-powered vehicle transmission system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,617 B2 - Document ID: US11440617B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/901,529 - Filed: 2020-06-15 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-25 - Assignees: Shimano Inc. - Applicants: Shimano Inc. - Inventors: Hiroyuki Kitano; Yuichi Ueyama; Yoshiyuki Kasai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440617B2 ## CPC - B62K 25/286: {the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism} - B62M 6/45: Control or actuating devices therefor - B62J 6/24: warning or informing the rider, e.g. low fuel warning lights - B62J 45/4152: {for sensing longitudinal inclination of the cycle} - B62J 45/416: Physiological sensors, e.g. heart rate sensors - B62K 25/30: pivoted on pedal crank shelf (B62K25/32 takes precedence) - B62M 6/50: characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof - B62M 9/122: electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof - B62M 9/123: changing gears automatically - B62M 2025/006: {with auxiliary shift assisting means} - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS ## Abstract A human-powered vehicle control device includes first and second rotary bodies, a transferring member that transfers drive force between the first and second rotary bodies, and a component. At least one of the first and second rotary bodies includes a plurality of rotary bodies. The component includes a transmission that performs a shifting action to move the transferring member between the plurality of rotary bodies. The control device includes an electronic controller controls the shifting action in accordance with a control condition set based on a travel state of the human-powered vehicle and/or a state of a rider. The electronic controller includes a first state that determines whether the control condition is satisfied and a second state that does not determine whether the control condition is satisfied. The electronic controller switches between the first and second states in accordance with a rotational state of the plurality of rotary bodies. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control device for a human-powered vehicle including a first rotary body, a second rotary body, a transferring member configured to transfer a drive force between the first rotary body and the second rotary body, and a human-powered vehicle component; at least one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body including a plurality of rotary bodies; and the component including a transmission configured to perform a shifting action to move the transferring member from one of the plurality of rotary bodies to another one of the plurality of rotary bodies, the control device comprising: an electronic controller configured to control the shifting action of the transmission in accordance with a control condition set based on at least one of a travel state of the human-powered vehicle and a state of a rider of the human-powered vehicle, the electronic controller including a first state in which the electronic controller determines whether or not the control condition is satisfied and a second state in which the electronic controller does not determine whether or not the control condition is satisfied, and the electronic controller being configured to switch between the first state and the second state in accordance with a rotational state of the plurality of rotary bodies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the human-powered vehicle further includes a generator configured to generate electric power as the human-powered vehicle travels, and the electronic controller is configured to switch between the first state and the second state in accordance with an electric power generation state of the generator. ### Claim 3 A control device for a human-powered vehicle including a generator configured to generate electric power as the human-powered vehicle travels and a human-powered vehicle component, the component including at least one of a drive unit and a notification unit, the control device comprising: an electronic controller configured to control the component in accordance with a control condition set based on at least one of a travel state of the human-powered vehicle and a state of a rider of the human-powered vehicle, the electronic controller being configured to determine whether or not to control the component in accordance with an electric power generation state of the generator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control device according to claim 3, wherein the electronic controller includes a first state in which the electronic controller determines whether or not the control condition is satisfied and a second state in which the electronic controller does not determine whether or not the control condition is satisfied, and the electronic controller is configured to switch between the first state and the second state in accordance with the electric power generation state of the generator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The control device according to claim 3, further comprising a detector configured to detect at least one of the travel state of the human-powered vehicle and the state of the rider of the human-powered vehicle, the electronic controller being configured to control the component in accordance with the control condition upon receiving a predetermined signal from the detector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The control device according to claim 3, wherein the human-powered vehicle further includes a first rotary body, a second rotary body, and a transferring member configured to transfer a drive force between the first rotary body and the second rotary body; at least one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body includes a plurality of rotary bodies; the generator is configured to generate electric power in accordance with rotation of the plurality of rotary bodies; the component includes a transmission that performs a shifting action to move the transferring member from one of the plurality of rotary bodies to another one of the plurality of rotary bodies; the electronic controller is configured to control the shifting action of the transmission in accordance with a control condition set based on at least one of a travel state of the human-powered vehicle and a state of a rider of the human-powered vehicle; and the electronic controller is configured to determine whether or not to perform the shifting action of the transmission in accordance with an electric power generation state of the generator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a detector configured to detect at least one of the travel state of the human-powered vehicle and the state of the rider of the human-powered vehicle, the electronic controller being configured to control the transmission in accordance with the control condition upon receiving a predetermined signal from the detector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control device according to claim 7, wherein the detector is configured to detect a rotational speed of the plurality of rotary bodies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The control device according to claim 2, wherein the electronic controller is configured switch between a first electric power state and a second electric power state that consumes less electric power than the first electric power state; and the electronic controller is configured to switch from the first electric power state to the second electric power state upon determining a state exists in which a rotational speed of the plurality of rotary bodies is less than or equal to a predetermined first speed continues over a predetermined first period or longer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The control device according to claim 9, wherein the electronic controller is configured to selectively switch between the first electric power state, the second electric power state, and a third electric power state that consumes less electric power than the second electric power state; and the electronic controller is configured to switch from the second electric power state to the third electric power state upon determining a state exists in which the rotational speed of the plurality of rotary bodies is less than or equal to a predetermined second speed continues over a predetermined second period or longer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control device according to claim 10, wherein the electronic controller is configured to switch from the third electric power state to the first electric power state or the second electric power state upon determining at least one of the rotational speed of the plurality of rotary bodies becoming greater than or equal to a predetermined third speed and an electric power generation amount of the generator becoming greater than or equal to a predetermined electric power generation amount. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The control device according to claim 10, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the transmission so as not to perform the shifting action until a predetermined wait period elapses after switching to the first electric power state upon determining a rotational angle of the plurality of rotary bodies is less than a predetermined angle during a period from a time at which the transmission starts the shifting action in the first electric power state to a time at which the electronic controller switches to the second electric power state or the third electric power state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control device according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined wait period is a period from a time at which the transmission starts the shifting action to a time at which the rotational angle of the plurality of rotary bodies becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined angle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The control device according to claim 12, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the shifting action of the transmission to be performed in a case where the rotational angle of the plurality of rotary bodies is less than a predetermined angle even if the predetermined wait period has not elapsed after switching to the first electric power state upon determining at least one of the human-powered vehicle traveling downhill and the plurality of rotary bodies rotating freely, during a period from a time at which the transmission starts the shifting action in the first electric power state to a time at which the electronic controller switches to the second electric power state or the third electric power state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The control device according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined angle differs in accordance with a shift stage of the transmission. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The control device according to claim 10, further comprising a storage, the electronic controller is configured to store information related to the shifting action of the transmission in the storage upon determining the electronic controller switches from the first electric power state to the second electric power state or the third electric power state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the shifting action of the transmission to be performed for a number of times during a predetermined third period in at least one of the human-powered vehicle traveling downhill and the plurality of rotary bodies rotating freely. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the shifting action of the transmission to be performed once during a predetermined fourth period in at least one of the human-powered vehicle not traveling downhill and the plurality of rotary bodies not rotating freely. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the shifting action of the transmission to be started in accordance with a phase of the plurality of rotary bodies. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the shifting action of the transmission so that a shift stage of the transmission is within a predetermined range in accordance with at least one of the travel state of the human-powered vehicle and the state of the rider of the human-powered vehicle, and the predetermined range is configured to be changeable in accordance with an inclination of the human-powered vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The control device according to claim 20, wherein the inclination of the human-powered vehicle includes a pitch angle of a vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The control device according to claim 20, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the shifting action of the transmission upon determining a parameter related to at least one of the travel state of the human-powered vehicle and the state of the rider of the human-powered vehicle exceeding a predetermined parameter range, and the electronic controller is configured to change the predetermined parameter range upon determining the shift stage of the transmission is outside of the predetermined range. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The control device according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined parameter range is a range that is greater than or equal to a first threshold value and less than or equal to a second threshold value, and the electronic controller is configured to decrease the second threshold value upon determining the shift stage of the transmission is smaller than the predetermined range, and increase the first threshold value upon determining the shift stage of the transmission is larger than the predetermined range. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission is a rear derailleur. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the travel state of the human-powered vehicle and the state of the rider of the human-powered vehicle includes an inclination of the human-powered vehicle, an acceleration of the human-powered vehicle, a rotational speed of a crank, a human driving force, a vehicle speed, a heartrate of the rider, and a travel load. ### Claim 26 A control device for a human-powered vehicle including a first rotary body, a second rotary body, a transferring member configured to transfer a drive force between the first rotary body and the second rotary body, and a human-powered vehicle component; at least one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body including a plurality of rotary bodies; the component including a transmission configured to perform a shifting action to move the transferring member from one of the plurality of rotary bodies to another one of the plurality of rotary bodies; and a detector configured to detect a rotational speed of the plurality of rotary bodies with a detected portion provided on the plurality of rotary bodies, the detected portion rotated integrally with the plurality of rotary bodies, the control device comprising: an electronic controller configured to control the shifting action of the transmission in accordance with a control condition set based on at least one of a travel state of the human-powered vehicle and a state of a rider of the human-powered vehicle, wherein the electronic controller being configured to determine whether or not to perform the shifting action in accordance with a rotational state of the plurality of rotary bodies. ### Claim 27 (depends on 2) A transmission system comprising the control device according to claim 2, the transmission system comprising: the transmission; and the generator, the transmission being configured to be actuated by electric power generated by the generator.