Patents by Inventor Kouji Uno
Kouji Uno has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 6991081Abstract: A shift and brake control device is configured to combine an electrical shift operating device and a cable operated brake operating device. The control device basically has a brake lever bracket with a pivotally mounted brake lever moveably coupled to the brake lever bracket to move between a rest position and a braking position along a brake operating plane, and at least one an electrical shift control switch. The electrical shift control switch is either fixedly mounted to the brake lever or the brake lever bracket. When two electrical shift control switches are used, the electrical shift control switches are mounted to both the brake lever and the brake lever bracket. In some embodiments, the electrical shift control switch has a rotating operating member, while other embodiments have a sliding operating member.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kouji Uno, Kazuhiro Fujii
-
Patent number: 6959939Abstract: A bicycle shift control device is adapted to be mounted to a bicycle equipped with an alternating current generator and a shifting device having a plurality of speed steps. The shift control device includes a power storage unit adapted to store electrical power from the alternating current generator; a shift control element operatively coupled for receiving electrical power from the power storage unit and for providing shift control signals for controlling the operation of the shifting device; and a case adapted to be mounted to the bicycle, wherein the case houses both the power storage unit and the shift control element.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Kouji Uno
-
Patent number: 6940258Abstract: A charging apparatus of a bicycle dynamo is configured and arranged to charges a voltage generated by a dynamo GE and comprises a first capacitor C1, a second capacitor C2, a first diode D1 and a third diode D3. The second capacitor C2 is supplied and charged by the dynamo output during the negative half-cycle of the dynamo output. During the positive half-cycle of the dynamo output the first diode D1 supplies the electrical charge that was charged in the second capacitor C2 to the first capacitor C1. During the positive half-cycle of the dynamo output the third diode D3 supplies the dynamo output to the first capacitor C1 when the charging voltage of the second capacitor C2 is equal to or less than a specified voltage.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2003Date of Patent: September 6, 2005Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Patent number: 6926637Abstract: A control device is provided for a bicycle having a transmission with a plurality of speed steps, wherein the control device includes a traveling condition signal receiver that receives traveling condition signals corresponding to a traveling condition value of the bicycle, a threshold value memory that stores a first threshold value of the traveling condition, and a processor that compares a plurality of the traveling condition values to the first threshold value and provides a first control signal for shifting the bicycle transmission when the plurality of traveling condition values pass the first threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2002Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20050145462Abstract: An electrical shift and brake control device is configured to combine an electrical shift operating device and a cable operated brake operating device. The control device basically has a brake lever bracket with a pivotally mounted brake lever moveably coupled to the brake lever bracket to move between a rest position and a braking position along a brake operating plane, and at least one an electrical shift control switch. The electrical shift control switch is either fixedly mounted to the brake lever or the brake lever bracket. When two electrical shift control switches are used, the electrical shift control switches are mounted to both the brake lever and the brake lever bracket. In some embodiments, the electrical shift control switch has a rotating operating member, while other embodiments have a sliding operating member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2005Publication date: July 7, 2005Applicant: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kouji Uno, Kazuhiro Fujii
-
Publication number: 20050109577Abstract: An electrical shift and brake control device is configured to combine an electrical shift operating device and a cable operated brake operating device. The control device basically has a brake lever bracket with a pivotally mounted brake lever moveably coupled to the brake lever bracket to move between a rest position and a braking position along a brake operating plane, and at least one an electrical shift control switch. The electrical shift control switch is either fixedly mounted to the brake lever or the brake lever bracket. When two electrical shift control switches are used, the electrical shift control switches are mounted to both the brake lever and the brake lever bracket. In some embodiments, the electrical shift control switch has a rotating operating member, while other embodiments have a sliding operating member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2003Publication date: May 26, 2005Applicant: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Kouji Uno, Kazuhiro Fujii
-
Patent number: 6768273Abstract: A bicycle charge control circuit for receiving electric power from a bicycle dynamo and for controlling the operation of a lamp and a charging circuit includes a lamp switch for selectively providing power from the dynamo to the lamp, a battery charged by the dynamo, and a lamp control circuit operatively coupled to the first lamp switch and to the battery to control the first lamp switch to intermittently supply power to the lamp when the battery voltage is below a selected value.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20040113385Abstract: An electronic control device for controlling a controlled device installed on a bicycle comprises a programmed computer that controls the control device. A reset circuit receives information related to a traveling condition of the bicycle and provides a reset signal to the computer in response to the occurrence of a predetermined traveling condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20040075420Abstract: A charging apparatus of a bicycle dynamo is configured and arranged to charges a voltage generated by a dynamo GE and comprises a first capacitor C1, a second capacitor C2, a first diode D1 and a third diode D3. The second capacitor C2 is supplied and charged by the dynamo output during the negative half-cycle of the dynamo output. During the positive half-cycle of the dynamo output the first diode D1 supplies the electrical charge that was charged in the second capacitor C2 to the first capacitor C1. During the positive half-cycle of the dynamo output the third diode D3 supplies the dynamo output to the first capacitor C1 when the charging voltage of the second capacitor C2 is equal to or less than a specified voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20040051375Abstract: A circuit for providing electrical current to an electrically operated bicycle device comprises a current supply circuit that supplies DC current from the power supply to the bicycle device along a current path and a current limiting circuit that includes an active resistance circuit that limits electrical current flowing through the current supply circuit when voltage applied to the current limiting circuit is above a minimum value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Applicant: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20040036585Abstract: A bicycle display apparatus comprises a display device adapted to be mounted to the bicycle, wherein the display device displays various types of information to a rider; a light sensor; and a display control element operatively coupled to the display device and to the light sensor for controlling the display device in accordance with signals from the light sensor. An apparatus provided for shifting a bicycle transmission having a plurality of gear positions comprises a running condition detector that detects a running condition of the bicycle; a light sensor; and a gearshift control element operatively coupled to the running condition detector and to the light sensor and providing a control signal for controlling the bicycle transmission in accordance with signals from the light sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Applicant: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Kouji Uno, Kazuhiro Fujii
-
Patent number: 6646400Abstract: A power control circuit having an input for receiving power from a power source and an output for driving a bicycle electromotive unit comprises a storage unit; a first switching element disposed between the storage unit and the output; a voltage sensor that senses a voltage associated with the storage unit; and a switch control circuit operatively coupled to the voltage sensor and to the first switching element to disable the communication of power to the output when the voltage associated with the storage unit is less than a first reference voltage and to enable the communication of power to the output when the voltage associated with the storage unit is greater than the first reference voltage. After the switch control circuit enables the communication of power to the output, the switch control circuit may maintain the communication of power to the output when the voltage associated with the storage unit falls below the first reference voltage and is above a second reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20030160686Abstract: A bicycle display apparatus comprises a display unit and a color changing mechanism. The display unit optically displays information corresponding to the characteristic of the bicycling environment, and it includes a background light or a photoemission element that facilitates easy viewing of the displayed information. The color attribute changing mechanism changes at least one of the color, hue, color saturation and brightness of the background light in accordance with the characteristic of the bicycling environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2003Publication date: August 28, 2003Applicant: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20030141918Abstract: A voltage clamping circuit comprises a first high current gain circuit adapted to receive current from the first line; and a first switching circuit that turns on the first high current gain circuit to flow current away from the first line when the first switching circuit senses a first voltage from the first line above a clamping voltage, and turns off the first high current gain circuit when the first switching circuit senses the first voltage below the clamping voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2003Publication date: July 31, 2003Applicant: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Patent number: 6598894Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a signal element to a bicycle wheel includes a base member for mounting to the wheel and a movable member coupled to the base member for movement relative to the base member, wherein the movable member includes a signal element mounting location.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2000Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Kouji Uno
-
Patent number: 6573686Abstract: A circuit that receives signals from a dynamo and provides signals for charging a battery and indicating bicycle speed. The circuit includes a first switching circuit adapted to receive the dynamo signals and provide first signals for charging the battery; and a second switching circuit adapted to receive the dynamo signals and provide second signals for indicating bicycle speed. If the dynamo outputs periodic signals, the first signals may correspond to one of the half periods of the periodic signals (e.g., the positive half periods), and the second signals may correspond to the other half periods (e.g., the negative half periods) of the periodic signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20030096674Abstract: A control device is provided for a bicycle having a transmission with a plurality of speed steps, wherein the control device includes a traveling condition signal receiver that receives traveling condition signals corresponding to a traveling condition value of the bicycle, a threshold value memory that stores a first threshold value of the traveling condition, and a processor that compares a plurality of the traveling condition values to the first threshold value and provides a first control signal for shifting the bicycle transmission when the plurality of traveling condition values pass the first threshold value. Additional inventive features will become apparent from the description below, and such features may be combined with the above features to provide additional benefits.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20030001357Abstract: A bicycle shift control device is adapted to be mounted to a bicycle equipped with an alternating current generator and a shifting device having a plurality of speed steps. The shift control device includes a power storage unit adapted to store electrical power from the alternating current generator; a shift control element operatively coupled for receiving electrical power from the power storage unit and for providing shift control signals for controlling the operation of the shifting device; and a case adapted to be mounted to the bicycle, wherein the case houses both the power storage unit and the shift control element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: SHIMANO, INC.Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20020135337Abstract: A circuit that receives signals from a dynamo and provides signals for charging a battery and indicating bicycle speed. The circuit includes a first switching circuit adapted to receive the dynamo signals and provide first signals for charging the battery; and a second switching circuit adapted to receive the dynamo signals and provide second signals for indicating bicycle speed. If the dynamo outputs periodic signals, the first signals may correspond to one of the half periods of the periodic signals (e.g., the positive half periods), and the second signals may correspond to the other half periods (e.g., the negative half periods) of the periodic signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2002Publication date: September 26, 2002Applicant: Shimano, inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno
-
Publication number: 20020117978Abstract: A bicycle charge control circuit for receiving electric power from a bicycle dynamo and for controlling the operation of a lamp and a charging circuit includes a lamp switch for selectively providing power from the dynamo to the lamp, a battery charged by the dynamo, and a lamp control circuit operatively coupled to the first lamp switch and to the battery to control the first lamp switch to intermittently supply power to the lamp when the battery voltage is below a selected value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2002Publication date: August 29, 2002Applicant: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kouji Uno