Patents by Inventor Mitsuhiko Kawasaki

Mitsuhiko Kawasaki 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: 11939028
    Abstract: A bicycle component controller is basically provided with a processor. The processor is configured to perform a gear shift control based on a sprocket assembly information of at least one sprocket assembly. The sprocket assembly information at least includes a single shifting distance and shifting gate information. The single shifting distance corresponds to an axial spacing between adjacent sprockets of the at least one sprocket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Shota Suyama
  • Patent number: 11932347
    Abstract: A control device and a transmission system are configured to improve riding comfort of a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller that is configured to control a transmission device of a human-powered vehicle so that a transmission ratio at which the vehicle is started becomes equal to a designated transmission ratio. The electronic controller is configured to set the designated transmission ratio based on reference information that excludes information related to a gradient of a road surface, information related to manual operation of the transmission device, and information related to propulsion assistance of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11840312
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, a motor configured to drive the transmission body and an electric actuator configured to operate the derailleur. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control electric actuator and the motor. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric actuator and drive the transmission body with the motor so that the transmission ratio is changed in a predetermined shifting range in upon determining the derailleur has been actuated to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Hayato Shimazu, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 11840316
    Abstract: To provide a human-powered vehicle control device configured to perform shifting in accordance with situations, a control device is configured to control a transmission of a human-powered vehicle. The control device comprises an electronic controller configured to control the transmission. The electronic controller includes at least one shifting condition for actuating the transmission to shift a transmission ratio. The electronic controller holds the shifting condition that is related with riding-related information of the human-powered vehicle in a case where the human-powered vehicle is in a riding convergence state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Takehiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11840313
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, an electric actuator configured to actuate the derailleur, and a motor configured to drive the transmission body. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control the motor and drive the transmission body upon determining the derailleur has been actuated with the electric actuator to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric actuator so as not to change the transmission ratio until a first condition related to shifting is satisfied in a case where the derailleur is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Hayato Shimazu, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 11807336
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device is provided for controlling a human-powered vehicle. The human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller controls a transmission device in accordance with a control state including first and second control states. The electronic controller changes the transmission ratio in accordance with a shifting condition including a reference value related to a traveling state of the human-powered vehicle in the first control state. The electronic controller changes the transmission ratio in accordance with an operation performed on an operation portion in the second control state. The electronic controller changes the shifting condition in accordance with a converging reference value for a case where the human-powered vehicle is in a riding converging state. The electronic controller changes the shifting condition in accordance with the converging reference value for a case where the control state is the second control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Takehiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11787498
    Abstract: A control device for a human-powered vehicle includes an electronic controller configured to control a motor, which is configured to apply a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle, so as to change a ratio of an assist force produced by the motor to a human driving force in accordance with the human driving force. The electronic controller controls the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes smaller than a maximum value upon determining a torque of the human driving force is smaller than a first predetermined value, and controls the motor so that the assist force produced by the motor becomes equal to the maximum value upon determining the torque of the human driving force becomes equal to the first predetermined value, and the first predetermined value is a value in a range of 50 Nm or greater and 130 Nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20230257063
    Abstract: A bicycle component controller is basically provided with a processor. The processor is configured to perform a gear shift control based on a sprocket assembly information of at least one sprocket assembly. The sprocket assembly information at least includes a single shifting distance and shifting gate information. The single shifting distance corresponds to an axial spacing between adjacent sprockets of the at least one sprocket assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Shota SUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20230227121
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, and a motor configured to drive the transmission body. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control the motor and drive the transmission body with the motor so as to change at least one of a rotational angle of the motor and an output torque of the motor in correspondence with a state of the human-powered vehicle upon determining the derailleur has been actuated to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Hayato SHIMAZU, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20230202615
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, an electric actuator configured to actuate the derailleur, and a motor configured to drive the transmission body. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control the motor and drive the transmission body upon determining the derailleur has been actuated with the electric actuator to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric actuator so as not to change the transmission ratio until a first condition related to shifting is satisfied in a case where the derailleur is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Hayato SHIMAZU, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Publication number: 20230202614
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, a motor configured to drive the transmission body and an electric actuator configured to operate the derailleur. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control electric actuator and the motor. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric actuator and drive the transmission body with the motor so that the transmission ratio is changed in a predetermined shifting range in upon determining the derailleur has been actuated to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Hayato SHIMAZU, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Atsuhiro EMURA
  • Patent number: 11685470
    Abstract: A bicycle component controller is basically provided with a data storage device and a processor. The data storage device contains sprocket assembly information of at least one sprocket assembly. The processor is configured to perform a gear shift control based on the sprocket assembly information. The sprocket assembly information of the at least one sprocket assembly at least includes a total sprocket number and shifting gate information. The single shifting distance of the sprocket assembly information corresponds to an axial spacing between adjacent sprockets of the at least one sprocket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Shota Suyama
  • Patent number: 11623713
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle includes a crank axle, a first rotational body, a wheel, a second rotational body, a transmission body that transmits a driving force between the first rotational body and the second rotational body, a derailleur configured to operate the transmission body to change a transmission ratio, and a motor configured to drive the transmission body. A control device has an electronic controller configured to control the motor and drive the transmission body with the motor upon determining the derailleur has been actuated to change the transmission ratio and a predetermined condition related to pedaling is satisfied, and control the motor to increase a rotational speed of the motor as a difference of a first rotational speed, which is calculated in correspondence with a rotational speed of the wheel and the transmission ratio, and a predetermined rotational speed or a rotational speed in a predetermined range increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Hayato Shimazu, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Publication number: 20230108196
    Abstract: A bicycle component controller is basically provided with a data storage device and a processor. The data storage device contains sprocket assembly information of at least one sprocket assembly. The processor is configured to perform a gear shift control based on the sprocket assembly information. The sprocket assembly information of the at least one sprocket assembly at least includes a total sprocket number and shifting gate information. The single shifting distance of the sprocket assembly information corresponds to an axial spacing between adjacent sprockets of the at least one sprocket assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Shota SUYAMA
  • Patent number: 11518475
    Abstract: A control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a transmission to shift a transmission ratio of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a first shifting condition set based on a first reference value. The electronic controller is configured to control the transmission to restrict shifting of the transmission ratio of the human-powered vehicle regardless of the first shifting condition upon determining a second shifting condition set based on a second reference value is satisfied. The second reference value includes at least one of a reference value indicating an acceleration tendency of the human-powered vehicle and a reference value indicating a deceleration tendency of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20220315163
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device is provided for a human-powered vehicle having a transmission device and a motor, which is configured to apply a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle. The human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a transmission device of a human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to restrict a shifting action of the transmission device until a predetermined condition is satisfied in a case where one of a control states of the motor is switched to a further one of the control states of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Taketoshi SATO
  • Publication number: 20220242514
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device is a control device of a human-powered vehicle. The human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control an electric component that is different from a motor providing a propelling force to the human-powered vehicle and that is provided in the human-powered vehicle. The electric component is controlled in accordance with a total driving force including a human-power driving force applied to a drive train of the human-powered vehicle and an assistance force by the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20220204126
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a motor to drive a transmission body with the motor and operate the transmission body with a derailleur to perform a shifting action that changes the transmission ratio in a case where a crank axle is stopped. The electronic controller includes a first control state in which the shifting action is performed and a second control state in which a driving force of the motor during the shifting action is reduced compared to the first control state. The electronic controller shifts the control state to the second control state in a case where a rider is riding the human-powered vehicle and the human-powered vehicle is stopped. The electronic controller shifts the control state from the second control state to the first control state in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Toru TAKAYANAGI, Hayato SHIMAZU, Hironori YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20220204137
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device is provided for controlling a human-powered vehicle. The human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller controls a transmission device in accordance with a control state including first and second control states. The electronic controller changes the transmission ratio in accordance with a shifting condition including a reference value related to a traveling state of the human-powered vehicle in the first control state. The electronic controller changes the transmission ratio in accordance with an operation performed on an operation portion in the second control state. The electronic controller changes the shifting condition in accordance with a converging reference value for a case where the human-powered vehicle is in a riding converging state. The electronic controller changes the shifting condition in accordance with the converging reference value for a case where the control state is the second control state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Satoshi SHAHANA, Mitsuhiko KAWASAKI, Takehiko NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 11371603
    Abstract: A control device and a transmission system are provided that allow for comfortable traveling with a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a transmission to shift a transmission ratio of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a first shifting condition set based on a first reference value. The electronic controller is configured to shift the transmission ratio of the human-powered vehicle regardless of the first shifting condition upon determining a second shifting condition set based on travel information related to traveling of the human-powered vehicle is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki