Patents by Inventor Tetsuya KITANI

Tetsuya KITANI 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).

  • Publication number: 20230234670
    Abstract: A bicycle battery unit is configured to supply power to a bicycle component. The bicycle battery unit includes a housing, a battery, a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector and a power line communication circuit. The battery is accommodated in the housing. The first electrical connector is provided to the housing so as to be at least partially exposed out of the housing being electrically connectable with the battery. The second electrical connector is provided to the housing so as to be at least partially exposed out of the housing separate from the first electrical connector. The power line communication circuit is electrically connected to the second electrical connector and configured to perform power line communication via the second electrical connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKESHITA, Tetsuya KITANI
  • Patent number: 11643165
    Abstract: A bicycle drive unit includes a motor, a second electronic controller and a communication circuit. The motor is configured to assist in propulsion of a bicycle. The second electronic controller controls the motor. The communication circuit is configured to communicate with an operation device that operates a bicycle electric component. The second electronic controller is operable in a third state, in which the motor is drivable, and a fourth state, which consumes less power than the third state and does not drive the motor. The second electronic controller is configured to switch an operation state from the fourth state to the third state upon the communication circuit receiving an input signal while the second electronic controller is operated in the fourth state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takeshita, Tetsuya Kitani
  • Patent number: 10974604
    Abstract: A bicycle power supply system is configured to be connectable to a plurality of battery units and configured to switch each of the plurality of battery units between a first state and a second state. The bicycle power supply system includes a memory device and an electronic controller. The memory device stores order information for switching the plurality of battery units from one of the first state and the second state to the other one of the first state and the second state in a predetermined order. The electronic controller switches the plurality of battery units from one of the first state and the second state to the other one of the first state and the second state in accordance with the order information in a case where the plurality of battery units is connected. The memory device is configured to changeably store the order information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Ishikawa, Tetsuya Kitani, Kento Mitsuyasu
  • Patent number: 10913511
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to switch at least five control states imparting different output characteristics to the motor with respect to the human driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Iino, Keiji Terashima, Takaaki Fujiwara, Tetsuya Kitani
  • Publication number: 20200361563
    Abstract: A bicycle drive unit includes a motor, a second electronic controller and a communication circuit. The motor is configured to assist in propulsion of a bicycle. The second electronic controller controls the motor. The communication circuit is configured to communicate with an operation device that operates a bicycle electric component. The second electronic controller is operable in a third state, in which the motor is drivable, and a fourth state, which consumes less power than the third state and does not drive the motor. The second electronic controller is configured to switch an operation state from the fourth state to the third state upon the communication circuit receiving an input signal while the second electronic controller is operated in the fourth state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKESHITA, Tetsuya KITANI
  • Patent number: 10773769
    Abstract: A bicycle drive system includes a bicycle drive unit and a bicycle battery unit. A first power supply path supplies power from the battery unit to the drive unit. A second power supply path supplies smaller power from the battery unit to the drive unit than the first power supply path. In a case where the drive unit and the battery unit are connected by the first power supply path and the second power supply path, the bicycle drive system is configured to be switched between a first state, in which the battery unit stops supplying power to the drive unit via the first power supply path and supplies power to the drive unit via the second power supply path, and a second state, in which the battery unit supplies power to the drive unit via at least the first power supply path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takeshita, Tetsuya Kitani
  • Publication number: 20190152560
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to switch at least five control states imparting different output characteristics to the motor with respect to the human driving force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Yoshinori IINO, Keiji TERASHIMA, Takaaki FUJIWARA, Tetsuya KITANI
  • Publication number: 20180370371
    Abstract: A bicycle power supply system is configured to be connectable to a plurality of battery units and configured to switch each of the plurality of battery units between a first state and a second state. The bicycle power supply system includes a memory device and an electronic controller. The memory device stores order information for switching the plurality of battery units from one of the first state and the second state to the other one of the first state and the second state in a predetermined order. The electronic controller switches the plurality of battery units from one of the first state and the second state to the other one of the first state and the second state in accordance with the order information in a case where the plurality of battery units is connected. The memory device is configured to changeably store the order information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Yuichiro ISHIKAWA, Tetsuya KITANI, Kento MITSUYASU
  • Publication number: 20180281896
    Abstract: A bicycle drive system includes a bicycle drive unit and a bicycle battery unit. A first power supply path supplies power from the battery unit to the drive unit. A second power supply path supplies smaller power from the battery unit to the drive unit than the first power supply path. In a case where the drive unit and the battery unit are connected by the first power supply path and the second power supply path, the bicycle drive system is configured to be switched between a first state, in which the battery unit stops supplying power to the drive unit via the first power supply path and supplies power to the drive unit via the second power supply path, and a second state, in which the battery unit supplies power to the drive unit via at least the first power supply path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroaki TAKESHITA, Tetsuya KITANI