Patents by Inventor Yasuhiro TSUCHIZAWA

Yasuhiro TSUCHIZAWA 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: 11840311
    Abstract: A control system for a human-powered vehicle includes a suspension device, at least one detector, an electronic controller. The suspension device includes a first suspension and a second suspension. The at least one detector is configured to detect information related to at least two conditions of the human-powered vehicle. The conditions include an operating state of the suspension device, a power input to the human-powered vehicle, a torque of a power transmission component, and a rotating state of the power transmission component. The electronic controller is configured to selectively control the suspension device between a first operating state and a second operating state in accordance with a detection result obtained by the at least one detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 11807337
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a motor to assist propulsion of a bicycle. The electronic controller is configured to decrease an output of the motor upon determining that a shifting device is performing a shifting action to change a transmission ratio of the bicycle. The electronic controller is further configured to end the control that decreases the output of the motor before a predetermined period elapses upon determining that the shifting action is completed or the transmission ratio is changed before the predetermined period has elapsed. The electronic controller is further configured to end the control that decreases the output of the motor upon determining that the predetermined period has elapsed in a case where the shifting action or the change in the transmission ratio is uncompleted even though the predetermined period has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Takuya Katsuki
  • Patent number: 11787501
    Abstract: A determination device is for a human-powered vehicle. The determination device includes a processor that is configured to obtain information related to a rotational speed of an input rotational shaft of the human-powered vehicle and information related to a rotational speed of a wheel of the human-powered vehicle to determine a predetermined state in accordance with a varied amount of the rotational speed of the input rotational shaft and a varied amount of the rotational speed of the wheel in a state in which a human driving force that is applied to the human-powered vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Jumpei Nakamura, Takuya Katsuki, Keiji Terashima, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11655001
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller that is configured to control a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle and that stops assisting in the propulsion of the human-powered vehicle at a timing suitable for a state of the human-powered vehicle or a state of a road. The electronic controller drives the motor in correspondence with a human drive force upon determining a traveling speed of the human-powered vehicle is less than a predetermined speed that is higher than 0 km/h. The electronic controller varies the predetermined speed in correspondence with at least one of a state of the human-powered vehicle and a state of a road on which the human-powered vehicle travels. The electronic controller does not assist the propulsion of the human-powered vehicle upon determining the traveling speed of the human-powered vehicle is greater than or equal to the predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Katsuki, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa
  • Patent number: 11584473
    Abstract: A suspension control device is provided for a human-powered vehicle. The suspension control device includes a sensor and an electronic controller. The sensor is configured to detect information relating to a ground contact condition. The electronic controller is configured to selectively control a suspension of the human-powered vehicle in accordance with the information detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Takuya Katsuki, Kenji Kamada
  • Publication number: 20230034689
    Abstract: A control system for a human-powered vehicle includes a suspension device, at least one detector, an electronic controller. The suspension device includes a first suspension and a second suspension. The at least one detector is configured to detect information related to at least two conditions of the human-powered vehicle. The conditions include an operating state of the suspension device, a power input to the human-powered vehicle, a torque of a power transmission component, and a rotating state of the power transmission component. The electronic controller is configured to selectively control the suspension device between a first operating state and a second operating state in accordance with a detection result obtained by the at least one detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yasuhiro TSUCHIZAWA, Nobukatsu HARA
  • Patent number: 11498641
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device is provided for suitably controlling a rotation state of a wheel of a human-powered vehicle. The human-powered vehicle control device includes a first detector and an electronic controller. The first detector is configured to detect information related to a driving force of the wheel of the human-powered vehicle on a road surface. The electronic controller is configured to change an operation state of a suspension device of the human-powered vehicle in response to a detection result of the first detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Nobukatsu Hara
  • Publication number: 20220274669
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a human-powered vehicle component in accordance with a travel resistance. The human-powered vehicle component is included in a human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to control the human-powered vehicle component in accordance with a first value and a second value. The first value is related to the travel resistance obtained using a first sensor. The second value is related to the travel resistance obtained using a second sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventor: Yasuhiro TSUCHIZAWA
  • Patent number: 11401003
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a motor, which assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a human driving force inputted to the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to change a response speed of the motor with respect to a change in the human driving force in accordance with a parameter. The parameter includes at least one of a travel resistance of the human-powered vehicle, a torque of the human driving force, a transmission ratio of the human-powered vehicle, a wheel size of the human-powered vehicle, an air resistance coefficient, a value related to a front surface projection area of a rider of the human-powered vehicle, a wind velocity, a rolling resistance coefficient, a value related to a weight of a carried load of the human-powered vehicle, and an acceleration of the human-power vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa
  • Patent number: 11390357
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a human-powered vehicle component included in a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a human driving force. The electronic controller controls the human-powered vehicle component in accordance with a first value and a second value. The first value relates to the human driving force or a driving force of the human-powered vehicle obtained using a first sensor. The second value relates to the human driving force or the driving force of the human-powered vehicle obtained using a second sensor, which differs from the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa
  • Patent number: 11383790
    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 change a ratio of a power of the motor to a power of the human driving force and control the motor so that a change amount of the travel resistance differs from a change amount of the power of the motor upon determining a travel resistance of the human-powered vehicle has changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20210300499
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a motor to assist propulsion of a bicycle. The electronic controller is configured to decrease an output of the motor upon determining that a shifting device is performing a shifting action to change a transmission ratio of the bicycle. The electronic controller is further configured to end the control that decreases the output of the motor before a predetermined period elapses upon determining that the shifting action is completed or the transmission ratio is changed before the predetermined period has elapsed. The electronic controller is further configured to end the control that decreases the output of the motor upon determining that the predetermined period has elapsed in a case where the shifting action or the change in the transmission ratio is uncompleted even though the predetermined period has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Yasuhiro TSUCHIZAWA, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takuya KATSUKI
  • Patent number: 11091226
    Abstract: A bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit that controls a transmission device. The transmission device is configured to change a ratio of a rotational speed of a wheel of a bicycle to a rotational speed of a crank of the bicycle, and a motor. The motor transmits torque to an upstream side of the transmission device in a transmission path of manual driving force that is input to the crank. The electronic control unit is configured to switch between a first mode that drives the motor in accordance with the manual driving force and a second mode that allows the motor to be driven to assist walking of the bicycle. The electronic control unit is configured to control a rotational speed of the motor in accordance with the ratio in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Kazuhiro Fujii, Satoshi Shahana, Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Etsuyoshi Watarai
  • Patent number: 11072390
    Abstract: A bicycle control apparatus is basically provided with a controller and a communication unit. The controller includes a processor, a memory, and an I/O interface. The communication unit is connected to the controller and arranged to communicate with an external device. The controller is configured to communicate with an assist mechanism of a bicycle, where the assist mechanism includes an assist motor arranged to impart a supplemental drive force to the bicycle. The controller is programmed to set a control state and to adjust a response speed of the assist motor based on an operation of the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nishikawa, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Makoto Usui, Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 11066118
    Abstract: A bicycle seatpost system is basically provided with a height adjustable seatpost and an electronic controller. The height adjustable seatpost includes an electric actuator. The electronic controller is configured to control the electric actuator to change a height of the height adjustable seatpost in accordance with detected information about a change of orientation of a bicycle relative to a ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takuya Katsuki, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Kenji Kamada, Tomohiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 11059537
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a motor, which assists propulsion of a bicycle. The electronic controller is configured to decrease an output of the motor to less than or equal to a limit value upon determining a shifting device is performing a shifting action to change a transmission ratio of the bicycle. The electronic controller is further configured to change at least one of the limit value of the output of the motor and a time in which the output of the motor is decreased upon determining the shifting device is performing the shifting action in accordance with at least one of an actuation state of the shifting device in the shifting action and a parameter of the bicycle that is changed by the shifting action performed by the shifting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Takuya Katsuki
  • Publication number: 20210206453
    Abstract: A bicycle control device includes an electronic controller and a gas pressure detection device. The electronic controller receives data indicative of a detected gas pressure of a tire provided to a bicycle. The tire is configured to maintain a gas in a compressed state. The gas pressure detection device is directly attached to a valve of the tire. The gas pressure detection device includes a sensor and a wireless communication device. The sensor detects the gas pressure of the tire. The wireless communication device is configured to perform wireless communication with the electronic controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Yasuhiro TSUCHIZAWA, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Takuya KATSUKI
  • Patent number: 11034411
    Abstract: A bicycle controller controls a motor in accordance with the riding environment of a bicycle. The bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit that is configured to control a motor that assists in propulsion of a bicycle in accordance with a manual driving force. The electronic control unit is further configured to sets a response speed of the motor with respect to a change in the manual driving force for a case in which a vehicle speed of the bicycle is less than or equal to a first speed to be different from the response speed for a case in which the vehicle speed of the bicycle exceeds the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20210155314
    Abstract: A determination device is for a human-powered vehicle. The determination device includes a processor that is configured to obtain information related to a rotational speed of an input rotational shaft of the human-powered vehicle and information related to a rotational speed of a wheel of the human-powered vehicle to determine a predetermined state in accordance with a varied amount of the rotational speed of the input rotational shaft and a varied amount of the rotational speed of the wheel in a state in which a human driving force that is applied to the human-powered vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Jumpei NAKAMURA, Takuya KATSUKI, Keiji TERASHIMA, Yasuhiro TSUCHIZAWA, Hiroshi MATSUDA
  • Patent number: 11001337
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a motor used to assist in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is selectively settable to a first control state that controls the motor in accordance with human drive force and a second control state that controls the motor in accordance with human drive force so that a ratio of an output of the motor to the human drive force is greater than that of the first control state. In the first control state, the electronic controller controls the motor so that a response speed of the motor with respect to a change in the human drive force is equal to a first response speed. In the second control state, the electronic controller controls the motor so that the response speed is equal to a second response speed that is slower than the first response speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa