Brake Control Device for Human-Powered Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brake control systems for human-powered vehicles with ABS function often lead to decreases in braking force, particularly when ABS control is activated, affecting the stability and safety of the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A brake control device with an electronic controller that adjusts the braking force of one rotating body by increasing the braking force of another rotating body, using a different power source, to minimize decreases in overall braking force, ensuring stability and safety by maintaining or restoring the braking force within predetermined limits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ABS control is performed to prevent wheel locking, then wheel lock-up is prevented, but braking force decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel lock-up preventionVSAvoidbraking force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines hydraulic braking and regenerative braking systems into a unified brake control device. When ABS control is activated and hydraulic braking force is reduced, the regenerative braking unit compensates by increasing its braking force, thereby maintaining overall braking force while preventing wheel lock-up.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit dynamically adjusts the braking force parameters of the regenerative braking unit based on the operating state. When ABS control is detected, the control unit increases the regenerative braking force parameter to compensate for the reduction in hydraulic braking force, maintaining the total braking force within a predetermined range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If hydraulic braking pressure is reduced for ABS control, then wheel slip is controlled, but overall braking effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel slip controlVSAvoidbraking effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The regenerative braking unit acts as an intermediary to compensate for the reduction in hydraulic braking force. When ABS control reduces hydraulic pressure to control wheel slip, the regenerative braking unit provides additional braking force through electrical resistance, thereby maintaining overall braking effectiveness while allowing wheel slip control to function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If braking force is dynamically adjusted between multiple rotating bodies, then individual wheel conditions are optimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual wheel condition optimizationVSAvoidbrake control system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brake control device integrates multiple braking functions into a single control unit. The control unit manages both hydraulic braking and regenerative braking, and can perform both normal braking and ABS control functions, reducing the need for separate control systems while enabling individual wheel condition optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11345433B2Brake control device, braking device including brake control device, and brake system

Publication Date: 2022.05.31 SHIMANO INC

AI summary

A brake control device includes an electronic controller that is configured to control a braking unit that is configured to brake at least one of a plurality of rotating bodies of a human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to control the braking unit upon determining an ABS control is performed to decrease a braking force of a first rotating body included in the plurality of rotating bodies so that a braking force of a second rotating body, which is different from the first rotating body and included in the plurality of rotating bodies, is increased by a force that is different from hydraulic pressure.