US Patent 7479079 Variable speed generator for a human powered vehicle

A generator for a human powered vehicle comprises a hub shaft structured to be mounted to the human powered vehicle, a hub shell mounted to rotate relative to the hub shaft, a power generating mechanism including a coil and a magnet that rotate relative to each other, and a rotating member structured to rotate relative to the hub shaft, wherein at least one of the coil or the magnet rotate together with the rotating member. A transmission communicates rotation from an input member to an output member corresponding to a plurality of gear ratios, and a switching unit couples the rotating member to the transmission so that the rotating member rotates at a plurality of speeds relative to the hub shell.