Electric bicycle

• US 10,336,393 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gerhardt, Torsten, Mundy, Jonathan, Lloyd, James, Neugebauer, James, Potticary, Simon, Craven, Richard, Southey, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Heinle, Courtney D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martinez Borrero, Luis A
• Application Number:
  US14/804,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20160031524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 701 22, 701 2, 701 1, 701 49, 701117, 701300, 701301, 701 41, 701410, 701538, 701422, 1802062, 1802063, 1802073, 180 6551, 1802061, 1802067
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 3/00 Steering gears power assisted or power driven B62D5/00; steering linkages B62D7/00; for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; gearing in general F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 2005/008 Arrangements or adaptations for supporting U-locks on cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/003 using chains or cables chain or cable locks per se E05B67/003; with alarm E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/08 Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/20 characterised by the mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/30 for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/21 : intended to provide information to rider or passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/015 : using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/045 : indicating braking
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/00 : Collapsible or foldable cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/006 : the frame being foldable
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 15/008 : foldable about 2 or more axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2015/001 : Frames adapted to be easily dismantled
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2015/005 : having additional wheels for use when folded or collapsed
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/16 : having adjustable parts therein
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 : Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/02 : for mounting axles rigidly on cycle frame or fork, e.g. adjustably
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/00 : Bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 3/02 : Frames tandem frames B62K3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 : Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/50 : characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 7/06 : directly under the saddle or seat
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 71/00 : Locks specially adapted for bicycles, other than padlocks locks integral with holders for parking or storing bicycles B62H3/00; locks integral with cycles B62H5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/10 : without using feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 : External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 : for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 : the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4081 : Live connection to bus, e.g. hot-plugging current or voltage limitation during live insertion H02H9/004
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An electric bicycle includes a motor and a controller. A heart rate monitor is programmed to communicate a heart rate signal representing a heart rate of an occupant to the controller. The controller is programmed to receive a destination distance of the electric bicycle relative to a predetermined destination. The controller is programmed to provide instruction to adjust power to the motor based at least on the heart rate signal and the destination distance.

Claims

1. An electric bicycle comprising:

a motor;

a controller;

a heart rate monitor programmed to communicate a heart rate signal representing a heart rate of an occupant to the controller; and

the controller being programmed to receive a destination distance of the electric bicycle relative to a predetermined destination;

the controller being programmed to provide instruction to increase power to the motor during a final stretch of a journey to the predetermined destination based at least on the heart rate signal and the destination distance.

2. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a battery and wherein the controller is programmed to provide instruction to adjust power to the motor based at least on a charge level of the battery.

3. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the controller is programmed to provide instruction to increase power to the motor when the destination distance is within a predetermined range, the heart rate signal is above a predetermined level, and the charge level of the battery is above a predetermined level.

4. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the controller is programed to determine a maximum cool down distance to ensure the battery has sufficient charge to reach the predetermined destination based at least on the charge level of the battery and to provide instruction to increase power to the motor when the destination distance is less than the maximum cool down distance.

5. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the controller is programmed to determine the maximum cool down distance based at least on one of topography between the electric bicycle and the predetermined destination, traffic conditions between the electric bicycle and the predetermined destination, and traffic light patterns between the electric bicycle and the predetermined destination.

6. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 5 wherein the controller is programmed to receive at least one of the topography, traffic conditions, and traffic light patterns are communicated to the controller from a mobile phone.

7. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to receive an occupant selected cool down distance and to provide instruction to increase power to the motor when the destination distance is less than the occupant selected cool down distance.

8. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to identify a baseline heart rate of the occupant before operation of the bicycle by the occupant.

9. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 8 wherein the controller is programmed to provide instruction to adjust power to the motor based at least on the heart rate signal relative to the baseline heart rate.

10. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a battery and wherein the controller is programmed to provide instruction to increase power to the motor based at least on a charge level of the battery.

11. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 10 wherein the controller is programmed to provide instruction to increase power to the motor when the heart rate signal is above the baseline heart rate, the charge level of the battery is above a predetermined level, and the destination distance is within a predetermined range.

12. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an input device programmed to provide instruction to the controller to override the instruction to adjust power to the motor based at least on the heart rate signal and the destination distance.

13. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 12 wherein the input device is a mobile phone.

14. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to provide instruction to progressively increase power to the motor as the destination distance decreases.

15. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a handlebar and wherein the heart rate monitor includes contact patches on the handlebar.

16. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to receive at least one of route topology data and current gradient data and to adjust power to the motor based at least on the route topography data and/or the current gradient data.

17. The electric bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the heartrate monitor is on at least one of a wristwatch and a chest strap.

18. A system for a bicycle comprising a computing device having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions, the instructions comprising programming to:

receive a heart rate of a driver;

receive a destination distance of the bicycle relative to a predetermined destination; and

provide instruction to increase power to a motor during a final stretch of a journey to the predetermined destination based at least on the heart rate and the destination distance.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to provide instruction to increase power to the motor when the destination distance is within a predetermined range, the heart rate signal is above a predetermined level, and a charge level of a battery is above a predetermined range.

20. The system as set forth in claim 19 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to determine a maximum cool down distance to ensure the battery has sufficient charge to reach the predetermined destination based at least on the charge level of the battery and to provide instruction to increase power to the motor when the destination distance is less than the maximum cool down distance.