ELECTRIC BICYCLE

• US 20160031506A1
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• 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: Lloyd, James, Mundy, Jonathan, Southey, Bruce, Potticary, Simon, Neugebauer, James, Gerhardt, Torsten, Craven, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,573,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 apparatus includes a bicycle frame defining a bore, and a bicycle seat assembly including a post received in the bore. An indicating unit is configured to indicate a first position of the post along the bore for a first user and a second position of the post along the bore for a second user. An identification unit is configured to identify the first user and the second user. A computing device includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instruction such that the processor is programmed to instruct the indicating unit to indicate the first position when the identification unit identifies the first user and to instruct the indicating unit to indicate the second position when the identification unit identifies the second user.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a bicycle frame defining a bore;

a bicycle seat assembly including a post received in the bore; and

an indicating unit configured to indicate a first position of the post along the bore for a first user and a second position of the post along the bore for a second user;

an identification unit configured to identify the first user and the second user; and

a computing device including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instruction such that the processor is programmed to instruct the indicating unit to indicate the first position when the identification unit identifies the first user and to instruct the indicating unit to indicate the second position when the identification unit identifies the second user.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification unit is a proximity sensor configured to detect an identifier of the first user and an identifier of the second user within a predetermined range of the proximity sensor.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification unit is a proximity sensor configured to detect a mobile phone of the first user and a mobile phone of the second user.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification unit is a proximity sensor configured to detect an electromagnetic identifier of the first user and an electromagnetic identifier of the second user.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the identification unit is a key pad configured to receive a user password.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the indication unit is an illuminated strip along the post.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the indication unit is a mechanical lock engaging the post and the frame.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the indication unit includes a track defined in one of the post and the frame and a latch slideably engaged with the track.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the indication unit includes a motor engaged with the latch and configured to move the latch along the track.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the indication unit includes a plurality of recesses defined in one of the post and the frame and a stopper engaged with the other of the post and the frame.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the indication unit includes an actuator coupled to the stopper to selectively engage the stopper in the recesses.

12. A system comprising a computing device having a processor and a memory, the memory storing a first position of a seat post for a first user of a bicycle and a second position of the seat post for a second user of the bicycle, the memory further storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions comprising programming to:

receive a signal from one of an identifier of the first user and an identifier of the second user; and

instruct an indicating unit to indicate the first position when the identification unit identifies the first user and to instruct the indicating unit to indicate the second position when the identification unit identifies the second user.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the indication unit is a strip of light sources disposed along the post and wherein the programming to instruct the indicating unit includes programming to illuminate at least one of the light sources to indicate the first position when the identification unit identifies the first user and to illuminate at least one of the light sources to indicate the second position when the identification unit identifies the second user.

14. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the indication unit is a mechanical lock engaging the post and the frame and wherein the programming to instruct the indicating unit includes programming to provide instruction to actuate the mechanical lock at the first position when the identification unit identifies the first user and to actuate the mechanical lock at the second position when the identification unit identifies the second user.

15. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the identification unit is a proximity sensor configured to detect an identifier of the first user and an identifier of the second user within a predetermined range of the proximity sensor.

16. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the identification unit is a proximity sensor configured to detect a mobile phone of the first user and a mobile phone of the second user.

17. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the identification unit is a proximity sensor configured to detect an electromagnetic identifier of the first user and an electromagnetic identifier of the second user.

18. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the identification unit is a key pad configured to receive a password from the first user and to receive a password from the second user.

19. A method comprising:

storing a first position of a seat post for a first user of a bicycle and a second position of the seat pot for a second user of the bicycle;

receiving a signal from one of an identification unit of the first user and an identification unit of the second user; and

instructing an indicating unit to indicate the first position when the identification unit identifies the first user and instructing the indicating unit to indicate the second position when the identification unit identifies the second user.