ELETRIC BICYCLE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20160144928A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HL Mando Corporation (Halla Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mando Corporation (Halla Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: CHUN, Jae-Hyung
• Granted Patent: US 9,545,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 19/00 Transmissions characterised by use of non-mechanical gearing, e.g. fluid gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/50 characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/65 with axle and driving shaft arranged coaxially
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An electric bicycle and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The electric bicycle according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a weight sensing unit for sensing a rider'"'"'s weight; a motor output controlling unit for controlling a motor driving output; and an electronic control unit for varying the motor output through the motor output controlling unit according to the weight sensed by the weight sensing unit, and the weight sensing unit classifies the rider'"'"'s weight into a standard weight mode, an underweight mode, and an overweight mode according to the sensed weight, and if the weight is in the underweight mode, the weight sensing unit reduces the motor output to a value below the motor output for the standard weight mode and if the weight is in the overweight mode, the weight sensing unit increases the motor output to a value above the motor output for the standard weight mode.

Claims

1. An electric bicycle, comprising;

a weight sensing unit configured to sense a rider'"'"'s weight;

a motor output controlling unit configured to control a motor driving output; and

an electronic control unit configured to vary the motor output through the motor output controlling unit according to the weight sensed by the weight sensing unit.

2. The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the weight sensing unit is provided on at least one of a saddle, a pedal, a wheel, and a middle frame.

3. The electric bicycle of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit further comprises an interface device, and

the weight sensing unit receives the information on the rider'"'"'s weight through the interface device.

4. The electric bicycle of claim 2, wherein the weight sensing unit classifies the rider'"'"'s weight into a standard weight mode, an underweight mode, and an overweight mode according to the sensed weight, and

if the weight is in the underweight mode, the weight sensing unit reduces the motor output to a value below the motor output for the standard weight mode and if the weight is in the overweight mode, the weight sensing unit increases the motor output to a value above the motor output for the standard weight mode.

5. The electric bicycle of claim 4, wherein the weight sensing unit comprises a switching part disposed between and connected in series to a battery and a motor, and

the electronic control unit controls an operation of the switching part according to the standard weight mode, the underweight mode, and the overweight mode in a pulse width modulation method.

6. The electric bicycle of claim 1, further comprising a road condition sensing unit.

7. The electric bicycle of claim 1, further comprising a speed sensing unit configured to sense a speed of the electric bicycle, and

if the speed sensed by the speed sensing unit is less than a predetermined speed, the electronic control unit controls the motor output controlling unit on the basis of the weight in the weight sensing unit to vary the output of the motor.

8. A method of controlling an electric bicycle, comprising;

classifying a rider'"'"'s weight into a standard weight mode, an underweight mode, and an overweight mode; and

maintaining a motor output for the standard weight mode if a sensed weight is in the standard weight mode, reducing the motor output to a value below the motor output for the standard weight mode if the sensed weight is in the underweight mode, and increasing the motor output to a value above the motor output for the standard weight mode if the sensed weight is in the overweight mode.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising sensing a condition of a road on which the electric bicycle is traveled and varying the motor output according to the sensed road condition.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising sensing a speed of the electric bicycle and varying the motor output on the basis of the sensed weight if the sensed speed of the bicycle is less than a predetermined speed.