COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF BICYCLE-BASED NETWORK CONNECTIVITY AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A BICYCLE HAVING NETWORK CONNECTIVITY

• US 20180251190A1
• Filed: 05/04/2018
• Published: 09/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hancock, David Barton, Vasiliotis, Christopher M., Sweet, Brian Benjamin, Lohr, Charles B., Dawe, Daniel J., Tanner, Eric, Carter, Jeremy, Birchak, Jeffrey A., Contello, Wayne Leroy, Whisler, Russell Charles, Gust, Kevin Alan, Bazyn, Matthew R.
• Application Number:
  US15/971,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20180251190A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 : Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 : Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 : Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 : electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 23/00 : Transmissions characterised by use of other elements; Other transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 : with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• 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: F16H 2059/666 : Determining road conditions by using vehicle location or position, e.g. from global navigation systems [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/44 : dependent on machine speed of the machine, e.g. the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/66 : Road conditions, e.g. slope, slippery
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0204 : for gearshift control, e.g. control functions for performing shifting or generation of shift signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 : Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/25 : involving aiding data received from a cooperating element, e.g. assisted GPS
• 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

A bicycle configured for communication with other bicycles, a centralized server, client computing devices and third party servers allows the rider to be connected with friends, coaches/trainers, and third party vendors including vendors associated with lodging, food, and other conveniences, vendors associated with bike servicing, equipment, warranties, and other bike related products and services, and vendors associated with routes, areas or destinations. Information may be communicated in real time or stored in memory and communicated to servers, client devices, other riders, etc., at a later date. Information may be communicated to the bike controller for route planning, service scheduling, training purposes and the like. Information communicated to or from the bicycle may be performed as indicated by the rider or there may be predetermined rules or guidelines for what information is collected and to whom the information may be sent to or received from.

Claims

1. A bicycle comprising a frame, two wheels supported by the frame, a drive train to enable a user to propel the bicycle, a motor coupled to a battery, and a controller communicatively coupled to a network, the controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory memory storing a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the controller to:

obtain, from one of the non-transitory memory and a first server communicatively coupled to the controller via the network, rider information for a rider on the bicycle;

determine location information associated with the bicycle;

obtain, from the first server, terrain information associated with the location information;

obtain, from a second server communicatively coupled to the controller via the network, information related to a plurality of routes associated with the location of the bicycle, the rider information, and the terrain information;

display, via a GUI, the plurality of routes to the rider, wherein at least one route is determined based on the rider information and on a power level of the battery;

determine, based on the power level of the battery, a control scheme for the motor; and

control the motor based on the control scheme.

2. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions are executable by the processor to cause the controller to:

receive an indication of a route from the rider;

receive a set of signals from a sensor; and

communicate at least a portion of the set of signals to one of a central server, a client computing device, a third party server, and a second controller.

3. The bicycle of claim 2, wherein the at least a portion of the set of signals is communicated to a client computing device.

4. The bicycle of claim 3, wherein the at least a portion of the set of signals is streamed.

5. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine, in response to an indication of a desired bicycle speed and an available power level of the battery, an amount of power available for adding power to the bicycle; and

add power to the bicycle to increase the speed of the bicycle based on the desired bicycle speed.

6. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the rider information includes health information.

7. The bicycle of claim 1, further comprising a continuously variable transmission coupled to the motor, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission;

determine a control scheme for the motor and the continuously variable transmission; and

control the motor and the continuously variable transmission according to the determined control scheme.

8. A controller for use with a bicycle comprising a frame, two wheels supported by the frame, a drivetrain, and a motor coupled to a battery for propelling the bicycle, the controller communicatively coupled to a network and configured to:

obtain, from a first server communicatively coupled to the controller via the network, rider information for a rider on the bicycle;

determine location information associated with the bicycle;

obtain terrain information associated with the location information;

obtain, from a second server communicatively coupled to the controller via the network, information related to a plurality of routes associated with the location of the bicycle, the rider information, and the terrain information;

display, via a GUI, the plurality of routes to the rider, wherein at least one route is determined based on the rider information and on a power level of the battery;

determine, based on the power level of the battery, a control scheme for the motor; and

control the motor based on the control scheme.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon receiving an indication from the rider of a route selection, communicate information to one of a client computing device, a central server, and a third party server.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the third party server is associated with one of a vendor associated with bicycle service or maintenance, a vendor associated with the route selection, and a vendor associated with rider services, equipment, or apparel.

11. The controller of claim 8, wherein the rider information includes health information.

12. The controller of claim 8, wherein the controller is a first controller configured to control a first bicycle and to communicate with a second controller configured to control a second bicycle, wherein the first controller and the second controller display the same plurality of routes based on the rider information for either the first rider of the first bicycle or a second rider of the second bicycle.

13. The controller of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to control a continuously variable transmission coupled to the motor.

14. A server communicatively coupled to a plurality of controllers associated with a plurality of bicycles, comprising:

a memory storing a database of route information related to a plurality of routes; and

a set of instructions executable to cause at least one controller of the plurality of controllers to;

receive a request for a route based on a geographic location determined by the controller from a bicycle associated with a rider, wherein the request includes rider information and bicycle information, wherein the bicycle information includes information about a motor and a power level of a battery,

obtain terrain information associated with the geographic location from the database, and

select a set of routes from the plurality of routes, wherein at least one route is determined based on the rider information and the power level of the battery.

15. The server of claim 14, wherein the set of instructions are executable to cause the at least one controller to:

receive an indication of a route of the set of routes from the rider;

receive a set of signals from a sensor; and

communicate at least a portion of the set of signals to a client computing device, a third party server, or a second controller.

16. The server of claim 14, wherein the set of instructions are executable to cause the at least one controller to determine, based on the power level of the battery, a control scheme for a motor coupled to the battery.

17. The server of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions are executable to cause the at least one controller to determine, based on the power level of the battery, a control scheme for a continuously variable transmission coupled to the motor.