Integrated anti-theft device for an electric bicycle

• US 8,930,054 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Garcia, Pierre-Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US13/777,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/001 Preventing theft of parts or accessories used on cycles, e.g. lamp, dynamo B62H5/006 takes precedence; devices for attaching pumps to cycles B62J11/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/80 Accessories, e.g. power sources; Arrangements thereof
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A drive unit for an electric bicycle comprising an electric motor and an energy storage device is provided. The drive unit includes a locking mechanism for locking the energy storage device and a control device. The control device is operatively connected to an actuator of the locking mechanism for the energy storage device. The actuator is fastened detachably to the drive unit. The control device is configured to evaluate signals received via a terminal in order to release or block one function of the drive unit as a function of at least one received signal. An electric bicycle, a method for operating an electric bicycle and a computer readable medium also are provided.

Claims

1. A drive unit for an electric bicycle comprising an electric motor and an energy storage device, the drive unit comprising:

a locking mechanism for locking the energy storage device to the electric bicycle;

a motor mechanically coupled to pedals of the electric bicycle; and

a control device wherein the control device is operatively connected to an actuator of the locking mechanism for the energy storage device, wherein the actuator is fastened detachably to the drive unit, and wherein the control device is configured to evaluate signals received via a terminal in order to release the energy storage device from the electric bicycle and block or release rotation of the motor as a function of at least one received signal such that the motor prevents rotation of the pedals when the motor rotation is blocked.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to transfer the locking mechanism into a release configuration only when a predefined unlocking signal is received via the terminal.

3. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to block any activation of the electric motor until a predefined release code is received via the terminal.

4. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to interrogate a current operating status of the electric motor and/or the energy storage device and to transmit a determined operating state to the terminal.

5. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured for wired and/or wireless communication with the terminal.

6. An electric bicycle comprising:

an electric motor mechanically coupled to pedals of the electric bicycle;

an energy storage device;

a drive unit comprising;

a locking mechanism for locking the energy storage device to the electric bicycle; and

a control device operatively connected to the electric motor, wherein the control device is operatively connected to an actuator of the locking mechanism for the energy storage device, wherein the actuator is fastened detachably to the drive unit, and wherein the control device is configured to evaluate signals received via a terminal in order to release the energy storage device from the electric bicycle and block or release rotation of the electric motor as a function of at least one received signal such that the motor prevents rotation of the pedals when the motor rotation is blocked.

7. The electric bicycle according to claim 6, wherein the control device is configured to transfer the locking mechanism into a release configuration only when a predefined unlocking signal is received via the terminal.

8. The electric bicycle according to claim 6, wherein the control device is configured to block any activation of the electric motor until a predefined release code is received via the terminal.

9. The electric bicycle according to claim 6, wherein the control device is configured to interrogate a current operating status of the electric motor and/or the energy storage device and to transmit a determined operating state to the terminal.

10. The electric bicycle according to claim 6, wherein the control device is configured for wired and/or wireless communication with the terminal.

11. A method for operating an electric bicycle that comprises an electric motor mechanically coupled to pedals of the electric bicycle, an energy storage system, and a drive unit having a control device, wherein the control device is configured to evaluate signals received via a terminal in order to release or block one function of the drive unit as a function of at least one received signal, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

connecting the terminal to the control device;

transmitting a signal corresponding to a function command from the terminal to the control device;

releasing the energy storage system from the electric bicycle as a function of the signal received by the control device; and

releasing or blocking a rotation of the electric motor as a function of the signal received by the control device such that the motor prevents rotation of the pedals when the motor rotation is blocked.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein an unlocking function for releasing the energy storage system from the drive unit is provided on the terminal and wherein as a result of an activation of the unlocking function, the energy storage system is removable from the drive unit.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the terminal is configured for interrogating a user identification and the terminal and/or the control device only release an operation of the electric motor upon input of a predefined user identification or a predefined release code.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the control device sends a warning signal to the terminal in an event of unauthorized use of the electric bicycle.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein connecting the terminal comprises connecting a mobile multifunctional terminal.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein connecting the terminal comprises connecting a Smartphone.

17. A computer readable medium embodying a computer program product for operating a two-wheeler that comprises an electric motor mechanically coupled to pedals of the two-wheeler, an energy storage system, and a drive unit having a control device, wherein the control device is configured to evaluate signals received via a terminal in order to release or block one function of the drive unit as a function of at least one received signal, the computer program product comprising:

a computer program, the computer program configured to;

connect the terminal to the control device;

transmit a signal corresponding to a function command from the terminal to the control device;

release the energy storage system from the electric bicycle; and

release or block a rotation of the electric motor based on the signal received from the control device such that the motor prevents rotation of the pedals when the motor rotation is blocked.