Versatile electric bicycle systems

• US 8,983,704 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Civilized Cycles Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Civilized Cycles Incorporated
• Inventors: Schieffelin, Zachary
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, SARA J
• Application Number:
  US14/255,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/99, 475/149, 475/155, 318/1, 318/2, 318/139, 180/218, 180/220, 180/205.1, 1802061-2068, 180/65.1, 180/65.51, 211/4, 211/5, 211/26
• US Class Current: 701/22
• 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: B60W 40/12 related to parameters of the vehicle itself , e.g. tyre models
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/23 above or alongside the rear wheel B62J9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/90 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/00 Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units program control for peripheral devices G06F13/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

The disclosure herein provides systems for a versatile electric bicycle that is configured to be easily adapted to accommodate various needs and requirements. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may provide features and/or models that are configured to be easily adapted to accommodate parts of varying dimensions, different seating configurations, and/or particular laws and regulations of different jurisdictions.

Claims

1. A dynamically configurable electric bicycle propulsion system comprising:

an electric motor that converts stored electrical power into rotational motion for rotating a wheel of a bicycle; and

an electric bicycle computing unit electrically coupled with the motor to control a performance characteristic of the motor,

wherein the electric bicycle computing unit communicates electronically with a mobile computing device comprising a geolocation system to determine a current geographic location of the bicycle,

wherein a jurisdictional limit related to the performance characteristic is determined by accessing an electronic regulations database using a query based on the current geographic location of the bicycle determined by the mobile computing device,

wherein the electric bicycle computing unit limits the performance characteristic of the motor such that the performance characteristic complies with the jurisdictional limit, and

wherein the performance characteristic comprises a power output of the motor and the jurisdictional limit defines a maximum power output allowed in the current geographic location.

2. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the current geographic location of the electric bicycle and the jurisdictional limit are automatically determined based on information provided by the geolocation system of the mobile computing device, and wherein the electric bicycle computing unit automatically limits the performance characteristic of the motor in response to the determination of the jurisdictional limit to prohibit a user from causing the jurisdictional limit to be exceeded.

3. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the electric bicycle computing unit controls at least two performance characteristics of the motor based on at least two jurisdictional limits.

4. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 3, wherein one of the at least two performance characteristics comprises a rotational speed of the motor and one of the at least two jurisdictional limits defines a maximum bicycle speed allowed in the current geographic location.

5. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the electric bicycle computing unit accesses the regulations database to determine the jurisdictional limit.

6. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device accesses the regulations database to determine the jurisdictional limit, and the mobile computing device transmits data to the electric bicycle computing unit comprising the jurisdictional limit.

7. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the electric bicycle computing unit communicates electronically with the mobile computing device using a wireless connection.

8. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 1, wherein the geolocation system of the mobile computing device uses at least one of a global positioning system or cellular tower triangulation to determine the current geographic location of the bicycle.

9. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 1, further comprising a bicycle frame.

10. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 9, further comprising a cradle coupled to the bicycle frame, the cradle shaped to removably hold the mobile computing device and positioned such that an electronic display of the mobile computing device is visible to a rider of the bicycle.

11. A dynamically configurable electric bicycle propulsion system comprising:

a mobile computing device that electronically communicates with an electric bicycle computing unit electrically coupled with a motor that converts stored electrical power into rotational motion for rotating a wheel of a bicycle, wherein the electric bicycle computing unit controls a performance characteristic of the motor,

wherein the mobile computing device comprises a geolocation system that determines a current geographic location of the mobile computing device,

wherein the mobile computing device accesses a regulations database using a query based on the current geographic location to determine a jurisdictional limit related to the performance characteristic of the motor,

wherein the mobile computing device transmits data to the electric bicycle computing unit based on the determined jurisdictional limit to enable the electric bicycle computing unit to limit the performance characteristic to comply with the jurisdictional limit, and

wherein the performance characteristic comprises a power output of the motor and the jurisdictional limit defines a maximum power output allowed in the current geographic location.

12. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 11, wherein the current geographic location and the jurisdictional limit are automatically determined by the mobile computing device, and wherein the electric bicycle computing unit automatically limits the performance characteristic of the motor in response to the data transmitted by the mobile computing device to prohibit a user from causing the jurisdictional limit to be exceeded.

13. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 11, wherein the electric bicycle computing unit controls at least two performance characteristics of the motor based on at least two jurisdictional limits.

14. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 13, wherein one of the at least two performance characteristics comprises a rotational speed of the motor and one of the at least two jurisdictional limits defines a maximum bicycle speed allowed in the current geographic location.

15. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 11, wherein the electric bicycle computing unit communicates electronically with the mobile computing device using a wireless connection.

16. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 11, wherein the geolocation system of the mobile computing device uses at least one of a global positioning system or cellular tower triangulation to determine the current geographic location.

17. The electric bicycle propulsion system of claim 11, further comprising a cradle adapted to be coupled to a bicycle frame, the cradle shaped to removably hold the mobile computing device.