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Patent · US2016031513A1 · A1 · US

Electric bicycle

(11) Publication number
US2016031513A1
(21) Application number
14/805,033
(22) Filing date
2015-07-21
(30) Priority date
2014-08-01
(43) Publication date
2016-02-04
(51) IPC
B62J 27/00; B62J 6/00; B62J 99/00; G08G 1/16; B60L 11/00; B60L 11/18; B60L 15/20; B62H 5/20; B62J 1/08; B62J 6/04; B62K 15/00; B62K 21/16; B62K 25/02; B62K 3/00; B62K 3/02; B62M 6/40; B62M 6/45; B62M 6/50; B62M 6/70; B62M 6/90; G05D 3/10; G06F 1/16; G06F 13/40
(52) CPC
  • B62K Cycles; cycle frames; cycle steering devices; rider-operated terminal controls specially adapted for cycles; cycle axle suspensions; cycle sidecars, forecars, or the like: 15/006, 1/00, 11/00, 15/00, 15/008, 17/00, 2015/001, 2015/005, 21/16, 2204/00, 25/02, 3/00, 3/02
  • B60L Propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles; supplying electric power for auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles; electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general; magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles; monitoring operating variables of electrically-propelled vehicles; electric safety devices for electrically-propelled vehicles: 15/20, 2200/12, 2250/16, 2250/20, 2250/26, 2260/52, 2260/54, 50/20, 53/18, 53/68
  • B62D Motor vehicles; trailers: 3/00
  • B62H Cycle stands; supports or holders for parking or storing cycles; appliances preventing or indicating unauthorized use or theft of cycles; locks integral with cycles; devices for learning to ride cycles: 2005/008, 5/003, 5/20
  • B62J Cycle saddles or seats; auxiliary devices or accessories specially adapted to cycles and not otherwise provided for, e.g. article carriers or cycle protectors: 1/08, 2099/0013, 2099/008, 27/00, 43/20, 43/30, 45/10, 45/20, 45/41, 50/21, 6/001, 6/015, 6/045, 99/00
  • B62M Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles or sledges; powered propulsion of sledges or {single-track} cycles; transmissions specially adapted for such vehicles: 6/40, 6/50, 6/90, 7/00, 7/06
  • E05B Locks; accessories therefor; handcuffs: 71/00
  • G05D Systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables: 3/10
  • G06F Electric digital data processing: 1/1632, 1/1683, 1/1698, 13/4081
  • G08G Traffic control systems: 1/165, 1/166
  • Y02D Climate change mitigation technologies in information and communication technologies [ICT], i.e. information and communication technologies aiming at the reduction of their own energy use: 10/00
  • Y02T Climate change mitigation technologies related to transportation: 10/64, 10/70, 10/7072, 10/72, 90/12, 90/14, 90/16
(73) Assignee
Ford Global Technologies LLC
(72) Inventors
James Neugebauer; Bruce Southey; James Lloyd; Torsten Gerhardt; Richard Craven; Simon Potticary; Jonathan Mundy
(54) Title
Electric bicycle
(57) Abstract

A bicycle includes a handlebar and a vibration generator supported on the handlebar. A sensor is configured to detect an overcoming vehicle. A controller is configured to activate the vibration generator when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle.

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Claims (1)

  1. A bicycle comprising: a handlebar; a vibration generator supported on the handlebar; a sensor configured to detect an overcoming vehicle; and a controller configured to activate the vibration generator when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle. 2. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising another sensor configured to detect an upcoming obstacle. 3. The bicycle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the controller is programmed to estimate whether the bicycle will reach the upcoming obstacle before the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle. 4. The bicycle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller estimates based at least on a comparison of a distance and approach speed of the overcoming vehicle with the distance and approach speed of the upcoming obstacle. 5. The bicycle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern when the controller estimates that the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle before the bicycle reaches the upcoming obstacle. 6. The bicycle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller is programmed to calculate an instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle. 7. The bicycle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern to identify the instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle. 8. The bicycle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller performs a feedback loop on the estimation. 9. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a light source and wherein the controller is configured to illuminate the light source when the sensor detects the overcoming vehicle. 10. A system for a bicycle comprising a computing device having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions, the instructions comprising programming to: receive data from a sensor indicating that an overcoming vehicle is approaching the bicycle; instruct a vibration generator to vibrate when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle. 11. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to receive data from another sensor indicating that the bicycle is approaching an upcoming obstacle. 12. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to estimate whether the bicycle will reach the upcoming obstacle before the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle. 13. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to estimate based at least on a comparison of a distance and approach speed of the overcoming vehicle with the distance and approach speed of the upcoming obstacle. 14. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern when the controller estimates that the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle before the bicycle reaches the upcoming obstacle. 15. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to calculate an instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle. 16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern to identify the instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle. 17. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to perform a feedback loop on the estimate. 18. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to illuminate a light source when the sensor detects the overcoming vehicle. 19. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to communicate data to a mobile device. 20. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a different frequency and a different duration when the sensor detects the absence of an overcoming vehicle.

Description

Vehicles such as automobiles may be used to transport other modes of transportation, such as bicycles, for example. The vehicle may be used to transport the bicycle, for example, for recreational use of the bicycle. As another example, the vehicle may be used to transport the bicycle so that the vehicle and the bicycle provide multi-modal transportation. Multi-modal transportation can include driving the vehicle to a location at which the vehicle may be parked and then driving the bicycle from the vehicle to a final destination. For example, a driver may travel to a work office located in an urban setting congested by commuters by first driving the vehicle to a less congested satellite parking lot remote from the office and driving the bicycle from the vehicle to the office. The bicycle may be more easily and quickly maneuvered in the more congested areas, and at lower cost to the owner and the environment.

The bicycle includes a frame and a pedal assembly for manually pedaling the bicycle. In addition to manual propulsion by pedaling, the bicycle may be an electric bicycle that is propelled electrically, e.g., by battery powered. Accordingly, the driver may selectively pedal the electric bicycle or may ride on the electric bicycle as the electric bicycle is electrically propelled. The pedals may be used, for example, when the driver seeks exercise or when the battery is dead. The electric propulsion may be used, for example, to assist in pedaling when the driver does not want to become heated due to the exercise of pedaling.

Citations (6)

  • JP3211125B2
  • US20080128190A1
  • KR20110027150A
  • KR20120114558A
  • US20130148375A1
  • US20160144915A1
Record as JSON 
{
  "publication_number": "US2016031513A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Electric bicycle",
  "abstract": "A bicycle includes a handlebar and a vibration generator supported on the handlebar. A sensor is configured to detect an overcoming vehicle. A controller is configured to activate the vibration generator when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A bicycle comprising: a handlebar; a vibration generator supported on the handlebar; a sensor configured to detect an overcoming vehicle; and a controller configured to activate the vibration generator when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle. 2. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising another sensor configured to detect an upcoming obstacle. 3. The bicycle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the controller is programmed to estimate whether the bicycle will reach the upcoming obstacle before the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle. 4. The bicycle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller estimates based at least on a comparison of a distance and approach speed of the overcoming vehicle with the distance and approach speed of the upcoming obstacle. 5. The bicycle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern when the controller estimates that the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle before the bicycle reaches the upcoming obstacle. 6. The bicycle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller is programmed to calculate an instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle. 7. The bicycle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern to identify the instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle. 8. The bicycle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the controller performs a feedback loop on the estimation. 9. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a light source and wherein the controller is configured to illuminate the light source when the sensor detects the overcoming vehicle. 10. A system for a bicycle comprising a computing device having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions, the instructions comprising programming to: receive data from a sensor indicating that an overcoming vehicle is approaching the bicycle; instruct a vibration generator to vibrate when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle. 11. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to receive data from another sensor indicating that the bicycle is approaching an upcoming obstacle. 12. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to estimate whether the bicycle will reach the upcoming obstacle before the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle. 13. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to estimate based at least on a comparison of a distance and approach speed of the overcoming vehicle with the distance and approach speed of the upcoming obstacle. 14. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern when the controller estimates that the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle before the bicycle reaches the upcoming obstacle. 15. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to calculate an instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle. 16. The system as set forth in claim 15 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern to identify the instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle. 17. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to perform a feedback loop on the estimate. 18. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to illuminate a light source when the sensor detects the overcoming vehicle. 19. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to communicate data to a mobile device. 20. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a different frequency and a different duration when the sensor detects the absence of an overcoming vehicle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Vehicles such as automobiles may be used to transport other modes of transportation, such as bicycles, for example. The vehicle may be used to transport the bicycle, for example, for recreational use of the bicycle. As another example, the vehicle may be used to transport the bicycle so that the vehicle and the bicycle provide multi-modal transportation. Multi-modal transportation can include driving the vehicle to a location at which the vehicle may be parked and then driving the bicycle from the vehicle to a final destination. For example, a driver may travel to a work office located in an urban setting congested by commuters by first driving the vehicle to a less congested satellite parking lot remote from the office and driving the bicycle from the vehicle to the office. The bicycle may be more easily and quickly maneuvered in the more congested areas, and at lower cost to the owner and the environment.\n\nThe bicycle includes a frame and a pedal assembly for manually pedaling the bicycle. In addition to manual propulsion by pedaling, the bicycle may be an electric bicycle that is propelled electrically, e.g., by battery powered. Accordingly, the driver may selectively pedal the electric bicycle or may ride on the electric bicycle as the electric bicycle is electrically propelled. The pedals may be used, for example, when the driver seeks exercise or when the battery is dead. The electric propulsion may be used, for example, to assist in pedaling when the driver does not want to become heated due to the exercise of pedaling.",
  "cpc": [
    "B62K 15/006",
    "B60L 15/20",
    "B60L 2200/12",
    "B60L 2250/16",
    "B60L 2250/20",
    "B60L 2250/26",
    "B60L 2260/52",
    "B60L 2260/54",
    "B60L 50/20",
    "B60L 53/18",
    "B60L 53/68",
    "B62D 3/00",
    "B62H 2005/008",
    "B62H 5/003",
    "B62H 5/20",
    "B62J 1/08",
    "B62J 2099/0013",
    "B62J 2099/008",
    "B62J 27/00",
    "B62J 43/20",
    "B62J 43/30",
    "B62J 45/10",
    "B62J 45/20",
    "B62J 45/41",
    "B62J 50/21",
    "B62J 6/001",
    "B62J 6/015",
    "B62J 6/045",
    "B62J 99/00",
    "B62K 1/00",
    "B62K 11/00",
    "B62K 15/00",
    "B62K 15/008",
    "B62K 17/00",
    "B62K 2015/001",
    "B62K 2015/005",
    "B62K 21/16",
    "B62K 2204/00",
    "B62K 25/02",
    "B62K 3/00",
    "B62K 3/02",
    "B62M 6/40",
    "B62M 6/50",
    "B62M 6/90",
    "B62M 7/00",
    "B62M 7/06",
    "E05B 71/00",
    "G05D 3/10",
    "G06F 1/1632",
    "G06F 1/1683",
    "G06F 1/1698",
    "G06F 13/4081",
    "G08G 1/165",
    "G08G 1/166",
    "Y02D 10/00",
    "Y02T 10/64",
    "Y02T 10/70",
    "Y02T 10/7072",
    "Y02T 10/72",
    "Y02T 90/12",
    "Y02T 90/14",
    "Y02T 90/16"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B62J 27/00",
    "B62J 6/00",
    "B62J 99/00",
    "G08G 1/16",
    "B60L 11/00",
    "B60L 11/18",
    "B60L 15/20",
    "B62H 5/20",
    "B62J 1/08",
    "B62J 6/04",
    "B62K 15/00",
    "B62K 21/16",
    "B62K 25/02",
    "B62K 3/00",
    "B62K 3/02",
    "B62M 6/40",
    "B62M 6/45",
    "B62M 6/50",
    "B62M 6/70",
    "B62M 6/90",
    "G05D 3/10",
    "G06F 1/16",
    "G06F 13/40"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ford Global Technologies LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "James Neugebauer",
    "Bruce Southey",
    "James Lloyd",
    "Torsten Gerhardt",
    "Richard Craven",
    "Simon Potticary",
    "Jonathan Mundy"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-07-21",
  "publication_date": "2016-02-04",
  "priority_date": "2014-08-01",
  "application_number": "US-201514805033-A",
  "family_id": "54013274",
  "cited_by_count": 7,
  "citations": [
    "JP3211125B2",
    "US20080128190A1",
    "KR20110027150A",
    "KR20120114558A",
    "US20130148375A1",
    "US20160144915A1"
  ]
}

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