Bicycle with handlebar unit

Abstract

Handlebar unit (1) for a bicycle (2), in particular for an electric bicycle, - with a handlebar (3) for connecting the handlebar unit (1) to a bicycle (2), - with at least one handle (4) formed and / or arranged on the handlebar (3) for gripping with one hand, characterized in that - that the handlebar unit (1) has at least one photonic mixer detector (6) for detecting finger positions of the hand gripping the handle (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a handlebar unit for a bicycle, in particular for an electric bicycle, having the features of the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a bicycle equipped with such a handlebar unit.

[0002] A bicycle with a generic handlebar unit is known, for example, from DE 10 2018 214 252 A1. The handlebar unit has a handlebar bracket for connecting the handlebar unit to a bicycle and at least one handle formed or arranged on the handlebar bracket for gripping with one hand of a rider (male / female / diverse). In the known handlebar unit, each handlebar is equipped with a touch-sensitive sensor surface configured to operate the brake and gear shift.

[0003] DE 10 2012 212 787 A1 discloses a motorcycle handlebar in which at least one hand movement is monitored by optical sensors. During operation, predefined gestures performed by the rider with individual fingers of the hand grasping the handle are recognized, allowing the commands associated with the respective gesture to be subsequently executed. For example, the rider can use this method to control an external navigation device or a smartphone.

[0004] EP 3 409 553 B1 discloses a motorcycle equipped with a system that determines possible driving maneuvers depending on the situation and presents the driver with a selection of maneuvers via a haptic, yet contactless display. The maneuver, then selected via gesture control, is executed using suitable actuators.

[0005] DE 10 2017 201 089 A1 discloses a motorcycle hand control with an optical sensor.

[0006] Other motorcycles with gesture control are known from TW 202 017 786 A and DE 10 2019 124 242 A1.

[0007] The present invention addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least a different embodiment for a handlebar unit of the type described above or for a bicycle equipped therewith, which is characterized in particular by increased riding safety in conjunction with reduced wear of components of the bicycle.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​using at least one photonic mixing detector to detect finger positions of the hand gripping the handle. Such a photonic mixing detector can also be referred to as a photonic mixing sensor or PMD sensor, where PMD stands for photonic mixing device. A PMD sensor is an optical sensor whose operating principle is based on the time-of-flight principle. In this respect, a PMD sensor usually corresponds to a so-called TOS sensor, where TOS stands for time-of-flight. With a PMD sensor, the object to be sensed or detected is illuminated by light pulses, whereby the respective object reflects these light pulses, and the reflected light pulses are detected by the PMD sensor. Based on the time of flight, the distance between the PMD sensor and the respective object can then be calculated. The light used by the PMD sensor is preferably in the infrared range.PMD sensors are independent of the other illumination of the respective object and are therefore insensitive to glare and stray light and also function in the dark.

[0010] With a corresponding resolution of the PMD sensor, individual sub-areas can also be detected individually within the respective object. In the present invention, the PMD sensor monitors the fingers of the respective hand, wherein it is particularly conceivable for the fingers to be monitored individually or separately. This makes it possible, in particular, to detect the finger positions of each individual finger. In the handlebar unit presented here, the respective photonic mixer detector monitors at least one finger of the respective hand, wherein it can detect different finger positions of this finger. Preferably, however, the respective photonic mixer detector monitors at least two fingers of the respective hand. Depending on the positioning and design, the photonic mixer detector can monitor exactly two or three or four or all five fingers of the respective hand in order to detect their finger positions.

[0011] The finger positions, in particular, enable gesture control, allowing bicycle components to be operated manually but without contact, significantly reducing wear and tear on these components. At the same time, the rider can keep their respective hands on the handlebars, ensuring they can always control the bike safely.

[0012] The handlebar unit can expediently have at least one manually operable brake lever arranged on the handlebar. The respective brake lever serves to actuate a braking system arranged on the bicycle. According to an advantageous embodiment, the respective photonic mixer detector can be arranged in or on the respective brake lever. This positioning of the photonic mixer detector on the brake lever makes it particularly easy to monitor the respective handle in order to detect the finger positions of the hand gripping the handle.

[0013] A bicycle according to the invention comprises a frame, preferably two wheels, and at least one electrically controllable component, as well as a handlebar unit of the type described above. Furthermore, the bicycle can be equipped with a control device that is electrically coupled to the respective photonic mixer detector and to the respective component, wherein the control device is configured such that the control device controls the respective component depending on the finger positions. This allows, for example, gesture control to be implemented in order to enable contactless actuation of the respective component.

[0014] In the present context, a ‘configuration’ corresponds to a ‘design and / or programming’, so that the term ‘configured’ is synonymous with the term ‘designed and / or programmed’.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the bicycle can have at least two different electrically controllable components, both of which are electrically coupled to the control device. The control device can then be configured to control these different components separately depending on the finger positions. In particular, different finger positions are thereby detected and assigned to the different components, so that a first component can be controlled with first finger positions, while a second component can be controlled with second finger positions. The same applies to each additional component.

[0016] A particularly advantageous embodiment is one in which the control device is configured to compare a temporal progression of the finger positions with predetermined finger gestures, with different finger gestures being assigned to the various components. The control device is also configured to control the components separately depending on the finger gestures. This enables particularly simple, particularly intuitive operation of the respective components of the bicycle.

[0017] Another embodiment proposes that the bicycle have an electrically operated gearshift with multiple gears as an electrical component. The control device can then be configured to control the gearshift depending on the finger positions for selecting the gears. For example, raising and lowering the index finger can be interpreted as a finger gesture for shifting to the next higher gear. Raising and lowering the thumb of the respective hand, on the other hand, can be interpreted as a finger gesture for shifting to the next lower gear.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the bicycle can be designed as an electric bicycle and have, as an electrical component, an electric motor drive with several different operating modes. The control device can then be configured in particular to control the drive depending on the finger positions for switching on and off and / or for selecting the operating modes. In principle, similar or even the same finger gestures are conceivable here as previously described for gear shifting, but different hands can expediently be assigned to the fingers. For example, the handlebar unit can have two handles and two photonic mixer detectors, so that, for example, the fingers of the right hand can be used to operate the gear shift, while the fingers of the left hand can be used to control the drive.In this context, an electric bicycle is preferably understood to be a bicycle in which the electric motor drive serves only to assist the rider, who must propel the bicycle themselves via pedals. In this respect, the electric bicycle is preferably a so-called Pedelec or Speedelec.

[0019] Another embodiment proposes that the bicycle have an electric light with multiple lighting modes as an electrical component. The control device can then be configured to control the lighting depending on the finger position for turning the light on and off and / or for selecting the lighting modes. This also significantly increases comfort.

[0020] According to another embodiment, the bicycle can be equipped with an electric braking system, with at least one manually operable brake lever arranged on the handlebar. The respective photonic mixer detector can then be arranged on or in the respective brake lever. Particularly expediently, the control device can now be configured such that it controls the braking system depending on a relative position between the handle and the brake lever, in particular depending on a distance between the handle and the brake lever. To brake, the rider must manually operate the respective brake lever. This can be detected by the photonic mixer detector via the associated finger positions.In any case, the photonics detector can detect the relative position, preferably the distance, between the brake lever and the handle, at least when at least one finger is lifted from the handle to actuate the brake lever. This makes it possible for the control device to actuate the braking system depending on the relative position between the brake lever and the handle or depending on the distance between the handle and the brake lever. This makes it possible, for example, to dispense with a wired or hydraulic coupling between the brake lever and the braking system. Detecting the distance between the brake lever and the handle as the relative position between the brake lever and the handle is particularly useful when the photonics detector is arranged on or in the inside of the handle.

[0021] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0023] They show, schematically, Fig. 1 an isometric view of a handlebar unit in the area of ​​a handle, Fig. 2 a highly simplified, circuit diagram-like schematic representation of a bicycle equipped with the handlebar unit.

[0024] Accordingly Fig. 1 comprises a handlebar unit 1, shown only partially here, for a Fig. 2, the bicycle 2, indicated by a frame drawn with a dotted line, has a handlebar 3, which serves to connect the handlebar unit 1 to the bicycle 2. On the handlebar 3, there is at least one handle 4, which can be grasped by one hand of the respective rider. It is clear that the handlebar unit 1 usually has two handles 4. Fig. 1 only shows the area of ​​the handlebar unit 1 with the right handlebar 4. The respective handlebar 4 can be formed directly by an end section of the handlebar 3. Preferably, the respective handlebar 4 is a separate component arranged at the respective end section of the handlebar. For example, the separate handlebar 4 can be attached to the respective end section of the handlebar like a sleeve.

[0025] Handlebar unit 1 is expediently equipped with at least one manually operable brake lever 5 mounted on the handlebar 3. Preferably, each handle 4 is assigned a brake lever 5. The brake levers 5 are coupled to a braking system of the bicycle 2 (not shown in detail here), in particular mechanically, hydraulically, or electrically.

[0026] The handlebar unit 1 presented here is also equipped with at least one photonic mixer 6, which serves to detect finger positions of the hand gripping the handlebar. At least one such photonic mixer 6 is expediently assigned to each handlebar 4 so that the finger positions of both hands can be detected. In the example shown here, the respective photonic mixer 6 is arranged on the respective brake lever 5, specifically on an inner side facing the respective handlebar 4. It is also conceivable to integrate the respective photonic mixer 6 into the respective handlebar 5 on this inner side. The integrated photonic mixer 6 then does not form an interfering contour on the respective brake lever 5.

[0027] Accordingly Fig. 2, the bicycle 2 comprises, in addition to the handlebar unit 1, at least one electrically controllable component 7 and a control device 8, which is electrically coupled to the respective photonic mixer detector 6 and to the respective component 7. The control device 8 can now also be configured such that it controls the respective component 7 depending on the finger positions. The bicycle 2 can have two or more different electrically controllable components 7. Without limiting the generality, Fig. 2 shows, purely by way of example, four such components 7, which can be actuated or controlled by different finger positions, in particular by different finger gestures. For this purpose, finger positions and / or finger gestures of the fingers of the left hand can be distinguished from finger positions or finger gestures of the right hand. Finger gestures can be determined, in particular, by a temporal progression of the finger positions and compared with predetermined finger gestures stored in the control device 8.

[0028] Examples of electrical components 7 that can be considered are an electrically operated gearshift 9, an electric motor drive 10, electric lighting 11, and an electric braking system 12. The control device 8 can now be configured to control the gearshift 9 depending on the finger positions or finger gestures for selecting the gears, i.e. the respective gear ratio. Additionally or alternatively, the control device can be configured to switch the drive 10 on or off depending on the finger positions, or, when the drive 10 is switched on, to control it to select one of several operating modes. Additionally or alternatively, the control device 8 can be configured to switch the electric lighting 11 on or off depending on the finger positions and / or, when the lighting 11 is switched on, to control it to select one of several lighting modes.Additionally or alternatively, the control device 8 can be configured to control the braking system 12 depending on a distance between the handle 4 and the brake lever 5. It can be expediently provided that a decreasing distance between the handle 4 and the brake lever 5 corresponds to an increasing braking pressure.

[0029] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 also shows a detection area 13 of the respective photonic detector 6. To detect the finger positions of the hand gripping the handle 4, this detection area 13 is aligned with the respective handle 4. If the handle 4 is not covered by all fingers of the respective hand, the photonic detector 6 can detect the distance between the brake lever 5 and the handle 4 in addition to the finger positions. At least when the driver wants to operate the respective brake lever 5, they must remove at least one finger from the handle 4, so that the photonic detector 6 can at least measure the distance between the brake lever 5 and the handle 4 there.

[0030] In Fig. 2, the photonic mixer detectors 6 and the controllable components 7 are coupled to the control device 8 via corresponding connecting lines 14. As an alternative to such a wired coupling, a wireless coupling is also conceivable.

Claims

[1] Handlebar unit (1) for a bicycle (2), in particular for an electric bicycle, - with a handlebar (3) for connecting the handlebar unit (1) to a bicycle (2), - with at least one handle (4) formed and / or arranged on the handlebar (3) for gripping with one hand, characterized by , - that the handlebar unit (1) has at least one photonic mixer detector (6) for detecting finger positions of the hand gripping the handle (4). [2] Handlebar unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , - that the handlebar unit (1) has at least one manually operable brake lever (5) which is arranged on the handlebar (3), - that the respective photonic mixer detector (6) is arranged in or on the respective brake lever (5). [3] Bicycle (2) - with at least one electrically controllable component (7), - with a handlebar unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, - with a control device (8) which is electrically coupled to the handlebar unit (1) and to the respective component (7) and which is configured such that the control device (8) controls the respective component (7) depending on the finger positions. [4] Bicycle (2) according to claim 3, characterized by , - that the bicycle (2) has at least two different electrically controllable components (7), both of which are electrically coupled to the control device (8), - that the control device (8) is configured to control the components (7) separately depending on the finger positions. [5] Bicycle (2) according to claim 4, characterized by , - that the control device (8) is configured to compare a temporal progression of the finger positions with predetermined finger gestures, - that different finger gestures are assigned to the different components (7), - that the control device (8) is configured to control the components (7) separately depending on the finger gestures. [6] Bicycle (2) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by , - that the bicycle (2) has as an electrical component (7) an electrically operated gearshift (9) with several gears, - that the control device (8) is configured to control the gearshift (9) depending on the finger positions for selecting the gears. [7] Bicycle (2) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by , - that the bicycle (2) is designed as an electric bicycle and has as an electrical component (7) an electric motor drive (10) with several different operating modes, - that the control device (8) is configured to control the drive (10) depending on the finger positions for switching the drive (10) on or off and / or for selecting the operating modes. [8] Bicycle (2) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized by , - that the bicycle (2) has as an electrical component (7) an electric lighting (11) with several lighting modes, - that the control device (8) is configured to control the lighting (11) depending on the finger positions for switching on or off and / or for selecting the lighting modes. [9] Bicycle (2) according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized by , - that the bicycle (2) has, as an electrical component (7), an electric brake system (12) which has at least one brake lever (5) mounted on the handlebar (3) in the region of the respective handle (4), - that the respective photonic mixer detector (6) is arranged so that it detects a relative position between the brake lever (5) and the handle (4), - that the control device (8) is configured to control the braking system (12) depending on the relative position between the brake lever (5) and the handle (4). [10] Bicycle (2) according to claim 9, characterized by , - that the respective photonic mixer detector (6) is arranged in such a way that it detects a distance between the brake lever (5) and the handle (4) as a relative position between the brake lever (5) and the handle (4).

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