VEHICLE MOVEMENT ASSISTANCE METHODS AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to vehicle propulsion assistance methods for use in an electric vehicle (100). Initially, a sensor is used to detect a displacement corresponding to the electronic device (230). Next, the electric vehicle (100) receives the displacement from the corresponding electronic device (230). Then, the electric vehicle (100) determines an assistance power based on the displacement and supplies this assistance power to a motor unit (140) to assist the electric vehicle (100) in its propulsion.

Description

Title of the invention: METHODS FOR ASSISTING VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRIC VEHICLES Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates generally to vehicle travel assistance methods and associated electric vehicles, and, more particularly, to methods and associated electric vehicles that can automatically provide assist power to an electric vehicle based on the travel detected by the travel assistance sensor. Description of the state of the art

[0002] Recently, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the technological advancement of electric vehicles, the development of electric vehicles powered by electric energy to replace traditional vehicles using fossil fuels has gradually become an important objective in the automobile sector, thus making electric vehicles increasingly popular. In order to increase the driving range and willingness to use electric vehicles, many countries or cities have begun to install charging stations and battery energy stations in public places to enable the batteries of electric vehicles and / or electric motorcycles to be charged or exchanged, thus making the use of electric vehicles more convenient.

[0003] With the advancement of computer technology, the trend of vehicle development is to become increasingly intelligent. In addition to basic transportation functions, improving safety and more peripheral functions have also become a development goal in the industry. Encouraged by government subsidy policies, many people have begun to try to purchase and use electric vehicles as a means of transportation. Generally speaking, electric vehicles are equipped with more electronic components / devices and can be combined with users' mobile devices to provide more personalized applications and experiences. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide vehicle travel assistance methods and associated electric vehicles.

[0005] In one embodiment of a vehicle travel assistance method for use in an electric vehicle, a first sensor is used to detect a movement corresponding to the electronic device. Then, the electric vehicle obtains the displacement from the corresponding electronic device. Then, the electric vehicle determines an assist power according to the displacement, and provides the assist power to a motor group to assist the electric vehicle in moving.

[0006] One embodiment of an electric vehicle includes a motor unit used to drive the electric vehicle to travel, and a processing unit. The processing unit couples to the motor unit and obtains a displacement from an electronic device. The processing unit determines an assist power based on the displacement, and provides the assist power to the motor unit to assist in traveling the electric vehicle. The displacement of the electronic device is detected by a first sensor, and the electronic device is a mobile device connected to the electric vehicle via a network or integrated with the electric vehicle.

[0007] In some embodiments, the electronic device comprises a mobile device. The mobile device connects to the electric vehicle via a network and transmits the trip to the electric vehicle.

[0008] In some embodiments, the electronic device is located in the electric vehicle, and the first sensor is used to detect movement of the corresponding electric vehicle.

[0009] In some embodiments, the electric vehicle receives an activation command corresponding to a travel assistance function, the activation command being received by a button of the electric vehicle or from a mobile device. In response to the activation command, the assistance power is determined based on the travel, and the assistance power is provided to the power unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, a second sensor of the electric vehicle detects an inclination of the electric vehicle on a road relative to gravity, and a slope of the road is determined from the inclination. Whether the road is uphill or downhill is determined from the slope of the road and the direction of travel of the electric vehicle. The activation instruction is ignored or canceled when the road is downhill.

[0011] In some embodiments, it is determined whether the slope of the road is greater than a predetermined degree. It is determined whether the road is uphill or downhill from the slope of the road and the direction of travel of the electric vehicle when the slope of the road is greater than the predetermined degree.

[0012] In some embodiments, the motor unit is driven to enter a power generation mode to charge a battery of the electric vehicle, and generate reverse torque to assist the electric vehicle in decelerating when the road is downhill.

[0013] In some embodiments, when a travel speed is high, the assist power determined by the electric vehicle will be lower than that determined when the travel speed is low.

[0014] The methods for assisting vehicle movement may take the form of program code embedded in a tangible medium. When the program code is loaded and executed by a machine, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description given below with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an electric vehicle of the invention;

[0017] [Fig.2] is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an electric vehicle connecting to an electronic device via a network of the invention;

[0018] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of an embodiment of a vehicle movement assistance method of the invention;

[0019] [Fig.4] is a flowchart of another embodiment of a vehicle movement assistance method of the invention; and

[0020] [Fig.5] is a flowchart of another embodiment of a vehicle movement assistance method of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The following description is of the most preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is given for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and is not to be construed in a limiting sense. It will be apparent that the embodiments may be embodied in software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.

[0022] [Fig. 1] is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an electric vehicle of the invention. The electric vehicle 100 may be an electric vehicle, such as an electric motorcycle using at least one battery as a power source. As depicted in [Fig.l], the electric vehicle 100 includes at least one battery storage unit 110, a network connection unit 120, a sensor 130, a power unit 140, and a processing unit 150. The battery storage unit 110 may store at least one battery, such as a battery 112. The battery 112 may be a battery module having at least one battery cell for storing and releasing electrical energy. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, at least one battery may be connected in series or in parallel to provide electrical energy to the power unit 140 of the electric vehicle 100 for its operation. The network connection unit 120 may be connected to a network, such that the electric vehicle 100 has network connection capability. In some embodiments, the network may be a wired network, a telecommunications network, and a wireless network, such as a Bluetooth network, a Wi-Fi network, etc. The sensor 130 is fixedly installed in the electric vehicle and has at least the capability to detect the direction of travel of the electric vehicle and an inclination of the electric vehicle on a road relative to gravity. The power unit 140 may operate to drive the vehicle and other vehicle accessories that require rotation. The processing unit 150 may control the operation of all hardware and software of the electric vehicle 100 and perform the vehicle travel assistance methods of the invention, the details of which are described later.It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the electric vehicle 100 may include a storage unit (not shown in [Fig.l]). The storage unit may store relevant information regarding the electric vehicle and / or the battery.

[0023] It is understood that the battery 112 may operate with a power boost operation via a power boost device. In some embodiments, the power boost operation may consist of a battery charge or a battery exchange. The power boost device may be used to charge the battery 112. In some embodiments, the power boost device may comprise an electric vehicle, a home charger and / or a battery charging station. It will be apparent that, in some embodiments, the battery 112 and / or the power boost device may respectively comprise a storage unit (not shown in [Fig.l]) for storing associated information, such as identification data of the battery 112, the power boost device and / or the electric vehicle 100.In some embodiments, the storage unit may record the power boost registration data of the corresponding power boost operation. In some embodiments, the power boost registration data may include battery identification data of the corresponding battery, device identification data of the power boost device, and power boost information. In some embodiments, the power boost registration data may further include a vehicle identification code of the corresponding electric vehicle and user identification data corresponding to the battery. In addition, in some embodiments, the storage unit may record charging mode data of the corresponding battery 112.The charging mode data can record the mode in which the battery 112 can be supplied with power. It is appropriate to . Note that, in some embodiments, the mode may include any of charging in an electric vehicle, charging on a home charger, charging in a battery charging station and battery swapping in a battery charging station, or any combination thereof. It should be noted that the charging modes mentioned above are only examples of the invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the electric vehicle 100 may be an electric motorcycle. The electric vehicle 100 may record the total mileage of the electric vehicle 140 and / or the distance traveled between each battery charging operation.

[0024] [Fig. 2] is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electric vehicle connecting to an electronic device via a network of the invention. In this embodiment, the electric vehicle 210 may couple to an electronic device 230 via a network 220. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the network may be a wired network, a telecommunications network, and a wireless network, such as a Bluetooth network, Wi-Fi, etc. In some embodiments, the electronic device may be a mobile device, such as a smartphone, or a wireless dongle. It should be noted that the electronic device mentioned above is only one example of the invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.It should be noted that the electronic device 230 comprises a sensor (not shown) for detecting the movement of the corresponding electronic device 230, and transmitting the detected movement to the electric vehicle 210 via the network 220. The use of the movement of the electronic device 230 is described later. When the electric vehicle 230 receives the movement of the corresponding electronic device 230, the electric vehicle 230 can perform the vehicle movement assistance methods of the invention according to the movement of the corresponding electronic device 230, which is described later.

[0025] [Fig. 3] is a flowchart of an embodiment of a vehicle travel assistance method of the invention. The vehicle travel assistance method according to the invention can be used in an electric vehicle, such as an electric motorcycle.

[0026] First, in step S310, a first sensor is used to detect a movement corresponding to an electronic device. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the electronic device may be a mobile device, such as a smartphone or a wireless key of the electric vehicle, and the first sensor is used to detect the movement of the mobile device. In some embodiments, the electronic device is installed in the electric vehicle, and the first sensor is used to detect a displacement of the electric vehicle. Then, in step S320, the electric vehicle obtains the displacement of the electronic device. As mentioned above, when the electronic device is a mobile device, the mobile device can connect to the electric vehicle via a network and transmit the displacement detected by the first sensor to the electric vehicle. Then, in step S330, the electric vehicle determines an assist power according to the displacement, and in step S340, the assist power is supplied to a motor unit to assist the electric vehicle in traveling. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, when a traveling speed is high, the assist power determined by the electric vehicle will be lower than that determined when the traveling speed is low.

[0027] [Fig.4] is a flowchart of another embodiment of a vehicle travel assistance method of the invention. The vehicle travel assistance method according to the invention can be used in an electric vehicle, such as an electric motorcycle. In this embodiment, in addition to detecting the movement of the electronic device, the electric vehicle can further be managed according to the slope of a road where the electric vehicle is located.

[0028] First, in step S410, the electric vehicle receives an activation instruction corresponding to a travel assistance function. It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the activation instruction may be received by a button on the electric vehicle or from a mobile device. Then, in step S420, a second sensor of the electric vehicle is used to detect an inclination of the electric vehicle on a road relative to gravity, and a slope of the road is determined from the inclination. In step S430, it is determined whether the slope of the road is greater than a predetermined degree, such as 10 degrees. It should be noted that the predetermined degree mentioned above is only one example of the invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The predetermined degree may be designed according to different requirements and applications.When the road slope is not greater than the predetermined degree (No in step S430), in step S470, the electric vehicle ignores or cancels the activation instruction. When the road slope is greater than the predetermined degree (Yes in step S430), in step S440, it is determined whether the road is uphill or downhill from the road slope and the traveling direction of the electric vehicle. When the road is downhill (downhill in step S450), in step S470, the electric vehicle ignores or cancels the activation instruction. When the road is uphill (uphill in step S450), in step S460, the electric vehicle determines the assist power according to the traveling of the electronic device, and provides the assist power to the motor unit to assist the traveling of the electric vehicle.

[0029] [Fig. 5] is a flowchart of another embodiment of a vehicle travel assistance method of the invention. The vehicle travel assistance method according to the invention can be used in an electric vehicle, such as an electric motorcycle. In this embodiment, in addition to detecting the movement of the electronic device, the electric vehicle can further be managed depending on whether the road on which the electric vehicle is located is uphill or downhill.

[0030] First, in step S510, the electric vehicle receives an activation instruction corresponding to a travel assistance function. Similarly, in some embodiments, the activation instruction may be received by a button on the electric vehicle or from a mobile device. Then, in step S520, a second sensor of the electric vehicle is used to detect an inclination of the electric vehicle on a road relative to gravity, and a slope of the road is determined from the inclination. In step S530, it is determined whether the slope of the road is greater than a predetermined degree. When the slope of the road is not greater than the predetermined degree (No in step S530), in step S540, the electric vehicle ignores or cancels the activation instruction.When the road slope is greater than the predetermined degree (Yes in step S530), in step S550, it is determined whether the road is uphill or downhill from the road slope and the traveling direction of the electric vehicle. When the road is uphill (uphill in step S560), in step S570, the electric vehicle determines the assist power according to the traveling of the electronic device, and provides the assist power to the motor unit to assist the traveling of the electric vehicle. When the road is downhill (downhill in step S560), in step S580, the motor unit is caused to enter a power generation mode to charge a battery of the electric vehicle and generate reverse torque to assist the electric vehicle in decelerating.

[0031] Therefore, the vehicle travel assistance methods and related electric vehicles can automatically provide assist power to the electric vehicle to assist travel based on the travel detected by the sensor, thereby providing an automatic and intelligent mechanism for driving the motor to assist the vehicle to travel.

[0032] The methods for assisting vehicle movement may take the form of program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy disks, CD-ROMs, hard disks, or any other machine-readable storage medium, such that when the program code is loaded onto and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for carrying out the methods. The methods may also be implemented in the form of program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, via optical fibers, or via some other form of transmission, such that when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for carrying out the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a single apparatus that functions analogously to application-specific logic circuits.

[0033] Although the invention has been described by way of example by means of a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art in this technology may still make various alterations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention will be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalent.

Claims

Claims

1. A vehicle travel assistance method for use in an electric vehicle (100), comprising: detecting (S310) a travel corresponding to an electronic device (230) by a first sensor; obtaining (S320) the travel of the corresponding electronic device (230) by the electric vehicle (100); determining (S330) an assist power according to the travel of the electric vehicle (100); and providing (S340) the assist power to a power unit (140) by the electric vehicle (100) to assist the travel of the electric vehicle (100).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device (230) comprises a mobile device, and the method further comprises: connecting the mobile device to the electric vehicle (100) via a network; and transmitting the trip to the electric vehicle (100) by the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device (230) is located in the electric vehicle (100), and the first sensor is used to detect the movement of the corresponding electric vehicle (100).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving (S410, S510) an activation instruction corresponding to a travel assistance function by the electric vehicle (100), the activation instruction being received by a button of the electric vehicle (100) or from a mobile device; and in response to the activation instruction, determining (S460, S570) the assistance power according to the travel, and providing the assistance power to the power unit (140).

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: detecting (S420, S520) an inclination of the electric vehicle (100) on a road relative to gravity by a second sensor (130) of the electric vehicle (100), and determining the road slope from the inclination; determining (S440, S550) whether the road is uphill or downhill from the slope of the road and the direction of travel of the electric vehicle (100); and omitting or canceling (S470, S540) the activation instruction when the road is downhill.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: determining (S430, S530) whether the slope of the road is greater than a predetermined degree; and determining (S440, S550) whether the road is uphill or downhill from the slope of the road and the traveling direction of the electric vehicle (100) when the slope of the road is greater than the predetermined degree.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising driving (S580) the power unit (140) to enter a power generation mode for charging a battery (112) of the electric vehicle (100), and generating reverse torque to assist the electric vehicle (100) in decelerating when the road is downhill.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein when a travel speed is high, the assist power determined by the electric vehicle (100) will be lower than that determined when the travel speed is low.

9. An electric vehicle (100), comprising: a motor unit (140) for driving the electric vehicle (100) to travel; and a processing unit (150) coupled to the motor unit (140), obtaining a travel of an electronic device (230), determining an assist power according to the travel, and providing the assist power to the motor unit (140) to assist in the travel of the electric vehicle (100), wherein the travel of the electronic device (230) is detected by a first sensor, and the electronic device (230) is a mobile device connected to the electric vehicle (230) via a network (220) or integrated with the electric vehicle (100).

10. An electric vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising a second sensor (130) for detecting an inclination of the electric vehicle (100) on a road relative to gravity, and the processing unit (150) further determines a slope of the road from the inclination, determines whether the road is uphill or downhill from the slope of the road and the direction of travel of the electric vehicle (100), and cancels the supply of assist power when the road is downhill.

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