Electric bicycles and their control methods and devices

Abstract

An electric bicycle and its control method and control device are disclosed. The control method performs the following steps via an electronic control unit installed in the electric bicycle: (a) acquiring wireless signals from two objects near the electric bicycle from the control device; (b) calculating an instantaneous distance between each object and the electric bicycle based on the strength of each wireless signal; and (c) generating a corresponding control command based on the instantaneous distance. The control command is configured to unlock the electric bicycle, lock the electric bicycle, turn on a light on the electric bicycle, or start a motor on the electric bicycle. Thus, by controlling the electric bicycle to perform different actions based on changes in the distance between the objects and the electric bicycle, the versatility, convenience, and ease of operating the electric bicycle are improved.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a control method and control device, and more particularly to an electric bicycle and its control method and control device. [Previous Technology]

[0002] Referring to Figure 1, a known method for controlling the state of an electric bicycle disclosed in Republic of China Patent No. 1865995 includes: obtaining location information of a target user by sensing an ultra-wideband (UWB) device 2 through a controller 1. The controller 1 generates a state switching command based on the location information. The controller 1 controls the electric bicycle to switch from an unlocked state to a locked state or from a locked state to an unlocked state based on the state switching command. Thus, the electric bicycle can automatically unlock simply by using the location information of the target user.

[0003] However, since the aforementioned state control method obtains a single location information by sensing a single device 2 (such as a smartphone or wearable device), it is similar to the keyless technology currently used in the market. In practice, it can only be used for unlocking and locking states, the only difference being that the object of unlocking and locking is an electric motorcycle, electric vehicle, or electric bicycle. There is a technical problem of limited usage states. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an electric bicycle and its control method and control device that can improve the variability, convenience and ease of operation.

[0005] Therefore, the electric bicycle control method of the present invention performs the following steps through an electronic control unit installed in an electric bicycle:

[0006] (a) Acquire two wireless signals, each of which is from an object that does not belong to the electric bicycle and is adjacent to the electric bicycle;

[0007] (b) Calculate the instantaneous distance between each object and the electric bicycle based on the strength of each wireless signal; and

[0008] (c) Based on the instantaneous distance, a corresponding control command is generated, which is configured to unlock the electric bicycle, lock the electric bicycle, turn on a light of the electric bicycle, or start a motor of the electric bicycle.

[0009] The control device for an electric bicycle of the present invention is signal-connected to an electronic control unit of an electric bicycle. The control device includes two objects and two remote communication units.

[0010] These items can be worn on the human body.

[0011] Each of the remote communication units is installed on its respective object and is used to transmit a wireless signal to the electronic control unit, thereby enabling the electronic control unit to perform the control method of the electric bicycle as described above.

[0012] The electric bicycle of the present invention is controlled by the control device of the electric bicycle as described above. The electric bicycle includes a vehicle body unit, at least one near-end communication unit, and an electronic control unit.

[0013] The vehicle body unit can be driven by electric power.

[0014] The at least one near-end communication unit is installed in the vehicle body unit and is used to receive the wireless signals.

[0015] The electronic control unit is installed in the vehicle body unit and is signal-connected to the at least one near-end communication unit. The electronic control unit is used to perform the control method of the electric bicycle as described above.

[0016] The advantage of this invention is that by changing the distance between the objects and the electric bicycle, the electric bicycle can be controlled to perform different actions, thereby improving the convenience and ease of operating the electric bicycle.

Implementation Method

[0017] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a first embodiment of the electric bicycle 4 and its control method and control device 5 of the present invention includes an electric bicycle 4 and a control device 5.

[0018] In this embodiment, the electric bicycle 4 is configured as an electric scooter, including a vehicle body unit 41, a near-end communication unit 42, a near-end battery unit 43, a wireless charging unit 44, and an electronic control unit 45.

[0019] The vehicle body unit 41 is electrically driven and includes a force-bearing surface 411 facing upward in a vertical direction Z, a lamp 412 for generating light for illumination, and a motor 413 capable of converting electrical energy into kinetic energy.

[0020] The near-end communication unit 42 is installed in the vehicle body unit 41 and is configured to communicate with the control device 5 using wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or RFID. In this embodiment, the near-end communication unit 42 is configured to use Bluetooth wireless communication technology.

[0021] The near-end battery unit 43 is installed in the vehicle body unit 41 and is used to supply the electrical energy required by the lamp 412, the motor 413, the near-end communication unit 42, the wireless charging unit 44 and the electronic control unit 45.

[0022] The wireless charging unit 44 is installed on the vehicle body unit 41 and adjacent to the force-bearing surface 411, and can transmit electrical energy to the control device 5 through electromagnetic induction.

[0023] The electronic control unit 45 is installed in the vehicle body unit 41 and is electrically connected to the lamp 412, the motor 413, the near-end communication unit 42, the near-end battery unit 43 and the wireless charging unit 44.

[0024] The control device 5 includes two objects 51, two remote communication units 52, two sensing units 53, two remote battery units 54, two processing units 55, and two carriers 56.

[0025] These items 51 can be worn on the human body. In this embodiment, these items 51 are configured as shoes and can be moved relative to the force-bearing surface 411 of the vehicle body unit 41 by being driven by the feet of the human body. Each item 51 has an upper 511 and a sole 512 connected to the upper 511.

[0026] Each of the remote communication units 52 is configured to communicate with the electric bicycle 4 using wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or RFID. In this embodiment, each of the remote communication units 52 is configured to use Bluetooth wireless communication technology and is capable of communicating with the near-end communication unit 42.

[0027] Each of the sensing units 53 is used to sense the acceleration and angular velocity of its respective object 51 when it moves relative to the force-bearing surface 411, and outputs an acceleration data D1 and an angular velocity data D2. In this embodiment, each of the sensing units 53 is configured as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a device capable of measuring the motion state of an object, and is widely used in aviation, navigation, robotics, drones and other fields.

[0028] It is worth noting that, regarding the principle of the inertial measurement unit for measuring the motion state of an object, since those with ordinary knowledge in the art can deduce the extended details based on the above description, no further explanation is needed.

[0029] Each of the remote battery units 54 is used to supply the electrical energy required by its respective remote communication unit 52 and its respective processing unit 55, and is able to receive and store electrical energy through electromagnetic induction.

[0030] Each processing unit 55 is electrically connected to its respective remote communication unit 52, its respective sensing unit 53, and its respective remote battery unit 54. Each processing unit 55 is used to receive the acceleration data D1 or the angular velocity data D2, and transmits a wireless signal S, including an RSSI data (Received Signal Strength Indicator, not shown) and the acceleration data D1, the angular velocity data D2, or a combination thereof, to the near-end communication unit 42 of the electric bicycle 4 through its respective remote communication unit 52.

[0031] Each of the carriers 56 is mounted on the sole 512 of its respective object 51 and is used to encapsulate its respective remote communication unit 52, its respective sensing unit 53, its respective remote battery unit 54 and its respective processing unit 55.

[0032] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the control method of the electric bicycle 4 of the present invention performs the following steps through the electronic control unit 45:

[0033] Step S01: Obtain the wireless signals S through the near-end communication unit 42.

[0034] Step S02: Calculate the strength based on the RSSI data in each wireless signal S.

[0035] Step S03: Determine whether the strength of one of the wireless signals S is greater than a threshold. If yes, proceed to the next step; otherwise, return to step S01.

[0036] It is worth noting that the near-end communication unit 42 and the far-end communication units 52 have been pre-paired. When the strength of one of the wireless signals S is greater than the threshold, it indicates that at least one of the objects 51 is closest to the force-bearing surface 411. This can be considered as at least one of the objects 51 standing on the force-bearing surface 411 of the electric bicycle 4.

[0037] Step S04: Based on the strength, acceleration data D1, and angular velocity data D2 of each wireless signal S, calculate the instantaneous distance between each object 51 and the force-bearing surface 411 of the electric bicycle 4, and obtain the relative position of each object 51 relative to the electric bicycle 4.

[0038] Step S05: Generate a corresponding control command based on the instantaneous distance and the relative position.

[0039] The control command is configured to unlock the electric bicycle 4, lock the electric bicycle 4, turn on the lights 412 of the electric bicycle 4, or start the motor 413 of the electric bicycle 4.

[0040] Referring to Figures 2, 5, 6, or 7, for example, the objects 51 can move relative to the force-bearing surface 411 of the vehicle body unit 41, and a first mode (as shown in Figure 2), a second mode (as shown in Figure 5), a third mode (as shown in Figure 6), and a fourth mode (as shown in Figure 7) are defined.

[0041] In this first mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distances and relative positions, that the objects 51 are coplanar and that the instantaneous distances are substantially the same. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for unlocking the electric bicycle 4.

[0042] In this second mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distance and relative position, that one of the objects 51 is closest to the force-bearing surface 411 and is located at a certain point, while the other object 51 swings clockwise by an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to a carrier 56 passing through the object 51 along the vertical direction Z and a virtual axis X. In this way, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for starting the motor 413.

[0043] In this third mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distance and the relative position, that one of the objects 51 is closest to the force-bearing surface 411 and is located at the fixed point, and the other object 51 moves along the vertical direction Z and its height along the vertical direction Z is greater than that of the first object 51. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for turning on the lamp 412.

[0044] In this fourth mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distance and relative position, that one of the objects 51 is closest to the force-bearing surface 411 and is located at the fixed point, while the other object 51 swings counterclockwise relative to the axis X at an angle of less than 90 degrees. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for locking the electric bicycle 4.

[0045] It should be noted that the electronic control unit 45 is not limited to generating the control command based on the instantaneous distance and the relative position. In other variations of this embodiment, the control command may also be generated only based on the instantaneous distance, for example:

[0046] In this first mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distances, that the instantaneous distances of the objects 51 are substantially the same. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for unlocking the electric bicycle 4.

[0047] In this second mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distances, that one of the objects 51 is closest to the force-bearing surface 411 and is located at the fixed point, while the other object 51 is separated from the force-bearing surface 411 by a first distance (not shown). Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for starting the motor 413.

[0048] In this third mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distances, that one of the objects 51 is closest to the force-bearing surface 411 and is located at the fixed point, and the other object 51 is separated from the force-bearing surface 411 by a second distance (not shown) smaller than the first distance. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for locking the electric bicycle 4.

[0049] It is worth noting that the modalities of the objects 51 are not limited to four. In other variations of this embodiment, there may be three or more. Furthermore, the control command is not limited to being configured to unlock the electric bicycle 4, lock the electric bicycle 4, turn on the light 412, or start the motor 413. In other variations of this embodiment, it may be other actions that control the electric bicycle 4.

[0050] In addition, the items 51 are not limited to being configured as shoes. In other variations of this embodiment, they may also be configured as anklets, wristbands, or other items worn on the human body, as shown in FIG8.

[0051] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, a second embodiment of the electric bicycle and its control method and control device of the present invention also includes the electric bicycle 4 and the control device 5. The difference is:

[0052] The electric bicycle 4 is not limited to being configured as an electric scooter, but may also be configured as an electric bicycle, an electric-assisted bicycle, or an electric motor vehicle. In this embodiment, the electric bicycle 4 is configured as an electric bicycle and includes two near-end communication units 42.

[0053] The vehicle body unit 41 includes a vehicle body 414 and two pedals 415 pivotally connected to the vehicle body 414 and capable of being stepped on by both feet. Each pedal 415 has a force-bearing surface 416.

[0054] Each of the near-end communication units 42 is mounted on its respective pedal 415 and adjacent to its respective force-bearing surface 416. In this embodiment, each of the near-end communication units 42 can communicate with the electronic control unit 45 via wireless communication technology or wired communication technology.

[0055] Accordingly, referring to Figures 9 to 13, the objects 51 can also move relative to the force-bearing surfaces 416, and the first mode (Figure 9), the second mode (Figure 11), the third mode (Figure 12), and the fourth mode (Figure 13) are defined. For example:

[0056] In this first mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distance and the relative position, that the instantaneous distances of the objects 51 are substantially the same, and that each object 51 is stepping on its respective pedal 415. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for turning on the light fixture 412.

[0057] In this second mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distance and relative position, that the objects 51 are closest to the force-bearing surfaces 416 and located on the pedals 415, and that one of the objects 51 is separated from the other object 51 by a distance t along the vertical direction Z, similar to one foot standing on tiptoe. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for starting the motor 413.

[0058] In this third mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distance and relative position, that one of the objects 51 is closest to the corresponding force-bearing surface 416 and is located on the corresponding pedal 415, while the other object 51 is away from the force-bearing surface 416 and is located in front of the force-bearing surface 416 along a front-rear direction Y. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command to unlock the electric bicycle 4.

[0059] In this fourth mode, the electronic control unit 45 can determine, based on the instantaneous distance and relative position, that one of the objects 51 is closest to the corresponding force-bearing surface 416 and is located on the corresponding pedal 415, while the other object 51 is away from the force-bearing surface 416 and is located behind the force-bearing surface 416 in the front-rear direction Y. Thereby, the electronic control unit 45 generates a control command for locking the electric bicycle 4.

[0060] Based on the above description, the advantages of the aforementioned embodiments can be summarized as follows:

[0061] 1. The present invention can control the electric bicycle 4 to perform a variety of different actions simply by changing the distance between the object 51 and the electric bicycle 4, thereby improving the variability of the operation.

[0062] The convenience and ease of use of the electric bicycle 4.

[0063] 2. Furthermore, the present invention can change the position of the objects 51 to create multiple modes that can control the electric bicycle 4. Users can operate it intuitively, which is not only easier to get started, but also improves the convenience and ease of operation. In addition, users do not need to be distracted by looking at the switches or screens on the electric bicycle 4, which further improves the safety of operating the electric bicycle 4.

[0064] 3. When the item 51 is configured as shoes, it is an essential item for the user when going out. Therefore, the user can operate it without using a handheld device (such as a smartphone).

[0065] However, the above description is only an embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification shall still fall within the scope of the patent of the present invention. [Simplified Explanation of the Diagram]

[0066] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a known state control method for an electric bicycle disclosed in Republic of China Patent No. 1865995; Figure 2 is a front view schematic diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the electric bicycle and its control method and control device of the present invention, and the two objects of the first embodiment define a first mode; Figure 3 is a block diagram of the first embodiment; Figure 4 is a flowchart of the first embodiment; Figure 5 is a front view schematic diagram similar to Figure 2, but the objects of the first embodiment define a second mode; Figure 6 is a front view schematic diagram similar to Figure 2, but the objects of the first embodiment define a third mode; Figure 7 is a front view schematic diagram similar to Figure 2, but the objects of the first embodiment define a fourth mode; Figure 8 is a front view schematic diagram similar to Figure 2, but the objects of the first embodiment are configured as ankle straps; Figure 9 is a front view schematic diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the electric bicycle and its control method and control device of the present invention, wherein two objects in the second embodiment define a first mode; Figure 10 is a block diagram of the second embodiment; Figure 11 is a front view schematic diagram similar to Figure 9, but the objects in the second embodiment define the second mode; Figure 12 is a front view schematic diagram similar to Figure 9, but the objects in the second embodiment define the third mode; and Figure 13 is a front view schematic diagram similar to Figure 9, but the objects in the second embodiment define the fourth mode.

Claims

1. A control method for an electric bicycle, comprising performing the following steps by an electronic control unit installed in an electric bicycle: (a) acquiring two wireless signals, each wireless signal including RSSI data and further including acceleration data or angular velocity data, each wireless signal being from an object not belonging to the electric bicycle but adjacent to the electric bicycle, each acceleration data being the acceleration of the respective object relative to the electric bicycle, and each angular velocity data being the angular velocity of the respective object relative to the electric bicycle. (b) Calculating the strength based on RSSI data in each wireless signal, calculating an instantaneous distance between each object and the electric bicycle based on the strength of each wireless signal, and obtaining a relative position of each object relative to the electric bicycle based on acceleration data or angular velocity data in each wireless signal, enabling the objects to be moved, and defining a first mode, a second mode, a third mode, and a fourth mode. In the first mode, the objects are coplanar, and the instantaneous distances are substantially the same. In the second mode, one of the objects is located at a fixed point, and the other object passes through the fixed point relative to it in a vertical direction. In the third mode, one of the objects is located at the fixed point, and the other object moves along the vertical direction with a height greater than that of the first object. In the fourth mode, one of the objects is located at the fixed point, and the other object swings counterclockwise relative to the axis with an angle of less than 90 degrees. (c) Based on the instantaneous distances and relative positions, a corresponding control command is generated, configured to unlock the electric bicycle, lock the electric bicycle, turn on a light on the electric bicycle, or start a motor on the electric bicycle.

2. The control method for an electric bicycle as described in claim 1, wherein, Each of the wireless signals in step (a) includes the acceleration data, the angular velocity data, or a combination thereof. In step (b), the relative position of each object with respect to the electric bicycle is also obtained based on the acceleration data, the angular velocity data, or the combination thereof.

3. A control device for an electric bicycle, signal-connected to an electronic control unit of the electric bicycle, the control device comprising: two wearable objects; two remote communication units, each of which is mounted on its respective object and is used to transmit a wireless signal to the electronic control unit, the wireless signal including RSSI data and further including acceleration data or angular velocity data; two sensing units, each of which is mounted on its respective object and is used to sense the acceleration of its respective object relative to the electric bicycle and output the acceleration data, or sense the angular velocity of its respective object relative to the electric bicycle and output the angular velocity data; and two processing units, each of which is mounted on its respective object and electrically connected to its respective remote communication unit and its respective sensing unit, each of which is used to receive the acceleration data or the angular velocity data and transmit the wireless signal to the electronic control unit through its respective remote communication unit, thereby causing the electronic control unit to execute the electric bicycle control method as described in claim 1.

4. The control device for an electric bicycle as described in claim 3, wherein, Each of the remote communication units is configured to receive wireless signals using wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or RFID, and each of the sensing units is configured as an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

5. The control device for the electric bicycle as claimed in claim 3 further includes two remote battery units, each of which is mounted on its respective object and electrically connected to its respective processing unit, each of which is used to supply electrical energy required by its respective remote communication unit and its respective processing unit, and is capable of receiving and storing electrical energy through electromagnetic induction.

6. The control device for an electric bicycle as described in claim 3, wherein, Each of these items is configured as a bracelet, anklet, or shoe.

7. An electric bicycle controlled by a control device for an electric bicycle as described in any one of claims 3-6, the electric bicycle comprising: a frame unit capable of being electrically driven; at least one near-end communication unit mounted on the frame unit and used to receive the wireless signals; and an electronic control unit mounted on the frame unit and signal-connected to the at least one near-end communication unit.

8. The electric bicycle as claimed in claim 7, comprising a near-end communication unit, a near-end battery unit, and a wireless charging unit, the vehicle body unit including a load-bearing surface for supporting the objects configured as shoes, the near-end battery unit being mounted on the vehicle body unit and electrically connected to the electronic control unit, the near-end battery unit being used to supply the vehicle body unit, the near-end communication unit, the electronic control unit, and the wireless charging unit with the required electrical energy, the wireless charging unit being mounted on the vehicle body unit and adjacent to the load-bearing surface, and capable of transmitting electrical energy to the control device via electromagnetic induction.

9. The electric bicycle as claimed in claim 7, comprising two near-end communication units, the vehicle body unit including a vehicle body and two pedals pivotally connected to the vehicle body and capable of being stepped on by both feet, each pedal having a force-bearing surface, each near-end communication unit being mounted on its respective pedal and adjacent to its respective force-bearing surface, each near-end communication unit being capable of communicating with the electronic control unit via wireless communication technology or wired communication technology.

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