System comprising a light electric vehicle and a locating device

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising a light electric vehicle, in particular an electric bicycle, and a locating device, wherein the locating device has a mechanical interface for connecting the locating device to the light electric vehicle and is designed to provide locating information to a mobile terminal, the light electric vehicle having a wireless short-range communication unit for exchanging information with a mobile terminal. According to the invention, the locating device has an additional wireless short-range communication unit which is designed to provide the locating information to the mobile terminal.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title and a

[0003] State of the art

[0004] EP 3 159 254 A1 describes a bicycle with a data radio communication device.

[0005] Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The invention relates to a system comprising a lightweight electric vehicle, in particular an electric bicycle, and a tracking device, wherein the tracking device has a mechanical interface for connecting the tracking device to the lightweight electric vehicle and is configured to provide location information to a mobile device, and wherein the lightweight electric vehicle has a wireless short-range communication unit for exchanging information with a mobile device. It is proposed that the tracking device include a further wireless short-range communication unit configured to provide the location information to the mobile device. Advantageously, this can improve the safety and / or accuracy of the localization of the lightweight electric vehicle.

[0007] For the purposes of this application, a light electric vehicle is understood to be an electric vehicle with an electric motor, wherein the electric vehicle, in terms of its mass, compact design, and performance, is positioned below that of a car. The electric vehicle can be, for example, an electric bicycle, an electric scooter, an electric motorcycle, an electrically powered stroller, etc. For the purposes of this application, an electric bicycle is understood to be, in particular, a bicycle that has a drive unit to assist the rider. The electric bicycle is preferably designed as an e-bike, a pedelec, a cargo bike, a folding bike, or the like. The drive unit has a motor, which can be, for example, a mid-drive motor or a hub motor. The motor is preferably an electric motor.The drive unit is connected to a power supply, in particular a battery pack, to provide the drive unit with energy. The battery pack has a housing that is preferably detachably connected to the bicycle frame. The battery pack is preferably designed as a replaceable battery pack, which is preferably designed to be detachable from the consumer without tools. Alternatively, a permanently integrated battery pack is also conceivable. The battery pack is designed to be connectable to a charging device for recharging the battery pack. Alternatively or additionally, the battery pack can also be designed such that it can be charged while connected to the consumer, for example via a charging socket on the battery pack or on the frame of the e-bike. The battery pack has a housing in which at least one battery cell is arranged. The e-bike also includes, in particular, electronics.The electronics comprise, in particular, one or more printed circuit boards on which electronic components are arranged and interconnected. The electronics may include a processing unit, for example, a processor, a storage unit for storing data, a sensor unit for acquiring information, etc. The electronics of the electric bicycle preferably include a control unit and a sensor unit, the control unit being designed for controlling or regulating the electric bicycle. The sensor unit may, for example, include motion sensors, torque sensors, speed sensors, a GNSS receiver, magnetic sensors, or the like.

[0008] The tracking device is designed to be locatable via a mobile device. Locating the device can be done directly and / or indirectly, for example, via a server. Direct location tracking means that the mobile device receives the location information directly from the tracking device. The mechanical interface of the tracking device can be designed to allow it to be attached to the outside of the light electric vehicle or inside a housing or frame of the light electric vehicle. The mechanical interface is preferably designed to be non-removable without tools. Preferably, the mechanical interface includes a mechanical and / or electronic anti-theft device.Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the tracking device has no mechanical interface and is integrated into the light electric vehicle, for example in the electronics of the light electric vehicle.

[0009] In the context of this application, location information is understood to mean, in particular, a wirelessly transmitted signal suitable for determining a location. The location information may, for example, contain geographic coordinates. It is also conceivable that the location information is structured in such a way that, based on, in particular, two or more successive location information signals, the position of the tracking device can be determined, for example, by means of the time offset of the received location information and / or a change in the intensity or signal strength of the location information.

[0010] The mobile device has a short-range communication unit that corresponds to the wireless short-range communication unit of the tracking device. The mobile device can be, for example, a smartwatch, a smartphone, or another portable device known to those skilled in the art.

[0011] For the purposes of this application, a wireless short-range communication unit is defined as a communication unit designed for direct communication with a corresponding communication unit in its vicinity. Direct communication is defined as two devices, each equipped with a wireless short-range communication unit, communicating wirelessly with each other directly and without the need for any additional equipment or radio masts. This short-range communication preferably uses a single standard, such as WLAN, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, NFC, UWB (Ultrawideband), or RFID.In contrast, a long-range wireless communication unit is designed for indirect communication between two devices, with the long-range wireless communication taking place via at least one infrastructure element, such as a radio mast or a satellite. The long-range wireless communication interface can be, for example, a mobile communication interface, in particular 4G LTE, NB-IoT, LTE, or 5G, satellite communication, or a V2X interface for sending and receiving V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) messages. The wireless communication units comprise a chip, a chipset, or a module of the wireless communication unit and / or an antenna.

[0012] Furthermore, it is proposed that the wireless short-range communication unit of the light electric vehicle and the wireless short-range communication unit of the tracking device be designed for data transmission using the same standard. This would also advantageously enable direct and wireless communication between the tracking device and the light electric vehicle. In particular, the wireless short-range communication unit of the light electric vehicle and the wireless short-range communication unit of the tracking device would be designed for data transmission using Bluetooth.

[0013] It is further proposed that the light electric vehicle has a storage unit containing identification information for the tracking device. Alternatively or additionally, it is proposed that the tracking device has a storage unit containing identification information for the light electric vehicle. This has the advantage that the tracking device and the electric vehicle are mutually identifiable, thus preventing unauthorized or unintentional tracking of the electric vehicle.

[0014] Furthermore, it is proposed that the tracking device include a power supply unit for at least partially autonomous power supply from the light electric vehicle. The power supply unit comprises, in particular, at least one battery cell, which may be, for example, a cylindrical cell, a button cell, or a pouch cell. The battery cell may be replaceable or permanently integrated. The tracking device may have an electrical interface configured for powering and / or charging the power supply unit via an external power source. The external power source may, for example, be a power bank, a charger, or the battery pack of the light electric vehicle.

[0015] Furthermore, it is proposed that the tracking device be configured to provide the location information at a predefined time interval. The transmission of the location information can be continuous or can be activated. For example, it is conceivable that deactivating the light electric vehicle or moving the light electric vehicle while deactivated could activate the transmission of the location information at the predefined time interval. The predefined time interval can be fixed, preferably in the range of a few seconds, for example, 2 seconds. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the time interval is variable.

[0016] Furthermore, it is proposed that the tracking device be configured to provide variable location information, in particular a message with a variable MAC address. Advantageously, this allows the location information to be assigned to a tracking device and / or an electric vehicle.

[0017] Furthermore, it is proposed that the locating device have a housing, the housing being designed to be waterproof. This advantageously provides effective protection for the housing against the ingress of water and / or dust.

[0018] Furthermore, it is proposed that the tracking device include motion sensors for detecting movement and a long-range wireless communication unit for data transmission. This would advantageously provide particularly effective protection against theft.

[0019] Furthermore, it is proposed that the system include an additional tracking device with a motion sensor for detecting movement and a long-range wireless communication unit for data transmission. This can advantageously increase the system's security. Drawings

[0020] Further advantages arise from the following drawing description. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations. Identical features of alternative embodiments are identified by the same reference numeral and an additional letter that identifies the embodiment.

[0021] They show:

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a side view of an electric bicycle with a tracking device;

[0023] Fig. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the locating device;

[0024] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of another locating device;

[0025] Fig. 4 shows a flowchart for carrying out a localization procedure;

[0026] Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a system for carrying out the location procedure;

[0027] Fig. 6 shows a side view of an electric bicycle with an alternative embodiment of a tracking device.

[0028] Description of the exemplary implementations

[0029] Figure 1 shows a side view of a light electric vehicle 10, which is exemplified as an electric bicycle 12. The electric bicycle 12 can, for example, be a pedelec or an e-bike.

[0030] The electric bicycle 12 has a housing in the form of a frame 20, or bicycle frame. Two wheels 22 are connected to the frame 20. The electric bicycle 12 also has an energy storage device 24 in the form of a battery pack 25. Furthermore, the electric bicycle 12 has a drive unit 26, which includes an electric motor or an auxiliary motor. The electric motor is preferably a permanent magnet excited, brushless DC motor. The electric motor is, for example, a mid-drive motor, although a hub motor or the like is also conceivable. The electric bicycle 12, and in particular the drive unit 26 of the electric bicycle 12, is supplied with energy via the energy storage device 24. The battery pack 25 is connected to the electric bicycle 12, and in particular to the frame 20 of the electric bicycle 12, by means of a connecting device 28. The connection is, for example, effected by a pivoting movement of the battery pack 25 relative to the electric bicycle 12.

[0031] The electric bicycle 12 comprises a control unit (not shown) designed to control or regulate the electric bicycle 12, in particular the electric motor. The electric bicycle 12 has a crank arm 27. The crank arm 27 has a crank shaft (not shown). The control unit of the electric bicycle 12 is connected to a sensor unit (not shown). The sensor unit of the electric bicycle 12 includes, for example, several sensor elements, including a torque sensor, a motion sensor (e.g., in the form of an accelerometer), a wheel speed sensor, and a magnetic sensor. In addition, the control unit is associated with a wireless short-range communication unit 99. The wireless short-range communication unit 99 of the electric bicycle 12 is, for example, configured as a Bluetooth interface.The control unit and the drive unit 26, comprising the electric motor and the crank axle, are, by way of example, at least partially arranged in a drive housing 29 connected to the frame 20. The drive motion of the electric motor is preferably transmitted to the crank axle via a gearbox (not shown), with the degree of assistance provided by the drive unit 26 being controlled or regulated by the control unit. The control unit is designed to actuate the drive unit 26 in such a way that the rider of the electric bicycle 12 receives assistance while pedaling. Preferably, the control unit is designed to be operable by the rider, allowing the rider to adjust the level of assistance.

[0032] The control unit, the wireless short-range communication unit 99, and the sensor unit are associated with the electronics (not shown) of the electric bicycle 12. The electronics comprise, for example, a printed circuit board on which a processing unit in the form of a CPU, a memory unit, and the sensor unit are arranged. The electronics are, for example, partially located in the drive housing 29 of the drive unit 26. The electronics, in particular the sensor elements of the sensor unit, can be distributed across different components of the electric bicycle 12, and the respective sensor signals can be provided to the control unit via wired connections, such as a CAN connection, or wirelessly. For example, information from the battery pack 25, such as information from a temperature sensor of the battery pack 25, is provided via wired connections.

[0033] Another part of the electronics of the electric bicycle 12 is integrated, for example, into a board computer 35, which is mounted on the handlebar 34 of the electric bicycle 12. The board computer 35 is designed, for example, to be partially detachable from the electric bicycle 12. The board computer 35 includes a display unit (not shown) for displaying information. The board computer 35 also includes a control element (not shown) by which the user or rider can control the board computer 35 and / or the electric bicycle 12. The control element is, for example, a touch-sensitive screen. The board computer 35 is connected to the control unit of the electric bicycle 12 in such a way that information can be exchanged.For example, the display unit can show a speed determined by the control unit 11, a set level of electric motor assistance, route information from a navigation unit, and the charge level of the battery pack 25. The on-board computer 35, for example, includes an ambient light sensor and the electric bicycle's wireless short-range communication unit 99.

[0034] In addition, the electric bicycle 12 includes a lighting device 40, which is designed as a front light and is controllable by the control unit of the electric bicycle 12.

[0035] The electric bicycle 12 also includes a tracking device 100, which is shown in a perspective exploded view in Figure 2. The tracking device 100 has a housing 102, which is, for example, made of plastic. The housing 102 of the tracking device 100 comprises, for example, two housing parts 104, which are connected by a combination of a positive locking mechanism using two lug-shaped positive locking elements 106 and a screw connection 108. The tracking device 100 is designed to be watertight to protect against the ingress of dust and / or water. For this purpose, the tracking device 100 has, for example, a sealing element 110 in the form of a sealing ring, which is elastically designed and, in the connected state, is pressed tightly between the two housing parts 104.

[0036] Furthermore, the tracking device 100 includes a mechanical interface 112, which is designed for connecting the tracking device 100 to the light electric vehicle 10. The mechanical interface 112 is designed such that it can be used for mounting both on an outside of the frame 20 of the electric bicycle 12 and for mounting inside the frame 20. By way of example, the mechanical interface 112 is provided for a force-fit connection by means of a screw connection, wherein the mechanical interface 112 is designed as a through-hole 114 for a screw.

[0037] The housing 102 of the tracking device 100 contains an electronics unit 116, which includes a printed circuit board 118 on which electronic components are arranged. The electronics unit 116 comprises a further wireless short-range communication unit 120, which, for example, conforms to the same standard as the short-range communication unit of the electric bicycle 12. Thus, the short-range communication unit 120 of the tracking device 100 also includes at least one Bluetooth interface. Furthermore, an antenna 119 of the short-range communication unit 120 is arranged on the printed circuit board 118.

[0038] The circuit board 118 also includes a battery holder 122 for the mechanical and electrical connection of the circuit board 118, in particular the short-range communication unit 120, with a power supply unit in the form of a battery 124. The battery 124 is designed as a button cell by way of example.

[0039] The tracking device 100 has a control unit configured to provide tracking information to a mobile device 200. The mobile device 200 is exemplified as a smartphone 202 and is shown in Figure 5.

[0040] The electric bicycle 12 and the tracking device 100, in particular the short-range communication unit 99 of the electric bicycle 12 and the short-range communication unit 120 of the tracking device 100, are designed in such a way that no bidirectional exchange of information is possible. Specifically, no pairing process between the two communication units 99 and 120 for coupling and connection is possible. However, this would be technically possible in principle. In an alternative embodiment, bidirectional data exchange between the electric bicycle 12 and the tracking device 100 would therefore be conceivable.

[0041] Unlike the short-range communication unit 120 of the tracking device 120, the short-range communication unit 99 is not powered autonomously by its own energy supply, but rather by the battery pack 25 of the electric bicycle 12. Thus, the tracking device 100 can transmit location information even if the electric bicycle 12 is deactivated and / or the battery pack 25 of the electric bicycle 12 is empty. For example, the tracking device 100 is configured such that it is always active and transmits location information when connected to the battery 124. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable, by way of example, that the tracking device 100 is configured such that information is only transmitted when the electric bicycle 12 is deactivated.

[0042] The location information includes identification information, for example, a variable MAC address. It would also be conceivable to transmit a constant MAC address or a serial number. The location information is transmitted at a continuous interval of 2 seconds.

[0043] The location information is designed in such a way that all devices or mobile terminals 200 with short-range wireless communication units corresponding to the communication unit 120 of the location device 100 can receive it. Preferably, the location information is designed as an advertisement message.

[0044] The mobile device 200 features, for example, application software designed to display the exact location of the tracking device 100 or the light electric vehicle 10 to the user based on the location information. For instance, the mobile device 200 can determine the exact position of the tracking device 100 by means of a time offset between two received location information signals and the intensity of the respective signals.

[0045] The location information can also be received by the electric bicycle 12, in particular by the short-range communication unit 99. Preferably, identification information of the tracking device 100 is stored in a memory unit of the electric bicycle 12, so that the control unit of the electric bicycle 12 can check and / or monitor the assembly, in particular the proper attachment, of the tracking device 100 to the electric bicycle 12. It is also conceivable that identification information of the electric bicycle 12, in particular of the control unit of the electric bicycle 12, is stored in the tracking device 100, so that the tracking information can also provide identification information of the electric bicycle 12.

[0046] The tracking device 100 can be used in particular to search for a lost electric bicycle 12. The tracking device 100 with the short-range communication unit 120 is spatially limited in such a way that tracking is only possible within the immediate vicinity, in a range of a few meters to several hundred meters, depending on the signal strength.

[0047] In order to find itself in this environment, where it is possible to locate the tracking device 100 using the short-range communication unit 120, the electric bicycle 12 has a further tracking device 300.

[0048] The additional tracking device 300 is shown in a perspective view in Figure 3. The tracking device 300 has a housing 302 in which electronics (not shown) with a wireless long-range communication unit and a power supply (not shown) are arranged. The long-range communication unit of the additional tracking device 300 is configured for communication via the LTE-M and NB-IoT standards. The additional tracking device 300 is connected to the electric bicycle 12, in particular to the control unit of the electric bicycle 12, via a cable connection. A wired or wireless connection for bidirectional data exchange between the additional tracking device 300 and the tracking device 100 is not provided.The further locating device 300 is also arranged by way of example in the drive housing 29 of the electric bicycle 12, whereby other positions are in principle conceivable for both the locating device 100 and the locating device 300.

[0049] Additionally, the further tracking device 300 features a GNSS receiver and motion sensors, in particular inertial sensors with an accelerometer and / or a gyroscope. Advantageously, the GNSS receiver can acquire position information for the further tracking device 300 in the form of a geographic coordinate with high accuracy. However, reception can be limited or completely disrupted in buildings or tunnels. In such cases, the further tracking device 300 is designed to estimate the geographic coordinate based on sensor signals from the motion sensors.

[0050] Figure 4 shows a flowchart of a method for locating the electric bicycle 12 based on the tracking device 100 and the further tracking device 300. Figure 5 shows a corresponding view of a system with the light electric vehicle 10, the mobile device 200 and a server 500.

[0051] In an optional first process step 400, a tracking mode is activated. The tracking mode can be activated automatically, for example, by detecting movement of the light electric vehicle 10 or by deactivating and / or locking the light electric vehicle 10. Alternatively, activation by the user is also conceivable, for example, via an input on the on-board computer 35 or via an input on a mobile device 200 connected to the electric bicycle 12. It is also conceivable that the tracking mode is permanently activated.

[0052] In a further process step 402, the additional tracking device 300, in particular its long-range communication unit, sends a position signal via a radio mast 502 to a server 500. Thus, there is no direct bidirectional data exchange between the additional tracking device 300 and the mobile terminal 200. The position signal is exemplified as a geographic coordinate, which is received by the GNSS receiver of the additional tracking device 300 and supplemented by the motion sensor in case of interference.

[0053] In a further process step 404, the position information is sent to the mobile device 200. Preferably, in addition to the position information, identification information for the tracking device 100 is also sent to the mobile device by the server 500. The position information sent to the mobile device 200 can be identical to the position information provided by the additional tracking device 300 or adapted. Preferably, the mobile device 200 is coupled to the electric bicycle 12, in particular to the short-range communication unit 99 of the electric bicycle 12, via a short-range communication unit, and the server 500 preferably also has identification information for the electric bicycle 12 and the mobile device 200, which

[0054] The received position information is displayed to the user via a screen 204 of the mobile device 200 in a process step 406, so that the user can be guided into the vicinity of the electric bicycle 12.

[0055] If the user is in the vicinity of the electric bicycle 12 with the mobile device 200, then in process step 408, location information from the tracking device 100, in particular from the short-range communication unit 120 of the tracking device 100, is received directly by the mobile device 200. The location information from the tracking device 100 includes a variable MAC address, which changes at a predetermined time interval. The server 500 provides the mobile device 200 with the current MAC address via the identification information, so that the correct electric bicycle 12 is always assigned. The communication between the tracking device 100 and the mobile device 200 is unidirectional.

[0056] In a process step 410, the mobile terminal 200 determines a position of the tracking device 100 or the electric bicycle 12 based on the location information provided by the tracking device 100, wherein the position has a higher accuracy than a position that can be determined via the position information of the further tracking device 300.

[0057] In a further process step 412, the user is navigated to the tracking device 100 or to the lightweight electric bicycle 12 by the mobile device 200. Advantageously, the tracking information can also be used to distinguish between two visually identical electric bicycles 12 and to precisely locate the electric bicycle 12. Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a lightweight electric vehicle 10a, in particular an electric bicycle 12a, wherein the electric bicycle 12a has a single tracking device 100a. The tracking device 100a essentially comprises all the features of the tracking device 100 and the further tracking device 300. Thus, the functions of the previously described tracking devices 100 and 300 are integrated into a single tracking device 100a.

[0058] The tracking device 100a comprises a housing (not shown) in which the electronic components, the motion sensors, a short-range communication unit, and a long-range communication unit are arranged. The tracking device 100a is, by way of example, arranged in a drive housing 29a of the electric bicycle 12a as described above. However, it would also be conceivable that the tracking device 100a does not have its own housing and is integrated into the electronics of the electric bicycle 12a, for example, on a circuit board in the drive unit 26a or the on-board computer 35a.

[0059] However, alternative positionings of the locating device 100a would also be conceivable, for example at a position 700a in a top tube 702a of the electric bicycle 12a, at a position 704a above the drive housing 29a or in a position 706a in a chainstay 708a of the electric bicycle 12.

[0060] The locating device 100a can be used analogously to the locating devices 100, 300 for the above-mentioned procedure.

[0061] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the electric bicycle 12 or the electric bicycle 12a is designed in such a way that the removal of a tracking device 100, 300, 100a leads to the locking of the respective electric bicycle 12, 12a. The locking can be active or it can be prevented that a locked bicycle is unlocked again.

[0062] For example, it is conceivable that a wired connection between the

[0063] Electric bicycle 12, 12a and one of the tracking devices 100, 300, 100a is released, and thereby the electric bicycle 12, 12a or the respective tracking device 100, 300, 100a sends a corresponding blocking signal to the server 500.

Claims

Claims 1. System comprising a light electric vehicle (10), in particular an electric bicycle (12), and a tracking device (100), wherein the tracking device (100) has a mechanical interface (112) for connecting the tracking device (100) to the light electric vehicle (10) and is configured to provide location information to a mobile terminal (200), wherein the light electric vehicle (10) has a wireless short-range communication unit (99) for exchanging information with a mobile terminal (200), characterized in that the tracking device (100) has a further wireless short-range communication unit (120) configured to provide the location information to the mobile terminal (200).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the wireless short-range communication unit (99) of the light electric vehicle (10) and the wireless short-range communication unit (120) of the tracking device (100) are designed for data transmission on the same standard.

3. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wireless short-range communication unit (99) of the light electric vehicle (10) and the wireless short-range communication unit (120) of the tracking device (100) are designed for data transmission via Bluetooth.

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light electric vehicle (10) has a storage unit, wherein identification information of the tracking device (100) is stored in the storage unit.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tracking device (100) has a storage unit, wherein identification information of the light electric vehicle (10) is stored in the storage unit.

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tracking device (100) has a power supply unit (124) for power supply that is at least partially autonomous from the light electric vehicle (10).

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locating device (100) is configured to provide the locating information in a predefined time interval.

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tracking device (100) is configured to provide variable tracking information, in particular a message with a variable MAC address.

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locating device (100) has a housing (102), wherein the housing (102) is designed to be waterproof.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locating device (100) has a motion sensor for detecting a movement quantity and has a long-range wireless communication unit for data transmission to a radio mast (502).

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system comprises a further locating device (300) with a motion sensor for detecting a movement quantity and a long-range wireless communication unit for data transmission to a radio mast (502).

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