Battery-Free Electric Bicycle Starter Using Mechanical Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric bicycles require two batteries, leading to constant energy consumption and discharge when not in use, as the start button is often powered by the main battery, necessitating frequent battery changes.
Innovation Solution
A battery-free starting device that utilizes ambient energy to generate a starting signal, allowing for a multi-stage system start without relying on the accumulator, using mechanical resistors, coils, and piezo elements to provide haptic feedback and energy self-sufficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate battery is provided for the start button, then the system can be started reliably, but the device complexity increases and energy is wasted due to constant discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery from the starting device, eliminating the separate start button battery while maintaining reliable system starting. The starting device now uses only mechanical components (spring, button) to generate start signals without energy storage elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The main accumulator battery serves multiple functions: it powers both the starting device and the display unit. The starting device itself serves dual purposes by providing both system start capability and haptic feedback through its mechanical resistance mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the start button is powered by the main battery, then device complexity is reduced, but energy consumption increases and the accumulator discharges when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical spring in the starting device is periodically compressed and released, generating electrical impulses only when needed for starting. This periodic mechanical-to-electrical conversion eliminates continuous energy consumption while maintaining the ability to generate start signals on demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The starting device generates its own start signals through mechanical compression of the spring by the button, without requiring continuous power from the main battery. The system serves itself by converting mechanical energy directly into electrical start signals only when activation is needed.
3Reliability
If two batteries are provided in the system, then starting reliability is improved, but weight increases and energy waste occurs during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes one battery (the start button battery) from the two-battery system, reducing overall weight while maintaining starting reliability through the mechanical spring-based starting device that generates electrical impulses without requiring a dedicated power source.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a battery-free starting device is used, then energy consumption is reduced and weight is decreased, but the difficulty of generating reliable start signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The starting device uses a dynamic mechanical spring system that converts variable compression forces into standardized electrical start signals. The spring's elastic properties provide a consistent mechanical-to-electrical conversion mechanism that reliably generates start signals despite variations in button pressing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of start signal generation from electrical (battery-powered continuous signal) to mechanical (spring-compression impulse signal). This parameter change enables battery-free operation while maintaining signal reliability through the physical properties of the spring mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Eliminates the need for a separate start button battery, reduces energy consumption, and prevents accumulator discharge, enabling energy self-sufficiency and a compact design by using ambient energy for system initiation.
Implementation Method 1
a coil arrangement (13, 14) which is set up to generate a starting signal and to transmit it to a control unit or the like when a button element (19) is pressed
Implementation Method 2
a piezo element (30), which is set up to provide different signals for representing the different stages of the multi-stage system start
Implementation Method 3
a permanent magnet element (12), which is connected to the button or the like actuated by the driver and an electrical start signal can be generated by moving the permanent magnet element (12) relative to the first coil (23)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery-less starter that is not required to be fed from a small-capacity battery for starting a multistage starting system of an electric bicycle that can be driven using muscle power and/or electric power or a large-capacity battery for feeding an electric drive.SOLUTION: An electric bicycle 1 includes a battery-less starter 11 for starting a system of an electric drive 3, and the starter 11 is provided to use peripheral energy for forming a starting signal. In this case, the battery-less starter 11 can start a multistage system including at least first and second stages, a first starting signal for a first device can be formed in the first stage, and a starting signal for a second device can be formed in the second stage.