E-Bike Time Display Using Battery Pack Clock Data

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrically assisted bicycles face challenges in displaying current time without a built-in battery cell, as the space required for such a cell restricts the positional arrangement of other components and necessitates frequent battery replacements.

Innovation Solution

A time display system that utilizes a battery pack to output time information to a display, allowing the display to show current time without a built-in battery cell, using processors to acquire and calculate time based on information from the battery pack, and optionally utilizing external devices for time setting and correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a built-in battery cell is installed in the display to enable time display without the battery pack, then the display can maintain time display function when the battery pack is detached, but the positional arrangement of other components is restricted and the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime display function availabilityVSAvoidcomponent arrangement flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the time-keeping function from the display device itself and relocates it to the battery pack. The display no longer needs its own battery cell because the battery pack provides time information through its processor, which calculates time based on electric current from its battery cells. This extraction eliminates the need for a built-in battery cell in the display while maintaining time display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery pack is given the additional function of providing time information to the display. By making the battery pack a universal power and information source, it can simultaneously supply electric power to the electric motor and provide time data to the display, eliminating the need for separate time-keeping components in the display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a built-in battery cell is installed in the display to enable time display without the battery pack, then the display can maintain time display function when the battery pack is detached, but the user must frequently replace the battery cell when its capacity is exhausted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime display function availabilityVSAvoidbattery replacement frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the time-keeping function from the display device itself and relocates it to the battery pack. The display no longer needs its own battery cell because the battery pack provides time information through its processor, which calculates time based on electric current from its battery cells. This extraction eliminates the need for a built-in battery cell in the display while maintaining time display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery pack's processor automatically calculates and provides time information to the display without user intervention. The system uses the electric current from the battery cells to continuously update the time, eliminating the need for manual battery replacement in the display by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a built-in battery cell is installed in the display to enable time display without the battery pack, then the display can maintain time display function when the battery pack is detached, but the space required for the battery cell limits the positional arrangement of other components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime display function availabilityVSAvoiddisplay housing space utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the time-keeping function from the display device itself and relocates it to the battery pack. The display no longer needs its own battery cell because the battery pack provides time information through its processor, which calculates time based on electric current from its battery cells. This extraction eliminates the need for a built-in battery cell in the display while maintaining time display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250206404A1Time display system, driving system, electrically assisted vehicle, battery pack, time display method, and computer program

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A time display system for an electrically assisted vehicle includes a display and at least one processor configured or programmed to acquire time information representing information on a time that is output by a battery pack that supplies electric power to an electric motor that generates drive power to cause the electrically assisted vehicle to travel, and to cause the display to display a current time based on the time information.