Multi-Notifier Battery Alert System for Electric Bicycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of electric power assisted bicycles are not effectively notified when the battery charge is low, leading to potential forgetfulness in recharging, which can result in the inability to generate assistance power when needed.
Innovation Solution
A notification system that includes a combination of a display panel, a lamp, and a sound component, controlled by a processor to notify the user when the battery charge reaches a predetermined low level, using synchronized operations of these notifiers to ensure awareness and recognition of the low charge state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single notifier (display panel only) is used to notify low battery charge, then device complexity is reduced, but the user may not effectively become aware of the notification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple notifiers (display panel, lamp, and sound component) into a unified notification system. When battery charge is low, all three notifiers operate simultaneously to provide a comprehensive notification that is more effective than any single notifier alone, while still maintaining manageable system complexity through integrated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system is designed to serve multiple functions through different notifiers: the display panel provides visual information about battery level, the lamp provides attention-grabbing visual alert, and the sound component provides auditory notification. This multi-functionality ensures reliable user awareness across different usage scenarios.
2Reliability
If multiple notifiers are used to notify low battery charge, then user awareness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit integrates the control of multiple notifiers into a single coordinated system. When low battery charge is detected, the controller simultaneously activates the display panel, lamp, and sound component as a unified notification package, simplifying the control architecture while achieving reliable user recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The display panel continuously monitors and displays battery charge levels before the low charge condition is reached. This preliminary action prepares the user with advance warning, reducing the urgency of the final low-battery notification while maintaining systematic control over all notifiers.
3Loss of information
If continuous monitoring and notification is provided, then user awareness is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system operates periodically rather than continuously. The controller monitors battery charge at regular intervals and only activates the notification components when the low charge threshold is reached. This periodic operation maintains user awareness of battery status while minimizing energy consumption by keeping notifiers inactive during normal charge levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification intensity is adapted to the specific battery charge condition. When charge is above the threshold, only minimal monitoring occurs. When charge drops below the threshold, full notification with all three notifiers is activated. This localized quality of notification ensures adequate awareness while conserving energy during normal operation.
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
The system effectively alerts users of low battery charge through a combination of visual and auditory cues, preventing forgetfulness and ensuring timely recharging, and allows for differentiated notifications based on charge levels, enhancing user awareness and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a display panel (80) to display the remaining battery charge
Implementation Method 2
a lamp (81) to emit light
Implementation Method 3
a sound component (82) to produce sound
Data Source
AI summary
A notification system for an electric power assisted vehicle includes two or more notifiers to notify a user that a remaining charge of a battery that supplies power to an electric motor is low, and a controller configured or programmed to control operations of the two or more notifiers. The two or more notifiers include two or more of a display panel to display the remaining battery charge, a lamp to emit light, and a sound component to produce sound. The controller is configured or programmed to compare the remaining battery charge with a predetermined value, and when the remaining battery charge is lower than or equal to the predetermined value, to notify the user that the remaining battery charge is low by a combination of the operations of the two or more notifiers.