Smartphone and battery integration module for an electric scooter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11812151-B2
Application number	US-202016919185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2020
Priority date	Jul 2, 2020
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A battery expansion cradle is attachable to an electric scooter (eScooter) handlebar. The battery expansion cradle includes a battery connection terminal disposed on a face of the battery expansion cradle, where the battery connection terminal electrically connects with a power bus of the electric scooter. A battery module is removably attachable to the face of the battery expansion cradle and the back terminal of another battery. The battery module includes a connector electrically coupling the first rechargeable battery to the eScooter power bus, and includes a mobile device holder disposed on a face of the first battery module with holding means for securing a mobile device to the face of the battery module, which may be offset from the center of the external battery to allow for a clear forward view of the scooter using the smartphone's front camera, and the user's face using the rear camera.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A battery module configured to be removably attachable to a face of a battery expansion cradle for an electric scooter, the battery module comprising:
a rechargeable battery;
a first connector configured to electrically couple the rechargeable battery to a second rechargeable battery or to the battery expansion cradle; and
a mobile device holder disposed on a face of the battery module,
wherein the mobile device holder comprises a repositioning mechanism configured to reposition the mobile device by sliding the mobile device along the face of the battery module such that a forward-facing camera of the mobile device has a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter, and
wherein the repositioning mechanism comprises a processor configured to:
determine that the forward-facing camera of the mobile device does not have a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter;
actuate a mobile device sliding arm to contact an edge of the mobile device; and
reposition the mobile device by sliding the mobile device along the face of the battery module such that the forward-facing camera of the mobile device has a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the first connector is configured to electrically couple the rechargeable battery to the battery expansion cradle or to a second rechargeable battery in a second battery module.

3. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the battery module comprises
a releasable attachment clip configured to:
removably connect the battery expansion cradle with the battery module, or
removably connect the rechargeable battery to a second battery module.

4. An apparatus for an electric scooter, comprising:
a battery expansion cradle attachable to an electric scooter handlebar, the battery expansion cradle comprising a battery connection terminal disposed on a face of the battery expansion cradle, the battery connection terminal electrically connectable with a power bus of the electric scooter;
a first battery module removably attachable to the face of the battery expansion cradle, the first battery module comprising
a first rechargeable battery, and
a first connector configured to electrically couple the first rechargeable battery to the battery connection terminal; and

a mobile device holder disposed on a face of the first battery module,
wherein the mobile device holder comprises a repositioning mechanism configured to reposition the mobile device by sliding the mobile device along the face of the first battery module such that a forward facing camera of the mobile device has a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter,
wherein the repositioning mechanism comprises a processor configured to:
determine that a forward-facing camera of the mobile device does not have a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter;
actuate a mobile device sliding arm to contact an edge of the mobile device; and
reposition the mobile device by sliding the mobile device across the face of the first battery module such that the forward-facing camera of the mobile device has a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the battery expansion cradle comprises:
a releasable attachment clip configured to removably connect the battery expansion cradle with the first battery module.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the battery expansion cradle comprises an axial pivot mechanism configured to tilt the battery expansion cradle, the first battery module, and the mobile device from a position substantially parallel to a handlebar riser of the electric scooter to an angled position with respect to the handlebar riser, and wherein the battery expansion cradle comprises an axial pivot mechanism configured to moveably secure the battery expansion cradle laterally along the electric scooter handlebar.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the angled position with respect to the handlebar riser positions the mobile device to point a rear-facing camera such that a face of a rider is within view of the rear-facing camera.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the first connector is configured to electrically couple the first rechargeable battery and/or the battery expansion cradle to a second rechargeable battery in a second battery module.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the first battery module comprises
a releasable attachment clip configured to:
removably connect the battery expansion cradle with the first battery module, or
removably connect the first rechargeable battery to the second battery module.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the first battery module comprises a mobile device connection port configured to electrically connect with the power bus of the electric scooter and to recharge the mobile device.

11. A method for connecting an auxiliary battery power supply to an electric scooter, the method comprising:
attaching a battery expansion cradle to an electric scooter handlebar, the battery expansion cradle comprising a battery connection terminal disposed on a face of the battery expansion cradle, the battery connection terminal configured to electrically connect with a power bus of the electric scooter;
attaching a battery module comprising a rechargeable battery to the face of the battery expansion cradle, wherein the attaching comprises mating a first connector electrically coupling the rechargeable battery with the battery connection terminal; and
securing a mobile device to the face of the battery module via a mobile device holder disposed on a face of the battery module,
wherein the mobile device holder comprises a repositioning mechanism configured for repositioning the mobile device by sliding the mobile device along the face of the battery module such that a forward-facing camera of the mobile device has a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter; and
wherein the battery module comprises a processor configured for:
determining that the forward-facing camera of the mobile device does not have a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter;
actuating a mobile device sliding arm to contact an edge of the mobile device; and
repositioning the mobile device by sliding the mobile device along the face of the battery module such that the forward-facing camera of the mobile device has a forward-facing view of a forward path of the electric scooter.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein attaching the battery module to the face of the battery expansion cradle comprises:
removably connecting the battery expansion cradle with the battery module via a releasable attachment clip.

13. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
tilting the battery expansion cradle, the battery module, and the mobile device from a position substantially parallel to a handlebar riser of the electric scooter to an angled position with respect to the handlebar riser via an axial pivot mechanism disposed on a connecting member of the battery expansion cradle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Chen Yifan
• Sohmshetty Raj
• Lu Jianbo
• Mayberry Scott

Classifications

• H04N23/695 Primary

  Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects · CPC title

• B60S5/06

  Supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles (exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80) · CPC title

• B62J43/20 Primary

  characterised by the mounting · CPC title

• B62J43/30

  for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion · CPC title

• H01M50/20

  Mountings; Secondary casings or frames; Racks, modules or packs; Suspension devices; Shock absorbers; Transport or carrying devices; Holders (structural combination of accumulators with charging apparatus H01M10/46) · CPC title