Electric bicycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9616959-B2
Application number	US-201514805033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2015
Priority date	Aug 1, 2014
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle includes a handlebar and a vibration generator supported on the handlebar. A sensor is configured to detect an overcoming vehicle. A controller is configured to activate the vibration generator when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bicycle comprising:
a handlebar;
a vibration generator supported on the handlebar;
a sensor configured to detect an overcoming vehicle; and
a controller configured to activate the vibration generator when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle;
another sensor configured to detect an upcoming obstacle,
wherein the controller is programmed to estimate whether the bicycle will reach the upcoming obstacle before the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle.

2. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller estimates based at least on a comparison of a distance and approach speed of the overcoming vehicle with the distance and approach speed of the upcoming obstacle.

3. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern when the controller estimates that the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle before the bicycle reaches the upcoming obstacle.

4. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to calculate an instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle.

5. The bicycle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern to identify the instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle.

6. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the controller performs a feedback loop on the estimation.

7. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a light source and wherein the controller is configured to illuminate the light source when the sensor detects the overcoming vehicle.

8. A system for a bicycle comprising a computing device having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions, the instructions comprising programming to:
receive data from a sensor indicating that an overcoming vehicle is approaching the bicycle;
instruct a vibration generator to vibrate when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle;
receive data from another sensor indicating that the bicycle is approaching an upcoming obstacle; and
estimate whether the bicycle will reach the upcoming obstacle before the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to estimate based at least on a comparison of a distance and approach speed of the overcoming vehicle with the distance and approach speed of the upcoming obstacle.

10. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern when the controller estimates that the overcoming vehicle will reach the bicycle before the bicycle reaches the upcoming obstacle.

11. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to calculate an instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a predetermined magnitude and a predetermined pattern to identify the instruction to perform one of swerving, braking, colliding with the upcoming obstacle, and colliding with the overcoming vehicle.

13. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to perform a feedback loop on the estimate.

14. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to illuminate a light source when the sensor detects the overcoming vehicle.

15. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to communicate data to a mobile device.

16. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the instructions further comprise programming to instruct the vibration generator to vibrate with at least one of a different frequency and a different duration when the sensor detects the absence of an overcoming vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Neugebauer James
• Southey Bruce
• Lloyd James
• Gerhardt Torsten
• Craven Richard
• Potticary Simon
• Mundy Jonathan

Classifications

• B62K11/00

  Motorcycles, engine-assisted cycles or motor scooters with one or two wheels (fairings or streamlining parts not forming part of the frame B62J; transmission of drive from engines to wheels B62M) · CPC title

• B60L53/68

  Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control · CPC title

• B62J45/20

  Cycle computers as cycle accessories · CPC title

• B62J6/015

  using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements · CPC title

• B62J45/10

  Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor · CPC title