US-12623744-B2 - Bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle

US12623744B2US 12623744 B2US12623744 B2US 12623744B2US-12623744-B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle, preferably a bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle. The invention also relates to an optical feedback unit for use in a vehicle, preferably a bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle according to the invention. The invention further relates to a vehicle control unit, in particular a bicycle control unit, programmed to control at least one optical feedback unit for use in a vehicle, preferably a bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle according to the invention. The invention moreover relates to an assembly of at least one optical feedback unit according to the invention and at least one vehicle control unit, in particular a bicycle control unit, according to the invention.

Inventors

Yi-Fang Chen
Alexandre Phaneuf
Chun-Hsun Kao
Chien-I Chen
Mao-Chieh Tang
Chien-Cheng Kung
Job Hendrik Stehmann

Assignees

MA Micro Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221007
Priority Date: 20211007

Claims (20)

1 . A bicycle, comprising: a bicycle frame, a handlebar rotatably mounted to said bicycle frame, at least one optical feedback unit for providing bicycle related feedback and/or user related optical feedback to a user of the bicycle, wherein said at least one optical feedback unit is mounted to and/or at least partially accommodated within said handlebar, wherein said at least one optical feedback unit and the handlebar are coaxially oriented, and wherein said at least one optical feedback unit comprises: at least one linear array of at least three optical elements, at least one casing which is at least partially transparent and/or translucent, and which at least partially covers said at least three optical elements, wherein said casing has an exposed outer surface which is substantially similarly shaped to at least one adjacent outer surface portion of the handlebar, and wherein at least one of the at least three optical elements is controllable based on a control signal to provide optical feedback to the user, and at least one bicycle control unit for generating at least one control signal for controlling at least one optical element of said at least one optical feedback unit.
2 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the handlebar at least partially encloses said at least one optical feedback unit.
3 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the exposed outer surface of said casing is positioned flush with at least one adjacent outer surface portion of the handlebar, and wherein at least a part of the exposed outer surface of said casing is positioned flush with the adjacent outer surface portion of the handlebar surrounding the casing.
4 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one optical feedback unit is at least partially accommodated within said handlebar, and wherein the handlebar comprises at least one opening to expose the exposed outer surface of the casing, wherein the at least one opening is defined by a peripheral edge, wherein the exposed outer surface of said casing abuts said peripheral edge, wherein at least a part of the exposed outer surface of said casing is positioned flush with said peripheral edge of the at least one opening, and wherein the exposed outer surface of said casing is positioned flush with said peripheral edge of the at least one opening.
5 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the exposed outer surface of said casing is at least partially curved, wherein the at least partially curved exposed outer surface of said casing has a curvature which corresponds with a curvature of the at least one adjacent outer surface portion of the handlebar, and/or wherein said at least one adjacent outer surface portion of the handlebar is located adjacently to the exposed outer surface of the casing and makes part of a tubed part of the handlebar.
6 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the handlebar comprises: at least two grips located at opposing outer ends of the handlebar, and a central handlebar portion located in between said at least two grips, wherein the at least one optical feedback unit is located in between one of said at least two grips and said central handlebar portion, and/or wherein the handlebar further comprises opposing narrowed end portions integrally connected to the central handlebar portion, and wherein each of said narrowed end portions is at least partially accommodated within a grip of the handlebar.
7 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical feedback unit at least partially encloses the handlebar, and/or wherein the at least one optical feedback unit is annular shaped.
8 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least three optical elements are equidistantly divided in a circumferential direction over the handlebar.
9 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical feedback unit comprises a plurality of linear arrays, each linear array formed by at least three optical elements.
10 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein at least four optical elements of the at least one optical feedback unit are arranged in a matrix array, and/or wherein the at least one bicycle control unit is connected to the at least one optical feedback unit, and wherein said at least one bicycle control unit is configured to control said at least one optical feedback unit.
11 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one bicycle control unit is configured to generate the at least one control signal based upon at least one bicycle drive status information type chosen from the group consisting of: the actual bicycle battery level, the actual motor support, changed settings related information, alarm function, bicycle related errors, bicycle related error codes, the actual speed, the average speed, the number of revolutions per minute (RPM), the selected gear, the ambient temperature, the ambient light level, and navigation related information, like the remaining distance, the remaining time, and the estimated time of arrival, wherein the control signal comprises information to control a selective number of optical elements corresponding with the bicycle related feedback to be given to the user, wherein the at least one bicycle control unit is further configured to generate a combined control signal, wherein the combined control signal comprises information relating to at least two bicycle drive status information types, and wherein said combined control signal is configured to display at least one first bicycle drive status information type via at least one first group of optical elements of said at least one optical feedback unit, and to display at least one second bicycle drive status information type via at least one second group of optical elements of said at least one optical feedback unit.
12 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical feedback unit comprises at least one separating element for separating light emitted by at least two optical elements, and/or wherein the at least one optical feedback unit comprises a liquid-crystal display configured to be backlit by the at least two optical elements of said at least one optical feedback unit, and/or wherein at least one optical element is formed by a light source chosen from the group consisting of: a light-emitting diode (LED), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a laser diode, a multi-colour light source, a capsule wherein at least one red diode, at least one green diode, and at least one blue diode are potted, and combinations thereof.
13 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the exposed outer surface of the casing is at least partially composed of glass or a polymer.
14 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical feedback unit is wired to the at least one bicycle control unit via a wire, wherein said wire is at least partially routed inside the handlebar.
15 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one bicycle control unit configured to generate the at least one control signal for the at least one optical feedback unit is, directly or indirectly, configured to communicate with at least one portable user device, and wherein said at least one bicycle control unit is configured to at least partially base said control signal on user related information received from the portable user device.
16 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the bicycle comprises at least two of said optical feedback units, wherein the at least two optical feedback units are arranged on or adjacent to opposing end portions of the handlebar, wherein the at least two optical feedback units are positioned side-by-side, and wherein the at least two optical feedback units are independently controllable.
17 . The bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein the bicycle comprises at least one sensor, and wherein at least one bicycle control unit is configured to generate a control signal for the at least one optical feedback unit, based on data collected by the at least one sensor.
18 . An optical feedback unit for use in a bicycle according to claim 1 .
19 . A bicycle control unit programmed to control at least one optical feedback unit for use in a bicycle according to claim 1 .
20 . An assembly of at least one optical feedback unit according to claim 18 and at least one bicycle control unit.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is the United States national phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/NL2022/050573 filed Oct. 7, 2022, and claims priority to The Netherlands Patent Application No. 2029353 filed Oct. 7, 2021 and The Netherlands Patent Application No. 2031282 filed Mar. 15, 2022, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The invention relates to a vehicle, preferably a bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle. The invention also relates to an optical feedback unit for use in a vehicle, preferably a bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle according to the invention. The invention further relates to a vehicle control unit, in particular a bicycle control unit, programmed to control at least one optical feedback unit for use in a vehicle, preferably a bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle according to the invention. The invention moreover relates to an assembly of at least one optical feedback unit according to the invention and at least one vehicle control unit, in particular a bicycle control unit, according to the invention. Description of Related Art Over the last 150 years, the bicycle has evolved to become one of the most efficient means of transportation in terms of conversion of energy into distance travelled. The efficiency of the bicycle has also been optimized to minimize the effort required by the rider. For instance, most modern bicycles include an efficient gear system to minimize rider effort. To further reduce the amount of human effort required to propel a bicycle, a variety of electric bicycles (e-bikes) have been introduced, wherein use is made of an electromotor as auxiliary power source to assist the manpowered pedaling process. These developments have resulted in faster bicycles, which facilitates bicycling at high speeds. Because of the increased speed, bicycle riding has become increasingly more dangerous, which leads to increased risks for cyclists to become involved in accidents with other vehicles and pedestrians. Furthermore, due to ongoing technical developments more and more data are collected, which can be used for various purposes. There is a need to increase data feedback from the e-bike to the user, in particular during cycling, which among others allows the user to drive the e-bike in a safer and more controlled manner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a first object of the invention to provide an improved bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle, which allows to the user to receive bicycle status related feedback during cycling. It is a second object of the invention to provide an improved bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle, with an improved optical solution to provide bicycle status related feedback to the user during cycling. At least one of these objects can be met by providing a bicycle, in particular an electric bicycle, and/or a bicycle part, comprising: preferably a bicycle frame,a handlebar rotatably mounted or mountable to said bicycle frame,at least one optical feedback unit for providing bicycle and/or user related optical feedback, in particular bicycle drive status related feedback, to a user of the bicycle, wherein said optical feedback unit is mounted to and/or at least partially accommodated within said handlebar, wherein said optical feedback unit comprises: an array and/or group of optical elements, preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs),preferably at least one casing which is at least partially transparent and/or translucent, and which at least partially covers said optical elements, wherein said casing preferably has an exposed outer surface which is substantially similarly shaped to at least one adjacent outer surface portion of the handlebar, andwherein at least one of the plurality of optical elements is controllable based on a control signal to provide said optical feedback to the user, and preferably at least one bicycle control unit for generating at least one control signal for controlling at least one optical element of said optical feedback unit. The bicycle or vehicle type, such as tricycle or pedal car, according to the invention, hereinafter simply referred to as bicycle, has several advantages. By accommodating one or more optical feedback units on and/or within the handlebar of a bicycle, the one or more optical feedback units are directly located in the line of sight of the user. In this way feedback, preferably bicycle and/or user related feedback, can be provided to the user in a simple and efficient manner. The optical feedback given to the user can be of (very) basic nature, for example by, dependent on the feedback to be provided to the user, illuminating (switching on) more optical elements or less optical elements, and/or by changing the illumination level and/or colour temperature and/or colour of one or more optical elements. In a basic embodiment of the op