	US 11,724,771 B2
	Method and device for dynamically controlling a range of an electrically-assisted bicycle, electrically-assisted bicycle
Rüdiger Stahl, Seefeld (DE)
Assigned to TQ-Systems GmbH
Appl. No. 17/279,516
Filed by TQ-Systems GmbH, Seefeld (DE)
PCT Filed Sep. 26, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/058153 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 24, 2021, PCT Pub. No. WO2020/121074, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1815666 (GB), filed on Sep. 26, 2018; and application No. 1902411 (GB), filed on Feb. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0394863 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. B62M 6/50 (2010.01)

CPC B62M 6/50 (2013.01)

20 Claims

1. A method for dynamically controlling a range of an electrically-assisted bicycle comprising an energy storage and an electric motor, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a current bicycle location;

determining a target location;

calculating a route from the current bicycle location to the target location;

determining currently available charge of the energy storage at the current location;

determining an environmental value indicating at least one environmental condition for the calculated route;

dividing the calculated route into at least two segments;

calculating, for each of the at least two segments, an amount of energy to be provided to the electric motor such that an energy threshold of the energy storage is maintained for the at least two segments under consideration of the environmental value and the currently available charge of the energy storage;

calculating, for each of the at least two segments, an assistance factor based on the calculated amount of energy;

providing energy to the electric motor during a first segment of the at least two segments according to the calculated assistance factor;

after completing the first segment, determining the currently available charge of the energy storage at the current location;

comparing an amount of energy consumed during the first segment with the calculated amount of energy during the first segment;

if the comparison exceeds a predetermined deviation threshold, storing the deviation in a correction value;

recalculating the amount of energy to be provided to the electric motor such that an energy threshold of the energy storage is maintained for a second segment of the at least two segments under consideration of the environmental value, the currently available charge of the energy storage and the correction value;

recalculating the assistance factor based on the recalculated amount of energy for the second segment; and

providing energy to the electric motor during the second segment according to the recalculated assistance factor.

7. A device for dynamically controlling a range of an electrically-assisted bicycle comprising an energy storage and an electric motor, the device comprising:

a location determining unit configured to determine a current bicycle location;

a target determining unit configured to determine a target location;

a route calculation unit configured to calculate a route from the current bicycle location to the target location;

a user interface configured to display information to a user;

an energy determining unit configured to determine a currently available charge of the energy storage at the current location;

an environment determining unit configured to determine an environmental value indicating at least one environmental condition for the calculated route;

a segment unit configured to divide the calculated route into at least two segments;

an energy calculation unit configured to calculate, for each of the at least two segments, an amount of energy to be provided to the electric motor such that an energy threshold of the energy storage is maintained for the at least two segments under consideration of the environmental value and the currently available charge of the energy storage wherein the energy calculation unit is further configured to calculate, for each of the at least two segments, an assistance factor based on the calculated amount of energy;

an energy providing unit configured to provide energy to the electric motor during a first segment of the at least two segments according to the calculated assistance factor, wherein the energy determining unit is further configured to determine the currently available charge of the energy storage at the current location after the first segment;

a comparison unit configured to compare an amount of energy consumed during the first segment with the calculated amount of energy for the first segment; and

a storage unit configured to store a deviation from a predetermined deviation threshold in a correction value if the comparison from the comparison unit exceeds the predetermined deviation threshold,

wherein the energy calculation unit is further configured to recalculate the amount of energy to be provided to the electric motor such that an energy threshold of the energy storage is maintained for a second segment of the at least two segments under consideration of the environmental value, the currently available charge of the energy storage and the correction value and wherein the energy calculation unit is further configured to re calculate, for each of the at least two segments, an assistance factor based on the recalculated amount of energy, and

wherein the energy providing unit is further configured to provide energy to the electric motor during the second segment according to the recalculated assistance factor.

15. An electrically-assisted bicycle comprising:

an energy storage;

an electric motor;

a user interface configured to display information to a user; and

a device comprising

a location determining unit configured to determine a current bicycle location,

a target determining unit configured to determine a target location,

a route calculation unit configured to calculate a route from the current bicycle location to the target location,

an energy determining unit configured to determine a currently available charge of the energy storage at the current location,

an environment determining unit configured to determine an environmental value indicating at least one environmental condition for the calculated route,

a segment unit configured to divide the calculated route into at least two segments,

an energy calculation unit configured to calculate, for each of the at least two segments, an amount of energy to be provided to the electric motor such that an energy threshold of the energy storage is maintained for the at least two segments under consideration of the environmental value and the currently available charge of the energy storage, wherein the energy calculation unit is further configured to calculate, for each of the at least two segments, an assistance factor based on the calculated amount of energy,

a comparison unit configured to compare an amount of energy consumed during the first segment with the calculated amount of energy for the first segment, and

a storage unit configured to store a deviation from a predetermined deviation threshold in a correction value if the comparison from the comparison unit exceeds the predetermined deviation threshold, wherein the energy calculation unit is further configured to recalculate the amount of energy to be provided to the electric motor such that an energy threshold of the energy storage is maintained for a second segment of the at least two segments under consideration of the environmental value, the currently available charge of the energy storage and the correction value and wherein the energy calculation unit is further configured to re calculate, for each of the at least two segments, an assistance factor based on the recalculated amount of energy, and wherein the energy providing unit is further configured to provide energy to the electric motor during the second segment according to the recalculated assistance factor.