Electrified cycle with power limiting
AssigneeLectric eBikes
InventorsThomas Blake Jenssen, Matthew Frederick Kosloske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example method generally involves supplying electric power to a motor to thereby cause the motor to drive a drive wheel, varying the electric power supplied to the motor based upon a throttle signal, and limiting the electric power supplied to the motor based upon a selected pedal assist level, thereby preventing the throttle signal from overriding the selected pedal assist level.
Claims21
An electric cycle, comprising:
- a frame;
- a set of pedals rotatably mounted to the frame;
- a drive wheel rotatably mounted to the frame, wherein the drive wheel is operable to be driven by rotation of the pedals;
- a motor operable to supply an output power to the drive wheel, the output power varying based upon a control signal;
- a throttle configured to transmit a throttle signal;
- and
- a control system configured to vary the control signal based upon the throttle signal;
- wherein the control system is operable to limit the control signal based upon a selected pedal assist level to thereby at least selectively prevent the throttle from overriding the selected pedal assist level.
A method of operating an electric cycle comprising a drive wheel, a motor operable to exert torque on the drive wheel, and a throttle operable to generate a throttle signal, the method comprising:
- transmitting, to the motor, a control signal that causes the motor to rotate a drive wheel with a power that varies based upon the control signal;
- varying the control signal based upon the throttle signal;
- selecting, based upon a selection of a pedal assist level, a control signal limit;
- and
- limiting the control signal based on the control signal limit, thereby preventing the throttle from overriding the selected pedal assist level.
A method of operating an electric cycle, comprising:
- supplying electric power to a motor to thereby cause the motor to drive a drive wheel;
- varying the electric power supplied to the motor based upon an input signal;
- and
- limiting the electric power supplied to the motor based upon a selected pedal assist level, thereby preventing the input signal from overriding the selected pedal assist level.
An electric cycle, comprising:
- a frame;
- a set of pedals rotatably mounted to the frame;
- a drive wheel rotatably mounted to the frame, wherein the drive wheel is operable to be driven by rotation of the pedals;
- a motor operable to supply an output power to the drive wheel, the output power varying based upon a control signal;
- a pedal sensor configured to transmit a pedal signal in response to rotation of the pedals;
- and
- a control system configured to vary the control signal based upon the pedal signal;
- wherein the control system is configured to limit the control signal based upon a selected pedal assist level to thereby at least selectively prevent the pedal signal from overriding the selected pedal assist level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.