Drive unit for an electric bicycle, comprising two signal transmitters taking into account elastic deformation, and control method

A method for controlling at least one electric motor of a drive unit for an electric bicycle,

• wherein the drive unit comprises at least the following:
• a drive shaft for generating a first drive torque by a rider of the electric bicycle by means of muscle force,
• an output element, connected to the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, for providing a torque for driving the electric bicycle,
• the at least one electric motor for the generation by external force of a second drive torque at a rotor shaft coupled to the electric motor,
• a transmission device for transmitting the second drive torque to the output element, and
• at least two signal transmitters, which are spaced apart from one another spatially, on a drive assembly which comprises the output element and the drive shaft, via which, during operation of the drive unit, two temporally successive measurement signals can be generated, the time interval of which varies depending on the level of the first and second drive torques,
• and wherein a control variable determined from the first and second measurement signals is used for controlling the at least one electric motor.