Moving apparatus with drive power assisting device and movement controlling method

A movement control method for a moving apparatus provided with a manually-operated drive wheel, and a driving force assist unit for additionally applying driving force to the drive wheel depending upon traveling information,

• the movement control method comprising the steps of:
• detecting, in a non-contact manner, with respect to a rotating portion, the rotational speed of the rotating portion to detect the traveling information of the moving apparatus;
• detecting a driving force corresponding to a change in speed information which is detected on the basis of the detected traveling information;
• applying the detected driving force to the drive wheel from the driving force assist means driven by an electric power source;
• detecting inclination information of the moving apparatus by inclination detecting means;
• determining a constant speed driving force required for maintaining a constant traveling speed by means of a constant speed detecting means on the basis of the change in speed information detected by the traveling information detecting means and inclination information detected by the inclination detecting means,
• determining an acceleration traveling driving force corresponding to speed change information by an acceleration detecting means which is detected on the basis of traveling information detected by the traveling information detecting means, and
• determining an assistant driving force by means of an assistant driving force detecting means to be delivered by the driving force assist means on the basis of the constant speed traveling driving force determined by the constant speed detecting means and the acceleration driving force determined by the acceleration detecting means.

A moving apparatus comprising:

• a manually operated drive wheel;
• an electric motor for additionally applying driving force to the drive wheel in addition to human power depending upon traveling information of the moving apparatus,
• traveling information detecting means for detecting, in a non-contact manner, with respect to a rotating portion the rotational speed of the rotating portion to detect the traveling information of the moving apparatus,
• driving force assist means for applying to the drive wheel a driving force corresponding to a change in speed information which is detected on the basis of traveling information detected by the traveling information detecting means;
• an electric power source for supplying electric power to the driving force assist means;
• inclination detecting means for detecting inclination information of the moving apparatus,
• constant speed detecting means for determining a constant speed traveling driving force required for maintaining a constant traveling speed on the basis of the change in speed information detected by the traveling information detecting means and inclination information detected by the inclination detecting means,
• acceleration detecting means for determining an acceleration traveling driving force corresponding to speed change information which is detected on the basis of traveling information of the moving apparatus detected by the traveling information detecting means, and
• assistant driving force detecting means for determining a assistant driving force which is to be delivered by the driving force assist means on the basis of the constant speed traveling driving force determined by the constant speed detecting means and the acceleration driving force determined by the acceleration detecting means;
• a chargeable battery for driving the electric motor;
• and
• a remaining traveling distance display unit for detecting the voltage of the battery to detect the remaining capacity of the battery to display the remaining traveling distance of the moving apparatus on the basis of the detected remaining capacity.

A moving apparatus provided with a drive wheel comprising:

• a manually-operated wheel;
• an electric motor for additionally applying a driving force to the drive wheel depending upon traveling information of the moving apparatus;
• an electric power source for driving the electric motor;
• traveling information detecting means for detecting, in a non-contact manner, with respect to a rotating portion, the rotational speed of the rotating portion to detect the traveling information of the moving apparatus,
• driving force assist means for applying to the drive wheel a driving force corresponding to a change in speed information which is detected on the basis of traveling information detected by the traveling information detecting means;
• an electric power source for supplying electric power to the driving force assist means;
• inclination detecting means for detecting inclination information of the moving apparatus,
• constant speed detecting means for determining a constant speed traveling driving force required for maintaining a constant traveling speed on the basis of the change in speed information detected by the traveling information detecting means and inclination information detected by the inclination detecting means,
• acceleration detecting means for determining acceleration traveling driving force corresponding to speed change information which is detected on the basis of traveling information of the moving apparatus detected by the traveling information detecting means, and
• assistant driving force detecting means for determining a assistant driving force which is to be delivered by the driving force assist means on the basis of the constant speed traveling driving force determined by the constant speed detecting means and the acceleration driving force determined by the acceleration detecting means;
• and
• function switching control means wherein when the road surface on which the moving apparatus moves requires an assist to the driving force for moving the moving apparatus, said function switching control means drives the electric motor, and when the road surface on which the moving apparatus moves does not require an assistant driving force for moving the moving apparatus, said function switching control means allows the electric motor to function as a generator.