# US 7,412,309 B2 · Electric vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,412,309 B2 - Document ID: US7412309B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/030,151 - Filed: 2005-01-07 - Published: 2005-07-14 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2004-01-09 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Satoshi Honda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7412309B2 ## CPC - G01C 22/02: by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator {(G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence)} - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B60L 2200/12: Bikes - B60L 2250/16: by display - B60L 2270/34: of parts - B62K 2204/00: Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A dynamo-electric motor applies motive power to a drive wheel. A battery supplies electric power to the dynamo-electric motor with a driver for controlling the driving of the dynamo-electric motor. A battery control unit performs a control of charging and discharging of the battery. A speed meter displays predetermined information relating to a vehicle. In the electric vehicle including the elements described above, the battery control unit obtains the vehicle speed, the total travel distance, and the trip travel distance based on a vehicle speed pulse of the dynamo-electric motor detected by the driver, and displays information relating to the vehicle speed, the total travel distance, the trip travel distance and information relating to charging and discharging of the battery on a display unit using communication means. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electric vehicle comprising: a dynamo-electric motor for applying motive power to a drive wheel; a battery for supplying electric power to the dynamo-electric motor; a driver for performing drive control of the dynamo-electric motor; a single control unit for performing control relating to charging and discharging of the battery; and a display unit for displaying predetermined information relating to the vehicle, wherein the single control unit includes a speed pulse detector and a communication port, the communication port being directly connected to both the speed pulse detector and to the display unit, wherein the speed pulse detector obtains a vehicle speed, a total travel distance, and a trip travel distance based on a vehicle speed pulse of the dynamo-electric motor detected by the driver, and the communication port transmits information relating to the vehicle speed, the total travel distance, and the trip travel distance, and information relating to charging and discharging of the battery to the display unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit calculates a residual travel distance of the battery based on the vehicle speed pulse detected by the driver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the driver detects an abnormality, the driver changes a duly ratio of the vehicle speed pulse to a predetermined value and transmits the same to the control unit, and the control unit transmits the abnormality to the display unit via the communication port, the display unit including an alarm display unit for displaying the abnormality, wherein the abnormality is an amount of current flowing through the motor in excess of a predetermined value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the driver detects an abnormality, the driver changes a duty ratio of the vehicle speed pulse to a predetermined value and transmits the same to the control unit, and the control unit transmits the abnormality to the display unit via the communication port, the display unit including an alarm display unit for displaying the abnormality. wherein the abnormality is a temperature of the motor in excess of a predetermined value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is capable of displaying a history of usage of the battery so that an operator can confirm information relating to the history of the usage of the battery. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a memory for storing total travel distance and trip travel distance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a charger for rectifying and lowering a commercial power source to a prescribed voltage and allowing the current to flow into the battery and a DC-DC converter for converting a battery voltage from a high voltage for driving the dynamo-electric motor to a low voltage for supplying electricity to electric components on the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a reduction power transmitting system for transmitting output power from the dynamo-electric motor to the drive wheel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, and further including a regenerative charging mechanism operatively connected to said dynamo-electric motor for converting the rotational force transmitted from the drive wheel to the dynamo-electric motor when the speed is reduced into electric energy that is accumulated in the battery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a residual quantity of battery display for notifying an operator of the residual quantity of the battery by reducing a number of illuminated blocks as the residual quantity of the battery decreases. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is mounted above the driver and the motor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is viewable by a rider while operating the vehicle, and the control unit is mounted under a seat of the vehicle on which the rider sits while operating the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the driver and the motor are housed in a case that is swingably attached to a rear part of a frame of the vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is mounted on the vehicle separately from each of the driver, the motor, the battery, and the display unit. ### Claim 15 An electric vehicle comprising: a dynamo-electric motor for supplying rotation to a drive wheel; a battery for supplying electric power to the dynamo-electric motor; a driver for controlling the dynamo-electric motor; a single control unit having a speed pulse detector and communication means; and a display unit for displaying predetermined information, wherein the communication means of the single control unit is directly connected to both the speed pulse detector and to the display unit, wherein the speed pulse detector obtains a vehicle speed, a total travel distance, and a trip travel distance based on a vehicle speed pulse of the dynamo-electric motor detected by the driver and for controlling a charging and discharging of the battery, and the communication means communicates information relating to the vehicle speed, the total travel distance and the trip travel distance and information relating to the charging and discharging of the battery to the display unit for displaying the information relating to the vehicle speed, the total travel distance, and the trip travel distance, and information relating to charging and discharging of the battery on the display unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the control unit calculates a residual travel distance of the battery based on the vehicle speed pulse detected by the driver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electric vehicle according to claim 16, wherein when the driver detects an abnormality, the driver changes a duty ratio of the vehicle speed pulse to a predetermined value and transmits the same to the control unit, and the control unit transmits the abnormality to the display unit via the communication port, the display unit including an alarm display unit for displaying the abnormality, wherein the abnormality is a temperature of the motor in excess of a predetermined value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein when the driver detects an abnormality, the driver changes a duty ratio of the vehicle speed pulse to a predetermined value and transmits the same to the control unit, and the control unit transmits the abnormality to the display unit via the communication port, the display unit including an alarm display unit for displaying the abnormality. wherein the abnormality is an amount of current flowing through the motor in excess of a predetermined value. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the display unit is capable of displaying a history of usage of the battery so that an operator can confirm information relating to the history of the usage of the battery. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said control unit includes a memory for storing total travel distance and trip travel distance. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the control unit includes a charger for rectifying and lowering a commercial power source to a prescribed voltage and allowing the current to flow into the battery and a DC-DC converter for converting a battery voltage from a high voltage for driving the dynamo-electric motor to a low voltage for supplying electricity to electric components on the vehicle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle according to claim 15, and further including a reduction power transmitting system for transmitting output power from the dynamo-electric motor to the drive wheel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle according to claim 15, and further including a regenerative charging mechanism operatively connected to said dynamo-electric motor for converting the rotational force transmitted from the drive wheel to the dynamo-electric motor when the speed is reduced into electric energy that is accumulated in the battery. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the display unit includes a residual quantity of battery display for notifying an operator of the residual quantity of the battery by reducing a number of illuminated blocks as the residual quantity of the battery decreases.