JP2007145277A - Electric-assisted bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To memorize information that a certain assistance force is given to a women requiring an assistance force, a person having heavy weight and an elderly person, and increased traveling distance is given to powerful person requiring no such an assistance force on an electric-assisted bicycle as inherent information of a rider. <P>SOLUTION: Suitable assistance force is always given to the rider by inputting the inherent information of the rider such as sex, weight and age to a hand controller 16 placed at the hand of the rider before riding by a ten key or a card. Further, when the rider senses dissatisfaction on the assistance force, adjustment is performed by the hand controller 16, it is memorized and a rider mode after this is established. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for setting the assist force of an electrically assisted bicycle that has a human power drive unit and an electric drive unit including a motor and travels with assistance by an electric drive force corresponding to human power torque.

  Conventionally, this type of electrically assisted bicycle has a switch that allows a passenger to select the level of assist force while traveling manually (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

15 and 16 show a hand switch portion of a conventional electric assist bicycle described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. FIG. 15 is a handle 7 on which the hand switch 8 is installed, and FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the hand switch 8 that embodies the contents described in Patent Document 1. The assist switching unit 9 has two stages of “standard / power”. Is set.
JP-A-6-105413 JP-A-7-323880

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the ability to change the assist force arbitrarily means that not only the unnecessary assist force is used even in the middle class who does not feel the need for assist, but also the battery is depleted and the mileage is reduced. It will be shortened. Also, changing the setting of the assist force while looking at the hand switch while traveling is not preferable for safety, particularly for elderly people.

  Conventional electric assist bicycles give women who need assist power, heavy weight people, and elderly people with precise assist power, while older people who do not need assist power need more driving distance than assist power. There was a problem that it was not possible to cope with the increase.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is optimal for the difference in the individual ability of the rider who drives the electric assist bicycle by letting the electric assist bicycle remember the specific ability information before boarding. An object is to provide an electrically assisted bicycle that can give a strong assist force.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the electric assist bicycle of the present invention has a controller on the hand of the electric assist bicycle installed on the handle portion of the passenger's unique information, that is, gender, age, weight, etc., using a numeric keypad. By inputting and memorizing it, the optimum assisting force condition is always provided for the passenger.

  As a result, it is possible to give a precise assist force to women who need assist power, heavy weight people, and elderly people, and to make the mileage longer than the assist force for unnecessary elderly people. .

  The electric assist bicycle according to the present invention provides an electric bicycle that can obtain the optimum assist force for the passenger, which may cause unnecessary speeds depending on the user and shorten the travel distance. Can be prevented. Furthermore, instead of selecting (adjusting) the assist power every time a passenger uses an electrically assisted bicycle, the assist power required by gender, age, etc. is stored, reducing the troublesome setting changes. Can also help prevent bicycle accidents.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the electrically assisted bicycle, it is possible to obtain the optimum assisting force for the passenger by inputting information specific to the passenger, such as gender, age, and weight, to the controller at hand. A healthy elderly person (for example, a man in his twenties) has sufficient leg strength and does not feel as much pain as an elderly person even at the time of starting or climbing even though his assist power is small. Rather, by giving an unnecessarily large assist force, you can start abruptly, and during normal driving, adding a small amount of pedaling force will cause too much speed. On the other hand, middle-aged and elderly people tend to be afraid of acceleration due to the high assist force at the start, especially as they get older, because they have a high assist force. That is, a small assist force is set for the elderly person and a large assist force is set for the elderly person at the hand controller.

  The relationship between the treading force for women and men is the same, and as women tend to have a small treading force, a large assisting force is given to women and a small assisting force is set to men.

  Also, with regard to light weight, in general, heavier people have less physical strength, and there is even more handy in climbing, so the lower the weight, the lower the assist power, and the heavier the assist power is set larger To do.

  As described above, by making the bicycle remember the correlation of sex, age, weight, and the optimal assist rate for it, it is possible to make an electric assist bicycle easy to use for all.

  This not only extends the battery life by not giving unnecessary assist force as a result, but also eliminates the need to frequently set the assist force during driving, leading to improved safety. Become.

  In the second invention, in particular, by storing the information input unique to the passenger of the first invention in the nonvolatile memory only for the first time, it is possible to eliminate the troublesome input for each boarding. If you do not want to use the input mode, you can cancel it at any time and return to the standard mode.

  The third invention has general versatility by inputting the unique information of the first invention with the numeric keypad on the hand controller, and anyone can perform the input operation. Furthermore, by increasing the keys for different persons, it becomes possible to input information for a plurality of persons. In addition, when a release switch (clear switch) is set and the assist force is dissatisfied, the mode returns to the standard mode in which nothing is set.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, by providing a magnetic card insertion slot in the hand controller of the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to reduce the troublesome operation at the time of input and to easily input the unique information.

  For easy input of unique information, an IC tag or a mobile phone can be assumed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the display section of the hand controller is a liquid crystal screen, so that the input state can be determined when the unique information is input, and information on the electric bicycle, for example, the remaining battery level and assist power, can be determined during normal use after installation. By representing the degree of occurrence, it is possible to ask the passenger for an accurate situation judgment.

  The sixth aspect of the invention aims to change the assist rate according to the passenger's preference rather than seeking efficiency in driving and facilitation of driving.

  The A mode is a so-called sports mode, and “the assist force is increased when the pedal force is small and the assist force is decreased when the pedal force is large” means that the speed is easily increased in normal driving, and the pedal force is rather high in the uphill. Need. In other words, you can get a sense of speed and become a training machine that trains your legs.

  On the contrary, the B mode is a walk mode. “When the pedal force is small, the assist force is small, and when the pedal force is large, the assist force is large” is based on the assumption that you run slowly. This is a walking pattern.

  This is an electrically assisted bicycle that allows the A and B preference modes to be selected in the controller at hand.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this Example.

Example 1
FIG. 1 shows an external view from the rear of an electrically assisted bicycle in the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of the present invention.

  1 and 2, a drive unit 2 including a battery 6 and a control circuit 14 (hidden on the back surface of the chain case 3 in FIG. 1) is added to the bicycle to constitute an electrically assisted bicycle. By pedaling the crank 1, the pedaling force is transmitted to the torque sensor 13 via the crankshaft 10 and the drive unit 11 inside the drive unit 2. The change in the pedaling force is transmitted by changing the signal from the torque sensor 13 and controlling the current value from the control circuit 14 to the motor 17. The rotational speed of the motor 17 is decelerated by the speed reducer 12 and given to the bicycle as an assist force.

  The operation of the electrically assisted bicycle configured as described above will be described below.

  The assist rate is expressed as assist rate = assisting power / stepping force, and the maximum value is currently regulated to 1 or less.

  In addition, the assist rate is 1 or less until the speed of the electrically assisted bicycle is 15 km / h. If the speed is 15 to 24 km / h, the assist force is reduced in proportion to the speed, and the assist force is required to be zero at 24 km / h. It has been. The thick solid line 18a in the bicycle speed-assist rate correlation diagram of FIG. 3 is the maximum value, and in the present invention, various assist rates are provided according to the specific information of the passenger within the range up to the maximum value, and optimum by input of information. The assist rate is provided. A thick dotted line 18c represents an assist rate of 0.5 (15 km / h or less), and is arbitrarily set between 1.0 and 0.5 as indicated by 18b.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a correlation diagram of the assist rate and the distance that the vehicle can travel while receiving assistance. If there is a battery capacity that can travel 50 km when the assist rate is 1, the assist rate is 0.5, which is doubled to 100 km. Unless the unnecessary assist force is given, the travel distance will be extended.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the correlation between the passenger specific information and the assist rate in the electrically assisted bicycle of the present invention. Men have greater pedaling force, and the younger the age, the greater the pedaling force. On the contrary, women's pedaling force is small, and it becomes more remarkable as they get older. In other words, it provides a high level of assisting power to women with weak treading force, and even elderly people, and to prosperous men who do not feel fatigue, rather than extending unnecessary driving power.

  For passengers with heavy weight, it is possible to perform easier cycling by increasing the assist rate.

  Further, when the legal regulation of the assist rate is changed in the future, for example, when assist power / stepping force = 3 is recognized, the assist rate mode shown in the passenger specific information-assist rate correlation diagram of FIG. There can be another way of thinking. For example, a new way of thinking is to provide another mode for young men to increase the assist rate and make it easier to speed up.

(Example 2)
FIG. 6 is a basic configuration diagram of an electrically assisted bicycle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. A non-volatile memory 15 is provided in the control circuit 14, and the input from the local controller 16 is stored in the memory, and is stored in a single setting, so that an optimal assist rate can always be obtained for subsequent use. I can do it. In addition, when it is desired to cancel the set value input from the local controller 16, it can be returned to the standard mode by pressing a clear button (not shown). Even in that case, when the use is stopped by turning off the power, the setting mode is restored again at the next boarding (hereinafter, the same method as described in the first embodiment).

(Example 3)
7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining the concept of the hand controller of the electrically assisted bicycle according to the third embodiment of the present invention. When the power button 20 of the hand controller 16 is pressed, a male and female illustration 22a appears, and a blinking display 23 is displayed on the male side. In the case of YES, the determination button 27 that is an input unit is pressed, and in the case of NO, the right button 25 that is another input unit is pressed to move the blinking display 23 to the female side. Then, the determination button 27 as another input unit is pressed.

  Next, the age mode 22b appears, and the same operation is repeated here. The same applies to the next weight mode 22c. By repeating this, the numerical value of the assist rate described in the table of the passenger specific information-assist rate correlation diagram of FIG. 5 can be obtained. Even after the setting is completed, the assist mode 1 can be returned to the normal mode by pressing the clear button 26 shown in FIG.

Example 4
FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a card-type hand controller of an electrically assisted bicycle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The card-type hand controller 30 is provided with an insertion port 32 for inserting a magnetic storage card 31, and the contents of the first and second embodiments are performed using a magnetic card system.

  By using the magnetic card system, it is freed from the trouble of inputting unique information.

  If the form of the assist rate simple setting diagram of the magnetic card method as shown in FIG. 10 in which the table of the passenger specific information-assist rate correlation diagram shown in FIG. 5 is simplified, the number of cards is 2 types of sex × age. It will be possible to handle with 4 kinds of 2 sheets.

(Example 5)
The hand controller 16 in FIG. 7 not only visually recognizes the input state when inputting the passenger's unique information described in the third embodiment, but also returns to the battery / power mode during normal use, The current state of the assist rate is displayed visually, the remaining battery level is a guide for the charging time, and the power status display can be freely adjusted with buttons 24 and 25 when it is desired to change the assist rate arbitrarily.

  The hand controller 16 has occupant selection buttons 28 and 29, and can input a plurality of persons. For example, a mark “1” appears in the upper left of the illustration 22a shown in FIG. 8A. This is a state in which the passenger selection button 28 designated “1” is turned on.

(Example 6)
FIG. 11 is a correlation diagram between the pedal effort (kg) and the assist rate in the sport mode based on the passenger preference selection in the electrically assisted bicycle according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Generally, a pedaling force of 9 kg or less is felt to be “easy”, which is a state of running on a flat ground. A pedaling force of 13 kg or more is felt “tight”, and this is the case when climbing a hill. In the sport mode, in the case of running on a flat ground, the assist force is boosted to increase the speed, and on the slope, the assist force is lowered so that the leg force is required to be in the training state.

  FIG. 12 shows a walk mode, where the flat ground is a moderately slow run, and the slope is an easy run mode where you can take a leisurely walk.

  FIG. 13 is an enlarged view in which a sport mode button 33 and a sanpo mode button 34 are added to the hand controller 16a of FIG. When the sports mode button 33 is turned on, the display is switched to the sports display 22d shown in FIG. 14 (a). In this state, the assist rate changes as shown in FIG. 11, so that this change can be displayed visually. . Similarly, when the sanpo mode button 34 is turned on, the display is switched to the sanpo display 22e shown in FIG.

  As described above, the electrically assisted bicycle according to the present invention allows the rider's unique information to be input from the hand controller, so that the ride quality of the electrically assisted bicycle can be optimized for the passenger. It can be applied to devices that require assist power, such as electric wheelchairs and collection wagons.

Rear view of electrically assisted bicycle in one embodiment of the present invention 1 is an overall basic configuration diagram of an electrically assisted bicycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Bicycle speed-assist rate correlation diagram in one embodiment of the present invention Travel distance-assist rate correlation diagram in one embodiment of the present invention Passenger specific information-Assist rate correlation diagram in another embodiment of the present invention The whole basic block diagram of the electric assist bicycle in other examples of the present invention Enlarged view of a hand controller of an electrically assisted bicycle in another embodiment of the present invention (A) is an enlarged view of a hand controller visual portion of a power assisted bicycle according to another embodiment of the present invention, (b) is an enlarged view of a hand controller visual portion of a power assisted bicycle according to another embodiment, and (c) is also modified. Enlarged view of the hand controller visual part of the electric assist bicycle according to another embodiment An enlarged perspective view of a hand controller of a power-assisted bicycle according to another embodiment of the present invention. Assist rate simple setting diagram in magnetic card system in another embodiment of the present invention Correlation diagram between pedal effort and assist rate in sport mode of another embodiment of the present invention Correlation diagram of pedal effort and assist rate in the sanpo mode of another embodiment of the present invention Enlarged view of a hand controller of an electric assist bicycle according to another embodiment of the present invention. Enlarged view of the hand controller visual portion of the electric assist bicycle according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hand switch installation diagram of conventional electric assist bicycle Enlarged view of the hand switch of a conventional electric assist bicycle

Explanation of symbols

2 Drive unit 6 Battery 8 Hand switch 13 Torque sensor 14 Control circuit 15 Non-volatile memory 16 Hand controller 17 Motor 22a-22e Hand controller visual section 23 Flashing display 30 Card type hand controller

Claims (6)

A torque detection unit that has a human power drive unit that is driven by human power and an electric drive unit that is driven by a motor, detects a human torque, and a control circuit that outputs a motor drive signal based on a signal of the torque detection unit A hand controller coupled to the control circuit, and a motor that assists a plurality of human torques stored in the control circuit by inputting specific information including the gender and age of the passenger to the hand controller An electrically assisted bicycle characterized by selecting an optimal assist ratio from the torque assist ratio. The input unique information is stored in a non-volatile memory in the control circuit, and returns to the standard mode when the setting is canceled by a predetermined operation, and further returns to the initially set mode at the next boarding. The electrically assisted bicycle according to claim 1. 2. The electrically assisted bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the input of the passenger's unique information for obtaining the optimum assist rate is performed by an input unit installed in the hand switch, and the input can be arbitrarily canceled at any time. 2. The electric assist according to claim 1, wherein the entry of the unique information of the passenger for obtaining the optimum assist rate is performed by inserting a card in which the unique information of the passenger is magnetically stored in advance. bicycle. 2. The electric assist bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the display unit of the hand switch is a liquid crystal screen, and information related to the control circuit unit is displayed during normal use. Depending on the passenger's use, the assist force is large when the pedal force is small, the assist mode is small when the pedal force is large, and the assist force is large when the pedal force is large, and the assist force is small when the pedal force is small. The electrically assisted bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the B mode can be switched.

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