Braking Device for a Bicycle and Braking System for a Bicycle

Abstract

A bicycle braking system includes a server, a portable device such as a smartphone, a display unit, a control unit, a power supply unit, a rotating electrical machine, and a bicycle. The portable device includes an image display unit, a braking condition transmitting unit, and a braking condition setting unit. The control unit regeneratively brakes the bicycle using the rotating electrical machine in accordance with the braking condition set by the braking condition setting unit. The braking system enables a non-user to set braking conditions for the bicycle and to perform braking based on the conditions set by the non-user.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. A braking device for a bicycle comprising: a braking unit which brakes a wheel of the bicycle; and a control unit which operates the braking unit based on a braking condition which is set outside of the bicycle to brake the wheel of the bicycle without hard braking.

7. A braking device for a bicycle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control unit includes a communication unit which transmits a traveling state of the bicycle when the braking unit is braking according to the set braking condition to outside of the bicycle.

8. A braking device for a bicycle as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a position information identification unit which specifies the position of the bicycle, wherein the braking condition includes position information concerning the bicycle, and the control unit performs braking when the bicycle is at a predetermined position.

9. A braking device for a bicycle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the braking unit is a rotating electrical machine which performs regenerative braking, and the control unit performs regenerative control of the rotating electrical machine.

10. A bicycle braking system comprising: a braking unit which brakes a wheel of the bicycle; a braking condition setting unit which sets a braking condition of the bicycle; a control unit which receives the braking condition and controls the braking unit according to the braking condition; and a communication unit which transmits the traveling state of the bicycle when the braking unit brakes the bicycle according to the braking condition to a server.

11. A bicycle control method comprising: setting a braking condition for a bicycle using an electronic device, the braking condition specifying a maximum speed of the bicycle at a class of physical locations; determining the current location and speed of the bicycle; comparing the determined position of the bicycle with map data to determine if the current location of the bicycle corresponds to the class of locations specified by the braking condition and comparing the speed of the bicycle with the maximum speed specified by the braking condition; and controlling a braking unit of the bicycle with a control unit on the bicycle to brake the bicycle to a speed no greater than the maximum speed specified by the braking condition when the comparison with the map data determines that the current location of the bicycle corresponds to class of physical locations specified by the braking condition and the speed of the bicycle is greater than the maximum speed specified by the braking condition.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 including wirelessly transmitting the braking condition to the control unit on the bicycle, wherein the control unit preforms the comparison of the determined position of the bicycle with map data and performs the comparison of the speed of the bicycle with the maximum speed specified by the braking condition.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 including wirelessly transmitting the braking condition to a server, wherein the server preforms the comparison of the determined position of the bicycle with map data and performs the comparison of the speed of the bicycle with the maximum speed specified by the braking condition and wirelessly transmits a signal to the control unit on the bicycle to control the braking unit of the bicycle.

14. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the class of physical locations is selected from intersections, sidewalks, and roadways.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the electronic device is a portable electronic device located off of the bicycle, and the braking condition is set by a non-user of the bicycle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a braking system for a bicycle according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram of the display state of a portable device.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the control unit during a braking condition.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015] Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, a bicycle braking system 2 includes a server 4, a portable device 6, a display unit 7, a control unit 8, a power supply unit 9, a rotating electrical machine 10, and a bicycle 12.

[0017] The server 4 functionally includes an information receiving unit 42. The server 4 can be configured by any of hardware, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and software. For example, when the server 4 is configured by software, the information receiving unit 42 is configured to include a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM. The information receiving unit 42 is realized by operating a program which is stored in a recording medium such as a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, or a semiconductor memory.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the portable device 6 includes an image display unit 62, a braking condition transmitting unit 63, a braking condition setting unit 65, and a wireless communication unit 67. The portable device 6 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I/O interface and a GPS (Global Positioning System), and a wireless communication device such as a 3G or Bluetooth device (registered trademark). It controls each part by software. The portable device 6 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal, or the like. In the present embodiment, the portable device 6 is a smartphone and is assumed to be possessed by a third party such as a guardian of the user of the bicycle 12.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, an application according to this embodiment of the present invention is stored in the ROM of the portable device 6. When the application is started, a screen on which a braking condition to be applied to the bicycle 12 can be entered is displayed on the image display unit 62. According to this embodiment of the present invention, for example, an icon 64 meaning that the speed of the bicycle 12 will be limited to 3 km/h or less in the vicinity of intersections, an icon 66 meaning that the speed of the bicycle 12 will be limited to 5 km/h or less on sidewalks, and an icon 68 meaning that the speed of the bicycle 12 will be limited to 10 km/h or less on roadways are displayed. When the user's guardian touches one of the icons, the braking condition is recorded in the braking condition setting unit 65 (see FIG. 2) and is transmitted from the braking condition transmitting unit 63 (see FIG. 2) to the control unit 8 via the wireless communication unit 67.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the bicycle 12 includes a front wheel 122, a rear wheel 124, a frame 126, a handlebar 128, and a drive mechanism 130. The bicycle 12 is an ordinary bicycle, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the display unit 7 is removably provided on the handlebar 128. As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 7 includes a liquid crystal display unit 72 and a power switch 74. The liquid crystal display unit 72 displays, for example, the speed of the bicycle 12. When the power switch 74 is pressed, the control unit 8 is activated.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 8 is attached to the bicycle frame 126. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 8 includes a communication unit 82, a GPS (Global Positioning System) 84 which is a position information specifying unit, a storage unit 86, a calculation unit 88, and a motor driver 90. The control unit 8 includes a microcomputer including CPUs, RAMs, ROMs, and I/O interfaces, and wireless communication devices such as a 3G or Bluetooth device. It controls the respective units by software. The control unit 8 is electrically connected to the display unit 7, the power supply unit 9, a rotating electrical machine 10 which will be described below, and a rotation sensor 101 attached to the rotating electrical machine 10.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, when the communication unit 82 receives a braking condition from the braking condition transmitting unit 63, the communication unit 82 stores the braking condition in the storage unit 86. In addition, the position and speed of the bicycle 12 when braking is started by the rotating electrical machine 10 are acquired from the calculation unit 88 and the position information specifying unit 84 and are transmitted to the server 4. The position information specifying unit 84 specifies the position of the bicycle 12, and collates information such as intersection, walkway, and roadway included in the braking condition with the map data stored in the storage unit 86. The calculation unit 88 receives the result of collation from the position information specifying unit 84, calculates an appropriate rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine 10, converts the rotational speed to a control signal, and transmits the control signal to the motor driver 90. The motor driver 90 controls the rotating electrical machine 10 at the speed calculated by the calculation unit 88. Namely, when the speed of the bicycle 12 is faster than the braking condition transmitted from the braking condition transmitting unit 63, the calculation unit 88 calculates the speed to which to decelerate in accordance with the braking condition and transmits the calculated speed, which is converted into a control signal, to the motor driver 90. The motor driver 90 regenerates and brakes the rotating electrical machine 10 to decelerate the rotational speed.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply unit 9 is detachably attached to the frame 126. The power supply unit 9 includes one or a plurality of battery cells (not shown). The power supply unit 9 is a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery. As shown in FIG. 2, the power supply unit 9 is electrically connected to the rotating electrical machine 10 via the motor driver 90 and stores electric power generated by regeneration of the rotating electrical machine 10.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating electrical machine 10 (braking unit) is an in-wheel motor having a brushless DC motor (not shown) provided on a shaft portion of the front wheel 122. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating electrical machine 10 includes a rotation sensor 101. The rotation sensor 101 is a Hall sensor composed of a Hall element. The rotation sensor 101 transmits the rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine 10 to the calculation unit 88 via the motor driver 90. The calculation unit 88 calculates the speed of the bicycle 12 from the rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine 10 and displays the calculated speed on the display unit 7. The rotating electrical machine 10 performs power running or regeneration in response to an instruction from the motor driver 90. Namely, when the speed of the bicycle 12 is higher than the braking condition transmitted from the braking condition transmitting unit 63, the rotating electrical machine 10 performs regeneration to decelerate the rotational speed. Therefore, the rotating electrical machine 10 serves as a braking portion.

[0026] Next, an example of the processing performed by the control unit 8 during braking control will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The control unit 8 starts a control operation when the power switch 74 is pressed. Here, the situation will be described in which the braking condition setting unit 65 sets the condition that the speed of the bicycle 12 will be limited to 3 km/h or less in the vicinity of intersections.

[0027] In step S1, the position information specifying unit 84 in the control unit 8 identifies the position of the bicycle 12 based on the condition set by the braking condition setting unit 65 and collates the position with the map information stored in the storage unit 86.

[0028] In step S2, the control unit 8 judges whether the bicycle 12 is in the vicinity of an intersection by collating with the map. When the bicycle 12 is in the vicinity of an intersection (S2=YES), the control unit 8 proceeds from step S2 to step S3. When the bicycle 12 is not in the vicinity of an intersection (S2=NO), the control unit 8 proceeds from step S2 to step S1.

[0029] In step S3, the control unit 8 judges whether the speed of the bicycle 12 is equal to or higher than the speed set by the braking condition setting unit 65. In the present embodiment, since the predetermined value is 3 km/h, if the speed of the bicycle 12 is 3 km/h or more (S3=YES), the control unit 8 proceeds from step S4 to step S4. On the other hand, if the speed of the bicycle 12 is lower than 3 km/h (S3=NO), the control unit 8 proceeds to step S1.

[0030] In step S4, in order to brake the rotating electrical machine 10 regeneratively, the control unit 8 transmits the rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine 10 to the motor driver 90 by converting the rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine 10 to a control signal. In step S5, the control unit 8 transmits the speed and position of the bicycle 12 to the server 4 via the communication unit 82 and proceeds to step S6.

[0031] In step S6, as a result of braking the rotating electrical machine 10 regeneratively, if the speed of the bicycle 12 has become equal to or lower than a predetermined value (S6=YES), the control unit 8 proceeds to step S1. In the present embodiment, when the speed of the bicycle 12 has become 3 km/h or less, the control unit 8 proceeds to step S1. On the other hand, if the speed of the bicycle 12 is higher than the predetermined speed in step S6 (S6=NO), the control unit 8 repeats the process of step S4 to continue regenerative braking. In the present embodiment, when the speed of the bicycle 12 is higher than 3 km/h, the control unit 8 repeats the process of step S4 to continue regenerative braking.

[0032] In the case where the braking condition setting unit 65 is set to the speed of the bicycle 12 will be limited to 5 km/h or less on sidewalks or the speed of the bicycle 12 will be limited to 10 km/h or less on roadways, the process proceeds in the same manner as in the above-described steps.

[0033] In this manner, since the control unit 8 controls the rotating electrical machine 10 based on the braking condition set by the portable device 6, for example, the guardian of the user of the bicycle 12 can operate the bicycle 12 under the braking condition set by the portable device 6. Thus, for example, the speed of the bicycle 12 at intersections can be automatically reduced. As a result, for example, the guardian of the user of the bicycle, such as a young person, can set the braking condition and operate the bicycle based on the braking condition. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an accident by operating the bicycle at a safe speed.

[0034] When regenerative braking occurs in the rotating electrical machine 10 based on the braking condition, the control unit 8 sends information concerning the speed and the position of the bicycle 12 to the server 4. As a result, information such as a place where the speed of the bicycle 12 is too high is accumulated in the information receiving unit of the server 4. As a result, data for ascertaining dangerous points such as intersections, sidewalks, and roadways can be accumulated. The data can also be used to calculate an insurance premium rate for a bicycle when, for example, the server 4 is a server of an insurance company.

[0035] Furthermore, since the rotating electrical machine 10 is used as the braking unit, the motor driver 90 can control rapid braking such that the front wheel 122 locks. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from falling.

Other Embodiments

[0036] (a) In the above embodiment, intersections, sidewalks, and roadways were given as examples, but the present invention is not limited to this mode, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. In particular, a plurality of embodiments and variations described in this specification can be freely combined as necessary.

[0037] (b) In the above embodiment, the rotating electrical machine 10 is used as a braking unit, but a hydraulic disc brake, for example, may be used. In this case, the hydraulic pressure which is supplied to the braking unit is controlled by the control unit.

[0038] (c) In the above embodiment, the speed of the bicycle 12 is displayed on the display unit 72, but the present invention is not limited to this mode, and, for example, the fact that braking is taking place according to the braking condition may be displayed.

[0039] (d) In the above embodiment, the storage unit 86 and the calculation unit 88 are provided in the control unit 8, but the storage unit 86 and the calculation unit 88 may be provided in the server 4. Namely, in the above embodiment, the control unit 8 performs the processes from collation with the map information to conversion into a control signal, but these processes may be performed by the server 4. In order to perform the processes from collation with the map information to conversion into a control signal on the server 4, the braking condition is transmitted from the portable device 6 to the server 4, the position information of the bicycle 12 is transmitted from the control unit 8 to the server 4, and the control signal is transmitted from the server 4 to the control unit 8. This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the control unit 8.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0040] 2: Bicycle braking system [0041] 4: Server [0042] 8: Control unit [0043] 10: Rotating electrical machine [0044] 12: Bicycle [0045] 65: Braking condition setting unit [0046] 82: Communication unit [0047] 84: Position information specifying unit