Abstract:
An electric powered vehicle, including: a frame that supports a rider; a first wheel coupled to the frame; a second wheel coupled to the frame; pedals coupled to the frame, the pedals adapted to drive at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel; an electric motor coupled to at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel; a battery that supplies electrical power to the electric motor; a physiological sensor that detects at least one physiological parameter of the rider; and a controller that regulates operation of the electric motor based on the at least one physiological parameter of the rider.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This patent application relates generally to motorized vehicles, such as scooters, electric bicycles, and mopeds. More specifically, this patent application relates to an electric bicycle that has a built in trainer mode. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings, wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative perspective view of an electric bicycle according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative perspective view of an electric bicycle according to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative block diagram of a controller, physiological sensor, electric motor, and other components of an electric bicycle according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other equivalent parts can be employed and other methods developed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference as if each had been individually incorporated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative embodiment of a motorized vehicle according to the present invention is shown. The motorized vehicle can comprise an electric bicycle, scooter, moped, or other type of vehicle driven by human and/or motorized propulsion. For the sake of simplicity, and without limiting the scope of the present patent application, the motorized vehicle will be described in connection with an electric bicycle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bicycle  100  can generally include a frame  102 , a front wheel  104  supported by the frame  102 , for example, using a front fork  106 , and a rear wheel  108  supported by the frame  102 . The bicycle  100  can further include handlebars  110  coupled to the front wheel  104 , for example, through the front fork  106 , to provide steering of the front wheel  104 . Additionally, the bicycle  100  can include a seat  112  to support the rider. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the bicycle  100  can also include a crank  114  with pedals  116 , which can be turned by the rider to turn the rear wheel  108 , for example, through a belt  118 , chain, or other power transmission device. In addition, the bicycle  100  can include an electric motor  120  located in the hub of the rear wheel  108 , and/or an electric motor  122  located in the hub of the front wheel  104 . The bicycle  100  can further include a power source, such as a battery  124 , and a controller  126 , that delivers electric power from the battery  124  to the electric motor  120  and/or electric motor  122 . According to an illustrative embodiment, the front and/or rear motors  122 ,  120  can comprise brushless motors, however, other types of motors are possible. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an alternative embodiment of a bicycle according to the present invention is shown. According to this illustrative embodiment, the bicycle  200  can generally include a frame  202 , a front wheel  204  supported by the frame  202 , for example, using a front fork  206 , and a rear wheel  208  supported by the frame  202 . The bicycle  200  can further include handlebars  210  coupled to the front wheel  204 , for example, through the front fork  206 , to provide steering of the front wheel  204 . Additionally, the bicycle  200  can include a seat  212  to support the rider. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the bicycle  200  can also include a crank  214  with pedals  216 , which can be turned by the rider to turn the rear wheel  208 , for example, through a belt  218 , chain, or other power transmission device. In addition, the bicycle  200  can include an electric motor (hidden from view) mid-mounted on the frame  202 , for example, in a gearbox  230 . The gearbox  230  can distribute power from the electric motor and the crank  214  to the rear wheel  208 , for example, through the belt  218 , chain, or other power transmission device. The bicycle  200  can further include a controller and a battery (both hidden from view) that provide power to the motor, in order to drive the rear wheel  208 . 
     The bicycles  100 ,  200  can each include a controller  126 ,  226 , depicted in  FIG. 3 . The controller  126 ,  226  can regulate the operation of the electric motors  120 ,  122 , and/or  220 , for example, by increasing the electrical energy provided to the motors  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  by the respective battery. 
     According to an illustrative embodiment, the controller  126 ,  226  can regulate the motors  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  based on at least one physiological parameter of the rider, such as heart rate. Accordingly, the bicycles  100 ,  200  can operate in conjunction with a sensor  300  that detects the physiological parameter, and communicates it to the controller  126 ,  226 , for example, wirelessly. According to an illustrative embodiment, the sensor  300  can comprise a heart rate monitor, which may be located, for example, in the grips of the bicycle  100 ,  200 , in a chest strap to be worn by the rider, and/on in one or more gloves to be worn by the rider. According to an illustrative embodiment, the heart rate monitor can be located in a glove, which communicates with the controller  126 ,  226  via a bicycle grip, for example, through contact with the grip, or through wireless transmission. 
     According to an illustrative embodiment, the controller  126 ,  226  can activate electric motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or increase output from motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220 ) only when the rider&#39;s heart rate meets or exceeds a predetermined upper level. As a result, the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  can selectively assist the rider in order to maintain their heart rate at or below a predetermined upper level. For example, the predetermined upper level can be 85% of the rider&#39;s maximum heart rate. As an example, the predetermined upper level can be determined by the following equation:
 
Predetermined Upper Level=0.85*(220−Rider&#39;s Age)
 
     By selectively engaging the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  to assist the rider only when their heart rate meets or exceeds the predetermined upper level, the bicycle  100 ,  200  can ensure that the rider obtains an effective workout, while maintaining their heart rate at or below a safe level. 
     According to an additional or alternative aspect of the invention, the controller  126 ,  226  can engage the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or alternatively a dynamo associated with the crank  114 ,  214 ) to resist pedal movement in order to maintain the rider&#39;s heart rate above a predetermined lower level. This may be helpful, for example, when riding on flat terrain, where it is not as easy for the rider to elevate their heart rate. By engaging the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or a separate dynamo) to provide resistance against the rider&#39;s pedal strokes, the controller  126 ,  226  can maintain the rider&#39;s heart rate above a predetermined lower level. According to an illustrative embodiment, the predetermined lower level can be determined by the following equation:
 
Predetermined Lower Level=0.50*(220−Rider&#39;s Age)
 
     The controller  126 ,  226  can selectively engage the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  to assist or resist the rider&#39;s pedal movement in order to maintain their detected heart rate between the predetermined upper level and the predetermined lower level. 
     When the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or a separate dynamo) is being used to resist pedal movement, the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or the separate dynamo) can operate to charge the bicycle&#39;s battery. In this case, a capacitor, resistor, light, or other component can be connected with the battery to prevent it from overcharging. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the bicycles  100 ,  200  can further include a control panel  302  in communication with the controller  300 . The control panel  302  can display information, such as the amount of calories burned, current speed, average speed, current heart rate, average heart rate, and/or distance travelled. In addition, the control panel  302  can include one or more buttons to select different exercise programs (such as a cardio program or a fat burner program), which may, for example, adjust the upper and/or lower predetermined levels. Additionally, the control panel  302  can include a button to manually override the controller  126 ,  226 , such that the bicycle operates in fully manual (non-assisted) mode. 
     According to another illustrative aspect of the invention, in certain circumstances, the controller  126 ,  226  can cause the motors  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or a separate dynamo) to convert the rider&#39;s movement of the crank  114 ,  214 , or to convert movement of the front or rear wheel, into electrical energy to charge the battery. According to an illustrative embodiment, the bicycle  100 ,  200  may have a set maximum speed which it cannot exceed, for example, in order to comply with state or federal regulations. When the bicycle  100 ,  200  reaches the set maximum speed, the controller  126 ,  226  can trigger the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or a separate dynamo) to resist turning of the front and/or rear wheels, thereby maintaining the bicycle  100 ,  200  at or below the set maximum speed. In this instance, the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or a separate dynamo) can re-charge the battery, for example, using regenerative braking. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the motor  120 ,  122 , and/or  220  (or a separate dynamo) can convert pedal power into electrical power to charge the battery (instead of propelling the bicycle  100 ,  200  forward) when the bicycle  100 ,  200  reaches the set maximum speed. Thus, the user may continue to pedal once the bicycle  100 ,  200  reaches the set maximum speed, without exceeding the set maximum speed. Instead, at that point, the user&#39;s pedaling motion is used to recharge the battery. In the instance where a separate dynamo is coupled to the crank  114 ,  214 , the dynamo and crank  114 ,  214  can be connected together, for example, using a belt, chain, gearbox, or other power transmission system known in the art. 
     The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.