Electric bike optical shift detection and control

1. A product for use with an electric cycle comprising:

a cable connected in the electric cycle, the cable controlling an operating function of the electric cycle; and a cable movement detector positioned proximate the cable;

wherein a movement of the cable is detected by the cable movement detector, wherein the cable movement detector generates a signal from the movement, the signal used to affect the operating function

wherein the operating function is a gear shift,

further comprising a motor-generator unit configured to provide a driving torque to the electric cycle, wherein the driving torque is removed when the cable movement detector detects the movement of the cable to shift to a target gear, wherein the target gear has a preferred output speed of the motor-generator unit, and wherein an operating speed of the motor-generator unit is matched to the preferred output speed for the target gear when the driving torque is removed.

2. The product according to claim 1 wherein the cable movement detector comprises a light source that is directed at the cable and a light detector positioned to receive a reflection of the light source off the cable.

3. The product according to claim 2 further comprising a digital signal processor receiving a signal from the light detector, wherein the digital signal processor determines a magnitude of the movement from the signal.

4. The product according to claim 1 wherein the cable has an outer surface with a feature that is sensed by the cable movement detector.

5. The product according to claim 1 wherein the light source is directed at the cable at an angle.

6. The product according to claim 1 wherein the cable passes through the cable movement detector.

7. The product according to claim 1 wherein the cable has a bare segment within the cable movement detector.

8. The product according to claim 1 wherein the operating function is a gear shift.

9. A method of operating an electric cycle that includes a motor-generator unit for propelling the electric cycle, a variable gear unit that has a shift lever connected with the variable gear unit through a first cable, and a brake that has a brake lever connected with the brake through a second cable, the method comprising:

providing a cable movement detector in proximity to at least one of the first and second cables;

determining an amount of movement of the at least one of the first and second cables; and

controlling the motor-generator unit in response to the amount of movement,

further comprising the steps of removing a torque delivered by the motor-generator unit based on the amount of movement, determining a target speed of the motor-generator unit, and controlling the motor-generator unit to match the target speed.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of determining a target gear of the variable gear unit based on the amount of movement; determining an amount of time based on the target gear; and removing the torque for the amount of time.

11. A product for use with an electric cycle comprising:

a cable connected in the electric cycle, the cable controlling an operating function of the electric cycle; and a cable movement detector positioned proximate the cable;

wherein a movement of the cable is detected by the cable movement detector, wherein the cable movement detector generates a signal from the movement, the signal used to affect the operating function,

the cable having a feature comprising a pattern on an outer surface of the cable, and wherein the cable movement detector optically detects movement of the feature; and

further comprising a motor-generator unit configured to provide a driving torque to the electric cycle, wherein the driving torque is removed when the cable movement detector detects the movement of the cable to shift to a target gear, wherein the target gear has a preferred output speed of the motor-generator unit, and wherein an operating speed of the motor-generator unit is matched to the preferred output speed for the target gear when the driving torque is removed.

12. A product as set forth in claim 11 wherein the pattern being printed on the outer surface of the cable.

13. A product as set forth in claim 11 wherein the pattern formed as a result of construction such as by joining a plurality of twisted or braided strands to form the cable.

14. A product as set forth in claim 11 wherein the pattern comprises a randomly textured surface pattern on an outer surface of the cable.