Interface for electric assist bicycle
An e-bike interface is a hybrid wired/wireless e-bike control system that integrates wireless bicycle components into operation of an e-bike. The e-bike interface provides a frame-mounted control and display that is wired to, for example, an assist motor and a battery, and provides a wireless communication bridge between wireless bicycle components and corresponding wireless controls located on a handlebar.
1. An interface comprising:
a housing attachable to a first frame part of a bicycle having an e-bike motor system;
a processor supported by the housing;
a first communication interface and a second communication interface in communication with the processor, wherein the first communication interface is a wired communication interface, and the second communication interface is a wireless communication interface; and
an input in communication with the processor and supported by the housing, the input being configured to generate a first control signal based on a first user input,
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a second control signal via the second communication interface, the second control signal being generated by a control device attached to a second frame part of the bicycle based on a second user input; and
control the e-bike motor system via the first communication interface, based on the first control signal and the received second control signal, the first control signal and the second control signal causing the e-bike motor system to perform different operations.
2. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the first frame part is a top tube of the bicycle, and the second frame part is a handlebar of the bicycle.
3. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the input is a physical user interface.
4. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive data representing characteristics related to the e-bike motor system from the e-bike motor system via the first communication interface.
5. The interface of claim 4 , further comprising an output in communication with the processor, wherein the output is configured to output a representation of at least one of the characteristics related to the e-bike motor system.
6. The interface of claim 5 , wherein the output is a display supported by the housing, and
wherein the display is configured to display the representation of the at least one characteristic related to the e-bike motor system.
7. The interface of claim 6 , further comprising an ambient light sensor configured to determine an amount of ambient light in an environment in which the interface is disposed,
wherein the processor is configured to change a brightness of the display based on the determined amount of ambient light in the environment.
8. The interface of claim 6 , wherein the e-bike motor system includes a drive motor and a battery, and
wherein the characteristic displayed related to the e-bike motor system include battery power, a time to complete a charge, a charge rate, a percent state of charge, a system warning or error message, or any combination thereof.
9. The interface of claim 8 , wherein the display includes displaying a representation of multiple characteristics of the e-bike motor system.
10. The interface of claim 1 , wherein e-bike motor system includes a battery, and
wherein the processor is configured to be powered by the battery of the e-bike motor system via the first communication interface.
11. The interface of claim 10 , wherein the e-bike motor system further includes a drive motor, and
wherein the processor is configured to control the drive motor of the e-bike motor system via the first communication interface, based on the first control signal or the received second control signal.
12. The interface of claim 11 , wherein the control of the drive motor of the e-bike motor system based on the first control signal or the received second control signal comprises the processor being configured to turn the drive motor on or off, or change a power level of the drive motor.
13. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the control device attached to the second frame part of the bicycle is a wireless handlebar mounted e-bike control interface, a wireless handlebar mounted shifter or seat post control interface, a wireless handlebar mounted e-bike assist level control interface, or a wireless handlebar mounted automatic shifting control interface.
14. The interface of claim 13 , wherein the e-bike motor system is a first component, and wherein the processor is further configured to receive data from a second component of the bicycle, transmit data to the second component of the bicycle, or receive and transmit data to the second component of the bicycle.
15. The interface of claim 14 , further comprising a third communication interface in communication with the processor, the third communication interface being a wireless communication interface,
wherein the processor is configured to receive the second control signal via the second communication interface using a first wireless communication protocol, and
wherein the processor is configured to receive data from the second component of the bicycle, transmit data to the second component of the bicycle, or receive and transmit data to the second component of the bicycle via the third communication interface using a second wireless communication protocol, the second wireless communication protocol being different than the first wireless communication protocol.
16. The interface of claim 14 , wherein the second component of the bicycle is a wirelessly controlled derailleur, a wirelessly controlled front suspension fork, or a wirelessly controlled rear suspension shock.
17. The interface of claim 13 , wherein the e-bike motor system is a first component, and the first component receives a timed digital pulse from a speed sensor, the speed sensor communicates to the processor via the first communication interface.
18. The interface of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with a device outside of the bicycle via the second communication interface or a third communication interface, the third communication interface being different than the second communication interface and being a wireless communication interface,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
identify whether a signal from the device outside of the bicycle is received; and
allow operation of the e-bike motor system when the signal is received from the device outside of the bicycle.
19. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the device outside of the bicycle is a passive wireless electronic device or a mobile device.
20. A bicycle communication apparatus for an e-bike, the bicycle communication apparatus comprising:
a housing attachable to a top tube of a frame of a bicycle;
a processor supported by the housing;
a wired communication interface in communication with the processor, the wired communication interface being wiredly connectable to an e-bike motor system, the e-bike motor system including a drive motor;
a wireless communication interface in communication with the processor, the wireless communication interface being wirelessly connectable to a control device attached to a handlebar of the bicycle;
an input supported by the housing and in communication with the processor, the input being configured to generate a first control signal based on a first user input;
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a second control signal from the control device attached to the handlebar of the bicycle via the wireless communication interface, the second control signal being for the e-bike motor system and being generated by the control device based on a second user input; and
control the drive motor of the e-bike motor system via the wired communication interface, based on the first control signal or the received second control signal, the first control signal and the second control signal cause the drive motor to perform different operations.
21. The bicycle communication apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the wireless communication interface is a first wireless communication interface,
wherein the bicycle communication apparatus further comprises a second wireless communication interface, the second wireless communication interface being in communication with the processor and being wirelessly connected to a movable component of the bicycle, the movable component of the bicycle being movable relative to the bicycle communication apparatus, and
wherein the processor is in communication with the control device attached to the handlebar of the bicycle and the movable component of the bicycle using different wireless protocols, respectively.
22. An e-bike system for a bicycle, the e-bike system comprising:
an e-bike motor system comprising a drive motor and a battery; and
a bicycle communication apparatus comprising:
a housing attachable to a frame of the bicycle;
a processor supported by the housing;
a wired communication interface in communication with the processor, the wired communication interface being wiredly connected to the e-bike motor system;
a wireless communication interface in communication with the processor, the wireless communication interface being wirelessly connectable to a control device attached to a handlebar of the bicycle;
an input supported by the housing and in communication with the processor, the input being configured to generate a first control signal based on a first user input;
wherein the processor of the bicycle communication apparatus is configured to:
receive a second control signal from the control device attached to the handlebar of the bicycle via the wireless communication interface, the second control signal being generated by the control device based on a second user input; and
control the drive motor of the e-bike motor system via the wired communication interface, based on the first control signal or the received second control signal the first control signal and the second control signal cause the drive motor to perform different operations.