METHOD FOR MONITORING THE TRAVEL SPEED OF A BICYCLE

Abstract

A method for monitoring the travel speed of a bicycle, in particular a pedelec. The method includes: providing a power supply for a speed signal transmitter, ascertaining a first speed for the bicycle, interrupting the power supply for the speed signal transmitter for a specifiable interruption time span, while the power supply is switched off, ascertaining a second speed, ascertaining a comparison result by comparing the ascertained first and second speed, and recognizing a faulty speed signal transmitter as a function of the result of the comparison.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the travel speed of a bicycle, comprising the following steps: providing a power supply for a speed signal transmitter; ascertaining a first speed for the bicycle; interrupting the power supply for the speed signal transmitter for a specifiable interruption time span; ascertaining, while the power supply is switched off, a second speed; ascertaining a comparison result by comparing the ascertained first speed and the ascertained second speed; and recognizing the speed signal transmitter as faulty, as a function of the comparison result.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the bicycle is a pedelec.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the power supply for the speed signal transmitted is interrupted at regular time intervals and/or in event-based fashion.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the ascertaining of the first speed take place based on a signal of the speed signal transmitter, and/or the ascertaining of the second speed takes place based on a speed sensor.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the interruption time span is defined differently for at least two interruptions, a different interruption time span being defined for each interruption of the power supply and being selected randomly from a specified time interval.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the speed signal transmitter is monitored, by a further monitoring method, for proper functioning, a recognition of the speed signal transmitter as faulty taking place as a function of the comparison result and a result of the further test method.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the speed signal transmitter is pulse-based, and the interruption of the power supply for the speed signal transmitter takes place whenever a pulse of the speed signal transmitter is expected.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, in each case, when the speed signal transmitter is recognized as faulty, an event being counted within a specifiable time span and compared with at least one specifiable count threshold value, and an action not being initiated until the specified count threshold value is exceeded, the count threshold value having a value of 3.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the action is: a time-offset switching off of at least one drive device of the bicycle, and/or a visual display for a user of the bicycle, and/or a message of a diagnostic system of the bicycle, and/or a changeover to a speed signal alternative to the speed signal transmitter for ascertaining the speed of the bicycle, the speed signal alternative being GPS.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the comparing of the ascertained first speed and the ascertained second speed taking place by difference formation between the ascertained first speed and the ascertained second speed, and it being ascertained based on the differences whether there is a jump between the respective speeds.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the jump is present when a magnitude of the difference is greater than a specifiable value, and/or when one of the ascertained first speed and the ascertained second speed is 0 km/h.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the value is 5 km/h.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the specifiable value is defined as a function of at least one of the ascertained first and second speeds.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: ascertaining a third speed by the speed signal transmitter; and wherein the ascertaining of the comparison result takes place through comparison of the ascertained first, second, and third speeds.

15. A device configured to monitor a travel speed of a bicycle, the bicycle being a pedelec, the device comprising: a speed signal transmitter; a power supply device configured to supply power for the speed signal transmitter; a measurement device configured to ascertain a speed for the bicycle; and a monitoring device configured to: interrupt the power supply for the speed signal transmitter for a specifiable interruption time span, while the power supply for the speed signal transmitter is switched off for the speed signal transmitter, control the measurement device to ascertain a second speed; ascertain a comparison result by comparing the ascertained first speed and the ascertained second speed, and recognize the speed signal transmitter as faulty as a function of the result of the comparison.

16. A bicycle, comprising: a device configured to monitor a travel speed of a bicycle, the bicycle being a pedelec, the device including: a speed signal transmitter; a power supply device configured to supply power for the speed signal transmitter; a measurement device configured to ascertain a speed for the bicycle; and a monitoring device configured to: interrupt the power supply for the speed signal transmitter for a specifiable interruption time span, while the power supply for the speed signal transmitter is switched off for the speed signal transmitter, control the measurement device to ascertain a second speed; ascertain a comparison result by comparing the ascertained first speed and the ascertained second speed, and recognize the speed signal transmitter as faulty as a function of the result of the comparison.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 shows steps of a method according to a specific example embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a device according to a specific example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0044] FIG. 1 shows steps of a method according to a specific example embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] In detail, FIG. 1 shows steps of a method for monitoring the travel speed of a bicycle, in particular a pedelec. The method includes the following steps: [0046] providing S1 a power supply for a speed signal transmitter 2, [0047] ascertaining S2 a first speed for the bicycle on the basis of a signal of speed signal transmitter 2, [0048] interrupting S3 the power supply for speed signal transmitter 2 for a specifiable interruption time span, [0049] while the power supply is switched off, ascertaining S4 a second speed using a speed sensor 3, [0050] ascertaining S5 a third speed using speed signal transmitter 2, [0051] ascertaining S6 a comparison result by comparing the ascertained first, second, and third speed, and [0052] recognizing S7 a faulty speed signal transmitter 2 as a function of the result of the comparison.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a device according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In detail, FIG. 2 shows a device 1 for monitoring the travel speed of a bicycle, in particular a pedelec. Device 1 includes a speed signal transmitter 2 and a speed sensor 3. In particular, speed signal transmitter 2 is realized as a reed sensor, and provides pulse-based signals whenever a magnet on the rim of a wheel of the bicycle passes the reed sensor.

[0055] In addition, a power supply device 4 is provided that is connected to speed signal transmitter 2 for power supply. Power supply device 4 can be realized for example in the form of a battery or the like in order to provide electrical energy. Power supply device 4 can not only supply speed signal transmitter 2 with energy, but can also provide energy to further components of the bicycle.

[0056] Using a first measurement device 6 that is connected to speed signal transmitter 2, a first and in particular also a third speed of the bicycle are ascertained on the basis of measurements of speed signal transmitter 2. The measurements for the first and in particular third speed are made here with a temporal interval between them. Using a second measurement device 7 that is connected to speed signal transmitter 3, a second speed is ascertained for the bicycle, for example on the basis of measurements of speed sensor 3. The measurement of the second speed here takes place temporally after the measurement of the first speed and in particular before the measurement of the third speed. However, measurement devices 6, 7 can also be realized in a single measurement device, so that the measurement device ascertains the first, second, and third speed.

[0057] In order to monitor the proper functioning of speed signal transmitter 2, in addition a monitoring device 8 is provided that is designed to control power supply device 4 in such a way that the power supply device interrupts the supply of power to speed signal transmitter 2 for a specifiable interruption time span, for example by correspondingly switching off the electrical voltage supply. While the power supply for speed signal transmitter 2 is shut off, monitoring device 8 controls second measurement device 7 in such a way that this measurement device ascertains the second speed, in particular using speed sensor 3. Monitoring device 8 subsequently ascertains a comparison result by comparing the ascertained first, second, and in particular third speed. On the basis of the comparison, monitoring device 8 then determines whether and, if appropriate, to what extent speed signal transmitter 2 is faulty. For example, if there result a plurality of jumps in temporally spaced measurements between the first and second speed, as well as in particular between the second and third speed, then it is determined that speed signal transmitter 2 is not operating properly. A corresponding result can then be displayed to a user of the bicycle on a display device 9.

[0058] The interruption of the power supply can take place cyclically or regularly, for example every five minutes, and/or in an event-based fashion, for example when a measured acceleration is greater than a particular boundary value. This has the advantage that the speed jump described above is made particularly clear.

[0059] In addition, the present monitoring method according to specific embodiments of the present invention can be combined with other monitoring methods, which has the advantage of reducing the probability of false positive decisions relating to a faulty speed signal transmitter. In a further specific embodiment, the power supply can be interrupted deliberately at the moment at which a reed impulse is expected, the corresponding time being predictable for example by an estimator.

[0060] In a further specific embodiment, through repeated interruption of the power supply and counting of the speed jumps in a time interval, or for a complete trip or for the complete run time of a motor, the decision as to whether the speed signal transmitter is operating properly can be made still more robust. Thus, a determination that the speed signal transmitter is operating incorrectly may not take place until for example a faulty speed sensor has been recognized three times in a specified time interval, based on the respective comparison results.

[0061] In sum, at least one of the specific embodiments of the present invention has at least one of the following advantages and/or provides at least one of the following features: [0062] simple and extremely reliable recognition of a faulty speed signal transmitter; [0063] increase of the lifespan of components of the bicycle.

[0064] Although the present invention has been described on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but rather can be modified in various ways.