Abstract: A method for operating a drive unit of an electric bicycle is disclosed. The drive unit includes a motor, an output element and a bidirectional freewheel between the motor and the output element. The method includes (i) determining a non-output state in which the output element is in a state of being substantially free of output torque, and (ii) controlling actuation of the motor during the non-output state for closing the bidirectional freewheel into a blocked state.

Abstract: A method for determining a speed value of a single-track vehicle, in particular an eBike, is disclosed. The vehicle has at least one acceleration sensor and one rotation rate sensor. The method includes (i) measuring the acceleration of the vehicle in at least three directions using the acceleration sensor, (ii) measuring a rotation rate of the vehicle about at least two rotation axes using the rotation rate sensor, (iii) determining a driving situation of the vehicle based on the measured accelerations and rotation rates of the vehicle, and (iv) determining the speed value of the vehicle using a system of equations describing the kinematics of the vehicle, the determined driving situation and the measured accelerations and rotation rates of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining a state of operating dynamics of a bicycle. The method includes: providing signals regarding an acceleration in at least one spatial direction and regarding a rate of rotation about at least one spatial direction, with the aid of an inertial measuring device; providing speed signals of an incremental encoder; and ascertaining the state of operating dynamics on the basis of an estimation method, in light of the provided signals; the current riding state being ascertained, and in the case of a dead stop of the bicycle as a current, ascertained riding state, substitute speed signals being provided in place of the speed signals of the incremental encoder, in order to estimate the state of operating dynamics for the estimation method.

Abstract: A system to generate plasma to clean at least one object, the apparatus comprising a microplate with an electrode support array comprising a plurality of matched pairs of elongated dielectric barrier members connected to a plurality of electrodes, with said dielectric barrier members of said matched pair being spaced at a pre-determined non-uniform gap, a variable time scale pulsed power source electrically coupled to said electrodes to provide electrical pulses and a plurality of electronic components to control polarity of said electrical pulses, such that said pulses produce electron streamers from opposing elongated dielectric barrier members of said plurality of matched pairs and charge on a surface of said dielectric barrier member is substantially evenly distributed.

Abstract: A system and a method for dissipating voltage in an electrical circuit of a vehicle. The system includes a power source and an inverter. The power source has a voltage source and a contactor. The inverter is electrically coupled to the power source and includes a device for storing an electrical charge. The contactor is opened to disconnect the voltage source before the device is discharged.

Abstract: An electric drive system having a power source which provides power to an electric motor through an electric motor control. Discharging of stored capacitor energy of a capacitor coupled between the power source and the electric motor controller is provided by controlling energy transfer from the capacitor to the electric motor.

Abstract: A system and a method for dissipating voltage in an electrical circuit of a vehicle. The system includes a power source and an inverter. The power source has a voltage source and a contactor. The inverter is electrically coupled to the power source and includes a device for storing an electrical charge. The contactor is opened to disconnect the voltage source before the device is discharged.

Abstract: A method is provided which uses, or which calculates, a temperature gradient of a portion of a vehicle to determine a value equal to, or representative of, a time before a maximum allowable operating temperature is reached by the portion. If the value is less than a certain threshold, the apparatus reduces the operating speed of the portion and, in one embodiment, provides a warning signal to an operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, system, and method of utilizing a Home Power Unit (“HPU”) which functions as a battery charger for a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (“HEV”) or as a generator, utilizing the HEV's electrical power to operate external electrical devices. In its simplest form, the HPU comprises a Transformer, inverter means, rectifier means, a control unit, connection means to the HEV and external electrical loads or sources and switching means to change operation between charger and generator function. Alternative embodiments of the present invention utilize the HEV's existing components thereby avoiding component redundancy within the HPU. Specifically, in the first alternative embodiment, the inverter means are utilized within the vehicle, therefore, requiring only filter and transformer to be added to the vehicle. In the second alternative embodiment, the vehicle's DC-to-DC Converter is utilized as opposed to implementing a transformer.

Abstract: This invention is a method and system for cooling Hybrid Electric Vehicle (“HEV”) components. The present invention cools HEV components, including an A/C system, an Internal Combustion Engine and its associated parts, an electric drive system and its associated parts, including an inverter, a DC/DC Converter, a generator motor, and a traction motor. Cooling these components, is accomplished by implementing a cooling system that is comprised of fluid filled cooling loops, radiators, fans, pumps, an air conditioning condenser and a controller. The pumps move the fluid through the cooling loops, allowing the fluid to absorb heat from the components and vent through the radiators with help from the fan's airflow. The controller monitors component temperature data by measuring actual component temperature or corresponding coolant temperature and compares the component temperature data to a calibratable threshold to determine whether the fan should operate.

Abstract: A laser beam (22) is used as a spacial reference and its position is measured relative to a target device (200A, 200B, 200C) mounted on a structure (210) being monitored (FIG. 6). The target device has two edges or slots which are moved to intersect the beam such that the two intersections occur at right angles to one another at the beam for maximum accuracy. The edges may be fixed and are in such relation that one coordinate of beam position is a monotonic function of the displacement of the beam between positions at which one and the other edge intersect the beam. The other coordinate is obtained by the relative displacements for intersection of the beam from a reference position. In one embodiment (FIG. 2) the target (30) is moved linearly and the edges (40,42) are straight and mutually orthogonal. In another embodiment (FIG. 3) the target (100) is mounted for rotational displacement with arcuate intersecting edges (104, 106).

Abstract: A laser beam from a source 20 is used to provide a reference in space adjacent a portion of a structure movements of which are monitored. The beam is received by a receiver 30. A number of targets 300 may be mounted to move with parts of the structure extending alongside the beam path. Target constructions (FIGS. 6-8) are described which allow for normal passage of the beam past the target but which enable the position of the beam relative to a given target to be measured by intercepting the beam. In a variation (FIG. 13) for civil engineering use, a single target is selectively mountable to one of a number of supports. Another variation (FIG. 11) uses graduated mesh targets on which the beam impinges on each mesh but is also transmitted through the mesh. Dynamic movement of a part of structure such as a bridge is measured with a single target attached to the part in question and comprising a barred reflective assembly (FIG. 3), a fibre optic array (FIG. 4) or a position sensing photo-diode (FIG. 5).