Patent Application
20210206279
There are many ways to get around a city. A person can walk, drive, travel by bus, tram, subway, taxi, or hire a car share service. A person can also rent or use various individual modes of transportation, such as mopeds, bikes (e.g., e-bikes or ebikes), scooters, skateboards (electric skateboards) and/or other micro-mobility vehicles or devices. For example, many cities provide residents and visitors with bike share and scooter share services, such as services that enable people to rent bikes or electric scooters when traveling short distances within a city.
While these services provide people with numerous benefits, current installations and provisioning of bike and scooter shares suffer from various drawbacks. For example, services that provide the docking of bikes can take up a large footprint within a city or neighborhood, such as in areas where any extra space can be utilized for parking, footpaths, and so on. As another example, services that provide dock-less bikes and scooters enable users to simply leave their rented bikes and scooters in the middle of sidewalks, in yards, and other undesirable locations. Further, the vehicles are often stolen or broken.
These and other drawbacks exist with respect to current electric scooter share services.
In the drawings, some components are not drawn to scale, and some components and/or operations can be separated into different blocks or combined into a single block for discussion of some of the implementations of the present technology. Moreover, while the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific implementations have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the technology to the particular implementations described. On the contrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.
Various electric scooter docking stations are described herein. In some embodiments, the docking stations facilitate the collection, movement, and/or storage of electric scooters in a compact, elegant, and efficient configuration. For example, the docking stations can be configured to take advantage of the unique shape of a scooter, providing the storage and positioning of many scooters in a compact area. Also, the docking stations can be simple structures that facilitate the self-powered movement of electric scooters within a station.
Thus, in various implementations, the docking stations described herein are designed to enable self-propelled movement and docking of electric scooters within a station, while also recharging the scooters within the station. A docking station can also facilitate simple and efficient collection and entry of scooters into the station, as well as simple and efficient extraction or dispensing of scooters from the station.
For example, an electric scooter docking station can accommodate three-wheel scooters (e.g., scooters having two front wheels). For example, a docking station that dispenses electric scooters can include two upper channels, each configured to receive a front wheel of an electric scooter, a lower channel configured to receive a rear wheel of the electric scooter, where the two upper channels are positioned with respect to the lower channel in a configuration that stores electric scooters within the docking station at an angle with respect to the ground, and/or a charging rail that contacts a charging port of the electric scooter when the scooter is docked within the apparatus and provides charge to an electric battery of the electric scooter.
As another example, an electric scooter docking station facilitates an electric scooter charging other electric scooters within the docking station. The docking station can identify scooters having excess charge, and, when they are docked, cause these scooters to charge other scooters via bus bars or other components of a docking station.
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of implementations of the present technology. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that implementations of the present technology can be practiced without some of these specific details. The phrases “in some implementations,” “according to some implementations,” “in the implementations shown,” “in other implementations,” and the like generally mean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase is included in at least one implementation of the present technology and can be included in more than one implementation. In addition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same implementations or different implementations.
Several implementations of the docking stations are discussed below in more detail with reference to the figures. However, a docking station, as described herein, can include one or more rails to facilitate collection of scooters, as well as the movement of scooters into, within, and out of a docking station. Further, a docking station includes a charging connector or other similar component which, when contacted by a similar component of a scooter (e.g., a charging port integrated with the scooter), charges an electric battery of the scooter when docked or contained in the docking station.
The docking station can also include various computing systems, such as a computing system that performs various actions, method, and/or techniques associated with scooters within or external to a docking station. The computing systems can interact with various external or networked computing systems, such as systems provided by remote or cloud services or locations. Further, the computing system of a docking station can wirelessly communicate with one or more docked electric scooters over various protocols, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless protocols, near field communication protocols (such as when a scooter is docked), and so on.
Also, in some embodiments, communications between the docking stations and various components (or associated scooters) may be performed over wired connections, including various power lines or connections. Further, as described herein, in some cases, the docking stations can be simple structures that are configured to docking and store electric scooters, but provide no power, charging, or communications functions for the electric scooters themselves.
Further, an electric scooter, as described herein, is generally a powered stand-up scooter, propelled by an electric motor. Electric scooters can also be referred to as electric kick scooters, e-scooters, motorized scooters, and so on. Typically, an electric scooter includes two (or more) small wheels (e.g., hard or solid tires, air tires, foam filled tires), a foldable or non-foldable steering tube, a chassis having a deck to stand on, a down tube connected to the head tube inside of which turns the steering tube connected to a stem attached to handlebars. In addition, the electric scooter can include fenders, trailer hitches, brakes, lights, and other accessories or components.
The components of an electric scooter can include a transmission or drive system, a control system, a braking system, a suspension, a battery, and an electric motor. The electric scooter may also include various computing systems and components, such as the various computing systems described herein, GPS or positioning systems, communication components, and so on. For example, an electric scooter can include computing systems and identification components that facilitate or enable the electric scooter as an Internet of Things (e.g., IoT) device networked to other scooters and one or more control or communication systems.
The techniques introduced here can be implemented as special-purpose hardware (for example, circuitry), as programmable circuitry appropriately programmed with software and/or firmware, or as a combination of special-purpose and programmable circuitry. Hence, implementations can include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which can be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process. The machine-readable medium can include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical discs, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), magneto-optical disks, ROMs, random access memories (RAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other types of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions.
As described herein, the technology includes various docking station apparatuses and configurations. While depicted herein as different version of a docking station, in some embodiments, components from different versions may be integrated together to realize other configurations for docking electric scooters. As an example,
The docking station 100 includes an entry section 120, which receives the electric scooters 105 into the docking station 100, as well as an exit section 130, which facilitates the exit or dispensing of the electric scooters 105 from the docking station 100. For example, the exit section 130 can be configured in various geometries (e.g., a Z-shape, as described herein) in order to guide the docked scooters 105 from the angled, docked, position to a horizontal position (e.g., the position via which the scooters 105 enter the docking station 100) when dispensed to a user from the docking station 100.
The docking station 100 can include other components, as described herein, including components that facilitate the receipt of payment information, user information, or other information communicated to the docking station 100 from a user. Further, given the use of electric scooters 105 by many different users, the docking station 100 can include sanitation or cleaning components 115.
For example, the docking station 100 can include various sanitization or cleansing facilities or areas. The docking station 100 can include an area or component where scooter handles pass through (e.g., either at the beginning or end of the station), and disinfect or clean the handles with mechanical, chemical and/or UV light before the next person uses the scooter. The docking station 100 can also use similar components when dispending helmets or other shared equipment.
As shown in
The raised position can optimize the available space within the docking station 200, as the station can facilitate many scooters per linear foot (with respect to positioning scooters end to end). In some embodiments, various different combinations and/or geometries of lower and/or upper channels (e.g., real wheel and/or front wheel channels) enable the efficiency and/or optimization of storage of scooters. For example, the station may include only the upper channel 220, the lower channel 230, or a combination of both channels. Further, in some cases only certain sections or portions of a station include channels that receive scooters and/or wheels of scooters.
The channels can receive the electric scooter 210 such that scooter propels itself within the station 100 (e.g., via the channels 220, 230) via its electric motors, as the channels (or rails) ensure the lateral stability of the scooter 210 as the scooter 210 moves within the docking station 200. Further, the configuration of the channels or rails, such as via ramps or other undulations, are designed to control the speed and/or movement of the scooter 210 as it traverses the station 200.
In some embodiments, the docking station 200 includes a battery charging component for adapted scooters (e.g., scooters with contactable charging ports). The station 200 can include a charging channel, connector, or component. For example, the front wheel channel 220 can include a charging connector 225, and the rear wheel channel 230 can include a charging connector 235. In some cases, the station 200 includes one charging connector or rail, which charges a battery of the scooter 210 when in contact with a charging port of the scooter 210.
The rear wheel channel 230 includes a real wheel channel upper component 232, a rear wheel channel lower component 234, and a rear wheel channel charging connector 250, which is positioned to make contact with a scooter charging port 255 when the scooter 210 is docked within the station 200. As described herein, the docking station 200 can include the charging connectors within both channels and/or within one of the channels.
In some cases, the rear wheel channel 230 (e.g., the lower channel) can include various components or materials to provide traction or friction to the rear wheel of a scooter as it moves through the channel 230. For example, the channel 230 (or in some cases, the front wheel channel 220) can include grit paper or coating, grooves or holes, expanded metal, a specific mating shape that matches the scooter tires, and/or a rotating disc, cog or gear shape positioned on the side of the wheel or cast into the tire to aid in providing traction for the wheel motor to be able to drive the scooter through the docking station.
As described herein, in some embodiments, a docking station includes multiple rails to dock, store, collect, or otherwise accommodate three-wheel scooters, such as scooters having two front wheels.
The front wheel channels 272, 274 can include various components described herein with respect to single wheel channels, including charging rails. Further, the front wheel channels 272, 274 can be configured into various geometries, as described herein, to accommodate different wheel sizes, different scooter widths, charging ports or posts, and so on.
Further, the guiding pegs 420 (or other components proximate to the pegs), being in contact with the rails (or electrical contacts with the rails), can facilitate the movement of the electric scooter, as well as the charging of the battery of the scooter, when docked within the docking station 300.
As described herein, the docking station may include rails having certain shapes that facilitate the positioning of the electric scooter 600 within the docking station such that the station restricts the scooter 600 from moving laterally when docked and in electrical contact with the rail or other contacts.
As shown, the contact pad 610 of the scooter 600 is coupled to the contact plunger 630 of the docking station. Further, the guiding pegs 620 of the scooter 600 are positioned within two rails 640, 645. The rail 640 includes a V-shaped groove, which matches a shape or contour of the mounting peg 620. Thus, when the peg 620 is positioned within the rail 640 such that the V-shape aligns with a matching portion of the peg 620, the peg 620 is prevented from moving laterally within the rail, and the scooter 600 is likewise prevented from moving laterally within the docking station (and possibly losing contact with the contact plunger 630 of the rail).
As described herein, the docking station can transfer charge to the electric scooter 600 when the scooter 600 is electrically coupled to the docking station.
The docking station 710 includes a management system (VMS) 715 or other similar control unit, which controls and manages the functions of the docking station 710. For example, the VMS 710 controls operations in response to signal received from an entry sensor 720, which detects the entry of scooters into the docking station. Further, the VMS 715 can interact with contact plungers 725 to provide or transfer charge to the scooters, as well as batteries and charging devices 730, an entry solenoid 740 that controls operations of the entry section of the station, an exit solenoid 745 that controls operations of the exit section of the station, and other electrical units or devices.
The electric scooter 750 likewise includes a vehicle management system 755, similar to VMS 715, which acts as the controller for the electric scooter 750. The VMS 755 can control or manage propulsion of the scooter, a battery or battery management system, on-board chargers, and other electrical units or devices.
For example, the scooter 750 includes contact pads 757, as described herein, which receive charge and communication (e.g., data, signals, or information) from the docking station. The scooter also includes multiple motor controllers 760, 770, which control multiple motors 765, 775 (e.g., for each wheel) in response to instructions provided by the VMS 755. A battery management system (BMS) 780 controls an associated rechargeable battery 785, which powers the motor controllers 760, 770, and motors 765, 775. The BMS 780 operates to monitor the charge state of the battery, as well as control the use of the battery to maintain the life of the battery and efficiently charge and discharge the battery 785.
In addition, as described herein, communication such as data or information exchange may occur between the docking station 710 and the electric scooter 750 via a wireless local connection, a cellular connection, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or via contacts that are part of the electrical recharging systems of the docking station 710.
Thus, as described herein, the electric scooter 750, when electrically coupled to the docking station 710, can receive the transfer of current from the docking station and charge its batteries when docked within the station.
Other embodiments of the docking stations described herein facilitate various actions performed by the docking stations and/or docked scooters. For example, when a pair of charging posts on an electric scooter slide along a pair of electrified rails, the scooter can determine how far it travels along the rails. The station can provide a series of contact segments, which have a known, predefined length. For example, for the sections of rail between contact segments, there is no electrical connection between the rails and the scooter charging posts. As the scooter travels along the rails, the charging posts make contact with the different contact segments and count the number of times that the posts lose electrical contact with the rail and come back into contact. Because the segments have a known, predefined length, the scooter can calculate how far it has travelled down the rail and determine its position within the station.
Further, while charging posts and pegs are described herein, in some cases, the handlebars of the electric scooters may include and/or act like the charging pegs, and directly contact conductive rails within a docking station. Thus, a rail charging interface within a channel or other component of a docking station can be configured into various shapes, positions, or designs, in order to make contact with a charging peg or post of a scooter, regardless of whether the charging post or peg is a separate component, part of the handle bars of the scooter, part of a down tube of a scooter, part of a fork of a scooter, part of a chassis of a scooter, and so on.
In addition, the docking station, in some cases, can include jigs or hooks that are attached to the rails or channels and slide along the rails or channels and contact the scooter, providing mechanical positioning, charging, and/or communication functions (either wirelessly or via direct contact with the electric scooter, as described herein).
As another example, in some embodiments, the electric scooter includes a pair of charging/guiding posts or pegs, which can include a conductive electrical surface for charging, and a mechanical/structural surface for guiding. A docking station can provide rails that include a low-friction rub strip and an electrical bus bar. Thus, each rail contacts a charging/guiding post on a scooter, providing physical guidance and alignment through the dock, and electrical current for battery charging, as described herein.
In some embodiments, terminal ends of a rail or channel can be electrically isolated from the charging portion of the rail. These rail sections can then be energized by a scooter using its onboard power. When energized, these rail sections provide power to ancillary functions of the dock, such as dock identification, communication, data storage (e.g., storing information about how many scooters have entered and exited the dock), and actuation (e.g., moving the location of a locking pin so that a scooter may be removed from the dock). The computing systems described herein can facilitate performing some or all of these functions.
In some cases, a constant or time-varying controlled current circuit is powered by a scooter's battery (and where the precise current is measured by the scooter's electronics over time). The numerical value of the current encodes information used by the scooter's electronics to determine factors such as the presence of a dock, identification of a dock, diagnostic information, and other information.
Further, in some cases, many or multiple electric battery-powered scooters are parked or stored in a docking station. As described herein, the docking station can include bus bars that are in electrical contact with each scooter's battery charging electronics. The charging electronics include voltage converters to decrease battery voltage to a safe voltage on the dock bus bars. The scooters in a dock communicate via power line or wireless components to negotiate charge balancing from scooters with excess battery charge to scooters with low battery charge. Thus, scooters with excess charge can supply current to the dock bus bars, and scooters with low battery charge use that current to charge their batteries.
As described herein, the docking station, such as docking station 100 or 200, includes a Z-shaped exit section or ramp, which enables the dispending of scooters from the docking station without damaging the scooters, even when the scooters are stored in various angular or vertical arrangements within the docking station.
Of course, the docking stations described herein can include other exit (or entry) sections or components.
As described herein, the docking stations can be configured to store electric scooters in a variety of ways, such as vertically, horizontally, front to back, side by side, and so on. For example, the electric scooters 210 can operate such that the wheels provide opposing forces to one another, increasing a level of friction and grip between the wheels and the channels. In such cases, the docking station, via the rails, can facilitate the movement of the scooter 210 up or down vertically within a station. In such cases, the scooter 210 controls the torque applied to the wheels (via internal wheel motors) to adjust the grip to the inside of a rail, channel, or other component. The scooter 210, therefore, can effectively climb and move within the station, via an x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, or various angles, as it moves along within the station.
As described herein, the disclosed technology can enable electric scooters to interact with docking stations (e.g., “docks”), as well with other docked or stored electric scooters via the docking stations.
For example, as described herein, a docking station can include a rail or channel having terminal ends that are electrically isolated from a charging portion of the rail. These rail sections can be energized by a scooter using a scooter's onboard power. When energized, these rail sections provide power to various ancillary functions of a dock, such as dock identification, communication, data storage (e.g., storing information about how many scooters have entered and exited the dock), and actuation (e.g., moving the location of a locking pin so that a scooter may be removed from the dock). The computing systems described herein can facilitate performing some or all of these functions.
As an example, a constant or time-varying controlled current circuit of an electric scooter is powered by a scooter's battery (where the precise current is measured by the scooter's electronics over time). The numerical value of the current can encode information used by the scooter's electronics to determine factors such as the presence of a dock, identification of a dock, diagnostic information, and other information.
Further, in some cases, many or multiple electric battery-powered scooters can be docked, parked, or stored in a docking station. As described herein, the docking station can include bus bars that are in electrical contact with each scooter's battery charging electronics. The charging electronics can include voltage converters to decrease battery voltage to a safe voltage on the dock bus bars. In some cases, the scooters in a dock communicate via wireless components with other scooters (or with the docking station) to negotiate charge balancing from scooters with excess battery charge (e.g., high charge amounts) to scooters with low battery charge (e.g., low charge amounts). Thus, scooters with excess charge can supply current or charge to the dock bus bars, and scooters with low battery charge use that current to charge their batteries.
Thus, in some implementations, an electric scooter charges another electric scooter via the bus bars of a docking station. The docking station can identify scooters having excess charge, and, when they are docked, cause these scooters to discharge to the dock bus. The dock bus then provides the excess charge received from the scooters to other scooters identified as having low battery charge.
In operation 1110, the docking station determines or detects that an electric scooter docked with the docking station is charged below a threshold capacity. For example, the docking station may determine that electric scooter is charged at 20 percent capacity, which is below a minimum or threshold capacity for providing the scooter to a user of a scooter share service.
In some embodiments, the docking station may initiate the charging of electric scooters (e.g., perform a charge balancing action) after a pre-determined number of electric scooters (e.g., two or more) are stored within the electric scooter docking station. The number of scooters can be based on the storage capacity of the docking station, the frequency of use of the docking station, the frequency of scooter returns to the docking station, the expected or predicted frequency of use of the docking station, and so on.
In some embodiments, the docking station can seek to initiate charging of electric scooters in response to detecting that an electric scooter has been with a user for a pre-determined period of time. For example, the docking station can detect a scooter has been out (in use) for a certain period of time (e.g., an hour), and initiate charging or charge balancing, as that period of time is indicative of a low battery of the scooter.
In operation 1120, the docking station (or the low charge scooter) identifies one or more other scooters within the docking station having excess charge capacity. For example, the docking station determines that the electric scooter has a battery that is 90 percent full, well over a threshold capacity for providing the scooter to a user (e.g., the threshold being 50 percent or higher).
In operation 1130, the docking station (or the low charge scooter) causes the electric scooter to discharge some excess capacity to the station. For example, the docking station communicates with the scooter and request the scooter provide some excess charge to the station via the electric bus bars of the rail of the docking station.
In operation 1140, the station charges the low charged electric scooter. For example, the station, via the bus bars of the rail, causes the excess charge received from the electric scooter to charge the battery of the electric scooter, also connected via the bus bar of the rail of the station.
Thus, in some implementations, the docking station can facilitate the charging of scooters by other scooters. In such cases, a docking station can be a simple structure that does not have its own power source or connection to the electric grid, while still providing communication and charging functions to scooters docked within the station, among other benefits.
Thus, the docking station 1200 can perform various processes, as described herein, to balance the overall charge capacity of the scooters within the station 1200. For example, via the method described herein, the docking station can cause the electric scooter 1230 to discharge its battery, providing charge to the other electric scooters 12401250 via the bus bars of the rail 1220, until all three scooters 1230, 1240, 1250 are charge balanced (e.g., all within a certain range of charge).
As another example, given that electric scooter 1240 is in front of the other scooters, the docking station can cause the electric scooter 1230 to discharge to the docking station, and provide the charge (or most of the charge) to the electric scooter 1230, as it will be dispensed before the other electric scooter 1250 that is also charged below the threshold charge for use. Thus, in some cases, the docking station can balance the charging of scooters based on their current charge capacities or levels of charge, as well as their position within the docking station.
In some implementations, the docking station can be mobile or otherwise configured to be movable or transportable (e.g., a pop-up docking station). For example, the docking station can be part of a trailer. The trailer can have a ramp on one or more sides, with one or more rails (as described herein) that capture the scooters and guide the scooters into and through the docking station. Further, as described herein, the rails can facilitate charging of the scooters. In some cases, the trailer can include a battery or other power source to enable charging of the scooters when other sources of energy (e.g., solar panels or small wind turbines) are unavailable in order to opportunistically charge the battery and scooters within the station.
Any or all docking stations described herein may utilize the priority charging of multiple scooters within a station. In some cases, the docking station uses micro-inverters to communicate the priority information and control the charging of scooters within the station. For example, the rail 120 can include multiple segments, where each segment of the rail 120 includes a micro-inverter that converts AC to rail DC voltage. When the energy source is a solar source, the station utilizes switching, such that the station uses energy from associated solar panels to charge only scooters next available for use by users via the station. Thus, only scooters connected to segments having a switched voltage (from AC to DC) can receive charge via solar panels providing energy to the station. In doing so, the station enables scooters soon to be provided to users (e.g., scooters near the exit of a docking station) to be charged by solar panels first, in order to ensure they are charged before other scooters within the docking station.
In some embodiments, an electric scooter docking station can perform a method for charging an electric scooter stored within the electric scooter docking station, including determining a battery of a first electric scooter stored within the electric scooter docking station has a current charge amount that is below a threshold charge amount for dispensing electric scooters to riders, identifying a second electric scooter stored within the electric scooter docking station that has a battery having a current charge amount above the threshold amount for dispensing scooters to riders, causing the second electric scooter to discharge an excess charge amount from the battery of the second electric scooter to the electric scooter docking station, and charging the battery of the first electric scooter using the excess charge amount discharged from the battery of the second electric scooter to the electric scooter docking station.
In some cases, the electric scooter docking station includes at least one bus bar connected to the first electric scooter and the second electric scooter when the first electric scooter and the second electric scooter are stored within the electric scooter docking station, where the electric scooter docking station transfers charge from the second electric scooter to the first electric scooter via the at least one bus bar.
In some cases, the first electric scooter is positioned in front of the second electric scooter within the electric scooter docking station.
In some cases, the electric scooter docking station determines a battery of a first electric scooter stored within the electric scooter docking station has a current charge amount that is below a threshold charge amount for dispensing electric scooters to riders in response to a charge balancing action performed by the electric scooter docking station initiated after a pre-determined number of electric scooters are stored within the electric scooter docking station.
In some cases, the electric scooter docking station determines a battery of a first electric scooter stored within the electric scooter docking station has a current charge amount that is below a threshold charge amount for dispensing electric scooters to riders in response to detecting the first electric scooter has been with a user for a pre-determined period of time.
In some cases, the electric scooter docking station, the first electric scooter, and the second electric scooter are part of a scooter sharing network that provides scooters to the riders at a specific geographic location.
In some embodiments, a docking station can accommodate three-wheel scooters (e.g., scooters having two front wheels). For example, a docking station that dispenses electric scooters can include two upper channels each configured to receive a front wheel of an electric scooter, a lower channel configured to receive a rear wheel of the electric scooter, where the two upper channels are positioned with respect to the lower channel in a configuration that stores electric scooters within the docking station at an angle with respect to the ground, and a charging rail that contacts a charging port of the electric scooter when the scooter is docked within the apparatus and provides charge to an electric battery of the electric scooter.
As another example, a docking station can dispense electric scooters by positioning multiple electric scooters within multiple channels of the docking station, where the multiple channels are configured to receive wheels of the electric scooters and provide charge to the electric scooters via charging rails within the multiple channels and where the multiple channels include at two distinct channels configured to receive two front wheels of a three-wheel electric scooter, and facilitating self-propelled movement of the multiple electric scooters within the multiple channels of the docking station from an entry portion of the docking station to an exit portion of the docking station.
Thus, in various embodiments, a docking station provides for efficient storage of electric scooters while also charging the scooters when docked within the docking station.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The above detailed description of implementations of the system is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the system to the precise form disclosed above. While specific implementations of, and examples for, the system are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the system, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, some network elements are described herein as performing certain functions. Those functions could be performed by other elements in the same or differing networks, which could reduce the number of network elements. Alternatively, or additionally, network elements performing those functions could be replaced by two or more elements to perform portions of those functions. In addition, while processes, message/data flows, or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative implementations may perform routines having blocks, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order; and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes, message/data flows, or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further, any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.
The teachings of the methods and system provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements, blocks and acts of the various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations.
Any patents, applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the technology can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further implementations of the technology.
These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain implementations of the technology, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed implementations, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/993,912, filed on Mar. 24, 2020, entitled ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS, which is incorporated by reference in their entirety. This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/994,162, filed Aug. 14, 2020.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62993912 | Mar 2020 | US | |
| 62993912 | Mar 2020 | US | |
| 62888316 | Aug 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16994162 | Aug 2020 | US |
| Child | 17211665 | US |
