Patent Publication Number: US-2010123402-A1

Title: Bicycle control device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bicycle control device, and more particularly to a bicycle control device for sensing the speed of the bicycle and lightness around the bicycle, in order to control the lamps and the lock of the bicycle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the increasing fuel price, more and more people living in the modern society choose not to drive a car or ride a motorcycle so frequently, so as to achieve the purpose of saving money and energy and reducing carbon. Riding bicycle and taking public transportation means are two alternatives for driving cars and riding motorcycles. Particularly, bicycle is not only a convenient traffic means, but also an ideal exercise apparatus. Therefore, various types of bicycle meters for sensing a bicycle&#39;s traveling information and a rider&#39;s body signals have been developed. 
     Taiwan Utility Model No. M327829 discloses an integrated control device for mounting on a bicycle having at least one lamp. The integrated bicycle control device includes a keypad, a microprocessor, a wireless transceiver, and a display unit. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the keypad for receiving signals generated by pressing the keys of the keypad and sending out a driving signal accordingly. The driving signal is then transmitted by the wireless transceiver to another wireless transceiver mounted on the lamp of the bicycle for controlling the on/off of the lamp. The display unit is electrically connected to the microprocessor for displaying the on/off state of the lamp on the bicycle. 
     Generally, assemblies mounted to the bicycle may include lighting components or various types of sensors. For example, speed sensors, head lamps, tail lamps, locks and warning units . . . etc. However, the components mentioned above work independently and lack cooperative functions. Therefore, a user must manipulate each component separately. When the user is not familiar with the operation, or forgets to switch on/off e.g. the lamps or the warning unit, the battery is out of electricity or the bicycle is stolen. As a result, it causes a waste of electricity, and also cause user to be inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle control device, so as to integrate various components with a bicycle control device and provide some interrelated functions among the components. In addition, by means of sensing the situation of the riding bicycle the specific functions of the bicycle are executed correspondingly. 
     The means to solve the foregoing problems is to provide a bicycle control device comprising a speed sensing unit, a light sensing unit, a microprocessor, at least one lamp, a lock and a warning unit. When the bicycle is being ridden, the speed sensing unit detects the speed of the bicycle and generates a speed signal; the light sensing unit detects the lightness around the bicycle and generates a lightness signal. The microprocessor of the control device sends a command signal to trigger the lamp at a full light level or normal light level. Once the bicycle is being parked for a long time, the microprocessor turns off the lamp and triggers the lock to lock the bicycle, and turns on the warning unit simultaneously. 
     With the technical means adopted by the present invention, the speed of a bicycle and lightness around the bicycle can be sensed when a user rides the bicycle, so that the microprocessor may control the light level of the lamp or turn off the lamp. In that case, the user does not have to adjust the light level of the lamp manually according to lightness around the bicycle, so as to avoid some possible traffic accidents. On the other hand, when the bicycle is being parked, the microprocessor can determine to turn on/off the lamp in accordance with the parking time, and determine to lock/unlock the bicycle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a control module of a bicycle control device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a circuit block diagram of a bicycle control device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bicycle control device of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a circuit block diagram of a bicycle control device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bicycle control device of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an operation of a bicycle control device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of lamp regulation at different speeds; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of automatic electricity management for the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 1  shows a control module of a bicycle control device in accordance with the present invention,  FIG. 2  shows a circuit block diagram of a bicycle control device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3  shows the bicycle control device of the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a bicycle control device  100  comprises a microprocessor  11 , a speed sensing unit  12 , a light sensing unit  13 , a direction sensing unit  14 , a rotating speed sensing unit  15 , a body signal sensing unit  16 , a keypad  17 , a display unit  18 , four lamps  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 , a lock module  25 , and a warning module  26 . The microprocessor  11 , the speed sensing unit  12 , the light sensing unit  13 , the direction sensing unit  14 , the rotating speed sensing unit  15 , the body signal sensing unit  16 , the keypad  17  and the display unit  18  are arranged in a control module  3 . In this embodiment, the lamp  21  includes a head lamp  211  and a controller  212 , which is installed on a front side of the bicycle. The lamp  22  includes a tail lamp  221  and a controller  222 , which is installed on a rear side of the bicycle. The lamp  23  includes a left indicator lamp  231  and a controller  232 , which is installed in place and adjacent to the lamp  21 . The lamp  24  includes a right indicator lamp  241  and a controller  242 , which is installed in place and adjacent to the lamp  21 . The lock module  25  comprises a lock  251  and a controller  252 . The warning module  26  comprises a warning unit  261  and a controller  262 . 
     When a user U rides the bicycle B, the speed sensing unit  12  of the control module  3  detects the speed of the bicycle and generates a speed signal s 1  and sends the speed signal s 1  to the microprocessor  11 . The light sensing unit  13  detects lightness around the bicycle B and generates a lightness signal s 2  and sends the lightness signal s 2  to the microprocessor  11 . Receiving the speed signal s 1  and lightness signal s 2 , the microprocessor  11  generates command signals s 31 , s 32  to turn on the head and tail lamps  211 ,  221  via the controller  212 ,  222  respectively. If the user U changes the moving direction of the bicycle B, with the manual control of the user, the direction sensing unit  14  of the control module  3  generates a direction signal and sends the direction signal to the microprocessor  11 . When the bicycle B turns to the left, the microprocessor  11  generates a control signal s 41  and transmits it to the left indicator lamp  231  via the controller  232 . Receiving the control signal s 41 , the left indicator lamp  231  is turned on and flashes. When turning of the bicycle is over, the controller  232  turns off the left indicator lamp  231 . Similarly, if the bicycle B turns to the right, the microprocessor  11  generates a control signal s 42  and transmits the control signal s 42  to the right indicator lamp  241  via the controller  242 . Receiving the control signal s 42 , the right indicator lamp  241  is turned on and flashes. When turning of the bicycle is over, the controller  242  turns off the right indicator lamp  241 . Furthermore, the light sensing unit  13  is installed inside the control module  3 , and adjacent to the bottom of the control module  3 , so as to prevent from influence of external light. 
     The rotating speed sensing unit  15  detects the rotating speed of the pedal  27  being trodden by the user U, so as to generate a rotating speed signal s 5  sending to the microprocessor  11 . The body signal sensing unit  16  may detect the user&#39;s physical situation and generate a body signal s 6  accordingly. The body signal s 6  is selected from a group comprising a body temperature signal, a heartbeat signal, and a calorie consumption signal. In addition, when a user presses the keypad  17 , the microprocessor  11  may send the traveling information s 7  to the display unit  18  for displaying. 
     If the bicycle B is being parked for less than one minute, the microprocessor  11  turns on the head lamp  211  and the tail lamp  221  at a full light level via the respective controller  212 ,  222 . If the bicycle B is being parked for more than one minute, the controllers  212 ,  222  respectively turn on the head lamp  211  and the tail lamp  221  at a normal light level. If the bicycle B is being parked more than three minutes, the microprocessor  11  turns off the head lamp  211  and the tail lamp  221 , and then sends a lock control signal s 81  to lock the bicycle B and a trigger signal s 82  to turn on the warning module  26 . 
     If the user U removes the control module  3  from the bicycle B, the controller  252  of the lock module  25  switches on the lock  251  to lock the bicycle B. At the same time, the controller  262  of the warning module  26  turns on the warning unit  261 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5  at the same time,  FIG. 4  is a circuit block diagram, and  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a bicycle control device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Since the bicycle control device  100  in the second embodiment is structurally and functionally similar to the first embodiment, components that are the same in the two embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the speed sensing unit  12  further comprises a wireless transceiving module  121  having an encoder  121   a  and a wireless transceiver  121   b,  so as to encode a speed signal s 1  generated by the speed sensing unit  12 , and then the signal s 1  is sent to the microprocessor  11  by the transceiver  121   b.  The rotating speed sensing unit  15  further comprises a wireless transceiving module  151  having an encoder  151   a  and a wireless transceiver  151   b,  so as to encode the rotating speed signal s 5 , and emits the encoded signal s 5  via the wireless transceiver  151   b.  The body signal sensing unit  16  further comprises a wireless transceiving module  161  having an encoder  161   a  and a wireless transceiver  161   b,  so as to encode the body signal s 6 , and emits the encoded signal via the wireless transceiver  161   b.    
     In this embodiment, a control module  3   a  comprises a microprocessor  11  which is connected with a wireless transceiver module  19 . The wireless transceiver module  19  comprises an encoder and decoder  191  and a wireless transceiver  192 , so as to receive signals including the speed signals s 1 , lightness signals s 2 , direction signals s 4 , rotating speed signals s 5 , and body signals s 6 , and then decode the encoded signals thereof. In addition, the encoder and decoder  191  is also adapted to encode the command signals s 31 , s 32 , the control signals s 41 , s 42 , the lock control signal s 81  and the trigger signal s 82  transmitted by the microprocessor  11 , and emits the encoded signals by the wireless transceiver  192 . 
     The lamp  21  comprises a wireless-transceiving module  213  including a decoder  213   a  and a wireless transceiver  213   b,  so as to receive and decode the command signal s 31  transmitted by microprocessor  11 , and then transmits the decoded signal to the controller  212 . Similarly, the lamp  22  comprises a wireless transceiving module  223  including a decoder  223   a  and a wireless transceiver  223   b,  so as to receive and decode the command signal s 32  transmitted by microprocessor  11 , and then transmits the decoded signal to the controller  222 . Similarly, the lamp  23  comprises a wireless transceiving module  233  including a decoder  233   a  and a wireless transceiver  233   b,  so as to receive and decode the control signal s 41  transmitted by microprocessor  11 , and then transmits the decoded signal to the controller  222 . Similarly, the lamp  24  comprises a wireless transceiving module  243  including a decoder  243   a  and a wireless transceiver  243   b,  so as to receive and decode the command signal s 42  transmitted by microprocessor  11 , and then transmits the decoded signal to the controller  242 . 
     The lock module  25  further includes a wireless transceiving module  253  comprising a decoder  253   a  and a wireless transceiver  253   b,  so as to receive and decode the lock control signal s 81  transmitted by microprocessor  11 , and then transmits the decoded signal to the controller  252 . The warning module  26  includes a wireless transceiving module  253  comprising a decoder  263   a  and a wireless transceiver  263   b,  so as to receive and decode the trigger signal s 82  transmitted by microprocessor  11 , and then transmits the decoded signal to the controller  262 . 
     If the user U removes the control module  3   a  from the bicycle B, the controller  252  of the lock module  25  detects the removal of the control module  3   a  and switches on the lock  251  to lock the bicycle B. At the same time, controller  262  of the warning module  26  also detects the removal of the control module  3   a  and turns on the warning unit  261 . 
     When the user U would like to look for the bicycle B, just need to press the bicycle location finding key  171  of the keypad  17 , and then the keypad  17  transmits a bicycle finding signal s 9  to the microprocessor  11 . When the microprocessor  11  receives the bicycle finding signal s 9 , the wireless transceiver module  19  encodes the received signal s 9  and emits the encoded signal s 9 . Once the bicycle B receives the bicycle finding signal s 9 , the controller  222  turns on the tail lamp  221  to flash and the warning module  26  sends a beep. After that, the lock  241  of the bicycle B is being unlocked, and the warning module  26  is being relieved. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6  at the same time.  FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an operation of the control device in accordance with the present invention. As shown, when a user manipulates the control module  3 , the speed sensing unit  12  would detect the speed of the bicycle B and generate a speed signal s 1  (step  101 ). Then the speed sensing unit  12  sends the speed signal s 1  to the microprocessor  11  for determining whether the speed of the bicycle B is zero (step  102 ). Next, it is determined if the control module  3  is removed from the bicycle or not (step  103 ). When the speed of the bicycle B is zero and the control module  3  is being removed, the microprocessor  11  transmits a lock control signal s 81  and a trigger signal s 82 . Meanwhile, the lock module  25  receives the lock control signal s 82 , and triggers the lock module  21  to lock the bicycle B (step  104 ). When the warning module  26  receives the trigger signal s 82 , the warning unit  261  is turned on (step  105 ). The controller  212  of the lamp  21  turns off the head lamp  211 , and the controller  222  of the lamp  22  turns off the tail lamp  221  (step  106 ). 
     Alternatively, when the speed sensing unit  12  detects that the speed of the bicycle B is not zero and the bicycle B is moving, the light sensing unit  13  detects lightness around the bicycle B (step  107 ). When it is determined that lightness around the bicycle B is insufficient, the light sensing unit  13  sends a light signal s 2  to the microprocessor  11 , and the microprocessor  11  generates a command signal s 31  to turn on the head lamp  211  at a normal light level (step  108 ), and generates a command signal s 32  to turn on the tail lamp  221  at a normal light level (step  109 ). Contrarily, when lightness around the bicycle B is sufficient, the head lamp  211  and the tail lamp  221  will not be turned on, and the speed sensing unit  12  continues to detect the speed of the bicycle B. 
     When the speed sensing unit  12  detects that the speed of the bicycle B is zero and the control module  3  is not being removed, the microprocessor  11  counts the parking time of the bicycle B and determines whether the parking time is less than one minute (step  110 ). If the parking time of the bicycle B is less than one minute, the microprocessor  11  sends a command signal s 32  to the controller  222  to turn on the tail lamp  221  at a full light level (step  111 ). And the controller  211  also turns on the head lamp  211  at a full light level (step  112 ). After that, the speed sensing unit  12  continues to detect the speed of the bicycle B. 
     It is determined if the parking time of the bicycle B exceeds three minutes, and if the parking time of the bicycle B is less than three minutes (step  113 ), the microprocessor  11  sends a lock control signal s 81  to lock the bicycle B (step  114 ). And then the microprocessor  11  transmits a trigger signal s 82  to turn on the warning module  26  (step  115 ). The controllers  211 ,  221  turn off the head lamp  211  and the tail lamp  221  respectively (step  116 ). Alternatively, if parking time of the bicycle B is less than three minutes, the microprocessor  11  transmits a command signal s 31  to the controller  211  to turn on the head lamp  211  at a normal light level (step  117 ). At the same time, the microprocessor  11  transmits a command signal s 32  to the controller  221  to turn on the tail lamp  221  at a normal light level (step  118 ). 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart of lamp regulation at different speed. As shown, the speed sensing unit  12  detects the speed of the bicycle B (step  201 ), and then generates a speed signal s 1  and transmit the signal to the microprocessor  11  (step  202 ). The microprocessor  11  determines if the bicycle is at a high speed. When the bicycle is at a high speed, a first light mode is being executed to turn on the lamps at a full light level (step  203 ). The microprocessor  11  determines if the bicycle is at a moderate speed (step  204 ). When the bicycle is at a moderate speed, a second light mode is being executed to turn on the lamps at a normal light level (step  205 ). The microprocessor  11  determines if the bicycle is at a low speed (step  206 ). When the bicycle is at a low speed, a third light mode is being executed to turn on the lamps at a weak light level (step  207 ). The microprocessor  11  determines if the speed of the bicycle is zero (step  208 ). If the bicycle is still moving, the third light mode is kept executing, and the lamps are at the weak light level (step  207 ). If the bicycle stops, the lamps are turned off (step  209 ). 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart of automatic power management for the present invention. The present invention may further install a power generator on the hub of the bicycle, in order to provide power when the bicycle is moving. Thus, by cooperating with the automatic power management of the present invention, the power generator may reach the maximum efficiency. As shown, the first step is to enter an automatic power management mode (step  301 ). The light sensing unit detects whether lightness around the bicycle attains to 90% (step  302 ). When lightness around the bicycle attains to 90%, the lamps are turned off via the controllers (step  303 ). The light sensing unit detects whether lightness around the bicycle attains to 60% (step  304 ). When lightness around the bicycle simply attains to 60%, the lamps are turned on at a normal light level via the controllers (step  305 ). The light sensing unit detects whether lightness around the bicycle attains to 60% (step  306 ). When lightness around the bicycle simply attains to 30%, the lamps are turned on at a full light level via the controllers (step  307 ). When the power of a battery in the lamp is decreasing, a gain value of the controller of the lamp is increased, so as to keep the lamp at the predetermined light level (step  311 ). It is determined if the power of the generator is decreasing (step  310 ). When the power of the generator is decreasing, a gain value of the controller is increased, so as to keep the lamp at the predetermined light level (step  311 ). When the power of the battery and that of the power generator are normal or increasing, the gain value of the controller is kept unchanged or decreased, so as to maintain the lamp at the predetermined light level (step  312 ). 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof and the best modes for carrying out the invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.