FR3014826A1 - AUTOMATIC CYCLE STORAGE SYSTEM AND CYCLE FOR SUCH A SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic system comprising a fixed infrastructure (S, 2, 7) having electronic central units (56) connected to peripherals (3-6, 55, 57, 60, 61) comprising at least one user interface (3, 4), the electronic central unit being adapted to operate according to either a normal mode in which said peripherals operate, or at least one sleeping mode in which the central electronic unit stops at least certain peripherals, and the electronic central unit of the control station being adapted to go into sleep mode at least when the user interface has remained unused for a predetermined time.

Description

Automatic cycle storage system and cycle for such a system. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to automatic systems for storing cycles and cycles for such systems. A cycle storage system of this type can be used for example to make cycles available to the public, by identifying the borrower of the cycle and possibly payment of a rental. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FR-2954265A discloses an example of such a cycle storage system. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The subject of the invention is an automatic system comprising: a fixed infrastructure, at least one control system, in which the fixed infrastructure comprises several stations each comprising a control station comprising a connected central electronic unit; peripherals comprising at least one user interface, said electronic central unit being adapted to operate according to either a normal mode where said peripherals operate, or at least one sleep mode in which said electronic control station central unit stopping at least some of said peripherals, and the electronic control unit of the control station being adapted to go into sleep mode at least when the user interface has remained unused for a predetermined time.

In different embodiments of the automatic cycle storage system according to the invention, one or more of the following provisions may also be used: the automatic system is an automatic storage system of cycles comprising a plurality of cycles, wherein the fixed infrastructure comprises a plurality of locking stations adapted to receive and lock each one a cycle, the control system is adapted to selectively lock and unlock a cycle on a locking station, the locking stations are grouped in said stations and the control station of each station controls the locking stations of said station; the control station operates on a battery 20 powered by a photovoltaic device; said electronic central unit of the control station is adapted to operate according to: either said normal mode, or a light sleep mode in which said electronic central unit of the control station stops a first group of said peripherals, or a deep sleep mode in which said electronic central unit of the control station stops a second group of said peripherals, said second group being larger than the first group, and the electronic central unit being adapted to choose between the sleep mode light and deep sleep mode according to predefined criteria; said predefined criteria include the time of day; the control station operates on battery and said predefined criteria include a remaining energy of the battery; the peripherals of the control station comprise at least one wakeup button which remains permanently active and which is connected to the electronic central unit of the control station to switch it to normal mode when said wakeup button is actuated by a user ; - the alarm button is an electric piezo button; the electronic central unit of the control station is adapted to communicate with a remote server by radio according to a radio communication protocol enabling the sending of text messages, and the electronic central unit of the control station being adapted to switch to normal mode upon receipt of a text message; the electronic central unit of the control station is adapted to switch to normal mode at least at certain predetermined periods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an automatic system for storing cycles that can implement the invention; FIG. 2 is a detailed view showing the locking of a cycle on one FIG. 3 and 4 are perspective detail views showing the cycle locking member and the corresponding latch of the locking station, seen in two opposite directions; FIGS. 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views showing the locking mechanism belonging to the locking station, respectively in the locked and unlocked position, FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the main electrical components of the storage system. 1 to 6, in a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, in a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a detail view of part of the block diagram of FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an automatic system for storing cycles 1 such as, in particular, bicycles, making it possible, for example, to store cycles on the public road so as to make them available to the public. This automatic cycle storage system may comprise a plurality of cycle storage stations BS, one of which is shown in FIG. 1. Each station BS for storing cycles comprises a station control station 2, which may for example be under the form of an interactive terminal with a user interface comprising for example a keyboard 3, a screen 4, an electronic portable card reader 5, a ticket printing device 6, etc. The interactive terminal 2 communicates, on the one hand, with the central server S which manages the subscriptions and the rents of cycles, and on the other hand, with a plurality of locking stations 7 which make it possible to lock the cycles during their storage and which can for example be in the form of locking terminals fixed to the ground on the public road. In the example shown, the locking terminals 7 and the interactive terminal 2 are mounted on one or metal plates 8 which are fixed to the ground without excavation, which facilitates the mounting of the BS station. The station BS may also comprise a photovoltaic panel 9 mounted for example at the top of a pole 10 fixed to the plate 8. As can be seen in FIG. 2, each locking station 7 comprises a striker 11 forming a rigid housing which is part of the structure of the locking station 7. The striker 11 has an opening 12 open horizontally in a direction of engagement X and is adapted to receive and retain a locking member 13 secured for example frame la of the cycle 1. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the locking member 13 is in the form of a metal plate which extends substantially horizontally forwards, in a direction of engagement X, to from the frame of the cycle, to a vertical edge before 14 thick. The locking member 13 comprises a first face 13a, which is oriented towards the locking terminal 7 (thus opposite to the frame 1a of the cycle), and which, in the example shown, has a recess 15 (not traversing in the housing). example considered here) in the vicinity of the front edge 14, as well as electrical contacts 16, here two in number. The locking member 13 also comprises a second face 13b, opposite the first face 13 to, which in the example shown comprises a transponder 17 in the vicinity of the front edge 14. As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the striker 11 of the locking terminal may comprise, in the example considered here: - electrical contacts 19 adapted to bear against the electrical contacts 16 of the locking member when the cycle 1 is locked on the position of locking, - as well as a communication interface 20, in this case an antenna, adapted to interrogate the transponder 17 of the locking member and receive the response of this transponder. In the striker 11 is further mounted a locking mechanism 21, visible in Figures 4 to 6, and which is adapted to selectively lock and unlock the locking member 13 of the cycle on the locking station 7. This mechanism of locking 21 includes a locking member 22 rotatably mounted on the keeper 11 about a vertical axis 23, between: - on the one hand, a locked position (Figure 5) where said locking member is adapted to block the organ lock 13 of the cycle in the latch 11, - and secondly, an unlocked position (Figure 6) where the locking member is adapted to allow the locking member of the cycle to enter and exit the latch in the direction of engagement. This locking member 22 has a control spout 24 remote from the opening 12 of the striker and a stopper 25 closer to the opening 12 of the striker. The control spout 24 is arranged to be pushed by the front edge 14 of the locking member 13 of the cycle by rotating the locking member 22 from the unlocked position to the locked position when said locking member 13 of the cycle is engaged in the keeper 11 in the engagement direction X. The stopper 25 is adapted to engage in the recess 15 of the locking member 13 in the locked position of the locking member, then blocking the locking member of the cycle in the striker. The locking mechanism 21 further comprises a lock control mechanism 26 comprising first and second connecting rods 27, 28 hinged together by a first articulation 29, the first connecting rod 27 being articulated on the locking member 22 by a second articulation 30 and the second link 28 being articulated on the striker 11 a third joint 31. The lock control mechanism 26 is movable 25 between a locking position (Figure 5) where said lock control mechanism places the locking member 22 in the locked position and an unlocking position (Figure 6) where said lock control mechanism places the locking member 22 in the unlocked position. Said lock control mechanism 26 is resiliently biased towards the unlocking position by a spring 32 mounted for example between the striker 11 and the first hinge comprises a retaining portion 33 which is arranged for, in the locking position, to be retained by a retaining device 34 secured to the striker 11.

Said retaining portion 33 of the lock control mechanism may be a ferromagnetic metal part (for example a solid piece of steel or iron), secured for example to the first connecting rod 27 and adjacent to the first articulation 29.

The retaining device 34 may comprise, for example: - firstly, a permanent magnet 35 adapted to attract said retaining portion 33 which thus sticks to the magnet 35 in the locking position, - and secondly, an unlocking actuator 36 (for example a solenoid actuated push rod) adapted to selectively push the lock control mechanism 26 from the lock position to the unlocking position by detaching the retaining portion 33 from the permanent magnet 35, sufficiently so that the lock control mechanism 26 can be moved by the spring 32 to the unlocking position. The lock control mechanism 26 is arranged so that: in the unlocked position (FIG. 6), the first hinge 29 is in a first position, away from the permanent magnet 35, not aligned with a straight line passing through the second and third joints 30, 31, and in the locking position (Figure 5), the first joint 29 is in a second position also not aligned with said line D1 passing through the second and third joints 30, 31, but this second position being located beyond said straight line with respect to the first position (the straight line D2 passing through the first and third joints therefore forms between them a non-zero angle α).

In this way, the lock control mechanism 26 is self-locking, since a pull on the cycle results in a bearing force of the retaining portion 33 of the lock control mechanism against the retainer 34. cycle 1 is thus very securely locked on the locking station 7. As shown in FIG. 7, in a first embodiment of the invention, the electric circuit 39 of the cycle 1 can comprise for example at least: a central unit electronics 46 (CPU) such as a microprocessor or microcontroller, adapted to communicate with the locking station 7, - a low voltage power supply circuit 41 (AL) operating for example under 6V or 3V, which powers the unit electronic control unit 46, 20 - a low voltage battery 42 (BATT.) connected to the power supply circuit 41, - an electric generator 43 (D) such as a dynamo, for example a dynamo-hub which may be for example, in the hub of the cycle for generating electric current during the rolling of the cycle, this electric generator being also connected to the power supply circuit 41 to charge the battery 42 during the cycle of the cycle, - the electrical contacts 16, forming an electrical connection interface (INT.), which contacts 16 are supplied by the aforementioned circuit 41 via a switch 41a controlled by the central unit 46, between: a closed state where said switch connects the circuit power supply 41 of the cycle to the electrical contacts 16 of the cycle,. and an open state where said switch isolates the power supply circuit 41 from the cycle of said electrical contacts 16, the transducer 17, which may or may not be connected to the central unit 46, a contactless communication interface 62, example a radio communication interface for communicating with the interactive terminal 2 under a short-range radio protocol such as the Zigbee protocol or possibly Bluetooth. Furthermore, each locking terminal 7 may comprise an electrical circuit 50 comprising, for example: an electronic central unit 51 (CPU) such as a microprocessor or microcontroller, a low-voltage power supply circuit (AL) ( operating at the same voltage as the power supply circuit 41 of the cycle, for example under 3V or 6V) supplying the central unit 51, - the electrical part of the lock control mechanism 26 (LCK), that is to say, that is to say in practice the unlocking actuator 36, powered by the electrical supply circuit 52 and controlled by the central unit 51, - the above-mentioned electrical contacts 19, forming an electrical connection interface (INT.), - a battery 53 (BATT.) supplying the circuit 52 under low voltage, 30 - a wireless communication interface 54 (COM 2) connected to the central unit 51 and making it possible to communicate with the interactive terminal 2 under a short radio protocol range such as BLUETOOTH, ZIGBEE or other protocols, possibly various accessories connected to the central unit 51, for example a contactless card reader, indicator (s), an unlocking control button, etc. , for example on the upper face of the terminal 7. Each locking terminal 7 is preferably autonomous and is connected to the outside by no power supply cable and no low current data transmission cable, this which greatly facilitates the installation of the terminals 7. Optionally, a cable 58a, optional or possibly temporary, can connect the power supply circuit 58 of the interactive terminal 2 to the power supply circuit of each locking terminal 7, but even in this case the BS station as a whole is autonomous. The interactive terminal 2, meanwhile, may include an electronic central unit 56 (CPU) such as a microprocessor or other, which communicates with a number of devices: - the keyboard 3, the screen 4, the reader of card 5 and the printing device 6 mentioned above, - an alarm button 60, for example a piezoelectric button operating without power supply 25 and therefore always active, - a wireless communication interface 55 (COM 2) communicating with it. even with the communication interface 54 of each locking station 7 and operating under the same communication protocol as this one, a communication interface 57 (COM 1), for example a MODEM GPRS or the like, adapted for communicating with the central server S, - a wireless communication interface 61 (COM3) adapted to communicate with the wireless communication interface 62 of the cycles and operating under the same communication protocol as this one, when that these cycles are close to the interactive terminal 2, for example within a radius of a few meters or a few tens of meters, - the aforementioned power supply circuit 58, connected to a battery 59 charged by the photovoltaic panel 9, - a measurement system adapted to continuously measure a parameter representative of an electrical power received by the battery 59 and a parameter representative of an electrical power delivered by the battery 59, this measurement system possibly comprising, for example, two measurement cells of current 59a, 59b at the input and at the output of the battery 59 (the powers received and delivered by the battery can then be obtained by multiplying the currents measured by the DC voltage of the battery, ie for example 12 V).

Optionally, the above-mentioned measurement system could be limited to one or two current measuring cells at the output of the battery 59, for example to detect consumption anomalies and to transmit them to the server S.

The system just described works as follows. When a user wants to take a cycle 1 on one of the locking terminals 7, he can for example insert a portable electronic card in the reader 5 of the interactive terminal 2 and enter a secret code corresponding to this card, by means of the keyboard 3, so as to identify with said interactive terminal. After verifying the rights of the user with the server S, the interactive terminal 2 gives a locking authorization to one of the locking terminals 7, so that the user can unlock the cycle 1 in place on this terminal, for example by pressing a button provided on this terminal, which causes the control of the unlocking actuator 36 by the CPU 51 to move the control mechanism 26 in the unlocked position. The user can then take the cycle 1, and the electronic central unit 51 of the lock terminal then marks the removal of the cycle 1 since it can no longer communicate with the transponder 17 of this cycle. The electronic central unit 51 of the locking terminal 7 then informs the interactive terminal 2 of this removal.

When the user returns the cycle 1 and puts it on a locking terminal 7, it engages the locking member 13 in the latch 11 of the locking terminal. During this movement, the locking member 13 rotates the locking member 22 as explained above, which goes into the locked position (Figure 5), and the electrical contacts 16 of the cycle are connected to the electrical contacts 19 of the latch 11. When the cycle one is locked on the locking terminal 7, the antenna 20 of the lock terminal 25 identifies the presence of the cycle by communicating with the transducer 17 of the cycle, after which the central unit 51 of the terminal of The lock communicates, via the communication interfaces 54, 55, with the central unit 56 of the interactive terminal 2, to indicate the presence of the cycle and the identity of this cycle read on the transducer 17. The electronic central unit 56 of the interactive terminal 2 also communicates with the central unit 46 of the cycle via the communication interfaces 61,62, so as to give authorization to said central unit 46 of the food power cycle er the lock terminal 7 from the battery 42 of the cycle. The electronic central unit 46 of the cycle, thus informed of the locking of the cycle on the locking terminal 7, is adapted to then control the switch 41a of the power supply circuit 41 of the cycle to go to the closed state and feed the power supply circuit 52 of the locking station 7.

Without this control of the electronic control unit 46 of the cycle, the switch 41a of the power supply circuit 41 of the cycle remains in the open state and does not supply the contacts 16 of the cycle, which avoids the risk of discharge. In a variant, the communication interfaces 61, 62 could be omitted and the electronic control unit 46 of the cycle could be adapted to establish a communication with the controller. electronic central unit 51 of the lock terminal 7, so as to be informed of the cycle lock to control the power supply of the contacts 16 by the supply circuit 41. Once the switch 41a is in the closed state, the Power supply circuit 41 of cycle 1 then feeds supply circuit 52 of lock terminal 7 via contacts 16, 19, and the two circuits are designed so that the Battery 42 of the cycle, previously loaded by the dynamo 43 of the cycle, can thus recharge the battery 53 of the terminal 7, which, combined with the low power consumption of the terminal 7, allows the aforementioned autonomy of the terminal 7. Furthermore, the central unit 46 of the cycle can be programmed to move the above-mentioned switch 41a to the open state: when the cycle starts to move, which it locates for example when the dynamo 43 of the cycle generates a current; when the battery 42 of the cycle is exhausted (when it produces a voltage lower than a predetermined value). The electronic central unit 51 of the locking terminal can also possibly communicate with the electronic central unit 46 of the cycle via at least some of the contacts 19. Furthermore, the electronic central unit 56 of the terminal interactive 2 may be adapted to operate according to: either a normal mode where said peripherals operate, or at least one sleep mode in which said electronic central unit stops at least some of said peripherals, and the electronic central unit being adapted to go into sleep mode at least when the user interface has remained unused for a predetermined time. More specifically, the sleep mode may for example be divided into two sub-modes: either a light sleep mode in which said electronic central unit stops a first group of said devices, or a deep sleep mode in 30 wherein said electronic central unit stops a second group of said peripherals, said second group being larger than the first group. In this case, the electronic central unit 56 is adapted to choose between the light sleep mode and the deep sleep mode according to predefined criteria, especially the time of day (light sleep at rush hour and deep at night). off-peak hours and off-peak hours may depend on stations and days, and may eventually be adapted automatically by statistical methods over the life of the system). Moreover, the electronic central unit 56 is adapted to make the interactive terminal 2 go into a light or deep sleep mode depending on the remaining energy of the battery (switching to a light sleep mode if the remaining energy E of the battery is lower than a first threshold El, and deep sleep mode 15 if the remaining energy is less than a second threshold E2 itself lower than the first threshold El). In this case, the central unit 56 sends an alert message to the central server S when the battery reaches the threshold E1 and then when it reaches the threshold E2, signaling the state of charge of the battery. Determining the remaining energy E of the battery is made knowing the initial energy E0 of the battery (or its initial charge, for example of the order of 65 Ah) and integrating in time the difference between the power We receive 25 by the battery 59 and the electric power Ws delivered by the battery 59: E = E0 + 1 (We-Ws) dt. The central unit 56 is also adapted to switch to normal mode, by reactivating all the peripherals, when it was in sleep mode, during the following events: - in the case where the sleep was caused by a passing under the threshold E1 or E2: the remaining energy of the battery becomes greater than El; - in other cases of dormant: - the activation of the alarm button 60; the reception of a text message by the communication interface 57 (which makes it possible, for example, to check the state of the interactive terminal 2 from the server, or to download a software update in said interactive terminal 2, even when in sleep mode); The establishment of a short-range radio link with a cycle; - at certain predetermined times. The second embodiment of the invention, shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 8 and 9, is similar to the first embodiment in its structure and operation, so that this second embodiment will not be described in detail here; only the differences with respect to the first embodiment will be described hereinafter.

In this second embodiment, the cycle does not include a central unit 46 or a communication interface 62, and the interactive terminal 2 has no communication interface 61. The other elements of the system and their operation are identical or similar to those of the system described above, with the exception of the power supply circuit 41 of the cycle, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 9. The switch 41a here consists of a current generator G connected to the battery 42 of the cycle and 30 to the contacts 16 of the cycle, as well as two logic gates 41b (STA) and 41c (STO) which will be described hereinafter. The current generator G and the logic gates 41b, 41c form an automatic switching device which is switchable between a closed state where said automatic switching device connects the power supply circuit 41 of the cycle to the electrical contacts 16 of the cycle, and an open state where said automatic switching device isolates the power supply circuit 41 of the cycle (and in particular the battery 42) from said electrical contacts 16 of the cycle. Said automatic switching device 41a-41c is adapted to switch from the open state to the closed state when it receives at least one predetermined information from the fixed infrastructure S, 2, 7, and especially when it receives at least an electrical voltage of the contacts 16 when connected to the contacts 19 of a locking station. In particular, the first logic gate 41b is connected to the electrical contacts 16 of the cycle and is adapted to deliver to the current generator 41a a first control signal for switching said current generator from the open state to the closed state when said first logic gate receives at least one electrical voltage of the electrical contacts 16. Moreover, said automatic switching device 41a-41c is adapted to automatically switch from the closed state to the open state, at least when the battery 42 of the present cycle a load less than a predetermined value, especially when it has a voltage lower than a predetermined value. Finally, the second logic gate 41c is connected to the dynamo 43 of the cycle and is adapted to deliver to the current generator 41a a second control signal for switching said current generator from the closed state to the open state when said second logic gate receives at least one electrical voltage of the dynamo 43 of the cycle, that is to say when the cycle is in motion.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Automatic system comprising: - a fixed infrastructure (S, 2, 7), - at least one control system (S, 2, 51), in which the fixed infrastructure comprises several stations (BS) each comprising a control station ( 2) comprising an electronic central unit (56) connected to peripherals (3-6, 55, 57, 60, 61) comprising at least one user interface (3, 4), said electronic central unit (56) being adapted to operate according to: - either a normal mode where said peripherals (36, 55, 57, 60, 61) operate, - or at least one sleeping mode in which said electronic central unit (56) of the control station stops at least some of said peripherals (36, 55, 57, 60, 61), and the electronic control unit (56) of the control station being adapted to go into sleep mode at least when the user interface (3, 4) has remained unused for a predetermined time. An automatic system according to claim 1, consisting of an automatic cycle storage system comprising a plurality of cycles (1), wherein the fixed infrastructure comprises a plurality of locking stations (7) adapted to receive and lock each a cycle (1), the control system (S, 2, 51) is adapted to selectively latch and unlock a cycle (1) on a locking station (7), the locking stations (7) are grouped in said stations (BS) and the control station (2) of each station (BS) controls the locking stations (7) of said station. 3. Automatic system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control station (2) operates on battery (59) powered by a photovoltaic device (9). 4. Automatic system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said electronic central unit (56) of the control station (2) is adapted to operate according to: - either said normal mode, - or a light sleep mode wherein said electronic control unit central unit (56) stops a first group of said peripherals (36, 55, 57, 60, 61), or a deep sleep mode in which said electronic central unit of the control station control stops a second group of said peripherals (3-6, 55, 57, 60, 61), said second group being larger than the first group, and the electronic central unit being adapted to choose between the light sleep mode and deep sleep mode according to predefined criteria; The automatic system of claim 4, wherein said predefined criteria include time of day. 25 An automatic system according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the control station (2) operates on battery (59) and said predefined criteria comprise a remaining battery power (59). An automatic system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the peripherals (3-6, 55, 57, 60, 61) of the control station comprise at least one wake-up button (60) which remains permanently active. and which is connected to the electronic control unit (56) of the control station to switch to normal mode when said wakeup button (60) is operated by a user. The automatic system of claim 7, wherein the wakeup button (60) is a piezoelectric button. 9. Automatic system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic control unit (56) of the control station is adapted to communicate with a remote server (S) by radio according to a radio communication protocol allowing sending text messages, and the electronic control unit (56) of the control station being adapted to switch to normal mode upon receipt of a text message. An automatic system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic control unit (56) of the control station is adapted to switch to normal mode at least at certain predetermined times.