JP2004150837A

JP2004150837A - Vehicle discovery equipment

Info

Publication number: JP2004150837A
Application number: JP2002313452A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Shosuke Akisada; 昭輔秋定; Yuritsugu Toyomi; 百合貢豊海; Minoru Kawamoto; 実河本
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Works Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-28
Filing date: 2002-10-28
Publication date: 2004-05-27

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide vehicle discovery equipment that has other functions in addition to a function for discovering vehicles and hence saves space and does not damage the appearance of a vehicle. SOLUTION: A transmitter 10 can be carried and information for specifying the transmitter 10 and operation information on transmission switches SW1, SW2 are transmitted by radio waves. A receiver 20 is fitted to a bicycle, receives radio waves from the transmitter 10, and allows operation to be instructed by the operation of the transmission switches SW1, SW2 in a specific transmitter. The receiver 20 selects three kinds of operation modes including search, reporting, and warning modes according to the instruction of the transmitter 10. In the search mode, report lamps LP1-LP3 blink only for a specified limit period. In the reporting mode, the reporting lamps LP1-LP3 blink continuously. In a period when the warming mode is selected, an alarm buzzer 27 sounds when a traveling sensor 25 detects the traveling of the bicycle. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、駐車ないし駐輪している車両の中から所有者の車両を発見するのに役立つ車両発見装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来から、駐輪場のように周囲に多数台の自転車の中から所有者の自転車を見つけ出す技術として、自転車に受信器を取り付けておき、所有者が携帯している送信器から特定の電波を発信したときに、送信器からの電波を受信した受信器において光源を点灯させる装置が各種提案されている。（たとえば、特許文献１、特許文献２、特許文献３参照）。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
実開昭５７−１１４４８７号公報（第１頁、第２図）
【特許文献２】
実開昭６４−２２５８９号公報（第１頁、図１図）
【特許文献３】
特公平６−２４７９３号公報（第２頁、第１図）
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで、上述した各特許文献に記載されている技術では、いずれも送信器からの電波によって受信器で光源を発光させる構成を備えているものの、多数台の自転車の中から所有者の自転車を発見することを支援する単機能しか備えていないものである。自転車は装置を取り付けるスペースが少なく、走行時に自動車の運転者に注意を喚起するための安全灯を取り付けたり、盗難防止のための装置を別途に取り付けたりすれば外観を損なうという問題を生じる。
【０００５】
本発明は上記事由に鑑みて為されたものであり、その目的は、車両を発見する機能を持ちながらも１台で他の機能も併せ持つことによって省スペースであって車両の外観を損なわない車両発見装置を提供することにある。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
請求項１の発明は、携帯可能であって自己を特定する情報と送信スイッチの操作情報とを電波で送信する送信器と、車両に固定され送信器からの電波を受信するとともに特定の送信器における送信スイッチの操作により動作が指示される受信器とを備え、受信器は、探索モードと警戒モードとの２種類の動作モードが選択可能であって送信器からの指示に応じて少なくとも探索モードを選択する受信回路と、所定距離から点灯状態が視認可能な報知灯と、警戒モードが選択されている期間に車両の走行を検知する走行センサと、警報音を報知する警報ブザーと、走行センサにより車両の走行が検知されると警報ブザーを鳴動させる警戒制御回路と、送信器からの探索モードの指示により報知灯を規定した時限期間内でのみ点灯制御する点灯制御回路とを備えることを特徴とする。
【０００７】
請求項２の発明は、携帯可能であって自己を特定する情報と送信スイッチの操作情報とを電波で送信する送信器と、車両に固定され送信器からの電波を受信するとともに特定の送信器における送信スイッチの操作により動作が指示される受信器とを備え、受信器は、探索モードと報知モードと警戒モードとの３種類の動作モードが選択可能であって送信器からの指示に応じて少なくとも探索モードと報知モードとが選択可能である受信回路と、所定距離から点灯状態が視認可能な報知灯と、警戒モードが選択されている期間に車両の走行を検知する走行センサと、警報音を報知する警報ブザーと、走行センサにより車両の走行が検知されると警報ブザーを鳴動させる警戒制御回路と、送信器からの探索モードの指示により報知灯を規定した時限期間内でのみ点灯制御するとともに送信器からの報知モードの指示により報知灯を継続的に点灯制御する点灯制御回路とを備えることを特徴とする。
【０００８】
請求項３の発明は、携帯可能であって自己を特定する情報と送信スイッチの操作情報とを電波で送信する送信器と、車両に固定され送信器からの電波を受信するとともに特定の送信器における送信スイッチの操作により動作が指示される受信器とを備え、受信器は、送信器からの指示に応じて探索モードと報知モードとの２種類の動作モードを選択する受信回路と、所定距離から点灯状態が視認可能な報知灯と、送信器からの探索モードの指示により報知灯を規定した時限期間内でのみ点灯制御するとともに送信器からの報知モードの指示により報知灯を継続的に点灯制御する点灯制御回路とを備えることを特徴とする。
【０００９】
請求項４の発明は、請求項１または請求項２の発明において、前記車両に装着され施錠時に車両の走行を禁止する錠装置を備え、前記警戒制御回路は、錠装置が施錠されている期間と前記警戒モードが選択されている期間とを一致させ、錠装置が施錠されている期間に走行センサにより車両の走行が検知されると警報ブザーを鳴動させることを特徴とする。
【００１０】
請求項５の発明では、請求項４の発明において、前記警戒制御回路は、前記送信器からの指示により警戒モードが選択されたときと前記錠装置が手操作により施錠されたときとの少なくとも一方で前記警戒モードに移行することを特徴とする。
【００１１】
請求項６の発明では、請求項４の発明において、前記警戒制御回路は、前記送信器からの指示により警戒モードを解除するとともに前記錠装置を解錠することを特徴とする。
【００１２】
請求項７の発明では、請求項４の発明において、前記警戒制御回路は、前記錠装置が解錠されると前記警戒モードを解除することを特徴とする。
【００１３】
請求項８の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記送信器から前記受信器に電波が到達する距離を前記報知灯の点灯が視認可能な距離に一致させるように設定したことを特徴とする。
【００１４】
請求項９の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記受信回路は前記送信器からの電波を待ち受ける期間には間欠駆動されることを特徴とする。
【００１５】
請求項１０の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記報知灯は複数個設けられ、前記点灯制御回路は各報知灯の点灯期間が重複しないように各報知灯を順に繰り返して点灯させることを特徴とする。
【００１６】
請求項１１の発明では、請求項１０の発明において、前記点灯制御回路は各報知灯の点灯毎にいずれの報知灯も点灯しない不灯期間を設けることを特徴とする。
【００１７】
請求項１２の発明は、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記受信器は電池を電源とし、前記点灯制御回路は、前記報知灯を点滅させるとともに前記受信回路が電池の端子電圧が電池の交換時期として規定した下限値以下になったことを検知すると下限値よりも高い期間に対して前記報知灯の１回の点灯期間を短くすることを特徴とする。
【００１８】
請求項１３の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記受信器は電池を電源とし、前記点灯制御回路は、前記報知灯を点滅させるとともに前記受信回路が電池の端子電圧が電池の交換時期として規定した下限値以下になったことを検知すると下限値よりも高い期間に対して前記報知灯の点灯周期を長くすることを特徴とする。
【００１９】
請求項１４の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記報知灯は、前記受信器を前記車両に固定した状態で光の放射方向が水平面に対して所定角度で斜め上向きになるように配置されていることを特徴とする。
【００２０】
請求項１５の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記報知灯は、前記車両の少なくとも左方向および右方向に光を放射するように複数個配置されるとともに、前記受信器を前記車両に固定した状態で光の放射方向が水平面に対して所定角度で斜め上向きになるように配置されていることを特徴とする。
【００２１】
請求項１６の発明では、請求項１４または請求項１５の発明において、前記所定角度は２〜１２度であることを特徴とする。
【００２２】
請求項１７の発明では、請求項１４ないし請求項１６の発明において、前記報知灯は前記車両の後方と左方向と右方向とにそれぞれ光を放射するように複数個設けられ、前記点灯制御回路は各報知灯を順に繰り返して点灯させることを特徴とする。
【００２３】
請求項１８の発明では、請求項１７の発明において、前記点灯制御回路は各報知灯を左右の並び順でサイクリックに点灯させることを特徴とする。
【００２４】
請求項１９の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記受信器のケースは前記報知灯を覆う透光性のランプカバーを備え、前記報知灯は少なくとも左方向と右方向とに光を放射するようにケース内に配置され、ランプカバーの左右両側部にはケースの側方に突出して報知灯からの光の一部を前方から視認可能とするように変向するプリズム部が一体に設けられていることを特徴とする。
【００２５】
請求項２０の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記受信器は電池を電源とし、前記点灯制御回路は前記報知灯を点滅させるとともに、報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを一定に保つように電池の端子電圧が低下するほど報知灯の１回の通電時間を長くすることを特徴とする。
【００２６】
請求項２１の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記受信器は電池を電源とし、前記点灯制御回路は前記報知灯を点滅させるとともに、報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを一定に保つように報知灯を通過する電流値が低下するほど報知灯の１回の通電時間を長くすることを特徴とする。
【００２７】
請求項２２の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記点灯制御回路は、前記探索モードが選択されている間は前記報知灯を点滅させるとともに前記受信回路での前記送信器からの電波の受信毎に報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを段階的に増大させることを特徴とする。
【００２８】
請求項２３の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記点灯制御回路は、前記探索モードが選択されている間は前記報知灯を点滅させるとともに前記受信回路での前記送信器からの受信強度が大きいほど報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを段階的に減少させることを特徴とする。
【００２９】
請求項２４の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記報知灯は発光ダイオードであって、前記受信回路は報知灯の周囲温度を検出する温度検知部を備え、前記点灯制御回路は、温度検知部による検知温度が上昇するほど報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを増大させることを特徴とする。
【００３０】
請求項２５の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記受信器は電池と補助電源とを備え、電池と補助電源との少なくとも一方を電源に用いることを特徴とする。
【００３１】
請求項２６の発明では、請求項２５の発明において、前記補助電源は太陽電池を備え、前記受信回路の待ち受け状態では補助電源から給電することを特徴とする。
【００３２】
請求項２７の発明では、請求項２または請求項３の発明において、前記車両は自転車であって、前記補助電源は車両の走行時に発電するダイナモを備え、前記報知モードにおける前記報知灯への給電に補助電源を用いることを特徴とする。
【００３３】
請求項２８の発明では、請求項２または請求項３の発明において、前記車両は自転車であって、前記補助電源は、自転車のスポークに取り付けられた永久磁石と、前記受信器に設けられ自転車の走行時に永久磁石の磁束が横切ることにより発電するコイルとからなり、前記報知モードにおける前記報知灯への給電に補助電源を用いることを特徴とする。
【００３４】
請求項２９の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記車両は自転車であって、前記受信器は電池と補助電源とを電源として備え、補助電源は、車両の走行時に発電するダイナモと、補助電源の出力端間に接続されダイナモにより充電される二次電池とを備え、前記受信回路の待ち受け状態では補助電源から給電することを特徴とする。
【００３５】
請求項３０の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、前記車両は自転車であって、前記受信器は電池と補助電源とを電源として備え、補助電源は、自転車のスポークに取り付けられた永久磁石と、前記受信器に設けられ自転車の走行時に永久磁石の磁束が横切ることにより発電するコイルと、補助電源の出力端間に接続されコイルの出力により充電される二次電池とを備え、前記受信回路の待ち受け状態では補助電源から給電することを特徴とする。
【００３６】
【発明の実施の形態】
（実施形態１）
本実施形態では車両として自転車を例示するがオートバイなどの自転車に類似した他の車両であっても本発明の技術思想を適用することが可能である。また、本実施形態は、自転車に装着され電波を受信可能な受信器と、自転車の所有者が携帯し受信器で受信可能な電波を送信する送信器とを備える。
【００３７】
送信器１０は、図１（ａ）に示すように、２個の送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２と、送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の操作に応じた高周波の送信信号を生成する送信回路１１と、送信回路１１で生成した送信信号を電波として空中に送出するアンテナ１２とを備える。また、送信器１０の電源は電池１３であり、送信回路１１は送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の操作毎に発光ダイオードからなる表示灯１４を点灯させる機能も備える。
【００３８】
送信器１０の器体３０は偏平な直方体状であって、器体３０の厚み方向の一面には、図２（ａ）のように、送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の操作部３１ａ，３１ｂが並設されるとともに表示灯１４が露出する。送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２は押釦スイッチであって、操作部３１ａ，３１ｂの押操作によって送信回路１１で送信信号が生成される。器体３０の内部には、図２（ｂ）のように、送信回路１１およびアンテナ１２を設けた回路基板３２が収納されるとともに、電池１３を収納する収納室３３が設けられる。電池１３にはボタン型電池を用いており、器体３０には収納室３３を覆うねじ込み式の電池蓋（図示せず）が螺合する。ここに、アンテナ１２の形式はどのようなものでもよいが、小型化のために平面アンテナまたはループアンテナを用いる。
【００３９】
一方、受信器２０は、図１（ｂ）に示すように、送信器１０からの電波を受信するアンテナ２２と、アンテナ２２で受信した受信信号の内容を解読する受信回路２１とを備える。受信回路２１は、受信した信号が対応する送信器１０から発信された信号か否かを判別し、対応する送信器１０からの信号であるときにはどの送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２が操作されたかを受信信号の内容によって判別する。受信回路２１における送信器１０の判別や送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の判別は、受信回路２１に内蔵したマイクロコンピュータ（以下、「マイコン」と略称する）により行われる。また、受信器２０の電源には電池２３を用いる。受信器２０には発光ダイオードからなる複数個（図示例では３個）の報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が設けられ、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯状態は受信回路２１に接続した点灯制御回路２４により制御される。また、受信器２０には、自転車の走行を検出する走行センサ２５と、受信回路２１により後述する警戒モードが選択されているときに走行センサ２５により自転車が継続して走行していることが検出されると自転車が盗難にあったと判断する警戒制御回路２６と、警戒制御回路２６により盗難と判断されたときに警報音を報知するように鳴動する警報ブザー２７とが設けられる。
【００４０】
走行センサ２５には各種構成のものが知られており、たとえば、自転車のスポークに取り付けた磁石と、磁石に対応する位置で自転車のフレームの定位置に固定した磁気センサとを用い、車輪の回転により磁石の周囲の磁束が磁気センサを横切ることを利用して自転車の走行を検出する構成のものを用いることができる。あるいはまた、加速度センサなどを用いて自転車の走行時における衝撃を監視することにより自転車が走行状態か否かを判別するようにしてもよい。
【００４１】
受信器２０のケース４０は、自転車に取り付けるために、図３ないし図５に示す形状を有している。受信器２０のケース４０は、図６のように自転車５０のシートステイ５１（サドルと後輪の軸受との間に設けた斜めのパイプ）に取り付けることを想定しており、図７および図８に示すように、シートステイ５１に取付可能とするための止め具６０が固定ねじ６１によってケース４０に結合される。
止め具６０は、ケース４０に延設された取付脚４１と重複した形で固定ねじ６１が挿通される一対の連結片６２と、両連結片６２の一端間を連結する形でシートステイ５１に１周巻き付く固定輪６３とを連続一体に備える。固定輪６３の内側にはシートステイ５１との間に滑り止めのための薄肉のゴム板を挟み込むのが望ましい。一方の連結片６２には固定ねじ６１と螺合する固定ナット６４が取り付けられ、ケース４０の取付脚４１と両連結片６２とを通して固定ねじ６１を固定ナット６４に螺合させることによって、ケース４０に止め具６０が連結されるとともに、両連結片６２が近付いて固定輪６３が縮径し、結果的にシートステイ５１に止め具６０が固定される。
【００４２】
つまり、自転車へのケース４０の取付時には固定ねじ６１を外し、止め具６０の両連結片６２の間にシートステイ５１を通すことにより固定輪６３をシートステイ５１に装着し、その後、固定ねじ６１を取付脚４１と連結片６２とに通して固定ナット６４に固定ねじ６１を螺合させれば、固定輪６３が縮径してケース４０をシートステイ５１に固定することができるのである。シートステイ５１からケース４０を取り外すには手順を逆にすればよい。
【００４３】
ケース４０には、受信回路２１とアンテナ２２と点灯制御回路２４と警戒制御回路２６と報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３とを実装した回路基板４２が電池２３とともに収納される。受信器２０には容量が比較的大きい電池２３を用いる。電池２３と回路基板４２とは電池２３の長手方向に並設されて、ケース４０は細長形状になっており、結果的にケース４０の高さ寸法を比較的小さくすることができる。上述した取付脚４１はケース４０に電池２３を収納した状態におけるケース４０の重心に近い部位から延設されており、このことによって自転車５０の走行時の衝撃や振動により取付脚４１に生じる応力が比較的小さくなっている。また、ケース４０をシートステイ５１の近傍に配置しているから取付脚４１を短くして曲げ力に対する強度を大きくすることができる。
【００４４】
ケース４０は、回路基板４２とともに電源としての電池２３を収納するベース４３と、ベース４３のうち報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を収納した部位を覆う透光性のランプカバー４４と、ベース４３のうち回路基板４２の残りの部位と電池２３を収納した部位とを覆いベース４３に対して着脱可能な電池カバー４５とにより構成される。ベース４３の内側面であって電池カバー４５との対向面にはボス４３ａが突設され、電池カバー４５を通してボス４３ａに螺合する取付ねじ４６により電池カバー４５がベース４３に結合される。つまり、取付ねじ４６を緩めることによって電池カバー４５をベース４３から分離して電池２３を交換することが可能になる。電池カバー４５の上面には取付ねじ４６の頭部を収納する凹所４５ａが形成されている。回路基板４２のうち電池カバー４５に覆われる部位は電池カバー４５を外したときに露出することになるから、電池２３の交換の際に回路基板４２に手が触れる可能性がある。そこで、回路基板４２のうち電池カバー４５に覆われる部位は、電池カバー４５の内側に配置される保護カバー４７で覆われる。保護カバー４７はベース４３に対して位置固定されている。
【００４５】
ベース４３とランプカバー４４と電池カバー４５と保護カバー４７とを突き合わせている面では少なくとも一方の面にリブ４０ａを突設することにより防水性を付与している。つまり、突き合わせている面に対して水が浸入してくる空間を水外側と呼び、水を侵入させたくない空間を水内側と呼ぶことにすれば、リブ４０ａを設けることによって、水外側と水内側との間の沿面距離が長くなるとともに沿面形状が凹凸になるから、水が浸入しにくくなるのである。また、ケース４０の内部に浸入した水を外部に排出するために、ベース４３において取付時に最下部になる部位にはケース４０の内外に貫通する水抜孔４０ｂが形成される。
【００４６】
上述したケース４０を自転車に取り付けるにあたっては、ランプカバー４４が後方に向くように取り付けるとともに、固定ねじ６１を軸として止め具６０に対するケース４０の角度を調節することで、ベース４３の底面がシートステイ５１に略平行になるように配置する。３個の報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３にはレンズ付きの発光ダイオードを用いており、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３からの光の放射方向（レンズの光軸方向）が自転車の右と左と後とになるように、回路基板４２に実装される。回路基板４２はベース４３の内側面に沿って配置されており、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３はベース４３をシートステイ５１に略平行にしたときに光軸方向が斜め上向きに傾斜する形で回路基板４２に実装されている。ここに、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を回路基板４２に投影したときの光軸方向は最大で９０〜１８０度開いていることが望ましい。つまり、両端の報知灯ＬＰ２，ＬＰ３の光軸方向の開き角度は９０〜１８０度に設定される。このようにケース４０の左右幅内で報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を左右に配列するとともに報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の向きを異ならせていることによって、自転車の後方からのみではなく左右からも報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を視認しやすくなり、しかも３個の報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３は左右の並び順でサイクリックに繰り返して点灯するから、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を単に点灯させたり点滅させたりする場合よりも光の変化がわかりやすく報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯時における視認性が向上する。ここに、左右の並び順でサイクリックに繰り返すとは、たとえば左→後→右→左の順を繰り返すことを意味する。
【００４７】
また、上述のように、ベース４３の底面をシートステイ５１に略平行にしたときに報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３からの光の放射方向は斜め上向きであって、図９に示すように、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３からの光の放射方向が水平面に対してなす角度θを２〜１２度の範囲に設定してある。角度θを２〜１２度の範囲に設定した理由は以下の通りである。すなわち、ケース４０の地面からの取り付け高さＨ１を０．５ｍ、人が報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯を確認する際の視認距離Ｌ１を１０ｍ、地面からの人の目の高さＨ２を１．５ｍと仮定すると、角度θは約６度（ｔａｎθ＝０．１）になる。また、自動車から報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯を確認する際の視認距離Ｌ１を３０ｍ、地面からの目の高さＨ２を小型車では１．５ｍ、トラックでは３ｍと仮定すると、角度θは２〜５度（１／３０＜ｔａｎθ＜１／１２）になる。このように、角度θは２〜６度程度でよいが設計に余裕をもたせるために２〜１２度の範囲に設定している。なお、視認距離Ｌ１は報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の光軸上で報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯が視認できる距離を意味する。また、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の角度θは、シートステイ５１に固定される止め具６０とケース４０とを連結している固定ねじ６１の回りで適宜に調節することができる。
【００４８】
上述の例では３個の報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３について、いずれも光の放射方向が水平面に対して角度θで斜め上向きになるように配置しているが、自転車の後方に光を放射する報知灯ＬＰ２のみについて光の放射方向が水平面に対して角度θで斜め上向きになるように配置し、左右の報知灯ＬＰ１，ＬＰ３については光の放射方向を水平面に対して略平行にしてもよい。この場合には、後方からの視認性を確保することができるから、自転車の走行時に報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を点灯させておくことによって自動車の運転者などに注意を喚起することができる。
【００４９】
ところで、受信器２０は送信器１０からの指示により３種類の動作モードが選択可能になっている。選択可能な３種類の動作モードには、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を規定した時限期間（たとえば、１０秒間）だけ点滅させる探索モードと、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を継続的に点滅させる報知モードと、自転車５０の所有者以外が無断で使用するのを警戒する警戒モードとがある。探索モードでは、自転車５０に取り付けた受信器２０に設けた報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を送信器１０からの指示により一定の時限期間だけ点滅させて駐輪中の自転車５０の所在を所有者に知らせることができる。また、報知モードでは、送信器１０からの指示により報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を継続的に点滅させることにより、自転車５０の走行中に自動車の運転者などに自転車の存在を認識させる意識させることができる。また、警戒モードが選択されているときには、自転車が走行すると盗難にあったと判断して受信器２０に設けた警報ブザー２６を鳴動させる。
【００５０】
本実施形態では、上述した３種類の動作モードを送信器１０に設けた２個の送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２によって選択するために、各送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２を個別に操作する状態と、両送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２を同時に操作する状態とによって３種類の機能を選択可能としている。ところで、上述したように受信器２０では受信した信号が対応する送信器１０から発信された信号か否かを判別する必要があり、また送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２によりどの動作モードが選択されているかを判別する必要がある。そこで、送信器１０と受信器２０とにそれぞれ識別符号を設定しておき、送信器１０において生成する送信信号に識別符号を含め、受信器２０において受信信号に含まれる識別符号を受信器２０に設定されている識別符号と照合することによって、送信器１０と受信器２０との対応関係を確認するようになっている。この構成によって、受信器２０が所有者以外の他人の送信器１０からの電波に応答するのを防止することができる。また、送信器１０においてどの送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２が操作されたかを受信回路２１において判別する場合も同様の技術を用いることができる。この場合には、送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の操作に対応付けた識別符号を送信器１０から送出することにより、受信器２０ではどの送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２が操作されたかを判別する。ただし、送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の操作に関して受信回路２１において判別する種類は３種類と比較的少ないから、動作モードごとに異なる周波数の搬送波を用いたり、動作モードごとに異なる周波数で搬送波を変調したりする技術を採用することも可能である。
【００５１】
以下に各動作モードでの動作を説明する。探索モードを選択するには、送信器１０において送信スイッチＳＷ１を押操作する。探索モードが選択されると、点灯制御回路２４は３個の報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を順に点灯させる。各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が１回ずつ点灯する期間は適宜に設定され、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が順に１回ずつ点灯する状態は規定した時限期間（たとえば、１０秒間）だけ繰り返される。つまり、送信スイッチＳＷ１を操作すると、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３は１０秒間だけ点滅した後に自動的に消灯する。したがって、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が視認可能となるように受信器２０を自転車に取り付けておき、駐輪中の自転車の近くで送信器１０の送信スイッチＳＷ１を操作すれば、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を点灯させることができ、自転車を容易に発見することができる。
【００５２】
一方、報知モードを選択するには、送信器１０において送信スイッチＳＷ２を押操作する。報知モードが選択されると、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が継続的に点滅を繰り返すことによって走行中の自転車の存在を他者に意識させることができる。たとえば、自動車の運転者に対して報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点滅を視認させることにより注意を喚起し、自転車の存在を自動車の運転者に意識させることができる。この種の装置は自転車に取り付けられる安全灯として単体では知られている。ただし、探索モードに用いる報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３と光源を共用するものはなく、かつ送信器１０からの電波によってワイヤレスで操作されるものも提供されていない。報知モードを解除するには、送信スイッチＳＷ２を再度押操作すればよい。ここに、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３は後述するように左右方向に配列されており、両送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２のうちのどちらを操作した場合も左から右の順、または右から左の順で各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が点滅する。
【００５３】
ここに、図１０に示すように、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３は１個ずつ個別かつ循環的に点灯し、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３に駆動電流を供給する期間が互いに重複しないようにしてある。図示例では、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が点灯する期間において、いずれか１個の報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が必ず点灯しているように制御しており、どの報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３も点灯しない期間は生じないようにしている。このように報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を１個ずつ点灯させることによって、複数個の報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を同時に点灯させる期間を設ける場合に比較すると消費電力を低減することができる上に、電池２３の出力電流の変動が少なくなって受信器２０の内部回路に供給する電源の安定化が容易になる。しかも、後述するように、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の向きおよび位置を異ならせていることによって発光位置が変化するから視認性が高くなる。受信器２０の消費電力をさらに低減するには、図１１に示すように、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を１個ずつ個別かつ循環的に点灯させるだけではなく、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３がそれぞれ点灯する期間の前にいずれの報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３も点灯していない（駆動電流を供給しない）不灯期間Ｔｄを設ければよい。このような不灯期間Ｔｄを設けることによって、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を点灯させる期間内において報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３に電力を供給しない期間が生じるから、受信器２０の消費電力をさらに低減することが可能になる。
【００５４】
上述したように、探索モードと報知モードとを選択可能としたことにより、駐輪時に自転車の近傍で送信スイッチＳＷ１を操作すれば報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が１０秒間点滅することで自転車を容易に発見することができ、また送信スイッチＳＷ２を操作すれば報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が継続的に点滅するから、走行中においては自動車の運転者などに注意を喚起することができる。なお、駐輪時において送信スイッチＳＷ２を操作して報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を継続的に点滅させることによって自転車を発見するようにしてもよい。この目的で送信スイッチＳＷ２を用いると送信スイッチＳＷ１の操作によって報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点滅時間を制限する場合に比較して受信器２０の電力消費が大きくなる可能性があるが、周囲に多くの自転車が存在して所有する自転車を発見するのが難しいような場合には、利便性が向上する。
【００５５】
ところで、警戒モードの選択には、送信器１０において両送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２を同時に押操作する。受信器２０が警戒モードに移行すると、受信器２０ではすべての報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が１０秒間連続点灯する。受信器２０は、警戒モードにおいては走行センサ２５の出力を監視し、走行センサ２５によって走行が検出される状態が規定した時間（たとえば、２０秒間）継続すると、自転車が走行しているものと判断し、警報ブザー２７を鳴動させる。したがって、自転車の所有者が自転車から離れる際に警戒モードを選択すると、すべての報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が点灯することによって受信器２０が警戒モードに移行したことを確認でき、警戒モードに移行した後は自転車を無断使用しようとする者に対して警報ブザー２７の鳴動による威嚇ができ、自転車の盗難を抑止することができる。
【００５６】
なお、自転車の所有者が自転車に載る際にはいずれかの送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２を操作すれば警戒モードが解除される。上述のように送信スイッチＳＷ１は単独で使用したときには探索モードの選択に使用されるのであって、警戒モードを解除するのは所有者が自転車に載る前であるから、警戒モードの選択中に送信スイッチＳＷ１の操作により警戒モードを解除した場合には警戒モードの解除の後に、上述した時限期間だけ報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点滅も行う。警戒モードにおいて警報ブザー２７が鳴動しているときに送信スイッチＳＷ１を操作した場合も同様である。この場合には警戒モードの解除によって警報ブザー２７の鳴動も停止する。警戒モードにおいて送信スイッチＳＷ２を操作したときには警戒モードの解除のみを行い、警戒モードにおいて警報ブザー２７が鳴動しるときに送信スイッチＳＷ２を操作すると警戒モードの解除によって警報ブザー２７の鳴動が停止する。
【００５７】
本実施形態の受信器２０の動作をまとめると図１２のようになる。すなわち、受信器２０の電源を投入すると、送信器１０からの電波を待ち受ける状態になり、送信スイッチＳＷ１の操作を検知すると（Ｓ１）、探索モードに移行して報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を順に点滅させる状態を１０秒間継続する（Ｓ２）。また、送信スイッチＳＷ２の操作を検知すると（Ｓ３）、報知モードに移行して報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を順に点滅させる状態を継続する（Ｓ４）。報知モードは送信スイッチＳＷ２が次に操作されるまで継続する（Ｓ５）。一方、両送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２が同時に操作されたことを検知すると（Ｓ６）、警戒モードに移行し、警戒モードでは上述のように走行センサ２５の出力を監視して走行センサ２５による走行検知の状態が２０秒間に達すると（Ｓ７）、自転車が無断使用されているものと判断して警報ブザー２７を鳴動させる（Ｓ８）。ここで、警報ブザー２７が鳴動している状態で操作スイッチＳＷ１の操作が検知されると（Ｓ９）、警戒モードを解除するとともに（Ｓ１０）、警報ブザー２７の鳴動を停止させ（Ｓ１１）、さらに探索モードに移行して報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を順に点滅させる状態を１０秒間継続する（Ｓ１２）。また、警報ブザー２７が鳴動している状態で操作スイッチＳＷ２の操作が検知されたときには（Ｓ１３）、警戒モードを解除するとともに（Ｓ１４）、警報ブザー２７の鳴動を停止させる（Ｓ１５）。
【００５８】
警戒モードにおいて走行センサ２５による走行検知が２０秒間に達しない場合には、警報ブザー２７は鳴動しないから、操作スイッチＳＷ１の操作が検知されると（Ｓ１６）、警戒モードを解除し（Ｓ１７）、探索モードに移行して報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を順に点滅させる状態を１０秒間継続する（Ｓ１８）。また、警戒モードにおいて警報ブザー２７が鳴動していない状態で操作スイッチＳＷ２の操作が検知されたときには（Ｓ１９）、警戒モードを解除する（Ｓ２０）。
【００５９】
上述したように、送信スイッチＳＷ１を操作すると報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が１０秒間の時限期間は点滅を繰り返すから、駐輪中の自転車を所有者が探すときに、送信器１０の送信スイッチＳＷ１を操作すれば、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点滅によって自転車の所在を容易に知ることができ、周囲に多数台の自転車が存在していても容易に探し出すことができるのである。また、上述したように３個の報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３はそれぞれ向きが異なるから、広範囲から点滅を視認することができ、このことによっても自転車を容易に探し出すことができる。しかも、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３は斜め上向きに光を放射するから、比較的遠方から報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯を確認することができる。
【００６０】
また、警戒モードへの移行には２個の送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２を同時に操作しなければならないから、不用意な操作で警戒モードに移行する可能性を低減することができる。しかも、３種類の動作の選択を２個の送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２によって実現しているから３個の送信スイッチを設ける場合に比較して小型化につながる。
【００６１】
ところで、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が点灯しているか否かは夜間のように周囲が暗いときには報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を低輝度で点灯させても遠方から視認することができるが、周囲が比較的が比較的明るいときには報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が低輝度で点灯していると遠方からは視認するのが困難である。ただし、駐輪中の自転車を所有者が探すときには駐輪した場所の範囲はわかっているから、たとえば１０ｍ程度の範囲内で自転車を探せばよいと考えられる。そこで、この程度の距離範囲を検知距離として設定しておき、周囲が比較的明るい環境でも検知距離範囲内であれば報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯状態を視認できるように報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の輝度を設定し、さらに送信器１０と受信器２０との間での電波の到達距離を検知距離にほぼ一致させておけば（実際には、周囲の自転車が電波に対する障害物になるから、電波の到達距離は検知距離よりもやや長く設定する必要がある）、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯を視認できない距離から電波が到達して不必要に報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が点灯するのを防止することができる。その結果、受信器２０で報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が無駄に点灯することによる無駄に電力が消費されるのを防止することができる。換言すれば、受信器２０の消費電力が抑制されるから、電源としての電池２３に小容量のものを用いることができ、受信器２０の小型につながる。
【００６２】
さらに、受信器２０での消費電力を低減するために、図１３（ａ）のように受信回路２１を間欠駆動するのが望ましい。図示例では受信回路２１に給電して受信回路を動作させる受信可能期間Ｔ１と、受信回路２１への給電を停止して受信回路を休止させる休止期間Ｔ２とを１：１に設定してあり、受信回路２１に連続的に通電する場合に比較すると受信回路２１における消費電力がほぼ半減する。
受信可能期間Ｔ１（＝休止期間Ｔ２）は、送信器１０からの電波が継続している期間（送信器１０の送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２を操作している間に、図１３（ｂ）のように継続して電波が送出されるものとする）よりも短く設定され、送信器１０からの電波が継続している間に受信可能期間Ｔ１が最低１回は含まれるようにしてある。ここで、送信器１０から受信器２０には上述した識別符号を伝送する必要があるから、送信器１０では送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の操作中に識別符号を含む一連の信号を繰り返して送信する。一連の信号を送信する周期Ｔ３を受信可能期間Ｔ１の半分以下の時間に設定しておくことにより（Ｔ１≧２Ｔ３）、１回の受信可能期間Ｔ１で一連の信号を１回受信することができる。なお、受信回路２１において電波を待ち受ける期間にのみ間欠動作させ、送信器１０からは上述のように一連の信号を繰り返して送信しておき、一連の信号のヘッダを受信回路２１が検出すると、以後は一連の信号を最低１個受信するまで受信回路２１を連続的に動作させる構成を採用することも可能である。
【００６３】
受信器２０での消費電力を低減するには、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３への供給エネルギを低減することも有効である。上述したように、受信器２０では送信スイッチＳＷ１が操作されたときの送信器１０からの指示を受け取った後に、１０秒間の時限期間だけ報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を制御するのであって、この時限期間のうち報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が実際に点灯する期間を短くすることができれば、受信器２０での消費電力を低減することができる。
【００６４】
時限期間のうち報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が実際に点灯する期間を短くするには、図１４に示すように、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が１回ずつ点灯する期間の間に、いずれの報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３も点灯しない不点期間Ｔｕを設けておき不点期間Ｔｕを長くすればよいと考えられる。ただし、不点期間Ｔｕが長くなれば、時限期間において報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が点灯している期間が短くなり、自転車の所有者が報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯に気付く確率が低減する。一方、一般に自転車の所有者は自転車を発見できなければ、送信器１０の送信スイッチＳＷ１を繰り返して操作すると考えられる。そこで、点灯制御回路２４では、初期値として比較的長い不点期間Ｔｕを設定し、送信器１０において送信スイッチＳＷ１が１回操作されたときには初期値の不点期間Ｔｕを適用し、時限期間内において送信スイッチＳＷ１が再び操作されると不点期間Ｔｕを短縮する制御を行っている。
時限期間は送信スイッチＳＷ１が操作されるたびに延長され、送信スイッチＳＷ１の操作毎に不点期間Ｔｕが段階的に短縮される。すなわち、送信器１０からの電波の受信毎に報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを段階的に増大させることになる。ただし、送信スイッチＳＷ１の再操作を有効とする回数には制限を与え、たとえば３回までとしておく。つまり、送信スイッチＳＷ１が３回目に操作されたときには不点期間Ｔｕを設けないようにする。このように、送信スイッチＳＷ１を繰り返して操作するたびに不点期間Ｔｕを短縮することによって、不点期間Ｔｕを設けていない場合に比較すると、消費電力の増加を抑制しながらも報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯に気付かせる確率を高めることが可能になる。
【００６５】
上述のように不点期間Ｔｕを設けている場合に、不点期間Ｔｕが長いほど発光に用いるエネルギが小さいのであるから、時限期間における平均輝度を考えると不点期間Ｔｕが長いほど平均輝度が小さいことになる。一方、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯に気付く確率は報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３との距離が近いほど高いと考えられる。そこで、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３との距離が遠いほど不点期間Ｔｕを短くすれば、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３からの距離にかかわらず報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯に気付く確率をほぼ一定にすることができる。つまり、自転車との距離によらず報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯に気付く可能性をほぼ等しくすることができる。このような制御を行うには、送信器１０と受信器２０との距離を求める必要があり、簡易的な方法として、図１５に示すように、受信器２０の受信回路２１に上述したマイコン２１ａのほかに受信強度を求める信号強度変換部２１ｂを設け、受信強度を適宜の関係によって距離に変換する技術を採用している。受信強度は必ずしも距離に一致しないものの、簡易的な方法としては十分に実用になる。
また、距離は複数段階（ここでは、３段階を想定している）に区分し、区分した段階のうちもっとも大きい距離範囲では不点期間Ｔｕを設けないようにしている。このように、自転車からの距離が近いほど不点期間Ｔｕを長くすることによって、距離が近いときには報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを低減して電池２３の消耗を抑制することができるのである。
【００６６】
なお、送信スイッチＳＷ１の操作回数に応じて不点期間Ｔｕを変更する技術と、送信器１０との距離に応じて不点期間Ｔｕを変更する技術とは、組み合わせて用いることが可能であって、同じ距離範囲では送信スイッチＳＷ１の操作回数が多いほど不点期間Ｔｕを短縮し、送信器１０との距離が小さくなるほど不点期間Ｔｕを延長すればよい。三者の関係はテーブル化しておけばよい。たとえば、操作回数を３段階に設定し距離を３段階に設定する場合には、不点期間Ｔｕを設けない場合も含めて不点期間Ｔｕを５段階を設定すればよい。つまり、１回操作かつ近距離の場合、１回操作かつ中距離または２回操作かつ近距離の場合、１回操作かつ遠距離または２回操作かつ中距離または３回操作かつ近距離の場合、２回操作かつ遠距離または３回操作かつ中距離の場合、３回操作かつ遠距離の場合の５種類の場合に各不点期間Ｔｕを割り当てるのである。１回操作かつ近距離の場合に不点期間Ｔｕが最長になり、３回操作かつ遠距離の場合に不点期間Ｔｕを設けないようにするのは言うまでもない。また、上述した構成では、不点期間Ｔｕを変化させることによって時限期間における平均輝度を変化させているが、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の１回の点灯時間を制御することによって時限期間における平均輝度を変化させる技術を採用してもよい。
【００６７】
ところで、受信器２０における報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３は電池２３の寿命を報知する機能にも兼用されている。電池２３の寿命は電池２３の端子電圧によって監視されており（本例では受信回路２１で電池２３の端子電圧を監視しているが、電池２３の端子電圧を監視する専用回路を設けてもよい）、図１６に示すように、端子電圧が規定した下限値Ｖｉ以下になると電池２３が交換時期になったと判断される。このようにして電池２３が交換時期になったと判断されると、点灯制御回路２４では電池２３の端子電圧が下限値Ｖｉよりも高い期間に対して報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯期間を短くする。つまり、電池２３の端子電圧が下限値Ｖｉよりも高い期間において報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯期間Ｔｅ１を図１７（ａ）のように設定しているとすれば、端子電圧が下限値Ｖｉ以下になると図１７（ｂ）のように点灯期間Ｔｅ２を短縮するのである。点灯期間を短縮する程度は、点灯期間が短くなったことを人が知覚できる程度とする必要があるから、たとえば端子電圧が下限値Ｖｉよりも高い期間の点灯期間Ｔｅ１に比較して点灯期間Ｔｅ２を３分の１以下にするのが望ましい（３Ｔｅ２≦Ｔｅ１）。電池２３の交換時期を報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３によって報知する技術としては、上述のように点灯期間Ｔｅを短くするほか、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を点灯させる周期を延長してもよい。つまり、電池２３の端子電圧が下限値Ｖｉよりも高い期間に点灯周期Ｔｐ１が図１８（ａ）のように設定されているとすると、端子電圧が下限値Ｖｉ以下になると点灯周期Ｔｐ２を図１８（ｂ）のように延長して設定すればよい。点灯周期を延長する程度は、点灯周期が長くなったことを人が知覚できる程度とする必要があるから、たとえば端子電圧が下限値Ｖｉよりも高い期間の点灯周期Ｔｐ１に比較して点灯周期Ｔｐ２を３倍以上にするのが望ましい（Ｔｐ２≧３Ｔｐ１）。
【００６８】
受信器２０では電池２３を電源に用いており電池２３の内部抵抗は経時的に変化するものであるから、電池２３を交換した直後と電池２３を交換する直前とでは報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３への供給電力が異なり、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の視認性に変化が生じると考えられる。そこで、点灯制御回路２４では、電池２３の内部抵抗が変化しても報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の輝度の変化が知覚されにくくなるように、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を１回点灯させる際に報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３に供給するエネルギをほぼ一定に保つようにしている。つまり、電池２３の端子電圧または報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３に供給する電流に応じて、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３への１回の通電時間を変化させている。電池２３の端子電圧に基づく制御では、端子電圧を監視するとともに検出した端子電圧と通電時間との積が一定になるように、つまり通電時間が端子電圧に反比例するように通電時間を制御する。また、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３に供給する電流に基づく制御では、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３に供給する電流を監視するとともに検出した電流値と通電時間との積が一定になるように、つまり通電時間が電流値に反比例するように通電時間を制御する。なお、端子電圧と電流値とに対して通電時間を反比例させるほか、通電時間が電池２３の端子電圧または電流値に対して負の比例定数で比例するようにしてもよい。ここに、電流値の検出にあたり各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３ごとに電流値を検出し、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３ごとに点灯時間を個別に設定すれば、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の劣化による輝度の低下を電池２３の出力の低下に包含した形での制御が可能になる。また、制御を簡単にするには、電池２３の出力電流を監視して各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯時間を区別することなく等しく設定すればよい。
【００６９】
報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の輝度は、上述した電池２３の出力によって変動するほか周囲温度によっても変化する。つまり、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３には発光ダイオードを用いているから、周囲温度が高くなると発光効率が低下し、供給した電力に対する輝度が低下する。そこで、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の周囲温度である受信器２０の内部温度を、図１９のように受信回路２１に設けた温度検知部２１ｃにより検知し、温度検知部２１ｃによる検知温度が上昇するほど報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３に供給する平均電力を増加させるのが望ましい。報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３に供給する平均電力を変化させるには、上述したように各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が１回ずつ点灯するたびに不点期間Ｔｕ（図１４参照）を設けて不点期間Ｔｕの長さを調節するか、各報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の１回の点灯のおける通電時間を調節する。つまり、温度検知部２１ｃによる検知温度が上昇するほど報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを増大させる。この技術を採用することにより、周囲温度の変化に伴う輝度変化を抑制することができる。
【００７０】
受信器２０の電源には電池２３に加えて、図２０のように、補助電源２８を設けることができる。電池２３と補助電源２８とにはそれぞれ電源スイッチＳｐ１，Ｓｐ２を直列に接続してあり、電池２３と電源スイッチＳｐ１との直列回路を補助電源２８と電源スイッチＳｐ２との直列回路に並列接続している。両電源スイッチＳｐ１，Ｓｐ２は受信器２０の動作に応じて受信回路２１のマイコン２１ａにより適宜にオンオフが制御される。補助電源２８は以下のように用いる。たとえば、補助電源２８として電池２３よりも容量の小さいものを用い、常時は電源スイッチＳｐ１をオンにし電源スイッチＳｐ２をオフにしておき、電池２３が交換時期になると（上述した構成で交換時期を知ることができる）、電源スイッチＳｐ１をオフにし電源スイッチＳｐ２をオンにすることで、電池２３の交換までの間に補助電源２８で受信器２０を動作させることが可能になる。また、常時は電源スイッチＳｐ１をオンにして電池２３から受信器２０の内部回路に給電し、内部回路での消費電力が一時的に増加する期間にのみ電源スイッチＳｐ２をオンにし電池２３と併せて補助電源２８からも内部回路に給電するようにすることが可能である。あるいはまた、補助電源２８として発電可能な電源を用いる場合には、補助電源２８の発電中に電池２３を充電することも可能になる。
【００７１】
発電可能な補助電源２８の一例を図２１に示す。図示する補助電源２８は、太陽電池ＰＶと二次電池ＳＢとを備え、太陽電池ＰＶから二次電池ＳＢへの充電経路に逆流阻止用のダイオードＤ１を挿入した構成を有する。太陽電池ＰＶは、図２２に示すように、ケース４０の上面に配設されており、太陽電池ＰＶに日照が得られる昼間に二次電池ＳＢを充電する。しかして、二次電池ＳＢの端子電圧を監視し、監視している端子電圧があらかじめ設定した基準値以上である期間であって、送信器１０からの電波を待ち受ける状態のように内部回路での消費電力が比較的小さい期間には、補助電源２８から内部回路に電源を供給する。一方、二次電池ＳＢの端子電圧が基準値未満になるか、あるいは二次電池Ｓｂの端子電圧が基準値以上であっても報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を点灯させる期間のように、内部回路の消費電力が比較的大きくなる期間には電池２３から電源を供給する。この構成によって、送信器１０からの電波を待ち受けている比較的長い期間には補助電池２８を可能な限り用いて電池２３の消耗を低減することができる。つまり、電池２３の交換頻度を低減することができる。
【００７２】
発電可能な補助電源２８としては、図２３に示すように、ダイナモＤＮを用いてもよい。ダイナモＤＮの出力は逆流防止用のダイオードＤ２を通して補助電源２８の出力として取り出される。ダイナモＤＮは周知のように自転車の車輪の回転により発電する発電機であって、一般に前輪の回転により発電するように自転車に取り付けられるが、受信器２０は自転車５０のシートステイ５１に装着することを想定しているから、図２４に示すように、自転車５０の後輪５２の回転により発電するように自転車５０に取り付けられる。この構成では、補助電源２８の出力電圧を監視し、自転車５０の走行時において報知灯ＰＬ１〜ＰＬ３を継続的に点滅させる際の電力としてダイナモＤＮの出力を電池２３の出力とともに用いる。ダイナモＤＮの出力電圧は自転車５０の走行速度に応じて変動するが、電池２３と補助電源２８とを並列に接続し、受信回路２１および負荷回路において電圧を安定化すればよい。上述のように補助電源２８にダイナモＤＮを用い、自転車５０の走行時に補助電源２８から報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を供給することにより、報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を継続的に点灯させる期間における電池２３の消費電力を抑制することができ、電池２３の交換頻度を低減することができる。補助電源２８の出力電圧を安定化させるために、図２５のように、補助電源２８の出力端間にダイナモＤＮによって充電される二次電池ＳＢを設けて電圧変動を軽減してもよい。二次電池ＳＢを設ける構成では、自転車５０の走行時以外にも二次電池ＳＢからの給電が可能であるから、太陽電池ＰＶを用いる場合と同様に、送信器１０からの電波を待ち受けている期間の少なくとも一部の電力を補助電池２８から供給することが可能になる。
【００７３】
ところで、ダイナモＤＮのような発電機は、自転車５０の車輪の回転が伝達される回転子と回転子に近接して配置された固定子とを備えており、回転子に設けた永久磁石の磁束が固定子として設けたコイルの巻線を横切る際の電磁誘導によって起電力を得ている。したがって、車輪の回転を回転子に伝達するのではなく車輪に永久磁石を設け、自転車５０の定位置に固定したコイルを永久磁石の磁束が横切るようにしても発電することができる。そこで、図２７に示すように、自転車５０の後輪５２のスポーク５２ａに永久磁石５３を取り付けておき、受信器２０のケース４０に内蔵したコイル５４（図２６参照）を設け、永久磁石５３の磁束がコイル５４を横切るように永久磁石５３と受信器２０との位置を調節しておくことによって、ダイナモＤＮと同様に機能させることができる。この構成ではコイル４４の両端に電圧が発生するのは永久磁石５３とコイル５４との距離が比較的近い期間のみであるから、電圧をできるだけ連続的に発生させるには後輪５２の周方向に複数個の永久磁石５３を配列する必要がある。図２６および図２７に示す構成もダイナモＤＮと同様に出力電圧が変動するから、図２８のように、コイル５４の出力電圧により充電される二次電池ＳＢを補助電源２８の出力端間に設けるのが望ましい。この構成はダイナモＤＮを用いる場合に比較すると摩擦力の生じる箇所が少ないから、自転車の走行に要するエネルギに対して発電に伴う損失エネルギが少なく、ダイナモＤＮを用いる場合のような大きな走行負荷が生じない。また、コイル５４は受信器２０のケース４０に収納することができるから、ダイナモＤＮを用いる場合のように受信器２０とダイナモＤＮとの間の配線を引き回す必要がなく、自転車５０への装着が容易である。他の構成および動作はダイナモＤＮを用いる場合と同様である。
【００７４】
上述した構成ではランプカバー４４と電池カバー４５との左右の両側面がほぼ同じ平面上に揃った形状であったが、図２９に示すように、ランプカバー４４の左右両側部に、電池カバー４５の左右の両側面よりも外側に突出するプリズム部４４ａを連続一体に形成してもよい。プリズム部４４ａは中央部が周部よりも厚肉に形成されている。プリズム部４４ａを設けることによって報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３からの光の一部が前方から視認可能となるように変向され、ケース４０の前方から報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯を確認することが可能になる。つまり、図２９に示す構成を採用することによって、光を前方に放射する報知灯を設けることなく前方から報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３の点灯確認が可能になり、駐輪中の自転車の発見がより容易になる。
【００７５】
（実施形態２）
実施形態１では、自転車の走行中に自動車の運転者などに注意を喚起するために報知モードを設けているが、報知モードを持たない構成を採用することも可能である。すなわち、本実施形態では、受信器２０が探索モードと警戒モードとの２種類の動作モードのみで動作するようにしてある。したがって、送信器２０は探索モードと警戒モードとの２種類の選択のみができればよく、２個の送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２をそれぞれ探索モードと警戒モードとに割り当ててある。送信スイッチＳＷ１は実施形態１と同様に探索モードの選択に用い、送信スイッチＳＷ２は警戒モードの選択に用いる。また、実施形態１と同様に、警戒モードの解除には両送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２のいずれも用いることができ、送信スイッチＳＷ１を用いて警戒モードを解除したときには、警戒モードの解除後に探索モードに移行する。送信スイッチＳＷ２を用いて警戒モードを解除したときには、警戒モードの解除のみを行う。他の構成および機能は実施形態１と同様である。
【００７６】
（実施形態３）
実施形態１では、自転車の盗難を防止するための警戒モードを設けているが、本実施形態は実施形態１の構成から警戒モードに関連する構成を省略したものである。したがって、図３０に示すように、図１（ｂ）に示した実施形態１の受信器２０の構成から、走行センサ２５、警戒制御回路２６、警報ブザー２７を省略してある。したがって、実施形態１では送信器１０に設けた２個の送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２を同時に操作したときに受信器２０が警戒モードに移行するが、本実施形態では両送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２を同時に操作する場合には対応していない。他の構成および機能は実施形態１と同様である。
【００７７】
（実施形態３）
本実施形態は、図３１に示すように、実施形態１の構成に加えて電気信号により制御可能な錠装置２９を設けたものである。自転車に装着する錠装置２９の形態はどのようなものでもよいが、受信器２０のケース４０（図３参照）に錠装置２９も組み込むことが望ましい。ここでは、構造が簡単な形式として棒状のロックボルトを持ち、ロックボルトがスポークに当接して後輪の回転を停止させることが可能な位置に突出する状態とスポークに接触しない位置に後退する状態との間でケース４０に対して進退するものを想定する。ここで、錠装置２９におけるロックボルトは、警戒制御回路２６からの信号により後退させることができ、また手操作によりロックボルトを突出させ、錠装置２９とは別に設けた鍵によってロックボルトを後退させることも可能になっている。要するに、錠装置２９の解錠は警戒制御回路２６からの信号と鍵を用いた手操作との両方で可能であるが、錠装置２９の施錠には手操作のみが可能になっている。
【００７８】
ロックボルトを手操作で進退させたときには、錠装置２９から警戒制御回路２６に対して錠装置２９の開閉が通知される。つまり、手操作で錠装置２９を施錠すると警戒制御回路２６に通知され警戒モードに移行する。警戒モードにおいて走行センサ２５の出力により走行が検知されると、実施形態１と同様に、警戒制御回路２６は警報ブザー２７を鳴動させる。ここに、錠装置２９が施錠状態であって走行状態が検知されるのは、錠装置２９が破壊された状態であると考えられるから、錠装置２９の施錠により警戒モードが選択されている期間において走行状態が検知されると自転車が盗難にあったと判断して警報ブザー２７を鳴動させるのである。一方、手操作で錠装置２９を解錠したときにも警戒制御回路２６に通知され警戒モードが解除される。上述のように、警戒モードの解除は送信器１０によって行うことも可能であって、いずれかの送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の操作によって警戒モードが解除されるのである。言い換えると、本実施形態の構成では送信器１０は警戒モードの選択には用いられず、警戒モードの解除にのみ用いることができる。送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２の他の機能は実施形態１と同様である。
【００７９】
上述のように、錠装置２９の施解錠を手操作で行うことができ、手操作での施解錠に伴って警戒モードに移行するようにしているから、警戒モードの選択および解除に際して送信器１０を用いなくてもよく、所有者が自転車の所在を認識しており報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を点灯させる必要がないときには、送信器１０を用いることなく警戒モードの選択と解除とが可能になる。一方、錠装置２９の解錠のみは送信器１０で可能としているから、自転車を発見するために送信器１０を用いて報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３を点灯させる際に送信器１０の送信スイッチＳＷ１を操作すると、まず警戒モードの解除と錠装置２９の解錠とが行われた後に報知灯ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３が点灯するから、鍵を取り出す必要がなく利便性が高くなる。
【００８０】
本実施形態では、送信器１０に警戒モードを選択する機能がない点で送信器１０の機能が実施形態１とは異なっているが、いずれかの送信スイッチＳＷ１，ＳＷ２によって警戒モードを解除可能である点は実施形態１と同様であり、錠装置２９の操作に関する機能以外は実施形態１と同様である。また、本実施形態の構成を実施形態２の構成に適用することも可能である。
【００８１】
（実施形態４）
実施形態３では送信器１０を用いて警戒モードに移行させる機能を設けていないが、本実施形態は実施形態３の構成に、送信器１０を用いて警戒モードに移行する機能を付加したものである。言い換えると、実施形態１または実施形態２の構成において警戒モードに移行する際に錠装置２９の施錠を同時に行う点が本実施形態と実施形態３との相違点であって、他の機能は実施形態３と同様である。
本実施形態の構成では、錠装置２９を手操作で開閉する必要がなく、送信器１０のみで錠装置２９の開閉が可能になる。錠装置２９の操作に関する他の機能は実施形態３と同様である。
【００８２】
【発明の効果】
請求項１の発明は、携帯可能であって自己を特定する情報と送信スイッチの操作情報とを電波で送信する送信器と、車両に固定され送信器からの電波を受信するとともに特定の送信器における送信スイッチの操作により動作が指示される受信器とを備え、受信器は、探索モードと警戒モードとの２種類の動作モードが選択可能であって送信器からの指示に応じて少なくとも探索モードを選択する受信回路と、所定距離から点灯状態が視認可能な報知灯と、警戒モードが選択されている期間に車両の走行を検知する走行センサと、警報音を報知する警報ブザーと、走行センサにより車両の走行が検知されると警報ブザーを鳴動させる警戒制御回路と、送信器からの探索モードの指示により報知灯を規定した時限期間内でのみ点灯制御する点灯制御回路とを備えるものであり、受信器が、送信器からの電波を受信して一定の時限期間にのみ報知灯を点灯制御する探索モードで動作するだけではなく、所有者に無断で車両が使用されたときに警報ブザーを鳴動させる警戒モードでも動作するから、１台で２種類の機能を併せ持つことになり車両に２種類の機能を付与しながらも省スペースであって車両の外観を損なわないという利点がある。
【００８３】
請求項２の発明は、携帯可能であって自己を特定する情報と送信スイッチの操作情報とを電波で送信する送信器と、車両に固定され送信器からの電波を受信するとともに特定の送信器における送信スイッチの操作により動作が指示される受信器とを備え、受信器は、探索モードと報知モードと警戒モードとの３種類の動作モードが選択可能であって送信器からの指示に応じて少なくとも探索モードと報知モードとが選択可能である受信回路と、所定距離から点灯状態が視認可能な報知灯と、警戒モードが選択されている期間に車両の走行を検知する走行センサと、警報音を報知する警報ブザーと、走行センサにより車両の走行が検知されると警報ブザーを鳴動させる警戒制御回路と、送信器からの探索モードの指示により報知灯を規定した時限期間内でのみ点灯制御するとともに送信器からの報知モードの指示により報知灯を継続的に点灯制御する点灯制御回路とを備えるものであり、受信器が、送信器からの電波を受信して一定の時限期間にのみ報知灯を点灯制御する探索モードで動作するだけではなく、送信器からの電波を受信して継続的に報知灯を点灯制御する報知モードと、所有者に無断で車両が使用されたときに警報ブザーを鳴動させる警戒モードとの動作も可能であるから、１台で３種類の機能を併せ持つことになり車両に３種類の機能を付与しながらも省スペースであって車両の外観を損なわないという利点がある。
【００８４】
請求項３の発明は、携帯可能であって自己を特定する情報と送信スイッチの操作情報とを電波で送信する送信器と、車両に固定され送信器からの電波を受信するとともに特定の送信器における送信スイッチの操作により動作が指示される受信器とを備え、受信器は、送信器からの指示に応じて探索モードと報知モードとの２種類の動作モードを選択する受信回路と、所定距離から点灯状態が視認可能な報知灯と、送信器からの探索モードの指示により報知灯を規定した時限期間内でのみ点灯制御するとともに送信器からの報知モードの指示により報知灯を継続的に点灯制御する点灯制御回路とを備えるものであり、受信器が、送信器からの電波を受信して一定の時限期間にのみ報知灯を点灯制御する探索モードで動作するだけではなく、送信器からの電波を受信して継続的に報知灯を点灯制御する報知モードでも動作するから、１台で２種類の機能を併せ持つことになり車両に２種類の機能を付与しながらも省スペースであって車両の外観を損なわないという利点がある。
【００８５】
請求項４の発明は、請求項１または請求項２の発明において、車両に装着され施錠時に車両の走行を禁止する錠装置を備え、警戒制御回路は、錠装置が施錠されている期間と警戒モードが選択されている期間とを一致させ、錠装置が施錠されている期間に走行センサにより車両の走行が検知されると警報ブザーを鳴動させるので、車両が無断で使用されるのを防止する錠装置を併せ持つので、車両を発見する機能を持ちながらも１台で多機能化することができ省スペースであって車両の外観を損なわないという利点がある。
【００８６】
請求項５の発明では、請求項４の発明において、警戒制御回路は、送信器からの指示により警戒モードが選択されたときと錠装置が手操作により施錠されたときとの少なくとも一方で警戒モードに移行するので、送信器からの指示で錠装置を施錠する場合には錠装置を施錠するために屈む必要がなく、車両が混み合った場所での施錠作業が容易になる。また、錠装置を手操作で施錠することによって警戒モードに移行させる場合には送信器を取り出すことなく施錠することができる。
【００８７】
請求項６の発明では、請求項４の発明において、警戒制御回路は、送信器からの指示により警戒モードを解除するとともに錠装置を解錠するので、錠装置の解錠の際に鍵を取り出す必要がなく、送信器によって錠装置の解錠と車両の発見とを続けて行うことができる。
【００８８】
請求項７の発明では、請求項４の発明において、警戒制御回路は、錠装置が解錠されると警戒モードを解除するので、あらかじめ車両の場所がわかっているときには送信器を取り出すことなく警戒モードを解除することができる。つまり、錠装置の解錠によって警戒モードも解除されるので、所有者が警戒モードを解除せずに車両に載るのを防止することができる。
【００８９】
請求項８の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、送信器から受信器に電波が到達する距離を報知灯の点灯が視認可能な距離に一致させるように設定したので、送信器から送出する電波の強度を必要最小限にすることができ、送信器での電力消費の増加を抑制することができる。
【００９０】
請求項９の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、受信回路は送信器からの電波を待ち受ける期間には間欠駆動されるので、受信回路での消費電力が抑制されることによって受信器での消費電力の増加が抑制される。
【００９１】
請求項１０の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、報知灯は複数個設けられ、点灯制御回路は各報知灯の点灯期間が重複しないように各報知灯を順に繰り返して点灯させるので、報知灯での消費電力を抑制することによって受信器での消費電力の増加が抑制される。
【００９２】
請求項１１の発明では、請求項１０の発明において、点灯制御回路は各報知灯の点灯毎にいずれの報知灯も点灯しない不灯期間を設けるので、報知灯に供給する電力を抑制することによって受信器での消費電力の増加が抑制される。
【００９３】
請求項１２の発明は、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、受信器は電池を電源とし、点灯制御回路は、報知灯を点滅させるとともに受信回路が電池の端子電圧が電池の交換時期として規定した下限値以下になったことを検知すると下限値よりも高い期間に対して報知灯の１回の点灯期間を短くするので、電池の出力が低下しても報知灯への供給電力を抑制することによって報知灯を可能な限り点灯させることができる。
【００９４】
請求項１３の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、受信器は電池を電源とし、点灯制御回路は、報知灯を点滅させるとともに受信回路が電池の端子電圧が電池の交換時期として規定した下限値以下になったことを検知すると下限値よりも高い期間に対して報知灯の点灯周期を長くするので、電池の出力が低下しても報知灯への供給電力を抑制することによって報知灯を可能な限り点灯させることができる。
【００９５】
請求項１４の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、報知灯は、受信器を車両に固定した状態で光の放射方向が水平面に対して所定角度で斜め上向きになるように配置されているので、一般に人の目の高さよりも低い位置に取り付けられる受信器からの光を比較的近距離からでも視認しやすくなる。
【００９６】
請求項１５の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、報知灯は、車両の少なくとも左方向および右方向に光を放射するように複数個配置されるとともに、受信器を車両に固定した状態で光の放射方向が水平面に対して所定角度で斜め上向きになるように配置されているので、一般に人の目の高さよりも低い位置に取り付けられる受信器からの光を比較的近距離からでも視認しやすく、しかも車両の側方から視認することが可能になる。
【００９７】
請求項１６の発明では、請求項１４または請求項１５の発明において、所定角度を２〜１２度としているから、３０ｍ程度の範囲内での報知灯の点灯状態の視認性が高くなる。
【００９８】
請求項１７の発明では、請求項１４ないし請求項１６の発明において、報知灯は車両の後方と左方向と右方向とにそれぞれ光を放射するように複数個設けられ、点灯制御回路は各報知灯を順に繰り返して点灯させるので、受信器の限られた寸法範囲において発光範囲を比較的広くとることができ、しかも発光位置が変化することによって報知灯の点灯に視認性が高くなる（つまり、発光に気付きやすくなる）。
【００９９】
請求項１８の発明では、請求項１７の発明において、点灯制御回路は各報知灯を左右の並び順でサイクリックに点灯させるので、報知灯の点灯位置が左右方向において一方向に流れるように視認されるから、発光に気づきやすくなり、報知灯の点灯に対する視認性が高くなる。
【０１００】
請求項１９の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、受信器のケースは報知灯を覆う透光性のランプカバーを備え、報知灯は少なくとも左方向と右方向とに光を放射するようにケース内に配置され、ランプカバーの左右両側部にはケースの側方に突出して報知灯からの光の一部を前方から視認可能とするように変向するプリズム部が一体に設けられているので、報知灯からの光を主として車両の後方側で視認可能としながらも前方からも視認可能になり、広範囲から報知灯の点灯状態が視認可能になる。
【０１０１】
請求項２０の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、受信器は電池を電源とし、点灯制御回路は報知灯を点滅させるとともに、報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを一定に保つように電池の端子電圧が低下するほど報知灯の１回の通電時間を長くするので、電池電圧が経時的に変動しても報知灯の明るさがほとんど変化しないという利点がある。
【０１０２】
請求項２１の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、受信器は電池を電源とし、点灯制御回路は報知灯を点滅させるとともに、報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを一定に保つように報知灯を通過する電流値が低下するほど報知灯の１回の通電時間を長くするので、電池から報知灯への供給電流に変動があっても報知灯の明るさがほとんど変化しないという利点がある。
【０１０３】
請求項２２の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、点灯制御回路は、探索モードが選択されている間は報知灯を点滅させるとともに受信回路での送信器からの電波の受信毎に報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを段階的に増大させるので、探索モードにおいて報知灯を点灯させるときに比較的低輝度で点灯させることにより受信器での消費電力の増加を抑制しながらも、車両が発見できないときには報知灯の輝度を高めて発見しやすくすることができる。
【０１０４】
請求項２３の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、点灯制御回路は、探索モードが選択されている間は報知灯を点滅させるとともに受信回路での送信器からの受信強度が大きいほど報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを段階的に減少させるので、送信器からの距離に応じて報知灯の輝度が変化し、送信器が受信器に近い場合には報知灯での消費電力を低減することで受信器での消費電力の増加を抑制することができる。
【０１０５】
請求項２４の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、報知灯は発光ダイオードであって、受信回路は報知灯の周囲温度を検出する温度検知部を備え、点灯制御回路は、温度検知部による検知温度が上昇するほど報知灯の１回の点灯に要するエネルギを増大させるので、報知灯としての発光ダイオードの輝度が周囲温度によって変化するのを抑制することができる。
【０１０６】
請求項２５の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、受信器は電池と補助電源とを備え、電池と補助電源との少なくとも一方を電源に用いるので、適宜に補助電源を用いることによって受信器での電池の消費を抑制することができ、電池交換の頻度を低減することができる。
【０１０７】
請求項２６の発明では、請求項２５の発明において、補助電源は太陽電池を備え、受信回路の待ち受け状態では補助電源から給電するので、昼間のように太陽電池による発電が利用できるときには電池からの電力供給を抑制することができ、電池交換の頻度を低減することができる。
【０１０８】
請求項２７の発明では、請求項２または請求項３の発明において、車両は自転車であって、補助電源は車両の走行時に発電するダイナモを備え、報知モードにおける報知灯への給電に補助電源を用いるので、車両の走行時であってダイナモによる発電が可能なときには電池からの電力供給を抑制することができ、電池交換の頻度を低減することができる。
【０１０９】
請求項２８の発明では、請求項２または請求項３の発明において、車両は自転車であって、補助電源は、自転車のスポークに取り付けられた永久磁石と、受信器に設けられ自転車の走行時に永久磁石の磁束が横切ることにより発電するコイルとからなり、報知モードにおける報知灯への給電に補助電源を用いるので、車両の走行時であって発電可能なときには電池からの電力供給を抑制して電池交換の頻度を低減することができる。しかも、ダイナモに比較すると摩擦力などによるエネルギ損失が少ないから、自転車に取り付けるときには負荷の増大をほとんど生じることなく発電が可能である。
【０１１０】
請求項２９の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、車両は自転車であって、受信器は電池と補助電源とを電源として備え、補助電源は、車両の走行時に発電するダイナモと、補助電源の出力端間に接続されダイナモにより充電される二次電池とを備え、受信回路の待ち受け状態では補助電源から給電するので、車両の走行時において充電した二次電池を電源として受信回路の待ち受けが可能なり、電池の交換頻度を低減することができる。
【０１１１】
請求項３０の発明では、請求項１ないし請求項４の発明において、車両は自転車であって、受信器は電池と補助電源とを電源として備え、補助電源は、自転車のスポークに取り付けられた永久磁石と、受信器に設けられ自転車の走行時に永久磁石の磁束が横切ることにより発電するコイルと、補助電源の出力端間に接続されコイルの出力により充電される二次電池とを備え、受信回路の待ち受け状態では補助電源から給電するものであり、車両の走行時であって発電可能なときには二次電池を充電しておき、この二次電池を電源として受信回路の待ち受けが可能になり、電池交換の頻度を低減することができる。しかも、ダイナモに比較すると摩擦力などによるエネルギ損失が少ないから、自転車に取り付けるときには負荷の増大をほとんど生じることなく発電が可能である。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施形態１を示し、（ａ）は送信器のブロック図、（ｂ）は受信器のブロック図である。
【図２】同上に用いる送信器を示し、（ａ）は平面図、（ｂ）は横断面図である。
【図３】同上に用いる受信器を示す斜視図である。
【図４】同上に用いる受信器を示す縦断面図である。
【図５】同上に用いる受信器を示す横断面図である。
【図６】同上に用いる受信器の使用状態を示す側面図である。
【図７】同上に用いる受信器の自転車への取付部位を示す要部側面図である。
【図８】同上に用いる受信器の自転車への取付部位を示す要部断面図である。
【図９】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１０】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１１】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１２】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１３】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１４】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１５】同上に用いる受信器の要部ブロック図である。
【図１６】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１７】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１８】同上の動作説明図である。
【図１９】同上に用いる受信器の要部ブロック図である。
【図２０】同上に用いる受信器の構成例を示すブロック図である。
【図２１】同上に用いる補助電源の構成例を示す回路図である。
【図２２】図２１に示した補助電源を用いる受信器の外観を示す斜視図である。
【図２３】同上に用いる補助電源の構成例を示す回路図である。
【図２４】図２３に示した補助電源を用いる受信器の使用例を示す側面図である。
【図２５】同上に用いる補助電源の構成例を示す回路図である。
【図２６】同上に用いる補助電源の構成例を示す回路図である。
【図２７】図２６に示した補助電源を用いる受信器の使用例を示す側面図である。
【図２８】同上に用いる補助電源の構成例を示す回路図である。
【図２９】同上に用いる受信器の構成例を示す横断面図である。
【図３０】本発明の実施形態２に用いる受信器を示すブロック図である。
【図３１】本発明の実施形態３、実施形態４に用いる受信器を示すブロック図である。
【符号の説明】
ＳＷ１，ＳＷ２送信スイッチ
１０送信器
２０受信器
２１受信回路
２１ｃ温度検知部
２３電池
２４点灯制御回路
２５走行センサ
２６警戒制御回路
２７警報ブザー
２８補助電源
２９錠装置
４０ケース
４４ランプカバー
４４ａプリズム部
５０自転車
５２ａスポーク
５３永久磁石
５４コイル
ＤＮダイナモ
ＬＰ１〜ＬＰ３報知灯
ＰＶ太陽電池
ＳＢ二次電池[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle finding device useful for finding an owner's vehicle from parked or parked vehicles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a technology to find the owner's bicycle from many bicycles around like a bicycle parking lot, a receiver was attached to the bicycle, and a specific radio wave was transmitted from the transmitter carried by the owner. At times, various devices have been proposed for lighting a light source in a receiver that has received a radio wave from a transmitter. (For example, see Patent Literature 1, Patent Literature 2, and Patent Literature 3).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-114487 (page 1, FIG. 2)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 64-22589 (page 1, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-24793 (page 2, FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, although the technology described in each of the above-mentioned patent documents has a configuration in which a light source is emitted from a receiver by radio waves from a transmitter, the owner's bicycle is discovered from a large number of bicycles. It has only a single function to help you do that. The bicycle has a small space for installing the device, and a problem arises in that the appearance is impaired if a safety light for alerting the driver of the vehicle during driving or a device for preventing theft is separately installed.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a vehicle that has a function of finding a vehicle but also has other functions with one vehicle, thereby saving space and not impairing the appearance of the vehicle. A discovery device is provided.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a transmitter which is portable and transmits information for identifying itself and operation information of a transmission switch by radio waves, and which is fixed to a vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter and transmits a specific transmitter. And a receiver, the operation of which is instructed by the operation of the transmission switch, wherein the receiver is capable of selecting two types of operation modes, a search mode and a warning mode, and at least searches in response to an instruction from the transmitter. , A notification light whose lighting state can be visually recognized from a predetermined distance, a travel sensor for detecting travel of the vehicle during a period in which the alert mode is selected, a warning buzzer for reporting a warning sound, and a travel sensor. A warning control circuit that sounds an alarm buzzer when vehicle travel is detected, and a lighting control that controls lighting of the notification light only within a specified time period according to a search mode instruction from a transmitter. Characterized in that it comprises a circuit.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter which transmits information for identifying itself and operation information of a transmission switch, which is portable, is fixed to a vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter, and transmits a specific transmitter. And a receiver whose operation is instructed by the operation of the transmission switch. The receiver can select three types of operation modes of a search mode, a notification mode, and a warning mode, and responds to an instruction from the transmitter. A receiving circuit capable of selecting at least a search mode and a notification mode; a notification light whose lighting state can be visually recognized from a predetermined distance; a travel sensor for detecting travel of the vehicle during a period in which the alert mode is selected; An alarm buzzer that alerts the user, a warning control circuit that sounds an alarm buzzer when the travel of the vehicle is detected by the travel sensor, and an alert light specified by the search mode instruction from the transmitter. Characterized in that it comprises a lighting control circuit for continuously lighting controls the notifying lamp according to an instruction of the broadcast mode from the transmitter as well as lighting control only within a period.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter which transmits information for identifying itself and operation information of a transmission switch by radio waves, and which is fixed to a vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter, and transmits a specific transmitter. A receiver whose operation is instructed by the operation of the transmission switch in the receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to select two operation modes of a search mode and a notification mode in accordance with an instruction from the transmitter, and a predetermined distance. The notification light whose lighting state can be visually recognized from the, and the lighting control is performed only within the specified time period by the search mode instruction from the transmitter, and the notification light is continuously lit by the notification mode instruction from the transmitter. And a lighting control circuit for controlling.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the vehicle further comprises a lock device which is mounted on the vehicle and prohibits running of the vehicle when the vehicle is locked, and wherein the alert control circuit is configured to control a period during which the lock device is locked. And a period in which the alert mode is selected, and when the travel of the vehicle is detected by the travel sensor during a period in which the lock device is locked, an alarm buzzer is sounded.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the security control circuit is configured to perform at least one of a case where a security mode is selected by an instruction from the transmitter and a case where the locking device is manually locked. To shift to the alert mode.
[0011]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the alert control circuit cancels the alert mode and unlocks the lock device according to an instruction from the transmitter.
[0012]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the alert control circuit releases the alert mode when the lock device is unlocked.
[0013]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the distance at which the radio wave reaches from the transmitter to the receiver is set to match the distance at which the lighting of the notification lamp can be visually recognized. It is characterized by.
[0014]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiving circuit is intermittently driven during a period of waiting for a radio wave from the transmitter.
[0015]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the invention, a plurality of the notification lamps are provided, and the lighting control circuit repeats each notification lamp in order so that the lighting periods of the notification lamps do not overlap. It is characterized by lighting.
[0016]
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the tenth aspect, the lighting control circuit provides a non-lighting period in which none of the notification lights is turned on each time each of the notification lights is turned on.
[0017]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiver uses a battery as a power source, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification lamp, and the receiving circuit determines that the terminal voltage of the battery is low. When it is detected that the time has become equal to or less than the lower limit value defined as the replacement time, one lighting period of the notification lamp is shortened with respect to a period higher than the lower limit value.
[0018]
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiver uses a battery as a power source, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification lamp, and the receiving circuit determines that the terminal voltage of the battery is low. When it is detected that the time has become equal to or less than the lower limit specified as the replacement time, the lighting cycle of the notification lamp is extended for a period higher than the lower limit.
[0019]
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, in the information light, the light emission direction is obliquely upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane in a state where the receiver is fixed to the vehicle. It is characterized by being arranged as follows.
[0020]
In the invention of claim 15, in the invention of claims 1 to 4, a plurality of the notification lights are arranged so as to emit light in at least the left and right directions of the vehicle, and the receiver is provided with the receiver. The light emission direction is arranged so as to be obliquely upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane while being fixed to the vehicle.
[0021]
According to a sixteenth aspect, in the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, the predetermined angle is 2 to 12 degrees.
[0022]
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourteenth to sixteenth aspects, a plurality of the notification lights are provided so as to emit light to the rear, the left direction, and the right direction of the vehicle, respectively, and the lighting control circuit Is characterized in that each notification light is turned on repeatedly in order.
[0023]
According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the seventeenth aspect, the lighting control circuit cyclically lights each of the notification lamps in an order of right and left.
[0024]
In the invention of claim 19, in the invention of claims 1 to 4, the case of the receiver includes a translucent lamp cover for covering the notification light, and the notification light is at least leftward and rightward. Prisms are arranged inside the case to emit light, and are located on the left and right sides of the lamp cover and protrude to the side of the case and are turned so that part of the light from the notification lamp can be viewed from the front. It is characterized by being provided integrally.
[0025]
In the twentieth aspect, in the first to fourth aspects, the receiver uses a battery as a power source, the lighting control circuit flashes the notification light, and energy required for one lighting of the notification light. In order to keep the constant, the one-time energizing time of the notification lamp is extended as the terminal voltage of the battery decreases.
[0026]
According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiver uses a battery as a power source, the lighting control circuit flashes the notification light, and energy required for one lighting of the notification light. Is characterized in that, as the value of the current passing through the notification lamp decreases, the one energization time of the notification lamp increases as the current value passes.
[0027]
In the invention of claim 22, in the invention of claims 1 to 4, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification light while the search mode is selected and transmits the notification light from the transmitter in the receiving circuit. Each time the radio wave is received, the energy required for one turn-on of the notification lamp is stepwise increased.
[0028]
According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification lamp while the search mode is selected and transmits the notification light from the transmitter in the receiving circuit. The energy required for one lighting of the notification light is gradually reduced as the reception intensity of the notification light increases.
[0029]
According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the notification light is a light emitting diode, the receiving circuit includes a temperature detection unit for detecting an ambient temperature of the notification light, and the lighting control circuit Is characterized in that as the temperature detected by the temperature detector rises, the energy required for one turn on of the notification lamp is increased.
[0030]
According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to fourth aspects, the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power supply, and at least one of the battery and the auxiliary power supply is used as a power supply.
[0031]
According to a twenty-sixth aspect, in the twenty-sixth aspect, the auxiliary power supply includes a solar cell, and is supplied with power from the auxiliary power supply in a standby state of the receiving circuit.
[0032]
According to a twenty-seventh aspect, in the second or third aspect, the vehicle is a bicycle, the auxiliary power supply includes a dynamo that generates power when the vehicle is running, and supplies power to the notification light in the notification mode. And an auxiliary power supply.
[0033]
According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the vehicle is a bicycle, and the auxiliary power source includes a permanent magnet attached to a spoke of the bicycle, and a bicycle provided on the receiver. It comprises a coil that generates power when a magnetic flux of a permanent magnet crosses during traveling, and an auxiliary power supply is used to supply power to the notification lamp in the notification mode.
[0034]
According to a twenty-ninth aspect, in the first to fourth aspects, the vehicle is a bicycle, the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power source as power sources, and the auxiliary power source generates power when the vehicle runs. A dynamo and a secondary battery connected between the output terminals of the auxiliary power supply and charged by the dynamo are provided, and power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply in a standby state of the receiving circuit.
[0035]
In the invention of claim 30, in the invention of claims 1 to 4, the vehicle is a bicycle, the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power supply as power supplies, and the auxiliary power supply is attached to a spoke of the bicycle. A permanent magnet, a coil provided in the receiver and configured to generate electric power when a magnetic flux of the permanent magnet crosses when the bicycle runs, and a secondary battery connected between the output terminals of the auxiliary power supply and charged by the output of the coil. In the standby state of the receiving circuit, power is supplied from an auxiliary power supply.
[0036]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(Embodiment 1)
In this embodiment, a bicycle is exemplified as a vehicle, but the technical idea of the present invention can be applied to other vehicles similar to a bicycle such as a motorcycle. The present embodiment also includes a receiver mounted on the bicycle and capable of receiving radio waves, and a transmitter carried by the owner of the bicycle and transmitting radio waves receivable by the receiver.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 1A, the transmitter 10 includes two transmission switches SW1 and SW2, a transmission circuit 11 that generates a high-frequency transmission signal according to the operation of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2, and a transmission circuit 11 And an antenna 12 for transmitting the transmission signal generated in the above as airwaves into the air. The power source of the transmitter 10 is a battery 13, and the transmission circuit 11 also has a function of turning on an indicator light 14 composed of a light emitting diode every time the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 are operated.
[0038]
The body 30 of the transmitter 10 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, and operation portions 31a and 31b of transmission switches SW1 and SW2 are juxtaposed on one surface in the thickness direction of the body 30 as shown in FIG. And the indicator lamp 14 is exposed. The transmission switches SW1 and SW2 are push-button switches, and a transmission signal is generated by the transmission circuit 11 by pressing the operation units 31a and 31b. As shown in FIG. 2B, a circuit board 32 provided with the transmission circuit 11 and the antenna 12 is housed inside the housing 30, and a housing room 33 for housing the battery 13 is provided. A button-type battery is used as the battery 13, and a screw-type battery cover (not shown) that covers the storage chamber 33 is screwed into the housing 30. Here, any type of antenna 12 may be used, but a planar antenna or a loop antenna is used for miniaturization.
[0039]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1B, the receiver 20 includes an antenna 22 for receiving a radio wave from the transmitter 10 and a receiving circuit 21 for decoding the content of a received signal received by the antenna 22. The receiving circuit 21 determines whether or not the received signal is a signal transmitted from the corresponding transmitter 10, and when the received signal is a signal from the corresponding transmitter 10, determines which of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 has been operated. Is determined by the contents of The determination of the transmitter 10 and the determination of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 in the receiving circuit 21 are performed by a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as “microcomputer”) built in the receiving circuit 21. A battery 23 is used as a power source for the receiver 20. The receiver 20 is provided with a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) notification lights LP1 to LP3 composed of light emitting diodes, and the lighting state of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is controlled by a lighting control circuit 24 connected to the reception circuit 21. You. Further, the receiver 20 has a traveling sensor 25 for detecting the traveling of the bicycle, and the traveling sensor 25 detects that the bicycle is continuously traveling when a warning mode described later is selected by the receiving circuit 21. Then, an alert control circuit 26 that determines that the bicycle has been stolen and an alarm buzzer 27 that sounds so as to notify an alarm when the alert control circuit 26 determines that the bicycle has been stolen are provided.
[0040]
Various configurations of the travel sensor 25 are known. For example, the travel sensor 25 uses a magnet attached to a spoke of a bicycle and a magnetic sensor fixed to a fixed position of a bicycle frame at a position corresponding to the magnet to rotate the wheel. Accordingly, a configuration in which the traveling of the bicycle is detected by utilizing the magnetic flux around the magnet crossing the magnetic sensor can be used. Alternatively, it may be determined whether or not the bicycle is in a running state by monitoring an impact when the bicycle is running using an acceleration sensor or the like.
[0041]
The case 40 of the receiver 20 has the shape shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 for mounting on a bicycle. The case 40 of the receiver 20 is assumed to be attached to a seat stay 51 (an oblique pipe provided between a saddle and a rear wheel bearing) of the bicycle 50 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, a stopper 60 for attaching to the seat stay 51 is connected to the case 40 by a fixing screw 61.
The stopper 60 is connected to the pair of connecting pieces 62 through which the fixing screws 61 are inserted in a manner overlapping with the mounting legs 41 extending from the case 40, and to the seat stay 51 so as to connect one end of both connecting pieces 62. A fixed ring 63 wound around one round is continuously and integrally provided. It is desirable to insert a thin rubber plate for preventing slippage between the fixed stay 63 and the seat stay 51. A fixing nut 64 to be screwed with the fixing screw 61 is attached to one connecting piece 62, and the fixing screw 61 is screwed to the fixing nut 64 through the mounting leg 41 of the case 40 and both connecting pieces 62, so that the case 40 The fixing member 63 is fixed to the seat stay 51 as a result, the connecting ring 62 approaches and the fixed ring 63 is reduced in diameter.
[0042]
That is, when attaching the case 40 to the bicycle, the fixing screw 61 is removed, and the fixing wheel 63 is attached to the seat stay 51 by passing the seat stay 51 between both connecting pieces 62 of the stopper 60. Is passed through the mounting leg 41 and the connecting piece 62 and the fixing screw 61 is screwed into the fixing nut 64, so that the diameter of the fixing wheel 63 is reduced and the case 40 can be fixed to the seat stay 51. To remove the case 40 from the seat stay 51, the procedure may be reversed.
[0043]
In the case 40, a circuit board 42 on which the receiving circuit 21, the antenna 22, the lighting control circuit 24, the alert control circuit 26, and the alarm lights LP1 to LP3 are mounted is housed together with the battery 23. As the receiver 20, a battery 23 having a relatively large capacity is used. The battery 23 and the circuit board 42 are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the battery 23, and the case 40 has an elongated shape. As a result, the height of the case 40 can be made relatively small. The mounting leg 41 described above is extended from a portion close to the center of gravity of the case 40 in a state where the battery 23 is stored in the case 40, so that the stress generated on the mounting leg 41 due to shock or vibration when the bicycle 50 runs is reduced. It is relatively small. In addition, since the case 40 is disposed near the seat stay 51, the mounting legs 41 can be shortened to increase the strength against bending force.
[0044]
The case 40 includes a base 43 that houses the battery 23 as a power supply together with the circuit board 42, a translucent lamp cover 44 that covers a part of the base 43 that houses the notification lights LP 1 to LP 3, and a circuit board A battery cover 45 covers the remaining portion 42 and the portion housing the battery 23 and is detachable from the base 43. A boss 43a protrudes from the inner surface of the base 43 and faces the battery cover 45, and the battery cover 45 is coupled to the base 43 by mounting screws 46 that are screwed into the boss 43a through the battery cover 45. That is, by loosening the mounting screw 46, the battery cover 45 can be separated from the base 43 and the battery 23 can be replaced. The upper surface of the battery cover 45 is formed with a recess 45 a for accommodating the head of the mounting screw 46. Since the portion of the circuit board 42 that is covered with the battery cover 45 is exposed when the battery cover 45 is removed, there is a possibility that the circuit board 42 may be touched when the battery 23 is replaced. Therefore, a portion of the circuit board 42 covered by the battery cover 45 is covered by a protective cover 47 disposed inside the battery cover 45. The position of the protective cover 47 is fixed to the base 43.
[0045]
At least one of the surfaces where the base 43, the lamp cover 44, the battery cover 45, and the protective cover 47 abut each other is provided with a rib 40a to provide waterproofness. In other words, a space into which water intrudes into the abutting surface is referred to as a water outside, and a space in which water is not desired to enter is referred to as a water inside. Since the creeping distance between the inside and the inside becomes long and the creeping shape becomes uneven, water does not easily enter. In order to discharge water that has entered the inside of the case 40 to the outside, a water drain hole 40b penetrating the inside and outside of the case 40 is formed in a portion of the base 43 that is the lowest at the time of mounting.
[0046]
When attaching the case 40 to the bicycle, the lamp cover 44 is attached so as to face rearward, and the angle of the case 40 with respect to the stopper 60 is adjusted with the fixing screw 61 as an axis, so that the bottom surface of the base 43 is seat-stayed. It is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to 51. Light-emitting diodes with lenses are used for the three notification lights LP1 to LP3, and the direction of light emission (optical axis direction of the lens) from each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is right, left, and rear of the bicycle. Thus, it is mounted on the circuit board 42. The circuit board 42 is arranged along the inner side surface of the base 43, and the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are arranged such that the optical axis direction is inclined obliquely upward when the base 43 is substantially parallel to the seat stay 51. Has been implemented. Here, it is desirable that the direction of the optical axis when the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are projected on the circuit board 42 be 90 to 180 degrees at the maximum. That is, the opening angles of the notification lights LP2 and LP3 at both ends in the optical axis direction are set to 90 to 180 degrees. By arranging the notification lights LP1 to LP3 left and right within the left and right width of the case 40 and making the directions of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 different from each other, the notification lights LP1 to LP1 can be viewed not only from behind the bicycle but also from the left and right. Since the LP3 can be easily visually recognized, and the three notification lights LP1 to LP3 are cyclically and repeatedly turned on in the left-right arrangement order, the light of the light is more than when the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are simply turned on or blinked. The change is easy to understand, and the visibility at the time of turning on the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is improved. Here, repeating cyclically in the order of left and right means, for example, repeating the order of left → back → right → left.
[0047]
Further, as described above, when the bottom surface of the base 43 is substantially parallel to the seat stay 51, the direction of light emission from the notification lamps LP1 to LP3 is obliquely upward, and as shown in FIG. The angle θ formed by the emission direction of the light from .about.LP3 with respect to the horizontal plane is set in the range of 2 to 12 degrees. The reason for setting the angle θ in the range of 2 to 12 degrees is as follows. That is, the mounting height H1 of the case 40 from the ground is 0.5 m, the visible distance L1 when a person checks the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is 10 m, and the height H2 of the person's eyes from the ground is 1. Assuming 5 m, the angle θ is about 6 degrees (tan θ = 0.1). Further, assuming that the visible distance L1 when confirming the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 from the car is 30 m, the eye height H2 from the ground is 1.5 m for a small car, and 3 m for a truck, the angle θ is 2 to 5 Degree (1/30 <tan θ <1/12). As described above, the angle θ may be about 2 to 6 degrees, but is set in the range of 2 to 12 degrees in order to allow a margin in design. The visual recognition distance L1 means a distance at which the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be visually recognized on the optical axis of the notification lights LP1 to LP3. In addition, the angles θ of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be appropriately adjusted around the fixing screw 61 connecting the stopper 60 fixed to the seat stay 51 and the case 40.
[0048]
In the above example, the three notification lights LP1 to LP3 are arranged such that the light emission direction is obliquely upward at an angle θ with respect to the horizontal plane, but the light is emitted to the rear of the bicycle. It may be arranged such that the light emission direction of only LP2 is obliquely upward at an angle θ with respect to the horizontal plane, and the light emission directions of the left and right notification lights LP1 and LP3 are substantially parallel to the horizontal plane. In this case, visibility from behind can be ensured, so that the driver of the car or the like can be alerted by turning on the notification lights LP1 to LP3 while the bicycle is running.
[0049]
By the way, the receiver 20 can select three types of operation modes according to an instruction from the transmitter 10. The three selectable operation modes include a search mode in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 blink for a specified time period (for example, 10 seconds), a notification mode in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 continuously blink, and a bicycle. There is an alert mode that alerts unauthorized use by anyone other than the 50 owners. In the search mode, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 provided on the receiver 20 attached to the bicycle 50 are blinked for a certain time period according to an instruction from the transmitter 10 to notify the owner of the location of the bicycle 50 parked. Can be. In the notification mode, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are continuously blinked in response to an instruction from the transmitter 10, so that the driver of the automobile or the like can recognize the presence of the bicycle while the bicycle 50 is running. . When the alert mode is selected, when the bicycle runs, it is determined that the bicycle has been stolen, and the alarm buzzer 26 provided in the receiver 20 sounds.
[0050]
In the present embodiment, in order to select the above-mentioned three types of operation modes by using two transmission switches SW1 and SW2 provided in the transmitter 10, a state in which each transmission switch SW1 and SW2 are individually operated, Three types of functions can be selected depending on the state in which SW1 and SW2 are simultaneously operated. By the way, as described above, it is necessary for the receiver 20 to determine whether or not the received signal is a signal transmitted from the corresponding transmitter 10, and to determine which operation mode is selected by the transmission switches SW1 and SW2. It is necessary to determine. Therefore, an identification code is set for each of the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20, the identification signal is included in the transmission signal generated by the transmitter 10, and the identification code included in the reception signal is received by the receiver 20. The correspondence between the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20 is confirmed by collating with the set identification code. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the receiver 20 from responding to radio waves from the transmitter 10 of another person other than the owner. A similar technique can be used when the receiving circuit 21 determines which of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 has been operated in the transmitter 10. In this case, the transmitter 20 transmits an identification code corresponding to the operation of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2, so that the receiver 20 determines which of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 has been operated. However, since the reception circuit 21 determines three types of operations regarding the operation of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2, there are relatively few types, so that a carrier having a different frequency is used for each operation mode, or a carrier is modulated at a different frequency for each operation mode. It is also possible to adopt a technology that does.
[0051]
The operation in each operation mode will be described below. To select the search mode, the transmitter 10 is operated by pressing the transmission switch SW1. When the search mode is selected, the lighting control circuit 24 turns on the three notification lights LP1 to LP3 in order. The period in which each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is turned on once is appropriately set, and the state in which each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is turned on once in order is repeated for a prescribed time period (for example, 10 seconds). That is, when the transmission switch SW1 is operated, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 automatically turn off after blinking for 10 seconds. Therefore, if the receiver 20 is attached to the bicycle so that the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be visually recognized and the transmission switch SW1 of the transmitter 10 is operated near the parked bicycle, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are set. The bicycle can be turned on, and the bicycle can be easily found.
[0052]
On the other hand, to select the notification mode, the transmitter 10 is operated by pressing the transmission switch SW2. When the notification mode is selected, the notification lamps LP1 to LP3 are continuously blinked, so that others can be made aware of the existence of the running bicycle. For example, it is possible to alert the driver of the car by visually recognizing the blinking of the notification lights LP1 to LP3, and to make the driver of the car aware of the existence of the bicycle. This type of device is known by itself as a safety light mounted on a bicycle. However, there is no device that shares the light source with the notification lights LP1 to LP3 used in the search mode, and there is no device provided that is operated wirelessly by radio waves from the transmitter 10. To cancel the notification mode, the transmission switch SW2 may be pressed again. Here, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are arranged in the left-right direction as described later, and when either of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 is operated, each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is arranged in the order from left to right or from right to left. The notification lights LP1 to LP3 blink.
[0053]
Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are individually and cyclically lit one by one so that the periods for supplying the drive current to the respective notification lights LP1 to LP3 do not overlap with each other. In the illustrated example, during the period in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are turned on, control is performed so that any one of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is always turned on, and a period in which none of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is turned on occurs. I try not to. By lighting the notification lights LP1 to LP3 one by one in this manner, power consumption can be reduced as compared with a case where a period in which a plurality of notification lights LP1 to LP3 are simultaneously turned on is provided. The fluctuation of the output current is reduced, and the power supplied to the internal circuit of the receiver 20 can be easily stabilized. Moreover, as will be described later, since the direction and position of the notification lights LP 1 to LP 3 are changed, the light emission position changes, so that the visibility is improved. In order to further reduce the power consumption of the receiver 20, as shown in FIG. 11, not only each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is turned on individually and cyclically, but also each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is turned on. A non-lighting period Td in which none of the notification lamps LP1 to LP3 is turned on (does not supply a drive current) may be provided before the period for performing the operation. By providing such a non-lighting period Td, a period in which power is not supplied to the notification lamps LP1 to LP3 occurs during a period in which the notification lamps LP1 to LP3 are turned on, so that the power consumption of the receiver 20 can be further reduced. Will be possible.
[0054]
As described above, since the search mode and the notification mode can be selected, if the transmission switch SW1 is operated in the vicinity of the bicycle when the bicycle is parked, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 blink for 10 seconds to easily find the bicycle. When the transmission switch SW2 is operated, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 blink continuously, so that the driver of the car can be alerted during driving. Note that the bicycle may be found by operating the transmission switch SW2 and causing the notification lights LP1 to LP3 to blink continuously when the bicycle is parked. When the transmission switch SW2 is used for this purpose, there is a possibility that the power consumption of the receiver 20 is increased as compared with the case where the blinking time of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is limited by the operation of the transmission switch SW1, but there are many surroundings. The convenience is improved when a bicycle is present and it is difficult to find one.
[0055]
By the way, to select the alert mode, the transmitter 10 simultaneously presses both transmission switches SW1 and SW2. When the receiver 20 shifts to the alert mode, all the notification lights LP1 to LP3 in the receiver 20 are continuously turned on for 10 seconds. The receiver 20 monitors the output of the traveling sensor 25 in the alert mode, and determines that the bicycle is traveling when the state in which traveling is detected by the traveling sensor 25 continues for a prescribed time (for example, 20 seconds). Then, the alarm buzzer 27 sounds. Therefore, when the warning mode is selected when the owner of the bicycle leaves the bicycle, it is possible to confirm that the receiver 20 has shifted to the alert mode by turning on all of the notification lights LP1 to LP3, and after shifting to the alert mode. Can intimidate a person who intends to use the bicycle without permission by sounding the alarm buzzer 27, thereby preventing the bicycle from being stolen.
[0056]
When the bicycle owner operates the transmission switch SW1 or SW2 when riding the bicycle, the alert mode is released. As described above, the transmission switch SW1 is used to select the search mode when used alone. Since the warning mode is canceled before the owner rides on the bicycle, the transmission switch SW1 is transmitted during the selection of the security mode. When the alert mode is released by operating the switch SW1, after the alert mode is released, the alarm lamps LP1 to LP3 also blink for the time period described above. The same applies when the transmission switch SW1 is operated while the alarm buzzer 27 is sounding in the alert mode. In this case, the sounding of the alarm buzzer 27 is stopped by releasing the alert mode. When the transmission switch SW2 is operated in the alert mode, only the alert mode is released. When the alert switch is operated when the alarm buzzer 27 sounds in the alert mode, the alert buzzer 27 stops sounding by releasing the alert mode.
[0057]
The operation of the receiver 20 of the present embodiment is summarized as shown in FIG. That is, when the power of the receiver 20 is turned on, the radio wave from the transmitter 10 is awaited. When the operation of the transmission switch SW1 is detected (S1), the mode shifts to the search mode, and the notification lights LP1 to LP3 blink in order. The state is continued for 10 seconds (S2). When the operation of the transmission switch SW2 is detected (S3), the state shifts to the notification mode, and the state in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are sequentially blinked is continued (S4). The notification mode continues until the transmission switch SW2 is operated next (S5). On the other hand, when it is detected that both the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 are simultaneously operated (S6), the mode shifts to the alert mode. In the alert mode, the output of the travel sensor 25 is monitored as described above, and the travel detection by the travel sensor 25 is performed. When the state reaches 20 seconds (S7), it is determined that the bicycle is being used without permission, and the alarm buzzer 27 is sounded (S8). Here, when the operation of the operation switch SW1 is detected while the alarm buzzer 27 is sounding (S9), the alert mode is released (S10), and the sounding of the alarm buzzer 27 is stopped (S11). The state is shifted to the search mode, and the state in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are sequentially blinked is continued for 10 seconds (S12). When the operation of the operation switch SW2 is detected while the alarm buzzer 27 is sounding (S13), the warning mode is released (S14), and the sounding of the alarm buzzer 27 is stopped (S15).
[0058]
If the running detection by the running sensor 25 does not reach 20 seconds in the alert mode, the alarm buzzer 27 does not sound, so when the operation of the operation switch SW1 is detected (S16), the alert mode is released (S17). The mode is shifted to the search mode, and the state in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are sequentially blinked is continued for 10 seconds (S18). When the operation of the operation switch SW2 is detected in the alert mode without the alarm buzzer 27 sounding (S19), the alert mode is released (S20).
[0059]
As described above, when the transmission switch SW1 is operated, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 repeatedly blink for a time period of 10 seconds. Therefore, when the owner searches for a parked bicycle, the transmission switch SW1 of the transmitter 10 is operated. Then, the location of the bicycle can be easily known by the blinking of the notification lights LP1 to LP3, and even if there are many bicycles around, the bicycle can be easily found. Further, as described above, since the three notification lights LP1 to LP3 have different directions, the blinking can be visually recognized from a wide range, and thus the bicycle can be easily found. In addition, since each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 emits light obliquely upward, the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be confirmed from a relatively long distance.
[0060]
In addition, since the two transmission switches SW1 and SW2 must be operated simultaneously to shift to the alert mode, the possibility of shifting to the alert mode by an inadvertent operation can be reduced. In addition, since three types of operations are selected by the two transmission switches SW1 and SW2, the size can be reduced as compared with the case where three transmission switches are provided.
[0061]
By the way, whether or not the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are turned on can be visually recognized from a distant place even when the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are turned on at a low luminance when the surroundings are dark, such as at night. When the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are lit at low brightness when it is relatively bright, it is difficult to visually recognize it from a distance. However, when the owner searches for a bicycle that is parked, the range of the place where the bicycle is parked is known, so it is considered that the bicycle should be searched within a range of, for example, about 10 m. Therefore, this distance range is set as the detection distance, and the brightness of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be visually recognized so that the lighting state of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be visually recognized within the detection distance range even in a relatively bright environment. Is set, and the arrival distance of the radio wave between the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20 is made substantially equal to the detection distance (in practice, the surrounding bicycle becomes an obstacle to the radio wave. It is necessary to set the reaching distance to be slightly longer than the detection distance.) It is possible to prevent the radio waves LP1 to LP3 from being unnecessarily turned on due to the arrival of radio waves from a distance where the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 cannot be visually recognized. it can. As a result, it is possible to prevent power from being wasted due to the indicator lamps LP1 to LP3 being turned on uselessly in the receiver 20. In other words, since the power consumption of the receiver 20 is suppressed, a small-capacity battery can be used as the power source 23, which leads to a reduction in the size of the receiver 20.
[0062]
Further, in order to reduce power consumption in the receiver 20, it is desirable to intermittently drive the receiving circuit 21 as shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, a receivable period T1 in which power is supplied to the reception circuit 21 to operate the reception circuit and a pause period T2 in which power supply to the reception circuit 21 is stopped to suspend the reception circuit are set to 1: 1. Compared to the case where the receiving circuit 21 is continuously energized, the power consumption in the receiving circuit 21 is reduced by almost half.
The receivable period T1 (= pause period T2) is a period during which the radio wave from the transmitter 10 continues (while the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 of the transmitter 10 are being operated, as shown in FIG. 13B). (The radio wave is continuously transmitted)), and the receivable period T1 is included at least once while the radio wave from the transmitter 10 continues. Here, since it is necessary to transmit the above-described identification code from the transmitter 10 to the receiver 20, the transmitter 10 repeatedly transmits a series of signals including the identification code during operation of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2. By setting the cycle T3 for transmitting a series of signals to be equal to or less than half of the receivable period T1 (T1 ≧ 2T3), a series of signals can be received once in one receivable period T1. . In addition, the intermittent operation is performed only during a period in which the reception circuit 21 waits for a radio wave, and a series of signals are repeatedly transmitted from the transmitter 10 as described above. When the reception circuit 21 detects a header of the series of signals, It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the receiving circuit 21 is operated continuously until at least one series of signals is received.
[0063]
In order to reduce the power consumption of the receiver 20, it is effective to reduce the energy supplied to the notification lights LP1 to LP3. As described above, the receiver 20 controls the notification lights LP1 to LP3 for a time period of 10 seconds after receiving the instruction from the transmitter 10 when the transmission switch SW1 is operated. If the period during which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are actually turned on can be shortened, the power consumption of the receiver 20 can be reduced.
[0064]
In order to shorten the period in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are actually turned on in the time period, as shown in FIG. 14, during the period in which each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is turned on once, any one of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is turned on. It is conceivable that a non-period period Tu in which no .about.LP3 is lit is provided, and the non-period period Tu may be lengthened. However, if the faulty period Tu becomes longer, the period during which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are turned on in the time period becomes shorter, and the probability that the owner of the bicycle notices the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 decreases. On the other hand, in general, if the owner of the bicycle cannot find the bicycle, it is considered that the transmission switch SW1 of the transmitter 10 is repeatedly operated. Therefore, in the lighting control circuit 24, a relatively long faulty period Tu is set as an initial value, and when the transmission switch SW1 is operated once in the transmitter 10, the faulty period Tu of the initial value is applied. In this example, when the transmission switch SW1 is operated again, control is performed to shorten the faulty period Tu.
The time limit period is extended each time the transmission switch SW1 is operated, and each time the transmission switch SW1 is operated, the faultless period Tu is gradually reduced. That is, each time the radio wave from the transmitter 10 is received, the energy required for lighting the notification lights LP1 to LP3 once is increased stepwise. However, the number of times that the re-operation of the transmission switch SW1 is valid is limited, for example, up to three times. That is, when the transmission switch SW 1 is operated for the third time, the failure period Tu is not provided. In this way, by shortening the faulty period Tu each time the transmission switch SW1 is repeatedly operated, compared to the case where the faulty period Tu is not provided, the alarm lamps LP1 to LP1 are suppressed while the increase in power consumption is suppressed. It is possible to increase the probability of notifying the lighting of LP3.
[0065]
In the case where the pointless period Tu is provided as described above, the energy used for light emission is smaller as the pointless period Tu is longer. Therefore, considering the average luminance in the timed period, the longer the pointless period Tu, the higher the average luminance. Will be small. On the other hand, the probability of noticing the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is considered to be higher as the distance to the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is shorter. Therefore, if the faulty period Tu is shortened as the distance from the notification lights LP1 to LP3 increases, the probability of noticing the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be made substantially constant regardless of the distance from the notification lights LP1 to LP3. it can. That is, the possibility of noticing the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be made substantially equal regardless of the distance to the bicycle. In order to perform such control, it is necessary to determine the distance between the transmitter 10 and the receiver 20. As a simple method, as shown in FIG. In addition, a signal strength converter 21b for obtaining the reception strength is provided, and a technique of converting the reception strength into a distance by an appropriate relationship is adopted. Although the reception intensity does not always coincide with the distance, it is sufficiently practical as a simple method.
In addition, the distance is divided into a plurality of stages (here, three stages are assumed), and the disparity period Tu is not provided in the largest distance range among the divided stages. As described above, the shorter the distance from the bicycle, the longer the mis-point period Tu, so that when the distance is short, the energy required for one lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is reduced, and the consumption of the battery 23 is suppressed. You can do it.
[0066]
It should be noted that the technique of changing the faulty period Tu according to the number of times of operation of the transmission switch SW1 and the technique of changing the faulty period Tu according to the distance to the transmitter 10 can be used in combination. In the same distance range, the faulty period Tu may be shortened as the number of operations of the transmission switch SW1 increases, and the faulty period Tu may be extended as the distance from the transmitter 10 decreases. The relationship between the three may be tabulated. For example, when the number of operations is set to three levels and the distance is set to three levels, the faulty period Tu may be set to five levels including the case where no faulty period Tu is provided. That is, in the case of a single operation and a short distance, a single operation and a medium distance or a double operation and a short distance, a single operation and a long distance or two operations and a medium distance or a triple operation and a short distance, In the case of two operations and a long distance or three operations and a medium distance, each of the five insufficiency periods Tu is assigned to three types of operation and a long distance. It is needless to say that the injustice period Tu is the longest when the operation is performed once and the distance is short, and is not provided when the operation is performed three times and the distance is short. Further, in the above-described configuration, the average luminance in the timed period is changed by changing the faulty period Tu, but the average luminance in the timed period is controlled by controlling the lighting time of each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3. May be adopted.
[0067]
By the way, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 in the receiver 20 are also used for a function of notifying the life of the battery 23. The life of the battery 23 is monitored by the terminal voltage of the battery 23 (in this example, the receiving circuit 21 monitors the terminal voltage of the battery 23, but a dedicated circuit for monitoring the terminal voltage of the battery 23 may be provided. As shown in FIG. 16, when the terminal voltage falls below the specified lower limit value Vi, it is determined that it is time to replace the battery 23. When it is determined that the battery 23 has reached the replacement time in this way, the lighting control circuit 24 shortens the lighting period of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 with respect to the period in which the terminal voltage of the battery 23 is higher than the lower limit Vi. That is, if the lighting period Te1 of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is set as shown in FIG. 17A in a period in which the terminal voltage of the battery 23 is higher than the lower limit value Vi, the terminal voltage becomes equal to or lower than the lower limit value Vi. Then, the lighting period Te2 is shortened as shown in FIG. Since the degree of shortening the lighting period needs to be such that a person can perceive that the lighting period has become short, for example, the lighting period Te2 is compared with the lighting period Te1 in a period in which the terminal voltage is higher than the lower limit value Vi. Is preferably set to 1/3 or less (3Te2 ≦ Te1). As a technique for notifying the replacement time of the battery 23 by the notification lights LP1 to LP3, the lighting period Te may be shortened as described above, and the cycle of lighting the notification lights LP1 to LP3 may be extended. That is, assuming that the lighting cycle Tp1 is set as shown in FIG. 18A during a period when the terminal voltage of the battery 23 is higher than the lower limit value Vi, the lighting cycle Tp2 is changed to FIG. The extension may be set as shown in FIG. It is necessary to extend the lighting cycle so that a person can perceive that the lighting cycle has become longer. Therefore, for example, the lighting cycle Tp2 is compared with the lighting cycle Tp1 in a period in which the terminal voltage is higher than the lower limit value Vi. Is desirably three times or more (Tp2 ≧ 3Tp1).
[0068]
In the receiver 20, the battery 23 is used as a power source, and the internal resistance of the battery 23 changes with time. Therefore, immediately after the replacement of the battery 23 and immediately before the replacement of the battery 23, the notification lamps LP1 to LP3 are connected. It is considered that the supplied power is different and the visibility of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 changes. Therefore, the lighting control circuit 24 uses the notification light LP1 when lighting the notification lights LP1 to LP3 once so that the change in the brightness of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is hardly perceived even if the internal resistance of the battery 23 changes. .About.LP3 is kept substantially constant. That is, one energization time to the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is changed according to the terminal voltage of the battery 23 or the current supplied to the notification lights LP1 to LP3. In the control based on the terminal voltage of the battery 23, the terminal voltage is monitored and the conduction time is controlled so that the product of the detected terminal voltage and the conduction time becomes constant, that is, the conduction time is inversely proportional to the terminal voltage. In the control based on the current supplied to the notification lights LP1 to LP3, the current supplied to the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is monitored, and the product of the detected current value and the conduction time is kept constant, that is, the conduction time is set. The energization time is controlled so as to be inversely proportional to the current value. The energization time may be inversely proportional to the terminal voltage and the current value, or the energization time may be proportional to the terminal voltage or the current value of the battery 23 by a negative proportionality constant. Here, when detecting the current value, the current value is detected for each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3, and the lighting time is individually set for each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3. The control can be performed in such a manner that the decrease is included in the decrease in the output of the battery 23. Further, in order to simplify the control, the output current of the battery 23 may be monitored and the lighting time of each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 may be set equally without distinction.
[0069]
The brightness of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 varies not only with the output of the battery 23 described above but also with the ambient temperature. That is, since the light emitting diodes are used for the notification lights LP1 to LP3, when the ambient temperature increases, the luminous efficiency decreases, and the luminance with respect to the supplied power decreases. Therefore, the internal temperature of the receiver 20, which is the ambient temperature of the notification lights LP1 to LP3, is detected by the temperature detecting unit 21c provided in the receiving circuit 21 as shown in FIG. 19, and as the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit 21c rises. It is desirable to increase the average power supplied to the notification lights LP1 to LP3. In order to change the average power supplied to the notification lights LP1 to LP3, as described above, each time each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is turned on once, a non-scoring period Tu (see FIG. 14) is provided and the non-scoring period Tu is set. Is adjusted, or the energization time in one lighting of each of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is adjusted. That is, as the temperature detected by the temperature detector 21c increases, the energy required for one turn on of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is increased. By adopting this technique, it is possible to suppress a change in luminance due to a change in ambient temperature.
[0070]
The power source of the receiver 20 may be provided with an auxiliary power source 28 as shown in FIG. Power switches Sp1 and Sp2 are connected in series to the battery 23 and the auxiliary power supply 28, respectively, and a series circuit of the battery 23 and the power switch Sp1 is connected in parallel to a series circuit of the auxiliary power supply 28 and the power switch Sp2. I have. On / off of the dual power switches Sp1 and Sp2 is appropriately controlled by the microcomputer 21a of the receiving circuit 21 in accordance with the operation of the receiver 20. The auxiliary power supply 28 is used as follows. For example, a smaller capacity than the battery 23 is used as the auxiliary power supply 28, and the power switch Sp1 is turned on and the power switch Sp2 is turned off at all times. By turning off the power switch Sp1 and turning on the power switch Sp2, the receiver 20 can be operated by the auxiliary power supply 28 until the battery 23 is replaced. Also, the power switch Sp1 is normally turned on to supply power from the battery 23 to the internal circuit of the receiver 20, and the power switch Sp2 is turned on only during the period when power consumption in the internal circuit temporarily increases, and the power switch Sp2 is turned on. It is possible to supply power to the internal circuit also from the auxiliary power supply 28. Alternatively, when a power supply capable of generating power is used as the auxiliary power supply 28, the battery 23 can be charged while the auxiliary power supply 28 is generating power.
[0071]
FIG. 21 shows an example of the auxiliary power supply 28 capable of generating power. The illustrated auxiliary power supply 28 includes a solar battery PV and a secondary battery SB, and has a configuration in which a diode D1 for preventing backflow is inserted in a charging path from the solar battery PV to the secondary battery SB. As shown in FIG. 22, the solar cell PV is disposed on the upper surface of the case 40, and charges the secondary battery SB during daytime when the solar cell PV receives sunlight. Thus, the terminal voltage of the secondary battery SB is monitored, and the terminal voltage being monitored is equal to or higher than a preset reference value, and the internal circuit is in a state of waiting for a radio wave from the transmitter 10. During a period when the power consumption is relatively small, the auxiliary power supply 28 supplies power to the internal circuit. On the other hand, even if the terminal voltage of the secondary battery SB is lower than the reference value or the terminal voltage of the secondary battery Sb is higher than the reference value, the consumption of the internal circuit is limited as in the period in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are turned on. Power is supplied from the battery 23 during a period when the power is relatively large. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the consumption of the battery 23 by using the auxiliary battery 28 as much as possible during a relatively long period of waiting for the radio wave from the transmitter 10. That is, the frequency of replacement of the battery 23 can be reduced.
[0072]
As shown in FIG. 23, a dynamo DN may be used as the auxiliary power supply 28 capable of generating power. The output of the dynamo DN is taken out as the output of the auxiliary power supply 28 through the diode D2 for preventing backflow. As is well known, dynamo DN is a generator that generates electric power by rotating a bicycle wheel. Generally, the dynamo DN is mounted on a bicycle so as to generate electric power by rotating a front wheel, but the receiver 20 is attached to a seat stay 51 of the bicycle 50. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 24, the bicycle 50 is attached to the bicycle 50 so as to generate power by rotation of the rear wheel 52. In this configuration, the output voltage of the auxiliary power supply 28 is monitored, and the output of the dynamo DN is used together with the output of the battery 23 as electric power when the notification lights PL1 to PL3 are continuously blinked when the bicycle 50 is running. The output voltage of the dynamo DN fluctuates according to the running speed of the bicycle 50. The battery 23 and the auxiliary power supply 28 may be connected in parallel, and the voltage may be stabilized in the receiving circuit 21 and the load circuit. As described above, by using the dynamo DN as the auxiliary power supply 28 and supplying the notification lights LP1 to LP3 from the auxiliary power supply 28 when the bicycle 50 is running, the consumption of the battery 23 during the period in which the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are continuously turned on. The power can be suppressed, and the frequency of replacement of the battery 23 can be reduced. In order to stabilize the output voltage of the auxiliary power supply 28, as shown in FIG. 25, a secondary battery SB charged by the dynamo DN may be provided between the output terminals of the auxiliary power supply 28 to reduce the voltage fluctuation. In the configuration in which the secondary battery SB is provided, power can be supplied from the secondary battery SB other than when the bicycle 50 is running, and thus, similarly to the case where the solar battery PV is used, a radio wave from the transmitter 10 is awaited. It becomes possible to supply at least part of the power from the auxiliary battery 28 during the period.
[0073]
By the way, a generator such as a dynamo DN includes a rotor to which the rotation of the wheel of the bicycle 50 is transmitted and a stator arranged close to the rotor, and a magnetic flux of a permanent magnet provided on the rotor. Obtains an electromotive force by electromagnetic induction when crossing a winding of a coil provided as a stator. Therefore, power can be generated even if a permanent magnet is provided on the wheel instead of transmitting the rotation of the wheel to the rotor and the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet crosses a coil fixed at a fixed position of the bicycle 50. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 27, a permanent magnet 53 is attached to the spoke 52a of the rear wheel 52 of the bicycle 50, and a coil 54 (see FIG. 26) built in the case 40 of the receiver 20 is provided. By adjusting the positions of the permanent magnet 53 and the receiver 20 so that the magnetic flux crosses the coil 54, it is possible to function similarly to the dynamo DN. In this configuration, a voltage is generated at both ends of the coil 44 only during a period in which the distance between the permanent magnet 53 and the coil 54 is relatively short, so that the voltage is generated as continuously as possible in the circumferential direction of the rear wheel 52. It is necessary to arrange a plurality of permanent magnets 53. Since the output voltage of the configuration shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 also fluctuates similarly to the dynamo DN, a secondary battery SB charged by the output voltage of the coil 54 is provided between the output terminals of the auxiliary power supply 28 as shown in FIG. It is desirable. In this configuration, as compared with the case of using a dynamo DN, there are fewer places where frictional force is generated, so that the energy required for powering the bicycle is less than the energy required for power generation, and a large running load is generated as in the case of using a dynamo DN. Absent. Further, since the coil 54 can be housed in the case 40 of the receiver 20, it is not necessary to route the wiring between the receiver 20 and the dynamo DN as in the case of using the dynamo DN, so that the coil 54 can be mounted on the bicycle 50. Easy. Other configurations and operations are the same as those using the dynamo DN.
[0074]
In the above-described configuration, the left and right sides of the lamp cover 44 and the battery cover 45 have a shape in which they are substantially flush with each other, but as shown in FIG. Prism portions 44a protruding outward from both left and right side surfaces may be formed continuously and integrally. The prism part 44a is formed thicker at the center than at the periphery. By providing the prism part 44a, a part of the light from the notification lights LP1 to LP3 is diverted so as to be visible from the front, and the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 can be confirmed from the front of the case 40. Become. That is, by adopting the configuration shown in FIG. 29, it is possible to check the lighting of the notification lights LP1 to LP3 from the front without providing a notification light that emits light forward, and it is easier to find a bicycle parked in the bicycle. become.
[0075]
(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the notification mode is provided to alert the driver of the car or the like while the bicycle is running, but a configuration without the notification mode may be employed. That is, in the present embodiment, the receiver 20 operates in only two types of operation modes: the search mode and the alert mode. Therefore, the transmitter 20 need only be able to select only two types of modes, the search mode and the alert mode, and the two transmission switches SW1 and SW2 are assigned to the search mode and the alert mode, respectively. The transmission switch SW1 is used for selecting the search mode as in the first embodiment, and the transmission switch SW2 is used for selecting the alert mode. As in the first embodiment, both the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 can be used to release the alert mode. When the alert mode is released using the transmission switch SW1, the search mode is set after the alert mode is released. Transition. When the alert mode is released using the transmission switch SW2, only the alert mode is released. Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0076]
(Embodiment 3)
In the first embodiment, the alert mode for preventing theft of the bicycle is provided. However, in the present embodiment, a configuration related to the alert mode is omitted from the configuration of the first embodiment. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 30, the traveling sensor 25, the alert control circuit 26, and the alarm buzzer 27 are omitted from the configuration of the receiver 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1B. Therefore, in the first embodiment, when the two transmission switches SW1 and SW2 provided on the transmitter 10 are simultaneously operated, the receiver 20 shifts to the alert mode. In the present embodiment, both the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 are simultaneously operated. If you do not support. Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0077]
(Embodiment 3)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 31, a lock device 29 that can be controlled by an electric signal is provided in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. The lock device 29 to be mounted on the bicycle may be in any form, but it is desirable to incorporate the lock device 29 into the case 40 of the receiver 20 (see FIG. 3). Here, a simple structure has a rod-shaped lock bolt, and the lock bolt is in contact with the spokes and protrudes to a position where the rotation of the rear wheel can be stopped, and it retreats to a position where it does not contact the spokes It is assumed that the device moves forward and backward with respect to the case 40. Here, the lock bolt in the lock device 29 can be retracted by a signal from the alert control circuit 26, and the lock bolt is protruded by manual operation, and the lock bolt is retracted by a key provided separately from the lock device 29. It is also possible. In short, the unlocking of the lock device 29 is possible by both the signal from the alert control circuit 26 and the manual operation using the key, but only the manual operation is possible to lock the lock device 29.
[0078]
When the lock bolt is manually moved forward and backward, the lock device 29 notifies the security control circuit 26 of the opening and closing of the lock device 29. That is, when the locking device 29 is manually locked, the alert control circuit 26 is notified and the mode shifts to the alert mode. When traveling is detected by the output of the traveling sensor 25 in the alert mode, the alert control circuit 26 sounds the alarm buzzer 27 as in the first embodiment. Here, it is considered that the traveling state is detected when the lock device 29 is in the locked state because the lock device 29 is broken. When the running state is detected in the above, it is determined that the bicycle has been stolen, and the alarm buzzer 27 is sounded. On the other hand, also when the lock device 29 is unlocked manually, the alert control circuit 26 is notified and the alert mode is released. As described above, the alert mode can be canceled by the transmitter 10, and the alert mode is canceled by operating one of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2. In other words, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the transmitter 10 is not used for selecting the alert mode, but can be used only for canceling the alert mode. Other functions of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2 are the same as in the first embodiment.
[0079]
As described above, the locking and unlocking of the lock device 29 can be performed manually, and the mode shifts to the alert mode with the manual locking and unlocking. When the owner recognizes the location of the bicycle and does not need to light the notification lights LP1 to LP3, the warning mode can be selected and canceled without using the transmitter 10. On the other hand, since only the unlocking of the lock device 29 is enabled by the transmitter 10, when the indicator lights LP1 to LP3 are turned on using the transmitter 10 in order to find a bicycle, the transmission switch SW1 of the transmitter 10 is operated. Then, first, after the alarm mode is released and the lock device 29 is unlocked, the notification lights LP1 to LP3 are turned on, so that it is not necessary to remove the key, and the convenience is improved.
[0080]
In the present embodiment, the function of the transmitter 10 is different from that of the first embodiment in that the transmitter 10 does not have a function of selecting the alert mode. However, the alert mode can be canceled by any of the transmission switches SW1 and SW2. Some points are the same as in the first embodiment, and are the same as the first embodiment except for functions related to the operation of the lock device 29. Further, the configuration of the present embodiment can be applied to the configuration of the second embodiment.
[0081]
(Embodiment 4)
In the third embodiment, a function of shifting to the alert mode using the transmitter 10 is not provided. However, in the present embodiment, a function of shifting to the alert mode using the transmitter 10 is added to the configuration of the third embodiment. is there. In other words, the difference between the present embodiment and the third embodiment is that the locking of the lock device 29 is performed simultaneously when shifting to the alert mode in the configuration of the first embodiment or the second embodiment. Same as in the third embodiment.
In the configuration of the present embodiment, there is no need to manually open and close the lock device 29, and the lock device 29 can be opened and closed only by the transmitter 10. Other functions related to the operation of the lock device 29 are the same as those of the third embodiment.
[0082]
【The invention's effect】
The invention according to claim 1 is a transmitter which is portable and transmits information for identifying itself and operation information of a transmission switch by radio waves, and which is fixed to a vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter and transmits a specific transmitter. And a receiver, the operation of which is instructed by the operation of the transmission switch, wherein the receiver is capable of selecting two types of operation modes, a search mode and a warning mode, and at least searches in response to an instruction from the transmitter. , A notification light whose lighting state can be visually recognized from a predetermined distance, a travel sensor for detecting travel of the vehicle during a period in which the alert mode is selected, a warning buzzer for reporting a warning sound, and a travel sensor. A warning control circuit that sounds an alarm buzzer when vehicle travel is detected, and a lighting control that controls lighting of the notification light only within a specified time period according to a search mode instruction from a transmitter. Not only operates in a search mode in which the receiver receives radio waves from the transmitter and turns on the notification light only for a fixed time period, but also uses the vehicle without the owner's permission. It operates even in the alert mode in which the alarm buzzer sounds when it is pressed, so that one unit has two types of functions, and while adding two types of functions to the vehicle, it is space-saving and does not impair the appearance of the vehicle. There is an advantage.
[0083]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter which transmits information for identifying itself and operation information of a transmission switch, which is portable, is fixed to a vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter, and transmits a specific transmitter. And a receiver whose operation is instructed by the operation of the transmission switch. The receiver can select three types of operation modes of a search mode, a notification mode, and a warning mode, and responds to an instruction from the transmitter. A receiving circuit capable of selecting at least a search mode and a notification mode; a notification light whose lighting state can be visually recognized from a predetermined distance; a travel sensor for detecting travel of the vehicle during a period in which the alert mode is selected; An alarm buzzer that alerts the user, a warning control circuit that sounds an alarm buzzer when the travel of the vehicle is detected by the travel sensor, and an alert light specified by the search mode instruction from the transmitter. A lighting control circuit that controls lighting only during the period and continuously controls lighting of the notification lamp in accordance with a notification mode instruction from the transmitter. In addition to operating in the search mode in which the notification light is controlled to be turned on only during the limited time period, a notification mode that receives the radio waves from the transmitter and continuously controls the light to be turned on is also available. It is also possible to operate in a warning mode in which an alarm buzzer sounds when it is pressed, so that one unit has three types of functions. There is an advantage that the appearance is not impaired.
[0084]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter which transmits information for identifying itself and operation information of a transmission switch by radio waves, and which is fixed to a vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter, and transmits a specific transmitter. A receiver whose operation is instructed by the operation of the transmission switch in the receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to select two operation modes of a search mode and a notification mode in accordance with an instruction from the transmitter, and a predetermined distance. The notification light whose lighting state can be visually recognized from the, and the lighting control is performed only within the specified time period by the search mode instruction from the transmitter, and the notification light is continuously lit by the notification mode instruction from the transmitter. Lighting control circuit for controlling, the receiver not only operates in a search mode in which the receiver receives radio waves from the transmitter and turns on the notification lamp only for a fixed time period, but also transmits. It also operates in the notification mode in which it receives the radio waves from the vehicle and continuously controls the lighting of the notification lamp, so that one vehicle has two functions in combination, and it saves space while giving the vehicle two functions. Therefore, there is an advantage that the appearance of the vehicle is not impaired.
[0085]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the vehicle further comprises a lock device which is mounted on the vehicle and prohibits running of the vehicle when locked. The period in which the mode is selected coincides with the period, and when the traveling of the vehicle is detected by the traveling sensor during the period in which the locking device is locked, the alarm buzzer sounds, thereby preventing unauthorized use of the vehicle. Since it has a lock device, it has the advantage of being able to be multifunctional with one unit while having the function of finding a vehicle, saving space and not impairing the appearance of the vehicle.
[0086]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the alert control circuit includes at least one of a time when the alert mode is selected by an instruction from the transmitter and a time when the locking device is manually locked. When locking the locking device according to an instruction from the transmitter, the locking device does not need to bend to lock the lock device, and the locking operation in a place where the vehicle is crowded becomes easy. Further, when the locking device is shifted to the alert mode by locking manually, the locking can be performed without removing the transmitter.
[0087]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the security control circuit releases the security mode and unlocks the locking device according to an instruction from the transmitter, so that the key is taken out when unlocking the locking device. There is no need for the transmitter to unlock the lock device and find the vehicle in succession.
[0088]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the alert control circuit releases the alert mode when the lock device is unlocked. Therefore, when the location of the vehicle is known in advance, the alert control circuit does not take out the transmitter. The mode can be canceled. That is, the warning mode is also released by unlocking the lock device, so that it is possible to prevent the owner from getting on the vehicle without releasing the warning mode.
[0089]
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the distance at which the radio wave reaches from the transmitter to the receiver is set to match the distance at which the lighting of the notification lamp can be visually recognized. The intensity of radio waves transmitted from the transmitter can be minimized, and an increase in power consumption in the transmitter can be suppressed.
[0090]
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiving circuit is intermittently driven during a period of waiting for a radio wave from the transmitter. The increase in power consumption in the container is suppressed.
[0091]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of notification lamps are provided, and the lighting control circuit repeatedly turns on the notification lamps so that the lighting periods of the notification lamps do not overlap. Therefore, by suppressing the power consumption of the notification lamp, an increase in the power consumption of the receiver is suppressed.
[0092]
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the tenth aspect, the lighting control circuit provides a non-lighting period in which no notification light is turned on each time the notification light is turned on. An increase in power consumption at the receiver is suppressed.
[0093]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiver uses a battery as a power source, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification lamp, and the receiving circuit determines whether the terminal voltage of the battery is at the time of battery replacement. When it is detected that the value has fallen below the specified lower limit, one lighting period of the notification lamp is shortened for the period higher than the lower limit, so that the power supplied to the notification lamp is suppressed even when the battery output drops. By doing so, the notification light can be turned on as much as possible.
[0094]
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiver uses a battery as a power source, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification lamp, and the receiving circuit determines whether the terminal voltage of the battery is at the time of battery replacement. When it is detected that the value has fallen below the specified lower limit, the lighting cycle of the indicator light is lengthened for a period higher than the lower limit, so that even if the output of the battery decreases, the power supplied to the indicator light is suppressed. The notification light can be turned on as much as possible.
[0095]
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the notification light is disposed such that a light emission direction is obliquely upward at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane with the receiver fixed to the vehicle. Therefore, light from a receiver, which is generally installed at a position lower than the level of human eyes, can be easily recognized even from a relatively short distance.
[0096]
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of notification lights are arranged so as to emit light at least to the left and right of the vehicle, and the receiver is fixed to the vehicle. It is arranged so that the light emission direction is obliquely upward at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane in the state in which the light from the receiver generally installed at a position lower than the height of the human eye is relatively short distance It is easy to see even from the side, and it becomes possible to see from the side of the vehicle.
[0097]
In the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, since the predetermined angle is set to 2 to 12 degrees in the invention of the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, the visibility of the lighting state of the notification lamp within a range of about 30 m is improved.
[0098]
According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourteenth to sixteenth aspects, a plurality of notification lamps are provided so as to emit light to the rear of the vehicle, to the left and to the right, respectively, and the lighting control circuit is provided for each notification. Since the lamps are turned on repeatedly in order, the light emission range can be relatively widened in the limited dimensional range of the receiver, and the light emission position is changed, so that the visibility of the notification light is improved (that is, It becomes easy to notice light emission).
[0099]
In the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventeenth aspect, the lighting control circuit cyclically lights each of the notification lights in the left-right arrangement order, so that the lighting position of the notification light is visually recognized so as to flow in one direction in the left-right direction. Therefore, it becomes easier to notice the light emission, and the visibility with respect to the lighting of the notification lamp increases.
[0100]
According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiver case includes a translucent lamp cover that covers the notification light, and the notification light emits light at least to the left and right. The prism part is provided inside the case so that the lamp cover protrudes to the side of the case and turns so that a part of the light from the alarm lamp can be seen from the front. As a result, the light from the notification lamp can be visually recognized from the front while the light from the notification lamp is mainly visible behind the vehicle, and the lighting state of the notification lamp can be visually recognized from a wide range.
[0101]
In the twentieth aspect, in the first to fourth aspects, the receiver uses a battery as a power source, the lighting control circuit flashes the notification light, and keeps the energy required for one lighting of the notification light constant. As the terminal voltage of the battery decreases so as to maintain the same, the one energizing time of the notification lamp is extended, so that there is an advantage that the brightness of the notification lamp hardly changes even if the battery voltage fluctuates with time.
[0102]
According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiver uses a battery as a power source, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification light, and keeps the energy required for one lighting of the notification light constant. As the current value passing through the notification lamp decreases as the current value passes, the one-time energization time of the notification lamp is extended, so that even if the supply current from the battery to the notification lamp fluctuates, the brightness of the notification lamp hardly changes. There is an advantage.
[0103]
According to the invention of claim 22, in the invention of claims 1 to 4, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification lamp while the search mode is selected, and controls the reception circuit for each reception of the radio wave from the transmitter by the reception circuit. Since the energy required for one turn-on of the notification light is increased stepwise, the notification light is turned on with relatively low brightness when turned on in the search mode, thereby suppressing an increase in power consumption in the receiver. However, when the vehicle cannot be found, the brightness of the notification light can be increased to make it easier to find.
[0104]
In the invention of claim 23, in the invention of claims 1 to 4, the lighting control circuit blinks the notification lamp while the search mode is selected, and the reception intensity of the reception circuit from the transmitter is high. As the energy required for one lighting of the notification light decreases gradually, the brightness of the notification light changes according to the distance from the transmitter. When the transmitter is closer to the receiver, the consumption of the notification light is reduced. By reducing the power, an increase in power consumption in the receiver can be suppressed.
[0105]
According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the notification light is a light emitting diode, the receiving circuit includes a temperature detection unit that detects an ambient temperature of the notification light, and the lighting control circuit includes a temperature control unit. The energy required for one lighting of the notification light increases as the temperature detected by the detection unit increases, so that the luminance of the light-emitting diode serving as the notification light can be suppressed from changing due to the ambient temperature.
[0106]
According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power source, and at least one of the battery and the auxiliary power source is used as a power source. As a result, battery consumption in the receiver can be suppressed, and the frequency of battery replacement can be reduced.
[0107]
According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-fifth aspect, the auxiliary power supply includes a solar cell, and is supplied with power from the auxiliary power supply in a standby state of the receiving circuit. Power supply can be suppressed, and the frequency of battery replacement can be reduced.
[0108]
According to a twenty-seventh aspect, in the second or third aspect, the vehicle is a bicycle, and the auxiliary power supply includes a dynamo that generates electric power when the vehicle is running. Since it is used, when the vehicle is running and power can be generated by the dynamo, power supply from the battery can be suppressed, and the frequency of battery replacement can be reduced.
[0109]
According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the vehicle is a bicycle, and the auxiliary power source is provided on a permanent magnet attached to the spokes of the bicycle, and is provided on a receiver to enable the bicycle to operate when the bicycle is running. It consists of a coil that generates electricity when the magnetic flux of the magnet crosses it.An auxiliary power supply is used to supply power to the notification light in the notification mode, so when the vehicle is running and power can be generated, the power supply from the battery is suppressed by The frequency of replacement can be reduced. In addition, since energy loss due to frictional force and the like is smaller than that of a dynamo, power generation can be performed with almost no increase in load when attached to a bicycle.
[0110]
According to a twenty-ninth aspect, in the first to fourth aspects, the vehicle is a bicycle, the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power source as power sources, and the auxiliary power source includes a dynamo that generates power when the vehicle travels. A secondary battery connected between the output terminals of the auxiliary power supply and charged by the dynamo. Since the power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply in a standby state of the receiving circuit, the receiving circuit uses the charged secondary battery as a power source when the vehicle is running. Standby, and the frequency of battery replacement can be reduced.
[0111]
According to the invention of claim 30, in the invention of claims 1 to 4, the vehicle is a bicycle, the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power supply as power supplies, and the auxiliary power supply is a permanent power supply attached to a spoke of the bicycle. A receiving circuit provided with a magnet, a coil provided in the receiver to generate electric power when a magnetic flux of a permanent magnet crosses when the bicycle runs, and a secondary battery connected between the output terminals of the auxiliary power supply and charged by the output of the coil. In the standby state, power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply. When the vehicle is running and power can be generated, the secondary battery is charged, and the secondary battery can be used as a power source for standby of the receiving circuit. The frequency of replacement can be reduced. In addition, since energy loss due to frictional force and the like is smaller than that of a dynamo, power generation can be performed with almost no increase in load when attached to a bicycle.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a block diagram of a transmitter and (b) is a block diagram of a receiver.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a transmitter used in the above, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a receiver used in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a receiver used in the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the receiver used in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a usage state of the receiver used in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a main part showing a mounting portion of the receiver used in the above bicycle to a bicycle.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a mounting portion of the receiver used for the bicycle to the bicycle.
FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of the above.
FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of the above.
FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view of the above.
FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory view of the above.
FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram of the above.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the above.
FIG. 15 is a main part block diagram of a receiver used in the embodiment.
FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory view of the above.
FIG. 17 is an operation explanatory view of the above.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of the above operation.
FIG. 19 is a main part block diagram of a receiver used in the Embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a receiver used in the Embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an auxiliary power supply used in the power supply system;
FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a receiver using the auxiliary power supply shown in FIG. 21.
FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an auxiliary power supply used in the power supply system;
24 is a side view showing an example of use of the receiver using the auxiliary power supply shown in FIG.
FIG. 25 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an auxiliary power supply used in the power supply system;
FIG. 26 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an auxiliary power supply used in the power supply system;
FIG. 27 is a side view showing a usage example of the receiver using the auxiliary power supply shown in FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an auxiliary power supply used in the power supply system;
FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of a receiver used in the Embodiment.
FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a receiver used in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 31 is a block diagram illustrating a receiver used in Embodiments 3 and 4 of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
SW1, SW2 transmission switch
10 transmitter
20 receiver
21 Receiver circuit
21c Temperature detector
23 batteries
24 Lighting control circuit
25 Travel sensor
26 Warning control circuit
27 Alarm Buzzer
28 Auxiliary power supply
29 lock device
40 cases
44 Lamp cover
44a Prism section
50 bicycle
52a spoke
53 permanent magnet
54 coils
DN Dynamo
LP1-LP3 Information Light
PV solar cell
SB secondary battery

Claims

A transmitter that is portable and transmits self-identifying information and transmission switch operation information by radio waves, is fixed to the vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter, and operates by operating a transmission switch on a specific transmitter. And a receiving circuit that can select two types of operation modes, a search mode and a warning mode, and that selects at least a search mode in accordance with an instruction from the transmitter. A warning light whose lighting state can be viewed from a predetermined distance, a running sensor that detects running of the vehicle during a period in which the alert mode is selected, an alarm buzzer that sounds an alarm sound, and running of the vehicle detected by the running sensor A warning control circuit that sounds an alarm buzzer, and a lighting control circuit that controls lighting of the alarm lamp only within a specified time period according to a search mode instruction from the transmitter. Vehicle finding apparatus according to claim.

A transmitter that is portable and transmits self-identifying information and transmission switch operation information by radio waves, is fixed to the vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter, and operates by operating a transmission switch on a specific transmitter. And a receiver in which three types of operation modes of a search mode, a notification mode, and a warning mode are selectable, and at least a search mode, a notification mode, and A receiving circuit that can be selected, an information light whose lighting state can be visually recognized from a predetermined distance, a traveling sensor that detects traveling of the vehicle during a period in which the alert mode is selected, and an alarm buzzer that alerts an alarm sound, A warning control circuit that sounds an alarm buzzer when the travel of the vehicle is detected by the travel sensor, and turns on the alarm light only within a specified time period according to the search mode instruction from the transmitter. Gosuru vehicle finding device characterized in that it comprises a lighting control circuit for continuously lighting controls the notifying lamp according to an instruction of the broadcast mode from the transmitter with.

A transmitter that is portable and transmits self-identifying information and transmission switch operation information by radio waves, is fixed to the vehicle, receives radio waves from the transmitter, and operates by operating a transmission switch in a specific transmitter. And a receiver that selects two types of operation modes, a search mode and a notification mode, according to an instruction from the transmitter, and a lighting state can be visually recognized from a predetermined distance. A notification light, and a lighting control circuit that controls the lighting only within a timed period specified by the search mode instruction from the transmitter and continuously lights the notification light according to the notification mode instruction from the transmitter. A vehicle discovery device comprising:

A lock device that is mounted on the vehicle and prohibits running of the vehicle when locked, the alert control circuit matches a period during which the lock device is locked with a period during which the alert mode is selected, and the lock device 3. The vehicle discovery device according to claim 1, wherein an alarm buzzer sounds when traveling of the vehicle is detected by the traveling sensor during a locked period.

The warning control circuit shifts to the warning mode at least one of when a warning mode is selected by an instruction from the transmitter and when the locking device is manually locked. 5. The vehicle discovery device according to 4.

The vehicle detection device according to claim 4, wherein the security control circuit releases the security mode and unlocks the locking device according to an instruction from the transmitter.

The vehicle detection device according to claim 4, wherein the warning control circuit releases the warning mode when the locking device is unlocked.

The distance which the electric wave reaches from the said transmitter to the said receiver was set so that the lighting of the said notification light might correspond to the distance which can be visually recognized. The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Vehicle discovery device.

The vehicle detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reception circuit is intermittently driven during a period of waiting for a radio wave from the transmitter.

The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a plurality of the notification lamps are provided, and the lighting control circuit sequentially turns on the notification lamps so that the lighting periods of the notification lamps do not overlap. The vehicle discovery device according to the paragraph.

11. The vehicle discovery device according to claim 10, wherein the lighting control circuit provides a non-lighting period in which no notification light is turned on every time each notification light is turned on.

The receiver uses a battery as a power source, and the lighting control circuit blinks the notification light and, when the receiving circuit detects that the terminal voltage of the battery has fallen below a lower limit specified as a battery replacement time, a lower limit. 5. The vehicle discovery device according to claim 1, wherein one lighting period of the notification light is shortened with respect to a period longer than the period. 6.

The receiver uses a battery as a power source, and the lighting control circuit blinks the notification light and, when the receiving circuit detects that the terminal voltage of the battery has fallen below a lower limit specified as a battery replacement time, a lower limit. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a lighting cycle of the notification lamp is lengthened for a period longer than the period.

The said notification light is arrange | positioned so that the radiation direction of light may become diagonally upward at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane in the state which fixed the said receiver to the said vehicle. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

A plurality of the notification lights are arranged so as to emit light at least to the left and right of the vehicle, and the direction of light emission is a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane in a state where the receiver is fixed to the vehicle. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle discovery device is disposed so as to be obliquely upward.

The vehicle detection device according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined angle is 2 to 12 degrees.

15. The lighting device according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of the notification lamps are provided so as to emit light in a rearward direction, a leftward direction, and a rightward direction of the vehicle, and the lighting control circuit sequentially turns on the respective notification lamps. The vehicle discovery device according to claim 16.

18. The vehicle discovery device according to claim 17, wherein the lighting control circuit cyclically lights each of the notification lights in a left-right arrangement order.

The case of the receiver includes a translucent lamp cover that covers the notification light, the notification light is disposed in the case so as to emit light at least to the left and right, and the left and right sides of the lamp cover. 5. A prism part integrally provided with the prism part which protrudes to the side of the case and turns so that a part of the light from the notification lamp can be visually recognized from the front. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

The receiver uses a battery as a power source, and the lighting control circuit blinks the notification light, and keeps the energy required for one lighting of the notification light constant so that the terminal voltage of the battery decreases as the terminal voltage of the battery decreases. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the energization time is increased.

The receiver uses a battery as a power source, and the lighting control circuit blinks the notification light, and notifies as the current value passing through the notification light decreases so that the energy required for one lighting of the notification light is kept constant. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one energization time of the lamp is lengthened.

The lighting control circuit blinks the notification light while the search mode is selected, and sets the energy required for one turn-on of the notification light every time the reception circuit receives a radio wave from the transmitter. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle discovery device is configured to increase the number of vehicles.

The lighting control circuit blinks the notification light while the search mode is selected, and the energy required for one lighting of the notification light as the reception intensity from the transmitter in the receiving circuit increases. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle discovery device is configured to reduce the distance.

The notification light is a light-emitting diode, the reception circuit includes a temperature detection unit that detects an ambient temperature of the notification light, and the lighting control circuit is configured such that as the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit increases, one time of the notification light increases. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the energy required for lighting is increased.

The vehicle detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power source, and uses at least one of the battery and the auxiliary power source as a power source.

The vehicle discovery device according to claim 25, wherein the auxiliary power supply includes a solar cell, and is supplied with power from the auxiliary power supply in a standby state of the reception circuit.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle is a bicycle, the auxiliary power source includes a dynamo that generates power when the vehicle is running, and an auxiliary power source is used to supply power to the notification light in the notification mode. 5. Vehicle discovery device.

The vehicle is a bicycle, and the auxiliary power source includes a permanent magnet attached to a spoke of the bicycle, and a coil provided on the receiver and generating electricity by a magnetic flux of the permanent magnet crossing when the bicycle runs. The vehicle discovery device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an auxiliary power supply is used to supply power to the notification lamp in a notification mode.

The vehicle is a bicycle, and the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power supply as power supplies. The auxiliary power supply includes a dynamo that generates power when the vehicle is running and a dynamo that is connected between output terminals of the auxiliary power supply and is charged by the dynamo. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a secondary battery, wherein power is supplied from an auxiliary power supply when the reception circuit is in a standby state.

The vehicle is a bicycle, and the receiver includes a battery and an auxiliary power supply as power supplies. The auxiliary power supply includes a permanent magnet attached to a spoke of the bicycle and a permanent magnet provided on the receiver when the bicycle runs. A coil that generates electric power when the magnetic flux traverses, and a secondary battery that is connected between the output terminals of the auxiliary power supply and is charged by the output of the coil, wherein power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply in a standby state of the receiving circuit. The vehicle discovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.