1 Automatic Cycle Storage System and Battery for Such System. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to automatic cycle 5 storage systems and batteries for such systems. More specifically, the invention relates to an automatic cycle storage system including: - a plurality of electric cycles each comprising an electric motor and operating respectively with 10 rechargeable electric batteries, - a fixed infrastructure comprising a plurality of locking positions in which said electric cycles can be locked and at least one external control device suited for selectively authorizing the locking and unlocking of 15 electric cycles in said locking positions A cycle storage system such as described above could be used for example to make cycles freely available to the public by means of identification of the borrower of the cycle and possibly payment of a rental. 20 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The document EP-A-1,820,722 describes an example of such a cycle storage system in order for their rental in which the battery for each cycle is permanently attached on the cycle and recharges while the cycle is locked on the 25 receiving structure, which has the drawback that said battery is not necessarily fully recharged when the following user borrows the cycle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The particular purpose of the present invention is 30 to remedy this drawback. For this purpose, according to the invention, an automatic cycle storage system of the type in question is characterized in that the batteries are removable and independent of the electric cycles, with each battery 35 comprising an external electric connector, 2 in that each electric cycle comprises a cycle electric connector accessible to a user for connecting the external electric connector of one of said batteries to the cycle and powering the electric cycle, 5 and in that the battery has an identifier and the system comprises means for sending this identifier to the fixed infrastructure when the battery is connected to an electric cycle locked on a locking position, and said fixed infrastructure is suited for selectively unlocking or not 10 the electric cycle as a function only of the identifier of the battery. Because of these arrangements, each user can use their own battery or in any case a battery whose charge they know, which allows them to use a cycle with a fully 15 charged battery. Additionally, in this way it avoids the battery remaining in the cold during winter; this way the lifetime of said battery is considerably lengthened. Additionally, the use of the battery as device for identification of the user, in order to authorize renting a 20 cycle or not, makes the system much more practical for users who no longer need other means of identification such as identification cards, codes or other. In various embodiments of the automatic cycle storage system according to the invention, one and/or the 25 other of the following arrangements (they could be used independently of each other and independently of the aforementioned arrangements) could additionally be called on: - The battery comprises a logic unit which has 30 access to said identifier and which communicates with a central electronic unit belonging to the cycle while said battery is connected to the cycle, the central electronic unit of the cycle communicates with the fixed infrastructure at least while the cycle is locked on a 35 locking position, where the means for communicating the 3 identifier to the fixed infrastructure include the logic unit of the battery and the central unit of the cycle; - The battery comprises a switching device controlled by the logic unit of said battery for 5 selectively switching between a connected state and a disconnected state suited for respectively allowing and preventing the external electric connector of said battery from discharging electric energy, where a logic unit of the battery communicates with the fixed infrastructure and is 10 suited for placing the switching device in disconnected state when it receives battery blocking information coming from said fixed infrastructure. Additionally, the purpose of the invention is also a removable battery that could be used in a system such as 15 described above, comprising: - An external electric connector; - A logic unit having access to an identifier specific to the battery and suited to communicate this identifier to a fixed infrastructure. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the following description of one of the embodiments thereof, given as nonlimiting examples, with reference to the attached drawings. 25 In the drawings: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an automatic cycle storage system according to an embodiment of the invention. - Figure 2 is a block drawing showing the main 30 electric components of the cycle storage system from Figure 1. - Figure 3 is a perspective schematic view of one of the batteries, which can be used in the system from Figures 1 and 2, with its charger. 35 - And Figure 4 is a perspective schematic view 4 showing the battery connected to the charger. MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar items. 5 As shown in Figure 1, the present invention involves an automatic storage system for cycles 1, such as in particular bicycles, which makes it possible for example to store cycles on public thoroughfares so as to make them available to the public, in particular by rental. 10 This automatic cycle storage system can comprise several cycle storage stations, one of which is shown in Figure 1. These cycle storage stations can for example be distributed in various areas of a single city. Each cycle storage station includes a central station position 2, 15 which is shown here as an interactive terminal provided with a user interface including for example a keyboard 3, a screen 4, possibly a electronic portable card reader 5 and a ticket printing device. As a variant, the interactive terminal 2 might not comprise a user interface and be a 20 simple communication gateway between the cycle storage station and a central server 8 (SERV.). The interactive terminal 2 communicates both with the central server 8 which manages cycle subscriptions and rentals and also with multiple locking positions 7 which 25 serve to lock cycles during storage and which could for example come in the form of locking terminals attached to the ground on the public thoroughfare and suited for each locking one cycle 1. Conventionally the cycle 1 comprises a chassis 30 composed of a frame supported by the rear wheel and a fork with handle bars on top and mounted on the front wheel. As shown in Figure 2, each cycle 1 can be an electrically assisted cycle comprising a connector 9a (DOCK.) to which a removable and rechargeable electric battery 9 (BATT.) can 35 be connected where the battery comprises an external 5 electric connector 9B (Figure 3) complementary to said connector 9a. The connector 9a is connected in particular to a central electronic unit 10 of the cycle (CPU), for example 5 a controller, microprocessor or similar. The battery 9 could comprise a logic unit 9C (CTRL) such as a microcontroller or microprocessor, which could have a unique identifier in memory readable by the central unit 10 by means of the connector 9A or otherwise, and the central 10 unit 10 also has memory (or can access memory) in which it can store this unique identifier. It is possible that the unique identifier of the battery, if one is provided, could be stored in a specific identification circuit readable by the central unit 10, or other. 15 The battery additionally comprises: - An electric rechargeable battery 21 connected to the external connector 9b by an electric connection, - An electronic switching device 22 arranged on this electronic connection and controlled by the logic unit 20 9C as a function of battery control information received from said battery logic unit for selectively switching between a connected state and a disconnected state respectively suited for allowing and preventing the external electric connector 9b of said battery from 25 discharging electric energy. Advantageously, the electronic switching device cuts the electrical connection between the rechargeable battery 21 and the external connector 9B in the disconnected state such that it then not only prohibits discharging the battery but also recharging it. 30 The logic unit 9c can for example comprise: - An output 23 to the switching device 22, - at least one input 24 connected to the rechargeable battery 21 for receiving for example voltage or charge information from this rechargeable battery that 35 said logic unit 9c can store in internal or external memory 6 (not shown), - at least one input/output 25 connected to the connector 9b and allowing the logic unit 9c of the battery to dialogue with the central unit 10 of the cycle by means 5 of the connectors 9a, 9b. The battery 9 powers an electric motor 11 (M), for example a motor for electric pedaling assistance, that can be controlled by the central unit 10. The electric motor is connected to one of the 10 wheels of the cycle, for example the front wheel, and it could be the type that can operate either in motor mode for driving this wheel or in generator mode for being driven by this wheel and generating electric current feeding the battery 9. 15 Normally, the operation of the motor 11 in motor or generator mode is controlled by the central unit 10, on the basis of information it receives from sensors, in particular: - A pedaling sensor P suited for detecting or 20 measuring the pedaling force of the user on the petals of the cycle, - Possibly, a braking sensor suited for detecting actuation of the breaks of the cycle by the user, - Possibly a tachometer (not shown) measuring the 25 speed of the cycle. Additionally, in the example considered here, the central unit 10 can also be connected to an antitheft control device A, for example a simple button or key device whose actuation during a temporary stop of the cycle, 30 controls the motor 11 by the central unit 10 to make the motor 11 operate in generator mode in the absence the battery 9, which makes the use of the cycle nearly impossible and therefore dissuades theft of the cycle. The central unit 10 can also control also at least 35 one communication interface 10 (COM) that is suited for 7 communication with a similar communication interface 13 (COM) belonging to each locking terminal 7. The communication interfaces 12, 13 can be of any known type and operate for example in wired mode, by induction, by 5 radio waves or other. The communication interface 13 from the locking terminal 7, for its part, communicates with an electronic central unit 14 (CPU) specific to the locking terminal 7 (microprocessor, microcontroller or other), where this 10 central unit 14 furthermore controls an electronic lock 15 (LOCK - an example of such a lock is given for example in the document EP-A-1,820,722) suited for locking a cycle on the locking terminal 7 and communicates with at least one sensor 16 (SENS) suited for detecting the locking of the 15 cycle on the locking terminal 7 and communication interface 17 (COM), for example a modem suited for communicating by wire 6 (Figure 1) or by short range radio connection or any other manner, with a similar communication interface 18 (COM) belonging to the aforementioned interactive terminal 20 2. The interactive terminal 2 comprises, for its part, another central electronic unit 19 (CPU) such as a microprocessor, microcontroller or other, which communicates with the aforementioned peripherals 3-5 and 25 also with a communication interface 20 (COM) such as a MODEM communicating by radio or wire with the aforementioned central server 8. In this system, each user preferably has their own removable battery 9 that they keep with them in particular 30 for recharging when not using it on the cycle 1. Advantageously, this recharging can be done by means of a dedicated electric charger 26 such as, for example, the one shown in figures 3 and 4 comprising a connector 27 complementarity to the external connector 9B of the 35 battery.
8 The charger 26 can for example comprise a central electronic unit 31 (CTRL) suited for communication, through connectors 9B, 27, with the logic unit 9C of the battery 9 connected to said charger. 5 The central electronic unit 31 of the charger can also control the electric supply circuit 28 of the charger, which can be connected to the electric grid by means of an external cable 29 and electric plug 30. The logic unit 9C of the battery may be suited for 10 controlling the switching device 22 of the battery as a function of battery control information exchanged between said central unit 31 of the charger and said logic unit 9C of the battery. For example, the logic unit 9C of the battery 9 and 15 the central unit 31 of the charger 26 can comprise identical or complementary codes serving to confirm that the battery corresponds to the charger. For example, the identifier of the battery 9 can be read by the central electronic unit 31 of the charger, which has identification 20 data corresponding to this identifier in memory, and the central unit 31 of the charger is suited for sending, when the identifier read by the central unit 21 of the charger corresponds to said identification information, battery control information to the logic unit 9c of the battery 25 serving to switch the switching device 22 to the connected state. If this correspondence is confirmed, the logic unit 9c of the battery moves the switching device to the connected state and the charger 26 supplies the battery 9 30 through the external connector of said battery. Inversely, if this correspondence is not confirmed, the logic unit 9C of the battery sends or keeps the switching device 22 in the disconnected state, such that the switching device blocks recharging of the battery. Recharging stolen 35 batteries can thus be prevented if the thief was not able 9 to steal a charger compatible with this battery. This is how the device which was just described operates. When a user wishes to borrow a cycle 1 from the 5 cycle storage station, they can identify themselves at the interactive terminal 2 (by means of a card read by the card reader 5 of the interactive terminal or by pressing a personal code on the keyboard 3 or by any other known means) after which the interactive terminal verifies, for 10 example with the rental management server 8, that the user has the right to rent to cycle. As a variant, each locking position 7 can comprise a card reader, for example a contactless card reader, that can read a contactless card presented by subscribed users 15 to identify themselves after which the locking position in question communicates with the interactive terminal 2 which requests authorization from the server as indicated above. According to another particularly advantageous variant, the subscribed user can be identified by means of 20 their removable battery 9, which is personal to them as indicated above and whose identifier is saved by the server with the other data for the subscriber, in the subscriber database. In this case, when the user arrives at the cycle storage station, the user only needs to connect their 25 personal battery 9 on the connector 9A of the desired cycle. The logic unit 9C of the battery then communicates its identifier to the central unit 10 of the cycle, which itself communicates with the central unit 19 of the interactive terminal 2 by means of the central unit 14 of 30 the locking terminal 7 on which the cycle is locked. As previously explained, the interactive terminal 2 then asks the server 8 for authorization to release the cycle 1. In all the cases discussed above, when it receives a request to release a cycle, the server 8 verifies whether 35 the user has a right to rent a cycle and whether the 10 battery 9 is on a list of stolen batteries. If the situation is normal, the server gives the interactive terminal 2 authorization to release the cycle 1 and notes the rental starting time. The interactive terminal 2 then 5 orders the release of a cycle 1 from the locking terminal 7 thereof so that the user can take it and use it. Inversely, when it receives a cycle release request following the connection of the battery 9 on the cycle if the server detects that the identifier of the battery 9 10 corresponds to a stolen battery, it sends the interactive terminal 2 a battery blocking order where this order is relayed by said interactive terminal and then by the central unit of the cycle to the logic unit 9C of the battery 9. The central unit 9c of the battery then switches 15 the switching device into disconnected state and definitively keeps it in this state, unless it receives a deblocking order coming from the server or from the battery maintenance service. Stolen batteries can thereby be neutralized, which is an additional dissuasion against 20 theft. It should be noted that this battery blocking process can be used even if the identifier of the battery is not used to release the cycle: for example, in this case, the user can be asked to connect their battery 9 to the cycle 1 before releasing the cycle and without that the 25 cycle is not released. When the user connects their battery 9 to the connector 9A of the cycle, the switching device thereof is initially in the disconnected state and the logic unit 9C of the battery detects the connection of the battery either 30 directly or indirectly because the logic unit 9C starts to dialogue with the central unit 10 of the cycle. When the logic unit 9c detects this connection and subject to the condition that it has not received a blocking order as explained above, the logic unit 9c orders the switching 35 device 22 to have it switch into connected state. More 11 generally, this command for the switching device 22 to switch over to connected mode can be done as a function of any control information received by the logic unit 9c (e.g. direct detection of connection of the battery, dialogue 5 with the central unit of the cycle or other). This switch into connected mode could be subordinated to receiving an order from the central unit 10 of the cycle. For example, the central unit of the cycle can first read the identifier of the battery, confirm that 10 it is a valid identifier and then give the order to switch into connected mode. Once the cycle 1 has been released by the locking terminal 7, the user can freely use it. When the user has finished using the cycle, the user returns the cycle to a 15 cycle storage station (the one where the cycle was borrowed or another) by engaging the cycle 1 in an available locking terminal 7 of this station. The interactive terminal 2 of this station then informs the server 8 that the cycle 1 has been returned, and then once the server confirms that the 20 situation is in order, has the cycle 1 locked on the locking terminal 7. The user then takes back their battery 9. When the user disconnects their battery 9 from the connector 9A of the cycle (at the end of use or even during 25 a temporary stop of the cycle), the logic unit 9C of the battery detects this disconnection as explained above and then commands the switching device 22 to have it switch over to disconnected state. Then the battery cannot be discharged unexpectedly, even if the external connector 9 30 thereof comes into contact with a conductor. This advantage also applies if the external connector is protected in whole or part by a flap or cap or other while it is disconnected. It is to be understood that, if any prior art 35 publication is referred to herein, such reference does not 12 constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding 5 description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not 10 to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.