DE19842841A1 - Electric lighting device for bicycles - Google Patents

Abstract

The lighting device has a casing (G) containing a reflector (Refl) and standard diffusion glass (St). A holder (H) carrying a solar panel (S) is fixed to it, containing a signal light diode (LED). The casing is fixed to the lamp holder by a fixing bracket (BB). There is a boring in the casing for a photo resistance (FW) and a humidity sensor (FS) to measure the environmental light and air humidity. A plate (Pla) carries electronic switching for a micro-battery and the light bulb (SLED). A reed contact (RK) is fixed to the wheel fork. Cable connections for a dynamo are included.

Description

The standard lighting device used in commercial two-wheelers can in terms of reliability, robustness and ease of use, some wishes are open. Blown light bulbs, defective cables and poor ground connections often lead to Failure of the two-wheel lighting and increase the risk of accidents in the dark and at bad weather conditions. This applies in particular to children's two-wheelers, whereby often the Operation of the lighting device (switching on the dynamo) the children problems prepares.

The device described below is intended to improve the lighting and thus the traffic safety of two-wheelers using modern, inexpensive technical means. For this purpose, the automatic electric lighting device for two-wheelers (hereinafter abbreviated to AEB) has the following properties:

• - Great luminosity of the light sources with low power consumption (typically less than a tenth of the electricity required for conventional lighting)
• - very long lifespan of the light sources
• - At dusk / darkness, the light sources are automatically switched on when the Driving operation
• - In the case of rain or heavy fog, the light sources are switched on automatically when the picture is taken of driving
• - Parking lights when stopping
• - Automatic switch off of the light sources after the end of the trip
• - Operation with rechargeable small accumulators
• - Automatic recharging of the batteries when the sun is shining or when the charge is maintained by daylight
• - Signaling of sufficient battery voltage during driving
• - hours of operation of the light source without dynamo function
• - If necessary, recharge the batteries by dynamo operation
• - If necessary, steady light even when the two-wheeler is stationary
• - Practically no power consumption when the two-wheeler is not in use (exception: permanent light)
• - Simple, robust, repair-friendly construction of the circuit components.

The AEB consists of two parts, a lighting device emitting light in the direction of travel (hereinafter abbreviated to VBE or front light) and a lighting device emitting light in the opposite direction of travel (hereinafter referred to as HBE or taillight). Front and rear lights work independently of each other. VBE consists of the following components (see Fig. 1):

• - A housing G with an internal commercial light reflector Refl and commercially available diffusing screen St. A bracket H, which carries a miniature solar panel S, is weatherproof and waterproof connected to G.
• - In H a signal light-emitting diode LED is integrated so that its light from the two-wheeler is good can be observed. The housing G is attached by means of a mounting bracket BB screwed and adjusted a standard lamp holder (not shown)
• - Compared to the light exit, G has a hole in which a photo resistor FW and a moisture sensor FS are arranged. FW measures the ambient brightness and FS measures the humidity outside the housing G
• - A circuit board Pla with the electronic circuit, the small accumulator and the suitable for reflector Refl aligned light source SLED. A cable runs from Pla through a hole in G to LED and another cable through a hole in G to S.
• - A commercially available cast reed contact RK for attachment to the Front fork including connecting cable VK1 between RK and Pla
• - A commercially available permanent magnet M for attachment to a wheel spoke (Spoke magnet)
• - A fully configured two-wire connection cable VK2 for dynamo connection. The second wire is connected to the ground connection of the dynamo, so that a defined one Current return is guaranteed.

The electronic circuitry of the VBE (see Fig. 2) is built on a printed circuit board and consists of commercially available components. The power supply of the VBE is guaranteed by a small accumulator A (e.g. NiCd 3.6V 280 mAh) for soldering. Charging can take place both through the small solar panel S integrated in the housing G (e.g. Panasonic BP-378234) with reverse current diode D1 (Universal Schottky) as well as via conventional dynamo operation with one-way rectification by diode D2 (Universal Schottky) . D1 is used to avoid battery discharge in the dark via the solar panel. Resistor R1 (33 ohms) limits the charging current. The Zener diode Z (4.7 V) protects the accumulator against overcharging during dynamo charging operation by limiting the maximum accumulator voltage to the Zener voltage. The consequence of this is that the charging current into the accumulator is reduced to an uncritical value when a voltage of approximately 4.7 V is reached.

The reed contact RK is attached to the front fork so that the spoke magnet M has it closes briefly once per wheel revolution. On the one hand, the capacitor C (e.g. 1000 uF) charged, on the other hand a current flow through the resistor TU (47K) and the base of transistor T1 (e.g. BC 549B) triggered if the photo resistor FW (Universal) is high impedance. The latter is the case in the dark. T1 switches through and enables the Current flow through the super bright LED SLED (white light, e.g. 400 mCd @ 20mA). The resistor R3 (10 Ohm) has a current limiting effect and ensures that current-controlled voltage feedback of the base-emitter path a reduction in Base current drift and an increase in transistor input resistance.

In the darkness and movement of the two-wheeler, SLED lights up even when the Reed contact has opened again because the charge stored in C continues the transistor switches through. The processes described are repeated the next time the wheel is turned; SLED lights up permanently while driving in the dark.

During a stopover in the dark, SLED continues to shine with great luminosity before it due to dwindling capacitor charge after approx. 2 minutes (time specification applies to C = 1000 uF) gradually disappears. This behavior also occurs after the end of the trip, provided that the reed Contact is open when the wheel stops. This state is very likely to occur. On the other hand, by deliberately rotating the front wheel, the spoke magnet M can over the reed contact that the VBE is permanently switched on. This Property can e.g. B. to secure the bike in the event of a breakdown during darkness be used.

In daylight, the then low-resistance photo resistor FW ensures that the basic Emitter path is effectively bridged by T1 and thereby blocks T1; SLED remains dark. This applies regardless of the position of the reed contact (open / closed). FW is spatially installed in such a way that it is not affected by stray light in the dark (e.g. car headlights) can be influenced.

The functions described apply in the event that transistor T2 (e.g. BC 549B) blocks, d. H. the FS (Universal) humidity sensor is very high-resistance. In the rain or heavy Fog becomes FS conductive and T2 switches on SLED. This happens regardless of Switching status of T1 whenever there is driving operation. R4 (10 KOhm) serves as a base Protective resistor. In the event of an intermediate stop or end of the trip, SLED will go out after approx. 2 minutes (Time specification applies to C = 1000 uF).

A sufficient battery voltage is generated by the LED (e.g. green, universal) is displayed. If the LED is bright, then it is Battery voltage normal. If the LED lights up very weakly or not at all, it is  Voltage too low and the dynamo can be switched on to recharge the battery become. If the latter has occurred, the LED will shine brighter when the vehicle is in operation, since the Dynamo charges the accumulator. Charging should last for some time and can if the LED is continuously bright when the dynamo is switched off while driving shines.

Transistor T3 (e.g. BC 549B) conducts when the battery voltage is greater than or equal to that Sum of the voltages across the LED, the diode D3 (silicon universal) and the base Emitter voltage of T3 is (the voltage drop across R3 is neglected). Sinks If the battery voltage drops below this value, the LED goes out. R5 (100 ohms) serves as a base Protection resistor for T3.  

The second part of the AEB, the rear light, is illustrated in Fig. 3. The housing G is attached to a spar Ra of the rear wheel fork with the aid of a suitable, adjustable holder H (shown here in the unmounted state). This is done by means of two pipe clamps RS, which clasp the spar Ra when assembled. RS are attached to H with threaded screws and nuts (not shown here) by passing the screws through the holes in RS and through the corresponding elongated holes LL. The elongated holes allow a lateral adjustment of G directed towards the wheel spokes Sp (see arrow "Housing adjustment" in Fig. 3). G is attached to the top of H by four threaded screws (not shown here). G is made of resistant material (e.g. impact-resistant plastic). A small solar panel S is applied weatherproof on the top of G. In the housing part located opposite to the direction of travel, there is a hole through which a super bright, red light-emitting diode SLED protrudes outwards. SLED is waterproof sealed against G. A signal LED is located in a hole in the side of G. A robust, two-core connection cable VK connects HBE with the dynamo terminal and the dynamo return line.

Fig. 4 shows the components arranged inside G. These consist of

• - A circuit board Pla with the electronic circuit, the small accumulator A and super bright LED SLED (glowing red, e.g. 3000mCd @ 20mA). The solar panel S is connected to a cable through a housing bore (not shown here) with pla connected
• - A Reed contact RK soldered directly behind the spoke-side housing wall on Pla to register the wheel rotation
• - A photo resistor FW soldered onto the plate, which is screwed through a housing hole in Direction of travel determines the ambient brightness
• - a FS soldered sensor on Pla, through a housing bore in the direction of travel Fog or rain detected
• - A signal light-emitting diode (LED) soldered onto Pla, through a housing bore protrudes outside.

Outside of G, a permanent magnet Ma is attached to a wheel spoke Sp so that Ma at Wheel rotation can close the reed contact RK as it passes.

The properties and operating principle of the HBE correspond completely to those of the described front light. The electronic circuit (see Fig. 5) differs from that of the VBE only in the dimensioning of R1 (47 ohms), A (e.g. 2.4V, 180 mAh), Z (3.1V), SLED (glowing red ) and the discontinuation of D3. The signal LED also lights up red.

An advantage with regard to operational safety is that for the electrical connection RK does not require a cable feed.

Claims (3)

1. The applicant claims patent protection for
the utilization of the wheel rotation of a moving two-wheeled vehicle in such a way that a two-wheeled lighting device can be switched on or off automatically. 2. the conception and implementation of a designed for special operational safety Two-wheeled lighting device that largely due to sunlight use Energy self-sufficient, the state of the energy supply to the two-wheeler signals, if required, can be supplied with electricity conventionally by dynamo, in Dependence on the daylight and weather conditions prevailing during the journey works automatically as required and switches itself off automatically at the end of the trip. 3. All two-wheeled lighting devices that meet the criteria listed in 1 and 2 be realized, however, a mechanical structure different from that described and / or different housing shape and / or different mounting location on the two-wheeler and / or have a different circuit design.