Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
  • B62K21/00—Steering devices
  • B62K21/12—Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
  • G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
  • G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
  • G01C21/34—Route searching; Route guidance
  • G01C21/36—Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
  • G01C21/3626—Details of the output of route guidance instructions
  • G01C21/3661—Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio

Definitions

• the field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of equipment for vehicles with handlebars.
• the invention relates more specifically to a vehicle handlebar, te! than a bicycle, which has electronic components to enable the handlebars to send and receive electronic information.
• handlebars for vehicles made from various materials are known.
• aluminum, carbon, wood or even plastic can be used to make handlebars.
• a handlebar consists of a handlebar and a stem to which the handlebar is attached. To ensure safe use of the handlebars, the handlebars and handlebars must have sufficient structural strength.
• the handlebars have specific designs depending on the materials used to make them. For example, in order to be able to present sufficient structural strength, wooden or plastic hangers are generally full of material. These hangers then have significant rigidity allowing them to be approved by the various competent bodies.
• hangers with a hollow structure, but made with materials such as steel or aluminum, thus allowing the hangers to have sufficient rigidity to be approved.
• this bicycle handlebar comprises a hanger capable of receiving an electronic control unit, wireless communication means comprising an antenna, and electric batteries.
• This bicycle handlebar can establish a wireless connection with a mobile phone.
• the quality of the wireless connectivity of the bicycle handlebars poses a problem, however. Indeed, the ability to transmit and receive radio waves is particularly impacted by the very nature of the hanger: a metal tube.
• a metal tube in fact constitutes an electromagnetically impermeable environment capable of disturbing or preventing the diffusion of electromagnetic waves. Consequently, an antenna of the wireless communication means cannot be integrated directly inside the metal tube forming the hanger.
• a window on the hanger by means of a cutout in the metal tube would allow the antenna to be integrated so that the latter can receive and emit electromagnetic waves.
• a window would jeopardize the structural strength of the handlebars while not making it possible to obtain a good quality of diffusion of electromagnetic waves.
• a metal tube generates an environment unsuitable for the diffusion of electromagnetic waves. This property is such that even the metal tube cannot simply be used as an antenna.
• EP2942244A1 describes a tracking and tracking system that can be integrated into a bicycle handlebar.
• Several antennas are integrated into a tip that sits at the end of a main body of the handlebar hanger. It is noted that the transmission and reception capacity of radio waves of the antennas is not optimal.
• the aim of the invention is in particular to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art.
• the object of the invention is to provide a handlebar for a vehicle, which incorporates wireless communication means having a good capacity for transmitting and receiving radio waves.
• the invention also aims to provide such a handlebar which has electronic components perfectly integrated into the structure of the handlebar, and in particular in an undetectable manner compared to a handlebar of conventional design, or at the very least of which the electronic components are. integrated as best as possible.
• the invention further aims to provide such a handlebar which is able to pass the certification tests of the competent bodies, that is to say a handlebar which has sufficient structural strength.
• a handlebar for a vehicle comprising: a hanger comprising a main body extending longitudinally between two ends;
• wireless communication means coupled to the electronic processing unit
• wireless means of communication including:
• a modem comprising a first antenna compatible on at least two frequencies
• a geolocation module comprising a second antenna
• the hanger comprises at least one end piece extending a first end of the main body, the end piece being made of an electromagnetically permeable material, the first antenna being at least predominantly integrated into the end piece and extending in length parallel to an axis of extension of the first end of the main body, and in that the handlebar comprises at least one housing assembled on the main body and made of an electromagnetically permeable material, the housing being moved away from the end piece along the main body , the second antenna being integrated into the housing.
• the electronic processing unit can, by means of the first antenna of the modem of the wireless communication means, transmit and receive data without the structure of the main part. of the handlebars does not cause interference that significantly disrupts communication.
• the position of the tip and the material from which the tip is designed allow the first antenna not or little to be impacted by the nature of the material of the main body of the hanger.
• ferromagnetic or metallic media have by nature the property of greatly disturbing the propagation of electromagnetic waves.
• a tip made of an electromagnetically permeable material
• This design also allows the main body to have a structure capable of presenting sufficient structural strength to ensure safe use of the handlebars according to the invention.
• the main body of the handlebar may need to be hollowed out to house electronic components.
• This main body must then be designed in a strong and hollow material, for example a metal tube. Such a main body naturally disturbs the propagation of electromagnetic waves.
• the solution proposed by the invention makes it possible to reconcile good robustness of the handlebar hanger while allowing the hanger to be equipped with an electronic processing unit and wireless communication means with a first antenna located to a favorable position for his function.
• positioning the first antenna in line with the main body of the hanger allows the antenna to be moved away from a medium potentially impermeable to electromagnetic waves.
• This location moves the antenna away in particular from a position inside a metal tube which would form the main body or in the immediate vicinity of the outer surface of this metal tube, such positions being capable of degrading the performance of the antenna.
• the first antenna of the modem is compatible on at least two frequencies.
• This is for example an antenna and a modem of the type "GPRS".
• GPRS GPRS
• the first antenna exhibits an electromagnetic field extending mainly perpendicular to the lengthwise extension axis of the first antenna.
• the positioning, according to the principle of the invention, of the first antenna in the electromagnetically permeable tip makes it possible not to degrade its performance, or only slightly. Such degradation could have been observed if the first antenna had been positioned above, below, in front of or behind the main body of the hanger, less than 30mm.
• the separation of the first antenna and the second antenna along the hanger eliminates the risk of electromagnetic coupling. These are indeed harmful for the proper functioning of each of the antennas and they represent a risk for product certifications.
• the first antenna is compatible on at least 4 frequencies.
• the handlebar design allows the first antenna to perform well on its at least 4 frequencies.
• the end piece extends the first end of the main body over a length ranging from 20 millimeters to 45 millimeters, and preferably over a length of 35 millimeters.
• the tip extends enough to allow the first antenna to function properly.
• the tip allows the first antenna to extend far enough outside the main body of the handlebars for optimized operation.
• the housing incorporating the second antenna forms a means for positioning the second antenna on an upper periphery of the main body, towards the sky.
• the second antenna can thus function correctly.
• the main body of the hanger thus does not form a physical barrier between the first antenna and the sky.
• any conductive material By physical barrier is understood any conductive material. Also, the housing in an electromagnetically permeable material does not form a physical barrier.
• the wireless communication means comprise a radio-identification module comprising a third antenna, the third antenna being integrated into the or one of the boxes, said box forming a support for spacing the third antenna from the main body.
• Such a radio-identification module is conventionally designated by the acronym RFID.
• the third antenna benefits from the spacing support formed by the housing to be able to function correctly. Indeed, if the RFID antenna had been positioned in close proximity to the main body, then its operation would have been degraded.
• the handlebar includes a first housing and a second housing spaced apart from each other along the main body, the first housing incorporating the second antenna and the second housing incorporating the third antenna.
• the wireless communication means comprise a short-distance data exchange module comprising a fourth antenna, the fourth antenna being integrated in the or one of the boxes.
• Such a data exchange module for example using "Bluetooth” technology (registered trademark), makes it possible to couple the handlebars with a communicating device such as a smartphone.
• the handlebar comprises an electric battery housed in a second end of the main body.
• the electric battery can thus have a sufficiently large capacity to be able to supply all the functions of the handlebars. Indeed, the modem and its first antenna, as well as the radio-identification module, which has the particularity of consuming energy.
• the integration of the electric battery in the second end of the main body allows to have a housing large enough to accommodate the battery which has a large footprint.
• the main body is hollow and is traversed by an electrical bundle coupling the electronic processing unit to the electric battery, the housing or boxes each being coupled to the electrical bundle through a hole in the main body of the handlebars.
• the end piece comprises: a first part at least partially integrating the first antenna; a second portion forming a means for coupling the tip to the end of the main body from which the tip extends.
• Such a tip is easy and economical to produce while being particularly simple to implement on the main body of the handlebar according to the invention.
• the second part fits onto the first end of the main body.
• the first part comprises a housing for receiving the first antenna.
• the first antenna is simply inserted into its receiving housing within the tip.
• the electronic processing unit is located inside a tubular part of the main body.
• the integration of the electronic handlebar processing unit is achieved in an indecisive manner compared to a conventional handlebar according to the prior art. More precisely, this integration does not or at least slightly affect the external visual appearance of the handlebar arch according to the invention.
• the main body of the hanger is metallic.
• This design of the main body of the hanger is economical while allowing the main body to exhibit high structural strength characteristics, especially compared to composite materials.
• the electronic processing unit comprises a grounding connector coupled to the main body.
• the main body is brought to the same potential as the mass of the electronic processing unit.
• the main body of the hanger then has even less impact on the transmission and reception capacities of the antennas, and in particular of the first antenna.
• the invention also relates to a bicycle, which includes a handlebar as described above.
• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a handlebar according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of one end of a handlebar hanger according to the invention, having a tip;
• Figure 3 is a simplified schematic representation in an exploded view of the end of the handlebar hanger according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a handlebar according to the invention
• Fig. 5 is a schematic representation in cross section of the first end of the main body of the handlebar according to the second embodiment
• Fig. 8 is a schematic representation in cross section of the second end of the main body of the handlebar according to the second embodiment
• FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a central part of the handlebars, with the housings open, according to the second embodiment.
• the handlebar 1 is a vehicle handlebar, and in particular a bicycle handlebar.
• FIG. 1 Another aspect of the invention is a bicycle which includes a handlebar 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
• this handlebar is used to orient a front wheel of the bicycle to control its trajectory.
• handlebars according to the invention can be adapted and used for other types of vehicles, such as for example a scooter or a scooter.
• Handlebar 1 includes:
• the hanger 10 comprises:
• main body 100 which extends longitudinally between two ends, a first end 100a and a second end 100b;
• a tip 101 which extends one end, in particular the first end 100a of the main body 100.
• the hanger 10 of the handlebars 1 thus has a shape consisting of the main body 100 extended at one of its ends by the end piece 101, and potentially also at the other of its ends by a second end piece.
• the hanger 10 has a central symmetry. Indeed, the left and right parts of the hanger 10 are symmetrical with respect to the stem 11.
• the main body 100 has a coupling zone 1000 of the stem 11 on the hanger 10, this coupling zone 1000 being centered. on the complete hanger 10, that is to say by considering the main body 100 equipped with its or its ends 101.
• the handlebar 1 comprises a hanger 10 with a single end piece 101 located at one of the ends of the main body 100. The other end of the main body 100 is not extended by a end piece.
• the main body 100 is advantageously metallic.
• this main body is a metal tube.
• the main body 100 can in particular be made of aluminum.
• this metal tube makes it possible to accommodate elements within it, while making it possible to obtain sufficient mechanical strength to be able to be approved following the performance of a stress test by a competent body. .
• the handlebar 1 comprises in particular two housings 4, including a first housing 4a and a second housing 4b. These housings are assembled on the main body 100 and are made of an electromagnetically permeable material.
• the electromagnetically permeable material is plastic, in particular reinforced plastic, and even more fiber reinforced plastic.
• the first housing 4a and the second housing 4b are moved away from the nozzle 101 along the main body 100, and away from each other.
• housings 4a, 4b are in particular positioned on a central portion of the main body 100, on either side of the coupling zone 1000.
• the handlebar 1 also comprises: an electronic processing unit 2;
• wireless communication means 3 coupled to the electronic processing unit 2.
• the 3 wireless communication means include:
• a modem comprising a first antenna 30 compatible on at least two frequencies, and in particular on at least 4 frequencies;
• a geo-localization module comprising a second antenna 31; a radio-identification module comprising a third antenna 32; a short-distance data exchange module comprising a fourth antenna 33.
• the second antenna 31 is integrated in one of the boxes 4, and in particular in the first box
• the first housing 41 forms a means for positioning the second antenna 31 on an upper periphery of the main body 100, in the direction of the ciei.
• the second antenna 31 is positioned in a substantially vertical plane which is at least partially oriented towards the sky.
• the second antenna 31 can function correctly.
• the second antenna is positioned in a horizontal plane, above the main body, and thus exhibits optimal operation.
• the third antenna 32 and the fourth antenna 33 are also integrated in one of the boxes 4.
• the third antenna 32 is in particular integrated into the second housing 4b.
• the second housing 4b forms a support for spacing the third antenna 32 from the main body 100.
• the fourth antenna 33 is for its part integrated into the first housing 4a.
• These wireless communication means 3 can also include one or more communication chips meeting various communication standards (2G, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth, wifi, Sigfox, LoRa, NB-loT, ... (registered trademarks)) .
• the modem incorporates a 2G communication chip (GPRS), and the short distance data exchange module incorporates a Bluetooth communication chip.
• GPRS 2G communication chip
• the electronic processing unit 2 is located inside one of the tubular parts of the main body 100 of the hanger 10.
• the core of the main body 100 of the hanger 10 is in fact used to house , at least partially, electronic components of the handlebars 1.
• the electronic processing unit 2 also includes a grounding connector 21. This grounding connector 21 is coupled to the main metal body 100.
• the tip 101 thus extends one of the ends of the main body 100, while integrating the first antenna 30 of the wireless communication means 3.
• this tip is designed in an electromagnetically permeable material.
• the electromagnetically permeable material is plastic, in particular reinforced plastic, and even more fiber reinforced plastic.
• Such a material makes it possible to reconcile the good diffusion of the electromagnetic waves with an adequate structural resistance of the hanger consisting of the main body and its end piece (s).
• the tip 101 includes:
• the second part 1012 of the end piece 101 is fitted onto the end of the main body 100, preferably in force to avoid accidental removal.
• the second part of the end piece can be mounted in a non-removable manner on the end of the main body, for example by being welded or glued.
• the first part 1011 of the tip 101 integrates the first antenna 30. More specifically, the first part 1011 of the tip 101 forms a housing for receiving the antenna 30 which is then integrated within the tip.
• the first antenna 30 extends in length parallel to an axis of extension of the first end 100a of the main body 100.
• the first antenna 30 is thus located at the end of the hanger 10, in the extension of an axis of extension of the metal main body 100.
• the first antenna 30 is therefore eccentric from the metal main body 100 and away from the disturbances which could be generated by the metal main body 100 during the propagation of electromagnetic waves. This is because the metallic main body may form, although imperfectly, a Faraday cage.
• the first antenna 30 is in particular a GPRS antenna having a length of 27 mm, a width of 8 mm and a height of 3.2 mm.
• This may in particular be the antenna marketed under the name "Calvus Penta-band SMD Antenna” by the company "antenova m2m”.
• the electronic processing unit 2 is housed inside a tubular part of the main body 100, but also inside the second part 1012 of the tip 101. Indeed, the second 1012 forms a coupling means of the tip to the end of the main body from which the mouthpiece extends but also forms a reception space of the electronic processing unit 2.
• the coupling of the tip 101 on the end of the main body 100 allows the electronic processing unit 2 and the wireless communication means 3 to be directly assembled at a suitable location.
• the electronic processing unit 2 takes the form of an electronic card having, in cooperation with the second part 1012 of the tip 101, spaces for positioning electronic components 20.
• the first part 101 1 has a length less than 50 millimeters.
• the end piece extends one of the ends of the main body over a length of less than 50 millimeters, and preferably less than 45 mm.
• the first part 101 1 of the end piece 101 has a length of 35 millimeters.
• the tip 101 extends the first end 100a of the main body 100 by a minimum length of 20 millimeters.
• a handle 13 is coupled to the end of the hanger 10. This handle 13 covers the end piece 101, and the end of the main body 100.
• the material from which the handle 13 is formed is an electromagnetically permeable material.
• the handlebar 1 comprises an electric battery 5.
• the electric battery 5 is housed in the second end 100b of the main body 100.
• the electric battery 5 has a capacity of 1800 mAh.
• the electric heater 5 is mounted removable from the main body 100.
• a screw cap 52 closes the second end 100b of the main body and keeps the electric battery 5 captive in the housing formed by the main body 100.
• a die 50 can fit into the screw cap 52 to allow screwing or unscrewing the screw cap 52.
• the handlebar 1 also comprises a connection interface 51 of the battery 5. The insertion of the electric battery 5 allows its connection with the connection interface 51.
• the handlebars 1 also include an electric harness 6.
• This electrical harness 6 runs through the hanger 10 inside the main body 100 which is hollow.
• the electric harness 8 couples the electronic processing unit 2 to the connection interface 51 and thus to the electric battery 5.
• the electric harness 6 is also coupled to each housing 4 through holes made on the main body 100, in bottom of housings 4.
• These holes are dimensioned and distributed so as not to weaken the structure of the handlebar 1 or at least weaken it as little as possible to allow its approval.
• the holes have a diameter sufficient to allow a connection of the electrical harness to pass, and in particular have a maximum diameter of 13.4 mm.
• These holes are positioned under the housings, on a front or rear face of the main body of the hanger, and in particular on the front face of the hanger. Indeed, the upper or lower faces of the main body concentrate the mechanical forces when carrying out the certification tests.
• the electronic processing unit can be arranged to control light-emitting diodes carried by the handlebars according to the invention, and in particular for example by the boxes 4, and the wireless communication means are configured to establish a connection with a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone.
• the connection can be triggered using pairing initiated by bringing the mobile phone closer to the third antenna 32 of the radio identification module.
• This portable electronic device can be provided with navigation and location means to determine a route to follow.
• the electronic device known as the master device, can remain in a cyclist's pocket, protected from the elements, while controlling the handlebars, which is then a slave.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Support Of Aerials (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=66103017

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

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Family Cites Families (12)

• 2019
  • 2019-03-01 WO PCT/FR2019/050473 patent/WO2020178488A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2019-03-01 EP EP19717124.2A patent/EP3931069A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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