JP4136426B2 - Bicycle headlight - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bicycle headlamp using a white LED using a battery as a power source and having a light source as a light source.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, bicycle headlights are the most rudimentary ones, with a primary battery as the power source, and when the light gets dark, a current is supplied to the light bulb by a switch, or a dynamo is placed facing the bicycle wheel. However, it is common to generate electricity by rotating the wheel and to supply electric current to the light bulb for heading.
[0003]
In addition, there is a bicycle headlamp having a structure in which a secondary battery that is charged by a solar battery and a backup primary battery that is provided separately from the secondary battery are used as a power source to turn on a light bulb. FIG. 7 shows a control circuit for this purpose. In the figure, the amount of power generated by the solar battery is charged in a secondary battery connected in parallel. Separately, a primary battery for backup is also prepared. The bulb of the headlight is turned on / off by a switch, and when current is supplied only from the secondary battery through the switch, the secondary battery and the primary battery are connected in parallel and supplied with current from both power sources. Is selected.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
A battery that uses a solar battery to charge a secondary battery and uses it as a power source consumes a large amount of electric current. The light bulb could not be turned on, the visibility of the bicycle was poor, and there were safety issues. Moreover, the shape of the whole headlamp was large in the case of having a primary battery for backup. Accordingly, the present invention provides a bicycle headlamp that improves the visibility of a bicycle by using a white LED (light-emitting diode) that has a semi-permanent life as a light source from the viewpoint of safety during night driving of the bicycle. Objective.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The bicycle headlamp according to claim 1 of the present invention uses a white LED as a light source of the headlamp, and according to a storage amount of a secondary battery charged by a solar battery that is a power battery of the white LED. A bicycle headlamp that switches between the lighting operation or the blinking operation of the white LED, and includes a unit that enables the secondary battery to be charged from an external power source.
[0017]
In this way, since the bicycle headlight is used outdoors, it is assumed that the solar cell may be damaged for some reason. Therefore, the AC adapter and the charging terminal that can be connected to the secondary battery can be charged from the external power source. And plug outlets, allowing artificial charging when necessary.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The configuration of the embodiment of the bicycle headlamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings using an example in which a secondary battery charged with a solar battery is used as a power source. 1A is a side sectional view of the headlamp of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a front sectional view, FIG. 2A is a plan view of the headlamp of the present invention, and FIG. Shows a side view.
[0021]
In the figure, 1 is a battery upper case, 2 is a battery lower case, 3 is a head cap, 4 is a white light emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as white LED), 5 is a front reflector, 6 is a head cap set screw, and 7 is transparent. A solar cell cover 8 is a solar cell located on the upper surface of the headlamp. Here, the reason why the white LED is used as the light source of the headlamp is that the current consumption is 1/10 or less as compared with the light bulb.
[0022]
9 is three secondary batteries that charge the amount of power generated by the solar battery, 10 is a printed circuit board, 11 is a control circuit including a flashing circuit, 12 is a bracket holder, 13 is a handle mounting bracket, 14 is a switch button, and 15 is a switch. A switch operated by the button 14.
[0023]
A secondary battery 9 is housed inside the battery upper case 1 and the battery lower case 2, and a solar cell 8 is disposed above the battery upper case 1. In the front part of the battery case, three white LEDs 4 housed in the front reflector 5 are arranged.
[0024]
The switch button 14 is disposed on the side of the headlamp so that the switch can be easily operated even when the driver is traveling. The battery lower case 2 is held by a bracket holder 12 and held by a handlebar bracket 13 on a bicycle handle (not shown).
[0025]
Next, the lighting control of the bicycle headlamp will be described with reference to the headlamp control circuit. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a control circuit, which shows a type in which a secondary battery charged with a solar battery is used as a power source, and a white LED is manually switched between a lighting operation and a blinking operation. Here, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 11 denotes an astable multivibrator (hereinafter referred to as an astable circuit), which is a flashing circuit, which repeatedly oscillates on and off alternately according to a time constant determined by a resistor and a capacitor.
[0026]
The bicycle headlamp of the present invention generates power by receiving light from the solar cell 8 disposed on the upper part of the battery upper case 1 while the bicycle is irradiated with sunlight while the bicycle is parked or running. The secondary battery 9 built in the lighting is charged.
[0027]
First, because the environment is bright during the day, when the switch button 14 provided on the side of the headlamp is in the OFF position, that is, when the switch 15 is at the OFF contact, the three white LEDs 4 are connected to the secondary battery 9. Since no current is supplied and no current is supplied from the secondary battery 9 to the astable circuit 11, the white LED 4 does not light up or blink.
[0028]
Next, when the surroundings become dim and the white LED 4 is lit, when the switch button 14 is operated to the ON position, that is, when the switch 15 is switched to the ON contact, the white LED 4 is supplied with current from the secondary battery 9. The white LED 4 is lit. On the other hand, since no current is supplied from the secondary battery 9 to the astable circuit 11, the astable circuit 11 does not operate.
[0029]
And since the lighting light of white LED4 is reflected by the front reflector 5, and irradiates light ahead, the white LED4 can be headed with considerable brightness, and the visibility of a bicycle can be ensured.
[0030]
Next, when the charged amount of the secondary battery 9 decreases and the illuminance decreases, the switch button 14 is operated to the BLINK position in order to switch the white LED 4 to the blinking operation in order to ensure the safety of the bicycle. When the switch 15 is switched to the BLINK contact, the white LED 4 is not directly supplied with current from the secondary battery 9, but the astable circuit 11 is supplied with current from the secondary battery 9, so that the unstable circuit of the flashing circuit 11 operates, and the current is supplied to the three white LEDs 4 through the astable circuit 11 so as to blink.
[0031]
Then, the light of the white LED 4 is reflected by the front reflector 5 to irradiate the light forward, and the secondary battery 9 charged by the power generation of the solar battery 8 causes the white current consumption to be 1/10 or less than that of the light bulb. The LED 4 can be blinked to extend the battery life. Since the LED 4 can blink even when the power generation amount of the solar cell 10 is small, such as on a cloudy day, visibility of the bicycle can be ensured.
[0032]
As described above, the white LED 4 can be lit or blinked at night when riding a bicycle by properly using lighting or blinking of the white LED 4 according to the amount of power generated by the solar battery 8 or the amount of electricity stored in the secondary battery 9. In addition, visibility at night of the bicycle can be improved.
[0033]
Next, the control circuit shown in FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a type in which the lighting operation and the blinking operation are switched automatically, and can be applied regardless of the type of the power supply battery. An embodiment using a battery will be described. Here, the same components as those in FIG. Reference numeral 17 denotes a comparator, 18 denotes a Zener diode serving as a reference voltage generation source, and 19 denotes an on / off transistor.
[0034]
First, because the environment is bright during the day, when the switch button 14 provided on the side of the headlamp is in the OFF position, that is, when the switch 15 is at the OFF contact, the three white LEDs 4 are connected to the secondary battery 9. Since no current is supplied and no current is supplied from the secondary battery 9 to the astable circuit 11, the white LED 4 does not light up or blink.
[0035]
Next, when the surroundings become dim and the white LED 4 is lit, when the switch button 14 is operated to the ON position, that is, when the switch 15 is switched to the ON contact, the white LED 4 has a secondary battery as described later. The current is supplied from 9 directly or via the astable circuit 11, and the white LED 4 is lit or blinks. On the other hand, since the current is also supplied from the secondary battery 9 to the astable circuit 11, the astable circuit 11 starts operating.
[0036]
More specifically, in this state, the terminal voltage of the secondary battery 9, that is, an amount proportional to the charged amount is divided by the resistor and input to one terminal of the comparator 17 as the voltage V 1. On the other hand, the reference voltage Vr obtained by the Zener diode 18 is supplied to the other terminal of the comparator 17 for comparison.
[0037]
FIG. 5A shows the relationship between the comparative voltage and the battery life. Since the voltage V1 exceeds the reference voltage Vr, that is, V1> Vr until time T1, the positive signal is output from the comparator 17, the transistor 19 is turned on, and the secondary battery is connected to the three white LEDs 4. Current is supplied directly from 9 . Therefore, regardless of the operation of the astable circuit 16, the white LED 4 continues the lighting operation.
[0038]
And since the lighting light of white LED4 is reflected by the front reflector 5, and irradiates light ahead, the white LED4 can be headed with considerable brightness, and the visibility of a bicycle can be ensured.
[0039]
Next, when the storage amount of the secondary battery 9 is reduced and the normal battery life T1 is reached, V1 <Vr is satisfied, so that a negative signal is output from the comparator 17 and the transistor 19 is turned off to provide three transistors. The direct current supply from the secondary battery 9 to the white LED 4 is cut off. Instead, since the astable circuit 11 is operating, the white LED 4 is supplied with current via the astable circuit 11 and switched to the blinking operation.
[0040]
Referring to the relationship between the battery voltage and the battery life in FIG. 5B, the three white LEDs 4 continue to light up to the voltage Vp of the secondary battery 9 corresponding to the time T1, but after the time T1 Since the white LED 4 is switched to the blinking operation, the battery consumption is saved. As a result, when the lighting operation is continued, the lighting of the white LED 4 is terminated at the end voltage Ve of the battery at the time T2 indicated by the solid line. As shown by the dotted line, the time is extended until the time T3 until the battery end voltage Ve is reached.
[0041]
Next, in order to make the white LED 4 blink to ensure the safety of the bicycle, if the blink operation is selected from the beginning, when the switch button 14 is operated to the BLINK position, that is, the switch 15 is switched to the BLINK contact, The white LED 4 is not directly supplied with current from the secondary battery 9, but the astable circuit 11 is supplied with current from the secondary battery 9, so the astable circuit 11 of the blinking circuit operates and the white LED 4 receives current. It is supplied and always blinks.
[0042]
In this way, the light of the white LED 4 is reflected by the front reflector 5 to irradiate the light forward, and the secondary battery 9 charged by the power generation of the solar cell 8 causes the white current consumption to be 1/10 or less compared to the light bulb. The LED 4 can be blinked to extend the battery life. Since the LED 4 can blink even when the power generation amount of the solar cell 10 is small, such as on a cloudy day, visibility of the bicycle can be ensured.
[0043]
As described above, the lighting and blinking of the white LED 4 are automatically used properly according to the power generation of the solar battery 8 and the amount of electricity stored in the secondary battery 9, thereby ensuring the lighting or blinking of the white LED 4 when riding a bicycle at night. Therefore, the visibility at night of the bicycle can be improved. In addition, since the lighting operation is automatically switched to blinking, it is possible to determine how much the secondary battery is consumed.
[0044]
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a control circuit provided when a solar cell is damaged. 20 is an AC adapter, and 21 is a charging terminal and a plug. The circuit configuration for switching between the lighting operation and the blinking operation by automatic operation is the same as that in the embodiment of FIG. Bicycle headlights are used outdoors, and it is assumed that solar cells may be damaged for some reason. In preparation for that time, an AC adapter 20, a charging terminal connectable to the AC adapter 20, and a plug outlet 21 are provided so that the secondary battery can be charged from an external power source, and artificial charging is possible as necessary.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
Or bicycle headlamp of the present invention as described above, current consumption is life than 1/10 as a light source the semi-permanent white LED as compared with light bulbs, white with a secondary battery that is charged by solar cells LED in which light or blink, because the lighting operation or blinking of the white LED according to the storage amount of the secondary battery to the selected択的, the battery life is extended, the amount of power generated by solar cell such as a cloudy day Even when there are few, white LED can blink, and the visibility of a bicycle can be improved.
Bicycle headlights are used outdoors, and it is assumed that the solar battery may be damaged for some reason. However, since the secondary battery can be charged from an external power source, Artificial charging becomes possible, and it can be used indefinitely regardless of solar cells.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the side and front of a headlamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view and a side view of the headlamp of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a control circuit diagram of the headlamp .
FIG. 4 is another control circuit diagram of the headlamp .
FIG. 5 is a relationship diagram between a comparison voltage and a battery life, and a battery voltage and a battery life.
FIG. 6 is a control circuit diagram of the headlamp of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a control circuit diagram of a conventional headlamp.

Claims (1)

Using the white LED to the headlamp of a light source, in accordance with the storage amount of the secondary battery to be charged by the solar cell is a power supply battery of the white LED, irradiation before bicycle for switching the lighting operation or blinking white LED A bicycle headlamp comprising means for enabling charging of the secondary battery from an external power source .

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