WO2006021650A1

WO2006021650A1 - Automatic bicycle storage system

Info

Publication number: WO2006021650A1
Application number: PCT/FR2005/001835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacques Le Gars; Jacques Darras; Jean-Claude Lamy
Original assignee: Jcdecaux Sa
Priority date: 2004-07-21
Filing date: 2005-07-18
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: KR20070061523A; FR2873475B1; EP1782401A1; FR2873475A1

Abstract

The automatic bicycle storage system comprises bicycles (1) each of which is provided with an electric locking device (9) controllable by an external control device (2) which makes it possible to lock the bicycles on the passive anchoring members (10) of locking stands (8).

Description

and adapted to lock on the anchor member.

Thanks to these arrangements, the locking stations are inexpensive and do not require major installation work, since they no longer include a controlled electric lock.

In various embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following provisions may also be used: the anchoring member comprises identification means readable by the electronic circuit of FIG. cycle control; the control device comprises a first short-range wireless communication interface, each cycle comprises a second short-range wireless communication interface adapted to communicate with the first communication interface, this second communication interface being connected to the electronic communication circuit. control of the cycle, and the control device is adapted to control the locking device of each cycle via the first communication interface and the second communication interface; the first and second communication interfaces are radio communication interfaces; the first and second communication interfaces are adapted to communicate according to a protocol chosen from the DECT, WIFI, BLUETOOTH and ZIGBEE protocols; the controller includes interfaces adapted to allow a user to control the unlocking of a locked cycle in the storage area; the system comprises a further a server adapted to communicate with a radiotelephone belonging to a user, this server communicating with the device of controlling and being adapted to unlock a cycle of the storage area by said controller based on information received by the user's radiotelephone; the control device is adapted to communicate with the server by radio.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an automatic cycle storage system according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a detail sectional view of the locking device of a cycle of FIG. 1, locked on an anchoring member of one of the locking stations,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line III - III of FIG. 2,

- the figure. 4 is a block diagram of the cycle storage system of FIG. 1; and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a cycle storage system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. As represented in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to an automatic system for storing cycles 1 such as, in particular, bicycles, making it possible, for example, to store cycles on the public road so as to make them available to the public. This automatic cycle storage system further comprises a control device such as an interactive terminal 2 with a user interface comprising for example a keyboard 3, a screen 4, an electronic portable card reader 5 and, if appropriate, a ticket issuing device 6 for example to confirm a payment, or authorization to withdraw from a credit card account, or other.

A cycle storage area 7, for example comprising a plurality of locking stations 8, extends in the vicinity of the interactive terminal 2 to receive cycles 1 when they are not used.

When they are stored in the storage area 7, the cycles 1 can rest for example on a stand pivotally mounted on their frame 1a. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, each cycle comprises a locking device 9, which can be mounted, for example, on a collar 9a or another support fixed rigidly to the frame 1a of each cycle and which makes it possible to lock the cycle 1 on a Locking station 8. Each locking device 9 is adapted to lock on a passive anchoring member (that is to say devoid of an electric actuator) fixed to the corresponding locking station 8. In the example shown in Figure 1, each locking station 8 may for example be in the form of a vertical terminal fixed to the ground and, as can be seen in more detail in Figure 2, each member of Anchor 10 may be in the form of a flat key, metal or plastic, for example connected to the corresponding locking station 8 by a wire rope 11, a chain or other link.

As shown in Figure 2, the anchoring member 10 may for example be in the form of a wafer having an elongated body 10a and an enlarged head 10b forming for example two shoulders 10c to the

the elongate body 10a. The anchoring member 10 may be connected to the cable 11 for example by the end of the elongate body 10a located opposite the enlarged head 10b.

As represented in FIGS. 2 to 4, the anchoring member 10 may, for example, engage with a slight clearance in a slot 12 belonging to the casing 13 of the locking device 9.

Inside this housing 13 may also be arranged two hooks 14 each carried by a pivoting lever 15 in the housing 13 about an axis 15a located in an intermediate position along the lever 15. Each hook 14 is adapted to penetrate laterally in the slot 12.

Each of the hooks 14 may include ^': - an edge stop 16 adapted to engage behind one of the shoulders 10c of the anchoring member 10 when Led ± t anchoring member is fully engaged in the slot 12

- And a cam edge 17 which is oriented towards the opening of the slot 12 and which extends obliquely, so that, during the introduction of the anchoring member 10 into the slot 12, the head widened 10b of the anchoring member can push the hooks 14 outwards in the direction of the arrows 18, to a retracted position allowing the passage of said enlarged head 10b.

Optionally, the enlarged head 10b may have a rounded or chamfered edge towards the front, ie opposite the elongate body 10a, making it easier to push the hooks 14 in the direction 18 when the insertion of the anchoring member 10 into the slot 12.

Each of the levers 15 is resiliently biased by a spring 19, in the direction of the arrows 20, towards the locking position shown in FIG. 2, where the corresponding hook 14 projects inside the slot 12. Opposed 14 square brackets the the

to the corresponding pivot axes 15a, the ends 21 of the levers 15 are disposed on either side of an electromagnet 22 which is connected to an electronic control circuit 23. When the electronic control circuit 23 feeds electromagnet 22, it draws towards it the two ends 21 of the levers 15 by moving them in the direction of the arrows 18 to their retracted position, which then allows to release the anchoring member 10. The hooks 14, the levers 15 and electromagnet 22 thus form an electric lock.

As represented in FIG. 3, the locking device 9 may further comprise a communication interface 25 adapted to read (for example by induction) a miniature electronic circuit 24 integrated in the anchoring member, for example embedded in the material constituting this anchoring member. For example, an electronic circuit 24 may comprise an identification code of the corresponding locking station 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, the interactive terminal 2 may comprise an electronic central unit 26 (CPU) such as a microprocessor or the like, which communicates with the keyboard 3, the screen 4, the card reader 5 and the device The central unit 26 communicates further with a communication interface 27 (COM), which can itself communicate with a central server 28 (S), for example by radio or other means.

Finally, the central unit 26 of the interactive terminal 2 is connected to a short-range wireless communication interface 29 (COM1) having a range limited substantially to the storage area 7, and for example, generally less than 50 m , advantageously of the order of 10 m.

This communication interface 29 is adapted to communicate remotely with a similar communication interface (COM2) belonging to the device the the the

lock ¹ 9- of each cycle. Les two interfaces CQB-muanicatAα-E- 29> 3Q 'may advantageously be cσrπmuπiquant interfaces radiα _Λ way advantageously according to a. short-range radiocommunication protocol 5 among the EUJETQQTH protocols:,. ^'HIFX ,. DECT and ZIGBEE.

Eventually, the form, of. the spatial coverage of the interface 12 may be adapted to the configuration of the locations by the choice and / or the orientation of the antenna of said interface 12.

The electronic control circuit 23 (UC) of cycle 1 cycle. _r that can comp-eendxe include one. microprocessor, - is connected to I ^r communication interface 30 'to 22 -électro magnet (EM), ^• 25 to interface (COM 3) and optionally 5 to signalisation- device 31 such as a light emitting diode and a sensor 3-2 (SENS) adapted to detect- the position of the stand Ib.

The device which has just ^"been described operates as follows. Q- Lorsqu'un- user wants to borrow a cycle 1 present in 7-storage area, it may, for example, insert a pedement electronic card in-the reader 5 of the interactive terminal 2, then enter a secret code by means of the keyboard 3. The terminal 2 then communicates with the server 28 to obtain the authorization to release a cycle 1 present in the storage area 7. All cycles 1 present in the ⁷ storage area can be identified by the interactive terminal 2 that these cycles 1 communicate with said interactive terminal O by ^r intermediate communication interfaces 29, 30...

L- ^I: Autσrisation to release a cycle is given for example according to the validity d ^{: l:} a subscription of -user. σ-u- where appropriate depending on a ^: 5- cαmmïin ± catiαa of the bαrne. interactive 2 and / α-ti. of the server 2: 8- with a payment server (not shown).

When the interactive terminal 2 receives the authorization to release a cycle I _r it sends a radio order to one of the cycles 1 of the storage area 7, so that the electronic control circuit 23 of this cycle controls the electromagnet 22 to release the anchoring member inserted in the corresponding locking device 9. At the same time, the interactive terminal 2 can also send a user identification code or a transaction identification code to the cycle 1 considered, and the electronic control circuit 23 of this cycle stores this code.

The electronic control circuit 23 of the cycle can then flash its light emitting diode 31 so that the user can locate the unlocked cycle. The user can. then. freely borrow this cycle and use it. ^'

Subsequently, when the user wants to make the cycle taken in a storage area 7 (which may be the storage area where the cycle was borrowed, or another similar storage area), it is sufficient to bring back the cycle in the desired storage area 7, to lower the stand Ib of the cycle, and to insert the anchoring member 10 of one of the locking stations 8 into the slot 12 of its locking device, so this anchoring member is automatically locked by the hooks 14.

The interactive terminal 2 corresponding to this storage area 7, which has entered into communication with the cycle 1 by radio as soon as this cycle has entered the storage area 7, then sends the server an end of transaction information, after checking:

the user or transaction identifier stored in the electronic control circuit 23 of the cycle, the locking position 8 on which the cycle is locked, by reading the electronic circuit 24 of the anchoring member, and if necessary, the position of the stand Ib. In the second. embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 5, the cycles 1 are identical to what has just been described, but the interactive terminal 2 is removed, and is replaced by a control device 33 which includes only the central unit 9, and the communication interfaces 29, 30.

In this second embodiment, the control device 33 may be small, and housed for example in: street furniture such as a waiting shelter for buses or other. This control device 33 may be battery powered, where appropriate recharged by photovoltaic cells.

Furthermore, in this second embodiment, the users who wish to borrow cycles 1 communicate directly with the server 28, or possibly with the control device 33, via their mobile phone 34, which mobile phone 34 allows them to identify themselves to the server 28 and / or to the control device 33, and where appropriate to make a payment or authorization to debit from credit card account.

In this second embodiment, the operation of the automatic cycle storage system is the same as previously described when the system has issued an authorization to borrow a cycle. This second embodiment and especially advantageous, insofar as it limits as much as possible the bulk of the storage area 7 on the public road and where it limits the investments to create a storage area for cycles. In this embodiment, the storage area of cycle 7 can even easily be created temporarily in one place, according to the needs and / or be limited to a very small number of locking stations 8. These locking stations are not necessarily sealed terminals in the ground, but may consist of for example in locations where are attached the locking members

10, along a beam fixed permanently or temporarily.

In addition, the control device 33 may possibly be integrated in this beam or more generally in a device used to form one or more locking stations. In this case, the communication between the control device 33 and the cycle could possibly be done for example by wire. In particular, the control device could communicate by wire with the electronic circuit 24 of the anchoring member, which itself could communicate with the electronic control circuit 23 via the interface 25.

Claims

An automatic cycle storage system comprising: - a plurality of. cycles (1) each carrying a locking device (9) and an electronic control circuit (23), at least one cycle storage area (7) comprising at least one locking station (8) on which a lock can be locked cycle (1) when not in use, and at least one control device (2; 33) adapted to selectively allow cycling cycles

(1) in the storage area, characterized in that the locking station (8) comprises a passive anchoring member (10), and in that the locking device (9) of each cycle comprises an electric lock (14, 15, 22) controlled by the electronic control circuit (23) of the cycle and adapted to lock on the anchoring member (10).

2. automatic cycle storage system according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring member (10) comprises identifying means readable by the electronic control circuit (23) of the cycle.

An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller (2; 33) comprises a first short-range wireless communication interface (29), each cycle includes a second interface of short-range wireless communication (30) adapted to communicate with the first communication interface (29), said second communication interface being connected to the control electronic circuit (23) of the cycle, and the control device (2; 33). is adapted to control the locking device (9) of each cycle via the first communication interface (29) and the second communication interface (30).

An automatic cycle storage system according to claim 3, wherein the first and second communication interfaces (29, 30) are radio communication interfaces.

5. Automatic cycle storage system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second communication interfaces (29, 30) are adapted to communicate according to a protocol selected from the DECT, WIFI, BLUETOOTH and ZIGBEE protocols.

An automatic cycle storage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller (2) comprises interfaces (3, 4, 5) adapted to allow a user of. control the unlocking. a cycle (1) locked in the storage area (7).

7. Automatic cycle storage system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a server (28) adapted to communicate with a radiotelephone (34) belonging to a user, said server (28) communicating with the control device ( ^'33) and being adapted to unlock a cycle (1) of the storage area by said control device (33) according to information received by the radio telephone (34) of the user.

8 ^' . An automatic cycle storage system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller (33) is adapted to communicate with the server (28) by radio.