Bicycle notification device including attaching portion, transmitter and power generator

• US 10,269,249 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2017
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Tetsuka, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Rushing, Mark S
• Application Number:
  US15/487,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20180301035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 340902
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 3/10 Electrical devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/412 Speed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/414 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/20 Arrangement of reflectors , e.g. on the wheel spokes pedals incorporating reflectors B62M3/12 ; Lighting devices mounted on wheel spokes
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/36 with rotary cranks, e.g. with pedal cranks B62M1/34 takes precedence; combined with reciprocating levers B62M1/26; cranks which can be immobilised as foot rests B62M5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a vehicle notification device that allows others to easily recognize the vehicle.

[Solution] A vehicle notification device comprises a base portion, an attaching portion that is provided on the base portion and that can be attached to or detached from a rotating body of a vehicle that is configured to be run by a manual drive force, a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal that notifies the presence of itself to an external device that is external to the vehicle, and a power generator that generates electric power supplied to the wireless transmitter.

Claims

1. A vehicle notification device comprising:

a base portion having a vehicle mounting portion, the base portion comprises a housing;

an attaching portion that is provided on the base portion and which can be attached to or detached from a rotating body of a vehicle that is configured to be run by a manual drive force the attaching portion configured to he attached to a position spaced from a rotational axis of rotating body;

a wireless transmitter that is configured to transmit a non-visible wireless signal that notifies the presence of itself to an external device that is external to the vehicle, the wireless transmitter housed in the housing; and

a power generator that generates electric power supplied to the wireless transmitter, the power generator and the wireless transmitter being enclosed in the base portion, and the power generator housed in the housing, at least a portion of the housing is of a material that is configured to transmit wireless radio waves, the power generator comprises a rotor rotated together with the rotation of the rotating body, the power generator further comprising a coil that is electromagnetically induced by the rotation of the rotor.

2. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the attaching portion is configured to be attachable to the rotating body such that the base portion is exposed outside of the rotating body.

3. The vehicle notification device according to claim 2, wherein

the rotating body comprises a spoke;

and

the attaching portion is attachable to the spoke.

4. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the rotating body comprises a crank;

and

the attaching portion is attachable to the crank.

5. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the power generator further comprises a piezoelectric element that vibrates to generate electric power that is applied to the power generator.

6. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the power generator further comprises a photoelectric element that generates electric power by sunlight.

7. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, comprising

a power storage device that stores the electric power that is generated by the power generator.

8. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the power generator is provided on the base portion.

9. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, further comprising

a first detector that detects a traveling speed of the vehicle, wherein

the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit wireless signals that include information according to a detection result of the first detector to the external device.

10. The vehicle notification device according to claim 9, wherein

the first detector comprises an acceleration sensor.

11. The vehicle notification device according to claim 9, further comprising

a second detector that detects position information of the vehicle, wherein

the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit wireless signals that include information according to an output of the second detector to the external device.

12. The vehicle notification device according to claim 11, wherein

the second detector comprises a GPS receiver.

13. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, further comprising

a storage device that stores information relating to the type of the vehicle, wherein

the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit wireless signals that include information relating to the type of the vehicle to the external device.

14. The vehicle notification device according to claim 13, wherein

the storage device is configured to update the type of vehicle that is stored in the storage device.

15. The vehicle notification device according to claim 14, further comprising

a wireless receiver, wherein

the storage device is configured to update information stored in the storage device, according to a signal from the outside that is input to the wireless receiver.

16. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless transmitter is provided on the base portion.

17. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the base portion comprises a reflective sheet that reflects light.

18. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the transmission frequency of the wireless transmitter is in the 700-900 MHz band, the 1700-3500 MHz band, or the 5900 MHz band.

19. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle mounting portion is detachably attached to the housing of the base portion such that the rotating body is disposed between the housing of the base portion and the vehicle mounting portion.

20. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein

the mounting portion includes an attaching surface that faces the housing of the base portion, the attaching surface being parallel to a surface of the base portion on which the wireless transmitter and the power generator are disposed.

21. The vehicle notification device according to claim 20, wherein

the mounting portion includes a receiving hole corresponding to a receiving hole of the housing of the base portion for receiving a fastener, the receiving holes being perpendicular to the attaching surface.