Wheel unit with a location sensor

• US 10,473,680 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Noa Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Noa Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Lobnitz, Nick, Spiel, Seth, Van der Schyff, Jason, Fewtrell, Adam, Schuster, Martin, Pina, Nelson, Silva, Pedro, Laabs, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrison, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US15/707,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20180113144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2019/004 Tyre sensors other than for detecting tyre pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/00 Appliances preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of cycles; Locks integral with cycles fittings for preventing or indicating use or theft of vehicles in general B60R; general features of locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/001 Preventing theft of parts or accessories used on cycles, e.g. lamp, dynamo B62H5/006 takes precedence; devices for attaching pumps to cycles B62J11/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/20 indicating unauthorised use, e.g. acting on signalling devices alarm locks in general E05B45/00, e.g. alarm cable or chain lock E05B45/005
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/423 on or besides the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/12 Dynamos arranged in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/60 power-driven at axle parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/75 power-driven by friction rollers or gears engaging the ground wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/44 for measuring angular speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07764 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier attachable to a tire tire temperature or pressur control arrangements, see B60C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1846 structurally associated with wheels or associated parts dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1876 with reciprocating, linearly oscillating or vibrating parts

Abstract

A wheel unit includes a rotating wheel, a wheel axle, and a location sensor. The rotating wheel rotates with respect to the wheel axle. The location sensor is disposed in a fixed position with respect to the wheel axle. The location sensor determines coordinates for a location of the wheel unit.

Claims

1. A wheel unit, comprising:

a rotating wheel;

a wheel axle, wherein the rotating wheel rotates with respect to the wheel axle;

a power generator, wherein the power generator generates power using rotation of the rotating wheel with respect to the wheel axle, wherein the power generator uses detected changing magnetic fields to generate power as the rotating wheel rotates; and

a location sensor, wherein the location sensor is disposed in a fixed position with respect to the wheel axle, and wherein the location sensor determines coordinates for a location of the wheel unit.

2. The wheel unit as in claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unit, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to transmit the location of the wheel unit.

3. The wheel unit as in claim 2, wherein the wireless communication unit is attached to a communication antenna, wherein the communication antenna is disposed in a fixed position with respect to the wheel axle.

4. The wheel unit as in claim 1, wherein the rotating wheel includes a plurality of fixed magnets used to create the changing magnetic fields.

5. The wheel unit as in claim 1, wherein the power generator charges a battery.

6. The wheel unit as in claim 5, wherein the battery powers the location sensor.

7. The wheel unit as in claim 1, wherein the location sensor is attached to the wheel axle.

8. The wheel unit as in claim 7, wherein the location sensor is connected to a location antenna that is disposed in a fixed position with respect to the wheel axle.

9. The wheel unit as in claim 1, wherein the wheel unit is part of a bicycle.

10. The wheel unit as in claim 1, wherein a power generator is electrically connected to the battery using a wire along the wheel axle.

11. The wheel unit as in claim 1, wherein the wheel has a cantilevered support.

12. The wheel unit as in claim 11, wherein a cap has an indent aligned with the cantilevered support.

13. The wheel unit as in claim 1, wherein a location determined using the location sensor is provided to a wireless communication unit to be communicated to a receiving server.

14. A wheel unit as in claim 1, wherein a cap is attached to the wheel axle to provide space for a battery, a wireless communication unit, and a location sensor.

15. A method for providing a wheel unit, comprising:

providing a rotating wheel;

providing a wheel axle, wherein the rotating wheel rotates with respect to the wheel axle;

providing a power generator, wherein the power generator generates power using rotation of the rotating wheel with respect to the wheel axle, wherein the power generator uses detected changing magnetic fields to generate power as the rotating wheel rotates; and

providing a location sensor, wherein the location sensor is disposed in a fixed position with respect to the wheel axle, and wherein the location sensor determines coordinates for a location of the wheel unit.