Bicycle battery charger and speedometer circuit

• US 6,573,686 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Uno, Kouji
• Primary Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US10/100,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/109, 180/205, 180/11, 180/15, 180/220, 307/64, 307/68, 307/150, 322/1, 322/99, 322/100
• US Class Current: 320/123
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1407 on vehicles not being driven by a motor, e.g. bicycles

Abstract

A circuit that receives signals from a dynamo and provides signals for charging a battery and indicating bicycle speed. The circuit includes a first switching circuit adapted to receive the dynamo signals and provide first signals for charging the battery; and a second switching circuit adapted to receive the dynamo signals and provide second signals for indicating bicycle speed. If the dynamo outputs periodic signals, the first signals may correspond to one of the half periods of the periodic signals (e.g., the positive half periods), and the second signals may correspond to the other half periods (e.g., the negative half periods) of the periodic signals.

Claims

1. A circuit that receives signals from a dynamo and provides signals for charging a battery and indicating bicycle speed, wherein the circuit comprises:

a first switching circuit adapted to receive the dynamo signals and provide first signals for charging the battery; and

a second switching circuit adapted to receive the dynamo signals and provide second signals for indicating bicycle speed.

2. The circuit according to claim 1 further comprising a pulse signal circuit for providing pulse signals from the second signals.

3. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the pulse signal circuit comprises a Schmitt circuit.

4. The circuit according to claim 1 further comprising a third switching circuit that selectively inhibits the output of the first signals to the battery.

5. The circuit according to claim 4 wherein the third switching circuit comprises a transistor.

6. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the first switching circuit comprises a first diode element, and wherein the second switching circuit comprises a second diode element.

7. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein the dynamo signals are periodic signals, wherein the first signals correspond to one of the half periods of the periodic signals, and wherein the second signals correspond to the other half periods of the periodic signals.

8. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the first signals correspond to positive half periods of the periodic signals, and wherein the second signals correspond to negative half periods of the periodic signals.

9. The circuit according to claim 7 wherein the first switching circuit comprises a first diode element, and wherein the second switching circuit comprises a second diode element.

10. The circuit according to claim 9 further comprising a pulse signal circuit for providing pulse signals from the second signals.

11. The circuit according to claim 10 wherein the pulse signal circuit comprises a Schmitt circuit.

12. The circuit according to claim 11 further comprising a third switching circuit that selectively inhibits the output of the first signals to the battery.

13. The circuit according to claim 12 wherein the third switching circuit comprises a transistor.

14. The circuit according to claim 13 wherein the first signals correspond to positive half periods of the periodic signals, and wherein the second signals correspond to negative half periods of the periodic signals.