Integrated power, lighting, and instrumentation system for bicycles

• US 7,495,549 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John F. Acres
• Original Assignee: John F. Acres
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/805,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 340/427, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/429, 340/430, 340/432
• US Class Current: 340/427
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/015 using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic system for use on vehicles. Some embodiments of the system use an integrated power supply to power all of the electronic components of the electronic system. The electronic system may include various microprocessors, sensors, communication systems, displays, lights, speakers, switches, power control systems, and expansion ports.

Claims

1. An alarm system for a bicycle, comprising:

a data storage unit for storing a key value;

a key reading unit for sensing one of a plurality of pre-stored possible authorized key values;

an arming unit for initiating the alarm system when a sensed key value matches any one of the pre-stored authorized key values;

an accelerometer for detecting an amount of vehicle motion; and

an alarm generator coupled to the accelerometer.

2. The alarm generator of claim 1 wherein the alarm generator is structured to generate an alarm when the accelerometer indicates an amount of motion above a threshold amount of motion.

3. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the alarm generator is an audible alarm generator.

4. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the alarm generator is a wireless sending unit and wherein said alarm system further comprises a remote indicator for receiving a signal from the wireless sending unit to indicate an alarm at a remote location.

5. The alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a signal for indicating an alarm status.

12. The alarm system of claim 4 wherein the signal is selected from the group comprising radio-frequency signals and infrared signals.

13. The alarm system of claim 4 wherein the alarm generator is structured to generate an alarm when the accelerometer indicates an amount of motion above a threshold amount of motion.

6. A method, comprising:

reading an alarm key value;

arming an alarm system when the read key value matches a stored key value;

monitoring the amount of motion of a bicycle; and

generating a first alarm when the amount of motion of the bicycle exceeds a threshold amount of motion at a first time within a time period; and

generating a second alarm when the amount of motion of the bicycle exceeds a second threshold amount at a second later time within the time period.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first threshold amount corresponds to an amount of motion that equals an amount of motion to which the second threshold amount corresponds.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising waiting a certain amount of time after the read key value is matched to the stored key value before arming the alarm system.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein generating a first alarm comprises making an audible sound.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein generating a second alarm comprises making a second audible sound that is louder than the first audible sound.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein generating a second alarm comprises sending a wireless signal.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the first threshold amount corresponds to an amount of motion that is less than an amount of motion to which the second threshold amount corresponds.

15. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising:

reading an alarm key value; and

arming the alarm system when the read key value matches one of a plurality of pre-stored authorized key values.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the alarm system includes a wireless sending unit and wherein the method further comprises indicating an alarm at a remote indicator responsive to receiving a signal from the wireless sending unit at the remote indicator.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the signal is selected from the group comprising radio-frequency signals and infrared signals.

18. The method of claim 6 wherein the alarm system includes a wireless sending unit and wherein the method further comprises indicating an alarm at a remote indicator responsive to receiving a signal from the wireless sending unit at the remote indicator.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the signal is selected from the group comprising radio-frequency signals and infrared signals.

20. A method, comprising:

reading an alarm key value associated with a bicycle lock;

arming an alarm system when the read key value matches a stored key value;

monitoring the amount of motion of the bicycle;

generating an alarm signal when the amount of motion of the bicycle exceeds a threshold amount of motion;

transmitting the alarm signal to a remote indicator; and

indicating an alarm condition at the remote indicator in response to a received alarm signal.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the threshold amount of motion comprises a first threshold amount of motion within a time period and the alarm comprises a first alarm, the method further comprising generating a second more urgent alarm when motion of the bicycle exceeds a second threshold amount of motion within the time period.

22. The method of claim 21, the method further comprising:

reading an alarm key value; and

arming the alarm system when the read key value matches one of a plurality of stored key values.

23. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising:

reading an alarm key value; and

arming the alarm system when the read key value matches one of a plurality of stored key values.