JPH0632187U - Bicycle tail light - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a tail light for a bicycle that does not require a power source other than a generator, is lightweight and compact, and is constantly lit with a constant amount of light so that it can be easily confirmed from a following vehicle. [Structure] The electric power of the generator is rectified into a direct current by the first power supply circuit 1, smoothed, and stored in a large-capacity capacitor of the second power supply circuit 2. The electric power stored in the large-capacity capacitor compensates for the decrease in the amount of power generation even when the amount of power generation decreases, and supplies a substantially constant power to the LED to prevent the change in the amount of light.
The fluctuation of the output voltage of the generator during running is made constant by making the excess power constant by the constant voltage circuit 4, and the large capacity capacitor is charged. LED while running and stopped
The lighting state of is automatically switched to improve the visibility from the following vehicle and the running state can be confirmed.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a taillight that uses a high-intensity red LED that is turned on by using a bicycle generator as a power source. Particularly, the taillight is constantly turned on with a constant amount of light and is automatically switched to different lighting states when running and when stopped. About what lights up.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventional bicycle tail lights use incandescent light bulbs and LEDs to continuously light these while cycling.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the above conventional example, the incandescent light bulb or LED cannot be turned on while the bicycle is stopped, and a power source other than a generator such as a battery is required to turn on this. In particular, when a power source other than a generator such as a battery is used, the device becomes large and it is necessary to provide a place to install it.

Further, although the power generation amount of the generator greatly changes due to the speed change during traveling, the conventional taillight has a problem that the generated light amount largely changes due to the change of the power generation amount.

Further, in the case of an incandescent light bulb, when a voltage higher than the rated value is applied due to the amount of power generation, the life is shortened, and the wire is often broken due to vibration.

Further, when the taillight consumes a large amount of electric power from the generator, the pedal of the bicycle becomes heavy, so that this kind of taillight is hardly used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to be light and compact without requiring a power source other than a generator, and to be constantly lit with a constant amount of light so that it can be easily confirmed from a following vehicle. It is to provide a possible bicycle taillight.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The bicycle tail light of the present invention has a large capacity by rectifying and smoothing the alternating current from the generator, which is the power source during bicycle traveling, to be the direct current power source, and the power supply from the first power source circuit. A second power supply circuit that stores electricity in a capacitor, a switch signal output circuit that outputs a switch signal when the output voltage of the first power supply circuit is a predetermined value or more, and a constant output voltage of the first and second power supply circuits. A constant voltage circuit for converting the voltage, an oscillating circuit that oscillates by the output voltage of the first and second power supply circuits, and an ON / OFF state and an ON state in response to the switch signal in response to the output signal of the oscillating circuit. It is composed of an electronic switch circuit for switching between a holding state and an LED connected to the first and second power supply circuits via the electronic switch circuit.

[0009]

[Action]

 In the tail light for a bicycle of the present invention, the electric power of the generator is rectified into a direct current by the first power supply circuit, smoothed, and stored in the large capacity capacitor of the second power supply circuit. The power stored in this large-capacity capacitor supplements it even when the amount of power generation decreases, and supplies a substantially constant amount of power to the LED to prevent changes in the amount of light. Also, the output voltage of the generator fluctuates due to changes in the speed while traveling, etc. This voltage fluctuation is made constant by keeping the excess power constant in the voltage regulator circuit, and the large capacity capacitor is charged. Further, the LED lighting state is automatically switched between the running state and the stopped state to improve the visibility from the following vehicle and to confirm the running state.

[0010]

【Example】

 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an electronic circuit configuration of a bicycle taillight according to an embodiment of the present invention.

G is a generator, one end of the output of which is normally grounded to the bicycle frame, and the other end is connected to the terminal together with the lead wire of the headlight.

Reference numeral 1 is a first power supply circuit, which is composed of a diode bridge DB and a capacitor C1. The diode bridge DB is connected between the terminal connected to the generator G and the ground terminal, and rectifies the alternating current output by the generator G. The capacitor C1 is connected between the output terminals of the diode bridge DB and smoothes the pulsating current generated at the output of the diode bridge DB.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a second power supply circuit, which is connected to the output of the diode bridge DB and is provided with a reverse current prevention diode D1 and an overcurrent prevention resistor R1 and a DC current supplied via these. And a large capacity capacitor C2. This large-capacity capacitor C2 has an internal structure of an ultra-small large-capacity capacitor made of electric double-layer foil, and has a normal capacity of 0.1 farad or more.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a switch signal output circuit, which is composed of resistors R2 and R3 connected in series between the outputs of the diode bridge DB, and an electronic switch described later from a connection point between the resistors R2 and R3. It outputs a switch signal consisting of a voltage that keeps the circuit on. In this embodiment, by adjusting the values of the resistors R2 and R3, when the amount of power generated by the generator G is less than the amount of power generated when a person walks while pushing a bicycle, the switch signal having the above voltage is used. Is set not to be output, but it can be arbitrarily determined by adjusting the resistors R2 and R3.

Reference numeral 4 is a constant voltage circuit including a Zener diode ZD. The Zener diode ZD is connected in parallel to the large-capacity capacitor C2 and keeps most of the fluctuation of the power generation amount of the generator G together with the large-capacity capacitor C2.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an oscillation circuit including a flip-flop and the like, which is supplied with a constant power source by a large-capacity capacitor C2 and outputs a signal of a predetermined cycle.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an electronic switch circuit, which includes a transistor Q1 that controls the oscillation stop of the oscillation circuit 5 and a transistor Q2 that connects an LED, which will be described later, to the first and second power supply circuits 1 and 2. . The oscillator circuit 5 and the electronic switch circuit 6 may be integrated into an IC module.

In the LED indicated by LD in the figure, the current applied by the resistor R4 is adjusted, and although two LEDs are connected in series in the figure, the number can be arbitrarily determined. Also, they may be connected in parallel.

In the present embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration, when the bicycle moves and the generator G starts to generate electricity, the large-capacity capacitor C2 is charged by the constant DC current output from the first power supply circuit 1. At this time, if the amount of power generated by the generator G is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the transistor Q1 is turned on by the voltage signal from the switch signal output circuit 3. As a result, the oscillation circuit 5 is brought into the oscillation stop state, and the transistor Q2 is kept in the ON state. Therefore, the LED is connected to the first power supply circuit 1 via the transistor Q2, and is also connected to the second power supply circuit 2 including the charged large-capacity capacitor C2, and is turned on by a constant power supply from these. .

In this state, if the amount of power generated by the generator G falls below a predetermined value, the voltage signal from the switch signal output circuit 3 also falls and the transistor Q1 is turned off. As a result, the oscillating circuit 5 enters an oscillating state, receives power supply from the large-capacity capacitor C2, and outputs a signal of a predetermined cycle. The transistor Q2 is repeatedly turned on and off in response to the signal from the oscillation circuit 5, and the LED is intermittently supplied with power from the large-capacity capacitor C2 and blinks and lights. It should be noted that the blinking lighting state of the LED becomes the continuous lighting state again in the same manner as the above operation when the power generation amount of the generator G increases and the transistor Q1 is turned on again. Further, this LED blinks for a predetermined time and is turned off, and when the large-capacity capacitor is completely discharged, it is turned off.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a partially modified example of the bicycle taillight shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the lighting state of the LED is switched by controlling the oscillation of the oscillation circuit 5 and its stop by the transistor Q1, but in the embodiment shown in FIG. The LED lighting state is switched by controlling the base voltage of the transistor Q2 without stopping. That is, in this embodiment, the transistor Q1 shown in FIG. 1 is removed, the output of the oscillation circuit 5 is applied to the base of the transistor Q2 through the diode D2, and the output line of the switch signal output circuit 3 is also passed through the diode D3. Connected to the base of the transistor Q2.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the oscillator circuit 5 constantly outputs a voltage signal of a predetermined cycle by the power supply from the first and second power supply circuits 1 and 2. On the other hand, when the power generation amount of the generator G is higher than the predetermined value, the transistor Q2 is kept in the ON state by the voltage signal from the switch signal output circuit 3 regardless of the output signal of the oscillation circuit 5, and the LED Lights up continuously. When the amount of power generated by the generator G falls below a predetermined value, the voltage signal from the switch signal output circuit 3 cannot keep the transistor Q2 in the ON state, and the transistor Q2 responds to the signal from the oscillation circuit 5. In response, it turns on and off repeatedly. As a result, the LED will blink and light.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an electronic circuit configuration of a bicycle taillight according to another embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that parts having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The tail lights shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 described above are continuously lit while the bicycle is traveling (when the generator is generating power), and when the bicycle is stopped or moving at a walking speed or less (the generator). When the power generation is stopped or the amount of power generation is less than a predetermined value), it is configured to blink and turn on. It is configured so that it lights continuously when moving with.

The switch signal output circuit 3 in this embodiment includes a resistor R3 connected between the outputs of the diode bridge DB and a resistor R5 connected between one end of the resistor R3 and the base of the transistor Q1. G is configured to supply a direct current voltage from the first power supply circuit 1 to the transistor Q1 during power generation. The electronic switch circuit 6 is composed of a transistor Q1 which is a part of the oscillator circuit 5 and a transistor Q2 which is turned on / off according to the output signal of the oscillator circuit 5.

In the present embodiment, when the generator G is generating power, the DC voltage from the first power supply circuit 1 is applied to the base of the transistor Q1 via the switch signal output circuit 3, and the oscillator circuit 5 Becomes the oscillation state. Therefore, in response to the output signal of the oscillation circuit 5, the transistor Q2 causes the LED to blink and light. When the generator G cannot obtain a DC voltage equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the oscillation circuit 5 stops the oscillation and keeps the transistor Q2 in the ON state. Therefore, the LED is continuously turned on.

Although the operations of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the embodiment of FIG. 3 are opposite to each other, the operation mode is switched by a switch so that the operation is performed in one circuit. It may be configured to perform.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of the bicycle taillight of the present invention. Reference numeral 7 is a case for accommodating the electronic circuit having the above configuration. Reference numeral 8 is a cover that is transparent to the red and transmits the light of the red LED, and is designed so that a predetermined amount of light can be obtained at the position specified by law. Reference numeral 9 is a lead wire for connecting to a generator. In the present invention, a storage space for batteries and the like is not required, and the electronic circuit portion is also extremely compact, so that it is possible to downsize the case 7 or the taillight as a whole, and it is suitable for any bicycle. Can be easily installed. Incidentally, a part of the cover 8 or the like may have a reflection function.

[0029]

[Effect of device]

 According to the present invention, light is emitted more clearly than the one that reflects the light from the rear such as the reflector material that is widely used at present, so that it is possible to confirm reliably from a farther distance, and it is more reliable. It is possible to ensure safety.

In particular, since there is no fluctuation in the light amount due to changes in the running speed and the light is always emitted at a constant light amount, the light is emitted at a constant light amount even under conditions such as slopes and rainy weather where the running speed changes extremely, The safety can be improved.

Further, in the present invention, since the electric power consumption of the electronic circuit that uses the LED and controls the lighting thereof is small, the pedal of the bicycle does not become heavy even if the taillight is added.

Further, since the lighting state of the LED is automatically switched at a walking speed or less or when the vehicle is stopped without any external operation such as a switch, the following vehicle can grasp the running / stopped state of the bicycle at a glance. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an electronic circuit configuration of a bicycle taillight according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a partially modified example of the bicycle taillight shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an electronic circuit configuration of a bicycle taillight according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an external appearance of a bicycle taillight according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st power supply circuit 2 2nd power supply circuit 3 Switch signal output circuit 4 Constant voltage circuit 5 Oscillation circuit 6 Electronic switch circuit 7 Case 8 Cover 9 Lead wire

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location F21Q 1/00 N 9032-3K

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A first power supply circuit for rectifying and smoothing an alternating current from a generator, which is a power supply during bicycle traveling, to a direct current power supply; and a first power supply circuit for storing power in a large-capacity capacitor by power supply from the first power supply circuit. Two power supply circuits, a switch signal output circuit that outputs a switch signal when the output voltage of the first power supply circuit is a predetermined value or more, and a constant voltage circuit that makes the output voltages of the first and second power supply circuits constant. And an oscillating circuit that oscillates with the output voltage of the first and second power supply circuits, and switches between an on / off state and an on-holding state in response to the output signal of the oscillating circuit in response to the switch signal. A bicycle taillight comprising an electronic switch circuit and an LED connected to the first and second power supply circuits via the electronic switch circuit.