Battery-powered bicycle lighting with automatic brightness adjustment

Abstract

Battery-operated bicycle lighting (1), in particular a rear light or combined rear / brake light, with a light source (2), with a light sensor (3) for preferably continuously detecting the ambient light, and with a control device (4), which control device (4) for automatically controlling the brightness (I LED ) of the light source (2) as a function of at least one ambient light parameter (I U ) is designed, wherein the light sensor (3) is used to detect the ambient brightness (I U ) and the control unit (4) for controlling the brightness (I LED ) of the light source (2) depending on the ambient brightness (I U ) is formed, namely depending on absolute brightness values ​​and on detected and evaluated brightness changes.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bicycle light in which a battery or accumulator is used as the power source. Such a bicycle light will hereinafter be referred to as a battery-powered bicycle light. The invention relates in particular to a rear light. Rear lights for bicycles are sometimes also equipped with a brake light function. Therefore, the invention also relates to a combined rear / brake light. For the sake of simplicity, the term "rear light" will generally be used hereafter, without necessarily excluding combined rear / brake lights.

[0002] The problem with battery-powered taillights is that the light source, for example a bulb or a number of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), consumes a particularly large amount of power when it shines at maximum brightness. High brightness is very often desired by cyclists. This reduces battery life from, for example, 60 to 70 hours at minimum brightness to only 1.5 to 2 hours at maximum brightness.

[0003] From US 2010 / 0 123 402 A1 it is known to determine the current ambient brightness in order to control a bicycle light and to control the light based on certain brightness thresholds, e.g. in the three stages "off", "normal" and "full brightness".

[0004] In DE 10 2007 030 318 A1, it is proposed to use different light colors to improve daytime visibility depending on ambient brightness limits, namely yellow light during the day and white light at night.

[0005] In the solution described in EP 2 308 746 A2, a daytime running light is provided with the help of a second light source as soon as a limit value of the ambient brightness is exceeded.

[0006] All these known solutions are limited to controlling the lighting based on reaching certain ambient brightness thresholds.

[0007] One object of the present invention is to provide a solution which extends the operating time of the batteries without compromising the safe operation of the rear light.

[0008] This problem is solved by a bicycle light according to claim 1 or by a computer program product according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] The advantages and features explained below in connection with bicycle lighting also apply analogously to the described method and computer program product, and vice versa.

[0010] The battery-operated bicycle lighting according to the invention, in particular a rear light or combined rear / brake light, comprises a light source, a light sensor for preferably continuously detecting the ambient light, and a control device, which control device is designed for automatically controlling the brightness of the light source depending on at least one ambient light parameter, wherein the light sensor is designed for detecting the ambient brightness and the control device is designed for controlling the brightness of the light source depending on the ambient brightness, namely depending on absolute brightness values ​​and on detected and evaluated changes in brightness.

[0011] Within the scope of this invention, controlling the brightness of the light source may also include regulating it by taking into account a controlled variable in order to achieve a desired target brightness. In other words, the control device is designed to control and / or regulate the brightness of the light source as a function of at least one ambient light parameter. Unless it is a very simple embodiment of the invention, the control device is also designed as an evaluation device, i.e., for evaluating the provided sensor data in order to control the brightness of the light source on this basis.

[0012] A key idea of ​​the invention is to provide bicycle lighting brightness adapted to the surrounding environment. This avoids unnecessarily bright operation of the lights without compromising safety. Less power is consumed. With the same light source, battery life is significantly extended with adaptive operation compared to conventional operation at constant high brightness. A brightness management system implemented by the control unit automatically provides the cyclist with a suitable brightness level adapted to the surroundings. This automatic brightness setting can also be adjusted manually.

[0013] To provide optimal lighting adapted to the environment, a measurement value characteristic of the environment is determined, namely the ambient brightness, and the bicycle lighting is adjusted accordingly. However, the invention goes a step further and proposes, in further embodiments, to also categorize the location of the bicycle in order to derive a suitable lighting scheme with preset brightness values. For example, if the current location of the bicycle is recognized as the location type "city" due to certain circumstances, the control unit assumes a different lighting scheme adapted to an urban environment from the outset than if the location type "countryside" were recognized.

[0014] According to the invention, the ambient light parameter is the ambient brightness. For this purpose, a light sensor is used which is designed to detect the ambient brightness. The control device according to the invention is designed to control the brightness of the light source as a function of the ambient brightness.

[0015] A key aspect of the invention is that the control unit does not only evaluate absolute brightness values. It also detects and evaluates changes in brightness. By applying suitable evaluation algorithms in the control unit, and taking the bicycle's speed into account, it is possible, for example, to determine whether fluctuations in ambient brightness are caused by streetlights, such as those typically arranged at regular intervals in residential or industrial areas, or by the lights of oncoming or overtaking vehicles.

[0016] For example, if a vehicle approaching from behind is detected due to increasing ambient light, the control unit increases the brightness of the rear light. If it is a combined rear / brake light, the brake light will also illuminate more brightly during braking. The present invention thus enables ambient light-dependent brightness adjustment of the brake light on a bicycle, even in the case of combined rear / brake lights.

[0017] In other cases, the light sensor is designed to detect additional ambient light parameters, such as the wavelengths that make up the ambient light. Other ambient light parameters include the color of the ambient light, its modulation, and its light distribution. Using such data, the control unit can not only determine whether the surroundings are illuminated by analyzing the ambient light, but it can also identify the predominant light sources and thus, for example, distinguish between urban and rural lighting. Using the light colors and modulation data, it is possible, for instance, to differentiate between headlights from motor vehicles and streetlights.

[0018] Various sensor types can be used as light sensors, for example, simple photoresistors as well as photosemiconductors, especially photodiodes and phototransistors. If several LEDs are used as light sources, one LED can temporarily serve as the light sensor while the other LEDs emit light. Suitable still or video cameras can also be used as light sensors.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, in addition to the light sensor, a speed sensor is provided to detect the speed of the bicycle. This sensor is connected to the control unit, which is designed to control the brightness of the light source depending on the speed of the bicycle. This means that the brightness control depends on at least one ambient light parameter as well as on the speed of the bicycle. Preferably, the brightness of the bicycle light increases as the bicycle moves faster. Thus, a speed-dependent brightness adjustment of the rear light of a bicycle can be implemented.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, in addition to the light sensor, a position sensor is provided for detecting the position of the bicycle. This sensor, which can be, for example, a GPS sensor, is connected to the control unit, and the control unit is configured to control the brightness of the light source depending on the position of the bicycle. This means that the brightness control depends on at least one ambient light parameter as well as on the position of the bicycle. Such a position-dependent brightness adjustment of a bicycle's rear light has also never been proposed before.Using the bicycle's location coordinates determined by the position sensor, an automatic position analysis determines whether the bicycle is in an urban or rural area and / or whether it is in an area that is typically bright at that time of day, possibly due to artificial lighting. The data obtained from the position determination, along with at least one ambient light parameter, is then processed in the control unit to generate a control command, which adjusts the brightness of the bicycle lights.

[0021] Neither the speed sensor nor the GPS sensor needs to be physically connected to the control unit. A suitable communication connection for transmitting the sensor data to the control unit, for example a wireless connection, is sufficient.

[0022] The ambient light sensor preferably detects it continuously. Other environmental data, characterized by additional sensors, are preferably acquired at defined, particularly regular, intervals, the intervals depending on the type of detection and / or the nature of the data being acquired.

[0023] The described sensors are advantageously mounted on the bicycle in such a way that they detect the area of ​​the surroundings relevant to the bicycle's lighting. For example, if the bicycle lighting is a rear light, the sensors are advantageously mounted to detect the area behind the bicycle. In this case, the sensors are preferably integrated into the rear light housing, as this automatically ensures correct positioning.

[0024] A manual switch is provided for turning the bicycle lights on and off. Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment of the invention, the control unit can also be configured to turn the light source on and / or off depending on at least one ambient light parameter, in particular when defined brightness levels are exceeded or fallen below. With the use of appropriate sensors and suitable programming of the control unit, the switching on and off can also be triggered depending on the speed of the bicycle and / or its position.

[0025] If a light source is used that allows for a change in the lighting characteristics, according to a further embodiment of the invention, it is also possible to use a control device that is designed to change the lighting characteristics depending on the speed of the bicycle and / or depending on the position of the bicycle. In other words, the lighting characteristics of the bicycle light, for example, the shape of the light cone and focus, can also be automatically adapted to the ambient brightness.

[0026] The invention is not limited to rear lights and combined rear / brake lights. The invention is also applicable to bicycle headlights and their adjustability depending on at least one ambient light parameter.

[0027] The computer program product according to the invention comprises program instructions for automatically controlling the brightness of a light source of a battery-operated bicycle light, in particular a rear light or a combined rear / brake light, depending on at least one ambient light parameter, when the computer program is executed in a control unit which was obtained with the aid of a sensor for detecting the ambient light, wherein the at least one ambient light parameter was obtained with the aid of a light sensor for preferably continuous detection of the ambient light, wherein the light sensor is designed to detect the ambient brightness and the control unit is designed to control the brightness of the light source depending on the ambient brightness, namely depending on absolute brightness values ​​and on changes in brightness.

[0028] The control unit of the bicycle lighting according to the invention is designed to carry out the described method variants for controlling the bicycle lighting. Preferably, the control unit is a data processing unit designed to perform all steps according to the method described herein that are related to data processing, in particular light data in the form of a number of ambient light parameters. The control unit preferably has a number of functional modules, each functional module being designed to perform a specific function or a number of specific functions according to the described method. The functional modules can be hardware modules or software modules.In other words, the invention, as far as the control device is concerned, can be implemented either in the form of computer hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. The invention, as far as the control device is concerned, can be implemented as an electrical circuit, an integrated circuit, and / or as a program instruction executed in a processor.

[0029] The interaction of the individual components of the bicycle light, as well as the implementation of a dimmer circuit or similar device to change the brightness, is not described in detail here. This is well known to experts.

[0030] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The single figure shows a schematic representation of a bicycle light according to the invention. The invention is not shown to scale and only its essential components are depicted.

[0031] A battery-operated combined rear / brake light 1 of a bicycle comprises an LED arrangement 2 as a light source, a photodiode 3 as a light sensor for detecting the ambient brightness I U , and a control module 4 connecting the photodiode 3 with the LED arrangement 2, which is used to control the brightness I LED the LED arrangement 2 depending on the ambient brightness I U The photodiode 3 is positioned in the transparent housing part 5 of the luminaire adjacent to the LED array 2. It continuously measures the ambient brightness I. UUsing this data, control module 4 determines the optimal brightness I. LED The power supply required for the LED array 2 is provided by battery 6. This ensures that the LED array 2 can be illuminated at a brightness level independent of the ambient light level. U dependent brightness I LED The rear light 1 is activated. During braking, the control module 4 activates the LED array 2 as a brake light. This also occurs depending on the ambient brightness I. U . Reference symbol list 1 rear light 2 LED arrangement 3 photodiode 4 Control module 5 transparent housing part 6 batteries I U Ambient brightness I LED Brightness of the LED array

Claims

[1] Battery-operated bicycle lighting (1), in particular a rear light or combined rear / brake light, comprising a light source (2), a light sensor (3) for preferably continuously detecting ambient light, and a control unit (4) which controls the brightness (I LED ) of the light source (2) as a function of at least one ambient light parameter (I U ) is designed, wherein the light sensor (3) is used to detect the ambient brightness (I U ) and the control unit (4) for controlling the brightness (I LED ) of the light source (2) depending on the ambient brightness (I U ) is formed, namely depending on absolute brightness values ​​and on detected and evaluated brightness changes. [2] Bicycle lighting (1) according to claim 1, comprising a speed sensor for detecting the speed of the bicycle, wherein this sensor is connected to the control unit (4) and the control unit (4) is used to control the brightness (I LED ) of the light source (2) depending on the speed of the bicycle. [3] Bicycle lighting (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a position sensor for detecting the position of the bicycle, wherein this sensor is connected to the control unit (4) and the control unit (4) is used to control the brightness (I LED ) of the light source (2) depending on the position of the bicycle. [4] Bicycle lighting (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device (4) is simultaneously used to switch the light source (2) on and / or off depending on at least one ambient light parameter (I U ) is trained. [5] Bicycle lighting (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device (4) is configured to change the lighting characteristics depending on at least one ambient light parameter (I U ). [6] Bicycle lighting (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device (4) is designed to classify the location of the bicycle in order to derive a suitable lighting scheme with preset brightness values. [7] Bicycle lighting (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, namely a combined rear / brake light, wherein, in the case of increasing ambient brightness, the control device (4) also causes an increase in the brightness of the brake light during a braking process. [8] Computer program product with program instructions for automatic control of brightness (I LED) of a light source (2) of a battery-operated bicycle light (1), in particular a rear light or a combined rear / brake light, depending on at least one ambient light parameter (I U ), if the computer program is executed in a control unit (4) of the bicycle lighting (1), wherein at least one ambient light parameter (I U ) was obtained using a light sensor (3) for preferably continuously detecting the ambient light, wherein the light sensor (3) is used to detect the ambient brightness (I U ) and the control unit (4) for controlling the brightness (I LED ) of the light source (2) depending on the ambient brightness (I U ) is formed, namely depending on absolute brightness values ​​and on detected and evaluated brightness changes.

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