headlights

Abstract

The invention relates to a headlight (1) for bicycles, comprising at least one light source (2) and at least two radiation characteristics, as well as a control (8) for switching the radiation characteristics. The control is provided with a receiver (9) for radio signals and interacts with a switching device (10) provided with a power source (12) and a transmitter (13) for transmitting radio signals. The switching device (10) has a monitoring and triggering unit (15) connected to the power source (12) and the transmitter (13).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a headlight for bicycles with at least one light source and at least two radiation characteristics as well as a control for switching the radiation characteristics, which is provided with a receiver for radio signals and which cooperates with a switching device which is provided with an energy source and a transmitter for transmitting radio signals.

[0002] Headlights of the type discussed here are used on bicycles, e-bikes, pedelecs (pedal electric cycles), or e-scooters (hereinafter collectively referred to as "bicycles"). Legal regulations, such as the German StVZO (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations), require certain illuminance levels at specific angles.

[0003] Headlights are designed to allow other road users to see them in the dark, and also to illuminate the area in front of the bicycle. The headlights can vary between different beam patterns, namely between a low beam and a high beam setting. The low beam illuminates the immediate area in front of the bicycle. The high beam, on the other hand, serves both to further illuminate the road and as a signaling device, for example, to warn other road users. Unlike the high beam, the low beam must be designed in terms of brightness and shape so that it does not dazzle oncoming traffic or other road users.

[0004] The cyclist switches between the beam patterns manually using a switch. On bicycles, this switch is usually a push button. The switch is connected to a headlight control unit. The connection can be established via a cable or wirelessly via a radio link, for example, via Bluetooth.

[0005] With the wireless connection between the switching device and the headlight control, it is necessary to supply the switching device with power to enable the transmission of signals to the headlight control. For this purpose, the switching devices are usually equipped with a power source, usually a button cell due to their very small space requirement.

[0006] The known switching devices meet the requirements placed on them. However, there is a risk that switching from the high beam to the low beam setting will no longer be possible if the switching device is not supplied with power because the energy source is depleted. In this case, the headlight remains in the high beam setting and can no longer be switched to the low beam setting. This could dazzle other road users. The only way to avoid this is to switch off the light altogether, and thus the entire headlight. This puts the cyclist at risk for themselves and others.

[0007] Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of creating a headlight for bicycles that automatically switches from the high beam setting to the low beam setting when the power source's charge level falls below a certain level, thus avoiding a permanent high beam without the possibility of switching to the low beam. According to the invention, this object is achieved with the features of patent claim 1.

[0008] The invention provides a bicycle headlight that automatically switches from the high beam setting to the low beam setting when the battery charge level falls below a certain level. This prevents a permanent high beam without the option to switch to the low beam due to insufficient battery charge. This prevents dazzling other road users.

[0009] Advantageously, the monitoring and tripping unit monitors the charge level of the power source of the transfer switch. This ensures timely detection of a critical charge level of the power source.

[0010] In a further development of the invention, the monitoring and triggering unit includes a time-measuring device. This time-measuring device can be used, for example, to determine the period of time for which the high beam setting was selected. Furthermore, a period can be set that, once the power source reaches a predetermined charge level, must not be exceeded in the high beam setting to ensure reliable switching to the low beam setting.

[0011] Preferably, the switching device is provided with at least one optical display. The optical display can be used to indicate the respective radiation characteristics and, at the same time, to warn the user when the charge level of the energy source reaches a critical level.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the switching device is equipped with an acoustic indicator. The acoustic indicator can also warn the user when the charge level of the energy source reaches a critical level.

[0013] In another embodiment of the invention, the switching device is locked against switching if the charge level of the energy source falls below a preset value. This prevents, in particular, the headlight from being switched to the high beam setting despite the low charge level of the energy source and possibly being unable to switch back to the low beam setting due to the subsequent further reduced charge level, which would result in a permanent risk of dazzling other road users. The invention eliminates this risk.

[0014] Further developments and refinements of the invention are specified in the remaining subclaims. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and described in detail below. They show: Fig. 1 the schematic section-wise side view of a bicycle; Fig.2 the schematic representation of a switching device and a headlight.

[0015] The bicycle headlight 1 chosen as the exemplary embodiment has two light sources 2. In a modification of the exemplary embodiment, more or fewer light sources can be provided. The light sources are LEDs (light-emitting diodes). The headlight is connected to a power source. In e-bikes, pedelecs, and e-scooters, the headlight is usually connected to the battery, which also powers the electric motor. However, the power source can also be a dynamo.

[0016] The headlight 1 has a housing 3 in which a reflector 4 is arranged. A disc 5 is arranged on the housing 3 in the direction of travel and beam of the headlight, tightly sealing the interior of the headlight enclosed by the housing 3 and the disc 5. A fastening device 6 is arranged on the housing 3, with which the headlight 1 is attached to the frame 7 of the bicycle. Alternatively, the headlight can be attached to the handlebars of the bicycle.

[0017] The headlight 1 provides two beam patterns, namely low beam and high beam. In a modification of the exemplary embodiment, more than two beam patterns can also be provided. The light sources 2, in the form of LEDs, emitting the low beam and high beam are arranged in different positions on the reflector 4.

[0018] To switch between the beam characteristics, the headlight 1 has a control 8. The control 8 is equipped with a receiver 9 for radio signals. The control 8 interacts with a switching device 10. The switching device 10 is attached to the handlebar 11 of the bicycle.

[0019] In a modification of the embodiment, it can also be attached to a brake lever of the bicycle.

[0020] The switching device 10 is provided with a power source 12, which in the exemplary embodiment is a so-called button cell. In a modification of the exemplary embodiment, the power source can also be a rechargeable battery. The switching device 10 is also provided with a transmitter 13 for transmitting radio signals. It has a button 14 for its operation.

[0021] The switching device 10 further comprises a monitoring and triggering unit 15 connected to the energy source 12 and the transmitter 13. The monitoring and triggering unit 15 monitors the charge state of the energy source 12 of the switching device 10. The monitoring and triggering unit 15 also comprises a time measuring device.

[0022] In the exemplary embodiment, the switching device 10 is provided with two optical displays 16, 17. In a modification of the exemplary embodiment, more or fewer optical displays can also be provided. The optical displays 16, 17 are each an LED. The first optical display 16 serves to indicate the respective radiation characteristic. It lights up green in low beam mode and blue in high beam mode. Other color designs are of course possible. The second optical display 17 serves to inform the driver about the charge level of the energy source of the switching device. It preferably lights up red. In a modification of the exemplary embodiment, the switching device 10 can be provided with an acoustic indicator which is triggered, for example, when the charge level of the energy source falls below a predetermined value.

[0023] The headlight 1 according to the invention monitors the charge level of the energy source 12 of the switching device 10 with the aid of the monitoring and triggering unit 15. Predefined values relating to the charge level are stored in this unit. If the charge level falls below a first stored value, for example, the second visual indicator 17 is activated, for example by a flashing LED. This signals to the user that the charge level is low and that the energy source 12, in the exemplary embodiment the button cell, must be replaced with a new one. In this state of the energy source, switching between the two beam characteristics, namely low beam on the one hand and high beam on the other, is possible without restriction.

[0024] When the first stored charge level is reached, the timing device is triggered. A time period is stored in it, which begins to run from the moment the first stored charge level is reached. Within this time period, switching between the two emission characteristics is possible without restriction. After the specified time period has elapsed, the function of the second optical display 17 is changed, for example, to a continuous illumination of the LED. At the same time, an acoustic indicator, which is present in a modification of the exemplary embodiment, can be triggered, which additionally alerts the user to the very low charge level of the energy source.

[0025] Alternatively, a lower second value for the charge level can be stored in the monitoring and triggering unit 15. If the charge level reaches this lower second stored value, the function of the second optical indicator 17 is also changed, for example, to the aforementioned permanent illumination of the LED. Here, too, any acoustic indicator can be triggered simultaneously.

[0026] Both after the specified time period has elapsed and when the second stored charge level is reached, a signal is automatically sent from the monitoring and triggering unit 15 to the transmitter 13. This signal causes a radio signal to be sent from the transmitter 13 to the receiver 9 of the control unit 8 to switch the beam characteristics. The control unit 8 is then prompted to check which beam characteristics the headlight is currently operating in, i.e., whether the low beam or high beam setting is selected.

[0027] If the headlight is in the low beam position, no action occurs. However, if the headlight is in the high beam position, it switches automatically to the low beam position, i.e., without any user action. At the same time, the transmitted radio signal prevents switching to the high beam position, both if the headlight was in the low beam position when the radio signal was received and after automatically switching from the high beam position to the low beam position. The headlight is thus locked against switching to the high beam position until the power source has been replaced or recharged.

[0028] The headlight according to the invention ensures that if the switching device fails due to a low charge level of the power source, the headlight is automatically switched to the low beam setting and remains in this position until the power source is replaced or recharged, thus preventing it from switching to the high beam setting. This prevents the headlight from remaining permanently in the high beam setting due to the failure of the switching device, thus dazzling other road users.

[0029] The second visual indicator also ensures that the user is alerted to the low capacity of the power source before the switching device completely fails due to insufficient charge, giving them the opportunity to replace or recharge it in time. At the same time, the second visual indicator notifies the user when high beam is no longer available because this function is disabled due to the low charge level.

Claims

[1] Headlight (1) for bicycles with at least one light source (2) and at least two radiation characteristics and a control (8) for switching the radiation characteristics, which is provided with a receiver (9) for radio signals and which interacts with a switching device (10) which is provided with an energy source (12) and a transmitter (13) for transmitting radio signals, characterized by that the switching device (10) has a monitoring and triggering unit (15) which is connected to the energy source (12) and the transmitter (13). [2] Headlight according to claim 1, characterized by that the monitoring and triggering unit (15) monitors the charge state of the energy source (12) of the switching device (10). [3] Headlight according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the monitoring and triggering unit (15) has a time measuring device. [4] Headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the switching device (15) is provided with at least one optical display (16, 17). [5] Headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the switching device (15) is provided with at least one acoustic indicator. [6] Headlight according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the switching device (15) is blocked against switching if the charge level of the energy source (12) falls below a preset value.

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