ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FOR A MOTORIZED TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE

Abstract

An anti-theft security method is described for a two-wheel motorized vehicle (6), e.g. an electric bicycle, wherein the vehicle comprises an electric motor (M) to assist or carry out the propulsion of the vehicle. An accessory (10) detachable from the vehicle comprises an electronic circuit (40) for receiving a signal in wireless manner. An electronic processor (U1, U2) configured to control the motor when the accessory (10) is mounted on the vehicle (6).

The security action consists in that the accessory (10) emits a signal (S1) to unconditionally unlock the operation of the electronic processor (U2) or of the motor (M) only if, through the electronic circuit (40), it recognizes a wireless signal coming from an external portable electronic device (70).

Claims

1. Anti-theft security method for a two-wheel motorized vehicle (6), e.g. an electric bicycle, wherein the vehicle comprises: an electric motor (M) to assist or carry out the propulsion of the vehicle; an accessory (10) detachable from the vehicle comprising an electronic circuit (40) for receiving a signal in wireless manner, and an electronic processor (U1, U2) configured to control the motor when the accessory (10) is mounted on the vehicle (6); wherein the accessory (10) emits a signal (S1) to unconditionally unlock the operation of the electronic processor (U2) or of the motor (M) only if, through the electronic circuit (40), it recognizes a wireless signal coming from an external portable electronic device (70).

2. Anti-theft security system comprising a two-wheeled motorized vehicle (6), e.g. an electric bicycle, which comprises an electric motor (M) to assist or carry out the propulsion of the vehicle, an accessory (10) comprising an electronic circuit (40) for receiving data in wireless manner, a microprocessor (U2) configured to control the motor (M); an external portable electronic device (70); wherein the accessory (10) is configured to emit a signal (S1) to unconditionally unlock the operation of the motor (M) or of the microprocessor (U2) only if, through the electronic circuit (40), it recognizes a wireless signal (S2) coming from the external portable electronic device (70).

3. Accessory (10) for a two-wheel motorized vehicle (6), e.g. an electric bicycle, the vehicle comprising an electric motor (M) to assist or carry out the propulsion of the vehicle, the accessory comprising an electronic circuit (40) for receiving a signal (S2) in wireless manner, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to emit a signal (S1) to unconditionally unlock the motor's operation only if through the electronic circuit (40) it recognizes a wireless signal (S2) coming from the external portable electronic device (70).

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to send said signal (S1) only when it is mounted on the vehicle (6).

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to unconditionally unlock the operation of the motor (M) by sending a signal to a microprocessor (U1) configured to control the motor (M), the microprocessor being on board the accessory or the vehicle.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to unconditionally unlock the operation of the motor (M) only if through the electronic circuit (40) it recognizes a specific signal (S2) from an external portable electronic device (70).

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to unconditionally unlock the operation of the motor (M) only if through the electronic circuit (40) it recognizes a signal (S2) from a specific external portable electronic device (70).

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to request the user to enter a code to unlock the motor's operation if the accessory does not recognize said signal (S2), and if the entered code is correct, the accessory is configured to unlock the motor (M).

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the accessory (10) comprises a display (20) for displaying data or information.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the external portable electronic device (70) is a mobile phone, a smartphone or a tablet.

11. System (10) according to claim 2, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to send said signal (S1) only when it is mounted on the vehicle (6).

12. System according to claim 2, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to unconditionally unlock the operation of the motor (M) by sending a signal to a microprocessor (U1) configured to control the motor (M), the microprocessor being on board the accessory or the vehicle.

13. System according to claim 2, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to unconditionally unlock the operation of the motor (M) only if through the electronic circuit (40) it recognizes a specific signal (S2) from an external portable electronic device (70).

14. System according to claim 2, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to unconditionally unlock the operation of the motor (M) only if through the electronic circuit (40) it recognizes a signal (S2) from a specific external portable electronic device (70).

15. System (10) according to claim 2, wherein the accessory (10) is configured to request the user to enter a code to unlock the motor's operation if the accessory does not recognize said signal (S2), and if the entered code is correct, the accessory is configured to unlock the motor (M).

16. System according to claim 2, wherein the accessory (10) comprises a display (20) for displaying data or information.

17. System according to claim 2, wherein the external portable electronic device (70) is a mobile phone, a smartphone or a tablet.

Description

[0048] Further advantages will be clear from the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment of a system in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of the accessory mounted on a bicycle handlebar;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a system formed by the accessory and the bicycle.

[0051] The accessory 10 can be attached to the handlebar 8 of a bicycle 6 via a reception element 90.

[0052] The bicycle 6 (see diagram in FIG. 2) is equipped with an electric motor M, to assist pedaling, and a signal receiver 98, both managed by an electronic circuit U1 (e.g. microprocessor-based).

[0053] The reception element 90 is formed e.g. by a ring or clamp 92 that can be tightened around the handlebar 8. The reception element 90 can be also conformed in other ways, e.g. with adhesives, magnets or single screws. A part of the ring or clamp 92 forms an almost flat surface, complementary to the lower surface of the accessory 10. The lower surface and the almost flat surface can be overlapped and serve as positional reference for the joining between the reception element 90 and the accessory 10. These two pieces are joined when the accessory 10 works on and for the bicycle 6, or they may remain separated when the accessory 10 is working independently, away from the bicycle 6.

[0054] At the center of the accessory 10 there is a display 20 to display data. The display 20 is driven by an electronic circuit U2, e.g. with a microprocessor, and preferably is a touch screen.

[0055] The accessory 10 also comprises [0056] a receiver 40 of radio signal S2 emitted by a remote device 70; and [0057] a signal transmitter 42 capable of sending a signal S1 to the receiver 98.

[0058] To facilitate the detachment between the accessory 10 and the bicycle 6, the transmitter 42 and the transmitter 98 are wireless transceivers through propagation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. Bluetooth®, and the signal S1 is wireless, but not necessarily. The signal S1 can also travel on a waveguide, like a cable, and the transmitter 42 and the transmitter 98 are in this case electronic circuits to manage analog or digital electrical signals. To such aim, there will be electrical connectors between the accessory 10 and the element 90 to connect the terminals.

[0059] The electronic circuit U2 is connected to the display 20, to the receiver 40 and to the transmitter 42, to control them.

[0060] The anti-theft defense system for the bicycle 6 works as follows.

[0061] When the accessory 10 is attached to the element 90, it works in known way to display data relating to the bicycle 6 and/or the route (e.g. speed and/or travel time).

[0062] Moreover, the electronic circuit U2 is able to detect, via the receiver 40, a signal S2 coming from the remote device 70, such as e.g. a smartphone, in particular from a Bluetooth® transmitter on the smartphone 70.

[0063] There are then two operation modes.

[0064] Mode 1

[0065] If, and only if, the electronic circuit U2 detects the signal S2, it gives the consent for normal operation of the motor M, which otherwise remains blocked or disabled.

[0066] The consent or blocking can take place in different ways, depending on the circuit that effectively controls the motor M.

[0067] If it is the electronic circuit U2 that controls the operation of the motor M, the block consists in the absence of a signal S1 that starts and/or regulates the motor M. The signal S1 is sent via the transmitter 42 directly to the motor M o is a driving signal sent to circuit U1.

[0068] If it is the electronic circuit U1 that controls the operation of the motor M, the block or consent consists of a signal S1 which is sent by the circuit U2 to the circuit U1 to, respectively, inhibit or activate the start and/or the regulation of the motor M by the circuit U1.

[0069] Mode 2

[0070] The electronic circuit U2 does not detect the signal S2, and the operation of the motor M remains blocked or disabled. This can happen e.g. in case of loss of the smartphone 70 or if its battery is dead.

[0071] In this mode, the electronic circuit U2 is configured to request to the user a security code to unlock the motor M.

[0072] The security code can be entered e.g. via the touch-screen 20, or through a keypad (not shown) connected to the circuit U2.

[0073] If the electronic circuit U2 verifies that the entered security code has coincides with an internally stored code, it unlocks the motor M.

[0074] The use of a smartphone 70 to provide the unlocking signal S2 is very convenient and advantageous, given the widespread use of this device. In practice everyone has at least one.

[0075] Each smartphone 70 is equipped with a Bluetooth® transceiver, so the communication with the accessory 10 can exploit existing hardware. The Bluetooth® channel simplifies with the pairing also the unique recognition between the smartphone 70 and the accessory 10.

[0076] In the smartphone 70 there is preferably installed an app that manages the generation of the signal S2 and the initial pairing with the accessory 10.

[0077] The app can also allow enabling multiple smartphones 70 to send the unblocking signal S2 to the accessory 10.

[0078] Instead of the smartphone 70, a tablet, a smart-watch, or any remote transmitter can be used.

[0079] It should be noted that a variant is also possible in which the device 10 can only transmit the signal S1 and the means in the bicycle 6 can only receive it.

[0080] Preferably when the accessory 10 is detached from the reception element 90 it turns off or goes into low-power mode, to increase the life of its batteries.