Cycling jacket that detects motion

[GuitarRiderGrrl]

I think you're onto something.

Would there be a way to make the brake lights work like they do on cars? Moderate red for accelerating/coasting, BRIGHT red for braking? Seems like drivers are already programmed to understand that.

Hey hi,

I've been hot and heavy on this all weekend. we have some world class crummy weather right now in the North West :-( blech

I have to tell you, I think this could really be big.... both in saving lives, and financially. I have gone through several different iterations on paper, with varying complexity, from extreme simplicity, to a full scrolling display.... -

Looking at this as a block diagram, we have:
a) A power source
b) Sensors - these could be:
1) Motion - generally an accelerometer
2) Magnetic - This could potentially be some sort of arrangement of an encapsulated magnetic switch, like that used for burglar alarm window sensors. This would require a mechanical arrangement to the brakes, probably to the rear, where engaging the brakes would close the switch, by bringing the magnet and the switch together
3) TBD, I'm open to ideas.
c) Display
This is where it really opens up. Lets start with the simple:
1) The most simple: This would use an existing blinkie - The bike would have two blinkies - the normal one and the STOP one. They would be set to disparate blink modes - So that the drivers brain would sense the difference.
2) Second Most Simple: Make an LED matrix with the word STOP that would flash
3) More Complex: Scrolling LED matrix - Again the problem here is the size, and the LED intensity - This would be made with high intensity red LED's
4) Most Complex: This now requires either a three axis accelerometer, or else three discrete single axis - numerous issues to resolve on this, but the display would present either a STOP message in red, or signal a left or right turn arrow - Problems include: Ensuring that a turn is being made only when a turn is being made - If this was done by a change of axis on the accelerometer - there would be no warning to the driver, until you initiate the turn. So..... this gets a little sticky. Again, size becomes an issue.

I like engineering with the KISS principle... so lets go back and look at option 1 - using an existing blinkie...... this requires no more than another blinkie, and detection to switch it on when you decelerate/stop.
The electronically simplest sensor, is simply a magnetic switch, activated by the brakes. This requires some means of mounting the magnet piece and the switch piece to the brake activation, probably at the rear brake. Although electrically the simplest, this is the most complex, mechanically - trust me, you do not want to see me with a screwdriver!

The simplest mechanical, but more complex electronically involves the use of an accelerometer - which is just a transducer, that changes physical motion into an electrical signal - The very simplest would be a mercury capsule switch - which used to be a dime a dozen, but are now rare as they contain mercury. It has problems anyway, due to having to set it so that it triggers only on a stop, and not on inclination.

So lets look at a low cost accelerometer - Radio Shack has one for 32 bucks that I may play with - that means in quantity, probably 5 bucks a piece - but not sure of that yet. Its just a starting point. The accelerometer would preferably be housed inside the blinkie case - but more than likely it would go under the saddle, with a connector on the blinkiie.

Again, this requires a separate blinkie to signal STOP. But I don't think that is a huge issue.
Another possibility, would be a single blinkie, but stopping changed its blink mode...........

I think for the first round, KISS is best.
Dimming the LED's fro cruising is definitely possible, but changing the blink mode may be more effective, primarily because we are working with far less surface area for the display, with a bike lighting system ~ If the driver saw it go from one blinkie pattern to another, I think that would catch their eye, and let them know that something is going on. ~ Again, they aren't as programmed to a change of pattern, but I think they would perhaps put 2 and 2 together.

So, in summary, for the first attempt, phase I, a separate blinkie, that switches on when stopping or decelerating. Phase II - would be an integrated blinkie, that changes mode, when stopping........ Phase III - would be looking at some of the other more advanced display options.

Again, I suspect that as more and more people ditch 4 wheels for 2, something like this is going to become mandatory on a bike. This really excites me....... and I think it could be exceptionally lucrative, but more importanly, as I said, I think it could save lives.

I've been away from Lucent Technologies for so long now, that they can't grab a patent from me And if there are other gals in the group who would be interested in taking this further, either with engineering, business or legal expertise, I'm willing to develop a consortium. (No boys allowed LOL )

How do we get this out to the group, without totally spilling he beans and having some big shots steal the idea's??

It's snowing again!!!!!!! Can this possibly be late April???????


Cyn