The picture above shows the fourth bike light system’s illumination ring detached from a bicycle wheel. Prototype 4 (v4) was a significant improvement from v3 for various reasons. By using a rolled aluminum sheet metal ring support structure for the lights the overall size of the ring could be significantly reduced, thus making the system more inconspicuous, as well as attractive while in the functionally ‘off’ state. Further improvements include the incorporation of a thin flex circuit cable to connect all of the lights also allowing for a thin profile.

Above is a picture of of v4’s (lights not pictured) illumination ring attached to a bicycle’s front wheel.  Making the illumination ring slim allows for two functions; the first enables the ring to fit between the wheel and fork, as noted in the photo above.  Yet because the ring is slim, it is also able to be mounted offset from the plane of the wheel, as seen in the photo below, allowing for both increased visibility and light projection.  Important to note: in the photo below one side has a light ring installed, the other side of the tire does not.

The picture below is of the fourth bike light system’s illumination ring in operation while mounted to a bicycle wheel.  The picture was taken with a short camera exposure time, allowing the separately functioning lights to been seen.

The light’s code is programmed to always have 4 lights on, as seen in the picture above. The camera exposure time is fast; fast enough to show the actual operation of the four distinct lights. However human persistence of vision transforms the lights into one solid strip, more akin to the picture below; a single arc of light. Further, a magnet mounted to the fork of the bicycle provides the signal used by the control electronics to time the wheel’s rotation.

Directly above this post, check out the video of prototype 4 in action.

Below, simple diagram showing how the light rings are installed onto a wheel