Helmets With Automated Systems and Methods of Using the Same

Abstract

Helmet-mounted systems (100) that may include lighting systems (102) and solar-powered battery systems (112), automated controls (116), and/or integrated sensors (104) that result in an automated and fully integrated systems that do not require user-initiated recharging of batteries or require a user to manually turn the components of the system on and off.

1 . A helmet, comprising:
 an energy absorbing layer having an inner surface;   at least one electrical component coupled to the helmet;   at least one capacitive proximity sensor electrode disposed proximate the inner surface of the energy absorbing layer; and   a controller electrically connected to the at least one electrical component and the at least one electrode, the controller configured to generate an electric field at the electrode and receive a proximity sensor signal that detects when the helmet is being worn by detecting a change in the electric field caused by the presence of a user's head inside of the helmet, wherein the controller is configured to activate and deactivate the at least one electrical component according to the proximity sensor signal.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing layer includes an injection molded foam material, wherein the at least one electrode is embedded in the foam material. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode is disposed on the inner surface of the energy absorbing layer and encased between the inner surface and a sheet of insulating material. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode is a conductive plate or a conductive cable. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 4 , wherein the conductive plate is a metal foil. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 5 , wherein the metal foil has a thickness in the range of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 2 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the energy absorbing layer includes at least one recess, wherein the at least one electrode is located in the at least one recess. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one electrode has a width that is substantially the same as a width of the at least one recess. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 8 , wherein the energy absorbing layer includes a plurality of elongate ridges and wherein the at least one recess includes a plurality of elongate recesses located between corresponding ones of the elongate ridges. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one comfort pad located on one of the elongate ridges. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing layer includes a plurality of elongate ridges, wherein the at least one electrode is located along one of the elongate ridges. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one electrode is a cable that is positioned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongate ridge and includes a sensing portion that emits the electrical field, wherein the sensing portion extends across at least 25% of a length of the elongate ridge. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 12 , wherein the sensing portion extends across at least 50% or at least 75% or at least 90% of the length of the elongate ridge. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet includes a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, a lateral midplane extending between the left side and the right side and located at a midpoint between the front and rear ends, a longitudinal midplane extending between the front end and rear end and located at a midpoint between the left side and the right side, and a parietal portion extending rearward of the lateral midplane that is designed to cover and be adjacent to a parietal portion of a user's head. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one electrode is located adjacent the lateral midplane and/or is located in the parietal portion. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one electrode includes first and second electrodes located on opposite sides of the longitudinal midplane. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing layer includes an outer surface and a recess located in the outer surface, wherein the controller is at least partially disposed in the recess, further comprising at least one wire extending through the energy absorbing layer from the controller to the at least one electrode to electrically connect the controller to the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 17 , wherein the controller and the at least one electrode are located in the parietal portion of the helmet. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor, wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one electrical component when the proximity sensor signal and the motion sensor indicate the helmet is being worn and deactivate the at least one electrical component when the proximity sensor signal has indicated the helmet is being worn for a time period that is greater than a threshold time period or when the motion sensor indicates the helmet is not being worn. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical component includes a lighting system that includes a lighting module disposed on an outer surface of the helmet that includes at least one light emitting element, wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one light emitting element when the proximity sensor signal indicates the helmet is being worn. 
     
     
         21 . The helmet of  claim 20 , wherein the lighting system includes an ambient light sensor, wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one light emitting element when the proximity sensor signal indicates the helmet is being worn and the ambient light sensor indicates ambient light is below a threshold value. 
     
     
         22 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the ambient light sensor is located in the lighting module. 
     
     
         23 . The helmet of  claim 22 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one light emitting element in an intermittent flashing mode and compare a signal of the ambient light sensor to the threshold value during time periods of the intermittent flashing mode when the at least one light emitting element is off to determine whether to activate the at least one light emitting element. 
     
     
         24 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery for powering the controller and at least one electrical component, and at least one solar cell electrically connected to the battery for charging the battery, the at least one solar cell embedded in the helmet and located adjacent an outer surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         25 . The helmet of  claim 24 , wherein the helmet includes an outer shell that includes at least one opening, the at least one solar cell located in the at least one opening. 
     
     
         26 . The helmet of  claim 24 , wherein the helmet includes an outer shell that includes a plurality of elongate portions extending in a longitudinal direction that define a plurality of elongate openings therebetween, the helmet further including a plurality of vents defined by portions of the elongate openings and openings in the energy absorbing layer, wherein the at least one solar cell is located in at least one of the elongate openings of the outer shell. 
     
     
         27 . The helmet of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one solar cell extends across at least two of the elongate openings with a portion of the outer shell covering a portion of the solar cell. 
     
     
         28 . The helmet of  claim 24 , wherein the helmet does not include an external charging port for recharging the battery and the at least one solar cell is the only energy source for recharging the battery. 
     
     
         29 . The helmet of  claim 28 , wherein the helmet is fully automated and does not include any user control elements for activating or controlling the at least one electrical component. 
     
     
         30 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is a mutual-capacitive sensor or a self-capacitive sensor. 
     
     
         31 . A method of controlling a helmet lighting system of a helmet with a controller embedded in the helmet according to instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the instructions including:
 providing an electrical current to an electrode of a capacitive proximity sensor to generate an electric field at the electrode, the electrode located proximate an inner surface of the helmet;   receiving a proximity sensor signal that detects when the helmet is being worn by detecting a change in the electric field caused by the presence of a user's head inside of the helmet;   turning a light source of the lighting system on in response to the proximity sensor signal indicating the presence of a user's head in the helmet.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of turning the light source on includes turning the light source on in response to the proximity sensor signal indicating the presence of a user's head in the helmet and an ambient light sensor signal of an ambient light sensor coupled to the helmet is below a threshold value. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 turning the light source off in response to the proximity sensor signal indicating the presence of a user's head in the helmet and the ambient light sensor signal being above the threshold value;   continuously monitoring the ambient light sensor signal while the proximity sensor signal indicates the presence of a user's head in the helmet; and   turning the light source on in response to the ambient light sensor signal falling below the threshold value while the helmet is being worn.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of turning the light source on includes turning the light source on in a flashing light mode, the method further comprising:
 turning the light source off when the ambient light sensor signal during off portions of the flashing light mode indicate the ambient light is above the threshold value; and   keeping the light source on when the ambient light sensor signal during the off portions is below the threshold value.