Helmut with monocular optical display

• US 10,182,606 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amit Tal
• Original Assignee: Amit Tal
• Inventors: Tal, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Robert M
• Application Number:
  US15/015,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20160227866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/222 in an articulated manner, e.g. hinge devices
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/225 Helmet sighting systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0143 the two eyes not being equipped with identical nor symmetrical optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0176 characterised by mechanical features
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

A helmet includes a protective shell, a monocular eyepiece and a mounting element. The monocular eyepiece displays an image signal to a wearer of the helmet. The eyepiece includes an electronic input configured to input the image signal and at least one mechanical connector. The mounting element is mechanically connected to the protective shell and to the monocular eyepiece, and is shaped to allow the monocular eyepiece to slide along the mounting element and to be secured in front of a wearer'"'"'s right eye or left eye.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising:

a protective shell comprising an interior pocket under a front of said shell;

a monocular eyepiece configured to display an image signal to a wearer of said helmet, said eyepiece comprising;

i) an electronic input configured to input said image signal; and

ii) a first mechanical connector at a top portion of said monocular eyepiece and a second mechanical connector at a bottom portion of said monocular eyepiece;

and

a mounting element, mechanically connected to said protective shell and to said monocular eyepiece, comprising a frame having respective openings in front of said wearer'"'"'s right eye and left eye, said frame comprising;

an upper support element shaped to allow said first mechanical connector to slide along said upper support element;

a lower support element shaped to allow said second mechanical connector to slide along said lower support element;

a right vertical support element connected to said upper and lower support elements on a right side of said mounting element; and

a left vertical support element connected to said upper and lower support elements on a left side of said mounting element,

said monocular eyepiece being positioned between said upper and lower support elements to be secured in front of said wearer'"'"'s right eye or left eye such that said wearer'"'"'s direction of view is between said upper support element and said lower support element through a respective one of said openings,

wherein said mounting element is pivotably-connected to at least one side of an interior of said protective shell, such that in a retracted position said mounting element and eyepiece are contained within said pocket and in an open position said eyepiece is positioned at eye level of said wearer, and wherein said mounting element comprises at least one sensor to the right of said openings, at least one sensor to the left of said openings and at least one sensor between said openings.

2. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said monocular eyepiece is a heads-up display.

3. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said monocular eyepiece is an augmented reality eyeglass.

4. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said monocular eyepiece is detachable and re-attachable to said mounting element, and said mounting element comprises a plurality of locations for attachment of said eyepiece to said mounting element.

5. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said shell comprises a hardened exterior and an inner lining, and said interior pocket is formed by a gap between said hardened exterior and said inner lining.

6. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said image signal comprises an image of an external scene.

7. A helmet according to claim 6, wherein said image signal further comprises data for display to said wearer of said helmet, and said data overlays said image of an external scene.

8. A helmet according to claim 1, further comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate with a device located in a mobile vehicle.

9. A helmet according to claim 8, wherein said communication with said device is wired communication via a cable connecting said helmet to said device.

10. A helmet according to claim 8, wherein said communication with said device is wireless.

11. A helmet according to claim 8, further comprising weapon control circuitry configured to control weaponry located on said vehicle.

12. A helmet according to claim 11, wherein said image signal displays crosshairs and said weapon control circuitry is configured to aim said weaponry towards a physical location viewed at said crosshairs.

13. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said image signal overlays a transparent portion of said eyepiece.

14. A helmet according to claim 1, further comprising a visor pivotably-connected to said shell, wherein said visor is exterior to said mounting element and eyepiece, such that in a raised position said visor is positioned above said shell and in a lowered position said visor shields said mounting element and eyepiece.

15. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said protective shell further comprises a camera mounting for mounting a camera on said protective shell.

16. A helmet according to claim 1, further comprising a data connector configured to connect to a data cable.

17. A helmet according to claim 1, further comprising a video connector configured to input data from a camera.

18. A helmet according to claim 1, further comprising a data processor configured to generate said image signal from data input from at least one of:

i) an external device;

ii) a camera;

iii) GPS (global positioning system);

iv) a gyroscope; and

v) a sensor.

19. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said mounting element comprises a slot and said mechanical connector is inserted into said slot to slide said monocular eyepiece along said slot in both directions.

20. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said mounting element comprises at least one sensor adapted to track movement of said wearer'"'"'s right eye and at least one sensor adapted to track movement of said wearer'"'"'s left eye.

21. A helmet according to claim 20, further comprising a data processor adapted to determine said wearer'"'"'s direction of view by analyzing data collected by said at least two sensors and to display an indicator of said wearer'"'"'s direction of view on said monocular eyepiece.

22. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein each of said openings encloses a transparent material.