Smart helmet

• US 20030071766A1
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hartwell, Peter G., Brug, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,798,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/8
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems

Abstract

A smart helmet included integrated electronics providing safety and convenience features. Helmet features includes a global locating system, an environmental interaction sensor, a mobile communications network device, a small display panel, a microphone and at least one speaker. The helmet is aware of the user'"'"'s location and interactions with the environment. The helmet can provide data to a user, monitor the user'"'"'s actions and condition, and send information to others about user'"'"'s location and condition.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a helmet including a module which actively monitors predetermined characteristics of the user and communicates those characteristics with the user and others.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the helmet includes an inner shell adapted to fit onto the head of a user such that the inner shell is made from a shock-absorbent material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the helmet includes an outer shell affixed to the inner shell and the outer shell is made from a sturdy, durable material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module is affixed to a shell of the helmet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module actively monitors the user'"'"'s location and interactions with the surrounding environment.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the module is programmable to automatically call predetermined phone numbers in emergency situations and programmed to provide real-time location information.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the module further comprises at least one environmental interaction sensor, global locating system, a mobile communications network, a display, a microphone and at least one speaker.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the environmental interaction sensor is a accelerometer or gyroscope.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the global locating system is a global positioning system (GPS).

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone device.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display is a LCD dot-matrix display.

12. An apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor which controls the operations of module.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a helmet;

an integrated circuit affixed to the helmet, comprising;

a processor circuit for controlling the operations of the integrated circuit;

at least one environmental sensor;

a display;

a global locating system;

a mobile communications device;

a microphone; and

at least one speaker;

such that the integrated circuit actively monitors predetermined characteristics of a user of the helmet.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the helmet includes an inner shell adapted to fit onto the head of a user such that the inner shell is made from a shock-absorbent material.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the helmet includes an outer shell affixed to the inner shell and the outer shell is made from a sturdy, durable material.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the integrated circuit is affixed to a shell of the helmet.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the environmental interaction sensor is a accelerometer or gyroscope.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the global locating system is a global positioning system (GPS).

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone device.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the display is a LCD dot-matrix display.