Wireless helmet communications system

• US 20060293092A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yard, Ricky A., Harter, Joseph E. Jr., Scharenbroch, Gregory K.
• Application Number:
  US11/159,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20060293092A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a wireless communication system for a motorcycle and motorcycle helmets.

Claims

1. A wireless helmet communication system comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal;

a receiver coupled to a helmet and configured to receive the signal;

a power source configured to supply power to the receiver; and

a speaker positioned in the helmet and coupled to the receiver, the speaker configured to output sound corresponding to the signal.

2. The wireless helmet communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is one of an infrared transmitter, a radio frequency transmitter, a Bluetooth™

transmitter, and an optical transmitter.

3. The wireless helmet communication system of claim 1, further comprising a signal conveyor coupled to the helmet, the signal conveyor being configured to convey the signal to a re-transmitter.

4. The wireless helmet communication system of claim 1, further comprising an audio source and an audio-to-infrared converter configured to convert a first signal from the audio source to an infrared signal.

5. The wireless helmet communication system of claim 4, wherein the audio source is one of an AM/FM/XM radio, a portable handheld digital media device, a CD player, an intercommunication system, and an MP3 player.

6. The wireless helmet communication system of claim 1, further comprising a microphone coupled to the helmet.

7. The wireless helmet communication system of claim 1, further comprising a second helmet including a receiver, a power source, and a speaker positioned in the helmet.

8. A audio system for a motorcycle comprising:

an audio source supported by the motorcycle, the audio source configured to produce a first signal;

a transmitter supported by the motorcycle, the transmitter configured to receive the first signal and transmit a second signal;

a helmet configured to be worn by a motorcycle rider;

a receiver supported by the helmet and configured to receive the second signal and transmit a third signal; and

a least one speaker positioned in the helmet, the speaker configured to receive the third signal and produce sound corresponding to the third signal.

9. The audio system of claim 8, further comprising a power source configured to supply power to the receiver and the at least one speaker.

10. The audio system of claim 8, further comprising a signal conveyor positioned on the helmet, the signal conveyor configured to convey the second signal.

11. The audio system of claim 10, further comprising a second helmet having a second receiver and a second speaker, the second receiver configured to receive second signal and transmit a fourth signal to the second speaker, the speaker configured to receive the fourth signal and produce sound corresponding to the fourth signal.

12. The audio system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is one of an infrared transmitter, a Bluetooth™

transmitter, a radio-frequency transmitter, and an optical transmitter.

13. The audio system of claim 8, wherein the audio source is one of an AM/FM/XM radio, a CD player, a portable handheld digital media device, an intercom system, and an MP3 player.

14. The audio system of claim 8, further comprising a microphone positioned within the first helmet, the microphone configured to receive audio input from the motorcycle rider.

15. The audio system of claim 8, further comprising a converter configured to receive the first signal, convert it an IR signal, and output the IR signal to the transmitter.

16. A wireless method of delivering signals from a motorcycle to a motorcycle helmet, the method including the steps of:

providing an audio source, a transmitter, a receiver, and a speaker, the audio source and the transmitter coupled to the motorcycle, the receiver and the speaker coupled to the motorcycle helmet, the speaker being coupled to the receiver;

converting a first signal from the audio source to a second signal;

transmitting the second signal from the transmitter;

receiving the second signal at the receiver;

converting the second signal to a third signal, the third signal being received by the speaker; and

producing an audio signal from the speaker.

17. The wireless method of claim 16, wherein the transmitter is one of an infrared transmitter, a Bluetooth™

transmitter, a radio-frequency transmitter, and an optical transmitter.

18. The wireless method of claim 16, wherein the audio source is one of an AM/FM/XM radio, a CD player, a portable handheld digital media device, an intercom system, and an MP3 player.

19. The wireless method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the second signal to a second helmet from a re-transmitter supported by the helmet.

20. A motorcycle helmet including a wireless audio system configured to receive a signal from a transmitter positioned on a motorcycle, the motorcycle helmet comprising:

an outer shell;

a receiver coupled to a helmet and configured to receive the signal;

a power source configured to supply power to the receiver; and

a speaker positioned in the helmet and coupled to the receiver, the speaker configured to output sound corresponding to the signal.

21. The motorcycle helmet of claim 20, wherein the transmitter is one of an infrared transmitter, a radio frequency transmitter, a Bluetooth™

transmitter, and an optical transmitter.

22. The motorcycle helmet of claim 20, further comprising a signal conveyor coupled to the helmet, the signal conveyor being configured to covey the signal to a re-transmitter.

23. The motorcycle helmet of claim 20, further comprising an audio source and an audio-to-infrared converter configured to convert a first signal from the audio source to an infrared signal.

24. The motorcycle helmet of claim 23, wherein the audio source is one of an AM/FM/XM radio, a portable handheld digital media device, a CD player, an intercommunication system, and an MP3 player.

25. The motorcycle helmet of claim 20, further comprising a microphone coupled to the helmet.

26. The motorcycle helmet of claim 20, further comprising a second motorcycle helmet including a receiver, a power source, and a speaker positioned in the helmet.