HELMET CONFIGURED FOR ELECTRONICS

• US 20140000013A1
• Filed: 06/28/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Galvion Ltd. (Galvion Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Revision Military Incorporated (Revision Military)
• Inventors: Redpath, David, Gendron, Marie-Pierre, Lebel, Stphane
• Granted Patent: US 9,101,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: A42C 2/00 Manufacturing helmets by processes not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/40 Forming printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Integrated helmet systems provide convenient and modular use of electronic devices with a protective helmet. In addition to ease of use, weight savings and space savings also may be realized in certain embodiments. A flexible printed circuit board is used as a power bus to deliver electrical power from a battery pack to various electronic devices. Examples of devices used with protective helmets include: night vision goggles; helmet-mounted display units; ear phones; communication headsets; camera systems; biometric sensors; microprocessors; identify friend or foe devices (IFFs); and GPS devices.

Claims

1. A protective helmet comprising:

a protective assembly to protect a wearer'"'"'s head;

a first connector to physically connect an electrical power source to the helmet;

a first contact to receive electrical power from the power source;

a flexible printed circuit board forming a power bus, the first contact being electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board to provide electrical power to the flexible printed circuit board when the electrical power source is connected to the first contact;

one or more component contacts electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board, each of the component contacts being configured to deliver electrical power to an electronic component when the electronic component is connected to the component contact.

2. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the flexible printed circuit board extends along a rim portion of the helmet.

3. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the flexible printed circuit board is shaped to substantially match the contour of one or more components of the helmet.

4. The protective helmet according to claim 3, wherein the protective assembly comprises a protective shell, and the flexible printed circuit board is located between a rim of the protective shell and an edge trim piece that covers the rim of the protective shell.

5. The protective helmet according to claim 4, wherein the flexible printed circuit board extends from a rear section of the helmet to a front portion of the helmet.

6. The protective helmet according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the component contacts is positioned on a downwardly facing portion of a helmet rim portion.

7. The protective helmet according to claim 6, wherein the at least one component contact is configured to contact a helmet-mounted display unit when the helmet-mounted display unit is attached to the helmet.

8. The protective helmet according to claim 1, further comprising:

a removably attachable helmet-mounted display unit;

and a second connector to physically connect the helmet-mounted display unit to the helmet.

9. The protective helmet according to claim 8, wherein:

at least one of the one or more component contacts comprises a helmet-mounted display unit contact; and

the second connector and the helmet-mounted display unit contact are constructed and arranged such that physically connecting the helmet-mounted display unit to the helmet with the second connector places the helmet-mounted display in electrical connection with the helmet-mounted display unit contact.

10. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the flexible printed circuit board includes circuitry to carry HDMI signals.

11. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the flexible printed circuit board comprises a power and data bus.

12. The protective helmet according to claim 11, further comprising a data cable that is electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board.

13. A method of manufacturing a protective helmet comprising acts of:

(a) providing protective helmet assembly components and a flexible printed circuit board;

(b) forming the flexible printed circuit board into a shape to match a contour of one or more of the protective helmet assembly components; and

(c) positioning the flexible printed circuit board on the one or more protective helmet components.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein act (c) comprises positioning the flexible printed circuit board along a downwardly facing rim surface of a protective shell;

and

further comprising;

(d) attaching an edge trim piece to the helmet such that the edge trim piece overlies the flexible printed circuit board.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein act (b) comprises forming the flexible printed circuit board into the matching shape by pressing the printed circuit board against the one or more helmet assembly components.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein act (b) comprises forming the flexible printed circuit board into the matching shape by pressing the printed circuit board against a mold.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising, prior to act (b), heating the flexible printed circuit board to a temperature at which the flexible printed circuit board is pliable.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising electrically connecting the flexible printed circuit board to battery contacts.

19. The method according to claim 13, further comprising electrically connecting the flexible printed circuit board to data transfer contacts.

20. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

(e) installing one or more component contacts and electrically connecting the contacts to the flexible printed circuit board, each of the component contacts being configured to deliver electrical power and/or data to an electronic component.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the component contacts is configured to be attached to a helmet-mounted display unit.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein(e) comprises installing the one or more component contacts such that the one or more component contacts is accessible for attachment of an electronic component at a downwardly-facing surface of a rim of the helmet.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein (e) comprises installing the one or more component contacts such that the one or more contacts are accessible for attachment of an electronic component at a surface of the helmet.

24. A protective helmet comprising:

a protective assembly to protect a wearer'"'"'s head;

a first connector to physically connect an electrical power source to the helmet;

a first contact to receive electrical power from the power source;

a power bus, the first contact being electrically connected to the power bus to provide electrical power to the power bus when the electrical power source is connected to the first contact;

a first component contact electrically connected to the power bus at a first location on the helmet, the first component contact being configured to deliver electrical power to a first electronic component when the first electronic component is connected to the first component contact; and

a second component contact electrically connected to the power bus at a second location on the helmet which is spaced from the first location, the second component contact being configured to deliver electrical power to a second electronic component when the second electronic component is connected to the second component contact.

25. The protective helmet according to claim 24, wherein the power bus comprises a flexible printed circuit board.

26. The protective helmet according to claim 24, wherein the power bus comprises a cable.

27. The protective helmet according to claim 24, wherein the power bus extends along a rim portion of the helmet.

28. The protective helmet according to claim 24, wherein the second component contact is configured to deliver power to the first electronic component when the first electronic component is attached to the second component contact.

29. The protective helmet according to claim 24, further comprising the electrical power source, and wherein the electrical power source is the only electrical power source that provides power to the power bus.

30. The protective helmet according to claim 24, further comprising a third component contact electrically connected to the power bus at a third location on the helmet which is spaced from the first and second locations, the third component contact being configured to deliver electrical power to a third electronic component when the third electronic component is connected to the third component contact.

31. A protective helmet comprising:

a protective assembly to protect a wearer'"'"'s head;

a first contact to send and/or receive data with a device external to the protective assembly;

a flexible printed circuit board forming a data bus, the first contact being conductively connected to the flexible printed circuit board to provide data to and/or receive data from the flexible printed circuit board when the external device is operatively connected to the first contact;

one or more component contacts conductively connected to the flexible printed circuit board, each of the component contacts being configured to send data to and/or receive data from an electronic component when the electronic component is connected to the component contact.

32. The protective helmet according to claim 31, wherein the flexible printed circuit board extends along a rim portion of the helmet.

33. The protective helmet according to claim 32, wherein the flexible printed circuit board is shaped to substantially match the contour of the rim portion of the helmet.