Circuit on a curved, or otherwise irregularly shaped, surface, such as on a helmet to be worn on the head, including a conductive path integral with the surface

• US 6,325,521 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1996
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edwin Wells Jr, Kent Gregg
• Original Assignee: Edwin Wells Jr, Kent Gregg
• Inventors: Gregg, Kent, Wells, Edwin Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/651,964
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/72, 362/105, 362/106, 362/806, 362/800, 362/154, 242/2, 340/432, 340/464, 340/475, 340/479
• US Class Current: 362/106
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0433 Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A circuit on a curved surface is provided where the circuit includes at least one circuit element on the curved surface, at least one conductive path on, and integral with, the curved surface, where the conductive path is connected to the circuit element, and circuitry for supplying power along the conductive path to the circuit element. The curved surface may be a helmet, in which case a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements may be provided thereon where the pairs emit light sequentially one pair at a time in order to maximize the brightness of the light emitted and maximize battery life. Also, a receiver for an infrared or ultrasonic signal may be provided such that the light emitting elements emit light in a certain manner as a result of the signal being received. Also provided is a method of forming at least one conductive path on a curved surface, such as on a helmet, where the method comprises aiming a beam of light to the curved surface, providing relative movement between the beam of light and the curved surface causing the beam of light to form a path on the curved surface, and laying conductive material on the path. The beam of light may be aimed at a mirror which bends the beam of the light to the curved surface, and the mirror may be moved by a stepper motor controlled by a computer. In addition, the curved surface may be moved by a stepper motor controlled by the computer.

Claims

1. A light system on a helmet, said helmet having an exterior surface, said light system comprising:

(a) at least one light emitting element on said exterior surface of said helmet;

(b) at least one conductive path permanently formed within and non-affixed on said exterior surface of said helmet, said path connected to said light emitting element;

(c) a protective overcoat over said conductive path; and

(d) means for supplying power along said conductive path to said light emitting element.

2. The light system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements, and wherein said means for supplying power to said light emitting element is capable of causing said pairs of light emitting elements to emit light sequentially one pair at a time.

3. The light system according to claim 1, wherein said means for supplying power comprises:

(a) at least one driver chip on said exterior surface of said helmet, said driver chip connected to said conductive path; and

(b) at least one microprocessing chip on said exterior surface of said helmet, said microprocessing chip connected to said driver chip.

4. The light system according to claim 3, further comprising:

(a) a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements on said exterior surface of said helmet;

(b) a first set of conductive paths permanently formed within and non-affixed on said exterior surface of said helmet, said first set of conductive paths connecting said driver chip to a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements in series; and

(c) a second set of conductive paths permanently formed within and non-affixed on said exterior surface of said helmet, said second set of conductive paths connecting said microprocessing chip to said driver chip.

5. The light system according to claim 3, wherein said microprocessing chip is programmed to permit selection between multiple programming sequences.

6. The light system according to claim 1, further comprising means for receiving a signal, and wherein said means for supplying power supplies power along said conductive path to said light emitting element as a result of receiving said signal.

7. The light system according to claim 6, wherein said means for receiving a signal comprises means for receiving an ultrasonic signal.

8. The light system according to claim 6, wherein said means for receiving a signal comprises means for receiving an infrared signal.

9. The light system according to claim 6, wherein said means for receiving a signal comprises means for receiving a radio frequency signal.

10. The light system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light emitting elements positioned substantially around 360 degrees of the helmet.

11. A light system on a helmet, said helmet having an exterior surface, said circuit comprising:

(a) at least one light emitting element on said exterior surface of said helmet;

(b) at least one conductive path permanently formed within and non-affixed on said exterior surface of said helmet, said conductive path connected to said light emitting element; and

(c) means for supplying power along said conductive path to said light emitting element, wherein said means for supplying power comprises;

(i) at least one driver chip on said exterior surface of said helmet, said driver chip connected to said conductive path; and

(ii) at least one microprocessing chip on said exterior surface of said helmet, said microprocessing chip connected to said driver chip.

12. The light system according to claim 11, further comprising a protective overcoat over said conductive path.

13. The light system according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements, and wherein said means for supplying power to said light emitting element is capable of causing said pairs of light emitting elements to emit light sequentially one pair at a time.

14. The light system according to claim 11, further comprising:

(a) a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements on said exterior surface of said helmet;

(b) a first set of conductive paths permanently formed within and non-affixed on said exterior surface of said helmet, said first set of conductive paths connecting said driver chip to a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements in series; and

(c) a second set of conductive paths permanently formed within and non-affixed on said exterior surface of said helmet, said second set of conductive paths connecting said microprocessing chip to said driver chip.

15. The light system according to claim 11, further comprising means for receiving a signal, and wherein said means for supplying power supplies power along said conductive path to said light emitting element as a result of receiving said signal.

16. The light system according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of light emitting elements positioned substantially around 360 degrees of the helmet.