Patent Application
20180213873
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates to the field of helmets, and more specifically, to the field of devices related for use attaching to helmets.
The four largest motorcycle markets in the world are all in Asia: China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. India, with an estimated 37 million motorcycles/mopeds, was home to the largest number of motorized two wheelers in the world. China came a close second with 34 million motorcycles/mopeds in 2002. In 2015, 4,976 people died in motorcycle crashes, up 8.3 percent from 4,594 in 2014, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2014, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled, and almost five times more likely to be injured. To prevent motorcycle injuries, many people will wear motorcycle helmets.
While riding motorcycles, many people will use the side mirrors to have a perspective of what is behind the motorcycle rider. However, in addition to side mirrors providing a limited filed of view, one of the issues with many side mirrors is that a motorcycle rider in the case of “sport” motorcycles must be in a bent over position to properly view the surroundings behind the rider via the side view mirrors. This is an issue when a motorcycle rider is at a stop. When a motorcycle rider is at a stop, the motorcycle rider is in an upright position and thereby is not able to use side view mirrors to see behind the rider. Thus, the motorcycle rider does not know if a vehicle is not coming to a complete stop and therefore cannot take measures to avoid an accident as he or she would have been able to if they would have known of the vehicle that is not coming to a complete stop.
Another major issue that plagues motorcycle riders and other motor vehicle passengers is lack of information related to an event or traffic accident. It is understood that the terms “event”, “traffic accident” and “accident”, “crash event” may be used interchangeably throughout this application. In many cases, after an event occurs, it is difficult to ascertain exactly what happened during the event because as time progresses memories tend to fade, witnesses move away or relocate, or in the case of serious injury to the rider, they are unable to recall the details of the accident etc.
Devices have been used to capture environmental data and for storing the environmental data for use or viewing at a later time. However, one issue with such recording devices that record environmental data is that the databases or storage units that are used for storing the corresponding digital data require constant changing due to storage capacity concerns. This constant changing is very inefficient, costly and time consuming
As a result, there is a need for improvements over the prior art to provide a better way to capture event data and a more effective way to provide rear views to a motorcycle rider.
A system for monitoring, displaying, recording, and storing environmental data is disclosed. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of disclosed concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description including the drawings provided. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this Summary intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.
In one embodiment, an attachment for monitoring, displaying, recording, and an attachment for a helmet including a first housing for mounting onto an outward facing portion of the helmet. The first housing encases a first camera configured for capturing a plurality of first visual data from a first perspective relative to the helmet, a sensor for capturing accelerometer data relative to the helmet, a database for storing the first visual data, second visual data and accelerometer data, a processing unit in communication with the first camera, the second camera, the sensor, the database and a display, wherein the processing unit is configured for receiving first visual data, second visual data, and accelerometer data, storing first visual data, second visual data, and accelerometer data in the database, and for displaying a graphical representation on the display corresponding to at least the first visual data. The attachment also includes a second housing connected to the first housing. The second housing encases a second camera for capturing a plurality of second visual data from a second perspective relative to the helmet, and, the display configured to be positioned such that a user can view the display when the helmet is worn by the user.
Additional aspects of the disclosed embodiment will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed embodiments. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While disclosed embodiments may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting reordering, or adding additional stages or components to the disclosed methods and devices. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosed embodiments. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosed embodiments is defined by the appended claims.
The disclosed embodiments improve upon the problems with the prior art by providing a system for providing both forward and rear facing cameras better configured to capture the surrounding audio and visual events environment both in front of and behind a user. The system also provides a rear-view display proximate to a user's eye or eyesight so that he or she does not have to be hunched over on a motorcycle to view surroundings or environments behind the user. Additionally, the system is configured to determine when a crash event occurs using accelerometer or other data received. After it is determined that a crash event has occurred, the system can record, and store in an attached database, data that occurred both before and after a crash event from both the front facing camera and rear facing cameras as well as data from other sensors. This crash event data is useful for determining what occurred both before and after a crash event or accident. The system also improves the prior art by providing a more efficient way to record data for a crash event while not having to change storage units or tapes frequently by having a looping mode and a storing mode. The system and attachment captures 320 degrees of data around the rider for analysis if an incident occurs. The system also improves over the prior art by providing a system that allows the user to control the system, such as to turn on and off the system, by using a predetermined pattern of motion which is detected by the sensor, such as patterns received by tapping on a helmet to which the system is attached. These improvements as well as others will be further described below.
Referring now to the Figures, some of the figures will be discussed together where necessary, and some of the figures will be discussed alone where necessary.
In the present embodiment, the system includes a first housing 115. The housing may be formed from one of the following or a combination of one of the following materials: wood, alloys, metals, composites, ceramics, polymeric materials such as polycarbonates, such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastic), Lexan™, and Makrolon™. The first housing may be formed from a single piece or from several individual pieces joined or coupled together. The components of the first housing may be manufactured from a variety of different processes including an extrusion process, a mold, welding, shearing, punching welding, folding etc. However, other types of materials may also be used and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the system includes a first housing 115 and a second housing 110. Each housing may be formed from one of the following or a combination of one of the following materials: wood, alloys, metals, composites, ceramics, polymeric materials such as polycarbonates, such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS plastic), Lexan™, and Makrolon™. Each housing may be formed from a single piece or from several individual pieces joined or coupled together. The components of the first housing may be manufactured from a variety of different processes including an extrusion process, a mold, welding, shearing, punching welding, folding etc. However, other types of materials may also be used and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. As illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the first housing 115 includes a first content capturing device or first camera. The content capturing device may be a camera capturing only visual content or data, a camera for capturing both audio and visual content or data, mirrorless cameras, action cameras, 360 cameras, digital cameras or any combination thereof. It is also understood that other content capturing devices or cameras also may be used and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The camera or content capturing device is encased within the housing such that the lens 205 is positioned such that it has access to the exterior or surroundings of the first housing so that able to capture visual data or content from the rearward facing perspective.
The first housing is for mounting onto an outward facing portion 112 of the helmet. Referring to
In the present embodiment, the first housing is positioned on the outward facing portion of the helmet such that the lens 205 of the first camera is positioned such that it captures visual data, audio visual data or other data from a rearward facing or first perspective (in the direction of line B). It is also understood that additional cameras that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention may also be used to capture audio visual data from other perspectives as well. The first content capturing device or first camera is configured for capturing first data. It is understood that the first data may include visual data, audio data, accelerometer type data as well as other data.
The first housing also encases or houses a sensor for capturing accelerometer data relative to the helmet, such as a bulk micromachined capacitive device, bulk micromachined piezoelectric resistive device, capacitive spring mass system base, DC response device, electromechanical servo device, (Servo Force Balance), high gravity device, laser accelerometer, GPS accelerometer, potentiometric type, triaxial, piezoelectric accelerometer or any combination thereof. It is understood that other types of accelerometers may also be used and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The sensor is configured for capturing accelerometer type data such as velocity, pitch, yaw, acceleration, deceleration etc. The sensor data or data received from the accelerometer may include position, location, velocity and acceleration values for the X, Y and/or z-axes.
The first housing may also include a database (See
The first housing may also include a processor or processing unit (See
The first housing is connected to the second housing 110. In one embodiment, the second housing is connected and is in electrical communication to second housing by an insulated conductor 117 configured to transmit signals and data. The second housing is configured for encasing a second camera or content capturing device 711 (see
Data received by the second camera or second content capturing device is transmitted through connector 117 that provides the data to the processor (as illustrated in
The second housing also encases a display 725, 605 configured to be positioned such that a user can view the display when the helmet is worn by the user and the lens 305 of the second camera is positioned such that it has access to the exterior or surroundings of the second housing so that able to capture visual data or content from the forward facing perspective. In the present embodiment, the display may comprise an LED display, a Cathode ray tube display (CRT), Electroluminescent display (ELD), Plasma display panel (PDP), an Liquid crystal display (LCD), Organic light-emitting diode display (OLED), Digital microshutter display (DMS). However it is understood that other displays may also be used and are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Referring to
After information is received by the sensor, it is transmitted to the processor to determine if a crash event has occurred, which may be performed by the processing unit within the second housing. The processor configured to determine if an event has occurred, wherein the event occurs if a threshold change or predetermined change in accelerometer data is received. For example, the threshold change may be a rapid velocity, acceleration, deceleration, changes axes, etc. Additionally, the processor may also be configured to determine if a rapid change or the threshold change in visual data or optical is received in order to determine if an event or crash has occurred. For example, the processor may be configured to analyze the more visual data from the first content capturing device or second content capturing device to determine if an event has occurred based upon an extreme rapid change in visual data not associated with normal driving patterns or movement patterns. In some embodiments, in accelerometer or sensor specifically for receiving accelerometer type data may not be required if the process servers are configured for determining if an event has occurred based upon audio or visual data received.
If the processor determines that an event has occurred than the process switches to the storing or storage mode 781. In the storing mode data (first visual data or first data, second visual data or second data and accelerometer data) received from a time period before an event occurs and after an event occurs in the database. The storing mode allows data to be stored that occurs both before and after an event occurs so that investigators can use the data to determine how the event happened. For example, referring to
In the storing mode, after a traffic event occurs, a timer or countdown sequence is initiated for a predetermined amount of time such that when the timer expires or ends, the recording of the data ceases. The process is also configured such that data can be retrieved and analyzed from the attached database.
Additionally, the accelerometer or sensor 760 is configured to control the system using a plurality of predetermined patterns of motion detected by the sensor. For example, if the sensor detects a certain pattern of tapping on a helmet, that can be used to turn on or off the system. For example, a user may tap the side of the helmets twice within a short period of time, and a response, the display darkness or lightens can be adjusted. By way of another example, the user may also nod their head in a predetermined pattern to control the system. Additionally, another pattern of tapping on the helmet may turn on or off the system. This controlling by tapping provides motorcycle riders the ability to keep their riding gloves on a cold weather or as a safety precaution. The bulkiness of gloves can make it cumbersome to interact with buttons or other interactive devices and as a result this “hands-free” mode providing a feature that is not disclosed by the prior art.
The processor is also in communication with to the attached database 710. The first camera or first content capturing device 705 and sensor 760 is also in communication with the processor. In addition, the system is also in communication with the power source 770. In operation, when the user wears a helmet, he or she may control the device by using a predetermined pattern of motion, such as nodding his or her head, or tapping on the helmet, to control the system. Next, data received from the first camera or first content capturing device 705 is communicated to the processor 715. Similarly, data received from the second camera or second content capturing device 711 and accelerometer data from the sensor 760 is also transmitted to the processor. Referring to
The processor will continue to provide a graphical representation of rear view perspective to the display 725, 605, so that the rider can view what is behind him or her. Additionally, the processor will monitor the data from the sensor, the first content capturing device data or first camera and second content capturing device or second camera to determine if an event or accident has occurred. If the predetermined threshold change in accelerometer data (velocity change, acceleration change) is received, for example if there is a rapid deceleration, then the system will move from looping mode to storing mode. As mentioned above, in the storing mode, the processor stores in the attached database 710 data received from both the first and second cameras and the accelerometer data for a predetermined amount of time before and after the crash event. Also worth noting is that other data including sound, time, etc. may also be recorded in the attached database.
With reference to
Computing device 800 may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device 800 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
Computing device 800 may also contain a communication connection 816 that may allow device 800 to communicate with other computing devices 818, such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, for example, an intranet or the Internet or wirelessly with devices 830 and 835. Communication connection 816 is one example of communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), wireless communication includes wireless Bluetooth® technology, WIFI, infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both computer storage media and communication media.
As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory 804, including operating system 805. While executing on processing unit 802, programming modules 806 may perform processes including performing sound processing functions such as signal processing, digital processing, etc. Computing device 802 may also include a graphics processing unit 803, which supplements the processing capabilities of processor 802 and which may execute programming modules 806, including all or a portion of those processes identified or alluded to above. The aforementioned processes are examples, and processing units 802, 803 may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc.
Generally, consistent with embodiments of the invention, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip (such as a System on Chip) containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments of the invention may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments of the invention may be practiced within a general purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.
Embodiments of the present invention, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, thumb drives, or a CD-ROM, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the invention.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/453,613 titled “SYSTEM FOR MONITORING, DISPLAYING, RECORDING, AND STORING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA” and filed Feb. 2, 2017 and the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62453613 | Feb 2017 | US |
