Protective clothing and energy / data networking system on a motorcycle

Abstract

Motorcycle protective clothing (120) for a user of a motorcycle (110), comprising - a first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232) arranged in a first region of the protective clothing (120), which is configured to receive electrical energy and / or data wirelessly from a first external network unit (131) and / or to send it to a first external network unit (131); and - a clothing cabling (133) configured to transmit the electrical energy and / or the data between the first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232) and an electrical and / or electronic component (134, 212, 222) in a second region of the protective clothing (120); wherein the electrical and / or electronic component (134, 212, 222) comprises a second clothing-side network unit (212, 222) arranged in the second region of the protective clothing (120), which is configured to send electrical energy and / or data to and / or receive electrical energy and / or data from a second external network unit.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to protective clothing and a system for networking electrical and / or electronic components on a motorcycle.

[0002] Motorcycle users may use electrical and / or electronic components that require electrical power to operate and / or that are designed to exchange data with other components.

[0003] This document addresses the technical task of providing a system and protective clothing for a motorcycle user through which electrical and / or electronic components of a motorcycle user can be operated in a comfortable, reliable and efficient manner.

[0004] US 2010 / 0 124 049 A1 and WO 2012 / 151 642 A1 each describe a lighting system for a motorcyclist’s clothing.

[0005] The object is achieved by the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described, inter alia, in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to one aspect, motorcycle protective clothing for a user of a motorcycle is described. The motorcycle protective clothing can include, for example, motorcycle boots, motorcycle trousers, a motorcycle jacket, a motorcycle overall, a motorcycle helmet, and / or motorcycle gloves. The motorcycle protective clothing can be designed to protect a user (in particular a driver or passenger) of the motorcycle from injury in the event of a fall. For example, the motorcycle protective clothing can be made at least partially of leather. Alternatively or additionally, the motorcycle protective clothing can include one or more protectors, e.g., elbow protectors, back protectors, and / or shoulder protectors.

[0007] The motorcycle protective clothing comprises a first clothing-side network unit arranged in a first region of the protective clothing, which is configured to wirelessly receive electrical energy and / or data from a first external network unit and / or to transmit it to a first external network unit. The first external network unit is arranged outside the protective clothing (e.g., on the motorcycle or on the protective clothing of another user of the motorcycle). The first clothing-side network unit and / or the first external network unit can be configured to receive and / or transmit electrical energy and / or data via a magnetic and / or electromagnetic field and / or via ultrasound.

[0008] The protective clothing further comprises clothing cabling configured to transmit the electrical energy and / or data between the first clothing-side network unit and an electrical and / or electronic component in a second region of the protective clothing. The first region (where the first clothing-side network unit is arranged) differs from the second region (where the electrical and / or electronic component is arranged). The protective clothing can, in particular, comprise a wired or cable-based clothing network via which electrical energy and / or data are transmitted to different regions within the protective clothing. The transmission within the protective clothing can, for example, take place via copper cables and / or coaxial cables.

[0009] The provision of motorcycle protective clothing with internal cabling and at least one network unit enables a convenient, reliable, and efficient power supply and / or data communication of electrical and / or electronic components of a motorcycle user. Examples of electrical and / or electronic components include: a personal electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, wearables) of the user, a heating and / or cooling unit for controlling the temperature of the protective clothing, a display unit on a helmet of the protective clothing, an image camera on a helmet of the protective clothing, sensors built into the protective clothing, and / or wearables on the body of the rider and / or passenger, etc.

[0010] The protective clothing can be designed such that the first region of the protective clothing is located in close proximity to a module of the motorcycle, e.g. an engine block, a fuel tank, a handlebar, a tank bag, a case, etc., during operation of the motorcycle (i.e. when a user wearing the protective clothing is on the motorcycle). For this purpose, the first region can comprise a boot of the protective clothing, a leg area of ​​a pair of trousers of the protective clothing, a seat area of ​​the trousers of the protective clothing, a stomach and / or back area of ​​a jacket of the protective clothing, and / or a glove of the protective clothing. The first external network unit can then be located on a module of the motorcycle, such that the first external network unit and the first clothing-side network unit are in close proximity to one another. This can enable reliable and efficient wireless transmission of electrical energy and / or data.

[0011] The electrical and / or electronic component can comprise a second clothing-side network unit arranged in the second region of the protective clothing, which is configured to send electrical energy and / or data to and / or receive data from a second external network unit. For example, a direct energy and / or data connection to the protective clothing of a second user (e.g., a passenger) of the motorcycle can be provided. For this purpose, the second region of the protective clothing can, in particular, comprise a stomach region, a back region, and / or a thorax region of the protective clothing.

[0012] The electrical and / or electronic component may comprise a heating unit and / or cooling unit with which one or more areas of the protective clothing can be heated and / or cooled. The heating unit and / or cooling unit can then be conveniently and reliably supplied with electrical energy via the first external unit.

[0013] According to a further aspect, a system for transmitting electrical energy and / or data on a motorcycle is described. The system comprises the motorcycle protective clothing described in this document for a first user of the motorcycle. Furthermore, the system comprises a first external network unit arranged outside the motorcycle protective clothing for the first user and configured to send electrical energy and / or data to and / or receive data from the first clothing-side network unit of the motorcycle protective clothing.

[0014] The system may further comprise a second piece of motorcycle protective clothing for a second user of the motorcycle. The second piece of motorcycle protective clothing may comprise a clothing net as described in this document. In particular, the first external net unit may be arranged in the second piece of motorcycle protective clothing. This may enable, for example, reliable and efficient communication directly between electronic components of two users (rider and passenger) of a motorcycle.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, a first external network unit can be arranged on a module of the motorcycle. The module can, for example, comprise: a footrest of the motorcycle, a motorcycle engine block, a motorcycle seat, a motorcycle backrest, a case on a motorcycle luggage rack, a motorcycle fuel tank, a motorcycle tank bag, and / or a motorcycle handlebar. The clothing-side network unit can then advantageously be arranged within the protective clothing in the immediate vicinity of the motorcycle module in order to enable a reliable energy and / or data connection between a clothing network and the motorcycle. In this way, electrical and / or electronic components on a user's protective clothing can be conveniently and efficiently supplied with electrical energy and / or integrated into a communications network (possibly also into a wide area network, such as a UMTS and / or LTE network).

[0016] The electrical and / or electronic component in the second region of the first user's protective clothing can comprise a sensor configured to acquire sensor data relating to a condition of the first user (e.g., blood pressure and / or heart rate). The motorcycle can comprise a control unit, and the system can be configured to send the sensor data to the motorcycle's control unit via the first external network unit. The control unit can then be configured to initiate a measure, in particular issuing a warning and / or intervening in the operation of the motorcycle, depending on the sensor data. In this way, the driving safety of a motorcycle user can be increased.

[0017] The electrical and / or electronic component may comprise a display unit on a helmet or protective clothing (e.g., a projection screen on a helmet visor). The system may be configured to send status data relating to the motorcycle (e.g., riding speed) to the display unit via the first external network unit. This may increase the comfort of a motorcycle user.

[0018] According to a further aspect, a motorcycle is described. The motorcycle comprises a motorcycle-side network unit configured to wirelessly transmit electrical energy and / or data to and / or receive electrical energy and / or data from a clothing-side network unit of protective clothing of a motorcycle user. Furthermore, the motorcycle comprises a control unit configured to control the motorcycle-side network unit for transmitting and / or receiving electrical energy and / or data.

[0019] It should be noted that the devices and systems described in this document can be used both alone and in combination with other devices and systems described in this document. Furthermore, any aspects of the devices and systems described in this document can be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined in a variety of ways.

[0020] The invention will be described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for operating an electrical and / or electronic component on a motorcycle; and Fig. 2 an exemplary energy supply and / or communication network in the clothing of a motorcycle user.

[0021] As stated at the beginning, this document is concerned with enabling the user of a motorcycle to operate an electrical and / or electronic component on a motorcycle in a comfortable and efficient manner. In this context, Fig. 1 shows a system 100 comprising a motorcycle 110 and the clothing or protective clothing 120 of a motorcycle user. Using the system 100, an electrical and / or electronic component 134 on the protective clothing 120 of the motorcycle user (e.g., an image camera on the helmet 126 of the protective clothing 120) can be supplied with electrical energy. Furthermore, using the system 100, data can be exchanged between the component 134 and the motorcycle 110 (e.g., a user interface in the cockpit of the motorcycle 110).

[0022] The motorcycle 110 comprises modules 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, which are typically located in the immediate vicinity of an item of clothing 121, 123, 124, 125 of a user of the motorcycle 110 during operation. For example, a boot 121 of the user is typically located on a footrest 111 during operation, the leg area of ​​a pair of pants 123 of the user typically rests against an engine block 112 of the motorcycle 110, the seat area of ​​the pants 123 of the user is typically located on a seat 113 of the motorcycle 110, the thorax or abdominal area of ​​a jacket 124 is typically located near a fuel tank 114 of the motorcycle 110, and the gloves 125 are typically located on handlebar grips 115 of the motorcycle 110.Thus, during operation of a motorcycle, areas arise in which modules 111, 112, 113, 114, 115 of a motorcycle 110 are located in close proximity to modules 121, 123, 124, 125 of the clothing 120 of a user of the motorcycle 110. These areas can be used to provide a wireless connection for transmitting energy and / or data. In particular, these areas can be used in a convenient, reliable, and energy-efficient manner for the inductive transmission of electrical energy to supply an electrical and / or electronic component 134 on the clothing 120 of a motorcycle user.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a motorcycle-side network unit 131 and a clothing-side network unit 132, via which electrical energy and / or data can be wirelessly transmitted between motorcycle 110 and clothing 120. In the illustrated example, motorcycle-side network unit 131 is arranged on the engine block 112 of motorcycle 110, and clothing-side network unit 132 is arranged in the leg area of ​​trousers 123 or in the boot 121 of clothing 120. Motorcycle-side network unit 131 can, for example, comprise a transmitting coil with which a magnetic field is induced for transmitting electrical energy.The garment-side mesh unit 132 may include a receiving coil that can be magnetically coupled to the transmitting coil such that the magnetic field induces an alternating current in the receiving coil, which can be rectified by a rectifier in the garment-side mesh unit 132 to provide a direct current for operating an electrical and / or electronic component 134 on the garment 120.

[0024] The power provided at the clothing-side network unit 132 can be distributed via a cable network 133 within the clothing 120, in particular, can be conducted to an electrical and / or electronic component 134. The clothing 120 can, for example, comprise an electrical clothing network 130 with one or more electrical consumers 134 and, if appropriate, with an electrical energy storage device (not shown), which are connected to one another via the cable network 133. The energy storage device of the clothing network 130 can be charged by the electrical energy provided at a clothing-side network unit 132. Furthermore, the one or more electrical consumers 134 can be supplied with electrical energy from the energy storage device and / or from the clothing-side network unit 132. The energy storage device can, if appropriate, be part of an electrical and / or electronic component 134 (e.g.Part of an electronic device with a lithium-ion battery).

[0025] As an alternative to a transmission of direct current in the clothing network 130, the induced alternating current in the clothing network 130 can be transmitted directly and used by an electrical and / or electronic component 134.

[0026] The clothing network 130 can also enable data transmission (e.g., via Power Line Communication, PLC). Furthermore, the network units 131, 132 can be configured to enable data exchange. For example, the magnetic field used for energy transmission can be modulated depending on the data to be transmitted in order to enable data exchange. For example, a data connection can be established between a user interface on a cockpit of the motorcycle 110 and an electronic component 134 on the user's clothing 120. The electronic component 134 can thus be operated from the user interface on the cockpit of the motorcycle 110, which facilitates the use of electronic components 134 in connection with a motorcycle 110.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary clothing network 130 with exemplary clothing-side network units 132, 232 at different locations on the clothing 120. Furthermore, the clothing network 130 can comprise a network unit 212 configured to establish a wireless connection for transmitting electrical energy and / or data to the clothing of another user (e.g., a passenger) on the motorcycle 110. Furthermore, the clothing network 130 can comprise a network unit 222 configured to establish a wireless connection for transmitting electrical energy and / or data to an electronic device (e.g., a smartphone) of the user.

[0028] The clothing mesh 130 may comprise pairs of mesh units (not shown) configured to wirelessly transmit electrical energy and / or data between separate pieces of the protective clothing 120 (e.g., between a jacket 124 and a helmet 126). Each of the two pieces 124, 126 of the protective clothing 120 comprises a mesh unit to enable wireless energy and / or data transmission. This can further increase user comfort.

[0029] Fig. 1 and Fig.2 thus show a two-stage wireless transmission system 100 for energy and data for a motorcycle 110. A first stage of the system 100 transmits electrical energy and / or couples data, for example, in the leg area of ​​a motorcyclist or a passenger between a motorcycle 110 and the clothing 120 of the rider or passenger. Alternatively or additionally, electrical energy and / or data can be transmitted indirectly from the clothing 120 of a first person via the motorcycle 110 to the clothing 120 of a second person. Furthermore, data can be transmitted to another motorcycle 110 and / or to a stationary communication partner via additional interfaces (e.g., via a radio connection).

[0030] The coupling point for the energy and / or data transmission between motorcycle 110 and clothing 120 is preferably selected such that a user of system 100 is exposed to as little radiation as possible for the energy and / or data transmission. A coupling point with network units 131, 132 can, for example, advantageously be located in the boot area of ​​the rider or passenger. Alternative or additional coupling points can be located on the rider's handlebars / gloves, on the passenger's grab handle / gloves, on the seat / trousers of the motorcyclist or passenger, and / or in the rider's abdominal area.

[0031] The clothing net 130 of a first person on the motorcycle 110 can comprise one or more network units 212 to establish a connection for energy and / or data transmission with a clothing net 130 of a second person on the motorcycle 110. For example, a network unit 212 in the abdominal region of a first clothing net 130 can establish a connection with a network unit 212 of a second clothing net 130 in the glove region when the second person holds on to the stomach of the first person while riding. Alternatively or additionally, a network unit 212 in the abdominal region of a passenger can establish a connection with a network unit 212 in the back region of a rider. One advantage of contact points in the abdominal / back region is that they enable a connection between rider and passenger without requiring any modification to the motorcycle 110.

[0032] Alternatively or additionally, a net unit 132, 232 in the passenger's back area can be used to establish a connection between the rider and passenger, connecting it to a motorcycle-side net unit 131 in the backrest or in a case on the luggage rack of the motorcycle 110 (e.g., on a BMW K 1200 LT). A connection can then be established indirectly from the passenger via the motorcycle 110 to the rider of the motorcycle 110. Alternatively or additionally, a clothing-side net unit 132, 232 in the abdominal area of ​​the rider of a motorcycle 110 can establish a connection to a motorcycle-side net unit 131 in the tank bag.

[0033] In a second stage, the energy and / or data can be routed within the protective clothing 120 via a wire (e.g., via coaxial cable 133) to various locations on the clothing 120. Examples of locations include a sleeve or breast pocket for storing a mobile communications device (e.g., a microphone and / or speaker), a protective helmet 126 for communications systems or for a visor heater in a helmet 126, and / or a heater or ventilation system for clothing / gloves. For example, navigation data from a navigation system of the motorcycle 110 and / or operating data of the motorcycle 110 (e.g., speed, rpm, gear, etc.) can be transmitted to a helmet camera 134 or to a display in the helmet 126.

[0034] The clothing network 130 can include one or more vital sensors (e.g., a pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, etc.) with which sensor data relating to the rider's condition can be recorded. The sensor data can be transmitted via the clothing network 130 to a control unit in the motorcycle 110. The control unit can then initiate measures based on the sensor data (e.g., issuing a warning and / or reducing driving speed). This can increase the operational safety of a motorcycle 110.

[0035] The network units 131, 132, 232, 212, and 222 can use different technologies for wireless power / data transmission. For example, electrical power and / or data can be transmitted wirelessly via ultrasound, beamforming of Wi-Fi signals, induced (electro)magnetic fields, and / or magnetic resonance.

[0036] As already explained above, a motorcyclist's protective clothing 120 can have an integrated heater. The integrated heater can receive electrical energy via a clothing-side power unit 132 and be powered by this electrical energy. This can be used, for example, to dry damp clothing 120 after a ride. In this case, the electrical energy can be provided by an external power unit (which may be independent of a motorcycle 110).

[0037] The system 100 described in this document enables one or more users of a motorcycle 110 to wirelessly transmit electrical energy and / or data to electrical and / or electronic components 136 on the clothing 120 of one or more users in a convenient, reliable, and efficient manner. The system 100 comprises independent units in the motorcycle 110 and the clothing 120, which may be standardized and developed or provided separately if necessary.

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and figures are intended only to illustrate the principle of the proposed devices and systems.

Claims

[1] Motorcycle protective clothing (120) for a user of a motorcycle (110), comprising - a first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232) arranged in a first region of the protective clothing (120), which is configured to receive electrical energy and / or data wirelessly from a first external network unit (131) and / or to send it to a first external network unit (131); and - a clothing cabling (133) configured to transmit the electrical energy and / or the data between the first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232) and an electrical and / or electronic component (134, 212, 222) in a second region of the protective clothing (120); wherein the electrical and / or electronic component (134, 212, 222) comprises a second clothing-side network unit (212, 222) arranged in the second region of the protective clothing (120), which is configured to send electrical energy and / or data to and / or receive electrical energy and / or data from a second external network unit. [2] Motorcycle protective clothing (120) according to claim 1, wherein - the protective clothing (120) is designed such that the first region of the protective clothing (120) is located in the immediate vicinity of a module (111, 112, 113, 114, 115) of the motorcycle (110) when the motorcycle (110) is in operation; and - the first region comprises in particular one or more of: a boot (121) of the protective clothing (120), a leg region of trousers (123) of the protective clothing (120), a seat region of the trousers (123) of the protective clothing (120), a stomach and / or back region of a jacket (124) of the protective clothing (120) and / or a glove (125) of the protective clothing (120). [3] Motorcycle protective clothing (120) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second region of the protective clothing (120) comprises one or more of: a stomach region, a back region and / or a thorax region of the protective clothing (120). [4] Motorcycle protective clothing (120) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first clothing-side mesh unit (132, 212, 222, 232) is configured to receive and / or transmit electrical energy and / or data via a magnetic and / or electromagnetic field and / or via ultrasound. [5] Motorcycle protective clothing (120) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical and / or electronic component (134, 212, 222) comprises a heating unit and / or cooling unit with which one or more areas of the protective clothing (120) can be heated and / or cooled. [6] System (100) for transmitting electrical energy and / or data on a motorcycle (110), the system (100) comprising - Motorcycle protective clothing (120) for a first user of the motorcycle (110) according to one of the preceding claims; and - a first external network unit (131) arranged outside the motorcycle protective clothing (120) for the first user and configured to send electrical energy and / or data to the first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232) of the motorcycle protective clothing (120) and / or to receive electrical energy and / or data from the first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232). [7] System (100) according to claim 6, wherein - the system (100) comprises a second motorcycle protective clothing (120) according to one of claims 1 to 5 for a second user of the motorcycle (110); and - the first external network unit (131) is arranged in the second motorcycle protective clothing (120). [8] System (100) for transmitting electrical energy and / or data on a motorcycle (110), the system (100) comprising - Motorcycle protective clothing (120) for a first user of the motorcycle (110); wherein the motorcycle protective clothing (120) comprises; - a first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232) arranged in a first region of the protective clothing (120), which is configured to receive electrical energy and / or data wirelessly from a first external network unit (131) and / or to send it to a first external network unit (131); and - a clothing cabling (133) configured to transmit the electrical energy and / or the data between the first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232) and an electrical and / or electronic component (134, 212, 222) in a second region of the protective clothing (120); wherein the electrical and / or electronic component (134, 212, 222) in the second region of the protective clothing (120) comprises a sensor configured to acquire sensor data relating to a state of the first user; - the first external network unit (131), which is arranged outside the motorcycle protective clothing (120) for the first user and which is configured to send electrical energy and / or data to the first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232) of the motorcycle protective clothing (120) and / or to receive electrical energy and / or data from the first clothing-side network unit (132, 212, 222, 232); wherein the first external network unit (131) is arranged on a module (111, 112, 113, 114, 115) of the motorcycle (110); - the system (100) comprises a control unit of the motorcycle (110); - the system (100) is configured to send the sensor data to the control unit of the motorcycle (110) via the first external network unit (131); and - the control unit is configured to initiate a measure, in particular an output of a warning and / or an intervention in the driving operation of the motorcycle (110), depending on the sensor data. [9] System (100) according to claim 8, wherein - the module (111, 112, 113, 114, 115) comprises in particular: a footrest (111), an engine block (112), a seat (113), a backrest, a case, a fuel tank, a tank bag and / or a handlebar of the motorcycle (110).

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