Wireless communication device integratable within a helmet

Abstract

A wireless communication device integratable within a helmet, comprising a microphone (31), a first shell (10) and a second shell (20), flattened and hollow, formed by a front wall (1) and a rear wall (2) separated in a transverse direction (Z) and connected on their outer perimeter by a perimetric wall (3); the first shell (10) housing, stacked therein, a first speaker (11) and at least part of an electric battery (12); and the second shell (20) housing, stacked therein, the second speaker (21), and at least part of the control electronics (22) including a bidirectional wireless communication antenna; wherein the perimetric wall (3) includes at least one annular, crushable region (4) in the transverse direction (Z) that is interposed between the front wall (1) and the rear wall (2), said crushable region (4) having a small average thickness.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] WIRELESS COMMUNICATOR DEVICE INTEGRABLE WITHIN A HELMET

[0003] Field of technology

[0004] The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that can be integrated into a helmet, i.e. a device that is intended to be integrated into the interior space of a helmet, for example a motorcycle helmet, by placing at least one speaker next to one ear of the helmet user and a microphone in a position close to his mouth.

[0005] The speaker and microphone will be connected to a wireless bidirectional antenna that allows the communication device to be connected to another remote device, for example another identical or equivalent wireless communication device, using radio frequency waves, which allows audio messages to be received and transmitted between the communication device and the remote device.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] Wireless communication devices that can be integrated into a helmet are well known. For example, devices are provided with a first housing with a first speaker, a second housing with a second speaker, a third housing with a microphone, and also a fourth housing that integrates the battery and the control electronics. The first, second, and third housings are located inside the helmet, and the fourth housing is fixed to the exterior of the helmet, where it has no space limitations to house the battery and the control electronics, with all housings connected to each other by cables. This construction allows for the first, second, and third housings to be made small and easily collapsed in the event of an accident, as they contain only the speakers and the microphone, which increases the safety of the helmet user.

[0008] However, the presence of the fourth shell fixed to the outside of the helmet makes it more likely that said fourth shell may suffer damage in daily use and, since said fourth shell is a protrusion that sticks out from the helmet, it also causes an increase in the probability of inducing an unwanted rotation of the helmet in the event of an accident, which reduces the safety of the user.

[0009] For other applications, wireless communication devices are also known that lack the fourth housing, with the battery and control electronics integrated into the first and second housings. However, these devices are bulky and unsuitable for integration inside a helmet, which, especially in the case of motorcycle helmets, has strict safety requirements. Furthermore, no such devices are known to be crushable in the event of an accident.

[0010] The present invention solves the above and other problems of the existing state of the art.

[0011] Brief description of the invention

[0012] The present invention relates to a wireless communication device that can be integrated into a helmet, as described in claim 1.

[0013] The proposed wireless communication device comprises, in a manner known in the state of the art: a first speaker, a second speaker, a microphone and an electric battery connected to a control electronics that integrates a bidirectional wireless communication antenna; a first housing and a second housing, each being a flattened and hollow housing, formed by a front wall permeable to sound at least in its central region and a rear wall, which define two opposite main faces, front and rear separated in a transverse direction and connected by their outer perimeter through a perimeter wall; the first housing housing inside its first speaker, directed towards the front face, and at least part of the electric battery; and the second housing housing inside its second speaker, directed towards the front face, and at least part of the control electronics.

[0014] Thus, the control electronics, powered by the wireless battery, allow radio frequency signals to be sent and received via a communications antenna integrated into said control electronics. The received signals can be converted into sounds through the first and second speakers connected to the control electronics, and the signals captured by the microphone can also be sent via said wireless communications antenna. The various components comprising the communication device will be connected to each other by means of cables. This allows the proposed control device to communicate wirelessly with one or more remote devices, for example, a mobile phone with an Internet connection, another wireless communications device identical or equivalent to the one proposed, a vehicle's on-board computer, a GPS device, etc.

[0015] The first speaker, and at least part of the electric battery, will be integrated inside a first flattened and hollow housing, intended to be housed inside a helmet, in a position facing one ear of the helmet user.

[0016] Likewise, the second speaker and at least part of the control electronics will be integrated inside a second, flattened, hollow housing, designed to also be housed inside the same helmet in a position diametrically opposite to that of the first housing, facing the other ear of the helmet user.

[0017] This arrangement allows the main and most voluminous components that make up the communication device to be distributed between the first and second housings.

[0018] According to the above, the battery may be completely housed within the first housing, or only partially housed within the first housing, with the remaining battery being housed in other parts of the device, for example, within the second housing.

[0019] Similarly, the control electronics may be completely housed within the second housing, or only partially housed within the second housing, with the remainder of the control electronics being housed in other parts of the device, such as within the first housing.

[0020] This way, the entire device will be completely contained within the helmet, with no parts of it housed outside the helmet, increasing safety in the event of an accident and reducing the risk of damaging the device during normal use.

[0021] Both the first and second housings are flattened housings, that is, they have two opposing main faces, one being the front face and the other the rear face. These main faces are separated in a transverse direction, which may, for example, be perpendicular to the front and / or rear walls when said walls are flat.

[0022] The front face is defined on a front wall of the housing which is sound-permeable at least in its central region, which covers the first or second speaker contained within the first or second housing and internally faces said sound-permeable central region of the front wall, such that sounds emitted by the first or second speaker are projected towards the outside of the corresponding housing through said sound-permeable central region of the front wall.

[0023] Said central sound-permeable region may comprise an opening in the front wall covered by a fabric impregnated with a water-repellent treatment to prevent water from entering the first or second housing through it.

[0024] The rear face is defined on a rear wall opposite the front wall, typically parallel to it. This rear wall is the one that will be attached to the hull's intrados when the first or second shell is fixed inside the hull.

[0025] The front and rear walls of the housing have their respective perimeter edges connected by a perimeter wall extending from the perimeter of the front wall to the perimeter of the rear wall. This perimeter wall typically has at least one portion extending in the transverse direction.

[0026] In order to achieve a compact construction of the device, it is proposed that said at least part of the electric battery integrated in the first housing is arranged between the first speaker and the rear face of the first housing, and that said at least part of the control electronics integrated in the second housing is arranged between the second speaker and the rear face of the second housing.

[0027] Despite their compact construction, the first and second shells must also perform well in the event of an accident, allowing for a degree of crushing to reduce the risk of injury to the helmet wearer.

[0028] For this purpose, the first and second casings have a certain crushing capacity, especially in the transverse direction.

[0029] To achieve this, it is proposed that, in both the first casing and the second casing, the perimeter wall includes at least one crushable region in the transverse direction, with the average thickness of the perimeter wall in the crushable region being reduced with respect to the average thickness of the rest of the perimeter wall, facilitating its deformation and the crushing of the casing that contains it.

[0030] Said crushable region will be an annular region of the perimeter wall (3) interposed between the front wall and the rear wall, such that the connection between the front and rear walls through the perimeter wall passes through the annular region around the entire perimeter of the casing, thus ensuring the possibility of crushing the entire casing in the transverse direction.Therefore, it is proposed that the perimeter wall, which connects the front wall and the rear wall of the same casing, includes a crushable region interposed between said front and rear walls, such that a compression pressure of the casing, applied to the front and rear walls in the transverse direction, will produce a crushing of the crushable region, allowing the separation between the front and rear walls to be reduced, reducing the height of the perimeter wall over its entire extension around the first or second casing, reducing the height of the casing in the transverse direction.

[0031] Of the internal components of the housings, the first and second speakers have a certain amount of space to vibrate, so this space is what allows the housing to be crushed in the event of an accident.

[0032] Preferably, the crushable region will be a region of the perimeter wall not parallel to the transverse direction, facilitating its deformation under a force in the transverse direction.

[0033] For example, it is proposed that the crushable region may be a bevel, or a rounded chamfer of the perimeter wall, connected to the outer perimeter of the front wall and / or the rear wall, providing a crushable transition region not perpendicular to the front wall and / or the rear wall right in the connection area between the perimeter wall and the front wall and / or the rear wall, also resulting in a housing with chamfered or rounded corners in said connection area between the perimeter wall and the front wall and / or the rear wall.

[0034] Optionally, the crushable region may also be a corrugated portion of the perimeter wall, in the form of a pleated section or accordion-shaped configuration, with each folded edge of said corrugated portion preferably parallel to the preceding wall. This corrugated portion facilitates the reduction of the wall's height in the event of accidental compression, also improving user safety.

[0035] It will be understood that references to geometric positions, such as parallel, perpendicular, tangent, etc., allow deviations of up to ±5° with respect to the theoretical position defined by said nomenclature.

[0036] Brief description of the figures

[0037] The above and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, which should be taken as illustrative and not limiting, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a helmet including the wireless communication device integrated therein, said device having been drawn as if the helmet were transparent to facilitate the interpretation of the drawing.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the first casing sectioned by a plane parallel to the transverse direction.

[0039] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the second casing sectioned by a plane parallel to the transverse direction.

[0040] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the third sectioned casing.

[0041] Detailed description of the invention and some embodiments

[0042] The attached figures show illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention.

[0043] The proposed helmet-integrable wireless communication device comprises a first speaker (11), a second speaker (21), a microphone (31) and an electric battery (12) connected to a control electronics (22) that integrates a bidirectional wireless communication antenna, to allow bidirectional communication of the communication device with a remote device wirelessly connected to it.

[0044] The device also comprises a first casing (10) and a second casing (20), both flattened and hollow, intended to be fixed to the intrados of the helmet, for example by means of a tape, adhesive, magnets or other non-permanent fixing means, on opposite sides thereof, each casing facing one ear of the helmet user. Both casings will be connected to each other by means of a cable.

[0045] Each housing will be formed by a front wall (1) permeable to sound at least in its central region and a rear wall (2) separated in a transverse direction (Z). Both front walls (1) and rear walls (2) will be connected by their outer perimeter through a perimeter wall (3). Said front and rear walls define two opposite main faces, front and rear, of the corresponding first or second housing (10, 20), the front face being the one facing the user's ear and the rear face being the one facing and adhered to the intrados of the helmet.

[0046] The first casing (10) houses inside the first loudspeaker (11), which will be directed towards the front face, to project the sound through said front face towards the outside of the first casing (10) and towards the ear facing it. The first casing (10) also houses inside at least part of the electric battery (12), preferably the entire electric battery (12). The electric battery (12) and the first loudspeaker (11) are superimposed, one on top of the other, with the electric battery (12) arranged between the first loudspeaker (11) and the rear face of the first casing (10), forming a compact assembly whose height is sufficiently reduced to be housed inside the first casing (10).

[0047] The second housing (20) housing inside the second speaker (21), also directed towards the front face of the housing in which it is housed to project the sound towards its exterior. The second housing (20) also houses at least part of the control electronics (22), and preferably all of it, superimposed on the second speaker (21), arranged between the second speaker (21) and the rear face of the second housing (20), also forming a compact assembly.

[0048] In both the first shell (10) and the second shell (20), the perimeter wall (3) includes at least one crushable region (4) in the transverse direction (Z) where the average thickness of the perimeter wall (3) is less than the average thickness of the rest of the perimeter wall (3), said crushable region (4) is an annular region interposed between the front wall (1) and the rear wall (2), which allows that, in case of receiving a compression in the transverse direction (Z), a crushing of the entire first shell (10) or second shell (20) occurs in the transverse direction (Z) reducing its height. This reduction in height reduces the risk of causing injuries to the helmet user in case of a traffic accident.

[0049] According to an embodiment of the invention, the crushable region (4) may be a region of the perimeter wall (3) inclined with respect to the transverse direction (Z).

[0050] The regions of the perimeter wall (3) parallel to the transverse direction (Z) will be the most resistant to crushing in the transverse direction (Z), especially in areas where the perimeter wall (3) has a corner or areas where the perimeter wall (3) has a curvature on a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction (Z), increasing its inertia against buckling when subjected to pressure in the transverse direction (Z). Therefore, it is proposed to include the crushable region (4) in a region of the transverse wall (3) that is not parallel to the transverse direction (Z).

[0051] For example, the crushable region (4) could be a bevel, or a rounded chamfer of the first or second casing (10, 20), where the perimeter wall (3) joins the outer perimeter of the front wall (1) and / or the rear wall (2). In said bevel or rounded chamfer, the perimeter wall (3) will be inclined with respect to the transverse direction (Z). In the example shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the crushable region (4) is a rounded chamfer arranged where the perimeter wall (3) connects with the front wall (1). In the example shown, said rounded chamfer has an outer radius and an inner radius with a different center, the inner radius being much smaller than the outer radius, producing a thinning of the thickness of the wall coinciding with the crushable region (4), which weakens its resistance and facilitates the collapse of the rounded chamfer when the casing is subjected to a force in the transverse direction perpendicular to the front and rear wall.

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, it is contemplated that the crushable region (4) may be a corrugated portion of the perimeter wall (3), that is, a portion provided with multiple successive folds or undulations, in planes perpendicular to the transverse direction (Z), the perimeter wall (3) forming a pleat in the form of an accordion or bellows, which facilitates its collapse in the transverse direction (Z) when subjected to pressure in the transverse direction (Z).

[0053] It is also proposed that at least the perimeter wall (3) of the housing (10, 20) be made of plastic, ABS plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or TPU plastic (Thermoplastic Polyurethane).

[0054] In this case, it is preferable that the crushable region (4) has a minimum thickness equal to or less than 0.7 mm.

[0055] The part of the front wall (1) other than the sound-permeable part and at least part of the rear wall (2) can also be made of plastic, ABS plastic or TPU plastic.

[0056] In order to optimize the thickness of the housing as much as possible, at least a central portion of the rear wall (2) may be made of sheet metal with a thickness equal to or less than 0.3 mm or equal to or less than 0.2 mm. This is particularly relevant in the first housing (10), which houses the electric battery (12) inside. The electric battery may be fixed to said sheet metal by means of an interposed compressible adhesive.

[0057] It is proposed that said at least one sound-permeable central region of the front wall (1) may be an opening in the front wall (1) covered by a fabric with a hydrophobic treatment, which prevents the entry of water into the casing and also allows the overall thickness of the casing to be reduced.

[0058] Both the first casing (10) and the second casing (20) may each be made of a first half (M1) including the front wall (1) and a second half (M2) including the rear wall (2). The perimeter wall (3) may be completely integrated into the first half (M1), as in the embodiment shown in the figures, into the second half (M2), or distributed between the first and second halves (M1, M2).

[0059] The first and second halves (M1, M2) shall be in contact across a contact surface (SC). Both halves shall be joined by discontinuous and spaced spot welds, ultrasonic spot welds, weld lines, or ultrasonic weld lines. The combined length of all spot and / or ultrasonic weld lines shall be less than the perimeter length of the contact surface (SC), such that only half of said contact surface (SC) shall join both halves, favoring breakage along the contact surfaces (SC) in the event of an accident.

[0060] In the example shown in the figures, the joint is made by four lines of ultrasonic welding opposite each other two by two.

[0061] Preferably the contact surfaces (SC) are not perpendicular to the transverse direction (Z), so that compression of the housing in the transverse direction (Z) promotes lateral sliding between the two halves and fracture of the weld.

[0062] Both the first casing (10) and the second casing (20) will preferably have a thickness equal to or less than 8 mm and will preferably be inscribed in a diameter equal to or less than 45 mm or equal to or less than 40 mm.

[0063] These dimensions, together with the ability to collapse in the event of an impact, allow the proposed device, which integrates all the components of the device inside the helmet, to comply with the requirements proposed by the United Nations World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, in Regulation UNECE 22, Amendment 06, identified with the reference ECE / TRANS / WP.29 / 2022 / 63, which defines the criteria that should govern motorcycle helmets and their accessories.

[0064] Preferably, the battery (12) is completely contained within the first housing (10), completely contained within the projection of the first speaker (11) in the transverse direction (Z). That is, the electric battery (12) will be completely under the shadow of the first speaker (11) projected in the transverse direction (Z).

[0065] Likewise, it is proposed that the control electronics (22) be completely contained within the second housing (20), completely contained in the projection of the second speaker (21) in the transverse direction (Z), that is to say below the shadow of the second speaker (21) projected in the transverse direction (Z).

[0066] Preferably the control electronics (22) will consist of a printed circuit board provided with surface mount components on both sides thereof, thus increasing its density and reducing its size sufficiently to be contained under the second speaker (21).

[0067] The microphone (31) may be integrated into a third housing (30) connected to the control electronics (22) via a cable, said third housing (30) being intended to be fixed to the intrados of the helmet, close to the user's mouth. For example, it is proposed that the microphone be a surface-mounted component fixed onto a printed circuit board contained within the third housing (30).

[0068] The third housing (30) may integrate a housing facing the microphone (31), said housing containing a block of open cell foam (32) inserted under pressure inside it as a wind filter.

[0069] The third housing (30) may also integrate, in addition to the microphone (31), a battery charging port and / or a button (33) for controlling the communication device and / or a light indicating the operating status and / or the battery charge status. These additional components may also be mounted on the same printed circuit board that contains the microphone (31).

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Wireless communication device that can be integrated into a helmet, comprising: a first speaker (11), a second speaker (21), a microphone (31) and an electric battery (12) connected to a control electronics (22) that integrates a bidirectional wireless communication antenna; a first housing (10) and a second housing (20), each being a flattened and hollow housing (10, 20), formed by a front wall (1) permeable to sound at least in its central region and a rear wall (2) separated in a transverse direction (Z) and connected by its outer perimeter through a perimeter wall (3), the front and rear walls defining two opposite main faces, front and rear; the first housing (10) housing inside the first speaker (11), directed towards the front face, and at least part of the electric battery (12);and the second housing (20) housing therein the second loudspeaker (21), directed towards the front face, and at least part of the control electronics (22), characterized in that said at least part of the electric battery (12) integrated in the first housing (10) is arranged between the first loudspeaker (11) and the rear face of the first housing (10); said at least part of the control electronics (22) integrated in the second housing (20) is arranged between the second loudspeaker (21) and the rear face of the second housing (20);and because, both in the first casing (10) and in the second casing (20), the perimeter wall (3) includes at least one crushable region (4) in the transverse direction (Z), the average thickness of the perimeter wall (3) in the crushable region (4) being less than the average thickness of the rest of the perimeter wall (3), said crushable region (4) being an annular region of the perimeter wall (3) interposed between the front wall (1) and the rear wall (2).; 2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the crushable region (4) is a region of the perimeter wall (3) inclined with respect to the transverse direction (Z).

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the crushable region (4) is a bevel, or a rounded chamfer of the first or second housing (10, 20), where the perimeter wall (3) is connected to the outer perimeter of the front wall (1) and / or the rear wall (2), and / or a corrugated portion of the perimeter wall (3).

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least the perimeter wall (3) of the housing (10, 20) is made of plastic, ABS plastic or TPU plastic, and wherein the crushable region (4) has a minimum thickness equal to or less than 0.7 mm.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein at least the part of the front wall (1) other than the sound-permeable part and at least part of the rear wall (2) is also made of plastic, ABS plastic or TPU plastic.

6. The wireless communication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, at least in the first housing (10), at least a central part of the rear wall (2) is made of sheet metal with a thickness equal to or less than 0.3 mm or equal to or less than 0.2 mm.

7. The wireless communication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein both the first housing (10) and the second housing (20) are each made of a first half (M1) including the front wall (1) and a second half (M2) including the rear wall (2), contact surfaces (SC) between the first and second half (M1, M2) being joined, in less than half of their perimeter length, by means of welding points, ultrasonic welding points, welding lines and / or ultrasonic welding lines, discontinuous and spaced, favoring a breakage by the contact surfaces (SC) in case of accident.

8. The wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein the contact surfaces (SC) are not perpendicular to the transverse direction.

9. The wireless communication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein both the first housing (10) and the second housing (20) have a thickness equal to or less than 8 mm and are inscribed in a diameter equal to or less than 45 mm or equal to or less than 40 mm.

10. The wireless communication device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the battery (12) is completely contained within the first housing (10), completely contained in the projection of the first speaker (11) in the transverse direction (Z).

11. The wireless communication device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the control electronics (22) are completely contained within the second housing (20), completely contained in the projection of the second speaker (21) in the transverse direction (Z).

12. The wireless communication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one central sound-permeable region of the anterior wall (1) is an opening of the anterior wall (1) covered by a fabric with a hydrophobic treatment.

13. The wireless communication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the microphone (31) is integrated into a third housing (30) connected to the control electronics (22) via a cable.

14. The wireless communication device according to claim 13, wherein the third housing (30) integrates a housing facing the microphone (31), said housing containing a block of open-cell foam (32) press-fitted inside it as a wind filter.

15. The wireless communication device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the third housing (30) also integrates a battery charging port and / or a button (33) for controlling the communication device and / or a light indicating the operating status and / or the battery charging status.

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