Combination of head-protective gear, functional unit and antenna, assembly formed by a head-protective gear and an antenna, and assembly formed by a functional unit and an antenna

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination (100) of a head-protective gear (102) manufactured using at least one material having an electrical conductivity which, with regard to radio communication, preferably is not negligible, a functional unit (104) attached to or adapted and intended to be attached to the head-protective gear (102), and an antenna (106) adapted and intended to receive and / or transmit radio signals and mounted or adapted and intended to be mounted at the outside of the head-protective gear (102) and connected or adapted and intended to be connected to the functional unit (104). According to the invention the antenna (106) comprises a base plate (108) which is in at least a portion (108a) thereof electrically conductive and which is adapted and intended to be arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined surface section (102a, 102c) of the head-protective gear (102), and a planar antenna element (110) projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate (108).

Description

[0001] Combination of Head-protective Gear, Functional Unit and Antenna, Assembly formed by a Head-protective Gear and an Antenna, and Assembly formed by a Functional Unit and an Antenna

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a combination of a head-protective gear manufactured using at least one material having an electrical conductivity which, with regard to radio communication, preferably is not negligible, a functional unit attached to or adapted and intended to be attached to the head-protective gear, and an antenna adapted and intended to receive and / or transmit radio signals and mounted or adapted and intended to be mounted at the outside of the head-protective gear and connected or adapted and intended to be connected to the functional unit.

[0004] Such a combination is known, for example, from the field of communication between motorcyclists, i.e. a field in which the head-protective gear is a motorcycle helmet and the functional unit is a communication unit. Even though the invention will be explained below with reference to this type of use in order to facilitate understanding, this is in no way to be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present application. On the contrary, the invention can also be used with advantage for other types of head- protective gears and functional units, as will be explained below in more detail. Such head-protective gears can provide the ability to carry different types of equipment, such as the below-mentioned examples of the functional unit.

[0005] In particular, in order to reduce their weight, head-protective gears are increasingly being manufactured using carbon fibers or other light-weight material, as they further provide a relatively good protection at an impact. However, since carbon fibers or other types of material may have a certain, radio communication-wise not negligible electrical conductivity, they influence the transmission of radio waves. In practice, this can lead to a deterioration in the transmission and / or reception properties of the functional unit.

[0006] It is the object of the present invention to remedy this situation.

[0007] This object is achieved by a combination of the afore-mentioned type, wherein the antenna comprises a base plate which is in at least a portion thereof electrically conductive and which is adapted and intended to be arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined surface section of the head-protective gear, and a planar antenna element projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate.

[0008] The base plate, which runs locally substantially parallel to the surface of the head-protective gear, provides a defined environment for the antenna element in terms of conductivity due to the fact that it is made from metal, e.g. copper, and thus has due to its metallic nature a higher electrical conductivity than the electrical conductivity of the carbon fibers or the like material having a non-negligible electrical conductivity. In addition, the planar design of the antenna element provides a preferred radiation direction for the radio waves, whereby the orthogonal arrangement of the planar antenna element relative to the base plate further supports this preferred radiation direction. Overall, this results in a combination of head-protective gear, functional unit and antenna that has good radiation properties despite the fact that the head-protective gear is manufactured using carbon fibers or the like material.

[0009] Particularly good radiation properties can be achieved, for example, if the antenna element is an, optionally planar, inverted-F antenna. Good radiation properties are particularly advantageous when the signal transmission has to cover large distances. For example, communication between motorcyclists riding in a group is not a problem due to the short distances involved. However, in order to ensure good transmission quality even if the group decides to ride at longer distances between each other or disconnect or reconnect from a larger distance, or if a motorcyclist is separated from his group, for example by a red traffic light, it is proposed to optimize the alignment of the antenna element for this case. For example, the extension direction of the antenna element may enclose with the forwardbackward direction of the head-protective gear an angle of 45° at maximum, preferably of 25° at maximum. For example, the antenna element may extend substantially parallel to a lower edge of the head-protective gear.

[0010] In view of good radiation properties, it is further suggested that the functional device can be arranged on at least one of a right side surface, a left side surface and a top surface of the head-protective gear.

[0011] In this way, transmission ranges of more than 1 km, preferably more than 1.2 km, even more preferably more than 1.6 km, can be achieved.

[0012] Just for the sake of completeness and clarity it should be noted that a front side of the head-protective gear is the side allocated to the user’s face and e.g. carrying the visor. Analogously, the left and right side surfaces are allocated to the user’s cheeks, a back surface is allocated to the back of the user’s head, a lower surface open to allow insertion of the user’s head.

[0013] A simple, yet robust design of the antenna element can be achieved when the antenna element is provided on an antenna plate projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate. For example, the antenna plate can include a circuit board, an electrically conductive structure provided thereon forming the antenna element. A compact design of the functional unit and the antenna can be obtained when the base plate carries at least part of the electronic circuit of the functional unit.

[0014] In order to reduce the wind resistance despite of the antenna element orthogonally projecting from the head-protective gear’s surface, it is suggested that the functional device is arranged at least partially in a recess provided in an outer surface of the head-protective gear. This feature further helps to make the antenna and the functional unit less prone to falling off from the head-protective gear and / or to obey to regulatory limitations, e.g. the regulations of ECE 22.06, and / or to provide an aesthetic appearance. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the functional unit can have an aerodynamic design in order to minimize the wind resistance thereof.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the functional device can be at least one of a communication device, an audio player, a camera and a crash detector. If embodied as a communication unit, it can use a wireless transmission technology, e.g. Bluetooth® technology, cellphone communication technology and pack network technology. In other words, the communication unit may, according to one embodiment, be a phone, e.g. a cell phone. If embodied as a crash detector, the functional unit can obtain data from one or more of the following sensors: accelerometer, IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), gyro, GPS (Global Positioning System), biometric sensors, such as vitality signs sensors and the like. Additionally, it can obtain data from other sources, like the vehicle sensors such as the speedometer or a brake sensor, or from a smart phone or smart watch etc.

[0016] With respect to the term “pack network technology” it shall be added that this term refers to all types of specific network features manufactured and distributed by the applicant of the present invention, such as mesh technology, or network created using repeaters. Furthermore, the head-protective gear can be a helmet worn when driving / riding a vehicle or when practicing a sport or a safety helmet. As examples for vehicles a motorcycle, a bicycle, an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) and a UTV (UTility Vehicle) can be named. Examples for sports can be ski and mountain climbing. And examples for safety applications can be application at construction sites and for fire brigades and / or police forces. These can benefit from having functional elements attached to a helmet because of its location higher than other garments, less prone to impact, etc.

[0017] Moreover, it shall be added that, if the material of the outer shell of the head- protective gear is made of has a sufficiently pronounced electrical conductivity, it is conceivable to use an adjacent surface section of the head- protective gear as the base plate of the antenna.

[0018] In some of the afore-mentioned applications, the reason for the deterioration in the transmission and / or reception properties of the functional unit may not be the conductivity of the head-protective gear, but the proximity of the wearer’s head. In particular, some head-protective gears have (dedicated) pockets for putting / inserting loudspeakers. Such pockets can be at head- protective gears for different kinds of sports such as ski, cycling, mountaineering, rock climbing, water sports, motorcycling or off road motorcycles, for working safety helmets or security forces helmets. At some embodiments a communications system may be integrated into the same unit with at least one of the loudspeakers, and may have an antenna embedded within; then, placing the unit or units in such a pocket or pockets can result in its relative proximity to the wearer’s head which may result in limiting the range of the communications, as mentioned above. Therefore, at such circumstances embedding the proposed solution of a fin-like shaped antenna as proposed in the context of the present application can result in an extension of the communications range. At some embodiments the fin-like shaped antenna can be placed within the integrated unit on its outer side, or outside of the integrated unit. At some embodiments the fin-like shaped antenna’s base can be placed substantially parallel to the wearer's head when the unit is placed in a head-protective gear or in a dedicated pocket.

[0019] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a functional unit including an antenna comprising at least one antenna feature according to the invention and adapted for being coupled to a head-protective gear comprising at least one head-protective gear feature according to the invention, and optionally comprising at least one functional unit feature according to the invention.

[0020] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a head-protective gear including an antenna comprising at least one antenna feature according to the invention and adapted for being coupled to a functional unit comprising at least one functional unit feature according to the invention, and optionally comprising at least one head-protective gear feature according to the invention.

[0021] The subject-matters of all three aspects include the central idea of the invention, namely the use of an antenna comprising a base plate which is in at least a portion thereof electrically conductive and which is adapted and intended to be arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined surface section of the head-protective gear, and a planar antenna element projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate.

[0022] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail referring to the attached drawings, in which

[0023] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a motorcycle helmet as an example of a head-protective gear according to the invention; and Figure 2 shows a schematic sketch of the structure of an inverted-F antenna which, in the context with the present invention, can be used as an antenna element.

[0024] In Figure 1 , a combination according to the invention is designated by reference numeral 100. The combination 100 comprises a head-protective gear 102, a functional unit 104 and an antenna 106.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the head-protective gear 102 is formed by a motorcycle helmet, and the functional unit 104 is a communication unit which is connected to one or more loudspeakers (not shown) and one or more microphones (not shown). Motorcycle helmets with permanently installed or removable functional units are known per se in the art and will therefore not be described in more detail here.

[0026] According to the invention, the head-protective gear 102 is manufactured using carbon fibers. Due to the electrical conductivity of carbon fibers, this can affect the transmission / reception behavior of the functional unit 104. To compensate for this effect, a special antenna 106 is provided, namely a planar antenna, preferably a planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA), shown in more detail in Figure 2.

[0027] The antenna 106 comprises a base plate 108 which, in at least a portion 108a thereof, is electrically conductive and which is adapted and intended to be arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined surface section 102a of the head-protective gear 102, e.g. a side surface 102a of the head-protective gear 102, and a planar antenna element 110 projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate 108.

[0028] Both the base plate 108 and the antenna element 110 are manufactured on the basis of a printed circuit board 112, 114, i.e. starting from a planar dielectric sheet which is coated on its front side and / or its rear side with a metal, for example copper. Using techniques known per se, the electrically conductive section 108a of the base plate 108, which serves as the conductive ground plane of the antenna 106, and the inverted-F structure of the antenna element 110 are obtained starting from such printed circuit boards.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the inverted-F structure of the antenna element 110 comprises the actual antenna section 110a, the feed line 110b and the short- circuit section 110c.

[0030] The feed line 110b passes through the ground plane 108a of the antenna 106 without being conductively connected thereto, and is connected to the electronic circuitry 104a of the functional unit 104 in order to receive the signals to be transmitted therefrom or to forward the received signals thereto. For example, the components 104a1 of the electronic circuitry 104a may be arranged on the same side of the base plate 108 as the antenna element 110, while the printed circuitry lines 104a2 may be provided on the opposite side of the base plate.

[0031] The short-circuit section 110c is conductively connected to the ground plane 108a.

[0032] Projections 110d are used, on the one hand, to connect the ground plane 108a to the ground potential and, on the other hand, to attach the antenna element 110 to the base plate 108.

[0033] In order to protect the antenna 106 and the functional unit 104, as well as for aesthetical reasons, a housing 116 (see Figure 2) may be provided.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the functional unit 104 and the antenna 106 are combined to form an assembly 120, which can be detachably connected to the head-protective gear 102. For example, the assembly 120 can be inserted into a recess 102b of the head-protective gear 102 provided for this purpose, in which all the electrical connections required for connection to the components of the head-protective gear 102, i.e. the loudspeakers and microphone(s) (not shown) provided in the head-protective gear 102, are located. The recess 102b is provided in a side surface 102a of the head-protective gear 102.

[0035] According to an alternative, however, it is also conceivable to combine the head-protective gear 102 and the antenna 106 to form an assembly 130 to which the functional unit 104 can be detachably connected. To illustrate this alternative as well, an antenna 106', which is permanently connected to the head-protective gear 102, is indicated by a dashed line in Figure 1. The connection to the functional unit 104, which in this case does not need to have an antenna integrated and which can be detachably inserted into the recess 102b, is again made via connection lines (not shown). It should be noted that in this alternative, the antenna 106' is arranged on an upper side 102c of the head-protective gear 102.

[0036] It should also be added that the extension direction of the antenna element 110 encloses with the forward-backward direction FB of the head-protective gear 102 an angle a of 45° at maximum, preferably of 25° at maximum. Furthermore, the antenna element 110 extends substantially parallel to a lower edge 102d of the head-protective gear 102.

[0037] Finally, it is emphasized that the base plate 108 can be of any desired shape, not only the shape shown in Figure 1 .

[0038] The afore-described invention can be summarized by the following items:

[0039] Item 1 . A combination (100) of

[0040] • a head-protective gear (102) manufactured using at least one material having an electrical conductivity, • a functional unit (104) attached to or adapted and intended to be attached to the head-protective gear (102), and

[0041] • an antenna (106) adapted and intended to receive and / or transmit radio signals and mounted or adapted and intended to be mounted at the outside of the head- protective gear (102) and connected or adapted and intended to be connected to the functional unit (104), wherein the antenna (106) comprises a base plate (108) which is in at least a portion (108a) thereof electrically conductive and which is adapted and intended to be arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined surface section (102a, 102c) of the head-protective gear (102), and a planar antenna element (110) projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate (108).

[0042] Item 2. The combination according to item 1 , wherein the antenna element (110) is an, optionally planar, inverted-F antenna.

[0043] Item 3. The combination according to item 1 or item 2, wherein the extension direction of the antenna element (110) encloses with the forward-backward direction (FB) of the head- protective gear (102) an angle () of 45° at maximum, preferably of 25° at maximum. Item 5. The combination according to any of items 1 to 4, wherein the functional device (104) is arranged on at least one of the side surfaces (102a) or a top surface (102c) of the head- protective gear (102).

[0044] Item 6. The combination according to any of items 1 to 5, wherein the antenna element (110) is provided on an antenna plate (114) projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate (108).

[0045] Item 7. The combination according to item 6, wherein the antenna plate (114) includes a circuit board, an electrically conductive structure provided thereon forming the antenna element (110).

[0046] Item 8. The combination according to any of items 1 to 7, wherein the base plate (108) carries at least part of the electronic circuitry (104a) of the functional unit (104).

[0047] Item 9. The combination according to any of items 1 to 8, wherein the functional unit (104) is arranged at least partially in a recess (102b) provided in an outer surface of the head- protective gear (102).

[0048] Item 10. The combination according to any of items 1 to 9, wherein the functional unit (104) is at least one of a communication device, an audio player, a camera and a crash detector. Item 11 . The combination according to item 10, wherein communication unit (104) uses a wireless transmission technology, e.g. Bluetooth® technology, cellphone communication technology and pack network technology.

[0049] Item 12. The combination according to any of items 1 to 11 , wherein the head-protective gear (102) is a helmet worn when driving / riding a vehicle or when practicing a sport or a safety helmet.

[0050] Item 13. The combination according to any of items 1 to 12, wherein the electrical conductivity of the material used for manufacturing the head-protective gear is, with regard to radio communication, not negligible.

[0051] Item 14. An assembly (120) formed by a functional unit (104) comprising at least one functional unit feature of any of items 1 to 13 and an antenna (106) comprising at least one antenna feature of any of items 1 to 13 and adapted for being coupled to a head- protective gear (102) comprising at least one head-protective gear feature of any of items 1 to 13.

[0052] Item 15. An assembly (130) formed by a head-protective gear (102) comprising at least one head-protective gear feature of any of items 1 to 13 and an antenna (106) comprising at least one antenna feature of any of items 1 to 13 and adapted for being coupled to a functional unit (104) comprising at least one functional unit feature of any of items 1 to 13.

Claims

Claims1. A combination of• a head-protective gear manufactured using at least one material having an electrical conductivity,• a functional unit attached to or adapted and intended to be attached to the head-protective gear, and• an antenna adapted and intended to receive and / or transmit radio signals and mounted or adapted and intended to be mounted at the outside of the head-protective gear and connected or adapted and intended to be connected to the functional unit, wherein the antenna comprises a base plate which is in at least a portion thereof electrically conductive and which is adapted and intended to be arranged substantially parallel to a predetermined surface section of the head-protective gear, and a planar antenna element projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate.

2. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna element is an, optionally planar, inverted-F antenna.

3. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the extension direction of the antenna element encloses with the forward-backward direction of the head-protective gear an angle of 45° at maximum, preferably of 25° at maximum.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein the antenna element extends substantially parallel to a lower edge of the head-protective gear.

5. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the functional device is arranged on at least one of the side surfaces or a top surface of the head-protective gear.

6. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna element is provided on an antenna plate projecting substantially orthogonally from the base plate.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the antenna plate includes a circuit board, an electrically conductive structure provided thereon forming the antenna element.

8. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate carries at least part of the electronic circuit of the functional unit.

9. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the functional unit is arranged at least partially in a recess provided in an outer surface of the head -protective gear.

10. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the functional unit is at least one of a communication device, an audio player, a camera and a crash detector.11 . The combination according to claim 10, wherein communication unit uses a wireless transmission technology, e.g. Bluetooth® technology, cellphone communication technology and pack network technology.

12. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the head-protective gear is a helmet worn when driving / riding a vehicle or when practicing a sport or a safety helmet.

13. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductivity of the material used for manufacturing the head-protective gear is, with regard to radio communication, not negligible.

14. An assembly formed by a functional unit comprising at least one functional unit feature of claims 1 to 13 and an antenna comprising at least one antenna feature of claims 1 to 13 and adapted for being coupled to a head-protective gear comprising at least one head- protective gear feature of claims 1 to 13.

15. An assembly formed by a head-protective gear comprising at least one head-protective gear feature of claims 1 to 13 and an antenna comprising at least one antenna feature of claims 1 to 13 and adapted for being coupled to a functional unit comprising at least one functional unit feature of claims 1 to 13.

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