Helmet lighting system

Abstract

A lighting system adapted to mount on a motorcycle or bicycle helmet. The lighting system includes one or more accelerometers coupled to the helmet and a processor adapted to process the signals from the accelerometers. The accelerometers may be mounted to the helmet, or to the motorcycle or bicycle. The lighting system further includes a light mounted on the helmet that is responsive to the processed signal such that the light illuminates as result of a deceleration force. The system may also include filtering software to remove helmet motion artifact and other noise from the signal. Remote wheel speed indicators may also be used in conjunction with or in place of the accelerometers. Mounting tabs may also be included to releasably attach the lighting unit to the helmet.

1 . A lighting system adapted to mount on a helmet of a person riding a motorcycle or bicycle, comprising: 
 a first accelerometer coupled to the helmet;    a processor coupled to the first accelerometer, the processor adapted to process a signal from the first accelerometer; and    a light connected to the processor, the light being mounted on the helmet and responsive to the signal from the processor such that the light illuminates as result of a deceleration force.    
   
   
       2 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a power source coupled to the processor and light.  
   
   
       3 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a power switch coupled to the power source for turning the system on and off.  
   
   
       4 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a filter for filtering the signal from the first accelerometer.  
   
   
       5 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the filter comprises a low-pass filter.  
   
   
       6 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the low-pass filter is configured to remove helmet motion artifact.  
   
   
       7 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the filter further comprises a high-pass filter.  
   
   
       8 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the filter is configured to filter out data other than road noise.  
   
   
       9 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the processor is adapted to evaluate the processed road noise signal from the filter to determine if the rider is at rest.  
   
   
       10 . A lighting system as in  claim 9 , wherein the light is responsive to the processed signal such that the light turns on when the rider is at rest.  
   
   
       11 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the light comprises a first LED array.  
   
   
       12 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the light comprises a second LED array.  
   
   
       13 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the light comprises a pair of refracting lenses covering the first and second LED arrays.  
   
   
       14 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the lenses are positioned to generate light beams at a 45 degree angle.  
   
   
       15 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second LED array is spaced apart from the first LED array.  
   
   
       16 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second accelerometer, wherein the second accelerometer is positioned substantially perpendicular to the first accelerometer.  
   
   
       17 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first accelerometer is positioned substantially horizontally and the second accelerometer is positioned substantially vertically.  
   
   
       18 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the first and second accelerometers are dual-axis accelerometers that both measure accelerations in two orthogonal axes.    
   
   
       19 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a base configured to house the processor, accelerometer and light; and    a mounting tab attached to the helmet and configured to releasably attach the base to the helmet.    
   
   
       20 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the lighting system is self contained in the attachable base; and 
 wherein the base is configured to contour the external shape of the helmet.    
   
   
       21 . A lighting system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the accelerometer is mounted to a location on the motorcycle, the lighting system further comprising: 
 an RF transmitter connected to the accelerometer, the transmitter configured to send an RF signal having data acquired by the accelerometer;    an RF receiver connected to the processor on the helmet, the RF receiver configured to receive the emitted accelerometer signal for processing by the processor.    
   
   
       22 . A method for generating a brake light signal on a helmet adapted to be worn by a person operating a vehicle, comprising: 
 acquiring accelerometer data from one or more accelerometers coupled to the helmet;    filtering the accelerometer data;    comparing said filtered accelerometer data to a threshold value; and    sending a signal to turn said brake light on or off in response to the filtered accelerometer data crossing said threshold value;    wherein said brake light is positioned at a rearward section of the helmet.    
   
   
       23 . A method as recited in  claim 22 , wherein filtering the accelerometer data comprises applying a low pass filter to remove head and vibration induced artifact; and 
 wherein the filtered signal corresponds to deceleration and acceleration of the motorcycle.    
   
   
       24 . A method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein filtering the accelerometer data further comprises applying a filter to the acquired accelerometer data to obtain a road noise value imparted on the accelerometer.  
   
   
       25 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the brake light is turned on in response to a road noise value less than 1.2 times a calibrated road noise value.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for illuminating a portion of a helmet of a person riding a motorcycle, comprising: 
 means for measuring acceleration;    said acceleration measuring means being coupled to the helmet;    means for processing a signal from said acceleration measuring means; and    an illumination means positioned on a rearward portion of said helmet;    wherein the illumination means is responsive to the signal from the processing means such that the illumination means illuminates as result of a deceleration force on the helmet.    
   
   
       27 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the processing means comprises a filtering means.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the filtering means comprises a low-pass filter to remove helmet motion artifact from the acceleration signal.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the illumination means comprises a pair of horizontally spaced-apart LED arrays.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the means for measuring acceleration comprises one or more dual-axis accelerometers.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the means for measuring acceleration is positioned on the helmet.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the means for measuring acceleration is positioned on the motorcycle.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising an RF transmission means for sending the acceleration signal to the processing means.  
   
   
       34 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 31 , further comprising an attachment means for releasably attaching the apparatus to the helmet.  
   
   
       35 . A helmet lighting system for use on a vehicle, the lighting system comprising: 
 an accelerometer attached to the vehicle;    a transmitter for transmitting a signal from said accelerometer;    a receiver positioned on the helmet, the receiver adapted to detect the signal from the transmitter; and    a light connected to the receiver, the light responsive to the receiver signal such that the light illuminates as result a deceleration force on the vehicle.    
   
   
       36 . A system as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the transmitter and receiver communicate via an RF signal.  
   
   
       37 . A lighting system adapted to mount on a helmet of a person riding a motorcycle or bicycle, comprising: 
 a base;    a light housed within the base, the light configured to illuminate as result of a deceleration of the motorcycle or bicycle; and    a mounting tab adapted to be fixedly mounted on the helmet;    wherein the mounting tab is configured to mate with the base such that the base may be releasably attached to the helmet.