Augmented reality motorcycle helmet

Abstract

An augmented-reality helmet comprises a full-face motorcycle helmet with a look-down micro-display that projects a virtual image in-line with the helmet's chin bar. In order to accommodate the power requirements, the helmet includes a battery pack mounted at the base of the motorcyclist's skull. A wind turbine charges the batteries. Exhaust from the turbine is then deducted through the helmet to cool the battery pack and/or the motorcyclist's head. The turbine is controllable so that it can operate as a circulating fan to provide ventilation. A digital gyroscope provides a control input to a controller for operating a steerable headlight of the motorcycle to track the rider's head movements; and provides acceleration output to an algorithm that will contact emergency responders if the rider is non-responsive after a collision. A 170 degree rear-view camera is mounted within an aerodynamic fairing on the back of the helmet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet system for displaying information to a user comprising:
 an helmet outer shell;   a substantially transparent face shield attached to the helmet outer shell;   a chin bar disposed below the face shield, the chin bar having an outside surface facing away from the user and an inside surface facing toward the user;   a virtual image display mounted to the inside surface of the chin bar, said virtual image display adapted to display information to the user including navigational information, vehicle metric information and/or rear view image information, the virtual image display projecting information to the user as a virtual image passing through the chin bar, whereby the virtual image does not substantially reduce the user's field of view through the face shield.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a horizontal track mounted to the inside surface of the chin bar;   a track engaging member slidingly engaging the horizontal track, the virtual image display being mounted to the track engaging member, whereby the virtual image display may be positioned by the user along the horizontal track to a left-eye dominant position to a right-eye dominant position.   
     
     
         3 . The helmet system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a horizontal hinge member disposed between the virtual image display and the track engaging member, whereby the virtual image display may be tilted upwards or downwards to suit an individual user.   
     
     
         4 . The helmet system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the virtual image display is moveable vertically.   
     
     
         5 . The helmet system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a main control module carried outside the helmet outer shell, the main control module comprising an integrated circuit providing a smart phone data interface, a manual control interface and a wireless data link, the main control module being powered from a vehicle power system;   a helmet control module mounted within the helmet outer shell, the helmet control module comprising an integrated circuit providing a wireless data link for communicating with the main control module and a video controller processing information for display on said virtual image display, the helmet control module being powered from a battery pack;   
     
     
         6 . The helmet system of  claim 5 , wherein;
 the battery pack comprises a body having an arcuate profile conforming to a lower region of the helmet outer shell.   
     
     
         7 . The helmet system of  claim 6 , wherein;
 said battery pack is attached to the helmet outer shell in a region proximal the base of the user's neck extending substantially from ear-to-ear.   
     
     
         8 . The helmet system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first video camera mounted to the rear portion of the helmet outer shell.   
     
     
         9 . The helmet system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the helmet outer shell is formed with an aerodynamic spoiler located on the rear surface thereof, the spoiler also acting as a housing to surround and protect the first video camera.   
     
     
         10 . The helmet system of  claim 9 , wherein;
 the first video camera is mounted to pivot about a horizontal pivot attached to the helmet;   the spoiler is formed with a rearward-facing aperture having a vertically sliding lens port disposed therein; and   the first video camera is mounted with the lens of the camera extending through the lens port, whereby the camera may be adjusted by sliding the lens port vertically so that the first video camera rotates about the horizontal pivot.   
     
     
         11 . The helmet system of  claim 5 , further comprising;
 an air passageway inside the helmet outer shell, the air passageway having an intake port at a forward-facing surface of the helmet outer shell and an exhaust port facing inward toward the user, whereby ventilation may be provided to the user.   
     
     
         12 . The helmet system of  claim 11 , wherein;
 the battery pack has an interior passageway for cooling ventilation, the battery pack internal passageway having an inlet; and   the air passageway has an exhaust port cooperating with the battery pack internal passageway to provide cooling ventilation to the interior of the battery pack.   
     
     
         13 . The helmet system of  claim 11 , further comprising
 an air-powered generator disposed in the air passageway, the air-powered generator providing power to augment the battery pack   
     
     
         14 . The helmet system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the air-powered generator is reversible so that it is operated as a battery-powered fan to provide a cooling airflow to the user.