Temperature regulating helmet system and methods thereof

Abstract

A helmet system includes an outer protective layer defining an inner cavity and an inner protective system positioned within the inner cavity. The inner protective system has a padding layer coupled to the outer protective layer. The helmet system also includes a temperature regulation system that has at least one temperature regulation element, a power source configured to provide electrical power to at least one temperature regulation element, and a sensor configured to generate an output signal based on a sensed temperature. The temperature regulation system also has a processor in communication with the sensor and the processor is configured to provide electrical power to at least one temperature regulation element responsive to the output signal exceeding a temperature threshold.

1 . A helmet system, comprising:
 an outer protective layer defining an inner cavity;   an inner protective system positioned within the inner cavity, the inner protective system having a padding layer coupled to the outer protective layer; and   a temperature regulation system comprising:
 at least one temperature regulation element configured to regulate temperature of at least a portion of the helmet system, 
 a power source configured to provide electrical power to the at least one temperature regulation element, 
 a sensor configured to generate an output signal based on a sensed temperature, and 
 a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to cause the power source to provide electrical power to the at least one temperature regulation element responsive to the output signal exceeding a temperature threshold. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature regulation element comprises a Peltier module configured to provide heating functionality, cooling functionality, or both heating and cooling functionality. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature regulation element comprises an electric sheet heating element having a flexible high-resistivity material. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature regulation element comprises an electrostatic fluid accelerator having corona electrodes and exciting electrodes positioned asymmetrically between adjacent corona electrodes. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a lithium-ion battery positioned within a protective enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet system of  claim 5 , wherein the protective enclosure further comprises a heat sink for thermal management. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a thermistor configured to detect temperature changes in the outer protective layer. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute a control algorithm that individually regulates temperature of multiple components of the helmet system based on different temperature thresholds for each component. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet system of  claim 8 , wherein the control algorithm utilizes machine learning techniques to optimize temperature regulation performance over time. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication system configured to wirelessly transmit temperature data to an external electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet system of  claim 10 , wherein the communication system operates via a Bluetooth protocol to establish a personal area network with the external electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . A method of regulating temperature in a helmet system, comprising:
 sensing a temperature of at least one of an ambient environment or a protective material of the helmet system using a sensor;   generating an output signal based on the sensed temperature;   comparing the output signal to a predetermined temperature threshold using a processor; and   responsive to the output signal exceeding the predetermined temperature threshold, activating at least one temperature regulation element to regulate temperature of at least a portion of the helmet system.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one temperature regulation element comprises a Peltier module configured to provide heating functionality, cooling functionality, or both heating and cooling functionality based on the direction of electrical current. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein activating the at least one temperature regulation element comprises reversing electrical current direction to the Peltier module to switch between heating and cooling modes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor comprises a thermistor positioned proximate to a protective material of the helmet system, and wherein the protective material has a known ductile-brittle transition temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined temperature threshold is set based on the ductile-brittle transition temperature of the protective material to maintain the protective material in a ductile state. 
     
     
         17 . A temperature regulation system for a helmet, comprising:
 a plurality of temperature regulation elements positioned within or coupled to the helmet, each temperature regulation element configured to regulate temperature;   a power source configured to provide electrical power to the plurality of temperature regulation elements;   a sensor network comprising at least one temperature sensor configured to monitor temperature conditions; and   a control system comprising a processor configured to execute a control algorithm that selectively activates individual temperature regulation elements of the plurality of temperature regulation elements based on temperature data from the sensor network.   
     
     
         18 . The temperature regulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of temperature regulation elements comprises at least one Peltier module and at least one electric sheet heating element. 
     
     
         19 . The temperature regulation system of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one Peltier module is configured to provide heating functionality, cooling functionality, or both heating and cooling functionality by reversing electrical current direction. 
     
     
         20 . The temperature regulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the control algorithm utilizes artificial intelligence techniques to optimize temperature regulation performance based on real-time temperature data and material properties of the helmet.