DE10330589A1 - Safety helmet for motor cycle and car racing drivers, has least one variable intensity light source with which brightness perceptible to the wearer of the helmet can be influenced - Google Patents

Abstract

The safety helmet (1) has at least one variable intensity light source (3) with which the brightness perceptible to the wearer of the helmet can be influenced. The light source is preferably arranged in the edge region of the viewing aperture. The light source contains one or more light emitting diodes and one or more light conductors.

Description

The invention relates to a protective helmet, especially for Motorcyclists and racing drivers, according to the preamble of the patent claim 1.

The causes of eye problems are diverse. In the first place is the so-called "sensory overload" of the visual organ the screen supported Office work approx. 90% of information on the eyes picked up. The visual organ takes up about a third of the total energy that during of the whole body in one working day is used up.

This energy is needed, among other things. for the so-called accommodation and the adaptation of the eye. accommodation of means the adaptation of the visual organ to different visual distances. The adaptation describes the adaptation of the eye to different ones Ambient brightness. The eye also needs energy for the Adjustment of visual acuity and color vision, i.e. the perception of different wavelengths of the Light. To support these functions, the surface of the eye is from a protective film made of tear fluid envelops.

Permanent and especially large fluctuations in brightness to lead also in traffic fatigue of the eye and increase the risk of accidents especially at high speeds and rapidly changing Lighting conditions. Motorcyclists and racing drivers are particularly affected, the while wear a hard hat while driving. Be in the driver's field of vision parts of the helmet. These are usually dark surfaces form a strong contrast to the bright field of vision of the surroundings and lead for fatigue of the eye. Even when driving in tunnels, the eye has to be relatively abrupt changing lighting conditions to adjust.

The object of the invention is Specify a hard hat that aims at the lighting conditions for the human eye during the Improve ride. Due to the improved lighting conditions should reduce glare effects on the one hand and reduce fatigue on the other Eyes in a row all the time changing light intensities be reduced.

This object is achieved by the Features of claim 1 solved.

Advantageous configurations and Developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Improving lighting conditions is essentially achieved through two measures. For the first at least one on the helmet, preferably inside the helmet Light source attached, the light fluctuations coming from the outside can compensate. The light sources can be of different colors are designed to address different eye sensitivities. To the second, the helmet is equipped with a visor whose transparency (translucency), can preferably be changed by an electrical signal. sensors the inside and outside are arranged on the helmet, constantly measure those of the wearer of the Helm's perceived brightness as well as the ambient brightness.

The light source can also be used when exiting tunnels be activated in order to have a "pre-adjusted" pupil when leaving the tunnel. This reduces the well-known glare problem.

This control of the transparency of the Visors are used on the one hand in strong sunlight, the Dim light and can also be activated in front of tunnel entrances to the Enlarging the pupil before entering the tunnel.

There are different types of Lighting control.

On the one hand, the control can be designed that she tries the illuminance in the helmet interior within certain limits (i.e. for the eye) to keep constant. This is especially important in order to the signs of fatigue of the eye. On the other hand, the control can be designed in this way in the event of strong light fluctuations, e.g. in tunnels, that Keep an eye on the coming change to "prepare" the light. In this second The case described is also primarily about the aspect of security.

In a third control case, is specifically about the visor is controlled, the immediate glare in direct sunlight to reduce or avoid.

The essential feature of the invention is therefore a helmet with controlled light sources (or supplied light) inside the helmet, the intensity of the light sources depending the ambient brightness, which is perceived by the wearer of the helmet Brightness or can be controlled in various ways, e.g. constant brightness inside the helmet, intensity control depending a known route, as white and / or colored light.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings. From the drawings and their description, further features, advantages and applications the invention.

Show it:

1 : the basic structure of the helmet with LED light sources;

2 : the basic structure of the helmet with optical fiber;

3 : Detailed principle of the helmet;

4 : Application example of the helmet for tunnel driving

5 : Application example of the helmet in changing light conditions;

6 : Clarification of the pupil size depending on the brightness.

With respect to the 1 and 3 is the helmet according to the invention 1 , which can have any commercial shape and design, preferably with a visor 2 provided, the transparency of which is changeable. The visor 2 can contain liquid crystals that are electrically controlled and thereby change their light transmission.

Inside the helmet 1 are light sources 3 arranged, which are preferably designed as light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light sources additionally illuminate the helmet zones visible from the helmet wearer. Both white and colored LEDs or mixed color versions can be used. Different colors can also be used to specifically address different eye sensitivities and color preferences of the user.

On the outside of the helmet 1 , preferably in the front area, is a brightness sensor 4a arranged. This sensor 4a continuously measures the current outside brightness, i.e. daylight, and sends the measured values to a control device 5 further.

Inside the helmet 1 is another brightness sensor 4b arranged. The light sensor 4b measures the overall brightness (intensity) of artificial and daylight, ie the brightness perceived by the wearer of the helmet. The sensor 4b is attached in such a way that the measuring point corresponds as closely as possible to the lighting conditions that the human eye 10 the home owner actually sees. The measured values of the sensor 4b are also the controller 5 fed.

The light sources 3 as well as the sensors 4a . 4b are over lines 6 with the control device 5 connected and are supplied with power via these lines. The control 5 takes the measurement data from the sensors 4am 4b and possibly the steep data from a central monitoring point and controls or regulates the transparency of the visor according to a predetermined program sequence 2 and / or the lighting in the helmet interior by the light source 3 , preferably depending on the measured values of one or both sensors 4a . 4b , By illuminating the inside of the helmet visible from the helmet wearer 1 With white or colored light, the contrast can be improved and at the same time, depending on the driver's needs or the situation, optimal color combinations can be set based on the driver's vision and psychology. In strong sunlight, the visor is also used 2 darkens. The illuminance through the light sources 3 or the transparency of the visor 2 can of course also be set manually by the user according to his needs.

For example, the following types of control of the helmet are provided, whereby the brightness inside the helmet by the additional light sources 3 and / or the electrically controlled visor 2 is changed:

• - constant Increasing the brightness inside the home by the light sources in different colours
• - Constant brightness in the interior (controlled system) by measuring the interior brightness by the sensor 4b
• - Control the brightness of the light source by measuring the outside brightness with the sensor 4a (controlled system)
• - Control of the brightness by position information, for example before entering a tunnel, that of the control 5 of the helmet from the outside
• - control of different colors

The energy supply for the light sources 3 and sensors 4a . 4b in the helmet 1 can either be done by a battery present in the helmet, preferably a rechargeable battery, or is carried out via an energy supply line 7 realized, the battery or the power generator is then external to the helmet in the vehicle or the helmet wearer. This has the additional advantage that the weight of the helmet 1 is not increased too much. The battery can, for example, by on the surface of the helmet 1 arranged solar cells can be charged.

If the battery is located in the helmet, this can be done via the supply lines 7 can be charged using a charger.

How out 2 can be seen inside the helmet 1 a reflector 9 be provided, which on the one hand prevents that from the light source 3 generated light 12 is emitted to the outside and on the other hand ensures uniform illumination of the inside of the home.

According to the design 3 includes the helmet 1 Instead of LEDs as a light source, at least one light guide 8th that feeds light into the home. This has the advantage that the light does not have to be generated in the helmet and thus there are few components and weight in the helmet. The controls too 5 can preferably in this embodiment outside the helmet 1 be arranged.

4 shows an application example of the helmet during tunnel driving. It is a schematic of a road 15 , a tunnel area 16 and the correspondingly changed intensity over the course of the road 17 the light source in the helmet 1 shown. The information that a tunnel entrance is imminent is communicated to the control of the helmet either manually by the user or by means of location information provided, for example, by a GPS receiver. Before entering the tunnel 16 becomes the helmet visor gradually darkened until the tunnel entrance is reached. This will make the eyes 10 gradually getting used to the lighting conditions in the tunnel. In the tunnel 16 immediately the full transparency of the visor 2 restored. Before exiting the tunnel, the intensity of the light sources 3 in the helmet raised to the eyes 10 to prepare the wearer for the upcoming light change. After leaving the tunnel, the intensity of the light sources is reduced again.

5 shows an application example of the helmet in changing light conditions. It is again a schematic course of the road 15 shown in which sections with low ambient brightness and high ambient brightness 19 alternate. The brightness felt by the driver is through the curve 20 shown schematically. These differences in brightness are compensated for by using the helmet according to the invention. The helmet wearer's perception of brightness then corresponds to the curve 21 , avoiding extreme eye adaptation processes. This significantly reduces eye fatigue.

6 illustrates the dependence of the pupil size 11 depending on the brightness perceived by the helmet wearer. With low basic brightness due to natural light 13 the pupil is very wide open, which results in a reduction in the depth of field and a greater number of accommodation processes for the eyes. With additional lighting 12 with the artificial light source 3 the overall brightness 14 increase, so that the pupil width is permanently reduced and the depth of field increases.

Basically intended by the invention can be achieved when compensating for the fluctuations in brightness the loss of information due to the "darkening" as far as possible is avoided. This is accomplished by making the brightness fluctuations not necessarily complete and without delay can be compensated, but the light fluctuations can do more or less, e.g. with a certain hysteresis or compensated for a transition delay become. This creates a compromise between the loss of information and reducing eye strain.

An important aspect of the invention lies in the interior lighting of the helmet to the contrast effects to improve. Because of the safety technology of a racing driver's helmet, the eyes are relatively deep inside the helmet. In the field of vision of the racing driver the inner helmet environment appears, which usually dark e.g. executed in black is. this leads to to a so-called "tunnel effect" and not optimized Contrast ratios. By the lightening or by lightening and the use of colored Can light very different and improved fields of view are now emerging. This visual impressions can now be adjusted due to daylight, route, and psychological situations.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

helmet

2

visor

3

light source

4

brightness sensor

5

Control / Stromveursorgung

6

cables (Sensors, light sources, visor)

7

Tax- and supply line

8th

optical fiber

9

reflector

10

eye

11

pupil size

12

beam of light d. light source

13

natural light

14

entire light

15

Road

16

tunnel

17

Intensity of the light source

18

section (bright)

19

section (dark)

20

perceived Light intensity without compensation

21

perceived Light intensity with compensation

Claims (16)

Protective helmet, in particular for motorcycles and racing drivers, characterized in that the helmet ( 1 ) at least one light source that can be changed in intensity ( 3 ) is arranged, through which the brightness perceived by the wearer of the helmet can be influenced. Protective helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source ( 3 ) is preferably arranged in the edge region of the viewing opening. Protective helmet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light source (3) comprises one or more light emitting diodes. Protective helmet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light source has one or more light guides ( 8th ) includes. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the light source (3) is white Light emits. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the light source (3) emits light with one or more colors. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that on the inside of the helmet ( 1 ) at least one brightness sensor ( 4b ) is arranged to measure the brightness perceived by the wearer of the helmet. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that on the outside of the helmet ( 1 ) at least one brightness sensor ( 4a ) is arranged to measure the ambient brightness. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a visor ( 2 ), whose transparency and / or color is changeable. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the visor ( 2 ) Has liquid crystals whose transparency can be influenced by electrical signals. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a control device ( 5 ) is provided, which measures the measured values of the brightness sensors ( 4a . 4b ) continuously recorded and based on a specified control program, depending on the measured values of the sensors, the intensity of the light source ( 3 ) and / or the translucency of the visor ( 2 ) controls or regulates. Protective helmet according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the control program is designed in such a way that the wearer of the helmet ( 1 ) perceived brightness is essentially kept at a constant, predetermined value. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the control program is designed such that the intensity of the light source ( 3 ) is kept essentially at a constant value. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the control program is designed such that the transparency of the visor ( 2 ) is reduced with increasing ambient brightness. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the control program is designed such that the transparency of the visor ( 2 ) reduced before entering a tunnel or a darkened building and set to the maximum value within the tunnel or building. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the control program is designed such that the intensity of the light source ( 39 is briefly raised above the set value when leaving a tunnel or a darkened building.