U.S. patent application number 10/227446 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-26 for self-tinting helmet visor and method of making same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. Invention is credited to Bruegl, Juergen.
Application Number | 20040034898 10/227446 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31887466 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040034898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bruegl, Juergen |
February 26, 2004 |
Self-tinting helmet visor and method of making same
Abstract
Helmet visor with a solar cell device that is arranged directly
on the helmet visor, wherein the helmet visor can be darkened or
tinted through voltage that is generated by a solar cell device and
loses its tint that has been created by the voltage in the
de-energized state.
Inventors: |
Bruegl, Juergen; (Los Altos,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CROWELL & MORING LLP
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
P.O. BOX 14300
WASHINGTON
DC
20044-4300
US
|
Assignee: |
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
|
Family ID: |
31887466 |
Appl. No.: |
10/227446 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/9 ; 2/424 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 9/022 20130101;
A42B 3/226 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/9 ; 2/424 |
International
Class: |
A42B 001/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Helmet visor, wherein a solar cell device is arranged directly
on or adjacent the helmet visor, and wherein the helmet visor can
be darkened or tinted via voltage generated by the solar cell
device and loses tint that has been created by the voltage in a
de-energized state.
2. Helmet visor according to claim 1, wherein the helmet visor
contains a transparent carrier body, onto which an electrically
darkenable layer is applied or into which the electrically
darkenable layer is integrated.
3. Helmet visor according to claim 2, wherein the layer is tinted
in color in accordance with an amount of the voltage generated by
the solar cell device.
4. Helmet visor according to claim 3, wherein the layer can be
continuously tinted.
5. Helmet visor according to claim 3, wherein the darkenable layer
is an electrically darkenable film, which is flexible, and which
has been applied to the carrier body and is electrically connected
with the solar cell device.
6. Helmet visor according to claim 4, wherein the darkenable layer
is an electrically darkenable film, which is flexible, and which
has been applied to the carrier body and is electrically connected
with the solar cell device.
7. Helmet visor according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell device
contains one or more solar cells.
8. Helmet visor according to claim 3, wherein the solar cell device
contains one or more solar cells.
9. Helmet visor according to claim 4, wherein the solar cell device
contains one or more solar cells.
10. Helmet visor according to claim 5, wherein the solar cell
device contains one or more solar cells.
11. Helmet visor according to claim 2, wherein the solar cell
device is a flexible solar cell film, which has been applied onto
the carrier body of the helmet visor.
12. Helmet visor according to claim 3, wherein the solar cell
device is a flexible solar cell film, which has been applied onto
the carrier body of the helmet visor.
13. Helmet visor according to claim 4, wherein the solar cell
device is a flexible solar cell film, which has been applied onto
the carrier body of the helmet visor.
14. Helmet visor according to claim 5, wherein the solar cell
device is a flexible solar cell film, which has been applied onto
the carrier body of the helmet visor.
15. Helmet visor according to claim 7, wherein the solar cell
device is a flexible solar cell film, which has been applied onto
the carrier body of the helmet visor.
16. Helmet visor according to claim 11, wherein the helmet visor
contains a lower edge area close to a chin and an upper edge area
close to a forehead, and wherein the solar cell film is arranged in
the upper edge area close to the forehead or in the lower edge area
close to the chin of the helmet visor.
17. Helmet visor according to claim 11, wherein the solar cell film
takes on a shape of a strip, which extends substantially
transversely across the upper edge area close to the forehead of
the helmet visor.
18. Helmet visor according to claim 16, wherein the solar cell film
takes on a shape of a strip, which extends substantially
transversely across the upper edge area close to the forehead of
the helmet visor.
19. Helmet, comprising a helmet visor, wherein a solar cell device
is arranged directly on or adjacent the helmet visor, and wherein
the helmet visor can be darkened or tinted via voltage generated by
the solar cell device and loses tint that has been created by the
voltage in a de-energized state.
20. Helmet visor according to claim 19, wherein the helmet visor
contains a transparent carrier body, onto which an electrically
darkenable layer is applied or into which the electrically
darkenable layer is integrated.
21. Helmet visor according to claim 20, wherein the layer is tinted
in color in accordance with an amount of the voltage generated by
the solar cell device.
22. Helmet visor according to claim 21, wherein the layer can be
continuously tinted.
23. Helmet visor according to claim 21, wherein the darkenable
layer is an electrically darkenable film, which is flexible, and
which has been applied to the carrier body and is electrically
connected with the solar cell device.
24. Helmet visor according to claim 20, wherein the solar cell
device is a flexible solar cell film, which has been applied onto
the carrier body of the helmet visor.
25. Helmet visor according to claim 24, wherein the helmet visor
contains a lower edge area close to a chin and an upper edge area
close to a forehead, and wherein the solar cell film is arranged in
the upper edge area close to the forehead or in the lower edge area
close to the chin of the helmet visor.
26. Helmet, comprising a helmet visor, wherein the helmet visor
contains a transparent carrier body, onto which an electrically
darkenable layer is applied or into which the electrically
darkenable layer is integrated.
27. Glasses, comprising a solar cell device which is arranged
directly on the glasses and lenses can be darkened or tinted via an
voltage that is generated by the solar cell device and lose tint
that has been created by the voltage in a de-energized state.
28. Helmet visor, wherein the helmet visor contains a transparent
carrier body, onto which an electrically darkenable layer is
applied or into which the electrically darkenable layer is
integrated.
29. A tintable transparent assembly, comprising: a transparent
material, a tintable layer arranged in or on the transparent
material and capable of tinting or darkening a field of view of the
transparent material, and a solar cell device arranged on or
adjacent the transparent material, the tintable layer being
darkened or tinted via voltage generated by the solar cell device,
wherein the tintable material substantially loses the darkening or
tinting in a de-energized state.
30. A method of making a helmet visor, comprising: providing the
helmet visor which is operatively darkenable or tintable via
voltage, and arranging a solar cell device directly on or adjacent
the helmet visor, wherein the voltage is operatively generated by
the solar cell device, and the helmet visor operatively loses tint
that has been operatively created by the voltage in a de-energized
state.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a self-tinting helmet
visor, a helmet with a self-tinting helmet visor, as well as
goggles or glasses.
[0002] Helmets with tinted visors are known from various fields,
e.g. the motorcycle sector or automobile racing. Furthermore, we
know of jet pilot helmets from the military sector, which are also
equipped with tinted visors. For quite some time, goggles with
self-tinting lenses have also been available, which "automatically"
become darker with increasing brightness. The tint of the lenses
however changes at times only relatively slowly.
[0003] It is an aspect of the invention to create a helmet visor or
goggles whose tint adjusts automatically and as quickly as possible
to the respective brightness situation.
[0004] This aspect is resolved in that a solar cell device is
arranged directly on or adjacent the helmet visor and glasses or
lenses, wherein the helmet visor and the glasses or lenses can be
darkened or tinted via voltage generated by the solar cell device
and lose the tint that has been created by the voltage in a
de-energized state. Beneficial embodiments and further developments
of the invention are revealed hereinbelow.
[0005] A basic principle of certain preferred embodiments of the
invention is a self-tinting helmet visor with a tinting liquid
crystal layer (Liquid Crastal), which is supplied with power by a
solar cell device. The solar cell device is arranged directly on
the helmet visor. By "supplying power" to the tinting layer, the
tint can be increased. The tint of the electrically darkened layer
can preferably be adjusted continuously, i.e., steadily.
[0006] In the de-energized state, the helmet visor exhibits its
maximum transparency, i.e., its lowest tint or no tint at all. By
applying voltage, the tint can be increased. In case of failure of
the power supply to the helmet visor, on the other hand, the tint
automatically disappears, ensuring the unobstructed view of the
wearer of the helmet.
[0007] Pursuant to a further development of certain preferred
embodiments of the invention, the helmet visor is made of a
transparent support element, on the surface of which an
electrically darkened layer is applied. Alternatively, the
electrically darkened layer can also be integrated in the
transparent support body and be connected electrically with a solar
cell device.
[0008] The helmet visor is a completely "self-sufficiently"
functioning component. Electrical connections from the helmet visor
to the helmet or other components are not required. In particular,
no battery is necessary. The required current and/or the necessary
voltage are supplied directly by the solar cells, which are
arranged in or on the helmet visor. Conventional helmets can
therefore be retrofitted with such a visor without difficulty.
[0009] Depending upon the brightness conditions, the solar cell
device provides more or less voltage. According to the ambient
brightness or the voltage, a more or less strong tinting of the
helmet visor occurs. The voltage is largely proportional to the
currently required visor tint. The solar cell device and the
self-tinting layer may be coordinated with each other such that the
wearer of the helmet experiences a substantially consistent
"transparency" of the helmet visor as a function of the brightness
conditions.
[0010] Pursuant to a further development of certain preferred
embodiments of the invention, the tinted layer is formed by an
electrically darkenable flexible liquid crystal film. Such tinting
films are available, for example, from AlphaMicron, Inc. The
brightness of such tinting films can be varied within a broad range
by changing the applied voltage. A considerable advantage of such
tinted films is their very short response time. Within a few
milliseconds, the tint adjusts accordingly to the ambient
brightness. With such a tinted film, a nearly consistent tint can
be guaranteed in the visual field of the visor wearer even during a
drive in an avenue with trees with varying light conditions.
[0011] The tinted film can be applied directly on the transparent
visor carrier body. Alternatively, the electrically darkenable
flexible tinting film can also be incorporated between two
transparent carrier body layers, which protects the tinting film
better against damage. The tinting film is connected, for example,
via strip conductors electrically with the solar cell device, which
is also provided directly on or in the helmet visor.
[0012] The solar cell device can be formed by a flexible film as
well. Such films with solar cells are state of the art and are
offered, for example, by Iowa Thin Film Technologies Inc.
[0013] The "solar cell film" preferably takes on the shape of a
strip. The strip can be arranged transversely in the upper edge
area of the visor, i.e. above the self-tinting film. The solar cell
strip can have a width of 10 mm for example. The solar cells are
also preferably arranged on the visor on the "periphery" of the
field of vision of the wearer of the helmet. They do not impair the
field of vision of the visor wearer, or only do so
insignificantly.
[0014] Although in the description so far only a helmet visor was
mentioned, it is expressly pointed out that the invention can also
be used in other areas. For example, goggles or glasses, such as
sunglasses, window panes or car windows, sliding roofs etc. can be
equipped with a solar cell arrangement and a tinting layer that is
electrically connected with it, wherein the tint changes as a
function of the voltage that is applied.
[0015] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a helmet visor;
[0017] FIG. 2 shows goggles or glasses; and
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a helmet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a helmet visor 1, which is fastened to a helmet
10 via joints 2, 3. In the area of its lateral ends, the visor
contains a guide groove 4, 5, respectively, with which the visor is
guided on the helmet during opening or closing.
[0020] In the field of vision 6, the helmet visor 1 contains an
electrically tintable layer 7, the outline of which is indicated
here by a dotted line. The electrically tintable layer can also
extend across the entire range of the helmet visor 1. It can be
applied either onto the surface of the transparent visor base body,
or be incorporated in the visor base body. The electrically
tintable layer 7 is connected e.g. via strip conductors 11
electrically with a solar cell arrangement 8. The solar cell
arrangement 8 can also be formed by a solar cell film. It can also
be installed directly upon the exterior of the helmet visor. The
solar cell arrangement 8 here takes on the shape of a strip. The
strip extends transversely along the upper, end face edge of the
helmet visor roughly across the entire visor width.
[0021] In accordance with the brightness of the environment, the
solar cell film creates voltage. The electrically tintable layer is
darkened more or less as a function of the amount of voltage. In a
very bright environment, e.g. solar radiation, the solar cell film
generates a high voltage and the electrically tintable layer
darkens accordingly. With less brightness, the voltage and
therefore the tint of the helmet visor is less. In case of failure
or malfunction of the solar cell film or the connecting lines
between the solar cell film and the electrically tintable layer, it
loses its tint. In the de-energized state, it is thus ensured that
the view of the wearer or the visor is not impaired.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a pair of glasses or goggles. The solar cell
arrangement 8 may be positioned above the lenses, across the top of
the glasses, or in another convenient location. The tintable layer
7 is integrated into the lenses but may also be applied to an
inside or outside surface of the lenses.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a helmet 10. The solar cell is arranged in a
lower edge area of the visor 1 close to the chin of the helmet
visor. The solar cell arrangement 8 may also be arranged at an
upper edge area close to the forehead of the visor, as in FIG.
1.
[0024] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to
illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since
modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the invention should be construed to include everything within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *