HELMET AS IGNITION LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES AND A METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automobile safety device with smart ignition activation features, which belongs to the field of automobile safety equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lock, which shall check the presence or absence of helmet on rider's head by sensor and electronic means and allow the vehicle ignition only after confirmation that the rider has worn helmet. The present invention also relates to a method of operation of the helmet based ignition activation system.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Everybody knows the main function of helmet and its importance in protecting the head from injuries in case of accidents. It is of utmost importance for the safety of riders of motor cycle and other two wheelers. However, people avoid wearing helmets due to negligence or carelessness. There is hence, an unmet need for smart ignition activation system, more particularly a lock, which shall check the presence of helmet on rider's head by sensor and electronic means and allow the vehicle ignition only after confirmation that the rider has worn the helmet.
Various safety devices and features related to wearing helmets while driving motorcycles have been devised in the art, some of the measures are as follows:

CN201128456 relates to an intelligent motorcycle inserted bar helmet lock which consists of an inserted bar, fixedly connected with a motorcycle helmet, a lock body fixedly connected with a motorcycle, and a normally closed button switch movably contact with a lock tongue piece provided with a long lower end and arranged at the lock body. A lock bar is a metal material, so the theft proof performance is better than a helmet lock used for locking a motorcycle helmet. When the helmet is not taken down from the motorcycle, the lock tongue piece with the long lower end cannot press the button switch, and a motorcycle firing circuit is switched off, which can force a driver to wear the motorcycle helmet automatically when the motorcycle runs.

DEI9934188 provides a safety device for a motor cycling helmet comprising a transponder in the helmet which sends a signal when the helmet is correctly fitted which releases a lock on the starter or another section of the motor cycle. This may contain a recognition code and an alarm may be set off if this is not correct.

CN201377233 discloses a helmet motorcycle lock which comprises a switch, a resistance, a relay and a receiver. The helmet motorcycle lock is characterized in that a battery and a remote controller are mounted in the helmet of a motorcycle, and the receiver is mounted in a motorcycle body for reaching the purpose of using the helmet to control the start and the stop of the motorcycle. The helmet motorcycle lock has simple structure and manufacture, convenient installation and use and high assurance coefficient, and is not easy to be stolen.

CN201673 046 provides an automobile ignition lock detecting system, which comprises a microcontroller, a parameter input device and a display. A voltage and current detection device connected with the microcontroller consists of a high current generator which is used for providing various-gear detection current to an ignition lock of an automobile to be detected, the microcontroller is connected with a photoelectric isolator, the photoelectric isolator is connected with a key plug-pull driving device and an asynchronous motor rotary driving device, the asynchronous motor rotary driving device is connected with a key spindle rotary device, the key spindle rotary device is connected with an angle encoder and a torque sensor, and signal output ends of the angle encoder and the torque sensor are connected with the microcontroller. The automobile ignition lock detecting system has the advantages that the system is fast and efficient in detection, automatically stores technical parameters of products, has friendly human-computer interface, and the like.

TW201012684 discloses a motorcycle having a multifunctional safety helmet, comprising a motorcycle, a safety helmet, and a key. The safety helmet comprises a snap ring, a snap ring checking circuit, a control system, an alcohol sensor, a temperature sensor, and a fan. The motorcycle comprises a latch circuit. The alcohol sensor senses alcohol concentration of a user after the user wears the safety helmet. The snap ring checking circuit senses whether or not the snap ring of the safety helmet is tightly clasped by the user. After passing the sensing detections of the alcohol concentration and the snap ring, the key is inserted to start the motorcycle. Otherwise, if the sensing detections of the alcohol concentration and the snap ring failed, the latch circuit would lock the inserting hole of the motorcycle, and an audio reminding signal is sent by an audio system of the control system. When the temperature sensor detects the temperature inside the safety helmet being too high, a message then is transmitted to actuate the fan for lowering the temperature.

These devices have been very useful in assisting people in providing safety while driving motorcycles and two wheelers. However, there is no system or method in the art which compels the driver to wear helmet before starting to drive the vehicle so that mishaps and injuries due to accidents can be minimized.

There is hence, an unmet need of developing a system that is primarily designed to compel a driver to wear a helmet before he starts driving. There is also a need in the art to develop a method that uses a helmet as a ignition lock for automobiles by not letting the vehicle start before the driver wears the helmet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the aforementioned and other needs by providing a helmet based ignition lock for automobiles. The system is composed of a sensor for sensing presence of helmet on the rider's head, a controller to send the digital message to allow switching on the ignition and circuitry for the purpose.

Embodiment of the present invention provides a helmet based ignition lock system, wherein the helmet releases a signal showing the presence or absence of helmet on the rider's head. The helmet does not emit any signal, when rider wears the helmet. In contrast, it emits the signal to the controlling system, ignition system to lock the vehicle, when rider forgets to wear helmet.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a smart ignition activation system for checking presence of helmet on rider's head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a smart ignition lock, which shall allow ignition of fuel on confirmation of presence of helmet on rider's head by sensor and electronic means.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a smart ignition lock, which shall allow ignition in engine on confirmation of presence of helmet on rider's head by sensor and electronic means periodically.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system which can be fitted easily in the existing bikes and other vehicles and check the presence of helmet on the driver's head regularly.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a novel device which shall trigger alarm in case the rider removes the helmet after ignition is on and turn off the engine automatically.

It is still further object of the present invention to provide a novel device to prevent causalities due to accidents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates the basic circuit diagram of the wearable article (helmet) as ignition lock for automobiles in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an illustrative representation of the voltage regulator circuitry for the microcontroller.

Figure 3 is a flowchart describing the method of operation of the helmet based ignition activation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several illustrations shown in figures/examples. It is also understood that the terms "a", "an", "the" and like are words for the sake of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Moreover, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a particular exemplary embodiment of the invention and does not limit the invention thereto.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an automobile ignition activation system for checking presence of helmet on rider's head comprising at least one wearable article of the head, at least one microcontroller and at least one circuit.

The present invention provides an automobile safety device with smart ignition activation features. It relates to a lock, which shall check the presence or absence of helmet on rider's head by sensor and electronic means and allow the vehicle ignition only after confirmation that the rider has worn helmet. The present invention also relates to a method of operation of the helmet based ignition activation system. For providing automobile safety device, the helmet is worn like any other ordinary helmet by the rider, with the addition of an infrared sensor embedded in the helmet. The main advantage of the present invention is that the system can easily be incorporated to new as well as existing motorcycles. The system is integrated in the motorcycle. The system is designed in a cost effective manner, thus can be afforded by the common man and is a good substitute for people who drive motorcycles carelessly without wearing helmets.

Non-limiting illustrations of the automobile ignition activation system of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Turning to Figures 1 to 3, the invention provides an automobile ignition activation system (100) for checking presence of helmet on rider's head comprising at least one wearable article of the head, at least one microcontroller (110) and at least one circuit.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one wearable article of the head is a motorcycle helmet which is further characterized by the presence of a plurality of infrared (IR) sensors (120, 130) embedded in it. The plurality of infrared sensors (120, 130) continuously senses the infrared light. The plurality of infrared (IR) sensors (120, 130) provides signal to the at least one microcontroller (110). Any microcontroller can be used for this purpose. However, preferably, Atmega 168 microcontroller is used in the present invention. The at least one microcontroller (110) activates at least one relay (140) connected to the ignition box (CDI box) of the motorcycle. The at least one circuit further comprises at least one buzzer (150), at least one relay (140), at least one regulator, a plurality of infrared sensor inputs, and the like. Figure 1 provides the circuit diagram of the helmet as ignition lock for automobiles.

The at least one circuit is fixed in the motorcycle. The circuit also has a power on reset circuit. The at least one circuit receives power supply from the motorcycle battery. A voltage regulator circuitry is provided to convert higher voltage to lower voltage for the controller for its proper functioning. Figure 2 provides the voltage regulator circuitry of the present invention.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of checking the presence of helmet on the rider's head (Fig. 3). The plurality of infrared sensor embedded in the at least one wearable article of the head i.e., helmet, continuously senses the infrared light when it is not worn by the rider (160). As soon as the rider wears the at least one wearable article of the head, the infrared light is blocked (170). Thus, the plurality of infrared sensors embedded in the at least one wearable article of the head transmits signal to the at least one microcontroller (180). This in turn activates the at least one relay connected to the ignition box in the motorcycle by the at least one microcontroller (190). Thus, the circuit is completed and the motorcycle starts (200). In case the rider removes the helmet, the buzzer automatically starts buzzing and warns the rider to wear it (210).

Exemplary illustrations of the operation of the present invention, the practice of its art and the rendering and enablement of the disclosed invention are described in the aforementioned examples. In addition to the preferred modes of operation, a practitioner of sufficient skill in the art will appreciate that the metes and bounds of the present invention are not limited by the specific instances described herein, rather are defined by the equivalents provided by the claims of the present invention.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.

CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. An automobile ignition activation system (100) for checking presence of helmet on rider's head comprising:

at least one wearable article of the head; at least one microcontroller (110); and at least one circuit.

2. The automobile ignition activation system (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one wearable article of the head is a motorcycle helmet further characterized by the presence of a plurality of infrared sensors (120, 130) embedded in it.

3. The automobile ignition activation system (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one microcontroller (110) activates at least one relay (140) connected to the ignition box of a motorcycle.

4. The automobile ignition activation system (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit further comprises at least one buzzer (150), at least one relay (140), at least one regulator, a plurality of infrared sensor inputs, and the like.

5. The automobile ignition activation system (100) of claims 1 and 4, wherein the at least one circuit is fixed in the motorcycle.

6. The automobile ignition activation system (100) of claims 1, 4 and 5, wherein the at least one circuit receives power supply from the motorcycle battery.

7. A method of checking presence of helmet on rider's head, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing the infrared light continuously by the a plurality of infrared sensor embedded in the at least one wearable article of the head when it is not worn by the rider (160); blocking the infrared light when rider wears the at least one wearable article of the head (170);

transmitting signal to the at least one microcontroller by the a plurality of infrared sensor embedded in the at least one wearable article of the head (180);

activating at least one relay connected to the ignition box in the motorcycle by the at least one microcontroller (190);

completing the at least one circuit and starting the motorcycle (200); and
buzzing of buzzer automatically if the at least one wearable article of the head is removed
from the head and warning the rider to wear it (210).