TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] The present disclosure relates to vehicle safety.

[0002] In particular, the present disclosure relates to a head protection device, a protection system and a head protection method.

[0003] Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to monitoring the correct wearing of a head protection device.

BACKGROUND

[0004] In many countries worldwide, local legislation requires the users or occupants of a two wheeled vehicle to wear a head protection device while operating the vehicle, in order to prevent or at least mitigate serious head trauma or head injuries in case of an accident. While such legislation regularly imposes a fine on a person not adhering to the local rules, a violation of such legislation often remains unpunished due to the sheer number of two wheeled traffic participants. In other words, police or local traffic regulation authorities may not be in a position to fine each such violation or at least a significant portion of such violations. The lack of adequate supervision and enforcement may thus result in vehicle users not respecting the helmet laws resulting in an increased number of injuries resulting from accidents, that would have been avoidable in case the traffic participant would have worn the helmet properly.

[0005] Likewise, some users of two wheeled vehicles choose to not wear the head protection device in a manner and way intended by the manufacturer of the helmet, thereby disrespecting the helmet laws as well. Here, the user deliberately wears the helmet in a wrongful manner, in order to appear wearing the helmet, so that in a superficial inspection by police or traffic authorities they may go unpunished, simply because the wrongful wearing is not apparent at first glance. Such wrongful positioning may e.g., be not completely putting the helmet onto the head, so that the helmet is not tightly fit around the head. Such may result in too lose a fit, so that the helmet does not provide its full protection in case of an accident. Such a wearing may be complemented by not closing a head band, or setting the head bent to loosely so that there is a risk that the helmet is falling off in case of an accident. Such a wrongful wearing may be motivated by the intention to overcome, e.g., heat build-up around the head when wearing the helmet, which is in particular relevant in countries with a high average temperature and significant traffic.

[0006] Further, users or occupants of a vehicle, e.g., drivers or passengers, may decide to not wear the helmet at all on their heads, but simply wear the helmet around, e.g., the elbow, fostered by the helmet strap around the arm while driving.

[0007] In addition to the increased personal health risk, increased risk of injuries and in particular the increased severity of traumas when not properly wearing a helmet may be a significant burden on the healthcare system of a particular country and/or insurance companies.

[0008] Thus, there may be a need to determine that a user of a vehicle is wearing a helmet when operating the vehicle.

[0009] Further, there may be a need to determine that the user of the vehicle is wearing the helmet properly, i.e., as intended by the manufacturer of the helmets, so that the helmet may provide optimal design protection.

[0010] Still further, there may be a need to initiate an action or response to the detection that the user of the vehicle is or is not correctly or properly wearing the helmet.

SUMMARY

[0011 ] At least one such need may be met by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are provided in the dependent claims and are explained in detail in the following description.

[0012] The present invention relates to a head protection device, a protection system and a head protection method and in particular to monitoring the correct wearing of the head protection device and initiating measures when an incorrect wearing of the head protection device is detected.

[0013] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a head protection device, comprising a chassis for accommodating at least a part of a head of a user of the head protection device, a sensor arrangement adapted to detect a wear status, wherein the wear status is indicative of whether or not the head protection device is correctly worn by the user, and a communication element adapted to transmit a signal to an external device and/or entity, wherein the signal comprises information indicative of the wear status. [0014] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a protection system, comprising a head protection device according to the present disclosure, and a vehicle to be operated and/or accommodated by the user of the head protection device wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle communication element adapted to transmit a vehicle signal to an external device and/or entity, wherein the vehicle signal comprises information indicative of an operation condition of the vehicle.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a head protection method, comprising the steps detecting a wear status of a head protection device worn by a user, wherein the wear status is indicative of whether or not the head protection device is correctly worn by the user; and transmitting a signal to an external device and/or entity, wherein the signal comprises information indicative of the wear status.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program product or a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processing element, cause at least one of a processing device, the external device and the external entity to carry out the steps of the method according to the present disclosure.

[0017] The present disclosure provides a head protection device that is arranged to detect the wear status of the user. In other words, the head protection device comprises means to determine that the user is correctly wearing the head protection device. For that, the head protection device, and the following also referred to as helmet, comprises a sensor arrangement, e.g., one or more sensor elements, that are arranged to detect that the user is correctly wearing the head protection device. In order to determine the correct wearing of the helmet, a wear status is detected, determined or otherwise ascertained, where the wear status is indicative of whether or not the head protection device is correctly worn by the user. E.g., in case the helmet is correctly worn by the user, the wear status may be “positive”, “green” or “1 ”, while the wear status may be “negative”, “red” or ”-1 ” in case the helmet is not correctly worn by the user. Of course, any other suitable flag, indication or information may be employed for indicating the wear status.

[0018] A correctly worn helmets comprises in particular two aspects, namely first the wearing of the helmet at all and secondly the wearing of the helmet as intended by the manufacturer. Loosely speaking, a helmet with a closed helmet strap that is arranged hanging from the arm in the area of the elbow may also be considered as a wearing, while obviously such would not correspond to a proper or correct wearing of the helmet, as intended by the manufacturer, in order to provide the protection function of the helmet. Also, users may decide to not completely position the helmet in accordance with the manufacturer instructions, e.g., only loosely pull the helmet over the head. In such a scenario, while the helmet may be considered to be worn, such a wearing would not correspond to a correct or proper wearing in order to achieve the protection function intended by the manufacturer.

[0019] Thus, the head protection device, more specifically its sensor arrangement, may be arranged to detect the wearing of the helmet and the correct wearing of the helmet independent from one another. While a correct wearing always includes the wearing of the helmets, simply “wearing” the helmet may not include the correct wearing of the helmet. Such a wear status where the helmet is worn but not correctly worn may be indicated by a “neutral”, “orange” or “0”.

[0020] The head protection device itself may be adapted to determine independent from external elements or devices the wear status, i.e., whether the helmet is worn and further in particular whether the helmet is correctly worn. Independent from one another may be understood as being able to detect a certain wear status which is indicative of the not a wearing/not correctly wearing of the helmet, the wearing/not correctly wearing of the helmet and the wearing/correctly wearing of the helmet. In other words, the head protection device may be able to determine at least two independent parameters where one parameter is indicative of the wearing or not wearing of the helmet while a further parameter is indicative of the correctly wearing or not correctly wearing of the helmet. It is also conceivable to have a single parameter, or that one of the previous parameters, is indicative of correctly or not correctly wearing of the helmet, which includes a positive determination that the user is wearing the helmet. In other words, once it is determined that the helmet is correctly worn, it can be deduced that the helmet is also worn. Here, the determination of the “correctly/not correctly worn” wear status directly influences the “worn/not worn” parameter to the extent that the “correctly worn” wear status always includes a positive the “worn” parameter.

[0021 ] The head protection device may automatically determine the wear status, e.g., at defined time intervals, like every five minutes, every minutes or every 10 seconds, or the determination may be manually triggered by an event, e.g., a helmet movement resembling the putting on or taking off of the helmet, or by the user, e.g., by an external indication like pressing a button or initiating a wear status detection, e.g., by using a dedicated external application on a mobile computing device. In particular the automatic determination of the wear status may be beneficial since no user input or manual input is required, thereby avoiding the deliberate non-execution of the wear status detection by the user. Also, the repeated automatic determination may avoid that the user is able to again take off the helmet after an initial wear status detection, i.e., after that the head protection device has determined that the user is correctly wearing the helmet.

[0022] In order to process the information on the wear status for further purposes, the head protection device may be arranged to transmit a signal to an external device and/or entity, which signal comprises information on the wear status. In other words, after having determined that the user is correctly wearing the head protection device, the head protection device may transmit said information to an external device and/or entity. It is conceivable that the external device is a mobile computing device associated with the user, the vehicle the user is about to operate or a further external device. Additionally, or alternatively, the entity may be an external processing system, e.g., a cloud-based processing system that is arranged to collect information on the user, there where habits in relation to a head protection device and/or information on the usage of vehicles, in particular such vehicles where the user is required to wear the head protection device. The entity may also be an insurance provider, a healthcare provider and/or a dedicated state authority, which receives information on the wear status of the user and thus directly or indirectly whether the user is e.g., adhering to local traffic or helmet laws.

[0023] The in particular automatic reporting of the wear status and in particular whether the user is correctly wearing a helmet when operating a vehicle may provide certain incentives for the user and/or the entities. It is conceivable that an insurance company may in turn incentivize the correct use of a helmet e.g., by rebates on their insurance rates or insurance payments and/or by an honor or reward system. Alternatively, or additionally, the user may be incentivized to correctly wear the helmet as otherwise local authorities may be informed about the violation of local traffic rules which may result in an automatic fining of the user. Still further, the determination of a wear status indicating the correct wearing of the helmet may be required to be able to operate the vehicle at all. In other words, the vehicle may only operate when it has been determined that the user of the vehicle is correctly wearing the helmet, in particular at the beginning of the trip but also preferably at certain intervals throughout the trip so to establish that the user is constantly correctly wearing the helmet. Likewise, when it is determined during a trip, that the user is not anymore correctly wearing the helmets, the vehicle may be taken out of operation in a safe manner for the user, e.g., by controlled deceleration to a stop, at least until the user again correctly with the helmet.

[0024] It may first be relevant to detect that the helmet is worn, the helmet is correctly worn and the helmet is worn by the user of the vehicle they are intending to operate. The helmet may communicate directly with the vehicle and/or an external entity, e.g., by long-range communication like GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE or the like, by Wi-Fi or by LoRaWAN. In essence, any type of long-range communication capability may be employed. Alternatively, or additionally, the head protection device may be in communicative connection with a mobile computing device, in particular one associated with the user, communicating with the mobile computing device, e.g., a smart phone, via a short range or medium range communication, like e.g., Bluetooth or Bluetooth low energy. In case of a short-range communication between at least two devices of the head protection device, the vehicle and the mobile communication device of the user, it may be determined that it is indeed the user of the vehicle correctly wearing the helmet. In particular in case of a continuous or conducted at regular intervals short range communication between at least two of the three devices, it may be determined that the user of the vehicle is the person wearing the helmet. E.g., while the vehicle is in motion, the repeated reception of a short-range signal indicating the wear status, and in particular the correct wearing of the helmet, may indicate that whoever is wearing, correctly wearing the helmet is traveling with the vehicle and thus there is a high probability that that person is the user/driver or a further occupant of the vehicle.

[0025] In order to assure that only a particular user of a vehicle is able to use the vehicle when a wearing the helmet, the helmet and the vehicle may be logically linked. In other words, the vehicle may recognize or be associated with the head protection device or a defined plurality of head protection devices while a head protection device may recognize or be associated with a vehicle for a defined plurality of vehicles. Accordingly, only when the user is correctly wearing a head protection device associated with or recognized by a particular vehicle, the user is able to operate said vehicle.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure the sensor arrangement may be adapted to independently detect that the head protection device is worn by the user and that the head protection device is positioned correctly on the head of the user.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure detecting the wear status may comprise independently determining that the head protection device is worn by the user and that the head protection device is positioned correctly on the head of the user.

[0028] Independently determining the wearing and the correct wearing of the head protection device may allow a simpler implementation of the detections, since specialized detection means may be employed for each respective detection. Also, the determination of the correct wearing of the head protection device may already rely on the action of the wearing of the head protection device. In other words, only when the wearing of the head protection device is confirmed, it is necessary to detect whether the head protection device is correctly worn. Alternatively, or additionally, detecting that the head protection device is correctly worn may render the detection of the wearing of the head protection device superfluous.

[0029] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure the sensor arrangement may comprise at least a first and a second sensor element, wherein the sensor elements may be arranged as independent sensor elements, wherein the first sensor element may be arranged for detecting that the head protection device is securely worn by the user, and wherein the second sensor element may be arranged for detecting that the head protection device is positioned correctly on the head of the user, and in particular wherein the first sensor element may be a sensor for detecting that a fastening strap for fastening the head protection device to the head of the user is closed, in particular a hall sensor, a proximity sensor, a conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor or a CO2 sensor, and wherein the second sensor element may be a sensor element for detecting that the head protection device is positioned correctly on the head of the user, in particular a brainwave sensor or a CO2 sensor.

[0030] Having independent and/or separate sensor elements for detecting the wearing and the correct wearing of the head protection device may allow the utilization of dedicated or optimized detection means or sensor elements for the respective detection. E.g., a wearing of that protection device may be performed by determining whether the headband is fastened and/or closed. Such may be performed by a hall sensor element. A hall sensor element, e.g., located at one and of the headband, in particular of a buckle, may detect a magnetic field located at the opposite side of the buckle associated with the opposite part of the headband, thereby determining that both parts of the buckle are in such proximity so to assume that the buckle is closed. In other words, the whole sensor elements may be considered a proximity sensor element detecting that both sides of the headband are in sufficient vicinity to one another so to assume that the headband is closed. Also, a conductivity sensor may determine that a closed electrical circuit is established by connecting both elements of the buckle. A temperature sensor may determine the vicinity of the human head by detecting radiated heat from the head surface, thereby determining that a head is placed within the helmet. A suitably arranged CO2 sensor may be exposed to the breath of the user and may thus detect a local increase in CO2 level in the vicinity of the mouth of the user stemming from exhaling and may thereby determine that the helmet is worn by a living being.

[0031 ] In order to determine that the helmet is correctly positioned on the head of the user, again a CO2 sensor may be employed which is arranged so that only a correctly worn helmet would expose the CO2 sensor to the exhaled breath. In this case, a single sensor element, e.g., a single CO2 sensor may be used for both determining the wearing and the correct wearing of the helmet. Alternatively, or additionally, an electroencephalogram sensor may register brainwave of the user. Here, it may be sufficient to register brain waves at all, which indicates that the helmet is so closely worn to the EEG sensor to assume that the helmet is correctly worn and/or the brainwave structure may be analyzed to determine if a received pattern of brain waves corresponds to the expected brainwave pattern when the helmet is correctly worn. Again, an EEG sensor may be used for determining the correct wearing of the helmet and/or may determine both the wearing and the correct the wearing of the helmet.

[0032] Using a brainwave sensor may further allow the analysis of the condition of the user e.g., may allow determining whether the user is tired, drowsy or driving under the influence and may initiate appropriate measures like informing authorities, insurance or healthcare providers or simply deactivating the vehicle

[0033] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure the protection system may be arranged to determine that the user of the head protection device is operating and/or accommodating the vehicle, in particular while the vehicle may be in motion, and further in particular wherein the protection system may be adapted to transmit a signal to the external device and/or entity, wherein the signal may comprise information indicative of whether the head protection device is worn by the user of the head protection device and/or the user of the head protection device is operating and/or accommodating the vehicle.

[0034] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure the method may further comprise determining that the user of the head protection device is operating, and/or accommodating the vehicle, in particular while the vehicle is in motion.

[0035] Determining that the user of the head protection device is the same that is operating and/or accommodating the vehicle prevents a misuse of the functionality. E.g., It prevents that a person in the vicinity of the vehicle, in particular before a trip commences, puts on the helmet so that it is registered that a person in the vicinity of the vehicle is wearing and correctly wearing the helmet, while it is not the user of the vehicle actually wearing the helmet. Thereby, it can be avoided that the actual user of the vehicle uses the vehicle while not wearing a helmet, and the person where the correct wearing was registered remains at the start position of the trip.

[0036] In the context of the present disclosure, determining by the protection system may comprise the determining by the vehicle, by the head protection device and/or the remote device/remote entity. [0037] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure the vehicle may further comprise a vehicle communication element adapted to transmit a signal to an external device and/or entity.

[0038] By having a communication element, the vehicle is capable of communicating with a device external to the vehicle, e.g., a mobile computing device of the user of the vehicle and/or the head protection device. The communication may be a unidirectional communication connection, e.g., the vehicle may either send or receive information or may be a bidirectional communication connection, so that the vehicle can send and receive information. It is thus conceivable that the head protection device is communicating the wear status to the vehicle and/or the vehicle is inquiring the wear status from a head protection device, in particular where a particular vehicle and a particular add protection device are associated with one another. The vehicle may thus obtain information about the wear status of the head protection device of a user about to use the vehicle and may allow the use only in case a correct wearing of the head protection device is signalled.

[0039] Alternatively, or additionally, the vehicle may simply communicate information about its current status, e.g., whether it is operating/moving or not moving, position information or generally information related to the operation of the vehicle like speed, heading mode of operation and the like.

[0040] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure the communication element of the head protection device and/or the vehicle communication element may be adapted to transmit the signal using a near-field communication method.

[0041 ] Using a near field communication method automatically assures that the communication partners between which the communication is conducted are arranged in the vicinity of one another. E.g., using technology like RFID, Bluetooth or Bluetooth LE, it can be assumed that the distance between the devices is a few centimetres up to 1 or 2 m. By this automatic requirement, that the communication partners are in each other’s vicinity, it can be assured that only a head protection device that is in the vicinity of the vehicle can register with a wear status “correctly worn” with the vehicle. In case now that a particular head protection device remains in the vicinity of the vehicle even during operation, i.e., while driving the vehicle, it can be deduced that it must be the user of the vehicle or a further occupant of the vehicle who is wearing the head protection device.

[0042] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure the external device may be at least one of a mobile computing device and/or the vehicle, and/or wherein the external entity may be a computing system, in particular a cloud-based computing system. [0043] The mobile computing device may be a portable computing device, e.g., a smart phone or a further dedicated computing device. In this regard, it may be sufficient that the head protection device is in communicative connection with the external device, e.g., the smart phone of the vehicle user, e.g., by short range communication, while the external device itself is in communicative connection with the external entity, e.g., by a mobile communication connection. In this regard, the communication capabilities of the head protection device may be simplified by implementing only a short-range communication connection, which at the same time ensures that the respective head protection device is in the vicinity of the mobile computing device of the user. It may thus be deduced that a head protection device that is registered as being “correctly worn” is the head protection device worn by the mobile computing device owner or at least a person associated with the mobile computing device at that particular instant.

[0044] The external entity, in particular a computing system associated with the external entity, e.g., the computing system of an insurance provider, a healthcare provider or local authorities may log the usage of head protection devices, in particular in association with a particular user and whether that user reliably correctly wears a head protection device. The logged usage may subsequently be analyzed and result in certain measures that may be to the benefit of the particular user. E.g., in case an insurance provider determines that a user is or is not reliably wearing a helmet in a correct manner when driving a vehicle, the health insurance premium and/or the vehicle insurance premium may be impacted. In other words, a user may receive a benefit in a reduced insurance premium when reliably correctly wearing a helmet and/or may receive a penalty payment or a traffic fine when not wearing the helmet in a correct manner. Separate incentive systems may be implemented that may be unrelated to an insurance payment. Alternatively, or additionally, the external entity, depending on the determined wear status of the head protection device of a particular user may initiate measures with regard to the vehicle. E.g., only with a correctly worn helmet, a vehicle may be started, e.g., the ignition may start the motor, or the vehicle may be operated in general. To achieve this, the external entity may communicate with the vehicle via a direct communication connection or via a communication connection through the mobile computing device of the user, e.g., to activate the vehicle, or deactivate the vehicle in case the wear status is not “correctly worn” anymore. Alternatively, or additionally, the mobile computing device may assume the functionality of the external entity, may communicate with the vehicle for activation or deactivation its operation.

[0045] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure the head protection device or the protection system may further comprise a position sensor for determining a global position of the head protection device, wherein the communication element of the head protection device may be adapted to transmit the position information of the head protection device to the external device and/or entity, and/or may further comprise a vehicle position sensor for determining a global position of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle communication element may be adapted to transmit the position information of the vehicle to the external device and/or entity.

[0046] By using a global positioning system, in particular a continued surveillance of the position of at least some of the user, the vehicle and the protection device, it may be ascertained whether the respective entities are in close proximity to one another. Thereby, it may be established that e.g., the user of the smart phone is the same person in the continued vicinity of the vehicle while correctly wearing the helmet.

[0047] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure at least one of the head protection device, the protection system, the external device and/or the external entity may be adapted to initiate a limitation and/or measure dependent on determining whether or not the user of the vehicle is correctly wearing the head protection device.

[0048] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure the method may further comprise initiating a limitation and/or measure dependent on determining whether or not the user of the vehicle is correctly wearing the head protection device.

[0049] The limitation or measure may be a technical or non-technical limitation/measure. E.g., the top speed of the vehicle may be limited or may not be limited, depending on the wear status of that protection device, the vehicle may be brought to a halt via a controlled stop, the starting of the vehicle may be prohibited, information on the user may be collected, processed and or stored, the measure may have an effect on insurance premiums or other incentive benefits or may or may not result in a fine.

[0050] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051 ] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0052] Fig. 1A,B show details of a head protection device according to the present disclosure.

[0053] Fig. 2 shows a protection system according to the present disclosure.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows a head protection method according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] Now referring to Figs. 1 A,B, where details of a head protection device according to the present disclosure are shown.

[0056] Figure 1 A shows a head protection device 130, a helmet, intended to be worn by a user 1 10 of a vehicle 120. The helmet 130 resembles a conventional helmet and that is it is intended to provide the same protection functionality as a common helmet. In order to provide a defined protection functionality, the helmet 130 may comply to a particular local certification standard of a country of its intended use. E.g., the helmet may comply with at least one of the DOT, ECE, BIS/ISI, SHARP, SNELL or FIM standard. Compliance with a certain standard may be required so that the use of a particular helmet in public traffic is legally allowed in a particular jurisdiction.

[0057] The head protection device 130 comprises a chassis 200 that is arranged to receive and accommodate at least a part of the head of a user. In the following, the specific construction of a helmet is not further described. The helmet 130 of figure 1 a comprises a fastening strap 190 so that the helmet 130 can be securely fastened to the head of the user, thereby avoiding to unintentionally or accidentally being removed during an accident. The helmet 130 may comprise additional elements not further described or depicted in this context, like a screen and a visor.

[0058] The helmet 130 comprises a sensor arrangement 210, only schematically depicted in figure 1 A. The sensor arrangement 210 provides the functionality to both determine whether the helmet is worn/securely worn and further whether the helmet is positioned correctly, i.e., positioned in a manner intended by the manufacturer so that the helmet 130 may provide its protection functionality to a user. In this regard, the sensor arrangement may be arranged to independently detect the wearing/securely wearing and the correctly wearing of the helmet. Detecting a correct wearing of the helmet may include the determination that a helmet is worn/securely worn.

[0059] E.g., when the fastening strap 190 is determined to be closed this may be an indication that the helmet is worn. However, only the further determination that the helmet is positioned correctly on the head of the user, i.e., worn on the head of a user and not just hanging from the elbow of the user may allow the determination that the helmet is correctly worn by the user. Likewise, it is conceivable that the helmet is worn facing the wrong direction, in which arrangement it may be conceivable that the helmet is positioned on the head of the user and the fastening strap is closed around the neck of the user, while the helmet is not correctly worn, in particular not as intended by the manufacturer, and thereby may not provide the intended protection functionality. In order to determine whether the helmet is correctly worn, the sensor arrangement 210 comprises the determination functionality to determine that the helmet is positioned correctly on the head of the user, e.g., facing in the direction intended by the manufacturer.

[0060] Figure 1 B shows a cross-sectional cut through the helmet in the sagittal plane. In figure 1 B, the helmet 130 is positioned correctly on the head 240 of the user 1 10, i.e., the head 240 is correctly situated in the interior of the helmet 130. The chassis 200 is surrounding the head 240 to a significant extent so that the helmet 130 may provide its protection function. Here, the head 240 is positioned so that the helmet 130 is worn/securely worn as well as correctly positioned on the head 240. The wearing/securely wearing of the helmet 130 may be indicated by the closed fastening strap 190. The helmet 130 in figure 1 B comprises a first sensor element 220a arranged in the interior or the vicinity of the fastening strap 190. First sensor element 220a is only depicted schematically. The first sensor element 220a may be any suitable sensor element for determining that the fastening strap is closed like e.g., a hall sensor determining that both ends of the fastening strap 190 are arranged in such proximity that they can only be closed as intended. Further, the first sensor element 220a may be a proximity sensor and/or temperature sensor detecting an object arranged in the vicinity, in particular which object may exhibit a particular temperature indicative of and in the range of a body temperature of a human being. E.g., in case the temperature sensor detects the presence of an object having a temperature of essentially 38° C, such may be taken as an indication that part of a human body is arranged in the proximity of the temperature sensor. Still further, the first sensor element may be a CO2 sensor element reacting to a particular CO2 level. Here, registering an increased CO2 level compared to the CO2 level of the atmosphere may indicate that the first sensor element 220a is arranged in the vicinity of the mouth of a user and is receiving exhaled air from the user which regularly has an increased CO2 level of around 4% compared to the usual CO2 level in the atmosphere of 0,04%. Depending on the position where the first sensor element 220a embodied as a CO2 sensor is arranged at, it may be deduced that the helmet 130 is worn by a living human being.

[0061 ] The sensor arrangement 210 may further comprise a second sensor element 220b, which is arranged for detecting that the head protection device is positioned correctly on the head of the user. In other words, a general determination that the head protection device is worn/securely worn by a user may have been performed separately by the first sensor element 220a, so that the second sensor element 220b may only be required to determine that the head protection device is positioned correctly. In some embodiments, the determination that the helmet 130 is positioned correctly on the head of the user may automatically or implicitly include the determination that the helmet is worn by the user. In order to determine that the helmet is correctly positioned on the head of the user, the second sensor element 220b may be embodied as a sensor element adapted to determine the orientation of the helmet 130 relative to the head of a user. In other words, the second sensor element 220b is able to determine whether the orientation of the worn helmet is as intended by the manufacturer or e.g., 180° reversed.

[0062] The second sensor element 220b may be embodied as a brainwave sensor or again as a CO2 sensor. In this regard, it is noted that a suitably positioned/arranged brainwave or CO2 sensor may provide the functionality of determining that the helmet is worn as well as that the helmet is correctly positioned on the head of the user by the same, i.e., a single, sensor element. A brainwave sensor may be arranged to be in the vicinity of the surface of a human head and receiving brainwave activity from the head. Depending on the wave pattern received, the arrangement and/or orientation of the helmet relative to the head of the user may be determined.

[0063] In figure 1 B, the first sensor element 220a is exemplarily arranged as a sensor determining whether the fastening strap 190 is closed and/or as a CO2 sensor arranged in the vicinity of the mouth of the user while the second sensor elements 220b is exemplarily arranged as a brainwave sensor at the surface of a head of a user in the area of the parietal lobe and/or again as a CO2 sensor arranged in the vicinity of the mouth of the user.

[0064] The helmet 130 comprises a communication element 230, only depicted schematically in figure 1 B, which may be used to establish a communication connection 150 with a further device or entity outside of the helmet 130. It is conceivable that the helmet further comprises a processing element, memory and or storage, where the first and/or the second sensor element 220a, b is connected to and which is in particular arranged to execute a program to determine the wear status. Here, the helmet 130 may be arranged to directly establish the wear status and communicate the wear status to a separate device or entity and/or may communicate information or sensor readings from the first sensor element 220a and/or the second sensor elements 220b to an external device or entity. In other words, the helmet 130 may either analyze the sensor signals and to determine the wear status itself and/or may merely transmit the sensor information to an external device or entity in order to determine the wear status.

[0065] Now referring to Fig. 2, where a protection system according to the present disclosure is shown. [0066] The protection system 100 of figure 2 shows a scenario where a user 110 is using a two-wheeled vehicle 120, here, exemplarily an electric scooter. It is conceivable however that the concepts of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other vehicle types requiring or benefiting from the wearing of a helmet, like e.g., bicycles, motor scooters or motorcycles. The user 1 10 is about to commence a trip with the vehicle 120 and in preparation of doing so is wearing a head protection device 130, a helmet 130. The protection system 100 may further comprise an external device 140, e.g., a smart phone, that may in particular be in communicative connection with at least one of the vehicle 120 and the helmet 130.

[0067] In figure 2, the user 1 10 is wearing the helmet 130 in a correct manner, e.g., wearing the helmet in a way intended by the manufacturer so that the helmet 130 provides its protection function in case of an accident. Correctly wearing the helmet 130 comprises the wearing of the helmet 130, in particular securely wearing so that the helmet 130 may not be accidentally or unintentionally removed during the occurrence of an accident. Regularly, such a wearing or securely wearing is achievable by correctly fastening a head band or fastening strap 190. Further, correctly wearing comprises the correctly positioning the helmet on the head of the user, so that the helmet 130 may provide its intended and designed protection function.

[0068] In order to determine whether the helmet is correctly worn, sensor information or sensor readings are employed as described with regard to figures 1A,B. When it has been determined that the user 1 10 is correctly wearing the helmet 130, such information may be communicated from the helmet 130 to an external device or entity. E.g., the helmet may communicate the wear status to an external device 140, e.g., a smart phone. The smart phone in turn may display information on the wear status so that the user 110 receives positive information about their wear status and in particular received information that the wear status is correctly registered. It is conceivable that the wear status is not correctly registered, i.e., displayed as not okay, while the helmet is still worn as intended. This may be the result of a sensor malfunction and an according indication may allow the user to verify the correct positioning so that it is also registered as an “OK” wear status.

[0069] It is conceivable that the helmet 130 either communicates information on the wear status directly, i.e., whether the wear status is or is not OK, or may communicate the readings of the sensor elements so that a further device or entity may determine the wear status. Helmet 130 may communicate the wear status and/or the sensor data to at least one of an external device, i.e., the smart phone of a user and/or the vehicle the user is about to use, and an external entity 160 e.g., an insurance provider, healthcare provider or a local traffic authority so to provide information on the wear status to such devices or entities. Any or all of the external devices or entities may act as a hub in that it receives information on the wear status and relays said information to other external devices or entities. E.g., the helmet 130 may communicate the wear status to the smart phone 140, which in turn may be in communicative connection with the vehicle 120 and/or an external entity 160. Thereby, the helmet 130 may not require the same communication functionality as a smart phone, in particular doesn’t require a medium-range or long-range communication capability. Alternatively, or additionally, the helmet may communicate directly with the vehicle 120 and/or the external entity 160 so that the user 1 10 may not be required to use or own a smartphone in order to operate the vehicle 120. In other words, the helmet 130 may communicate the wear status directly to the vehicle 120 and/or may communicate the wear status to the external entity 160. Subsequently, the vehicle 120 and/or the external entity 160 may be in communicative connection with the respective other device or entity. E.g., the helmet may communicate the wear status to the vehicle 120, which in turn may be in communicative connection with the external entity 160, informing the external entity about the trip the user is about to commence and whether the user is wearing a helmet showing a wear status OK.

[0070] It may further be conceivable that only with a wear status OK, the user 130 is able to commence the trip, i.e., start the vehicle in case of a powered vehicle and/or open a lock of the vehicle. In this scenario, the wear status may be communicated to either one of the external devices or the external entity which in turn may authorize the use of the vehicle. E.g., the helmet 130 may communicate, in particular via a short range communication connection, to the smart phone 140 and/or the vehicle 120, that the user is wearing a helmet with a wear status OK, now, the vehicle 120 may authorize the commencement of the trip or the smart phone 140 may communicate to the vehicle 120 the authorization to commence the trip. Still further, the external entity 160, upon receiving the wear status OK, may authorize the commencement of the trip, e.g., by communicating the same to the smart phone 140 and/or the vehicle 120.

[0071 ] In order to determine that the user 1 10 wearing a helmet 130 is the user about to use a particular vehicle 120, a closed position of the same may be established. Such may be established by a short range communication connection, which is in particular able to bridge only a few cm/dm to 1 -2 m of distance. During the trip, the positional closeness may be monitored on demand or at defined intervals so to assure that the user whose helmet was registered as wear status OK is remaining in the vicinity of the vehicle 120, thereby establishing that it must be said user operating or accommodating the vehicle 120.

[0072] Additionally, or alternatively, any of the described devices of the helmet 130, the external device/smart phone 140 and the vehicle 120 may comprise a position sensor 180, allowing the determination of a global position, so that the closeness of the devices may be established by comparing the respective positions. Such a position sensor 180 may use s global positioning system like GALILEO or GPS.

[0073] Now referring to Fig. 3, where a head protection method according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0074] The head protection method (300) comprises the steps of detecting (310) a wear status of a head protection device worn by a user, wherein the wear status is indicative of whether or not the head protection device is correctly worn by the user; and transmitting (320) a signal to an external device and/or entity, wherein the signal comprises information indicative of the wear status.

[0075] The head protection method (300) may further comprise the steps of determining (330) that the user of the head protection device is operating and/or accommodating the vehicle, in particular while the vehicle is in motion, and/or initiating (340) a limitation and/or measure dependent on determining whether or not the user of the vehicle is correctly wearing the head protection device.

[0076] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements may be made without deviating from the concepts described here. Any of the features described above and below may be used separately or in combination with any other features described herein, provided they are not mutually exclusive, and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and subcombinations of one or more features described herein.

[0077] Finally, it should be noted that the term "comprising" not exclude other elements or steps, and that "a" or "one" does not exclude the plural. Elements that are described in relation to different types of embodiments can be combined. Reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of a claim.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 protection system

110 user

120 vehicle

130 head protection device/helmet

140 external device/mobile computing device

150a-f communication connection

160 external entity

170 vehicle communication element

180a-c position sensor

190 Fastening strap

200 chassis

210 sensor arrangement

220a, b first, second sensor element

230 communication element

240 head

300 head protection method

310 detecting...

320 transmitting...

330 determining...

340 initiating...