Castriotta, Roberto (Via Corridoni 6, Cologno Monzese MI, I-20093, IT)
Luciano, Massimiliano (Via Liguria 34, Cologno Monzese MI, 20093, IT)
Castriotta, Roberto (Via Corridoni 6, Cologno Monzese MI, I-20093, IT)
The present invention refers to a security system for motorcycle crash helmet. As known, the current regulations for traffic security enforce the obliga¬ tion to wear a crash helmet during the use of a mo¬ torcycle. However, many motorcycle drivers continue to infringe such regulations and do not wear any crash helmet during motorcycle riding. Other regulations enforce the prohibition for a motorcycle driver to use cellular phones. In this case also many motorcycle drivers infringe such regu¬ lations and they use cellular phones also during the travel . Other drawbacks for users are the several thefts both of crash helmets and motorcycles. An object of the present invention is to elimi¬ nate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a security system for a motorcycle crash helmet which enforces the use of a crash helmet during motorcycle riding. Another object of the present invention is to provide a security system for a motorcycle crash hel- met which replaces the cellular phone, in order to allow the user to listen and answer safely to the calls on his own cellular phone. Another object of the present invention is to provide a security system for motorcycle crash hel- mets which also works as an antitheft device, in or¬ der to avoid both the theft of the crash helmet and of the motorcycle. These objects are reached according to the inven¬ tion with the characteristics listed in the enclosed independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in dependent claims. The security system for motorcycle crash helmets according to the invention includes a security device installed in the crash helmet and a control device installed in the motorcycle. The security and control devices communicate through radio waves (namely wire¬ less) . The control device comprises a normally open switch, placed between the power supply and the igni¬ tion system of the motorcycle. Such a switch is driven by a wireless communication device which com¬ municates with a wireless communication device in¬ stalled into the crash helmet security device. The security device comprises detection means suited to detect the crash helmet use by the user and, accordingly, to send a command signal in order to enable said crash helmet communication system to communicate with the motorcycle communication system, to close the control device switch and allow the mo¬ torcycle ignition. In this way the motorcycle can be ignited only when the detection means detect that the crash helmet is worn by the user. Further characteristics of the invention will be¬ came more clear from the following detailed descrip¬ tion "shown In the drawings enclosed, which refers to a merely exemplary form and is not intended as a lim¬ iting embodiment, in which: - figure 1 is a partial perspective view showing a crash helmet and a motorcycle, in which the secu¬ rity system according to the invention is installed; - figure 2 is a block diagram showing the secu¬ rity system according to the invention; - figure 2A is a first embodiment of the crash helmet security system according to the invention; - figure 2B is a second embodiment of the crash helmet security system according to the invention; and - figure 3 is a block diagram showing the opera- tion of the security system according to the inven¬ tion in its function of cellular phone. In figure 1 a crash helmet, marked as a whole by the reference number 1, is shown. From the lower edge of the crash helmet 1, two length adjustable strips 3, 4 protrude, respectively ending in a clasp 5 and in a locking block 6 in which the clasp 5 snaps. In this way, strips 3, 4 pass under the user chin, hold¬ ing the crash helmet in position. Into the locking block 6, a security device 10 which will be described in further detail with refer¬ ence" to" figures"- 2, 2A, 2B and 3 is integrated. Clearly, the security device 10 can alternatively be integrated in another portion of the crash helmet. Referring now to figures 1 and 2, the security device 10 comprises a smart-card reader 11 suited to read a smart-card 12 in which a secret code is codi¬ fied. The smart-card 12 is supplied to the owner of the crash helmet 1 by the motorcycle manufacturer who sells the motorcycle 100 to the owner of the crash helmet 1. Into the motorcycle 100, a control device 110 suited to communicate with the security device 10 of crash helmet 1, is installed, as will be described in further detail with reference to figures 2 and 3. As such, the control device 110 recognizes the code of the smart-card 12 inserted into the reader 11 of se¬ curity device 10. For example, as shown in figure 1, the control device 110 can be installed on the cen- tral upper portion of the handlebar of the motorcycle 100. Turning back to figure 2, the control device 110 provides a normally open switch T2 which interrupts communication between the motorcycle power supply 120 and the motorcycle ignition system 121. The smart-card reader 11 of the security device 10~"is—connected'," through a "normally open switch Tl, to a passive communication device 19, such as a pas¬ sive transceiver. The passive communication device 19 of the crash helmet security device is coupled to communicate, through radio waves (wireless) , with an active communication system 119, such as an active transceiver, installed into the motorcycle control device 110. Switch Tl of the security device is driven by a contact sensor 15 placed within the crash helmet 1. Upon detecting the user head inside the crash helmet 1, the contact sensor 15 sends a command signal to switch Tl, which closes, putting the smart-card reader 11 and the passive transceiver 19 into commu- nication . In this way, when the switch Tl is closed, the active transceiver 119 reads and recognizes the code of the smart-card 12 through the passive transceiver 19. Once the code is recognized, the active trans¬ ceiver 119 sends a command signal to switch T2, which closes allowing the motorcycle ignition. As a result, with the system according to the invention, the mo¬ torcycle ignition is impossible unless the user wears the crash helmet. For greater safety, to avoid that the motorcycle 100 remains ~ ignited even when the user wearing the crash helmet is far from the motorcycle, for example in case of accident, the two wireless communication devices 19, 119 are arranged to communicate only within a short range, e.g. a distance lower than 2 meters. Therefore, when the user wearing the crash helmet is farther than 2 meters from the motorcycle 100, the active communication device 119 can not read the code of the smart-card 12 and so switch T2 opens, causing the motorcycle to switch off. In this way the crash helmet 1 also functions as an antitheft device for motorcycle 100. As a matter of fact, the motorcycle 100 can not be ignited unless the user wears the crash helmet 1 with its related smart - card 12 . If the user looses the smart-card 12 of the crash helmet security device or the crash helmet is stolen, the control device 110 is provided also with a smart- card reader 111 suited to read a reserve smart-card 112, which matches the smart-card 12 of the crash helmet security device. In this way the smart-card reader 111, when reading the reserve smart-card 112, bypasses transceiver 119 and closes switch T2 to al- low the motorcycle ignition. For example, the output signal of the active transceiver 119 and the output signal—σf the" smart-card reader 111 can be sent to a logic OR whose output commands switch T2. In a first modification of security system 10, as shown in figure 2A, instead of or in addition to the contact sensor 15, a normally open mechanical snap switch Tl', placed within the locking block 6 of clasp 5, can be provided. The switch Tl' closes when clasp 5 snaps into the locking block 6, putting the smart-card reader 11 and the passive transceiver 19 into contact. In order to avoid that clasp 5 is inserted into the locking block 6 when the user does not wear the crash helmet, a second modification of the security device 10 is implemented, as shown in figure 2B. In this case, a first metric type sensor 13, suited to detect the crash helmet distance from the ground, and a second radio wave type sensor 14, suited to communicate with the control device 110 of motorcycle 100 in order to detect the crash helmet distance from motorcycle 100, are installed into the crash helmet 1 (figure 1) . The metric sensor 13 is set to send a command signal when it is at a distance greater than 1,5 meters from the ground, and the wireless sensor 14 is set to send a command signal when it is at a distance lower than 2 meters from the motorcycle. ■ With reference to figure 2B, the security device 10 comprises a power supply 16 which, through a nor- mally open mechanical switch T3, is connected to a power supply line that supplies the two sensors 13 and 14. The two sensors outputs are connected to a logic AND whose output controls switch Tl, which puts the smart-card reader 11 and the passive communica- tion device 19 into communication. As a result, the active communication device 119 reads the code of the smart-card 12, through the pas¬ sive communication device 19, only when the crash helmet in fastened, it is at a distance greater than 1,5 meters from the ground, and it is at a distance lower than 2 meters from the motorcycle 100. The function of the ground distance sensor 13 is to avoid the use of motorcycle 100 if the fastened crash helmet is placed on the handlebar and not worn. On the other hand, the function of the motorcycle distance sensor 14 it to assure that the motorcycle switches off if the user wearing the crash helmet is far from the motorcycle, for example in case of acci¬ dent. Optionally, as shown in figure 1, a microphone 30, placed within the chin rest, in register with the "user's" mouth, **and a couple of loudspeakers 31 (only one visible in figure 1) , placed within the crash helmet into the side walls, in register with the user's ears, are installed into the crash helmet 1. As shown in figure 3, the microphone 30 is con¬ nected to a wireless transmitter 32 and the loud¬ speakers 31 are connected to a wireless receiver 33. The wireless transmitter 32 and receiver 33 are inte- grated into the security device 10 of crash helmet 1 and are coupled into communication with a wireless receiver 132 and a wireless transmitter 133, respec¬ tively, installed within the control device 110 of motorcycle 100.. The wireless receiver 132 and wireless transmit- ter 133 are connected to a GSM transmitter 134 and a GSM receiver 135, respectively, also installed within the control device 110 of motorcycle 100. In this case, also a SIM-card reader 136, suited to read a telephone SIM-card 137, is integrated into control device 110. The SIM-card reader 136 is connected to the GSM transmitter 134 and to the GSM receiver 135. In this way, the user can put the telephone SIM- card 137 of his own cellular phone into the corre- sponding reader 136. Therefore, when he receives a call at his own SIM-card number, the GSM transmitter 134 and the GSM receiver 135 are enabled and, through the wireless transmitters and receivers 132, 32 and 133, 33, communicate with the microphone 30 and the loudspeakers 31 provided in the crash helmet 1. In this way the user can listen and answer to calls dur¬ ing travel, keeping his hands on the handlebar. It is to be noted that the security system 10 can provide a power supply 16 (figure 2B) which, apart from supplying sensors 13 and 14, can supply also the contact sensor 15, the smart-card reader 11 and the communication device 19. The power supply 16 can be a disposable battery, a rechargeable battery or, pref¬ erably, a storage battery connected to photovoltaic cells placed on the crash helmet 1. In case of rechargeable batteries, their recharg¬ ing can be performed, by way of the motorcycle power supply, connecting the security device 10 to the con¬ trol device 110 when the motorcycle 100 is not in use. As further security system, into the control de¬ vice 110 can be provided a tilt sensor, connected to a timer, in order to detect if the motorcycle lays on the ground for a given time period, e.g. because of an accident. Said timer can be in turn connected to the switch T2, to which, after a predetermined time period,'""it sends' a signal to allow"said switch T2 to open and, consequently, the motorcycle 100 to switch off. The timer can be also connected to the GSM transmitter 134 in order to generate an alarm signal. It can also be contemplated that the system, through the GSM transmitter 234, could make a tele¬ phone call with a registered message to the motorcy¬ cle owner in case of theft or, in case of an acci- dent, which is detected for example through the tilt sensor, it could generate a call that the user, if conscious, can use to ask for help and report his po¬ sition. It is also possible to equip the crash helmet of the present invention so as to allow it to receive by radio the signals from an MP3 reader or other music reader. Many modifications and changes can be done to the present embodiments of the invention by one skilled in the art, which changes are still within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.