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Publication Number
US-11635198-B2
Publication Date
2023-04-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A head wearable device includes a headband, a housing attached to the headband, a luminaire, a duct system connecting the luminaire to the housing, a ball joint movably connecting the duct system to the luminaire, and an air moving device, which is adjacent to an exhaust of the housing and is configured to induce an air flow through an inlet in the luminaire through the ball joint, through the duct system, and out of the exhaust of the housing attached to the headband.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a head wearable device that includes a headband, a housing attached to the headband, and a luminaire. The luminaire is connected to the housing through a duct system, and the duct system is movably connected to the luminaire by a ball joint that enables movement of the luminaire relative to the duct system. An air moving device is positioned adjacent to an exhaust of the housing and is configured to induce an air flow through an inlet in the luminaire, through the ball joint, through the duct system, and out of the exhaust of the housing.
The invention further provides a controller that monitors a temperature of at least one light source and modulates an operational setting of the air moving device to maintain the light-source temperature within a predetermined operating temperature range. In addition, the duct system and the ball joint are arranged to preserve the airflow path while the luminaire is movable. The airflow is used to cool the luminaire by drawing air from the inlet in the luminaire through the ball joint and duct system and out of the housing exhaust.
The disclosure also includes headpiece comfort and fit features in a head-wearable configuration. The headband is connected to an occipital basket, with the headband and occipital basket independently adjustable relative to each other using rack-and-pinion depth and circumference adjusters with visual indices. A multi-layer padding system with different durometers and perforations, including recesses/notches to avoid skull sutures and to avoid hair, is intended to reduce fatigue and improve comfort in wearing the device.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims: one to a head wearable device and one to a method of cooling a luminaire. Across these independent claims, the main inventive features are an airflow-cooling path through a luminaire inlet, a ball joint, and a duct system to a housing exhaust using an air moving device adjacent to the exhaust, together with temperature monitoring and modulating the air moving device to maintain a predetermined operating temperature range.
Airflow-cooling head wearable luminaire through ball joint and duct system
A head wearable device with a headband, a housing attached to the headband, a luminaire, a duct system connecting the luminaire to the housing, a ball joint movably connecting the duct system to the luminaire, and an air moving device adjacent to an exhaust of the housing configured to induce air flow through an inlet in the luminaire through the ball joint, through the duct system, and out of the exhaust.
Thermal regulation by temperature monitoring and modulating air moving device
A controller monitors a temperature of at least one light source and modulates an operational setting of the air moving device to maintain the light source temperature within a predetermined operating temperature range.
Cooling method producing air flow through luminaire inlet, ball joint, duct system, and housing exhaust
A method of cooling a luminaire by providing a headband, attaching a housing to the headband, providing a luminaire, connecting the luminaire to a duct system via a ball joint so the luminaire is movable relative to the duct system, connecting the duct system to the housing, providing an air moving device adjacent to an exhaust of the housing, and producing an air flow through an inlet in the luminaire, through the ball joint, through the duct system, and out of the exhaust, where the air flow cools the luminaire.
The claim coverage centers on maintaining a controlled airflow cooling path that moves air from a luminaire inlet through a ball joint and duct system to a housing exhaust, and on regulating cooling by monitoring light-source temperature and modulating the air moving device to keep the temperature within a predetermined operating range.
Stated Advantages
Maintain the light source temperature within a predetermined operating temperature range.
Reduce fatigue and improve comfort in wearing the headpiece.
Documented Applications
Use as a head-wearable LED surgical headlight system with improved comfort/fit and luminaire cooling via induced airflow.
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