Energy attachment for a helmet
A helmet attachment is provided, comprising: a shell having a concave bottom; a base having: a convex top affixed to the concave bottom of the shell; a concave bottom affixable to the convex top of a helmet; and an air flow channel formed in the convex top of the base for guiding air through to an exit in the concave bottom of the base; a power and electronics module secured within a cavity in the shell, comprising: a power source; and a 5 volt power output connector electrically coupled to the power source and configured for charging a small electronic device; and a heater electrically coupled to the power source.
1. A power and electronics module secured to a helmet attachment, comprising:
a power source, comprising:
a solar array secured to a top of the helmet attachment;
a battery pack secured within a cavity in the helmet attachment; and
a charging module secured within the cavity in the helmet attachment and configured to charge the battery pack from current provided by the solar array; and
a 5 volt power output connector electrically coupled to the power source and configured for charging an electronic device;
a 5 volt thermoelectric plate secured to the helmet attachment within a front-to-back air flow channel and electrically coupled to the power source wherein:
heat is transferred from a first surface to a second surface, cooling the first surface, when electric current from the power source is applied in a first direction and heat is transferred from the second surface to the first surface, cooling the second surface, when electric current from the power source is applied in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
air flowing through the air flow channel flows over the first surface of the thermoelectric plate when an air flow controller of the helmet attachment is in a first position and flows over the second surface of the thermoelectric plate when the air flow controller is in a second position.
2. The power and electronics module of claim 1 , wherein the power and electronics module further comprises a 5 volt power input connector electrically coupled to the charging module and configured to receive current from an external power source.
3. The power and electronics module of claim 1 , further comprising an LED headlight secured to the front of the shell and electrically coupled to the power source.
4. The power and electronics module of claim 1 , further comprising solar input boost circuitry electrically coupled between the solar panel and the charging module and configured to provide a 5 volt input to the charging module.
5. The power and electronics module of claim 1 , further comprising under-voltage lockout (UVLO) circuitry electrically coupled to the battery pack and configured to disconnect the battery pack from loads if the battery pack discharges below a threshold voltage.
6. The power and electronics module of claim 5 , further comprising a switch coupled to the battery pack and configured to bypass the UVLO circuitry.
7. The power and electronics module of claim 1 , further comprising a boost regulator electrically coupled between the power source and the 5 volt power output connector.