1. A helmet mount for mounting an associated viewing device on a helmet, comprising:
a first pivoting segment for attachment to the helmet;
a second pivoting segment for attachment to the associated viewing device, the second pivoting segment pivotable relative to the first pivoting segment for selectively supporting the associated viewing device in a first, operational position before the eyes of a user donning the helmet and a second, stowed position above a line of sight of a viewer donning the helmet; and
said first pivoting segment including a vertical adjust mechanism, said vertical adjust mechanism including a base plate, a pair of guide rails attached to said base plate and defining a channel therebetween, a sliding plate slidably attached to said guide rails, and a clamping mechanism for selectively applying a clamping force to secure said sliding plate at a desired position relative to said base plate.
2. The helmet mount of claim 1, wherein said vertical adjustment mechanism is continuously adjustable.
3. The helmet mount of claim 1, wherein each of said guide rails is slidably received within a complimentary groove formed in said sliding plate.
4. The helmet mount of claim 1, wherein said clamping mechanism includes:
a lever manually pivotable between a first, locked position and a second, unlocked position;
a spring washer disposed between said lever and said sliding plate;
a cam lock attached to said lever and extending through an opening in said sliding plate, said cam lock received within said channel;
said guide rails cooperating with said base portion to define a pair of grooves formed in opposing walls of said channel;
said cam lock having an elongate cam member wherein a long dimension of the cam lock extends parallel to said channel when the lever is in the unlocked position, whereby said cam lock does not extend into said grooves and is freely slidable,
said guide rails having a chamfered surface for camming said cam member into said grooves against the urging of said spring washer to compress the spring washer and thereby provide a clamping force between the base plate and the sliding plate when the lever is rotated to the locked position.
5. The helmet mount of claim 1, further comprising:
a viewing device mounting member attached to said second pivoting segment, said viewing device mounting member removably attachable to the associated viewing device.
6. The helmet mount of claim 5, further comprising:
said second pivoting segment including said viewing device mounting member slidably mounted thereon; and
a locking and unlocking mechanism for selectively locking said viewing device mounting member at a desired position along said second pivoting segment to provide a generally horizontal fore and aft adjustment of the associated viewing device relative to the eyes of a user when the mounting device is in an operational position.
7. The helmet mount of claim 5, further comprising:
a tilt adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tilt position of the associated viewing device relative to an eye of a user.
8. A helmet mount for mounting an associated viewing device on a helmet, comprising:
a helmet mount interface including a first opening and a second opening;
a first pivoting segment for removable attachment to the helmet mount interface, said first pivoting segment including a rigid protrusion received within the first opening when the first pivoting segment is attached to the helmet mount interface and a resiliently movable protrusion received within the second opening when the first pivoting segment is attached to the helmet mount interface; and
a second pivoting segment for attachment to the associated viewing device, the second pivoting segment pivotable relative to the first pivoting segment for selectively supporting the associated viewing device in a first, operational position before the eyes of a user donning the helmet and a second, stowed position above a line of sight of a viewer donning the helmet.
9. The helmet mount of claim 8, further comprising:
said first pivoting segment including a vertical adjust mechanism, said vertical adjust mechanism including a base plate, a pair of guide rails attached to said base plate and defining a channel therebetween, a sliding plate slidably attached to said guide rails, a clamping mechanism for selectively applying a clamping force to secure said sliding plate at a desired position relative to said base plate.
10. The helmet mount of claim 8, further comprising:
an actuator coupled to said resilient protrusion and movable between a first, locked position, and a second, unlocked position;
a tension member urging said resiliently movable protrusion into said second opening when the first pivoting segment is attached to the helmet mount interface and the actuator is in the locked position;
said actuator moving said resiliently movable protrusion out of said second opening against the urging of said tension member when the first pivoting segment is attached to the helmet mount interface and the actuator is moved the unlocked position.
11. The helmet mount of claim 10, further comprising:
means for allowing the first pivoting segment to disengage from the helmet mount interface upon the application of a predetermined force.
12. The helmet mount of claim 10, further comprising:
a breakaway actuator movable between a first, nonbreakaway position and a second, breakaway position, said breakaway actuator including an opening having a stepped profile;
said resiliently movable protrusion including a pin passing through said opening and running along said stepped profile;
said resiliently movable protrusion including a beveled edge, wherein movement of said breakaway actuator to the nonbreakaway position moves said beveled edge away from contact with a lip on the helmet mount interface defining the first opening and movement of said breakaway actuator to the breakaway position moves said beveled edge into contact with the lip defining said first opening, said beveled edge providing an inclined surface to facilitate movement of said resilient protrusion against the urging of said tension member to cause removal of said first pivoting segment from said helmet mount interface upon the application of a predetermine force when the breakaway actuator is in the breakaway position.
13. The helmet mount of claim 8, further comprising:
a viewing device mounting member attached to said second pivoting segment, said viewing device mounting member removably attachable to the associated viewing device.
14. The helmet mount of claim 13, further comprising:
said second pivoting segment including said viewing device mounting member slidably mounted thereon; and
a locking and unlocking mechanism for selectively locking said viewing device mounting member at a desired position along said second pivoting segment to provide a generally horizontal fore and aft adjustment of the associated viewing device relative to the eyes of a user when the mounting device is in an operational position.
15. The helmet mount of claim 13, further comprising:
a tilt adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tilt position of the associated viewing device relative to an eye of a user.
16. A helmet mount for mounting an associated viewing device on a helmet, comprising:
a first pivoting segment for attachment to the helmet;
a second pivoting segment for attachment to the associated viewing device, the second pivoting segment pivotable relative to the first pivoting segment for selectively supporting the associated viewing device in a first, operational position before the eyes of a user donning the helmet and a second, stowed position above a line of sight of a viewer donning the helmet;
a hinge pin defining a pivot axis and hingedly attaching said first pivoting segment to said second pivoting segment, said hinge pin having one or more resilient protrusions;
said second pivoting segment including a pivot sleeve rotatably received about said pivot pin, said pivot sleeve rotatably defining a channel having a first groove extending parallel to the pivot axis and a second groove extending parallel to the pivot axis;
said one or more resilient protrusions removably received within said first groove when the second pivoting segment is moved to the first, operational position; and
said one or more resilient protrusions removably received within said second groove when the second pivoting segment is moved to the second, stowed position.
17. The helmet mount of claim 16, said hinge pin further including:
one or more bores extending transversely relative to the pivot axis;
for each of said one or more bores, one or more spring washers received therein, said one or more spring washers compressible upon application of a predetermined force; and
for each of said one or more bores, a plug disposed therein between said one or more spring washers and said pivot sleeve.
18. A helmet mount for mounting an associated viewing device on a helmet, comprising:
a first pivoting segment for attachment to the helmet;
a second pivoting segment for attachment to the associated viewing device, the second pivoting segment pivotable relative to the first pivoting segment for selectively supporting the associated viewing device in a first, operational position before the eyes of a user donning the helmet and a second, stowed position above a line of sight of a viewer donning the helmet;
a magnet pivotally carried on a pivot arm on said second pivoting segment, said pivot arm pivotable under the influence of gravity to move the magnet into proximity with a magnetically operated switch on the associated viewing device when the associated viewing device is attached to the second pivoting segment and the second pivoting segment is in the first, operational position; and
said pivot arm pivotable under the influence of gravity to move the magnet out of proximity with the magnetically operated switch on the associated viewing device when the associated viewing device is attached to the second pivoting segment and the second pivoting segment is in the second, stowed position.
19. A helmet mount of claim 18, further comprising:
said second pivoting segment including a mounting shoe for removably attaching a complimentary mounting member of the associated viewing device;
said mounting shoe including an inner housing member and an outer housing member, said inner and outer housing members defining a space therebetween;
said pivot arm and said magnet received within said space defined between said inner and outer housing members.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A vehicle, comprising:
a power output device that outputs driving power for driving said vehicle;
an accelerator operation detection mechanism that detects a driver’s accelerator operation;
a vehicle speed measurement unit that measures a vehicle speed;
a target vehicle speed setting module that sets a target vehicle speed equal to a vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit at the moment of the driver’s accelerator operation from an accelerator-on state to an accelerator-off state detected by the accelerator operation detection mechanism; and
a control module that, in the case where the target vehicle speed is not set, controls the power output device based on the driver’s accelerator operation detected by the accelerator operation detection mechanism,
in the case where that the target vehicle speed is set, said control module controlling the power output device to drive said vehicle at the set target vehicle speed.
2. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, said vehicle further comprising:
a brake operation detection mechanism that detects the driver’s brake operation,
wherein said target vehicle speed setting module cancels the setting of the target vehicle speed in response to the driver’s brake operation from a brake-off state to a brake-on state detected by the brake operation detection mechanism.
3. A vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein said target vehicle speed setting module newly sets the target vehicle speed equal to the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit at the moment of the driver’s subsequent brake operation to the brake-off state detected by the brake operation detection mechanism, after the cancellation of the setting of the target vehicle speed in response to the detection of the driver’s brake operation to the brake-on state.
4. A vehicle in accordance with claim 2, said vehicle further comprising:
a steering angle measurement unit that measures a steering angle of said vehicle,
wherein when the steering angle measured by the steering angle measurement unit after the cancellation of the setting of the target vehicle speed in response to the detection of the driver’s brake operation to the brake-on state is not less than a preset threshold steering angle from a reference steering position for straight-ahead driving of said vehicle, said target vehicle speed setting module newly sets the cancelled target vehicle speed to the target vehicle speed on condition that the steering angle measured by the steering angle measurement unit decreases to be less than the preset threshold steering angle from the reference steering position for straight-ahead driving of said vehicle and that the brake operation detection mechanism detects the driver’s subsequent brake operation to the brake-off state.
5. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said target vehicle speed setting module cancels the setting of the target vehicle speed in response to the driver’s accelerator operation from the accelerator-off state to the accelerator-on state detected by the accelerator operation detection mechanism.
6. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit is lower than a preset low reference vehicle speed, said target vehicle speed setting module sets the target vehicle speed to gradually increase the vehicle speed with elapsed time.
7. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein when the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit is not lower than a preset high reference vehicle speed, said target vehicle speed setting module sets the target vehicle speed to gradually decrease the vehicle speed with elapsed time.
8. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein when a vehicle speed deviation as a difference between the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit and the target vehicle speed reaches or exceeds a preset reference level, said target vehicle speed setting module sets the target vehicle speed to reduce the vehicle speed deviation.
9. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power output device includes a motor that has power generation capability and outputs driving power for driving said vehicle, and an accumulator unit that transmits electric power to and from the motor, and
said control module controls the motor to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed, when being set, with the output power of the motor.
10. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power output device includes an internal combustion engine that outputs driving power for driving said vehicle, a motor that has power generation capability and outputs driving power for driving said vehicle, and an accumulator unit that transmits electric power to and from the motor, and
said control module controls the internal combustion engine and the motor to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed, when being set, with both the output power of the internal combustion engine and the output power of the motor.
11. A vehicle in accordance with claim 10, wherein the power output device has a connection disconnection mechanism that connects the internal combustion engine with an axle of said vehicle for transmission of the output power of the internal combustion engine to the axle and disconnects the internal combustion engine from the axle, and
said control module controls the internal combustion engine, the motor, and the connection disconnection mechanism to disconnect the internal combustion engine from the axle and to drive said vehicle with only the output power of the motor at the target vehicle speed, when being set.
12. A vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein said control module controls the internal combustion engine to stop operation, when the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the axle by the connection disconnection mechanism under the condition of setting the target vehicle speed.
13. A vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein said control module controls the power output device to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed according to a state of charge accumulated in the accumulator unit, when the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the axle by the connection disconnection mechanism under the condition of setting the target vehicle speed.
14. A vehicle in accordance with claim 13, wherein said control module controls the power output device to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed in a specific range causing no overcharge or over-discharge of the accumulator unit, when the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the axle by the connection disconnection mechanism under the condition of setting the target vehicle speed.
15. A vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein the connection disconnection mechanism includes a clutch linked to the internal combustion engine and a transmission linked to the axle.
16. A vehicle in accordance with claim 15, wherein the motor is arranged to output the power between the transmission and the clutch or to an axle side of the transmission.
17. A vehicle in accordance with claim 10, wherein the power output device has a connection disconnection mechanism that connects the internal combustion engine with an axle of said vehicle for transmission of the output power of the internal combustion engine to the axle and disconnects the internal combustion engine from the axle, and
upon no satisfaction of a preset disconnection condition, said control module controls the internal combustion engine, the motor, and the connection disconnection mechanism to connect the internal combustion engine with the axle for transmission of the output power of the internal combustion engine to the axle and to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed, when being set, with both the output power of the internal combustion engine and the output power of the motor,
upon satisfaction of the preset disconnection condition, said control module controlling the internal combustion engine, the motor, and the connection disconnection mechanism to disconnect the internal combustion engine from the axle and to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed, when being set, with only the output power of the motor.
18. A vehicle in accordance with claim 17, wherein the preset disconnection condition is that the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit is lower than a predetermined reference disconnection vehicle speed.
19. A vehicle in accordance with claim 17, wherein the preset disconnection condition is that a state of charge accumulated in the accumulator unit is not lower than a predetermined charge level.
20. A vehicle in accordance with claim 17, wherein said control module controls the internal combustion engine, the motor, and the connection disconnection mechanism to operate the internal combustion engine in an efficient operation range, when said vehicle is driven at the target vehicle speed with both the output power of the internal combustion engine and the output power of the motor under the condition that the internal combustion engine is connected with the axle by the connection disconnection mechanism for transmission of the output power of the internal combustion engine.
21. A vehicle in accordance with claim 17, wherein said control module controls the internal combustion engine to stop operation, when the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the axle by the connection disconnection mechanism under the condition of setting the target vehicle speed.
22. A vehicle in accordance with claim 17, wherein said control module controls the power output device to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed according to a state of charge accumulated in the accumulator unit, when the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the axle by the connection disconnection mechanism under the condition of setting the target vehicle speed.
23. A vehicle in accordance with claim 22, wherein said control module controls the power output device to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed in a specific range causing no overcharge or over-discharge of the accumulator unit, when the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the axle by the connection disconnection mechanism under the condition of setting the target vehicle speed.
24. A vehicle in accordance with claim 17, wherein the connection disconnection mechanism includes a clutch linked to the internal combustion engine and a transmission linked to the axle.
25. A vehicle in accordance with claim 24, wherein the motor is arranged to output the power between the transmission and the clutch or to an axle side of the transmission.
26. A vehicle in accordance with claim 10, wherein the motor is arranged to output the power to an axle different from an axle that receives transmission of the output power of the internal combustion engine.
27. A vehicle control method that controls a vehicle, said vehicle comprising: a power output device that outputs driving power for driving said vehicle; an accelerator operation detection mechanism that detects a driver’s accelerator operation; and a vehicle speed measurement unit that measures a vehicle speed,
said vehicle control method comprising the steps of:
(a) setting a target vehicle speed equal to a vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit at the moment of the driver’s accelerator operation from an accelerator-on state to an accelerator-off state detected by the accelerator operation detection mechanism, and canceling the setting of the target vehicle speed upon satisfaction of a preset cancellation condition; and
(b) in the case where the target vehicle speed is not set, controlling the power output device based on the driver’s accelerator operation detected by the accelerator operation detection mechanism, and
in the case where that the target vehicle speed is set, controlling the power output device to drive said vehicle at the set target vehicle speed.
28. A vehicle control method that controls a vehicle, said vehicle comprising: an internal combustion engine that outputs driving power for driving said vehicle; a motor that has power generation capability and outputs driving power for driving said vehicle; an accumulator unit that transmits electric power to and from the motor; a connection disconnection mechanism that connects the internal combustion engine with an axle of said vehicle for transmission of the output power of the internal combustion engine to the axle and disconnects the internal combustion engine from the axle; an accelerator operation detection mechanism that detects a driver’s accelerator operation; and a vehicle speed measurement unit that measures a vehicle speed,
said vehicle control method comprising the steps of:
(a) setting a target vehicle speed equal to a vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed measurement unit at the moment of the driver’s accelerator operation from an accelerator-on state to an accelerator-off state detected by the accelerator operation detection mechanism, and canceling the setting of the target vehicle speed upon satisfaction of a preset cancellation condition;
(b1) in the case where the target vehicle speed is not set, controlling the internal combustion engine and the motor based on the driver’s accelerator operation detected by the accelerator operation detection mechanism; and
(b2) in the case where the target vehicle speed is set, upon no satisfaction of a preset disconnection condition, controlling the internal combustion engine, the motor, and the connection disconnection mechanism to connect the internal combustion engine with the axle for transmission of the output power of the internal combustion engine to the axle and to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed with both the output power of the internal combustion engine and the output power of the motor,
upon satisfaction of the preset disconnection condition, controlling the internal combustion engine, the motor, and the connection disconnection mechanism to disconnect the internal combustion engine from the axle and to drive said vehicle at the target vehicle speed with only the output power of the motor.