METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC APERTURE AND ELECTRONIC APERTURE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating an electronic blend body for emitting light pulses and to an electronic blend body for emitting light pulses.

[0002] So-called stun grenades are used to irritate people and sensor systems. They emit high-intensity light pulses, causing brief blinding and irritation. In addition to pyrotechnic stun grenades, in which the light pulses are generated by an explosion reaction, electronic stun grenades are now also known. These light pulses are generated by electronic emitters containing light sources such as LEDs or laser diodes that can be controlled by a control device. Such electronic stun devices are disclosed, for example, in EP 3 023 730 A1 and EP 3 023 731 A1, as well as DE 20 2008 006 658 U1. Other systems for blinding target persons are described, for example, in US 2018 / 0216919 A1 and US 2005 / 0243224 A1.

[0003] It is the object of the invention to provide an improved system for achieving an effective irritation effect with an electronic blind body.

[0004] This object is achieved by the teaching of independent claim 1, the preamble of which is based on the above-cited US 2005 / 0243224 A1. Particularly advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The present invention relates in particular to a method for operating an electronic blend body according to claim 1 and to an electronic blend body according to claim 12.

[0005] In the method according to the invention for operating an electronic blind body for emitting light pulses to irritate persons and sensor systems, which has at least one optical emitter with at least one electronic illuminating means for emitting light pulses, the illuminating means of the optical emitter is controlled in such a way that a light pulse sequence emitted by the illuminating means is adapted to the physiology of the human eye and thus to the properties of the human visual process.

[0006] While electronic blinders have so far primarily aimed at emitting continuous sequences of high-intensity light pulses to achieve the strongest possible blinding effect on a target person without causing eye damage, the invention proposes adapting the emitted light pulse sequence to the physiology of the human eye, thus achieving a more effective blinding and irritating effect on target persons. The strongest possible blinding and irritating effect can thus be achieved with less electrical energy consumption. This also allows for improvements in the size, weight, and thermal management of the blinder.

[0007] The adaptation of the light pulse sequence emitted by the illuminant of the optical emitter of the visor body to the physiology of the human eye and thus to the properties of the human visual process is achieved according to the invention by the controls (i) and (ii) specified below.

[0008] In control (i), the light pulse sequence contains an irritation sequence in which several glare pulse sequences with several glare pulses to achieve an irritation effect on a target person and several glare pauses without such glare pulses are emitted alternately one after the other, wherein a period duration of a sequence consisting of a glare pulse sequence and a subsequent glare pause is a maximum of 250 ms. Preferably, two or three glare pulses are emitted in a glare pulse sequence. Preferably, a duration of a glare pulse sequence is a maximum of approximately 200 ms and a duration of a glare pause is at least approximately 50 ms. In a preferred embodiment, the period duration of a glare pulse sequence and a glare pause is approximately 200 ms. This control (i) takes into account the eyelid closure reflex of the human eye, which is completed after 250 ms at the latest.

[0009] In the further control (ii), the light pulse sequence contains an irritation sequence in which several dazzling pulses are emitted to achieve an irritating effect on a target person, and also a pre-sequence preceding the irritation sequence in which a stimulating light perceptible to a target person is emitted without irritating the target person. The stimulating light has a maximum luminance of approximately 1×10 3< cd / m 2< , for example approximately 200 or 500 cd / m 2< . The stimulating light can be emitted continuously or in pulses. In this control (ii), the stimulating light preceding the irritation sequence is intended to cause the target person to unconsciously direct their gaze towards the dazzling body, so that the subsequent dazzling pulses in the irritation sequence can achieve a greater dazzling effect on the target person.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the light pulse sequence contains an irritation sequence in which a plurality of dazzling pulses are emitted to achieve an irritation effect on a target person, wherein the dazzling pulses each have a luminance of at most 1.6×10 6< cd / m 2<. Preferably, the dazzling pulses each have a luminance of at least about 1×10 4< cd / m 2<, more preferably of at least about 1×10 5< cd / m 2<. In a preferred embodiment, the dazzling pulses each have a luminance of about 1.0×10 6< cd / m 2<. Preferably, two or three dazzling pulses are emitted in a dazzling pulse sequence. This embodiment of the invention takes into account that the human eye can no longer adapt above a luminance of about 1.6×10 6< cd / m 2<, i.e. the cones are saturated and no further messenger substance change is generated in the bipolar cells.

[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the light pulse sequence contains an irritation sequence in which several dazzling pulses are emitted to achieve an irritation effect on a target person. The dazzling pulses each have a pulse gradient in the range of 0.5×10 5 < cd / m 2 < ms to 2.0×10 5 < cd / m 2 < ms. Preferably, two or three dazzling pulses are emitted in a dazzling pulse sequence. In this embodiment of the invention, the gradient of the dazzling pulses is adapted to the characteristics of the human eye in order to achieve the most optimized dazzling and irritation effect possible.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the light pulse sequence contains an irritation sequence in which several dazzling pulses are emitted to achieve an irritation effect on a target person, wherein the dazzling pulses each have a pulse width in the range of 20 ms to 50 ms. Preferably, the dazzling pulses each have a pulse width of at least approximately 30 ms and / or at most approximately 40 ms. Preferably, two or three dazzling pulses are emitted in a dazzling pulse sequence. In this embodiment of the invention, the pulse width of the dazzling pulses is adapted to the characteristics of the human eye in order to achieve the most optimized dazzling and irritation effect possible.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, at least one stimulus pulse with a maximum luminance (L) of 1×10 4< cd / m 2< is emitted during the glare pauses of the irritation sequence. Preferably, one or two stimulus pulses are emitted during a glare pause. In this embodiment of the invention, the stimulus pulses during the glare pauses of the irritation sequences are intended to cause the target person to unconsciously direct their gaze (for the first time or again) toward the glare body, so that the glare pulses in the subsequent irritation sequence can achieve a greater glare effect on the target person.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the light pulse sequence contains an irritation sequence in which several dazzling pulses are emitted to achieve an irritation effect on a target person. The dazzling pulses have pulse widths and light intensities such that, at a defined distance from the dazzling body, they generate an irradiance below the maximum permissible irradiation of a target person. Preferably, the generated irradiance should be in a fixed ratio of a maximum of 100% to a reference value indicating the maximum permissible irradiation. The maximum permissible irradiation (or the reference value) can, for example, be specified by an MZB value according to the standard DIN EN 60825-1. The maximum permissible irradiation is generally dependent on the wavelength of the emitted dazzling pulses.With this embodiment of the invention, a strong glare of a target person can be caused without causing damage to health, wherein a reference value related to the physiological effect is used as the limit value for the irradiance.

[0015] In one variant of this embodiment, distances between the visor and at least one target person are detected, and the defined distance is determined based on the detected distances. If multiple target persons are detected, the smallest of the detected distances is preferably used to determine the defined distance. For example, a typical body height of target persons is taken into account in determining the defined distance from the detected target-person distances in order to account for the position height of the eyes above the plane of the visor. The distance is preferably detected using a distance sensor in / on the visor.

[0016] In the case of the use of several blinding bodies, in this embodiment the light pulse sequence emitted by the illuminating device is preferably adapted to the distances to target persons detected by the other blinding bodies.

[0017] In another embodiment of the above configuration, the defined distance is an expected minimum distance between the blinding body and the eyes of a target person of, for example, approximately 2 m.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the light pulses of the optical emitter are emitted as collimated light beams. The glare effect can be further increased by collimating the light beams.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, in the case of the use of several diaphragm bodies, the light pulse sequence emitted by the illuminating means is adapted to the light pulse sequences emitted by the illuminating means of the other diaphragm bodies.

[0020] The electronic blind body for emitting light pulses to irritate persons and sensor systems according to the invention has at least one optical emitter with at least one electronic illuminant for emitting light pulses and a control device for controlling the illuminant of the optical emitter, wherein the control device is designed such that it carries out the above-explained method for operating the blind body according to the present invention.

[0021] With a blending body designed in this way, the same advantages can be achieved as with the method of the invention described above.

[0022] The electronic blend body has at least one optical emitter, preferably several optical emitters. The optical emitters each contain an electronic light source, preferably LEDs or laser diodes, or LED arrays or laser arrays. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the light sources contain LEDs or laser diodes with different emission colors to form so-called RGB clusters.

[0023] In addition to the at least one optical emitter, the visor body preferably also has at least one acoustic emitter for emitting sound pulses. This further increases the irritating effect of the visor body. The acoustic emitters preferably contain electronic sound generators, such as piezoelectric transducers.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, a communication device can also be provided which is connected to the control device, so that the control device of the glare body can communicate with control devices of other optical and / or acoustic irritation bodies and / or with a higher-level control in order to coordinate the control of the emitters of the various irritation bodies.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the blend body further comprises an integrated energy storage device. The energy storage device is preferably a rechargeable energy storage device. The energy storage device can be charged contactlessly (e.g., inductively) or via a connector.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, the blind body further comprises a self-destruction device for self-destruction of the blind body, in particular its control device. Self-destruction, which is preferably triggered remotely, can prevent the blind body from being taken into possession by third parties and used against oneself.

[0027] The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The two figures together illustrate the subject matter of the invention, largely schematically showing: Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an electronic glare body according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2 shows a luminance-time diagram of a light pulse sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is used with a glare body according to Fig. 1 can be generated.

[0028] The blend body 10 of Fig. 1 has a substantially cylindrical or spherical housing, on the outer surface of which a number of optical emitters 12 are arranged. The optical emitters 12 each contain an electronic illuminating means 14 for generating light pulses, such as LEDs, LED arrays, laser diodes, or laser arrays. To improve the irritation effect, the visor body 10 is preferably also equipped with at least one acoustic emitter 16. The acoustic emitters 16 each contain an electronic sound generator 18 for generating sound pulses, such as a piezoelectric transducer.

[0029] The electronic lamps 14 of the optical emitters 12 are controlled by a control device 20 via an intermediate driver 22. The electronic sound generators 18 of the acoustic emitters 16 are also controlled by the control device 20. Fig. 1 For the sake of clarity, only a part of the wired or wireless connections between the control device 20 and the lighting means 14 or sound generators 18 of the emitters 12, 16 is shown.

[0030] The control device 20 preferably contains a timer 24. The blending body 10 is also equipped with an energy storage device 26, preferably a rechargeable energy storage device, for supplying energy to the electronic components of the blending body 10.

[0031] The control device 20 is also connected to an activation switch 28 and / or a release mechanism, which can be actuated, for example, before the visor body 10 is released. Furthermore, the visor body 10 contains a (e.g., electromagnetic, acoustic, or optical) distance sensor 30 for detecting a distance between the visor body 10 and an object, in particular a target person. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 the blend body 10 optionally also contains a communication device 32 via which the control device 20 can communicate with the control devices of other blend bodies and / or with a higher-level control.

[0032] The activation switch 28, the arming mechanism, the distance sensor 30, and the communication device 32 serve as an activation mechanism for activating the control device 20 so that it controls the illuminants 14 of the optical emitters 12 and the sound generators 18 of the acoustic emitters 16 to emit the light pulses or sound pulses directly upon activation or—with the aid of the timer 24—a predetermined time after activation. Thus, the light pulses or sound pulses can be emitted, for example, a predetermined time period after actuation of the activation switch 28 or the arming mechanism, when the object distance detected by the distance sensor 30 falls below a predetermined threshold, a predetermined time period after the visor body 10 is dropped or impacted, etc.

[0033] The communication device 32 can be used to receive an activation signal from a remote control. Furthermore, the communication device 32 can be used to communicate between the control device 16 and control devices of other visor bodies and / or a higher-level controller. In this way, the pulses of the emitters 12, 16 of different visor bodies 10 can be coordinated with one another. For example, the light pulses or sound pulses can be emitted synchronously or in a well-defined pattern.

[0034] In addition, the blinding device 10 is optionally also equipped with a self-destruction device 34. Should a blinding device 10 fall into the hands of third parties and there is a risk that they will use the blinding device 10 against oneself, the self-destruction device 34 can be activated remotely via the communication device 32 to destroy the blinding device 10, in particular its control device 20.

[0035] As in Fig. 1 As indicated, the optical emitters 12 of the visor body 10 are preferably designed to emit collimated light beams 36. The collimation of the light beams 36 is achieved, for example, with the aid of optical elements 38 such as lenses or prisms.

[0036] According to the invention, the control device 20 is designed to control the illuminants 14 of the optical emitters 12 such that the light pulse sequences emitted by the illuminants 14 are adapted to the physiology of the human eye, i.e., in particular, to the specific characteristics of the human visual process. These specific characteristics include, in particular, the blink reflex, adaptation, physiological glare, the temporal progression of cone saturation in photopic vision, neurotransmitter reduction in bipolar cells, the inverse proportionality of the light source size to the glare, the independence of the glare from the light color, etc.

[0037] In normal photopic vision, the perceived brightness of the human eye depends on the stimulation of the cones in the eye, which are sensitive to different wavelengths. The perception of brightness is greater the lower the reduction of neurotransmitters at the bipolar cells. Due to the relative inertia of neurotransmitter transmission, even pulsed light beams with pulse frequencies greater than 50 Hz are perceived as constant brightness. The perceived brightness is then proportional to the surface area "luminance over time" and, due to the different sensitivities of L, M, and S cones, also depends on the color of the light source.

[0038] At luminances of 1×104 to 1.6×106 cd / m2, the eye can no longer adapt, meaning the cones are saturated (physiological glare), so that no further neurotransmitter changes are generated in the bipolar cells. This also applies to light sources that do not fill the entire field of vision. It is particularly important to note that the smaller the light source, the stronger the glare effect. In the case of glare, the glare effect is only weakly dependent on the light color. Another relevant eye function is the blink reflex, which is usually completed after 250 ms at the latest.

[0039] Since the majority of the cones in the eye are located around the main visual axis, the glare source is more effective the closer it is to the visual axis. Since the highly light-sensitive rods react particularly to stimuli from the peripheral field of vision, and the gaze is unconsciously directed toward this stimulus, this effect can also be exploited.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows, in a luminance-time diagram, an effective light pulse sequence 50 of the light emitted by a light source 14 of an optical emitter 12 of the diaphragm body 10. LED arrays composed of LEDs with the highest possible photometric efficiency are particularly suitable as light sources, whereby the light color is irrelevant. The LEDs should be arranged as closely as possible to one another.

[0041] The light pulse sequence 50 contains an irritation sequence 51 and a pre-sequence 55 preceding it. In the pre-sequence 55, a stimulus light 56 ​​perceptible by a target person is emitted, which does not yet trigger an irritation effect in the target person, but draws the attention of the target person and thus changes the direction of view of the target person towards the blinding body 10. The stimulus light 56 ​​can be designed as a continuous light or a pulse sequence. The luminance L of the stimulus light 56 ​​is a maximum of 1×103 cd / m 2< , in the embodiment of Fig. 2 for example, between approximately 200 and 500 cd / m 2 . The duration of this pre-sequence 55 is, for example, approximately 100 ms.

[0042] The irritation sequence 51 contains several alternating flash pulse sequences 52 and several flash pauses 54. Two or three flash pulses 53 are emitted in the flash pulse sequences 52, which are intended to dazzle a target person. The flash pulses 53 each have a luminance of approximately 1×106 cd / m2< , a pulse width W in the range of 20 to 50 ms, and a pulse gradient in the range of 0.5×105 cd / m2< □ms to 2.0×105 cd / m2< □ms.

[0043] During the glare breaks 54, the target person should not be dazzled. The glare breaks 54 can therefore be designed without light emission. In the embodiment of Fig. 2 During the glare pauses 54, one or two stimulus pulses 57 are emitted, which, similar to the stimulus light 56 ​​in the pre-sequence 55, are intended to (again) unconsciously direct the target person's attention to the glare body 10. The stimulus pulses 53 each have a maximum luminance of approximately 1×104 cd / m 2< and a pulse width W also in the range of 20 to 50 ms.

[0044] The period T of a sequence of a glare pulse sequence 52 and a subsequent glare pause 54 lies within the eyelid closure reflex and is a maximum of about 250 ms. In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the period T is approximately 200 ms. The duration of a blend pulse sequence 52 is a maximum of approximately 200 ms, in the embodiment of Fig. 2 about 100 ms, and the duration of a pause 54 is at least about 50 ms, in the embodiment of Fig. 2 about 100 ms.

[0045] In the diagram of Fig. 2A curve E is also shown, which is intended to illustrate the cumulative electrical energy consumption of the illuminant 14. Compared to a continuous sequence of glare pulses without glare pauses, the electrical energy consumption E is significantly reduced when using the light pulse sequence 50 according to the invention. The energy savings can, for example, amount to more than 50%.

[0046] In addition to the aspects of pulse sequences, pulse shapes and luminances described above, the illuminants 14 of the optical emitters 12 are also controlled by the control device 20 such that the glare pulses 53 in the irritation sequence 51 have a characteristic that causes the strongest possible glare without causing permanent damage to the eye of the target person.

[0047] For this purpose, glare pulses 53 are generated that have pulse widths W and luminous intensities I that, at a defined distance □ from the glare body 10, produce an irradiance that is below the maximum permissible irradiation of a target person or is in a fixed ratio of a maximum of 100% to a reference value indicating the maximum permissible irradiation. For example, an MZB value according to the DIN EN 60825-1 standard can be used as a reference value for the maximum permissible irradiation.

[0048] In the case of a fixed pulse width and wavelength of the light beams emitted by the illuminant 14, the control device 20 can use a once-calculated value for the luminous intensity I. If variable pulse widths W and / or wavelengths of the glare pulses 53 are desired, the control device 20 must recalculate the luminous intensity I for each glare pulse 53.

[0049] The defined distance □ is, for example, an expected minimum distance D between the glare body 10 and the eyes of a standing target person (for example, approximately 2 m) or a distance typical for the application situation of the glare body 10. In this case, the control device 20 can use a preset value for the luminous intensity I for a fixed pulse width and wavelength of the light beams emitted by the illuminant 14.

[0050] Alternatively, the defined distance □ is determined dynamically based on distances d between the glare body 10 and target persons, which are detected by the distance sensor 30 of the glare body 10. The control device 20 determines, for example, from the distance d of the target person detected by the distance sensor 30, the MZB value at the corresponding eye position and then calculates the light intensity I and the pulse duration W for the glare pulses 53 such that the generated irradiance is in a fixed ratio to the determined MZB value.

[0051] If several people are within the effective range of the visor 10 and the distance sensor 30 detects several distances d, the calculation is carried out taking into account the person closest to the visor 10, i.e., the smallest detected distance d. Alternatively, the detected distances d can also be averaged, optionally with a special weighting, for example, for the closer distances.

[0052] If several blend bodies 10 are used, the determination of the defined distance □ and the corresponding reference value can be carried out either for each blend body 10 individually or by taking into account the other blend bodies 10 and the distances recorded by them.

[0053] In addition, the ambient brightness can also be included in the calculation of the luminous intensities I and pulse widths W of the glare pulses 53. For this purpose, the glare body 10 can, for example, be equipped with a photosensor or receive corresponding information via the communication device 32. REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

[0054] 10Electronic glare body 12Optical emitter 14Light source 16Acoustic emitter 18Sound generator 20Control device 22Driver 24Timer 26Energy storage 28Activation switch 30Distance sensor 32Communication device 34Self-destruction device 36Collimated light beam 38Optical element, especially lens or prism 50Light pulse sequence 51Irritation sequence 52Glare pulse sequence 53Glare pulses 54Glare pause 55Pre-sequence 56Stimulus light 57Stimulus pulses dDistance Dspecified minimum distance □defined distance Eelectrical energy ILuminous intensity LLuminance TPeriod duration WPulse width

Claims

1. Method for operating an electronic dazzling element (10) having at least one optical emitter (12) with at least one electronic light-emitting means (14) for emitting light pulses, wherein the light-emitting means (14) of the optical emitter (12) is controlled for adapting a light pulse sequence (50) emitted by the light-emitting means (14) to the physiology of the human eye and thus to the properties of the human visual process in such a way that the light pulse sequence (50) contains a disorientation sequence (51) in which alternately, one after the other, a plurality of dazzle pulse sequences (52) with a plurality of dazzle pulses (53) are emitted to bring about a disorienting effect on a target person and a plurality of dazzle pauses (54) without dazzle pulses (53), characterized in that a period duration (T) of one sequence comprising a dazzle pulse sequence (52) and a subsequent dazzle pause (54) is at most 250 ms; and the light pulse sequence (50) furthermore contains a pre-sequence (55) preceding the disorientation sequence (51) in which stimulus light (56), which is perceptible by a target person, is emitted with a luminance (L) of at most 1×103 cd / m2, which draws the target person's attention without any disorienting effect on the target person.

2. Method according to Claim 1, in which the dazzle pulses (53) each have a luminance (L) of at most 1.6×106 cd / m2.

3. Method according to either of the preceding claims, in which the dazzle pulses (53) each have a pulse slope in the range of 0.5×105 cd / m2·ms to 2.0×105 cd / m2·ms.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the dazzle pulses (53) each have a pulse width (W) in the range of 20 ms to 50 ms.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, in which at least one stimulus pulse (57) with a luminance (L) of at most 1×104 cd / m2 is emitted in each of the dazzle pauses (54) of the disorientation sequence (51), and draws the target person's attention to the dazzling element (10) without any disorienting effect on the target person.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the dazzle pulses (53) have such pulse widths (W) and light intensities (I) that they generate, at a defined distance (δ) from the dazzling element (10), an irradiance below a maximum permissible exposure of a target person.

7. Method according to Claim 6, in which distances (d) between the dazzling element (10) and at least one target person are captured and the defined distance (δ) is determined as a function of the captured distances (d).

8. Method according to Claim 7, in which in the case when a plurality of dazzling elements (10) are used, the light pulse sequence (50) emitted by the light-emitting means (14) is adapted to the distances from target persons captured by the other dazzling elements.

9. Method according to Claim 6, in which the defined distance (δ) is an expected minimum distance (D) between the dazzling element (10) and the eyes of a target person.

10. Method according to any of the preceding claims, in which the light pulses of the optical emitter (12) are emitted as collimated light beams (36).

11. Method according to any of the preceding claims, in which in the case when a plurality of dazzling elements (10) are used, the light pulse sequence (50) emitted by the light-emitting means (14) is adapted to the light pulse sequences emitted by the light-emitting means of the other dazzling elements.

12. Electronic dazzling element (10), having: at least one optical emitter (12) with at least one electronic light-emitting means (14) for emitting light pulses; and a control device (20) for controlling the light-emitting means (14) of the optical emitter (12), characterized in that the control device (20) is designed in such a way that it carries out a method for operating the dazzling element (10) according to any of Claims 1 to 11.

13. Electronic dazzling element (10) according to Claim 12, which has at least one acoustic emitter (16) for emitting sound pulses in addition to the at least one optical emitter (12).

14. Electronic dazzling element (10) according to Claim 12 or 13, furthermore having a communication device (32) connected to the control device (20) to the effect that the control device (2) of the dazzling element (10) can communicate with control devices of other optical and / or acoustic disorientation elements and / or with a higher-level controller in order to coordinate the controlling of the emitters of the various disorientation elements with respect to one another.