PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR RESCUE WORKERS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a garment according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for processing information signals.

[0003] DE 10 2015 100 852 A1 discloses a garment for rescue workers in which several communication units are integrated. Firstly, first communication units for transmitting information signals are arranged at the end of sleeve portions of the garment. Secondly, a second communication unit for receiving information signals generated by the first communication units is arranged in a torso portion of the garment. The received second communication unit is connected via cable harnesses to a plurality of LEDs attached to the outside of the garment. The cable harness is additionally connected to a control unit for the LEDs and to a power supply unit. The first communication unit and the second communication unit can each be designed as a transponder.A switching signal for switching the LEDs on and off is generated by changing the relative position of the first communication unit to the second communication unit. The LEDs are switched on, for example, when a predetermined threshold value, which depends on the distance between the first and second communication units, is undershot. Instead of physical contact, the approach of the arm part to the torso part, like a proximity switch, leads to the desired switching process. In this way, the person wearing the item of clothing can, for example, emit a light signal when an arm is moved towards the torso. This is particularly useful when the person, for example a rescue worker, is involved in rescue measures at the scene of an accident and does not have a hand available to operate a switch.The disadvantage of this known garment, however, is that it requires a relatively high level of effort; in particular, a power supply unit is required, which means additional weight.

[0004] Transponders for wirelessly providing information about an object's parameters are known, for example, from WO 2020 / 205484 A1. The transponder is installed together with a sensor that does not have its own power supply. The required power is provided via an RFID field of a nearby RFID reader. The disadvantage of this is that the object must always be within the RFID field. If it is outside the range of the RFID reader, no information signal can be transmitted.

[0005] US 2020 / 0285821 A1 discloses a garment with a communication unit for providing an information signal. The garment has an energy conversion unit to power the communication unit.

[0006] US 2018 / 338561 A1 discloses a shoe as a garment in which a first communication unit in the form of an RFID chip is integrated. An energy conversion unit for providing electrical energy for the first communication unit can be generated by movement of the body wearing the shoe.

[0007] From GB 2 593 949 A a kinetic energy converter is known which provides the energy to generate a characteristic information signal.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to further develop an item of clothing for rescue workers or a flat data element for the same in such a way that information signals can be transmitted wirelessly from one object to another with long-term stability, while ensuring easy handling and low weight.

[0009] To solve this problem, the invention has the features of patent claim 1.

[0010] According to the invention, an energy conversion unit is integrated into the object in which a first communication unit is located. The energy conversion unit feeds the energy required for operating the first communication unit and / or for transmitting an information signal wirelessly transmitted by the same to a remotely located second communication unit from the environment and / or by moving parts of the object itself. Advantageously, the first communication unit is relatively lightweight and can be easily attached to the object, in particular the item of clothing. According to the invention, the energy conversion unit is designed as a kinetic energy converter. Advantageously, by moving a part of the object or the item of clothing, a force can be exerted on the kinetic energy converter, leading to a conversion of the kinetic energy into electrical energy.The electrical energy obtained can be used to power the first communication unit and to transmit an information signal generated by the first communication unit.

[0011] According to the invention, the kinetic energy converter is arranged in a bending region of the garment, namely in the crook of the arm or the crook of the leg, so that by bending the arm or leg of the wearer of the garment, the required mechanical energy for conversion into electrical energy can be generated. Advantageously, this makes it easy to transmit, for example, an emergency signal as an information signal from the first communication unit to the remotely located second communication unit. If the second communication unit is integrated into a mobile, decentralized control center at the scene of the accident, the control center can quickly issue operational commands based on the current information signal. These commands can preferably be directed to the same user and / or to other users of the same garment via a different communication channel.If, for example, a fire breaks out unexpectedly at the scene of the accident, this can be quickly reported via the information signal to the decentralized control center, which can then quickly issue further operational orders.

[0012] According to a further development of the invention, the energy conversion unit comprises a sensor for detecting a physical quantity or is coupled to a sensor unit. For example, the carbon monoxide content of the air can be measured and transmitted via the first communication unit to the remotely located second communication unit. The decentralized control center at the accident scene can then issue appropriate commands for rescue measures relatively quickly.

[0013] According to the invention, a control unit for generating the information signal is coupled and / or electrically connected to the first communication unit and / or the energy conversion unit. Thus, the control unit has a dead man's signal control, so that when the user moves the crook of the arm and / or the crook of the leg, a dead man's signal is generated as an information signal, which is transmitted via the radio interface to the second communication unit. Advantageously, this eliminates the need for the user to operate a switch. Additionally, the control unit can have a parameter monitoring control, for example, a temperature monitoring control, so that the physical quantity or physical parameter determined by the sensor can be transmitted continuously or at regular intervals to the second communication unit.Depending on the number and type of sensors used, continuous monitoring can be carried out at the site.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the second communication unit, which is preferably arranged remotely from the first communication unit, has an evaluation unit by means of which the information signal is evaluated and, depending on the evaluation, a command signal is generated. This command signal is transmitted via a separate wireless interface to another communication device of the same user of the object and / or to other users of other objects. For example, the command signal can be sent from a decentralized control center at the scene of the accident to instruct the users of the clothing items to immediately leave the scene of the accident due to imminent danger.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, neither the energy conversion unit nor the first communication unit has a battery or accumulator. The device according to the invention thus does not have its own energy storage device. The energy is generated exclusively via energy sources available at the site of use.

[0016] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the energy conversion unit comprises an electrical buffer or an auxiliary electrical power source, thus advantageously enabling continuous operation of the first communication unit even if the required power source is not available at the site of use. In particular, this allows transmission from the first communication unit to occur when the wearer of the garment is in a motionless state and is no longer able to bend their arms or legs.

[0017] According to a further development of the invention, the energy conversion unit and / or the first communication unit and / or the control unit are arranged on a textile support layer that runs along a surface or within a multi-layer textile material of the garment. Advantageously, the units are thus firmly and captively mounted on the garment. If the units are additionally arranged within the multi-layer textile material of the garment, they are also protected from environmental influences.

[0018] According to a further development of the invention, the first communication unit and the second communication unit are each designed as an RFID transponder. The first communication unit is powered by electrical energy from the energy conversion unit.

[0019] To achieve this object, the system according to the invention has the features of patent claim 7.

[0020] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0021] They show: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of a garment, and Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the garment.

[0022] A system according to the invention for transmitting and processing an information signal 5 from a first object 1 to a second object 2 and vice versa has a first communication unit 3 which is assigned to the first object 1 and a second communication unit 4 which is assigned to the second object 2.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the first object 1 is designed as a piece of clothing, for example as part of personal protective equipment for rescue workers, which is worn by a person 7, for example a rescue worker, firefighter, policeman (in Figure 1shown from above).

[0024] The second object 2 can be designed as a decentralized control center 2 that is temporarily located at an accident site, preferably for the intended purpose. The decentralized control center 2 can be used, for example, to handle a disaster or major incident, whereby emergency services 7 are coordinated in an operational area. The emergency services 7 each wear the item of clothing that serves as the first object 1 of this system for handling the disaster or major incident. The decentralized control center 2 is designed to receive information signals 5 from the respective emergency services 7, to process them, and to output emergency signals 6 to the emergency services 7. The emergency services 7 each wear the item of clothing 1, which in the present embodiment is designed as a jacket. The item of clothing 1 has a torso part 8, a collar cutout 9, and two arm parts 10.In the present exemplary embodiment, a planar data element 12 is arranged in the region of an elbow 11 of the arm part 10 or is permanently connected to the garment 1. The planar data element 12 is designed as an integrated component that includes an energy conversion unit 13, the first communication unit 3, and optionally also a sensor unit 15.

[0025] The energy conversion unit 13 has one or more energy converters. In the present exemplary embodiment, the energy conversion unit 13 comprises a first energy converter, which is designed as a kinetic energy converter 16. The kinetic energy converter 16 is designed to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. For example, the kinetic energy converter 16 can have a piezo element. In order to be able to exert mechanical pressure, the kinetic energy converter 16 is arranged in a thigh region of the crook of the arm 11, so that when a lower section 17 of the arm part 10 is moved relative to an upper section 18 of the same arm part 10, a mechanical force is exerted on the kinetic energy converter 16 or piezo element, which force is converted into electrical energy. The kinetic energy converter 16 is located in a region close to a pivot axis S of the arm part 10. By bending the arm of the person 7 orThe resulting movement of the sections 17, 18 of the respective arm parts 10 towards each other can generate the electrical energy which is transmitted as a power supply signal 19 to the first communication unit 3, see dashed line of subsection 17 in . Figure 2 .

[0026] The first communication unit 3 comprises, for example, a passive transponder with a microcontroller 20 and an antenna 21.

[0027] If the system includes sensor unit 15, energy conversion unit 13 additionally supplies sensor unit 15 with a power supply signal 22. Sensor unit 15 may include a number of sensors 23, 24, each of which can detect different physical variables. One sensor 23 may, for example, measure the ambient temperature of garment 1 at the location of use. Another sensor 24 may, for example, be configured as a carbon monoxide sensor that measures the carbon monoxide content of the ambient air around garment 1. Sensors 23, 24 each generate signals that are transmitted as sensor signals 25 to a control unit 26, preferably integrated in first communication unit 3. Control unit 26 may include microcontroller 20, which is supplied with power supply signal 19 by energy conversion unit 13.

[0028] The control unit 6, the first communication unit 3, the sensor unit 15, and the energy conversion unit 13 are preferably arranged in a common component, namely the planar data element 12. Alternatively, all or some of the aforementioned units 3, 6, 13, 15 can also be individually integrated into the garment 1, ensuring that the units 3, 6, 13, 15 are coupled to one another via electrical connecting lines.

[0029] The energy conversion unit 13 can alternatively or additionally comprise a thermal energy converter 27, by means of which thermal energy can be converted into electrical energy. For example, the thermal energy converter 27 comprises a Peltier element. In this way, the current supply signal 19 or 22 can be generated, for example, when the temperature at the installation site increases.

[0030] Alternatively or additionally, the energy conversion unit 13 may include a radiant energy converter 28 that converts ambient radiant energy into electrical energy. For example, the radiant energy converter 28 may comprise a solar cell.

[0031] A control unit 29, preferably integrated in the microcontroller 20, serves to process the signals 19, 25 provided by the energy conversion unit 13 and / or the sensor unit 15.

[0032] The control unit 29 comprises a dead man's signal control 30, by means of which the information signal 5 is designed as a dead man's signal and is transmitted from the antenna 21 via a radio interface 31 to a remotely located second communication unit 4 of the decentralized control center 2. The dead man's signal 5 is generated using the kinetic energy converter 16 when the current feed signal 19 generated by the movement of the crooked arms 11 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The predetermined threshold value is stored in the control unit 26. When the threshold value is exceeded, the dead man's signal 5 is generated and transmitted via the radio interface 31 to the second communication unit 4. The second communication unit 4 of the control center is connected to an evaluation unit 33, in which the information signal 5 is evaluated. The deployment signal or the activation signal is generated depending on the result of the evaluation.Command signal 6, which is transmitted via a separate wireless radio interface 35 to communication devices 36 of one or more persons / emergency personnel 7 of the same organizational unit wearing the item of clothing 1. For example, the command signal 6 can be an operational order to remove the emergency personnel 7 from the accident scene.

[0033] In addition, the control unit 26 can have a parameter monitoring controller 37, by means of which parameters detected, for example, by the sensor unit 15 can be monitored. If the parameter is a temperature, for example, the temperature in the environment of the respective emergency personnel 7 can be monitored at regular intervals or continuously. The current temperatures are made available as a sensor signal 25 to the parameter monitoring controller 37 of the control unit 26 and then transmitted via the antenna 21 as an information signal 5 to the second communication unit 4 of the control center 2. The evaluation unit 33 of the control center 2 has processing and storage means for processing and storing the corresponding information signals 5. In this way, the temperature or other parameters can be documented during the operation.

[0034] In the present embodiment, no battery or accumulator is required to power the sensor unit 15 and the first communication unit 3 or the control unit 26. The electrical energy is generated solely by the energy conversion unit 13.

[0035] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the control unit 26 can be assigned an electrical buffer, by means of which auxiliary electrical energy is provided. In this way, a temporary failure of the energy conversion unit 13, for example, due to the unavailability of a required physical energy source, can be compensated. In particular, this can ensure continuous operation of the system.

[0036] The electrical buffer can, for example, be designed as a capacitor that is integrated into the circuit electronics of the control unit or the microprocessor.

[0037] The energy conversion unit 13 and / or the first communication unit 3 and, if applicable, the sensor unit 15 can be arranged on a common textile carrier layer 38. In the present exemplary embodiment, the textile carrier layer 38 is incorporated within a textile material consisting of several layers 39. The textile carrier layer 38 can be firmly connected to the textile material 39 of the garment 1 by means of weaving or sewing, by knitting, by embroidery, or by printing.

[0038] The energy conversion unit 13 and / or the first communication unit 3 and / or the sensor unit 15 can be flexible or rigid or semi-rigid.

[0039] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the energy conversion unit 13 and / or the first contact unit 3 and / or the sensor unit 15 can be mounted on a surface 14 of the textile material of the garment 1. In particular, if the energy conversion unit 13 comprises a radiant energy converter 28, at least this would have to be arranged on the surface or with a light-transparent window.

[0040] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the control unit 26 can control a light source unit 40 attached to the garment 1. For this purpose, the control unit 26 has a corresponding control unit 41, which is operated by the energy conversion unit 13 with the power supply signal 19. In this case, the control unit 26 can be operated independently of the first communication unit 3, or the first communication unit 3 is not operated. The light source unit 40 can be attached to the torso part 8, for example, as a light strip 41 (see Figure 2).

[0041] According to an embodiment of the invention not shown, the control unit 26 can also be arranged outside the first communication unit 3. It receives the power supply signal 19 from the energy conversion unit 13 and / or the sensor signal 25 from the sensor unit 15. On the output side, the control unit 26 controls the first communication unit 3 and / or the light source unit 40. The respective controls 30, 37 are part of the control unit 26.

Claims

1. A garment for rescue workers (7), comprising a first communication unit (3) which is fitted in and / or on the garment (1) and is intended for providing an information signal (5), wherein an energy conversion unit (13) which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy in order to supply the first communication unit (3) is placed in and / or on the garment (1); the energy conversion unit (13) has a kinetic energy converter (16) in order to convert the mechanical energy into the electrical energy; the kinetic energy converter (16) is located in a bending region (11) of the garment (1) such that the mechanical energy is generated as a result of movement of a portion (17, 18) of the garment (1) containing the bending region (11); the kinetic energy converter (16) is located in a region of an arm bend or a leg bend such that the mechanical energy required for conversion into the electrical energy can be generated by bending of the arm or the leg of the rescue worker in the garment; and the first communication unit (3) has a control unit (29) comprising a dead man's signal controller (30), by means of which the information signal (5) is configured as a dead man's signal and is transmitted from the antenna (21) via a radio interface (31) to a remotely located second communication unit (4) of a control center (2), the dead man's signal (5) being generated when the power supply signal (19) generated by the movement of the arm bends (11) or leg bends exceeds a threshold saved in the control unit (26).

2. The garment according to Claim 1, characterized in that the energy conversion unit (13) is assigned a sensor unit (15) in order to detect a physical variable, the sensor unit (15) having at least one surroundings sensor (23, 24) for detecting state parameters regarding surroundings of the garment (1), and in that the sensor unit (15) is powered by a power supply signal (19) generated by the energy conversion unit (13).

3. The garment according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that neither the energy conversion unit (13) nor the first communication unit (3) has a battery or a rechargeable battery as an electrical energy storage device.

4. The garment according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the energy conversion unit (13) and / or the control unit (26) and / or the first communication unit (3) has an temporary electrical storage device, by means of which auxiliary electrical energy is provided for a temporary outage of the energy converter (16, 27, 28).

5. The garment according to Claim 4, characterized in that the temporary electrical storage device is designed as a capacitor.

6. The garment according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the energy conversion unit (13) and / or the first communication unit (3) and / or the sensor unit (15) and / or the control unit (26) is fitted on a textile support layer (38) of the garment (1), the textile support layer (38) extending on a surface (14) and / or within a multi-layer textile material (39) of the garment (1).

7. A system for transmitting and processing an information signal (5), comprising: a first communication unit (3) which is fitted in and / or on the garment (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6; a second communication unit (4) which is remotely located in a control center (2); and a radio interface (31) for transmitting the information signal (5) from the first communication unit (3) to the second communication unit (4), wherein the first communication unit (3) has a passive transponder comprising a microcontroller (20) and an antenna (21), and a control unit (29) having a dead man's signal controller (30) is integrated in the microcontroller (20).