Stroboscopic light device for locating objects with infrared thermal emitter

Abstract

The invention relates to a stroboscopic lighting device (1) comprising a housing (10) carrying an infrared light emitter (20), a stabilized power supply module (40) housed in said housing and coupled to an electric battery (50), and a control module (30) also housed in said housing (10) and capable of controlling the duration and frequency of emission of said emitter (20) so as to generate a stroboscopic light signal; characterized in that said light emitter consists of an infrared thermal emitter (20) comprising a heating element (21) capable of carrying an electric current so as to cause its heating and the emission of infrared thermal radiation. Figure to be published with the abbreviation Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Strobe light device for marking with infrared thermal emitter Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a strobe light locating device with an infrared thermal emitter intended in particular to enable the rapid location of an individual in a dangerous situation. Prior art

[0002] The rapid development of leisure activities practiced in the great outdoors such as trekking, climbing, mountaineering or boating has led in recent years to a significant increase in the number of accidents, the seriousness of which is accentuated by the fact that the victims are often in isolated areas not covered by emergency radio networks capable of receiving distress messages such as in particular mobile telephone networks and specific sea or mountain rescue networks.

[0003] For greater safety, those taking part in these leisure activities in isolated areas are therefore advised to use a satellite telephone or a radio beacon, for example of the Argos® type.

[0004] However, this type of equipment is particularly expensive and only a minority of practitioners are equipped with it.

[0005] Chemiluminescent sticks are also known, marketed in particular by the company Cyalume®, comprising a sealed plastic tube defining two compartments separated by a thin partition and containing solutions capable of reacting chemically together. When the separating partition is broken when the stick is bent, the two solutions mix and the chemical reaction occurring between them generates energy which is released in the form of photons in the visible or infrared range.

[0006] Such chemiluminescent sticks have the main advantages of being light, inexpensive and not requiring an external power supply.

[0007] However, due to their limited light power, their range is relatively short (of the order of a kilometer), which prevents, for example, their detection by rescue planes or helicopters flying over the search area at an altitude of several kilometers.

[0008] There are also strobe light marker devices comprising a housing carrying at least one light-emitting diode (LED), a stabilized power supply module housed in said housing and coupled to an accumulator. electrical, as well as a control module also housed in said housing and capable of controlling the duration and frequency of emission of said diode(s) so as to generate a stroboscopic light signal in the visible or infrared range.

[0009] Their power is also limited, and these devices unfortunately suffer from the same drawbacks in terms of range as chemiluminescent sticks, so that they are also not detectable by rescue planes or helicopters flying over the search area. Statement of the invention

[0010] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0011] To this end, it proposes a stroboscopic light locating device comprising a housing carrying an infrared light emitter, a stabilized power supply module housed in said housing and coupled to an electric accumulator, as well as a control module also housed in said housing and capable of controlling the duration and frequency of emission of said emitter so as to generate a stroboscopic light signal.

[0012] According to the invention, said light emitter is constituted by an infrared thermal emitter comprising a heating element capable of being crossed by an electric current so as to cause it to heat up and emit infrared thermal radiation.

[0013] The use of such an infrared thermal emitter thus makes it possible to emit light signals having a light power significantly greater than that emitted by existing strobe light marker devices equipped with light-emitting diodes.

[0014] The range of the light signals emitted by the device according to the invention thus extends over several kilometers so that they can be spotted by rescue planes or helicopters flying over the search area.

[0015] In order to limit in particular the energy consumption and the temperature reached by the heating element of the infrared thermal emitter, the stabilized power supply module is preferably configured so as to deliver to said heating element a predetermined stabilized power supply making it possible to cause said heating element to heat up to a given temperature corresponding to a particular emission spectrum of its thermal radiation having an intensity peak associated with an infrared wavelength greater than or equal to 3 pm.

[0016] In order to maximize the power of the infrared radiation and therefore the range of the light signals emitted by the device, said intensity peak is advantageously associated with an infrared wavelength located in the mid-infrared band (MWIR) between 3 and 5 pm.

[0017] According to an alternative embodiment seeking to limit as much as possible maximize the atmospheric absorption of the light signals emitted by the device, said intensity peak can alternatively be associated with an infrared wavelength located in the long infrared band (LWIR) between 8 and 14 pm.

[0018] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the stabilized power supply module can be provided with a regulator making it possible to adjust the stabilized power supply delivered to said heating element over a predefined adjustment range so as to modulate the temperature reached by said heating element and thus shift the intensity peak of its emission spectrum.

[0019] This adjustment range will then advantageously be configured so as to allow adjustment of the wavelength of said intensity peak between 3 and 14 pm.

[0020] According to advantageous embodiment characteristics, taken alone or in combination, the light device according to the invention may comprise: - an accelerometer module connected to said control module and capable of detecting a fall of the wearer of this device, said control module being capable, in the event of detection of such a fall, of automatically switching said device into a transmission mode associated with the redundant generation of a light alert signal; - a microphone coupled to a voice recognition module connected to said control module, the latter being capable, according to a transmission mode of said device selectable by the user, of ensuring the transcoding of an oral message spoken by the user into a stroboscopic light signal as well as generating the transmission of this signal by said infrared thermal transmitter; and / or - a keyboard connected to said control module, the latter being capable, according to a transmission mode of said device selectable by the user, of ensuring the transcoding of a written message typed by the user into a stroboscopic light signal as well as generating the transmission of this signal by said infrared thermal transmitter.

[0021] For reasons of practicality and ease of use, said electric accumulator preferably consists of a rechargeable battery housed inside said housing and rechargeable via a charging port accessible from outside said housing.

[0022] Due to its relatively rapid cooling speed allowing its operation to be controlled with a satisfactory emission frequency, said infrared thermal emitter will advantageously be chosen as a ribbon filament type.

[0023] In order to ensure that the device according to the invention always remains close to the user, this device may advantageously comprise attachment means provided on said housing and allowing it to be secured to various items of clothing and / or accessories worn by this user or to objects located in his / her immediate environment.

[0024] These attachment means may for example comprise a strap loop, a first male or female element of a self-gripping or snap button type fastening system, or even a magnetic strip.

[0025] The stroboscopic light device according to the invention may also advantageously comprise a two-position control member, accessible from outside said housing, and making it possible to switch said device between an active configuration in which a light stroboscopic signal is emitted by said thermal emitter and a standby or off configuration in which no light signal is emitted. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of a strobe light marking device according to an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] is a perspective view from a different angle of the strobe light marker device of [Fig.l]; - [Fig.3] represents a functional diagram of the strobe light marking device of [Fig.l] and - [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the infrared thermal emitter included in the strobe light locator device of [Fig.l]. Description of the embodiments

[0027] Figures 1 and 2 show two perspective views from different angles of a stroboscopic light marking device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0028] This light device 1, the functional diagram of which is illustrated by [Fig. 3], comprises a housing 10 in this case of cylindrical shape and advantageously made of plastic material.

[0029] This housing 10 comprises a hollow cylindrical main body 11 open at one of its ends, as well as a closing cover 12 fixedly attached to the open end of this main body 11, advantageously in a removable manner (for example by screwing or fitting) and / or sealed (for example, by means of a seal not shown).

[0030] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the housing 10 may have a different shape, for example a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0031] The light device 1 also comprises an infrared thermal emitter 20 carried by the housing 10 and comprising a heating element capable of being crossed by an electric current so as to cause it to heat up and emit a infrared thermal radiation.

[0032] Unlike so-called "cold" luminescent emitters such as light-emitting diodes whose light emission results from interactions between electrically charged particles, so-called "hot" thermal emitters are in fact based on the thermal radiation emitted by any body and whose emission spectrum varies mainly as a function of its temperature as described by Planck's law.

[0033] Visible from the outside of the housing 10, the infrared thermal emitter 20 is in this case installed, advantageously in a sealed manner, in a complementary shaped housing 13 provided on the cover 12 of this housing 10.

[0034] We will now describe this infrared thermal emitter 20 with the support of [Fig.4] in which it is shown alone.

[0035] Due to its relatively rapid cooling speed allowing its operation to be controlled with a satisfactory emission frequency, the infrared thermal emitter 20 will advantageously be chosen as a ribbon filament type: the heating element being constituted by a metallic filament 21 in the form of a ribbon, manufactured for example from tungsten.

[0036] A surface treatment by oxidation is furthermore advantageously carried out on this heating filament 21 in order to increase its emissivity in the infrared spectral region so that it approaches that (equal to 1) of a black body fully absorbing all the electromagnetic energy that it receives, without reflecting or transmitting any of it. Thus, the emissivity of the heating filament 21 after treatment will advantageously be at least 0.8 and even more preferably greater than or equal to 0.9 so that its emission spectrum approaches as closely as possible that characteristic of a black body depending solely on its temperature.

[0037] The two ends of the filament 21 are connected to electrical power supply pins (only one of them 22 being visible) allowing the latter to be crossed by an electric current so as to cause it to heat up.

[0038] In order to guarantee the stability of the emissivity of the filament 21 and a maximum cooling speed when the electrical supply to its terminals is cut off, this filament 21 is preferably housed in a capsule 23 hermetically closed by a window 24 transparent to infrared and filled with a thermally conductive gas such as calcium fluoride.

[0039] In order to optimize the radiation emitted by the heating filament 21 towards the outside of the housing 10 and therefore to increase the intensity of the infrared beam in the desired direction, the infrared thermal emitter 20 will also advantageously comprise a reflector 25 capable of reflecting towards the outside of the housing 10 the rays reaching it.

[0040] It will be noted that as Wien's law indicates, the peak intensity of this radiation shifts to increasingly shorter wavelengths as body temperature increases.

[0041] According to alternative embodiments, this infrared thermal emitter 20 may be of a different type, for example of the wound or deposited filament type, or even of the lamp type or even consist of a narrow band semiconductor source.

[0042] To amplify the intensity of the infrared radiation emitted by the source 21, the invention provides that said source of infrared radiation can be encapsulated in a translucent tube, for example made of glass, said tube opening, on the one hand, into a hollow body, advantageously spherical and tinted black in the mass and, on the other hand, into a translucent window (made of glass for example), such as the element 24 in [Fig. 4], of hemispherical shape comprising a deflector, like the deflector 25, capable of reflecting towards the outside of the housing 10 the radiation reaching it. This arrangement, according to which said spherical hollow body acts as a “black body” and said hemispherical window acts as an “anti-black body” delivers infrared radiation in a high intensity beam. Said hemispherical window also contributes to the cooling of the infrared source and improves the emission by convective effect.

[0043] As illustrated by [Fig. 3], the lighting device 1 further comprises a control module 30, a stabilized power supply module 40, and an electric accumulator 50 housed inside the housing 10.

[0044] It will be noted that the two control modules 30 and power supply 40 can advantageously be installed on the same printed circuit board commonly referred to by the English acronym PCB (for “Printed Circuit Board”). According to an alternative embodiment, these two modules 30, 40 can also be installed on two different printed circuit boards.

[0045] Electrically connected to the stabilized power supply module 40, the control module 30 comprises a time-delay relay capable of controlling the duration and frequency of emission of the infrared thermal emitter 20 so as to generate a stroboscopic light signal.

[0046] As illustrated by figures 2 and 3, a two-position control member, for example of the button type 60, accessible from outside the housing 10, advantageously makes it possible to switch the device 1 between an active configuration in which a light stroboscopic signal is emitted by the thermal emitter 20, and a standby or off configuration in which no light signal is emitted.

[0047] Preferably, the light device 1 is capable of adopting in its active configuration several emission modes selectable by the user via at least one selection member accessible from outside the housing 10 and electrically connected to this control module 30. This selection member, not shown in the figures, may for example be in the form of a wheel or a multi-position cursor.

[0048] Some of these transmission modes may, for example, be associated with the redundant generation of a light alert signal based on a communication code.

[0049] Thus, it will be possible, for example, to provide a transmission mode redundantly generating the SOS light signal according to the International Morse code (three short signals followed by three long signals followed again by three short signals), or even, as a variant or in addition, a light signal ensuring the “signature” of the wearer or more generally allowing the identification of said wearer by precise control of the times and sequences of transmissions.

[0050] Electrically connected to the electric accumulator 50, the power supply module 40 is configured so as to deliver to the heating element 21 a predetermined stabilized power supply (for example between 0.5 and 3 W) making it possible to cause heating of this heating element 21 to a given temperature corresponding to a particular emission spectrum of its thermal radiation having an intensity peak associated with a certain infrared wavelength.

[0051] As indicated above and in accordance with Wien's law, the peak intensity of this radiation shifts towards increasingly shorter wavelengths as the body temperature increases.

[0052] Thus, and in order to limit in particular the energy consumption and the temperature reached by the heating element 21 of the infrared thermal emitter 20, the stabilized supply power delivered to this heating element 21 will be selected so that the emission spectrum of its thermal radiation has an intensity peak for an infrared wavelength greater than or equal to 3 pm (which corresponds to a temperature reached by a heating element close to a black body of approximately 750°C).

[0053] Furthermore, since the atmosphere has absorption characteristics in certain infrared regions due to interactions between the molecules present and the infrared photons, the power supply delivered to this heating element 21 will be preferably selected so that the intensity peak is located in an infrared band having a relatively low atmospheric absorption rate, namely: - either in the mid-infrared band, between 3 and 5 pm, and commonly referred to by the Anglo-Saxon acronym “MWIR” (for “Mid-Wave Infrared”); - or in the long infrared band, between 8 and 14 pm, and commonly referred to by the Anglo-Saxon acronym “LWIR” (for “Long-Wave Infrared”).

[0054] Although atmospheric absorption in the mid-infrared band is greater than that in the long-infrared band, the supply power delivered to this heating element 21 will be preferentially selected so that this intensity peak is located in this medium infrared band corresponding to a higher temperature of the heating element and therefore to a higher power of the infrared radiation emitted by the device 1.

[0055] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the power supply module 40 may be provided with a regulator making it possible, for example using a control member advantageously accessible from outside the housing 10, to adjust the stabilized power supply delivered to the heating element 21 of the infrared thermal emitter 20 over a predefined adjustment range, so as to modulate the temperature reached by this heating element 21 and thus shift the intensity peak of its emission spectrum. This adjustment range is advantageously configured so as to allow adjustment of the wavelength of this intensity peak between 3 and 14 pm.

[0056] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the light device 1 according to the invention may comprise a microphone coupled to a voice recognition module connected to the control module 30, the latter being capable, according to a transmission mode of this device 1 selectable by the user, of ensuring the transcoding of an oral message spoken by the user into a stroboscopic light signal as well as generating the transmission of this signal by said infrared thermal transmitter 20.

[0057] According to other variant embodiments not shown, the light device 1 according to the invention may also comprise a keyboard installed for example on a wall of the housing 10 and connected to the control module 30, the latter being capable, according to a transmission mode of this device 1 selectable by the user, of ensuring the transcoding of a written message typed by the user into a stroboscopic light signal as well as generating the transmission of this signal by said infrared thermal emitter 20.

[0058] According to still other variant embodiments not shown, the luminous location device according to the invention can also comprise an accelerometer module connected to the control module 30 and capable of detecting a sudden fall of the wearer of this device 1. In the event of detection of such a fall by this accelerometer module, the control module 30 will thus be capable of automatically switching the device 1 into a transmission mode associated with the redundant generation of a luminous alert signal (for example of the SOS type according to the International Morse code).

[0059] The electric accumulator 50 is preferably constituted by a battery (for example of the Li-ion type) housed inside the housing 10 and rechargeable via a charging port 51 (for example of the USB-C type) accessible from outside the housing 10.

[0060] In order for the light device 1 to remain relatively compact and portable (about ten centimeters long by about five centimeters in diameter or width), this battery 50 is advantageously made up of one or two 3.7 V rechargeable batteries in 18650 format, each having for example a capacity of at least 2,500 mAh so as to ensure satisfactory autonomy.

[0061] It is also possible to envisage that a portion of the outer surface of the housing 10 is provided with photovoltaic panels making it possible to recharge this battery in the absence of an external power source.

[0062] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the electric accumulator 50 may consist of one or more alkaline or lithium batteries, such as for example CR 123 type batteries. It is also possible to envisage arranging the electric accumulator outside the housing 10.

[0063] The light device 1 may finally advantageously comprise various attachment means provided on the housing 10 and allowing it to be secured to various items of clothing (for example, a life jacket) and / or accessories (for example, a helmet) worn by the user or to objects located in its immediate environment (for example, a vehicle or a boat).

[0064] As illustrated by [Fig. 1], these attachment means may for example comprise at least one strap 70 rigidly connected to the housing 10 and making it possible to secure the portable luminous location device 1 to a strap or belt worn by the user.

[0065] According to alternative embodiments not shown, these attachment means may also comprise at least a first male or female element of a self-gripping or snap button type attachment system, capable of being attached in a removable manner to a second complementary element of this same attachment system.

[0066] According to other variant embodiments not shown, these attachment means may also comprise a magnetic strip provided on the housing 10 and making it possible to secure the luminous location device 1 to a metallic object carried by the user or located in his immediate environment.

[0067] Numerous variant embodiments are of course conceivable and it is recalled in this respect that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but also encompasses all variant embodiments within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims

1. A strobe light marking device (1) comprising a housing (10) carrying an infrared light emitter (20), a stabilized power supply module (40) housed in said housing and coupled to an electric accumulator (50), as well as a control module (30) also housed in said housing (10) and capable of controlling the duration and frequency of emission of said emitter (20) so as to generate a strobe light signal; characterized in that said light emitter consists of an infrared thermal emitter (20) comprising a heating element (21) capable of being crossed by an electric current so as to cause it to heat up and emit infrared thermal radiation.

2. Strobe light device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said stabilized power supply module (40) is configured so as to deliver to said heating element (21) a predetermined stabilized power supply making it possible to cause heating of said heating element (21) to a given temperature corresponding to a particular emission spectrum of its thermal radiation having an intensity peak associated with an infrared wavelength greater than or equal to 3 pm.

3. Strobe light device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said intensity peak is associated with an infrared wavelength located in the mid-infrared band (MWIR) between 3 and 5 pm.

4. Strobe light device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said intensity peak is associated with an infrared wavelength located in the long infrared band (LWIR) between 8 and 14 pm.

5. Strobe light device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stabilized power supply module (40) is provided with a regulator making it possible to adjust the stabilized power supply delivered to said heating element (21) over a predefined adjustment range so as to modulate the temperature reached by said heating element (21) and thus shift the intensity peak of its emission spectrum.

6. A strobe light device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said adjustment range is configured so as to allow adjustment of the wavelength of said intensity peak between 3 and 14 pm.

7. Strobe light device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises an accelerometer module connected to said control module (30) and capable of detecting a fall of the wearer of this device, said control module (30) being capable, in the event of detection of such a fall, of automatically switching said device (1) into an emission mode associated with the redundant generation of a warning light signal.

8. Strobe light device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a microphone coupled to a voice recognition module connected to said control module (30), the latter being capable, according to a transmission mode of said device (1) selectable by the user, of ensuring the transcoding of an oral message spoken by the user into a stroboscopic light signal as well as generating the transmission of this signal by said infrared thermal transmitter (20).

9. Stroboscopic light device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a keyboard connected to said control module (30), the latter being capable, according to a transmission mode of said device (1) selectable by the user, of ensuring the transcoding of a written message typed by the user into a stroboscopic light signal as well as generating the transmission of this signal by said infrared thermal transmitter (20).

10. Strobe light device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said electric accumulator is constituted by a rechargeable battery (50) housed inside said housing (10) and rechargeable via a charging port (51) accessible from outside said housing (10).

11. Strobe light device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said infrared thermal emitter is of the ribbon filament type.

12. Stroboscopic light device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises attachment means (70) provided on said housing (10) and allowing it to be secured to various items of clothing and / or accessories worn by the user or to objects located in his immediate environment.

13. A strobe light device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that said attachment means comprise a pass- strap (70).

14. Strobe light device (1) according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that said attachment means comprise a first male or female element of a self-gripping or snap button type attachment system.

15. Strobe light device (1) according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that said attachment means comprise a magnetic strip.

16. Strobe light device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it comprises a two-position control member (60), accessible from outside said housing, and allowing said device to be switched between an active configuration in which a light strobe signal is emitted by said thermal emitter and a standby or off configuration in which no light signal is emitted.

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