Rescue notification unit and life-saving equipment

Abstract

To provide a rescue notification unit and life-saving equipment that can improve the versatility of mounting a unit including a solar power generation section, a storage battery, and a light source. [Solution] This rescue notification unit 1 comprises a mounting part 10, a light source 11, a storage battery 13, and a rescue notification unit main body that includes a solar power generation unit 12 that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery 13. The rescue notification unit 1 is configured to provide rescue notification by light emitted from the light source 11, and the mounting part 10 is configured to be attachable to the life-saving equipment main body 2 so that the rescue notification unit main body is relatively movable relative to the life-saving equipment main body 2. The light source 11 is configured to emit light when no light is detected by the light detection sensor 17, water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, and the water surface movement detection unit 16 detects movement of the rescue notification unit main body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rescue notification unit and a lifesaving device, and particularly to a rescue notification unit and a lifesaving device configured to perform rescue notification.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a rescue notification unit and a lifesaving device configured to perform rescue notification have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a lifesaving device configured to perform rescue notification. This lifesaving device includes a lifesaving device including a cover, a floating bag, a light receiving panel, a power supply unit, a light emitting means, and a switch.

[0004] The cover of Patent Document 1 is a dedicated member for housing the floating bag. The floating bag is a member that generates buoyancy for floating the lifesaving device. The floating bag has a shape adapted to the above-described dedicated cover. The light receiving panel is configured to generate electricity by sunlight. The power supply unit is configured to be charged by the power generated by the light receiving panel. The light emitting means is configured to emit light by the power supplied from the power supply unit. These light receiving panel, power supply unit, and light emitting means are unitized by being attached to the floating bag.

[0005] The light emitting means of Patent Document 1 is configured to emit light by the power supplied from the power supply unit when the wearer of the lifesaving device operates the switch. Thereby, in the lifesaving device, rescue notification is performed by the light emitting means unitized together with the light receiving panel and the power supply unit emitting light.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0007] However, in the life-saving device described in Patent Document 1, a unitized light-receiving panel, power supply unit, and light-emitting means are attached to a lifebuoy that has a shape that matches a dedicated cover. Therefore, the unit of light-receiving panel, power supply unit, and light-emitting means necessary for rescue notification cannot be attached to anything other than a life-saving device with a dedicated cover. Thus, there is a need to improve the versatility of attaching the unit (rescue notification unit) that includes a light-receiving panel (solar power generation unit), power supply unit (storage battery), and light-emitting means (light source) necessary for rescue notification.

[0008] This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one objective of this invention is to provide a rescue notification unit and a life-saving device that can improve the versatility of mounting a unit including a solar power generation unit, a storage battery, and a light source. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A rescue notification unit according to the first aspect of this invention comprises a mounting part for detachably attaching to a life-saving device body that has buoyancy and is attached to the wearer's body, and a rescue notification unit body that includes a light source that emits light outward, a storage battery that supplies power to the light source, and a solar power generation unit that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery, and is configured to provide rescue notification by light emitted from the light source. The mounting part is configured to be attached to the life-saving device body so that the rescue notification unit body is relatively movable relative to the life-saving device body, and further comprises a light detection sensor capable of detecting light, a water detection sensor capable of detecting water, and a water surface movement detection unit consisting of an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a magnet sensor that detects when the rescue notification unit body has moved, and is configured to emit light based on the fact that no light is detected by the light detection sensor, water is detected by the water detection sensor, and the water surface movement detection unit has detected movement of the rescue notification unit body.

[0010] In the rescue notification unit according to the first aspect of this invention, as described above, an attachment part is provided for detachably attaching to the main body of a life-saving device that has buoyancy and is worn on the wearer's body. As a result, even if there are no dedicated components on the main body of the life-saving device, the rescue notification unit can be attached to the main body of the life-saving device by the attachment part, thereby improving the versatility of attaching the rescue notification unit, which includes the solar power generation unit, storage battery, and light source.

[0011] Furthermore, the light source can be automatically activated at night without user intervention, ensuring reliable rescue alerts through the light emitted. Automatic nighttime illumination also allows search teams to conduct searches even in the dark, and the light source's visibility at night makes it easier for search teams to locate missing persons. Additionally, the inclusion of a solar power generation unit allows the battery to be charged by sunlight during the day, enabling the light source to be powered at night using the battery's energy. As a result, daytime charging allows for extended nighttime illumination. The system can also determine whether it is daytime or nighttime using a detection signal transmitted from a light sensor. This makes it easy to provide rescue alerts using light emitted only at night. Furthermore, the system can determine whether a user wearing the life vest is in water (sea, river, or lake, etc.) using a detection signal transmitted from a water sensor. This allows for detection of whether a user is drifting in water.

[0012] A rescue notification unit according to the second aspect of this invention comprises a rescue notification unit main body that includes a mounting part for detachably attaching to a life-saving device main body that has buoyancy and is attached to the wearer's body, a light source that emits light outward, a storage battery that supplies power to the light source, and a solar power generation unit that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery, and is configured to provide rescue notification by light emitted from the light source, the mounting part is configured to be attached to the life-saving device main body so that the rescue notification unit main body is relatively movable relative to the life-saving device main body, and further comprises a water detection sensor capable of detecting water, and a water surface movement detection unit consisting of an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a magnet sensor that detects when the rescue notification unit main body has moved, and is configured to emit light based on the amount of power generated by the solar power generation unit falling below a threshold, water being detected by the water detection sensor, and the movement of the rescue notification unit main body being detected by the water surface movement detection unit.

[0013] In the rescue notification unit according to the second aspect of this invention, as described above, an attachment part is provided for detachably attaching to the main body of a life-saving device that has buoyancy and is worn on the wearer's body. As a result, the rescue notification unit can be attached to the main body of the life-saving device by the attachment part, even without a dedicated component for the main body of the life-saving device, thereby improving the versatility of attaching the rescue notification unit, which includes the solar power generation unit, storage battery, and light source. Furthermore, since the amount of power generated by the solar power generation unit is used to detect whether it is nighttime, the increase in the number of parts of the rescue notification unit and the size of the unit can be suppressed compared to the case where nighttime is detected using a light sensor.

[0014] In the rescue notification unit according to the first aspect described above, preferably, the water surface movement detection unit is an angular velocity sensor that detects when the rescue notification unit body has moved. The light source is configured to emit light when no light is detected by the light detection sensor, water is detected by the water detection sensor, and an angular velocity of a predetermined value or higher is detected by the angular velocity sensor. With this configuration, the light source can be automatically emitted using the light detection sensor, water detection sensor, and angular velocity sensor, so rescue notification can be reliably performed using light from the light source. Furthermore, since rescue notification is performed using light from the light source when no light is detected by the light detection sensor, rescue notification can be automatically performed using light from the light source at night rather than during the day. In addition, it is possible to suppress the emission of light from the light source when it is not needed, thereby preventing insufficient power when it is needed. Furthermore, since rescue notification is not performed using light from the light source when no water is detected by the water detection sensor, the light source can be prevented from emitting light when the user is on land, such as on a ship. Furthermore, if the angular velocity sensor does not detect an angular velocity exceeding a predetermined value, the rescue notification will not be issued by light from the light source. Therefore, if the user is on land, such as on a ship, the light source can be prevented from emitting light. In addition, when a user wearing the life vest falls into the water (sea, river, or lake, etc.), the detection signal transmitted from the angular velocity sensor can determine whether or not excessive angular velocity has occurred in the rescue notification unit.

[0015] In the rescue notification unit according to the first phase described above, preferably, a buoyancy generating unit is further provided to move the unit relative to the main body of the life-saving device toward the water surface by buoyancy. With this configuration, when the rescued person falls into the water (sea, river, or lake, etc.), the rescue notification unit will float on the water surface due to the buoyancy generating unit without any operation by the person in distress, so that the light emitted from the light source can be reliably projected into the space that extends above the surrounding water surface. As a result, the search and rescue team can more easily see the rescue notification light. In addition, because the rescue notification unit floats on the water surface due to the buoyancy generating unit, the battery can be reliably charged by sunlight during the day. Also, because the rescue notification unit floats on the water surface due to the buoyancy generating unit, the rescue notification light emitted from the light source can be reliably seen at night.

[0016] In the rescue notification unit according to the first aspect described above, preferably, it is detachably attached to the main body of the life-saving device by a mounting part, and further comprises a waterproof equipment housing that houses a light source and a storage battery inside. With this configuration, the waterproofness of electrical equipment such as the light source and storage battery can be ensured by the equipment housing.

[0017] A life-saving device according to a third aspect of this invention comprises a life-saving device body that has buoyancy and is attached to the wearer's body, and a rescue notification unit that is detachably attached to the life-saving device body, the rescue notification unit body includes a mounting part for detachably attaching to the life-saving device body, a light source that emits light outward, a storage battery that supplies power to the light source, and a solar power generation unit that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery, and is configured to provide rescue notification by light emitted from the light source, the mounting part is such that the rescue notification unit body is relative to the life-saving device body. The rescue notification unit is configured to be movable and attachable to the main body of the life-saving device, and further includes a light detection sensor capable of detecting light, a water detection sensor capable of detecting water, and a water surface movement detection unit consisting of an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a magnet sensor that detects when the main body of the rescue notification unit moves, and the rescue notification unit is configured to emit light from a light source based on the fact that no light is detected by the light detection sensor, water is detected by the water detection sensor, and the movement of the main body of the rescue notification unit is detected by the water surface movement detection unit.

[0018] In the third aspect of this invention, the life-saving device is provided with an attachment part for detachably attaching to the life-saving device body, which has buoyancy and is worn on the wearer's body, as described above. As a result, even without a dedicated component on the life-saving device body, the rescue notification unit can be attached to the life-saving device body using the attachment part, thus providing a life-saving device that can improve the versatility of attaching the rescue notification unit, which includes a solar power generation unit, a storage battery, and a light source.

[0019] A life-saving device according to a fourth aspect of this invention comprises a life-saving device body that has buoyancy and is attached to the wearer's body, and a rescue notification unit that is detachably attached to the life-saving device body. The rescue notification unit includes a mounting part for detachably attaching to the life-saving device body, a light source that emits light outward, a storage battery that supplies power to the light source, and a solar power generation unit that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery. The rescue notification unit is configured to provide a rescue notification by emitting light from the light source. The mounting part is configured to be attached to the life-saving device body so that the rescue notification unit body is movable relative to the life-saving device body. The rescue notification unit further includes a water detection sensor capable of detecting water, and a water surface movement detection unit consisting of an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a magnet sensor that detects when the rescue notification unit body has moved. The rescue notification unit is configured to emit light from the light source when the amount of power generated by the solar power generation unit falls below a threshold and the water surface movement detection unit detects the movement of the rescue notification unit body.

[0020] In the fourth aspect of this invention, the life-saving device is provided with an attachment part for detachably attaching to the life-saving device body, which has buoyancy and is worn on the wearer's body, as described above. As a result, even without a dedicated component on the life-saving device body, the rescue notification unit can be attached to the life-saving device body using the attachment part, thus providing a life-saving device that improves the versatility of attaching the rescue notification unit, which includes a solar power generation unit, a storage battery, and a light source. Furthermore, since the amount of power generated by the solar power generation unit is used to detect whether it is nighttime, it is possible to provide a life-saving device that can suppress the increase in the number of parts of the rescue notification unit and the increase in the size of the unit compared to cases where nighttime is detected using a light sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, as described above, the versatility of mounting a unit including a photovoltaic power generation unit, a storage battery, and a light source can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the state in which the user is wearing the life-saving device of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the user wearing the life-saving device of the first embodiment is drifting in the sea at night. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing the state before attaching the rescue notification unit to the main body of the life-saving device of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a view showing the front (front) surface of the rescue notification unit of the life-saving device of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the user wearing the life-saving device of the first embodiment is drifting in the sea during the day. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing the state after attaching the rescue notification unit to the main body of the life-saving device of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a view showing the back surface of the rescue notification unit of the life-saving device of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the rescue notification unit of the life-saving device of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] It is a flowchart showing a method for generating a rescue signal by the control unit of the rescue notification unit of the life-saving device of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] It is a perspective view showing the state in which the user is wearing the life-saving device of the second embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the rescue notification unit of the life-saving device of the second embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the user wearing the life-saving device of the second embodiment is drifting in the sea at night. [Figure 14] It is a flowchart showing a method for generating a rescue signal by the control unit of the rescue notification unit of the life-saving device of the second embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] The following describes embodiments of the present invention based on the drawings.

[0024] [First Embodiment] Referring to Figures 1 to 10, the configuration of a life-saving device 100 to which a rescue notification unit 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached will be described.

[0025] First, life-saving equipment (such as life jackets) is designed to keep users (Us) afloat on the water's surface in the event of a water accident, preventing them from sinking into the water (sea, river, or lake, etc.). In water accidents, search teams visually search for users (Us) who are floating on the water's surface thanks to life-saving equipment. While such searches are conducted after predicting ocean currents and other factors, they are primarily visual, limiting the search area and restricting the search time to daytime hours.

[0026] Therefore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the life-saving device 100 of the first embodiment is equipped with a rescue notification unit 1 to expand the search range, extend the search time, and diversify the search method. In other words, the life-saving device 100 comprises a rescue notification unit 1 and a life-saving device body 2. The life-saving device body 2 is an example of the "life-saving device" in the claims.

[0027] (Rescue notification unit) The rescue notification unit 1 is configured to issue a rescue notification when the user Us is involved in a water accident and floats on the water surface using the life-saving device body 2. The rescue notification unit 1 is a unit that can be detachably attached to the life-saving device 100. In other words, the rescue notification unit 1 is a unit that can be retrofitted to an existing life-saving device 100. In Figure 1, the rescue notification unit 1 is attached to the back side of the life-saving device 100.

[0028] The rescue notification unit 1 includes a pair of mounting parts 10, a plurality (3) of LED light sources 11, a solar panel 12, a storage battery 13, a buoyancy generating unit 14 (see Figure 5), an equipment housing unit 15, a gyro sensor 16, a light detection sensor 17, a water detection sensor 18 (see Figure 8), and an adhesive part 19 (see Figure 8). Each of the plurality (3) of LED light sources 11 is an example of a "light source" in the claims. The solar panel 12 is an example of a "photovoltaic power generation unit" in the claims. The combined configuration of the plurality of LED light sources 11, the solar panel 12, the storage battery 13, the buoyancy generating unit 14, the equipment housing unit 15, the gyro sensor 16, the light detection sensor 17, the water detection sensor 18, and the adhesive part 19 is an example of a "rescue notification unit main body" in the claims.

[0029] (Mounting part) As shown in Figure 3, the pair of mounting parts 10 are components for detachably attaching the rescue notification unit 1 to the life-saving device body 2. The pair of mounting parts 10 are not directly attached to the user Us's body. The pair of mounting parts 10 are located on the battery 13 side of the equipment housing 15. Each of the pair of mounting parts 10 has a length adjustment member 10a, a fastener 10b, and a fastener 10c. Since the structure of each of the pair of mounting parts 10 is similar, only one will be described.

[0030] The length adjustment member 10a is, for example, a belt. One end of the length adjustment member 10a is attached to the elongated hole (not shown) of the fastener 10b, and the other end is attached to the elongated hole (not shown) of the fastener 10c. The length adjustment member 10a is a member that can adjust the length from the elongated hole (not shown) of the fastener 10b to the elongated hole (not shown) of the fastener 10c. The fasteners 10b and 10c are buckles (for example, side-release buckles). The length adjustment member 10a may be made of something other than a belt, such as a string or a rubber tube. Also, the fasteners 10b and 10c may each be made of something other than a buckle, such as a carabiner.

[0031] Each of the fasteners 10b and 10c is configured to be movable relative to each other between an engagement position and an engagement release position. Each of the fasteners 10b and 10c has an elongated hole through which a length adjustment member 10a is attached. The length from fastener 10b to fastener 10c is maintained by attaching one end of the length adjustment member 10a through the elongated hole of fastener 10b and by attaching the other end of the length adjustment member 10a through the elongated hole of fastener 10c. Furthermore, the length from fastener 10b to fastener 10c is adjusted by adjusting at least one of the length of the length adjustment member 10a that passes through the elongated hole of fastener 10b and the length of the length adjustment member 10a that passes through the elongated hole of fastener 10c.

[0032] As a result, with the length of the length adjustment member 10a adjusted at each of the pair of mounting parts 10, the rescue notification unit 1 is attached to the life-saving device body 2 by passing the length adjustment member 10a through the neck opening 21 and shoulder opening 22 of the life-saving device body 2 and moving the fasteners 10b and 10c to the engagement position. As a result, the rescue notification unit 1 will not come off the life-saving device body 2 because the fasteners 10b and 10c are engaged. Furthermore, by moving the fasteners 10b and 10c to the release position, the length adjustment member 10a is released from the neck opening 21 and shoulder opening 22 of the life-saving device body 2, and the rescue notification unit 1 is removed from the life-saving device body 2.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, in this length adjustment member 10a, each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is attached to the tip side of the equipment housing 15 in the direction from the solar panel 12 toward the storage battery 13. As a result, when the rescue notification unit 1 floats on the water surface, it rotates around the mounting position of the length adjustment member 10a as a pivot point and floats.

[0034] (LED light source) As shown in Figure 2, each of the multiple (three) LED light sources 11 is configured to emit light outwards to provide a rescue notification to indicate the location of the user Us. LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. The rescue notification unit 1 is configured to provide a rescue notification using the light emitted from each of the multiple LED light sources 11. The number of LED light sources 11 may be one, two, or four or more.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is positioned on the front end of the rescue notification unit 1 in the direction from the battery 13 toward the solar panel 12. Each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is positioned on the opposite side of the mounting position of the length adjustment member 10a of the rescue notification unit 1 in the direction in which the battery 13 and the solar panel 12 are aligned. This ensures that when the rescue notification unit 1 floats on the water surface, each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is positioned away from the user Us's head. Each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is positioned in a line in the direction from the battery 13 toward the solar panel 12 and in the width direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the equipment housing 15. Each of the multiple LED light sources 11 protrudes from the equipment housing 15 toward the front surface 15a of the rescue notification unit 1 in the thickness direction of the rescue notification unit 1.

[0036] Each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is configured to emit red, green, and white light. Each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is configured to emit light with a high luminous intensity (cd: candela). Each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is configured by the control unit 20 to flash with the high luminous intensity light (see Figure 2). Each of the multiple (three) LED light sources 11 emits light in a predetermined light emission pattern, for example, by emitting light for 1 second and then turning off for 1 second. Note that the predetermined light emission pattern of the multiple LED light sources 11 is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, each of the multiple LED light sources 11 has a substantially hemispherical lens. As a result, the light emitted from each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is projected radially (wide-angle) into space (see Figure 2). That is, in a plan view, the light emitted from each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is projected radially outward at each angle between 0 and 360 degrees. Also, in a side view, the light emitted from each of the multiple LED light sources 11 is projected radially outward (towards the front surface 15a) at each angle between 0 and 180 degrees.

[0038] Each of the multiple LED light sources 11, as described above, emits light radially (wide-angle) into space (see Figure 2), enabling searches not only from the sea but also from the air. Furthermore, each of the multiple LED light sources 11 flashes, making it easier to attract attention and increase visibility. This leads to the early detection of the user. Additionally, each of the multiple LED light sources 11 flashes with high-intensity light, making it more visible at night, thus contributing to the early detection of the user.

[0039] Furthermore, since each of the multiple LED light sources 11 emits high-intensity light, the light is projected into a three-dimensional space of approximately 2 km. This allows for safe and wide-ranging searches from the air, without having to fly close to the water surface (sea, river, or lake surface, etc.). Additionally, since the user is visible from an altitude of 2000 m, searching for the user using satellite imagery is also envisioned.

[0040] (Solar panels and storage batteries) As shown in Figure 6, the solar panel 12 is configured to generate electricity from sunlight to charge the storage battery 13. The solar panel 12 has multiple solar cells (not shown). The solar panel 12 is a thin plate-shaped member. The solar panel 12 is positioned between the control unit 20 and the multiple LED light sources 11. The solar panel 12 is positioned on the side opposite to the back of the life-saving device body 2.

[0041] The solar panel 12 is configured to generate electricity by converting solar energy into electrical energy. This generated electricity is stored in the battery 13. When user Us is drifting on the water surface, the rescue notification unit 1 floats on the water surface due to the buoyancy of the buoyancy generating unit 14, so the solar panel 12 receives plenty of sunlight. Therefore, the battery 13 is sufficiently charged by the solar panel 12 during the daytime.

[0042] As shown in Figure 7, the battery 13 is capable of storing the supplied power and supplying the stored power to other components. The battery 13 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The battery 13 is located on the base end side of the life-saving device body 2, opposite to the side with the multiple LED light sources 11. The battery 13 is located on the side opposite to the rear side of the life-saving device body 2.

[0043] The battery 13 is configured to supply the necessary power to each of the multiple LED light sources 11, the gyro sensor 16, the light detection sensor 17, the water detection sensor 18 (see Figure 8), and the control unit 20. For this reason, the solar panel 12 and the battery 13 are electrically connected. Furthermore, the battery 13, the multiple LED light sources 11, the gyro sensor 16, the light detection sensor 17, the water detection sensor 18 (see Figure 8), and the control unit 20 are electrically connected. Note that the gyro sensor 16 is an example of the "water surface movement detection unit" and "angular velocity sensor" in the claims.

[0044] (Buoyancy generating section) As shown in Figure 6, the buoyancy generating unit 14 is a component that moves the rescue notification unit 1 toward the water surface relative to the life-saving device body 2 by buoyancy. The buoyancy generating unit 14 is made of, for example, a foamed resin such as polyurethane. The buoyancy generating unit 14 has a thickness of, for example, about 1 cm. As shown in Figure 5, the buoyancy generating unit 14 is arranged in a sealed state within the equipment housing 15.

[0045] The buoyancy generating section 14 has storage recesses 141, 142, 143, 144, and (not shown). Each of the storage recesses 141, 142, 143, and 144 is recessed toward the back of the life-saving device body 2 from the side opposite to the back of the life-saving device body 2 (the front surface 15a side).

[0046] The base end of the LED light source 11 is housed in the storage recess 141. The storage recess 141 has a shape that matches the shape of the base end of the LED light source 11. Three storage recesses 141 are arranged side by side, corresponding to the number and position of the LED light sources 11. The solar panel 12 is housed in the storage recess 142. The storage recess 142 has a shape that matches the shape of the solar panel 12. The gyro sensor 16, the light detection sensor 17, and the control unit 20 are housed in the storage recess 143. The storage recess 143 has a shape that matches the shape of the gyro sensor 16, the light detection sensor 17, and the control unit 20, respectively. The storage battery 13 is housed in the storage recess 144. The storage recess 144 has a shape that matches the shape of the storage battery 13.

[0047] The storage recess (not shown) is recessed from the back side of the life vest body 2 toward the side opposite the back side of the life vest body 2. The water detection sensor 18 (see Figure 8) is housed in the storage recess (not shown). The storage recess (not shown) has a shape that matches the shape of the water detection sensor 18.

[0048] (Equipment housing section) As shown in Figure 5, the equipment housing section 15 houses a portion of each of the multiple LED light sources 11, a solar panel 12, a storage battery 13, a buoyancy generation unit 14, a gyro sensor 16, a light detection sensor 17, a water detection sensor 18, and a control unit 20, and is configured to be waterproof. The equipment housing section 15 contains a portion of each of the multiple LED light sources 11, a solar panel 12, a storage battery 13, a buoyancy generation unit 14, a gyro sensor 16, a light detection sensor 17, a water detection sensor 18, and a control unit 20, all of which are arranged in a sealed state.

[0049] The equipment housing section 15 is made of a resin such as silicone. The equipment housing section 15 has a thickness of approximately 1.5 cm to 2 cm. The equipment housing section 15 is a plate-shaped member with a width of approximately 20 cm and a length of approximately 30 cm. Thus, the equipment housing section 15 has a rectangular shape with a long side and a short side. Each of the long and short sides of the equipment housing section 15 is positioned along the back of the user Us when it is not floating on the water surface. Each of the long and short sides of the equipment housing section 15 is positioned along the water surface toward the rear of the user Us when it is floating on the water surface.

[0050] The equipment housing section 15 is coated by melting and solidifying a resin such as silicone on the surface of the component in which the base ends of each of the multiple LED light sources 11, the solar panel 12, the storage battery 13, the buoyancy generating unit 14, the gyro sensor 16, the light detection sensor 17, the water detection sensor 18, and the control unit 20 are arranged in the buoyancy generating unit 14. This ensures the waterproofness of the electronic equipment. In addition, length adjustment members 10a are attached to each of the pair of mounting parts 10 in the equipment housing section 15.

[0051] In this way, a rescue notification unit 1 is formed by integrating a pair of mounting parts 10, a plurality of LED light sources 11, a solar panel 12, a storage battery 13, a buoyancy generating unit 14, an equipment housing unit 15, an adhesive part 19, a gyro sensor 16, a light detection sensor 17, a water detection sensor 18, and a control unit 20. As a result, the rescue notification unit 1 can be detachably attached to the life-saving device body 2 by the pair of mounting parts 10.

[0052] (Gyroscope sensor, light sensor, and water sensor) As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the gyro sensor 16 is a sensor for detecting when the life vest body 2 moves toward the water surface relative to the body due to buoyancy. The gyro sensor 16 is a sensor that detects angular velocity. The gyro sensor 16 is located on the circuit board of the control unit 20.

[0053] If user Us falls into the sea or elsewhere, an impact force is applied to the rescue notification unit 1, causing it to detach forcefully from the life-saving device body 2. At this time, an angular velocity exceeding a predetermined value is generated, and the gyro sensor 16 is a sensor for detecting this angular velocity. This allows detection of user Us falling into the sea or elsewhere. The gyro sensor 16 is configured to transmit a detection signal (detection result) to the control unit 20 when it detects an angular velocity exceeding a predetermined value. The gyro sensor 16 is also configured not to transmit a detection signal (detection result) to the control unit 20 when the angular velocity is below the predetermined value.

[0054] Alternatively, instead of the gyro sensor 16, a magnetic sensor that detaches due to the impact force applied to the rescue notification unit 1 may be used to detect that the user Us has fallen into the sea or elsewhere.

[0055] The light detection sensor 17 is a sensor capable of detecting light. The light detection sensor 17 is a brightness detection sensor. That is, the light detection sensor 17 is a sensor that detects the amount of incident light. The light detection sensor 17 is located on the substrate of the control unit 20. The light detection sensor 17 is configured to transmit a detection signal (detection result) to the control unit 20 when the amount of light incident exceeds a predetermined amount. The light detection sensor 17 is configured not to transmit a detection signal (detection result) to the control unit 20 when the amount of light is less than the predetermined amount.

[0056] The water detection sensor 18 is a sensor capable of detecting water. The water detection sensor 18 is configured to detect water based on a change in the amount of laser reflection due to water adhering to the portion of the equipment housing 15 where the water detection sensor 18 is located, or a change in capacitance due to water adhering to the water. When the water detection sensor 18 detects water, it is configured to transmit a detection signal (detection result) to the control unit 20. When the water detection sensor 18 does not detect water, it is configured not to transmit a detection signal (detection result) to the control unit 20. As shown in Figure 8, the water detection sensor 18 is located in the corner of the front end of the back surface 15b of the equipment housing 15, in the direction from the storage battery 13 toward the solar panel 12. This allows the water detection sensor 18 to detect water adhering to the portion of the equipment housing 15 where the water detection sensor 18 is located when a user Us falls into the sea or the rescue notification unit 1 floats on the water surface.

[0057] (Attachment area) The attachment portion 19 is a component for attaching the rescue notification unit 1 to the life-saving device body 2. The attachment portion 19 is, for example, a tape material such as Velcro. The attachment portion 19 is located at the leading edge of the back surface 15b of the equipment housing portion 15 in the direction from the storage battery 13 toward the solar panel 12. The life-saving device body 2 has a part to be attached (not shown) at a position corresponding to the attachment portion 19. The attachment portion 19 and the part to be attached are attached with a force that would cause them to detach due to the impact force applied to the rescue notification unit 1 if the user Us falls into the sea or elsewhere.

[0058] (Control Unit) As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the control unit 20 is configured to control the rescue notification unit 1. The control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory containing ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit stores a rescue notification unit control program for cleaning the rescue notification unit 1.

[0059] The control unit 20 is located between the battery 13 and the solar panel 12. The control unit 20 is electrically connected to the multiple LED light sources 11, the solar panel 12, the battery 13, the gyro sensor 16, the light detection sensor 17, and the water detection sensor 18.

[0060] <Light emission control> Here, as shown in Figure 2, the control unit 20 automatically controls the multiple LED light sources 11 to illuminate at night if the user Us falls into the sea or elsewhere, without any user Us operation. Based on the fact that it is nighttime, the control unit 20 controls the LED light sources 11 to illuminate using the power stored in the battery 13.

[0061] Specifically, the control unit 20 controls the illumination of multiple LED light sources 11 (illuminating light Li1, light Li2, and light Li3) based on the fact that no light is detected by the light detection sensor 17 at night, water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, and an angular velocity of a predetermined value or higher is detected by the gyro sensor 16. In other words, the control unit 20 controls the illumination of multiple LED light sources 11 automatically, mainly at night, after the user Us falls into the sea or elsewhere. Here, the control unit 20 controls the system to detect that it is nighttime based on the detection result of the light detection sensor 17. In other words, the control unit 20 controls the system to determine that it is nighttime based on the fact that it has not received a detection signal from the light detection sensor 17. Furthermore, the control unit 20 controls the system to determine that the user Us has fallen into the sea or elsewhere based on the detection results of the gyro sensor 16 and the water detection sensor 18. In other words, the control unit 20 controls the system to determine that the user Us has fallen into the sea or elsewhere based on the fact that it has received a detection signal from the gyro sensor 16 and a detection signal from the water detection sensor 18.

[0062] Furthermore, when automatically illuminating multiple LED light sources 11, the control unit 20 controls them to flash in a predetermined light emission pattern (flashing of light Li1, light Li2, and light Li3).

[0063] <Charging control> Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the control unit 20 automatically controls the charging of the storage battery 13 using the solar panel 12 without any user Us operation.

[0064] Specifically, the control unit 20 controls the charging of the battery 13 using the power generated by the solar panel 12, based on whether one of the following conditions is met: light is detected by the light detection sensor 17, water is not detected by the water detection sensor 18, and the gyro sensor 16 does not detect an angular velocity exceeding a predetermined value. In other words, the control unit 20 controls the automatic charging of the battery 13 during the daytime (mainly daytime) after the user Us falls into the sea or elsewhere.

[0065] (Life preserver main body) As shown in Figure 6, the life-saving device body 2 is configured to keep the user Us (wearer) afloat on the water surface in the event of a water accident. The life-saving device body 2 is a component that has buoyancy and is worn on the user Us (wearer)'s body. To generate buoyancy, the life-saving device body 2 has a buoyant material inside, such as gas or foamed resin. The life-saving device body 2 is, for example, a life jacket.

[0066] (Method for generating a rescue signal) Referring to Figure 10, the rescue signal generation method of the rescue notification unit 1 having the above configuration will be explained. In the rescue signal generation method, at the start, user Us wearing the life vest 100 is on board the ship and the LED light source 11 is off. However, it is assumed that user Us may fall into the water after step S1. In this case, the LED light source 11 will automatically flash at night. If user Us does not fall into the water after step S1, the LED light source 11 will remain off.

[0067] As shown in Figure 10, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the gyro sensor 16 has detected an angular velocity greater than or equal to a predetermined value. If the gyro sensor 16 has detected an angular velocity greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S2; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0068] In step S2, it is determined whether or not water has been detected by the water detection sensor 18. If water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, the process proceeds to step S3; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0069] In step S3, it is determined whether or not light has been detected by the light detection sensor 17. If light is detected by the light detection sensor 17, the process proceeds to step S4; if light is not detected by the light detection sensor 17, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0070] In step S4, the LED light source 11 is illuminated. This generates a rescue signal. After step S4, the process returns to step S1. In step S5, the LED light source 11 is turned off, and the battery 13 is charged by the solar panel 12, after which the rescue signal generation method ends. This turns off the LED light source 11 and charges the battery 13 by the solar panel 12, preparing for the next night.

[0071] (Effects of the first embodiment) In the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0072] In the first embodiment, as described above, the rescue notification unit 1 is equipped with a mounting part 10 for detachably attaching to the life-saving device body 2, which has buoyancy and is worn on the user Us (wearer). This allows the rescue notification unit 1 to be attached to the life-saving device body 2 by the mounting part 10, even without dedicated components for the life-saving device body 2, thereby improving the versatility of attaching the rescue notification unit 1, which includes the solar panel 12, storage battery 13, and LED light source 11.

[0073] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the control unit 20 controls the LED light source 11 to emit light based on the fact that no light is detected by the light detection sensor 17, water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, and the movement of the rescue notification unit body is detected by the gyro sensor 16 (water surface movement detection unit). As a result, the LED light source 11 can be automatically illuminated at night without operation by the user Us, so that rescue notifications can be reliably made using the light emitted from the LED light source 11. In addition, by automatically illuminating the LED light source 11 at night, search teams can conduct searches even at night, and because the light emitted from the LED light source 11 is more conspicuous at night, it becomes easier for search teams to find missing persons. Furthermore, because it is equipped with a solar panel 12, the storage battery 13 can be charged by sunlight during the day, so the LED light source 11 can be illuminated at night using the power of the storage battery 13 that was charged during the day. As a result, charging during the day allows the LED light source 11 to emit light at night for a long period of time. Furthermore, it is possible to determine whether it is daytime or nighttime based on the detection signal transmitted from the light detection sensor 17. This makes it easy to provide rescue notification using light emitted from the LED light source 11 only at night. In addition, it is possible to determine whether the user Us wearing the life-saving device body 2 is in water (sea, river, or lake, etc.) based on the detection signal transmitted from the water detection sensor 18. This makes it possible to detect if the user Us is drifting in water (sea, river, or lake, etc.).

[0074] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the rescue notification unit 1 is equipped with a gyro sensor 16 that detects when the main body of the rescue notification unit moves. The control unit 20 controls the LED light source 11 to emit light based on the fact that no light is detected by the light detection sensor 17, water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, and an angular velocity of a predetermined value or higher is detected by the gyro sensor 16. As a result, the LED light source 11 can be automatically illuminated using the light detection sensor 17, the water detection sensor 18, and the gyro sensor 16, so that rescue notification can be reliably made by light from the LED light source 11. Also, since rescue notification is made by light from the LED light source 11 when no light is detected by the light detection sensor 17, rescue notification can be automatically made by light from the LED light source 11 at night rather than during the day. Also, since rescue notification is not made by light from the LED light source 11 when no water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, the LED light source 11 can be prevented from emitting light when the user Us is on land, such as on a ship. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress the LED light source 11 from emitting light when unnecessary, thereby preventing insufficient power when needed. Also, if the gyro sensor 16 does not detect an angular velocity above a predetermined value, the rescue notification will not be made by the light from the LED light source 11, so the LED light source 11 can be prevented from emitting light when the user Us is on land, such as on a ship.

[0075] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the rescue notification unit 1 is equipped with a buoyancy generating unit 14 that moves relative to the life-saving device body 2 toward the water surface by buoyancy. As a result, when the rescued person falls into the water (sea, river, or lake, etc.), the rescue notification unit 1 floats on the water surface due to the buoyancy generating unit 14 without any operation by the person in distress, so that the light emitted from the LED light source 11 can be reliably projected into the space above the surrounding water surface. As a result, the search and rescue team can easily see the rescue notification light. In addition, because the rescue notification unit 1 floats on the water surface due to the buoyancy generating unit 14, the storage battery 13 can be reliably charged by sunlight during the day. Also, because the rescue notification unit 1 floats on the water surface due to the buoyancy generating unit 14, the rescue notification light emitted from the LED light source 11 can be reliably seen at night.

[0076] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as described above, the rescue notification unit 1 is detachably attached to the life-saving equipment body 2 by the mounting part 10, houses the LED light source 11 and the storage battery 13 inside, and is equipped with a waterproof equipment housing part 15. As a result, the equipment housing part 15 ensures the waterproofness of electrical equipment such as the LED light source 11 and the storage battery 13.

[0077] [Second Embodiment] Referring to Figures 11 to 14, the configuration of the life-saving device 200 to which the rescue notification unit 201 according to the second embodiment is attached will be described. In the second embodiment, the control unit 220 performs control to determine whether it is nighttime or not based on the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12. In the second embodiment, detailed explanations of the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0078] As shown in Figure 11, the life-saving device 200 of the second embodiment comprises a rescue notification unit 201 and a life-saving device body 2. The life-saving device body 2 is an example of the "life-saving device" in the claims.

[0079] (Rescue notification unit) The rescue notification unit 201 is configured to issue a rescue notification when the user Us is involved in a water accident and floats on the water surface using the life-saving device body 2. The rescue notification unit 201 is a unit that can be detachably attached to the life-saving device 200. In other words, the rescue notification unit 201 is a unit that can be retrofitted to an existing life-saving device 200. In Figure 11, the rescue notification unit 201 is attached to the back side of the life-saving device 200.

[0080] The rescue notification unit 201 includes a pair of mounting parts 10, a plurality (3) of LED light sources 11, a solar panel 12, a storage battery 13, a buoyancy generating unit 14, an equipment housing unit 15, a horizontal sensor 216, a water detection sensor 18 (see Figure 12), and an adhesive part 19 (see Figure 8). Each of the plurality (3) of LED light sources 11 is an example of a "light source" in the claims. The solar panel 12 is an example of a "photovoltaic power generation unit" in the claims. The horizontal sensor 216 is an example of a "tilt sensor" and a "water surface movement detection unit" in the claims. The combined configuration of the plurality of LED light sources 11, the solar panel 12, the storage battery 13, the buoyancy generating unit 14, the equipment housing unit 15, the horizontal sensor 216, the water detection sensor 18, and the adhesive part 19 is an example of a "rescue notification unit main body" in the claims.

[0081] In other words, the rescue notification unit 201 of the second embodiment differs from the rescue notification unit 1 of the first embodiment in that it does not include the light detection sensor 17 of the first embodiment.

[0082] Here, the rescue notification unit 201 is formed by integrating the pair of mounting parts 10, the multiple LED light sources 11, the solar panel 12, the storage battery 13, the buoyancy generating unit 14, the equipment housing unit 15, the adhesive part 19, the horizontal sensor 216, the water detection sensor 18, and the control unit 220. As a result, the rescue notification unit 201 is detachably attached to the life-saving device body 2 by the pair of mounting parts 10.

[0083] (Horizontal sensor) As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the horizontal sensor 216 is a sensor for detecting when the life-saving device body 2 moves toward the water surface relative to it due to buoyancy. The horizontal sensor 216 is a sensor for detecting when the rescue notification unit 201 moves from a predetermined position Pr (see Figure 11) to a horizontal position Ph (see Figure 13). The horizontal sensor 216 is located on the circuit board of the control unit 220.

[0084] As shown in Figure 13, if user Us falls into the sea or elsewhere, an impact force is applied to the rescue notification unit 201, causing it to detach forcefully from the life-saving device body 2. At this time, the rescue notification unit 201 floats on the water surface due to buoyancy. As the rescue notification unit 201 floats on the water surface, it moves to the horizontal position Ph, and the fall of user Us into the sea or elsewhere is detected. The horizontal sensor 216 is configured to transmit a detection signal (detection result) to the control unit 220 when it detects that the rescue notification unit 201 has moved from a predetermined position Pr (see Figure 11) to the horizontal position Ph. The horizontal sensor 216 is configured not to transmit a detection signal (detection result) to the control unit 220 when it does not detect that the rescue notification unit 201 has moved from a predetermined position Pr (see Figure 11) to the horizontal position Ph.

[0085] (Control Unit) As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the control unit 220 is configured to control the rescue notification unit 201. The control unit 220 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory containing ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit stores a rescue notification unit control program for cleaning the rescue notification unit 201.

[0086] The control unit 220 is electrically connected to multiple LED light sources 11, a solar panel 12, a storage battery 13, a horizontal sensor 216, and a water detection sensor 18.

[0087] <Light emission control> The control unit 220 controls the illumination of multiple LED light sources 11 (illuminating light Li1, light Li2, and light Li3) based on the fact that the power generation of the solar panel 12 falls below a threshold at night, water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, and the movement of the rescue notification unit 201 (see Figure 12) is detected by the horizontal sensor 216. In other words, the control unit 220 controls the illumination of multiple LED light sources 11 (illuminating light Li1, light Li2, and light Li3) based on the fact that the power generation of the solar panel 12 falls below a threshold at night, water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, and the rescue notification unit 201 has moved to a horizontal position Ph (see Figure 12) is detected by the horizontal sensor 216.

[0088] Specifically, the control unit 220 controls the automatic illumination of multiple LED light sources 11, mainly at night, after the user Us falls into the sea or elsewhere. Here, the control unit 220 controls the system to detect when it is nighttime based on the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12. Specifically, the control unit 220 controls the system to determine that it is nighttime based on the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 being below a threshold. The control unit 220 also controls the system to determine that it is daytime based on the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 being above a threshold. Furthermore, the control unit 220 controls the system to determine that the user Us has fallen into the sea or elsewhere based on the detection results of the horizontal sensor 216 and the water detection sensor 18. Specifically, the control unit 220 controls the system to determine that the user Us has fallen into the sea or elsewhere based on the detection signals obtained from the horizontal sensor 216 and the water detection sensor 18.

[0089] <Charging control> The control unit 220 controls the charging of the battery 13 using the power generated by the solar panel 12, based on whether one of the following conditions is met: the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 exceeds a threshold, no water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, and the horizontal sensor 216 has not detected that the rescue notification unit 201 has moved to the horizontal position Ph. In other words, the control unit 220 controls the automatic charging of the battery 13 during the daytime (mainly daytime) after the user Us falls into the sea or elsewhere.

[0090] The other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0091] (Method for generating a rescue signal) Referring to Figure 14, the rescue signal generation method of the rescue notification unit 201 having the above-described configuration will be explained. In the rescue signal generation method, at the start, user Us wearing the life vest 200 is on board the ship and the LED light source 11 is off. However, it is assumed that user Us may fall into the water after step S201. In this case, the LED light source 11 will automatically flash at night. If user Us does not fall into the water after step S201, the LED light source 11 will remain off. Steps S2, S4, and S5 are the same as steps S2, S4, and S5 of the rescue signal generation method of the first embodiment, respectively, so their explanation will be omitted.

[0092] As shown in Figure 14, in step S201, it is determined whether the horizontal sensor 216 has detected that the rescue notification unit 201 has moved to the horizontal position Ph (see Figure 13). If the horizontal sensor 216 detects that the rescue notification unit 201 has moved to the horizontal position Ph, the process proceeds to step S2; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0093] In step S203, it is determined whether the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 is below a threshold. If the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 is below the threshold, the process proceeds to step S4; if the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 exceeds the threshold, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0094] In step S5, the LED light source 11 is turned off, and after the battery 13 is charged by the solar panel 12, the rescue signal generation method ends. This turns off the LED light source 11 and charges the battery 13 by the solar panel 12, preparing for the next night.

[0095] (Effects of the second embodiment) In the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0096] In the second embodiment, as described above, the rescue notification unit 201 is equipped with a mounting part 10 for detachably attaching to the life-saving device body 2, which has buoyancy and is worn on the user Us (wearer). This allows the rescue notification unit 201 to be attached to the life-saving device body 2 by the mounting part 10, even without dedicated components for the life-saving device body 2, thereby improving the versatility of attaching the rescue notification unit 201, which includes the solar panel 12, storage battery 13, and LED light source 11.

[0097] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, as described above, the control unit 220 controls the illumination of multiple LED light sources 11 based on the fact that the power generation amount of the solar panel 12 falls below a threshold, water is detected by the water detection sensor 18, and the movement of the rescue notification unit 201 is detected by the horizontal sensor 216. As a result, since the power generation amount of the solar panel 12 is used to detect that it is nighttime, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts of the rescue notification unit 201 and an increase in the size of the unit compared to the case where nighttime is detected using a light sensor.

[0098] Furthermore, the other effects of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, so we will omit their explanation.

[0099] [Differentiation] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and further includes all modifications (exceptions) within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0100] For example, in the first embodiment described above, the rescue notification unit 1 is shown to be equipped with a light detection sensor 17, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the rescue notification unit may be equipped with a sensor that detects sunlight other than the light detection sensor.

[0101] Furthermore, while the first and second embodiments described above show an example in which the rescue notification unit 1(201) is equipped with a water detection sensor 18, the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the rescue notification unit 1 may detect water using a temperature sensor or the like, in addition to the water detection sensor.

[0102] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the rescue notification unit 1 is shown to be equipped with a gyro sensor 16 (angular velocity sensor) as a water surface movement detection unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the rescue notification unit 201 is shown to be equipped with a horizontal sensor 216 (tilt sensor) as a water surface movement detection unit, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the rescue notification unit may be equipped with an acceleration sensor instead of an angular velocity sensor and a tilt sensor.

[0103] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the control unit 20 determines that it is nighttime based on the fact that it did not acquire a detection signal from the light detection sensor 17, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the control unit 220 determines that it is nighttime based on the fact that the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 is below a threshold, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the control unit may also determine that it is nighttime based on time information acquired from a timer.

[0104] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, for the sake of explanation, the control processing of the control unit 20 (220) was explained using a flow-driven flowchart that processes sequentially according to the processing flow, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the control processing of the control unit may be performed by event-driven processing that executes processing on an event-by-event basis. In this case, it may be performed as a completely event-driven system, or a combination of event-driven and flow-driven systems may be used. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0105] 1,201 Rescue Notification Unit 2 Life preserver main body 10 Mounting part 11 LED light source (light source) 12. Solar panels (solar power generation section) 13. Storage Battery 14 Buoyancy generating section 15 Equipment housing section 16. Gyro sensor (angular velocity sensor, water surface movement detection unit) 17 Light detection sensor 18 Water detection sensor 20, 220 Control Unit 100, 200 life preserver 216 Horizontal sensor (water surface movement detection unit) Pr Predetermined position Ph horizontal position Us (User / Wearer)

Claims

1. A mounting part for detachably attaching to the main body of a life vest that has buoyancy and is worn on the wearer's body, The rescue notification unit includes a main body that includes a light source that emits light outwards, a storage battery that supplies power to the light source, and a solar power generation unit that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery. It is configured to provide rescue notification using light emitted from the aforementioned light source, The mounting portion is configured such that the rescue notification unit body can be attached to the life-saving device body so that it is relatively movable relative to the life-saving device body. A light-detecting sensor capable of detecting light, A water detection sensor capable of detecting water, The rescue notification unit further comprises a water surface movement detection unit consisting of an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a magnetic sensor, which detects when the main body of the rescue notification unit moves. A rescue notification unit configured to emit light from a light source based on the fact that no light is detected by the light detection sensor, water is detected by the water detection sensor, and the water surface movement detection unit detects the movement of the rescue notification unit body.

2. A mounting part for detachably attaching to the main body of a life vest that has buoyancy and is worn on the wearer's body, The rescue notification unit includes a main body that includes a light source that emits light outwards, a storage battery that supplies power to the light source, and a solar power generation unit that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery. It is configured to provide rescue notification using light emitted from the aforementioned light source, The mounting portion is configured such that the rescue notification unit body can be attached to the life-saving device body so that it is relatively movable relative to the life-saving device body. A water detection sensor capable of detecting water, The rescue notification unit further comprises a water surface movement detection unit consisting of an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a magnetic sensor, which detects when the main body of the rescue notification unit moves. A rescue notification unit configured to emit light from the light source when the amount of power generated by the solar power generation unit falls below a threshold, water is detected by the water detection sensor, and the movement of the rescue notification unit body is detected by the water surface movement detection unit.

3. The water surface movement detection unit is an angular velocity sensor that detects when the rescue notification unit main body has moved. The rescue notification unit according to claim 1, configured to emit light based on the fact that no light is detected by the light detection sensor, water is detected by the water detection sensor, and an angular velocity of a predetermined value or higher is detected by the angular velocity sensor.

4. The rescue notification unit according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a buoyancy generating unit that moves the rescue notification unit body relative to the life-saving device body toward the water surface by buoyancy.

5. The rescue notification unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rescue notification unit body is detachably attached to the life-saving equipment body by the mounting portion, and further includes a waterproof equipment housing portion that houses the light source and the storage battery inside.

6. The life vest consists of a main body that provides buoyancy and is attached to the wearer's body, The life-saving device body is equipped with a rescue notification unit that is detachably attached to the main body of the life-saving device, The aforementioned rescue notification unit is, A mounting part for detachably attaching to the main body of the life-saving device, The rescue notification unit includes a main body that includes a light source that emits light outwards, a storage battery that supplies power to the light source, and a solar power generation unit that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery. It is configured to provide rescue notification using light emitted from the aforementioned light source, The mounting portion is configured such that the rescue notification unit body can be attached to the life-saving device body so that it is relatively movable relative to the life-saving device body. The aforementioned rescue notification unit is, A light-detecting sensor capable of detecting light, A water detection sensor capable of detecting water, The rescue notification unit further includes a water surface movement detection unit comprising an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a magnet sensor, which detects when the main body of the rescue notification unit moves. The rescue notification unit is configured to emit light from its light source based on the fact that no light is detected by the light detection sensor, water is detected by the water detection sensor, and the water surface movement detection unit detects movement of the main body of the rescue notification unit.

7. The life vest consists of a main body that provides buoyancy and is attached to the wearer's body, The life-saving device body is equipped with a rescue notification unit that is detachably attached to the main body of the life-saving device, The aforementioned rescue notification unit is, A mounting part for detachably attaching to the main body of the life-saving device, The rescue notification unit includes a main body that includes a light source that emits light outwards, a storage battery that supplies power to the light source, and a solar power generation unit that generates power from sunlight to charge the storage battery. It is configured to provide rescue notification using light emitted from the aforementioned light source, The mounting portion is configured such that the rescue notification unit body can be attached to the life-saving device body so that it is relatively movable relative to the life-saving device body. The aforementioned rescue notification unit is, A water detection sensor capable of detecting water, The rescue notification unit further includes a water surface movement detection unit comprising an angular velocity sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a magnet sensor, which detects when the main body of the rescue notification unit moves. The rescue notification unit is configured to emit light from the light source when the amount of power generated by the solar power generation unit falls below a threshold, water is detected by the water detection sensor, and the movement of the main body of the rescue notification unit is detected by the water surface movement detection unit.

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