AU2019100529A4

AU2019100529A4 - Remotely Controlled Multi-Colour Light and Signal Device

Info

Publication number: AU2019100529A4
Application number: AU2019100529A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lutz Oliver Schapp
Original assignee: Schapp Lutz Oliver Dr
Current assignee: Schapp Lutz Oliver Dr
Priority date: 2019-05-16
Filing date: 2019-05-16
Publication date: 2019-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-16

Abstract

State of the art light and signal devices, like for instance illuminated dog collars, offer only very limited control possibilities for the illumination. The user can only turn the illumination on/off and can choose from a very limited amount of illumination patterns, like typically constant or intermittent illumination with one fixed frequency. In addition, state of the art devices have due to the integration of physical switches in their design, weak points through which moisture, water, dust or dirt can get into the device and could cause negative effects to its function. Different to the state of the art, the disclosed light and signal device possesses a receiver/microcontroller-unit, which is controlled remotely and wireless by a transmitter. Together with the use of differently coloured LEDs or LEDs which are capable to emit light in different colours, the user has now the possibility to control comfortably and from the distance the illumination mode of the device. Possible illumination modes can be for instance different illumination colours, different illumination patterns, different colour patterns, different brightness levels and/or different pattern speeds. In addition, the use of such a receiver/microcontroller-unit, which receives its commands wireless primarily but not limited from a transmitter via radio technology or infrared-waves, possesses the advantage, that it is user-friendly and a sealed encapsulated design of the device is possible, which is resistant to any environmental effects, which could cause electronical malfunctions.

Description

Light and signal devices, as they are used for instance as collars for animals like dogs, cats or horses or for cyclists are available since several years and belong to the state of the art. Such devices increase the visibility of humans or animals in the dark, since they are better seen and recognized by third parties for example car drivers. Illuminated collars are known best for their use on dogs and are availble in different versions. They differ from each other with respect to design, material, illumination technology, illumination colour, control technology, energy supply and control possibilities for the user.

State of the art is the use of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) as illumination technology. They are used in one or multiple colours in such signal devices. In the German innovation patent DE202007013752U1 is a „Switchable Signal Body and Dog Collar described, which uses differently coloured LEDs or LEDs which are capable to emit light in different colours in one light and signal device. Those LEDs are controlled by a micro-controller, so that the collar can shine in different colours and with different colour progressions. For switching on and off or for the control of the electric circuits a reed contact is used, which detects magnetic fields and performs switches. Even though such a collar is already discribed in literature, it is not offered commercially.

The state of the art thus shows the following disadvantages:

1. Light and signal devices show only very restricted control possibilities for the user. State of the art is, that users can perform on-/off switching operations and can choose from two different illumination options at maximum, e.g. intermittent or continuous illumination. More comprehensive control functions like, but not limited to, change of illumination brightness, change of illumination colour, change of colour changing patterns, changing illumination pattern speeds are not available to the user.

2. Light and signal devices possess only sub-optimal switch technologies. State of the art is the use of the following switch technologies, amongst others:

a. Physical Switch, in most cases performed as push buttons. Those switches are a physical weak point for the entrance of water, humidity or dirt into the interior of the device and can adversely affect its proper function.

b. Automatic switches on the base of orientation or acceleration sensors. Such automatic switches are described in EP1536390B1 “Light and Signal Device”. Instead of a physical on/off-switch such automatic switches turn the illumination on/off depending on the orientation of the sensor. The illumination is switched on for instance if the battery case of the dog collar heads

2019100529 16 May 2019 downwards and is switched off, if the battery case looks upwards. The illumination can be thus turned on during storing, leading to an unintended continuous illumination and an emptying of the energy storage.

c. Electrical plug connector. Two ends of the light and signal device are performed as electrical plug and socket. If the plug and the socket are connected, the electric circuit is closed and the illumination is turned on. Disadvantageous of that solution is, that the plug and socket are not sufficiently protected from the environment (water, humidity, dirt), so that the electrical contact can be negatively affected, causing functional problems of the device.

d. Reed-Switch. The system described in the German Innovation Patent DE202007013752U1 uses a Reed-Switch which reacts on applied magnetic fields. The disadvantage of that solution is, that switching operations can be performed only with a magnet in close proximity to the reed switch. Additionally, due to the magnetic principle, only very limited information can be transmitted between the magnetic sender and the reed switch. A comfortable control of different illumination modes, brightness levels etc. is not possible in a comfortable way.

The solution to the described problems is the use of a remotely controllable receiver/microcontroller-unit as central unit for the control of the illumination of the here disclosed light and signal device. This unit receives its commands wirelessly, primarily but not limited from a transmitter via radio technology or infrared-waves. This transmitter can be a physical remote controller, but also smartphones can be used for instance. The receiver/microcontroller-unit is electrically connected to the LEDs. The receiver/ microcontroller-unit is taking over the control for switching the illumination on and off and different LEDs can be controlled individually, so that different illumination colours, illumination patterns, colour patterns, brightness levels can be chosen from the user with ease. The receiver/microcontroller-unit is powered and conntected to an energy source, e.g. rechargeable battery.

By using a remotely controlled receiver/microcontroller-unit no physical switch has to be integrated into its design. The electronics (energy supply, receiver/microcontroller-unit, LEDs) of the light and signalling device can be located in a sealed case and are thus protected as best as possible from environmental impacts like water, humidity, dirt and dust. Compared to the state of the art automatic switch solution, the described solution shows the additional advantage, that an unintented turn-on of the illumination cannot happen. With respect to the reed-switch this technical solution is also superior, since control operations can be done from a larger distance and more complex control information can be transmitted from the sender to the receiver. Because of this, the user can for instance, change effortless the illumination according to the actual situation and can increase brightness and choose a more noticeable illumination colour pattern in more dense and dangerous traffic situations, whereas in not so dangerous situations the user can choose less brightness and less LEDs to shine to increase energy efficiency and battery lifetime. To do so, the user can change illumination options (like but not limited to illumination colours, illumination patterns, colour patterns, brightness levels) by just pressing buttons on his remote control, for instance. With the here proposed technology the information transmission is not limited as it is the case with all other known switch technologies, resulting in an enhanced comfortable user experience.

2019100529 16 May 2019

Claims

2019100529 16 May 2019

The claims defining the innovation are as follows:

1. Light and signal device, characterized by that a remotely controllable receiver/microcontroller-unit is used to control its illumination modes. Illumination modes can be characterized by, but are not limited to different colours, different colour changing patterns, different flash patterns, different brightness levels, different colour changing or flashing speeds. The receiver/microcontroller-unit receives its commands wirelessly from a transmitter via, but not limited to, electromagnetic waves such as radio or light waves.
2. Light and signal device according to Claim 1, characterized by, that the remote control is a physical device or a smartphone.
3. Light and signal device according to Claim 1, characterized by, that the information transmission between sender and receiver is performed in such a way, that complex information for the control of the different illumination modes can be transmitted easily.