FR2814543A1 - Ultraviolet meter for personal use in which operating parameters, skin type and protection cream, can be input using a menu system so that once a UV exposure is reached an alarm can be generated, preventing sun-burn - Google Patents

Abstract

Ultraviolet meter comprises a housing with a sensor and a display with its associated cover. The meter further comprises command buttons for controlling a menu system for entry and checking of operating parameters such as skin type, protection factor of sun- cream used, etc. According to the operating parameters a limit is set so that when the UV exposure reaches this limit an alarm is triggered.

Description

<Desc / Clms Page number 1>

 The present invention relates to an automatic device for measuring ultraviolet rays, for managing and preventing the exposure time to said rays from being exceeded.

 Currently, people who expose themselves to light that includes ultraviolet light only have protective cream and a purely subjective estimate of the exposure time.

 With or without cream, this method is clearly insufficient to avoid the drawbacks of overdoses of ultraviolet rays, which have the consequences of serious sequelae and long-term cancer.

 This device according to the invention makes it possible to remedy this insufficiency. According to a first characteristic, it comprises a housing having on its upper face a sensor of ultraviolet rays protected by a transparent synthetic sapphire lens, a two-line display of 16 characters protected by a cover, four control buttons, a buzzer, two indicator lights, one green and the other red which can be flashing, and inside, a printed circuit.

 This device makes it possible to calculate the quantity of ultraviolet rays absorbed by the user, and to prevent him when his maximum absorption is reached, thus avoiding him the risks of burns due to overexposure.

 According to particular embodiments: - the box becomes a remote control to control remotely by radio frequency or by infrared rays or by voice command the sensor of ultra-violet rays which in this case can be incorporated in another support: watch, jewelry, clip, keychain, glasses, pendant, etc.

- the box can be connected to a GSM type device or a PC type microcomputer to be able to analyze the history of the exposure period (s).

- the case can itself be presented as a watch, a piece of jewelry, a clip, a key ring, part of a pair of glasses, a pendant, etc. - the case or the remote control can include a fixing ring for a wrist strap for transport, and it can also have a support tab on one side to facilitate its display and consultation.

 - the display can be on the rear side of the device, thus allowing the cache to be deleted.

 - the printed circuit can be miniaturized to be integrated into an already existing watch or device.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention: FIG. 1 represents the bursting of the boards in order to allow easy reading; in this figure, the references A, B, C, D are shown in the following drawings in FIGURE IAJB, lC, and ID.

Figure 2 shows the housing.

The following nomenclature allows an understanding of the diagrams.

Item Designation RI to R15 + R6bis metal film resistance, 1% '/ W CI and C13 ceramic capacitor wafer 100pf / 63V pitch of 5.08 C2, C5, C6 ceramic capacitor wafer 12pfet 22pfpas of 5.08 C14, C15, C16, Cl7 ceramic capacitor 68pf plate not 5.08 C3 electrolytic capacitor 4, 7 u. f / 16V 0 3, 5x5mm, pitch of 2.5 C4 electrolytic capacitor 10 u. f / 16V or 25V 0 3.5x5mm, step of 2.5 C7 electrolytic capacitor 2, 2 16V 3.5x5mm, step of 2.5

<Desc / Clms Page number 2>

CIO electrolysis capacitor 100 p. f / 16V 0 7x7mm, pitch of 5 C9, C12 electrolysis capacitor 100 Ilf / 63V type LCC, pitch of 2.5 C8 battery for printed circuit, triangular center distance Tl transistor NPN box TOI 8 BUZ buzzer DI, D2 led (indicator luminous) dual 4-pin box, square of 2.54 ICI, IC2, IC5, IC6 integrated circuits 8 pins DIP IC3 integrated circuit 40 pins DIP IC4 in-line integrated circuit / 16 pins 0 0.8mm at step of Imm JI and J2 connector 2 pads 0 1 mm in 5mm steps QI to Q3 PNP transistor switching Bpl to Bp4 contactors 8 pads # 1mm drilling
The operation of this device is controlled by an assembler program of 1400 instructions, loaded into the microprocessor contained in the box, before it is made available.

 With reference to these drawings, the device comprises a housing (l) on the surface of which there is a sensor for ultra-violet rays (2), a display (3), protected by a cover (4), an on / off switch. (5), a menu selection switch (6), a value selection switch (7), a data recovery switch (8), an opening for the passage of the sound from the buzzer (9), an indicator power-up (10), a warning light (II), a fixing ring for a wrist strap (12).

 The operation of this device, voluntarily simplified for the user, takes place as follows: When switching on (5), and by reading on the display (3), the user will select his type of skin and cream (6), then he will choose the values (7), and finally fix them (8).

The device takes control, and will now operate independently.

The microcontroller (15) contained in this device will calculate the exposure potential from which the user may benefit, in joules, and indicate this on the display (3).

Being in operation, the device, through the (2) sensor, receives ambient light; an advantageously chosen filter selects UV A, B and C in the range of 200 to 400 nm, (13) This sensor (2), based on semiconductor transforms light into electric current This current is then converted into voltage via an amplifier (14), then the analog signal is converted to digital.

This digital signal is transmitted to the microcontroller (15), the functions of which are: - to manage the characteristics of the user (skin index, age, sex, height, weight) to calculate the potential exposure capital of the user - to monitor the consumption of this capital - to memorize the data and display them - to warn the user when he has reached the limit assigned to him - to warn the user during a bombardment of particularly dangerous type C ultraviolet rays - to control the warning lights (10 and 11), the buzzer (9)
The power supply of this device is done by battery (18) and solar cells (19)
A cover (4) is provided to protect the display screen (3).

<Desc / Clms Page number 3>

 The device is deactivated with the ON / OFF button (5), the data is retained, and the green indicator light (10) goes out.

 The data are redisplayed (3) at the next start-up, and the user can modify his parameters, which has the consequence of modifying his sunshine capital.

 By way of nonlimiting example, the case will have dimensions of the order of 5.5 cm in width, Hem in length, and 1.5 cm in thickness.

 This device is intended to be used in a leisure or professional environment, in a temperature range between minus 40 and plus 85Oc.

According to the particular embodiments, this device in its embodiment according to FIG. 2, is a miniature and light box (1) made of light-colored molded plastic which can be used placed in the immediate vicinity of the user, in this case is integrated a temperature corrector (17) to compensate for the lack of contact with the skin.

The design of this device makes it possible to package it according to variants not illustrated in the form of a watch bracelet, signet ring, glasses bar, clip, pendant or key ring.
This device is waterproof against splashing water and can easily withstand a fall of lm without being damaged.

 According to a variant not illustrated, the connection of this device to a GSM or PC type device allows an analysis of the exposure history.

The cost price of this device is inexpensive and makes it an essential product for holidaymakers, but also for anyone who on their travels is able to find themselves in exposure conditions justifying such a device.
According to variants not illustrated, miniaturized versions such as pendant, watch bracelet, signet ring, glasses bar give an original cachet to this new product.

 This device is innovative in principle and professionals in electronics and cosmetics are already showing a certain interest.

Claims (15)

1) Individual and portable device for automatically detecting and managing the periods of exposure of individuals to ultraviolet rays, and preventing the risk of burns, characterized in that it consists of a housing (1) comprising at the inside a printed circuit (16) and outside a display (3) protected by a removable cover (4), this display (3) allows the user to indicate his personal parameters to the microcontroller (15) '' using the ON / OFF buttons (5), MENU SELECTION (6) VALUE SELECTION (7) and DATA VALUATION (8) so that this microcontroller can calculate the maximum admissible exposure according to these parameters, of which he must compare the result obtained with the quantity of ultraviolet rays to which the user is exposed. These are detected by the sensor (2), they pass through a filter (13) then an amplifier (14) and are transmitted to the micro-controller (15) which accumulates them and warns the user of a risk of burns. by warning it using a fixed red light (11) and a sound vibrator (9) which emits a repetitive sound, when the maximum threshold has been reached.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that if the sensor (2) detects UV C rays which are particularly dangerous, the microcontroller (15) will warn the user by a flashing red light (11) and a buzzer (9) which emits a repetitive sound.  3) Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the user has the possibility of modifying his parameters during the exposure period using the buttons (6), (7) and (8) and the display (3) 4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user is constantly kept informed by the display (3) of its sunshine, of the current illumination and of the time elapsed since the start of the 'exposure.  5) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that periodically, the sound vibrator (9) signals to the user that it is in operation by a short sound.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the housing (l) can be in a usable version without being in contact with the skin of the user, in this case, it is made of molded plastic light in color and includes a temperature probe (17), which is connected to the microcontroller (15) which takes this into account to compensate.  7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing can include a support tab on one of the faces, in order to allow the device to be kept in a position which facilitates its exposure.  8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (1) can be in a presentation version <Desc / Clms Page number 5>  in the form of a watch, signet ring, pendant, glasses bar, clip of clothing or hair or even a key ring.  9) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printed circuit (16) can be miniaturized to be incorporated into an integrated circuit of a watch or of another already existing device.  10) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display (3) can be arranged on the face opposite to that of the ultra-violet sensor (2) making it possible to remove the cover (4).  II) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device can be presented in two parts, one comprising the sensor, the other a management and remote control unit for the sensor.  12) Device according to claim 11 characterized in that the remote control (17) is done by means of a radio frequency connection, or by infrared rays.  13) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is waterproof against water splashes and can undergo a fall of lm without damage.  14) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor protection lens (2) is preferably made of synthetic sapphire.  15) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microcontroller can be connected to a GSM device or a microcomputer for analysis of historical data.  16) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the management and remote control unit of the sensor can be a GSM type device or a microcomputer.  17) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input and restitution of the parameters as well as the alarm and the permanent function indicator can be managed by voice.