FR2897141A1 - PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrically operated portable lighting device, hereinafter referred to as a "headlamp", with battery-powered leds (3) or battery packs or power supply (3) in a tubular housing with a transparent end (8) containing the LEDs and an end (7) consisting of a screw cap for opening the lighthouse.The lighthouse has two lighting systems: a main lighting system consisting of at least one white LED (1) and a secondary lighting system, consisting of at least one colored led (2), constituting a double back-up device. A magnetic contact switch (5) four positions, allows the user to operate manually, as required the white (1) or color (2) lighting .The invention comprises an electronic circuit (4) integrated and arranged to automatically substitute the secondary lighting (2) for the main lighting when the battery voltage Internal power ion or power supply (3) is below a certain threshold.The theoretical value of the autonomy of the main lighting (1) in manual mode and continuous use is more than 20 hours.It is waterproof and explosion-proof allowing use underwater or in the air. The handle (10) can be removable and the color led (2) possibly flashing.

Description

Portable lighting device. The present invention relates to

  technical field of portable lighting devices operating with electricity and using LED lighting means (light-emitting diodes). The invention more particularly relates to a diving lighting device comprising a double security system. These devices are also called "diving lights" in the following description. It is known to provide a portable lighting device powered by electricity, of the type comprising LED lighting means, powered by batteries or power supply or battery, and activated by appropriate means of implementation located on the housing, and comprising: a main lighting system comprising at least one white led, a secondary lighting system, said main and secondary lighting systems being able to be manually implemented by the operator by providing a different lighting. For example, dive lights with controllers are known for manually selecting different modes of operation, namely different lighting powers, a flashing mode called "flash mode". Such a mode does not allow a diver to accurately control his ascent levels. This flash mode best allows others to locate a diver in difficulty. Existing dive lights with leds are not equipped with a specific safety system. In case of end of battery life or power supply the user has no backup means allowing him to benefit from lighting. In case of problems, he no longer has the possibility to warn other people. Such functions may be particularly useful for use in scuba diving. According to the invention, the secondary lighting device comprises at least one LED emitting infrared and / or visible radiation with a color that is differentiable from the white light emitted by the white LED or LEDs.

  The electric headlamp according to the invention makes it possible, thanks to a led lighting system of complementary color to the main lighting system with white leds, to offer additional functions compared with conventional headlights.

  The complementary LED lighting system can be operated by the user himself at any time. This allows him, for example, during a night dive, to remotely warn a surveillance team on the surface. This system can also allow a diver to report underwater to his teammates, a problem occurring during a dive. In addition, the color lighting system automatically replaces the normal white lighting when the power supply reaches the end of its autonomy. This device has a dual interest in automatically switching from white to color lighting. The diver is warned that he reaches the end of his autonomy before being completely deprived of lighting. It still has sufficient autonomy to complete the dive while having sufficient lighting to ensure its safe return by being able to consult its instruments and having access to information about its depth, its speed of ascent, the need to respect decompression stops etc. Arrived on the surface the remaining lighting also allows the diver to report to the surface surveillance and the boat can locate it to recover it. Moreover, emergency lighting using for example a single LED consumes less energy. It increases the duration of lighting.

  The lighting device according to the invention thus has the advantage of being able to be used as a means of communication, for example as an emergency communication means, by using a specific color, for example red, to define a particular code of communication recognized by all users of such devices and in particular divers. According to a preferred embodiment, the spectrum of the visible radiation corresponds to the red color. According to an exemplary embodiment, it comprises tilting means for automatically switching from a main lighting mode to a secondary lighting mode, said modes being obtained respectively with the main lighting system and the secondary lighting system. . According to an exemplary embodiment, the implementation means comprise a magnetic contact switch associated with the housing, which can be actuated by the operator in particular to activate the secondary lighting system. According to an exemplary embodiment, the switching means comprise an electronic circuit integrated in the housing, which is designed to automatically cut off the power supply of the main lighting system and supply said secondary lighting system, when the voltage at the terminals of the batteries or battery power or power supply is below a certain level. According to an exemplary embodiment, on the one hand, the main lighting system consists of several white leds arranged in a ring at the illuminating end of the housing and on the other hand, the secondary lighting system consists of one or more colored LEDs disposed in said ring. According to an exemplary embodiment, the current device has a light output of about 110 lumens, or 1050 lux at 1 meter and the lens angle of 8 to 12, corresponding to this is equivalent to a conventional lighting of a consumption of about 25watts. According to an exemplary embodiment, it comprises batteries or power supply providing a duration of the main illumination in manual mode and during continuous use, whose theoretical value is more than 12 hours at 100% of lighting efficiency that can reach, under the same conditions described above, at least 36 hours with decreasing efficiency. According to an exemplary embodiment, it comprises means for setting the secondary lighting system in flashing mode.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the dimensions are of the order of 65 mm in diameter by 170 millimeters in length for a terrestrial weight of 600 grams without batteries or power supply batteries, or 350 grams in immersion.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, it is in a sealed form with means allowing a resistance to a pressure of the order of 20 bar. According to an exemplary embodiment, it is explosion-proof and consists of materials resistant to a temperature not exceeding 115 Celsius. According to an exemplary embodiment, in the case of the use of battery packs, their recharging is performed in an open environment, thereby eliminating the risk of explosion. Other features and advantages will also emerge from the detailed description given hereinafter by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents an exemplary embodiment of a lighting device according to FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the operating principle of the device according to the invention, FIG. 4 represents the electronic diagram. structural element of a lighting device according to the invention. The headlight is made on the basis of a housing (9) of tubular aluminum containing batteries (3) (non-limiting type AA / LR06) or batteries (non-limiting Nimh type) LR06), or electrical power supply and an electronic control device (4) and activation of the security mode in the event of end of autonomy. In the case of use of battery packs, to recharge them, there is no risk of explosion, reloading being carried out in an open environment. One end (8) of the headlight is transparent Makrolon 4mm thick and protects a crown of white leds (1), not limited to, standard or luxuryon or luxuryon III used for normal lighting. In the center of this crown is a led of color (2), non-limiting, standard or luxuryon or luxuryon III. By way of non-limiting example, the color illumination may be, for example, red and may also flash by means of a suitable circuit integrated in the electronic device (4), thus constituting a universal communication code.

  The other end of the headlight comprises an aluminum screw cap (7) allowing access to the inside of the headlight to change the batteries (3) or the battery packs which are arranged in a coupler in series, for example of 8 batteries (3).

  A rotating cylindrical ring (6) made of aluminum having a magnet and ILS (reed switch, 0.5 or 1 ampere) in the housing body (9) constitute the magnetic contact switch (5). The latter is of the four-position type and allows in manual mode to turn off and turn on the headlight or switch from white lighting to color lighting or a flashing safety operating mode and vice versa. The electronic security device (4) also makes it possible to switch automatically to a color illumination or a flashing security operating mode. The headlight is equipped with a removable, rotating stainless handle (10).

  It allows to manipulate the headlight as shown (fig1), according to the needs of use, to attach a transport strap or a piece of fixation. It allows the translation stop of the ignition ring. The dive light according to the invention therefore comprises a main lighting system consisting of white LEDs (1) and a secondary lighting system consisting of at least one led color (2). The means of implementation of the secondary lighting system consist of the electronic circuit (4) integrated in the housing (9), which circuit is arranged to automatically cut off power to the main lighting system and supply the lighting system secondary, when the voltage of the batteries (3) or batteries or power supply is below a certain level. By way of non-limiting example, the dimensions of the lighthouse are of the order of 65 mm in diameter by 170 millimeters in length for a terrestrial weight of 600 grams, without batteries or battery packs, ie 350 grams in immersion. Without limitation, the current device has a light output of about 110 lumens, or 1050 lux to 1 meter and the angle of the lens from 8 to 12; corresponding to a conventional lighting with a consumption of about 25watts.35 Non-limiting, the duration of the main illumination in manual mode and during continuous use is, theoretically, more than 12 hours at 100% lighting efficiency, using appropriate batteries (3) or batteries or power supply. This can reach, under the same conditions described above, about more than 36 hours with efficiency or decreasing power. The electric headlight is waterproof and works underwater. The current means used allow a resistance to a pressure of the order of 20 bars. It is more particularly intended for use in diving.

  The entire system is totally explosion-proof. The device according to the invention can be used, for example, in a gas or toxic products emanation zone, a highly flammable explosive atmosphere. It consists of materials that resist a temperature not exceeding 115 Celsius.

  The electronic control circuit (4) operates in the manner specified hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3. When using the main lighting system consisting of the white LED ring (1), the control circuit (4) detects whether a supply voltage (17) falls below a determined value. If so, it switches off the main illumination operating with several white electroluminescent diodes (1) and activates the emergency lighting consisting of a light-emitting diode of color (2), possibly flashing, by means of a circuit suitable integrated into the electronic device (4). FIG. 3 shows the operating principle of the electronic circuit (4) which is implemented by a switch (5) of the four-position type, which correspond to: 1) Off 2) On energy detection 3) On manual color 30 4) White Manual Walk

  The switch (5) of the type rotating in position 1, 3, or 4 disables the electronic control system (4). In position 2, the electronic circuit (4) detects a limit voltage (or lighting power) at the batteries (3) or battery packs or power supply in order to switch the main lighting of the headlight on the led of color (2) corresponding to a power saving mode. The comparator circuit (11) compares 2 Vseuil and Vref voltages; Vref being a reference voltage generated by a reference circuit (13). Vseuil resulting from a circuit (12) is a voltage proportional to the voltage (17) at the terminals of the batteries (3) or batteries or power supply. The circuits (12) and (13) receive as information the voltage (17) at the terminals of the batteries (3) or batteries or power supply. For this, the reference voltage Vref is generated as well as the voltage Vseuil proportional to the voltage (17) at the terminals of the batteries (3) or batteries or power supply. If the voltage of the batteries (3) or batteries or power supply is sufficient (Vth> Vref), the electronic device (4) controls the lighting of the white LED (1), (or white leds (1) ) with a suitable voltage Vs by means of a control circuit (14). When the voltage (17) of the batteries (3) or power supply battery or power supply comes down and the autonomy decreases, and if the comparator (11) detects that Vseuil <Vref, then the electronic device (4) switches automatically the main lighting of the headlight on the led of color (2) of the emergency lighting with a voltage Vs appropriate. Figure 4 shows the structural diagram of the electronic device (4).

  Block 17 consists of a power supply system, based on 8 batteries of 1.5V: supply voltage (17) (for example 12 V) of the circuit and supply of white LEDs (1) and color (2). Block 13 consists of a zener diode (D1) and a resistor R1 (560 Ohm). This block has the role of supplying a reference voltage Vref to the comparator circuit (11). The voltage of 4.7V (across the zener diode) is the reference voltage Vref adopted to compare with the voltage Vthreshold. This voltage Vref remains fixed. Block 12 consists of a voltage divider bridge R2, R3 (3.3 kOhm and 4.7 kOhm). This delivers an output voltage (Vseuil) proportional to the voltage (17) of the supply system. This voltage is therefore an image of the voltage available at the terminals of the power system. Block 11 consists of two comparators u1 and u2. The comparators μ1 and u2 are connected in parallel and provide a control signal to transistors Q1 and Q2. If V> threshold> Vref, the outputs of the comparators μ1 and u2 are at the logic high level (white led (1) on, color led (2) off). If Vthreshold <Vref, the outputs of the comparators μ1 and u2 are logically low (Ied white (1) off, color led (2) on).

The resistor R6 (10 kOhm) connecting the output of the comparator u2 to its non-inverting input makes it possible not to have unwanted switching of the LEDs when V threshold is close to Vref. The block 14 consists of two transistors (QI and Q2) operating in switching mode and allows to supply either the white LED (1) (Vthreshold> Vref) or 15 or the color led (2) (Vthreshold <Vref). The transistors QI, Q2 are connected to the outputs of the comparators μ1 and u2 respectively via resistors R4 (1 kOhm) and R5 (1kOhm). The present invention also finds application for any other lighting device such as civil security, the year (land, air, sea), gendarmerie, firefighters, police, CRS, customs, speleology, mountaineering, railway (railway), automobile, equipment (night work), EDF / SFM, boating, UAS, security surveillance, archeology, fishing, hunting, camping, etc. .. The invention can be declined in frontal system or fixed lighting.

For example, it is conceivable to use a lighting device according to the invention comprising an infra-red secondary illumination mode for detecting forged notes or for coded communication between police forces. This infrared illumination mode can also be combined simultaneously or alternatively with a visible red secondary illumination mode.

Claims (14)

  1) Portable lighting device operating on electricity, of the type comprising LED lighting means (5), powered by batteries (3) or batteries or power supply and activated by means of implementation located on the housing (9), the lighting means comprising: a main lighting system comprising at least one white led (1), a secondary lighting system, said main and secondary lighting systems each being capable of be implemented manually by the operator and providing different lighting, characterized in that the secondary lighting system comprises at least one led emitting infrared radiation and / or visible with a color differentiable from the white light emitted by the or the white leds (1).   2) Lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spectrum of the visible radiation corresponds to the red color.   3) Lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises tilting means for automatically switching from a main lighting mode to a secondary lighting mode, said modes being obtained respectively with the main lighting system and the secondary lighting system.   4) Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means of implementation comprise a magnetic contact switch (5) associated with the housing (9) and can be actuated by the operator especially to activate the secondary lighting system.   5) A lighting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the tilting means comprise an electronic circuit (4) integrated in the housing (9), designed to automatically cut off power to the main lighting system and supply said system secondary lighting when the voltage at the battery terminals (3) or the battery pack or power supply is below a certain level.   6) Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, firstly the main lighting system consists of several white LEDs (1) arranged in a ring at a level of 1 illuminating end (8) of the housing (9) and secondly the secondary lighting system consists of one or more colored leds (2) disposed in said ring.   7) Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the current device has a light output of about 110 lumens, or 1050 lux to 1 meter and the angle of the lens of 8 at 12, corresponding this equates to conventional lighting with a consumption of about 25watts.   8) A lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises batteries (3) or batteries or power supply providing a duration of the main illumination in manual mode and during a continuous use, whose theoretical value is more than 12 hours at 100% lighting efficiency can reach, under the same conditions described above, at least 36 hours with decreasing efficiency.   9) Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises means for setting the secondary lighting system in flashing mode.   10) Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a handle (10) of the removable and rotatable type.   11) Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that its dimensions are of the order of 65 mm in diameter by 170 millimeters in length for a terrestrial weight of 600 grams without batteries (3 ) or batteries or power supply, or 350 grams in immersion.   12) Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is in a sealed form with means for a resistance to a pressure of about 20 bar.   13) Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is explosion-proof type and made of materials resistant to a temperature not exceeding 115 Celsius.   14) A lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in the case of use of battery packs, reloading is performed in an open environment, thereby eliminating the risk of explosion.