NL1014712C2 - Fog light, emits coherent light with a flat conical beam having a specific divergence - Google Patents

Abstract

Coherent light is emitted with a flat conical beam having a divergence of 0.5-30 deg. A safety light unit for use in poor visibility conditions caused by fog, rain, snow, smoke or other conditions where particles are suspended in the atmosphere comprises a construction with a source of preferably visible coherent light with a flat conical beam. Depending on the application, the beam divergence is 0.5-30 deg., and the beam has a preferably elliptical cross-section.

Description

5.

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Title.

Rear fog lamp with narrow beam.

Scope.

The invention relates to warning, marking or safety lamps on mobile or stationary objects. More particularly, the invention is directed to using laser sources or LED's (light emitting diodes) to supplement or replace the current 10. visible light sources used in poor visibility conditions such as those found on automobiles, ships, aircraft or similar.

Background of the invention.

At this time, the better detectability of current mis-vapors is obtained by increasing the power of the lamps, however, which reduces the forward view of a following vehicle due to dazzling by the wide beam and scattering.

Because the invention uses lamps whose beam diameter is considerably smaller, the blinding effect of these lamps on the approaching (trailing) vehicle will be considerably less once this vehicle moves to the edge of the beam (overtaking), which will increase the forward vision accordingly. By concentrating the light emission in a narrow beam, the light flux in a given direction will be relatively greater compared to that of conventional lamps with the same power consumption and, consequently, the detectability of this lamp will be relatively better.

25.

Description of the invention.

The invention provides a more detectable and safer rear fog lamp for flying, sailing and vehicles compared to conventional rear fog lamps with the same power consumption. The lights can be switched on and off in the same way as the current one at 30, including vehicles in use. The shape of the beam formed by the light source, alone or with the help of an optical system (mirrors, condensers, lenses), is conical. Preferably, the cross section of the beam is elliptical. Depending on the application, the divergence of the beam should be between 0.5 ° and 30 ° (see example in fig. 1). Since certain types of laser / LED light sources have beams which have a 1014712 -2 divergence in this range without the aid of optical means, these light sources are preferred; moreover, they emit coherent light having a lower scattering factor than incandescent light. Laser / LED light sources, which emit S. in the range of 630 - 800 and 575 - 585 nannometer, are best for vehicle and vessel rear fog lights. As soon as laser / LED light sources become available that emit the so-called “equal energy white” light, they should preferably be used for the rear fog lights of vessels. The invention can be mounted in a separate housing and placed as a free-standing unit on a static or mobile object or preferably combined with a lamp housing 10. as commonly used in the automotive industry (eg type BA15). Also, the laser / LED light source can be combined with an incandescent lamp, either inside or outside the glass envelope. If desired, the invention can be provided with a voltage converter to make the whole suitable for the various occurring voltages.

1014712

Claims (9)

A safety lighting unit for use in low visibility caused by fog, rain, snow, smoke or other special particles in the atmosphere, comprising: A structure comprising a light source, which preferably emits visible coherent light with a flat conical beam which, depending on the application, has a divergence in the range from 0.5 ° to 30 ° and whose cross section is preferably elliptical and which beam is more detectable to the naked eye than that of the incandescent fog rear lamp with the same 10. power absorbed, as long as the observer is in that bundle. As soon as the observer comes close to the edge of the beam (eg overtaking) the intensity of the light will decrease strongly and with it the dazzling effect; the less scattering of coherent light also makes a positive contribution to this. The safety lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein a laser light source is supplied. suitable that mainly emits coherent light with a wavelength in the range of 630-800 nannometer. The safety lighting unit according to claim 2, which emits light in the wavelength range of S7S - S8S nm. The safety lighting unit according to claim 2 or 3 provided with optical means for obtaining a certain shape of the light beam. The safety lighting unit according to claims 2 to 4, wherein said light source is an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The safety lighting unit according to claim S, comprising an LED or other light source emitting a collection of wavelengths in the range 350-800 nm resulting in white light, the combination of wavelengths as far as possible the point E of the color triangle (known as "equal energy white"). The safety lighting unit according to claim 1, comprising an incandescent lamp and an optical system by means of which the respective light beam is formed. The safety lighting unit according to claims 1 to 7 which is provided with a housing 30, which fits into the usual fittings of rear lights of flying, sailing and vehicles. The safety lighting unit according to claims 1 to 8, which is mounted in a housing, one side of which is provided with natural or colored transparent material such as, for example, perspex, so that the central axis of the emerging beam is at an angle to the surface of this side makes lying between 40 ° and 90 °. 1014712