SE1750024A1

SE1750024A1 - Priority light bar device

Info

Publication number: SE1750024A1
Application number: SE1750024A
Authority: SE
Inventors: José Muñoz Garcia Juan
Original assignee: Fed Signal Vama Sa
Priority date: 2016-03-31
Filing date: 2017-01-13
Publication date: 2017-10-01
Also published as: GB2548946B; DE202016107063U1; SE541505C2; GB2548946A; NO20161981A1; ES1156833U; FR3049531B3; FR3049531A3; ES1156833Y; GB201619773D0

Abstract

A priority light bar device (1) for police cars or emergency vehicles, which comprises a plurality of modules (2) mechanically and electrically coupled to each other, wherein the device (1) comprises removable coupling means of at least one of the modules (2), such that the device (1) is configured to allow for the removal of the at least one module (2) with removable coupling means and its replacement by a plurality of sub-modules (3) with electrical and mechanical mutual removable coupling means, wherein each sub-module (3) comprises at least one warning signal unit (4, 5, 6, 7), wherein the at least one warning signal unit (4, 5, 6, 7) is selected among at least one of: a visible light emitting unit (4), an infrared light emitting unit (5), a video-surveillance unit (6) and an acoustic unit (7).

Description

PRIORITY LIGHT BAR DEVICE DESCRIPTION OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present description refers to a priority light bar device of the typeinstalled on the roof of certain vehicles, such as police cars or emergencyassistance vehicles.

The priority light bar device which is the object of the present descriptionis applicable to the industries devoted to the manufacture, distribution andoperation of equipment for police and/or emergency vehicles.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO ADDRESS AND BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Nowadays, emergency and/or police vehicles including priority light bardevices on top of them are known in the art, to indicate certain emergencysituations and/or transmit certain messages to other users circulating in thestreet.

Depending on the type of emergency vehicle, one type of priority light bardevice or another is to be installed, adequate for each situation to transmit onetype of emergency signal and/or illuminated messages or acoustic warnings(electronic sirens) or other. lt has been observed that current systems lack the capacity to adapt todifferent kinds of vehicles and/or to different kinds of applications, thisadaptability being desirable so that it is not necessary to make the installation ofa whole new and different priority light bar device when using a different kind ofemergency vehicle, and/or every time that a different type of warning signal isintended to be assigned to a device installed in a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With the purpose of providing an improved solution to the adaptability ofthe priority light bar devices, a priority light bar device whose essential feature isits modularity is described below.

The priority light bar device for police cars or emergency vehicles whichis the object of the present description is composed of a plurality of modules mechanically and electrically coupled to each other.

This priority light bar device is mainly characterised in that it includesremovable coupling means in at least one of the modules of the device, suchthat, through said removable coupling means, the device is configured to allowfor the removal and replacement of at least one module with removablecoupling means, replacing it by a plurality of sub-modules with electrical andmechanical mutual removable coupling means.

Each sub-module includes at least one warning signal unit. Said at leastone warning signal unit is selected among at least one of: a visible light emittingunit, an infrared light emitting unit, a video-surveillance unit and an acousticunit.

Each visible light emitting unit comprises a plurality of LED diodes,emitting visible light.

According to a possible embodiment of the device, all LED diodes ofeach visible light emitting unit emit visible light of the same colour.

However, according to a preferred embodiment of the priority light bardevice, among the LED diodes of each visible light emitting unit, there are LEDdiodes that emit light of different colours.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device includes a controllerconfigured to control the simultaneous, sequential or random switching on andoff of the LED diodes of each visible light emitting unit. ln addition, each infrared light emitting unit comprises at least one LEDdiode, emitting infrared light.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the controller isconfigured to control, independently, the simultaneous, sequential or randomswitching on and off of the LED diodes of each visible light emitting unit and ofthe at least one LED diode of each infrared light emitting unit.

According to a possible embodiment of the device, there are lightreﬂectors (secondary optical system) in each visible light emitting unit and/or ineach infrared light emitting unit.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device includes a folding panelcomprising an array of LED diodes for lighting illuminated messages. Thefolding panel is configured to unfold to show illuminated messages and toretract inside an orifice of the device, concealing it in the device.

Preferably, the folding panel comprises removable coupling means that allow for uncoupling the folding panel from the device.

Preferably, the LED diodes of the folding panel are selected betweensingle-colour LED and multi-colour LED with RGB technology.

Each video-surveillance unit includes at least a camera configured torecord license plates of surrounding vehicles and/or to record images of thepolice car's or emergency vehicle's environment.

Furthermore, each acoustic unit includes at least one speaker configuredto emit sound signals, such as sirens or voice warnings.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, each module andsub-module of the device has a height ranging between 40 mm and 80 mm.

According to a possible embodiment of the device, the mutual removablecoupling means of the sub-modules comprise a tongue-and-groove couplingbetween sub-modules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES As part of the explanation of at least one exemplary embodiment of thepriority light bar device which is the object of the present description, thefollowing figures have been included: Figure 1 shows a first perspective view of a first embodiment of thepriority light bar device.

Figure 2 shows a second perspective view of the first embodiment of thepriority light bar device.

Figure 3 shows a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment ofthe priority light bar device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present description refers, as it has been previously mentioned, to apriority light bar device 1 for police cars and/or emergency vehicles, composedof a plurality of modules 2.

Figure 1 shows a first perspective view of a first embodiment of thepriority light bar device 1.

The priority light bar device 1 comprises, according to the firstembodiment thereof, a folding panel 8, configured to show illuminatedindications when it is in the unfolding position (view shown in Figure 1).

When the folding panel 8 is not intended to emit any illuminated indication, the folding panel 8 may be folded, as it is shown in the view of Figure2.

The folding panel 8 likewise comprises removable coupling means (notshown) that allow for uncoupling the folding panel 8 from the device 1.

The device 1 preferably comprises between its modules 2, a front moduleand a rear module, each of said modules comprising light and/or acousticindicators. The priority light bar device Iikewise comprises lateral modules, saidlateral modules comprising light indicators.

The main feature of the priority light bar device 1 which is the object ofthe present description is indicated in Figure 3, and refers to one or moremodules 2 (Figure 3 refers to the rear module with an arrow) includingremovable coupling means (not shown in figures) which allow for extracting saidmodules 2 provided with removable coupling means and replacing them by aplurality of sub-modules 3 provided with electrical and mechanical mutualremovable coupling means (the figures do not show said electrical andmechanical mutual removable coupling means in detail).

Through the configuration described, one or more of the modules 2 maybe substituted (generally the front module and/or rear module of the priority lightbar device 1) and replaced by a plurality of sub-modules 3, which togethergenerally occupy the same space occupied by the extracted module 2.

Each sub-module 3 comprises at least one warning signal unit, whereinsaid warning signal unit is typically selected among a visible light emitting unit 4,an infrared light emitting unit 5, an acoustic unit 7 and a video-surveillance unit6.

The infrared light emitting unit 5 and/or the visible light emitting unit 4 ofeach sub-module 3 preferably includes one or more LED diodes.

The visible light emitting units 4 will be preferably installed in an alignedmanner in each sub-module 3 and are capable of emitting, together orseparately, light of different colours and intensities to provide optimum prioritylight signalling and auxiliary illumination for each circumstance.

Each sub-module 3 provided with at least one light emitting unitpreferably comprises, apart from the related LED diodes, a secondary opticalsystem consisting of one or more than one reflecting devices (not represented)to increase the effectiveness of the illumination. ln addition, the device 1 includes an electronic controller (not represented) which allows for maintaining certain optical characteristics of thelight emitted, regardless of the colour being generated. For example, theelectronic controller may allow for generating flashes of sweeping light for, forexample, re-directing and indicating a direction to detour traffic. The controllermay, therefore, cause the emitted lights to switch on simultaneously or ingroups conducting sweeps, such that said sweeps and said traffic detourdirection are more clearly defined.

Each sub-module 3 may be simultaneously provided with at least onevisible light emitting unit 4 and at least one infrared emitting unit 5. The infraredlight emitting unit 5 is intended to increase the visibility of the priority vehiclefrom cameras mounted in air means, to follow land vehicles. The switching onand off sequence of the infrared light is independent from the switching on andoff sequence of the visible light. For example, the infrared light may be flickeryand the visible light may remain fixed.

As it has been previously mentioned, the priority light bar device 1, bybeing modular, allows for integrating sub-modules 3 with at least one acousticunit 7comprising at least one speaker for emitting sound signals, such as sirensand/or voice warnings. ln addition, the priority light bar device 1 allows for integrating sub-modules 3 with at least one video-surveillance unit 6 comprising at least onecamera intended for recording images and/or videos of the environment for therecognition of license plates of surrounding vehicles and/or for other additionalpurposes.

As mentioned before, according to the first embodiment (preferred) of thepriority light bar device 1, the device 1 includes a folding panel 8, removableand illuminated, preferably composed of an array of single-colour or multi-colourLED diodes with RGB technology, which allows for showing texts in differentlanguages, symbols and signals. This folding panel 8 is preferably concealed ina housing or orifice located in the device 1, such that it is only unfolded when anilluminated message is intended to be shown and is folded back when showingilluminated signals is no longer necessary, in order to reduce noise andaerodynamic resistance of the device 1.

According to a possible embodiment of the priority light bar device 1, thedevice 1 is coupled to the roof of a vehicle by means of anchoring supports 9,and the entire device 1 comprises an aerodynamic profile that offers little resistance, typically having a height ranging from 40 mm to 80 mm.

According to one embodiment, the device 1 is fed and controlledpreferably by means of a bundle of cables (not shown), which travels throughthe vehicle's roof, and by means of a connector provided with the necessarynumber of contacts based on the specific design of the device.

Claims

1. A priority light bar device (1 ) for police cars or emergency vehicles, whichcomprises a plurality of modules (2) mechanically and electrically coupled toeach other, characterised in that the device (1) comprises removable couplingmeans of at least one of the modules (2), such that the device (1) is configuredto allow for the removal of the at least one module (2) with removable couplingmeans, and its replacement by a plurality of sub-modules (3) with electrical andmechanical mutual removable coupling means, wherein each sub-module (3)comprises at least one warning signal unit (4, 5, 6, 7), wherein the at least onewarning signal unit (4, 5, 6, 7) is selected among at least one of: a visible lightemitting unit (4), an infrared light emitting unit (5), a video-surveillance unit (6)and an acoustic unit (7).

2. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in thateach visible light emitting unit (4) comprises a plurality of LED diodes, whichemit visible light, in one or different colours.

3. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that itcomprises a controller configured to control the simultaneous, sequential orrandom switching on and off of the LED diodes.

4. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in thateach infrared light emitting unit (5) comprises at least one LED diode, emittinginfrared light.

5. A priority light bar device (1) according to the preceding claims,characterised in that the controller is configured to control, independently, thesimultaneous, sequential and random switching on and off of the LED diodes ofeach visible light emitting unit (4) and of at least one LED diode of each infraredlight emitting unit (5).

6. A priority light bar device (1) according to any of the preceding claims,characterised in that it comprises light reflectors in each visible light emittingunit (4) and/or in each infrared light emitting unit (5).

7. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that itcomprises a folding panel (8) that comprises an array of LED diodes for lightingilluminated messages, wherein the folding panel is configured to unfold to showilluminated messages and to retract inside an orifice of the device (1),concealing it in the device (1 ).

8. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 7, characterised in thatthe folding panel (8) comprises removable coupling means that allow foruncoupling the folding panel (8) from the device (1).

9. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 7, characterised in thatthe LED diodes of the folding panel (8) are selected between single-colour ormulti-colour LED with RGB technology.

10. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in thateach video-surveillance unit (6) comprises a camera configured to recordlicense plates of surrounding vehicles and/or to record images of the policecar's or emergency vehicle's environment.

11. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in thateach acoustic unit (7) comprises a speaker configured to emit sound signals,such as sirens or voice warnings.

12. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in thateach module (2) and each sub-module (3) of the device (1) have a heightranging from 40 mm to 80 mm.

13. A priority light bar device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in thatthe mutual removable coupling means of the sub-modules (3) comprise atongue-and-groove coupling between the sub-modules (3).