GB2561885A

GB2561885A - Enhancing visibility

Info

Publication number: GB2561885A
Application number: GB1706724.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Lynch Michael
Original assignee: Wearable Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Wearable Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-27
Filing date: 2017-04-27
Publication date: 2018-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-27
Also published as: GB2561885B; GB201706724D0; CN208312334U

Abstract

In a first aspect a device is configured to be included in items of clothing to enhance the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments comprising a base (301, figure 3), a light detecting device 101 supported by the base at a first position, a light emitting device 201supported by the base at a second position, and a cover 601 having a thickness, a first orifice 602 at the first position and a second orifice 603 at the second position where the light detecting device extends from the base by a distance less than that of the thickness of the cover such that the detector is shrouded from the light of the emitter. In a second aspect a method of use is provided. In a third aspect an item of clothing comprising sub-assemblies (figures 17-18) arranged to allow size adjustment (e.g. the hook and loop fastener 1901, figure 19), a control unit (at 901, figure 9) and a power and data cable loom (1401, figure 14) each loom including a plurality of the assemblies described in the first aspect. The device can react to ambient light without the LED interfering with the light sensor.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Enhancing visibility

Abstract Title: High visibility lighting device with shrouded light detector (57) in a first aspect a device is configured to be included in items of clothing to enhance the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments comprising a base (301, figure 3), a light detecting device 101 supported by the base at a first position, a light emitting device 201 supported by the base at a second position, and a cover 601 having a thickness, a first orifice 602 at the first position and a second orifice 603 at the second position where the light detecting device extends from the base by a distance less than that of the thickness of the cover such that the detector is shrouded from the light of the emitter. In a second aspect a method of use is provided. In a third aspect an item of clothing comprising sub-assemblies (figures 17-18) arranged to allow size adjustment (e.g. the hook and loop fastener 1901, figure 19), a control unit (at 901, figure 9) and a power and data cable loom (1401, figure 14) each loom including a plurality of the assemblies described in the first aspect. The device can react to ambient light without the LED interfering with the light sensor.

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Enhancing Visibility

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus, configured to be included in items of clothing, of the type for enhancing the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments.

The present invention also relates to a method of enhancing the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments.

It is known to provide items of clothing that have features for enhancing visibility. Recently, in addition to the inclusion of passive components for enhancing visibility, active components have also been included such as light emitting diodes. However, a problem with the provision of diodes of this type is that they require an energy source and to optimise the use of this energy source, it is desirable to include a level of automatic control for energising the light emitting devices when required while conserving energy when they are not required.

Detectors are known for detecting ambient conditions such that, upon detecting dark conditions, a signal is provided to a control device which in turn energises light emitting devices. Thereafter, manual intervention is required in order to deactivate the devices, given that light from the devices themselves will be detected. Thus, it is possible to automatically switch on a lighting system but difficulties arise when attempts are then made to then automatically switch off the lighting system. Furthermore, in some situations, it may be preferable to disable manual operation when an emergency condition has been identified.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus configured to be included in items of clothing to enhance the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments, comprising: a base; a light detecting device supported by said base at a first position; a first light emitting device supported by said base at a second position; and a cover having a predetermined thickness, a first orifice at said first position and a second orifice at said second position, wherein said light detecting device extends from said base by a distance that is less than said predetermined thickness, such that said light detecting device is shrouded by said cover.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a second light emitting device supported by said base at a third position; and a third light emitting device supported by said base at a fourth position.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a second base, a third base and a fourth base, each having a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device and a third light emitting device, and a loom of power and data cables sequentially connecting said first base to a said second base, said second base to said third base and said third base to said fourth base.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of enhancing the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments, comprising the steps of: detecting a change in ambient lighting by means of a light detecting device mounted on an item of clothing; energising a light emitting device mounted on said item of clothing when said detected change in said ambient light represents a reduction in said ambient lighting; and de-energising said light emitting device when a said detected change represents an increase in said ambient lighting, wherein said light detecting device is partially shrouded to prevent light emitted from said light emitting device being detected as an increase in ambient lighting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows an ambient light sensor;

Figure 2 shows an example of a light emitting device;

Figure 3 shows the attachment of the devices of Figure 1 and Figure 2 onto a flexible printed circuit board;

Figure 4 shows the attachment of ribbon cables to the board identified in Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows the application of an adhesive lined heat-shrink;

Figure 6 shows the addition of a cover;

Figure 7 shows an initial length of material to form a strap;

Figure 8 shows the cutting of holes in the strap identified in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows the application of a mark for identifying the position of a manually operable button;

Figure 10 shows the addition of a fastener;

Figure 11 shows the addition of a tag;

Figure 12 shows an alternative configuration of the strap identified in

Figure 11;

Figure 13 shows the provision of a further strap to establish a partial sub-assembly;

Figure 14 shows the addition of a loom to the sub-assembly of Figure

13;

Figure 15 shows the addition of adhesive sealing tape to the loom of

Figure 14;

Figure 16 shows the addition of a mesh layer;

Figure 17 shows the joining of two sub-assemblies:

Figure 18 shows a third sub-assembly;

Figure 19 shows the application of a harness to an operative;

Figure 20 shows the introduction of a control unit;

Figure 21 illustrates operations performed by the control unit identified in Figure 20; and

Figure 22 shows the addition of a peripheral device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1

An item of clothing will be described for enhancing visibility and supporting electrical equipment In this embodiment, the item of clothing is made up from sub-assemblies to facilitate size adjustment and application upon an operative. When in use, the item of clothing will support a control unit that is connected to a power and data cable loom embedded within one of the sub-assemblies. The power and data cable loom includes base portions, with each of these base portions having a plurality of light emitting devices. Furthermore, a first of these base portions includes a light detection device. In addition, a cover is provided over the first base portion with orifices for receiving the light emitting devices and the light detecting device. The light detecting device is shrouded by this cover to prevent light reaching it from the closely positioned light emitting devices.

In this embodiment, the loom has four sets of light emitting diodes, with each set having three multi-coloured addressable light emitting devices each. One of these LED sets or strips is provided with the embedded light sensor. A main function of the embodiment is that the light emitting devices are caused to turn on or flash when a user enters into a lowly lit area. In an embodiment, a TSL2561 ambient light sensor 101 is provided, that contains two integrating anolog-to-digital converters that integrate currents from two photo diodes. Integration of both channels occurs simultaneously. Upon completion of a conversion cycle, the conversion result is transferred to channel zero and channel one data registers. These transfers are double buffered to ensure that the integrity of the data is maintained. After a transfer, the device automatically begins the next integration cycle. Communication with the device is accomplished through a standard two wire l²C serial bus.

External circuitry is not required for signal conditioning and given that the output of device 101 is digital, the output signals are effectively immune from noise, compared to using an anolog approach. The device 101 also supports an interrupt feature which, when deployed, eliminates the need to pole the sensor for a light intensity value. The interrupt function is configured to detect a meaningful change in light intensity. Thus, the device allows a threshold to be defined above and below a current lighting level. An interrupt is then generated when the value of a conversion exceeds either of these limits.

Device 101 is provided with six pins comprising a first pin 102, a second pin 103, a third pin 104, a fourth pin 105, a fifth pin 106 and a sixth pin 107. A supply voltage is connected to pin 102 and pin 103 is grounded. Hardware selectable PC addressing is provided by configuring pin 103. To achieve an PC address of 0X29, address pin 103 is pulled low. An PC clock line is connected to pin 105, with the related data line being connected to pin

107. The interrupt signal is made available at pin 106.

In an alternative embodiment, it is possible to reduce the number of wires present in the loom by not using the interrupt functionality provided by pin 106. A control box connected to the loom is provided with an accelerometer allowing it to sense motion, wake up its processor from a minimal power consumption (sleep) mode and then pole the light sensor periodically.

Figure 2

An example of a light emitting device 201 is illustrated in Figure 2. The device has a first pin 202, a second pin 203, a third pin 204 and a fourth pin 205. Pin 202 is connected to a supply voltage and pin 204 is connected to ground. Data is received at input pin 205 and is then clocked out from data output pin 203. The light emitting devices are light emitting diodes that are multi-coloured and addressable. The light emitting diodes have a separate red, green, blue and white LED die, along with an integrated microcontroller embedded within a 5050 LED package. With a device of this type, lower current consumption is possible when producing white light, compared to deriving a white output from a mixture of red, green and blue outputs.

In an embodiment, the control unit supplies power over the loom to the light emitting devices. In addition, the control unit supplies data signals to the light emitting devices to control their output colour. Thus, it is then possible for the control unit to energise and de-energise the light emitting devices in response to receiving data from the light detecting device.

Figure 3

The light detecting device described with reference to Figure 1 and light emitting devices of the type described with reference to Figure 2 are assembled to form an apparatus configured to be included in items of clothing to enhance the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments. The apparatus includes a base 301 and the light detecting device 101 is supported by the base 301 at a first position. A first light emitting diode 201 is also supported by the base 301 at a second position. In an embodiment, a second light emitting device 302 is supported by the base 301 at a third position and a third light emitting device 303 is supported by the base 301 at a fourth position.

In an embodiment, the base 301 may be implemented as a flexible printed circuit board. A first set of contacts 304 is provided for connecting to an input side of a loom and a second set of contacts 305 are provided for connecting to an output side of a loom. Both sets 304 and 305 are pre-tinned to assist with loom cable soldering.

Figure 4

To assemble a loom, a first portion 401 of a ribbon cable has conductors soldered to input connectors 304. Similarly, conductors of a second portion 402 of a ribbon cable are soldered to output connectors 305. Figure 5

A first adhesive lined heat-shrink 501 is applied over the soldered connections of the first portion 401. Similarly, a second adhesive lined heatshrink 502 is applied over the soldered connections of the second portion 402.

The apparatus shown in Figure 5 may be identified as a strip and a plurality of these strips are connected by cables to define a loom. In an embodiment, four strips of this type are included in a loom. All four strips include three light emitting devices. However, only the first strip includes a light detecting device, as described with reference to Figure 1.

After the application of the adhesive lined heat-shrinks 501/502, a clear silicone conformal coating is applied, suitable for operating over a temperature range of between minus sixty-five degrees Celsius and two hundred degrees Celsius. In an embodiment, the silicone coating has a thickness of two hundred micrometres, thereby preventing excessive bending of the flexible printed circuit board, to ensure that shouldered devices remain in place.

Figure 6

To complete each strip, a cover 601 is applied that has a predetermined thickness to define a first orifice 602 at the position of the light detecting device 101. Similarly, a second orifice 603 is provided for the first LED device 201. In this embodiment, a third orifice 604 is provided for the second LED device 302 and a fourth orifice 605 is provided for the third light emitting device 303.

As shown in Figure 3, the light detecting device 101 extends from the base 301. However, as shown in Figure 6, the light detecting device extends from the base by a distance that is less than the predetermined thickness of the cover 601. Thus, in this way, the light detecting device 101 is shrouded by the cover; this shroud being defined by four walls, including wall 606 and wall 607.

Figure 7

In an embodiment, a harness is constructed from sub-assemblies and a power and data cable loom is embedded within one of these subassemblies, allowing it to be connected to a control unit.

To construct a sub-assembly, straps are built up with accessories being attached first. The straps are assembled into a V-shaped subassembly and this V-shaped sub-assembly becomes the main body of the harness. The loom is heat-sealed in place within this sub-assembly. A spacer mesh material is added to complete this section of the harness, such that other sections can then be produced in a more conventional assembly process.

To construct a strap, a length 701 of high visibility material is cut as a backing material. A reflective tape 702 is then sewn on to the backing material 701.

Figure 8

A strip, of the type illustrated in Figure 6, is destined to be located at position 801. This represents the first strip of a loom and includes a light detection device. Similarly, a second strip (without a light detection device), is destined to be located at position 802.

At location 801, holes 803, 804, 805 and 806 are punched at the position of the first LED, the light detector, the second LED and the third LED respectively. Similarly, at the second location 802 holes 807, 808 and 809 are punched at the position of the LED’s in the second strip. Alternatively, a single large hole could be punched at location 801 and a similar large single hole could be punched at location 802.

Figure 9

Having punched holes at location 801 and at location 802, a power symbol is engraved at location 901. This represents the position at which a control unit will be secured, as described with reference to Figure 20, and thereby indicates to an operative the position at which the control unit may be activated without actually removing the control unit from its securing pocket.

To facility operations of this type, the control unit is provided with a relatively large button. This allows the control unit to move within its pocket, while at the same time ensuring that the button is pressed if an operative applies pressure at location 901.

Figure 10

Having engraved a power symbol at location 901, a connector, such as a “click fast” connector 1001, is attached at location 1002. This connector allows peripheral devices to be attached to the harness, as described with reference to Figure 22.

Figure 11

Following the attachment of connector 1001, an identification tag 1101 is attached at location 1102. Identification tag 1101 may allow an operative to be identified in case of an emergency and as such it is generally referred to as an ICE tag. In an embodiment, ICE tag 1101 is provided with a machine readable QR code. In an embodiment, ICE tag 1101 is also provided with a similar eye-readable code. Furthermore, in an embodiment, a near field radio communication device is also embedded within tag 1101 to allow identification and, in an embodiment, to assist with electronic interfacing procedures.

Figure 12

After application of tag 1101, the strip 701 is turned over to reveal a rear surface 1201.

Figure 13

The strap 701 shown in Figure 12 is attached a pentagonal component 1301. The pentagonal component 1301 receives a similar strap 1302. However, in this embodiment, strap 1302 does not include a light detector.

Figure 14

Having constructed a partial sub-assembly from strip 701 and strip 1302 connected by pentagonal component 1301, a loom 1401 is positioned, such that components of strips 1402, 1403, 1404 and 1405 align with the holes punched in the strip and described with reference to Figure 8.

Figure 15

After applying loom 1401, portions 1501, 1502, 1503 and 1504 of a seam sealing tape are applied over respective LED strips 1402, 1403, 1404 and 1405. In an embodiment, the sealing tape has a minimum width of thirty millimetres.

Figure 16

A mesh layer 1601 is assembled, having a first Velcro adjuster 1602 and a second Velcro adjuster 1603. The mesh layer 1601 is attached to a partial sub-assembly 1604, of the type described with reference to Figure 15.

Layer 1601 is attached to layer 1604 by stitching along their now shared outside edge. This in turn produces a V-section sub-assembly with an embedded loom, such that other sub-assemblies forming the complete harness do not require equipment of this type.

Figure 17

The procedure described with reference to Figure 16 creates a first Vshaped sub-assembly 1701; again shown from the front, as in the orientation of Figure 11. To this, a second inverted T-shaped sub-assembly 1702 is attached, by means of the pentagonal component 1301.

In an embodiment, the partial assembly (or two sub-assemblies) illustrated in Figure 17 is only manufactured in one size.

Figure 18

To provide adjustability, an embodiment includes the production of a third sub-assembly having a substantially inverted Pi configuration, as illustrated in Figure 18. The third sub-assembly 1801 has a first substantially vertical element 1802 extending from a substantially horizontal element 1803. A second substantially vertical element 1804 extends from the substantially horizontal element 1803.

The construction process for the third sub-assembly is substantially similar to that of the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly. Thus, it substantially follows the procedure described with reference to Figures 7 to 16 but does not include the addition of a wiring loom, along with any electronic components.

Figure 19

To apply the full assembly to an operative, the third sub-assembly 1801 is positioned substantially to the front of the operative, thereby allowing it to be attached to the substantially horizontal component of the inverted Tsection 1702, with the latter being deployed to the rear of the operative. Limbs of the V-shaped sub-assembly are draped over the shoulders of the operative and the whole assembly is connected by means of cooperating

Velcro components, including Velcro component 1901.

Figure 20

After the harness has been deployed upon an operative, it is possible for an operative to connect and insert a control unit 2001. Thereafter, the control unit may be activated without being removed by applying pressure at the position of the control unit’s button, indicated by mark 901.

Figure 21

After the control unit 2001 has been activated by an operative, LED devices on the jacket may be switched on permanently or may be placed in a condition where they flash. Alternatively, the LED devices may be switched off but control unit 2001 remains active and will respond, by means of an interrupt, if the light detection device detects that the operative has entered an area of low ambient light

In the embodiment of Figure 21, reliance is made upon the interrupt signal generated by device 101, available from pin 106 as described with reference to Figure 1. Thus, in this embodiment, it is not necessary for the control unit to perform a poling operation.

As described with reference to Figure 1, the light sensor produces an interrupt signal when a significant change in ambient light occurs. Thus, an interrupt signal will be generated when an operative moves from a well-lit environment to a dark environment. Similarly, a further interrupt signal will be generated when an operative returns to a well-lit environment.

As illustrated in Figure 21, at step 2101 an interrupt has been received and a processor contained within the control unit is now required to process this interrupt. For the purposes of this illustration, the servicing of interrupts will only be described with reference to the automatic energisation and deenergisation of the lights, in response to a detection of ambient lighting conditions. However, in practice, it should be appreciated that other interrupt conditions may exist.

After receiving an interrupt, a question is asked at step 2102 as to whether the lights are already on in response to an automatically generated signal. Initially, it is likely that the lights will be off, given that operatives would normally be working in well-lit conditions. Thus, when the lights are off, the question asked at step 2102 will be answered in the negative, resulting in the lights being energised at step 2103.

In an embodiment, low lighting conditions may represent an emergency condition and, as such, the energisation ofthe lights at step 2103 causes the lights to flash. Under normal operation, it would be possible for an operative to suppress the flashing of the lights and to control the lights manually. However, following the energisation of the lights at step 2103, manual operation of the lights is masked at step 2104. This masking of manual operation continues, thereby ensuring that the lights remain energised, until a further interrupt signal is received at step 2101.

Upon receiving a second interrupt signal at step 2101, the question asked at step 2102 will be answered in the affirmative, on the basis that lights are already on. Consequently, the lights we be de-energised at step 2105 and the mask, applied at step 2104, will be removed at step 2106. Thus, in this way, normal operation is resumed until a further interrupt signal is received.

Figure 22

After control unit 2001 has been plugged into the loom and secured within its pocket, it is possible for the control unit to interface with peripheral devices.

As shown in Figure 22, peripheral device 2201 is supported by connector 1001.

Claims

CLAIMS The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus configured to be included in items of clothing to enhance the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments, comprising:

a base;

a light detecting device supported by said base at a first position; a first light emitting device supported by said base at a second position; and a cover having a predetermined thickness, a first orifice at said first position and a second orifice at said second position, wherein said light detecting device extends from said base by a distance that is less than said predetermined thickness, such that said light detecting device is shrouded by said cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base is a flexible printed circuit board.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said cover is a rubber moulding.

4. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, including a control unit, wherein said control unit is configured to energise said light emitting device in response to receiving an interrupt signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said control unit is configured to de-energise said light emitting device in response to receiving a further interrupt signal.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein manual operation of said light emitting device is prevented after energisation by means of said light detecting device.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

a second light emitting device supported by said base at a third position; and a third light emitting device supported by said base at a fourth position.

8. The apparatus of any of claim 7, further comprising:

a second base, a third base and a fourth base, each having a first light emitting device, a second light emitting device and a third light emitting device; and a loom of power and data cables sequentially connecting said first base to said second base, said second base to said third base and said third base to said fourth base.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said loom connects said first base to a control unit.

10. The apparatus of any of claim 9, wherein:

said light emitting devices produce red light, blue light or white light in response to receiving a colour-control signal; and said control unit is configured to generate said colour-control signal.

11. A method of enhancing the visibility of operatives working in hazardous environments, comprising the steps of:

detecting a change in ambient lighting by means of a light detecting device mounted on an item of clothing;

energising a light emitting device mounted on said item of clothing when a said detected change in said ambient light represents a reduction in said ambient lighting; and de-energising said light emitting device when a said detected change represents an increase in said ambient lighting, wherein said light detecting device is partially shrouded to prevent light emitted from said light emitting device being detected as an increase in ambient lighting.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said light detecting device is received within an orifice defined within a cover during a manufacturing process so as to define said shroud.

13. The method of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said detecting step supplies an interrupt signal to a control unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said control unit is configured to perform said energising step in response to receiving said interrupt signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said control unit is configured to:

register a state representing an operation of said energising step; receive a further interrupt signal from said light detection device representing a change of ambient lighting; and perform said de-energising step in response to receiving said further interrupt signal.

16. An item of clothing for enhancing visibility and supporting electrical equipment, comprising:

a plurality of sub-assemblies to facilitate size adjustment and application upon an operative;

a control unit; and a power and data cable loom embedded within one of said sub16 assemblies, connected to said control unit, wherein:

said power and data cable loom includes a plurality of base portions; each said base portion includes a plurality of light emitting devices; a first of said base portions includes a light detection device; a cover over said first base portion with orifices for receiving said light emitting devices and said light detecting device, wherein said light detecting device is shrouded by said cover.

17. The item of clothing of claim 16, wherein said control unit supplies power over said loom to said light emitting devices.

18. The item of clothing of claim 17, wherein said control unit supplies data signals to said light emitting devices to control an output colour of said light emitting devices.

19. The item of clothing of any of claims 16 to 18, wherein said control unit is configured to energise and de-energise said light emitting devices in response to receiving data from said light detecting device.

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20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said control unit is configured to:

receive first manual input to energise said light emitting devices; receive second manual input to de-energise said light emitting devices; and inhibit the de-energising of said light emitting devices in response to receiving said second manual input if said light emitting devices have been energised in response to receiving data from said light detecting device.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1706724.0 Examiner: Mr Chris Morris