Breathing apparatus with a display unit

• US 5,601,078 A
• Filed: 05/22/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG
• Original Assignee: Dragerwerk AG
• Inventors: Schaller, Uwe, Wolter, Detlef, Schuck, Hansjochen, Drews, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SRIVASTAVA, VIRENDRA KUMAR
• Application Number:
  US08/447,231
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.22, 128/201.24, 128/202.22, 128/205.23, 128/206.23, 128/201.19, 128/202.13, 128/206.21, 2/422
• US Class Current: 128/205.23
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/08 Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/02 Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously

Abstract

A breathing apparatus with a display unit for the transmission of measured data via a display field of the display unit into the field of vision of a person wearing the unit. The readability of the measured data displayed is improved in daylight with simultaneously reduced energy demand. The display field includes an LC display, which is at least transparent for transmission radiation. An optical concentrator is provided, which collects the ambient light via a light entering surface and emits the collected light via a light exiting surface.

Claims

1. A breathing apparatus with a display unit for the transmission of measured data via a display field of the display unit into a field of vision of the person wearing the breathing apparatus, comprising:

a breathing mask with mask body;

an LC display forming said display field, said LC display being viewable from within the mask body, said LC display being transparent at least for transmission radiation, said breathing mask having a face shield, a tube being provided between said LC display and said face shield, whereby the transmission radiation emerging from the LC display is directed at least piece-wise through said tube to said face shield, a sealing element being provided between said tube and said face shield;

an optical concentrator, including means disposed outside said mask body for collecting ambient light via a light entering surface and including means for emitting collected light via a light exiting surface toward said LC display, said optical concentrator being provided as said transmission radiation source for said LC display;

an additional light source positioned for irradiating said LC display; and

a photoelectric sensor positioned for detecting ambient light intensity, said photoelectric sensor being actively connected to said additional light source for controlling a light intensity of said additional light source as a function of the ambient light intensity.

2. A breathing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holding clamp which is detachable on said mask body, said optical concentrator with said light entering surface being attached along said holding clamp.

3. A breathing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said LC display is arranged on said holding clamp.

4. A breathing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for deflecting said LC display, including an optical transmitter for deflecting said LC display into a field of vision of the person wearing the unit.

5. A breathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ball-and-socket joint is provided between said light entering surface of said optical concentrator and said LC display.

6. A breathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical concentrator is formed of a fluorescent, monochromatic plastic with light-collecting properties.

7. A breathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical concentrator is essentially rod-shaped.

8. A breathing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical concentrator is adjusted to a wavelength and a range of 550 nm.

9. A breathing apparatus, comprising:

a breathing mask with a display unit, said display unit being provided for the transmission of data via a display field of the display unit into the field of vision of the person wearing the unit;

an LC display forming said display field, said LC display being transparent at least for transmission radiation, said LC display having a viewing side and a transmission radiation supply side;

an optical concentrator, formed of a fluorescent, monochromatic plastic with light collecting properties including means disposed outside said mask body for collecting ambient light via a light entering surface and including means for emitting collected light via a light exiting surface toward said LC display transmission radiation supply side, said optical concentrator being provided as a source of said transmission radiation for said LC display, said breathing mask including a face shield and a tube provided between said LC display and said face shield, transmission radiation emerging from said LC display being directed through said robe to said face shield, a sealing element provided between said tube and said face shield.

10. A breathing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an additional light source positioned for irradiating said LC display.

11. A breathing apparatus according claim 9, further comprising a photoelectric sensor positioned for detecting collected light intensity, said photoelectric sensor being actively connected to said additional light source for controlling a light intensity of said additional light source as a function of the collected light intensity.

12. A breathing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a breathing mask with a mask body and a holding clamp which is detachable on said mask body, said optical concentrator with said light entering surface being attached along said holding clamp.

13. A breathing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said LC display is arranged on said holding clamp.

14. A breathing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for deflecting said LC display into a field of vision of the person wearing the unit.

15. A breathing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a ball-and-socket joint is provided between said light entering surface of said optical concentrator and said LC display.

16. A breathing apparatus, comprising:

a breathing mask with a display unit, said display unit being provided for the transmission of data via a display field of the display unit into the field of vision of the person wearing the unit;

an LC display forming said display field, said LC display being transparent at least for transmission radiation;

an optical concentrator, formed of a fluorescent, monochromatic plastic with light-collecting properties providing means disposed outside said mask body for collecting ambient light via a light entering surface and including means for emitting collected light via a light exiting surface, said light exiting surface being directed toward said LC display to backlight said LC display for providing said transmission radiation source for said LC display;

an additional light source positioned for irradiating said LC display either directly or via reflection at said light exiting surface; and

a photoelectric sensor positioned for detecting collected light intensity, said photoelectric sensor being actively connected to said additional light source for controlling a light intensity of said additional light source as a function of said ambient light intensity.

17. As breathing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a holding clamp which is detachable on said mask body, said optical concentrator with said light emitting surface being attached along said holding clamp, said breathing mask including a face shield, a tube provided between said LC display and said face shield, whereby said transmission radiation emerging from said LC display is directed through said tube to said face shield, a sealing element being provided between said tube and said face shield and a ball and socket joint provided between said light entering surface of said optical concentrator and said LC display for aligning the display unit with a pupil of an eye of a wearer of the breathing apparatus.