Forward illumination headgear with personal rescue system

• US 7,843,326 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Ermer, John T. Huston, Judd R. Weber
• Original Assignee: Eric Ermer, John T. Huston, Judd R. Weber
• Inventors: Huston, John T., Ermer, Eric, Weber, Judd R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US12/156,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The disclosed system provides headgear, i.e., a Firefighter Helmet, with forward illumination that also acts as a personal rescue detection system for quickly finding a downed of lost firefighter. More specifically, the headgear includes a forward illuminating light that has unique characteristics that are easily detected in a smoke filled space by using a handheld photodetector probe that is tuned to the exact characteristics of the light source. The handheld probe has a somewhat narrow directional response to allow a directed search for a downed firefighter or other emergency personnel in a smoke filled noisy environment that hinders normal visual and audible search methods. The handheld photodetector probe produces a unique audio tone that is proportional in volume to the intensity of the exact-characteristics-light-source thus allowing a sweeping motion of the probe to immediately determine the relative direction to a firefighter who is down or requiring assistance. An illuminated visual display also indicates the strength of the unique tone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing both a forward illumination and a personal rescue system for a firefighter comprising a forward illuminating light source with a modulated photometric characteristic carried by the firefighter and a handheld photodetector probe located apart from the firefighter tuned to the photometric characteristic of the light source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the handheld photodetector probe includes means for producing an audio output with an amplitude proportional to modulations of the photometric characteristic of the light source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the handheld photodetector probe includes an illuminated visual display responsive to modulations of the photometric characteristic of the light source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which a photodiode in the handheld photodetector probe is coupled to a photometer circuit arranged to amplify electrical signals from the photodiode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the photodiode is provided with a sharply-defined field of view directing the phodetector probe toward the forward illuminating light source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 which includes a plurality of electronic circuits cascaded one after another in the photometric circuit to amplify the electrical signals from the photodiode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 which includes a transimpedance amplifier circuit capable of producing an output voltage which is proportional to current in the photodiode.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 which includes a logarithmic tranimpedance amplifier circuit capable of producing an output voltage which is a logarithm of the current in the photodiode.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the logarithm of the photodiode current is the parameter preventing saturation of the tranimpedance amplifier circuit.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 which includes a solid-state diode in a negative feedback loop in the transimpedance circuit blocking saturation of the circuit when the photodiode is exposed to very bright light.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 which includes a voltage amplifier circuit in the photometric circuit.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 which includes a two-stage active bandpass filter circuit in the photometric circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 which includes a pair of voltage amplifier circuits in the photometric circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 which includes an audio power amplifier circuit in the photometric circuit.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 which includes an illuminated visual display circuit in the photometric circuit.

16. A method of locating a firefighter at a remote location comprising the steps of

providing the firefighter with a forwardly illuminating light source having a modulated photometric characteristic,

activating a photodetector probe tuned to the photometric characteristic of the light source at a location spaced apart from the firefighter,

moving the probe in a search pattern in a general direction toward the light source, and

reading a particular location of the light source from the probe.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the reading from the probe is taken audibly.

18. The method of claim 16 in which the reading from the probe is taken visually.