DIVING MASK COMPRISING A LI-FI COMMUNICATION MODULE

Abstract

The invention relates to a diving mask (10) comprising a telecommunication system (190) configured to allow the establishment of one-way or two-way light communication, specifically according to a communication protocol of the Li-fi type. For this purpose, the telecommunication system (190) comprises a light communication module (150) comprising at least one light source (151) and an electronic control board (156) for controlling said at least one light source (151) so as to emit a light signal of which the amplitude is modulated as a function of an electronic signal encoded by said electronic control board (156). The invention also relates to an underwater light communication method (200).

Claims

1. Diving mask (10) comprising: a peripheral frame (110) provided with a visor (130, 130a, 130b); a flexible skirt (120) fixed to the peripheral frame (110), said flexible skirt (120) forming, with the peripheral frame (110) and the visor (130, 130a, 130b), at least one chamber for vision, called the vision chamber (170); a telecommunication system (190) comprising a light communication module (150) enabling the transmission of a digital signal, said light communication system (150) comprising an electronic control board (156) and a light source (151) configured to emit a light signal modulated as a function of the digital signal encoded by said electronic control board (156).

2. Diving mask (10) according to claim 1, wherein the light communication module (150) is housed in a sealed box (155), said box (155) being fixed securely to the peripheral frame (110).

3. Diving mask (10) according to claim 2, wherein the box (155) is fixed securely to the peripheral frame (110) by means of an articulation means (160) enabling the light communication module (150) to be oriented in a so-called direction of communication.

4. Diving mask (10) according to claim 3, wherein the articulation means (160) comprises at least one pivot (161) and/or a ball joint and/or a telescopic arm.

5. Diving mask (10) according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunication system (190) comprises a photoreceptor (152), said photoreceptor (152) of the telecommunication system (190) being electrically connected to the electronic control board (156) in order to demodulate a light signal received by said photoreceptor (152).

6. Diving mask (10) according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunication system (190) comprises a microphone (157) and a loudspeaker (154), said microphone (157) and/or said loudspeaker (154) being connected to the electronic control board (156) of the light communication module (150) by means of a wired connection.

7. Diving mask (10) according claim 1, wherein the peripheral frame (110) comprises an intermediate partition (116) that separates the vision chamber (170) from an adjacent chamber for breathing, called the breathing chamber (180), said intermediate partition (116) being arranged to rest above the nose of a user of the diving mask (10), so that the user's mouth and nose are accommodated in the breathing chamber (180) and the user's eyes are accommodated in the vision chamber (170).

8. Diving mask (10) according to claim 7, wherein the diving mask (10) comprises a breathing tube (115) integral with the peripheral frame (110), said breathing tube (115) being in fluidic communication with the breathing chamber (180).

9. Diving mask (10) according to claim 8, wherein at least one part of the light communication module (150) is located at one free end of the breathing tube (115) in relation to the breathing chamber (180).

10. Diving mask (10) according to claim 7, wherein the light communication module (150) is housed on part of the peripheral frame (110) located opposite the breathing chamber (180) in relation to the vision chamber (170).

11. Underwater light communication method (200), comprising the following steps: a step (201) of acquisition of a sound signal via a microphone (157) of an underwater telecommunication system (190); a step (202) of encoding the sound signal into a digital control signal of a light source (151), the encoding step being performed by an electronic control board (156) of the underwater telecommunication system (190); a step (203) of controlling the light source (151) in order to emit a light signal of which an amplitude is modulated as a function of the digital control signal.

12. Underwater light communication method (200) according to claim 11, wherein said method comprises the following steps: a step (204) of receiving the light signal by a photodetector (152) of the underwater telecommunication system (190); a step (205) of decoding the light signal into a decoded digital signal, the step of decoding being performed by the electronic control board (156) of the underwater telecommunication system (190); a step (206) of generating a sound signal by means of a loudspeaker of the underwater telecommunication system (190).

13. Underwater telecommunication system (190) comprising means configured to implement all of the steps of the underwater light communication method according to claim 11.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0048] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description on the one hand and from several embodiments given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings on the other, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a diving mask according to a first aspect of the invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a diving mask according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a diving mask according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a diving mask according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an underwater light communication method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0054] Clearly, the characteristics, variations and different embodiments of the invention can be associated with one another, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible with or exclusive of one another. In particular, variations of the invention can be envisaged that comprise only a selection of the characteristics described below in a manner isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or distinguish the invention in relation to the prior state of the art.

[0055] In particular, all of the variations and all of the embodiments described can be combined together if there is no impediment to this combination from a technical point of view.

[0056] In the figures, the same reference numeral is used to indicate elements that are common to several figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the invention according to its first aspect relates to a diving mask 10 comprising (i) a peripheral frame 110 provided with a visor 130, 130a, 130b, (ii) a flexible skirt 120 fixed to the peripheral frame 110, said flexible skirt 120 forming, with the peripheral frame 110 and the visor 130, 130a, 130b, at least one chamber for vision, called the vision chamber 170, (iii) a telecommunication system 190 comprising a light communication module 150 enabling the transmission of a digital signal, said light communication module 150 comprising an electronic control board 156 and a light source 151 configured so as to emit a light signal modulated as a function of the digital signal encoded by said electronic control board 156.

[0058] The invention according to its first aspect thus concerns a diving mask 10 that can take numerous forms and of which several embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. According to a first possible use of the diving mask 10 according to the first aspect of the invention, said diving mask 10 is suitable for deep-water dives and/or during dives of several tens of minutes, said diving mask 10 being capable of use in combination with compressed air storage devices. According to a second possible use, the diving mask 10 according to a first aspect of the invention enables swimming near the surfacein a natural environment such as the sea or natural reservoirs, or in an artificial basinso as in particular to practice underwater fishing or the exploration of sea beds without using a scuba tank.

[0059] In general, the diving mask 10 according to a first aspect of the invention is a mask that protects at least the eyes of its wearer so as to enable him to keep his eyes open while snorkeling. Such diving masks 10called partial masksare described in particular with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In these variations, the peripheral frame 110 of the diving mask 110 extends around an upper part of the face of its wearer, so as to frame his eyes. The peripheral frame 110 advantageously comprises a bridge 115 designed to rest on the wearer's nose.

[0060] Possibly, the diving mask 10 according to a first aspect of the invention also allows its wearer to breathe without the need to take his head out of the water. For this purpose, and as illustrated in the embodiment in FIG. 4, the diving maskcalled a full maskcomprises a breathing tube 115. The invention, when referring to a breathing tube 115, means in particular but not exclusively a snorkel having a distal end open in relation to the peripheral frame 110 or a flexible tube connected to a compressed air source carried by the wearer of the diving mask 10.

[0061] In the case of a partial diving mask 10 or a full diving mask 10, the peripheral frame allows the visor 130, 130a, 130b to be arranged in front of the eyes of the wearer of said diving mask 10. Generally speaking, the visor 130, 130a, 130b takes the form of a transparent or translucent facial screen through which the wearer of the diving mask 10 can see.

[0062] According to a first variation shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the peripheral frame 110 is provided with a single visor 130 that extends from one edge to the other of said peripheral frame, said visor 130 extending in front of the wearer's eyes. According to a second variation shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the diving mask 10 comprises two visors 130a, 130b extending in front of only one of the wearer's eyes. In this variation, the peripheral frame comprises a surround 11a, 11b configured to encircle each corresponding visor 130a, 130b. In other words, the surround 111a associated with a first visor 130a extends around said first visor 130a following a closed contour; and the surround 111b associated with a second visor 130b extends around said second visor 130b following a closed contour.

[0063] The visor(s) 130, 130a, 130b are advantageously fixed securely to the peripheral frame 110 or surround 11a, 11b possibly in a detachable manner. According to another variation, the visor(s) 130, 130a, 130b of the diving mask 10 originate from the same material as the peripheral frame 110.

[0064] The peripheral frame 110 and/or the visor 130 of the diving mask according to the first aspect of the invention are advantageously formed of a plastic material. Advantageously, in order to reduce the production costs, the peripheral frame 110 and/or the visor 130 are obtained by manufacturing methods such as molding or extrusion.

[0065] In order to rest in a comfortable and sufficiently sealed manner against the face of the wearer of the diving mask 10 according to the first aspect of the invention, the flexible skirt 120 of said diving mask 10 extends around the peripheral frame 110 and is designed to rest against the face of said user. In other words, the flexible skirt 120 is located alongside a face of the diving mask 10 that rests against the face of its wearer. The flexible skirt 120 is called flexible because it is made of a material that is more deformable than the peripheral frame.

[0066] By way of non-limiting example, the flexible skirt 120 can be made of silicone. In the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flexible skirt 120 extends furthermore between the two surrounds 11a, 11b of the peripheral frame 110 in order to cover and protect the nose of the wearer of the diving mask 10.

[0067] In order to be held in place on the face of its wearer, the diving mask 10 according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one removable attachment system 140 that takes the form of at least one strap connecting two opposite lateral ends of the peripheral frame 110, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0068] Consecutively, the diving mask 110 defines at least one vision chamber 170 delimited by the visor 130, 130a, 130b, the peripheral frame 110 and the flexible skirt 120. The vision chamber 170 thus forms a volume of air between the diving mask 110 and the face of its wearer, contributing to the comfort of use of said diving mask 10. In the case of a partial diving mask 10, the vision chamber 170 is delimited by the peripheral frame 110 and extends to the middle of the face, between the wearer's nose and mouth. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the diving mask comprises two vision chambers 170, each vision chamber 170 facing one of the wearer's eyes. Possibly, the vision chambers 170 are independent of one another and are separated by a central wall located at point 115 of the peripheral frame 110. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the diving mask 10 comprises a single vision chamber 170.

[0069] Possibly, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, the peripheral frame 110 of the diving mask 10 comprises an intermediate partition 116 that separates the vision chamber 170 from a breathing chamber 180. The breathing chamber 180 is adjacent to the vision chamber 170. More particularly, the breathing chamber 180 is located beneath the vision chamber 170: it extends around the mouth and/or nostrils of the wearer equipped with the diving mask 10. For this purpose, the intermediate partition 116 of the peripheral frame 110 is arranged so as to rest against the nose of the wearer of the diving mask 10, while a lower end of the peripheral frame 110 extends aroundeven beneaththe wearer's chin. This advantageous configuration thus allows the wearer's mouth and nose to be accommodated in the breathing chamber 180, while the wearer's eyes are accommodated in the vision chamber 170.

[0070] As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 4, the vision chamber 170 is in fluidic communication with the breathing chamber 180 by means of a valve 175 located in the intermediate partition 116. This advantageous configuration limits the formation of condensation in the visor 170 while the mask 10 is being worn.

[0071] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the diving mask 10 comprises a breathing tube 115 integral with the peripheral frame 110. According to a variation, the breathing tube 115 originates from the material of the peripheral frame 110, so that said breathing tube 115 and said peripheral frame 110 together form a single piece and cannot be detached from one another without damaging one of them. According to an alternative variation, the breathing tube 115 is securely and detachably fixed to the peripheral frame 110, with the aid of temporary fixing means, such as by click-fitting for example.

[0072] The breathing tube 115 is in fluidic communication with the breathing chamber 180. For this purpose, the peripheral frame 110 houses at least one fluidic pipe that extends from one end of the breathing tube 115 engaging with said peripheral frame 110, up to an opening in said peripheral frame 110 located in the breathing chamber 180.

[0073] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the breathing tube 115 takes the form of a snorkel housed on top of the diving mask 10. Clearly, the invention also includes other configurations of the breathing tube 115, such as for example a breathing tube 115 located on a lateral edge of the diving mask 10, or a front connection to the diving mask 10 for a regulator such as that used in diving, said front connection being located at the breathing chamber 180, near the mouth of the wearer of the diving mask 10 and through the peripheral frame 110 and/or the visor 130 taken up at said breathing chamber 180.

[0074] According to the invention, the diving mask 10 comprises the telecommunication system 190 as previously described to allow the establishment of an underwater communication between two or more snorkelers. FIGS. 1 to 4 show different configurations of telecommunication systems 190 which will be described in detail in the following paragraphs.

[0075] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the telecommunication system 190 is integrated in a sealed box 155 that is located at a top part of the visor 130 of the diving mask 10. Possibly the box 155 originates from the material of the peripheral frame 110. In other words, the telecommunication system 190 can advantageously be housed in a housing of the peripheral frame 110, said housing forming the box 155 of the telecommunication system 190.

[0076] According to a variation, the box 155 is housed between the peripheral frame 110 and the visor 120 of the diving mask 10, so that said visor 120 entirely covers the telecommunication system 190 and thus guarantees its sealing. According to another variation, the box 155 housing the telecommunication system 190 is located at the front of the visor 120 of the diving mask 10, on the outside of the vision chamber 130 of said diving mask 10.

[0077] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the telecommunication system 190 comprises the light communication module 150 housed in the box 155 and comprises three light sources 151 and a photodetector 152. The three light sources 151 are advantageously oriented in the different directions of communication, a first light source 151 being preferably oriented on the right of the diving mask 10, a second light source 151 being preferably oriented on the left of said diving mask 10 and a third light source 151 being preferably oriented on the front of said diving mask 10. This advantageous configuration increases a solid angle according to which the telecommunication system 190 is able to emit a light signal.

[0078] The light sources 151 are electrically connected to the electronic control board 155 in order to modulate the light signal that will be emitted by the light sources as a function of an electronic signal; and the photodetector 152 is electrically to the electronic control board 156 in order to demodulate the light signal detected by said photodetector 152 into an electronic signal. This advantageous configuration allows the establishment of a two-way light communication, the telecommunication system 190 being configured to allow digital data to be emitted and received via a modulated light signalfor example in amplitudeemitted by the light sources 151 and respectively received by the photodetector 152. The communication protocol is advantageously of the LIFI type as described previously.

[0079] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the telecommunication system 190 is integrated into a sealed box 155 that is located above the peripheral frame 110, said telecommunication system 190 being housed in the peripheral frame 110 forming said box 155.

[0080] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the telecommunication system 190 comprises the light communication module 150 housed in the box 155 and comprises a single light source 151 and a single photodetector 152. A solid angle of detection of the photodetector 152 at least partiallyand preferably completelyoverlaps a solid angle of emission of the light source 151.

[0081] The light sources 151 of the light communication module 150 shown in FIG. 2 are connected electrically to the electronic control board 155 in order to modulate the light signal that will be emitted by the light sources as a function of an electronic signal; and the photodetector 152 is electrically to the electronic control board 155 in order to demodulate the light signal detected by said photodetector 152 into an electronic signal. This advantageous configuration allows the establishment of two-way light communication, the telecommunication system 190 being configured to allow digital data to be emitted and received via a modulated light signalfor example in amplitude emitted by the light sources 151 and respectively received by the photodetector 152. The communication protocol is advantageously of the LIFI type as described previously.

[0082] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the telecommunication system 190 also comprises two loudspeakers 154 located at the lateral ends of the peripheral frame 110 of the diving mask 10. Each loudspeaker being electrically connected to the electronic control board 156 in order to convert the light signal received by the photodetector 152 into an audio signal that will be audible by the wearer of the diving mask 10.

[0083] Furthermore, the diving mask 10 shown in FIG. 2 comprises control buttons 153a, 153b so as, for example, to control the light source 151 and/or the loudspeakers 154 and/or the photoreceptor 152.

[0084] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the light communication module 150 of the telecommunication system 190 is housed in a box 155 fixed securely to the peripheral frame 110 of the diving mask 10 by means of an articulation means 160 for orienting said light communication module 150 in a particular direction of communication. The articulation means 160 here takes the form of a ball joint and/or a pivot 161 in order to pivot said light communication module 150 about at least one axis of rotation. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the articulation means also comprises an arm 162, possibly telescopic, in order to raise the light communication module 150 in relation to the peripheral frame 110 and/or the wearer's head and to facilitate orientation of the light communication module 150 in the chosen direction of communication.

[0085] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the light communication module 150 is housed at one free end of the breathing tube 115 so as not to be impeded by the head and/or body of the wearer of the diving mask 10. More particularly, the light source 151 and the photodetector 152 are located on a front face of the breathing tube 115.

[0086] The diving mask 10 shown in FIG. 4 also comprises a microphone 157 located in the area of the breathing chamber 180. More particularly, the microphone 157 is located near, or even opposite, the mouth of the wearer of the diving mask 10. The microphone 157 is advantageously fixed onto the visor 130 or onto the peripheral frame 110 of the diving mask 10.

[0087] The diving mask 10 shown in FIG. 4 also comprises two loudspeakers 154 taking the form of earphones.

[0088] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the loudspeakers 154, the microphone 157, the light source 151 and the photodetector 152 are electrically connectedpreferably by a wired connectionto the electronic control board 156 to allow the establishment of two-way communication as previously described.

[0089] As previously described and for each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, each light source 151 of the light communication module 150 advantageously comprises one or more electroluminescent diodes configured so as to emit a light signal with a wavelength of between 450 nm and 700 nm. As previously described, and for each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the photodetector 152 is of a photodiode type with a spectral range that includes the wavelengths of the light sources 151 of the light communication module 150.

[0090] Lastly, the telecommunication system 190 advantageously comprises an energy source, not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, which may for example take the form of a battery mounted on the diving mask 10.

[0091] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a method 200 of underwater light communication according to the second aspect of the invention. Such a method 200 of underwater light communication can advantageously be implemented by the diving mask 10 according to the first aspect of the invention and as previously illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The method 200 of underwater light communication comprises the following steps: [0092] a step 201 of acquisition of a sound signal via the microphone 157 of the telecommunication system 190; [0093] a step 202 of encoding the sound signal into a digital control signal of the light source 151, the encoding step being performed by the electronic control board 156 of the telecommunication system 190; [0094] a step 203 of controlling the light source 151 in order to emit a light signal with an amplitude that is modulated as a function of the digital control signal, and preferably according to a LIFI communication protocol; [0095] a step 204 of the light signal being received by the photodetector 152 of the telecommunication system 190; [0096] a step 205 of decoding the light signal into a decoded digital signal, the decoding step being performed by the electronic control board 156 of the telecommunication system 190; [0097] a step 206 of a sound signal being generated by means of one or more loudspeakers 154 of the telecommunication system 190.

[0098] In summary, the invention relates to a diving mask 10 comprising a telecommunication system 190 configured to allow the establishment of one-way or two-way light communication, and more particularly according to a LIFI type communication protocol. For this purpose, the telecommunication system 190 comprises a light communication module 150 comprising at least one light source 151 and an electronic control board 156 in order to control said at least one light source 151 so as to emit a light signal the amplitude of which is modulated as a function of an electronic signal encoded by said electronic control board 156.

[0099] Clearly, the invention is not limited to the embodiments that have just been described and numerous adaptations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variations and embodiments of the invention can be associated with one another according to various combinations provided that they are not incompatible or exclusive of one another. In particular, all of the variations and embodiments described above can be combined together.