US-20260126397-A1 - SYSTEM FOR TESTING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PRECIOUS STONES

US20260126397A1US 20260126397 A1US20260126397 A1US 20260126397A1US-20260126397-A1

Abstract

A device ( 2 ) for illuminating a precious stone ( 10 ), including a light projector ( 3 ) equipped with a main lighting module ( 14 a ) for generating illumination configured to reveal the characteristics of the precious stone ( 10 ), the main module ( 14 a ) including a circuit board ( 25 ) including a plurality of light sources ( 16 ) each emitting a light beam and an optical diffusion element arranged facing the plurality of light sources ( 16 ), the main module ( 14 a ) including a reflector ( 21 ) arranged between the support element ( 7 ) and the optical diffusion element, and including at least one cavity capable of reflecting at least part of the light beams towards the optical diffusion element, each cavity being formed by a back ( 17 ) and peripheral walls ( 18 a , 18 b , 18 c ) extending from the back ( 17 ) towards the optical diffusion element ( 23 ), with their respective tops arranged at a first distance (E 1 ) from the optical diffusion element.

Inventors

Dominique Dubugnon

Assignees

Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogère Suisse

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251016
Priority Date: 20241104

Claims (10)

1 . A device for illuminating a precious stone comprising: a light projector equipped with a main lighting module for generating illumination specifically configured to reveal the characteristics of the precious stone, said main module comprising a circuit board including a plurality of light sources each emitting a light beam and an optical diffusion element arranged facing said plurality of light sources, said main module comprising a reflector arranged between a support element and the optical diffusion element, said reflector comprising at least one cavity capable of reflecting at least part of the light beams towards the optical diffusion element, each cavity being formed by a back and peripheral walls extending from the back towards the optical diffusion element, with their respective tops arranged at a first distance from the optical diffusion element.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein said reflector comprises two cavities capable of reflecting at least part of the light beams towards the optical diffusion element, each cavity being formed by the back, the peripheral walls and a dividing wall separating it from the other cavity, said walls extending from the back towards the optical diffusion element and having their respective tops arranged relative to the optical diffusion element at a first distance for the peripheral walls and a second distance for the dividing wall, the first distance being less than the second distance.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the light sources comprise electroluminescent elements.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the light sources have adjustable colour temperatures that range between 2,500 K and 7,000 K.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a module for setting functions performed by the device, this module comprising an organ for controlling these functions and a screen transmitting information relating to these functions.
6 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a module for setting functions performed by the device, this module comprising an organ for controlling these functions and a screen transmitting information relating to these functions, said functions relating to setting the illumination and temperature of the light sources.
7 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an articulated arm comprising first and second parts connected at one of their two ends.
8 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an articulated arm comprising first and second parts connected at one of their two ends these first and second parts each comprising at least one motor for controlling the horizontal and/or vertical movement of the projector relative to said precious stone.
9 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising secondary modules arranged in lateral parts of said projector and configured to attenuate luminous disturbances likely to result from a light source external to the device.
10 . A system for testing the characteristics of a precious stone comprising the lighting device according to claim 1 and a support element to which is fastened said device which is configured to generate illumination of a zone of interest comprised on a plate on said support element, said zone of interest comprising said precious stone which can be handled by a user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 24210632.6 filed Nov. 4, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a system for testing the characteristics of a precious stone, comprising a lighting device specifically adapted, in particular, to enable visual identification of the characteristics of such a stone. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND In the current state of the art, systems for testing the characteristics of precious stones such as diamonds are generally used to verify their authenticity or to classify or otherwise sort these precious stones. To this end, these systems commonly use lighting devices with fluorescent tubes to conduct visual testing of their internal or external characteristics, such as their colour, purity, size or fluorescence. However, one of the major drawbacks of such systems is that they are not sufficiently safe, as the fluorescent tubes used in these lighting devices comprise substances such as mercury that are harmful to both the environment and human health. Moreover, these fluorescent tubes are known to produce humming noises, which is an acoustic nuisance likely to disturb the concentration of the operator in charge of identifying these characteristics. Furthermore, these fluorescent tubes can also flicker or flash in a way that is difficult to perceive but that can cause headaches, dizziness, and be problematic for an operator who is light-sensitive or prone to disorders such as epilepsy. Lastly, the arrangement of these fluorescent tubes in these systems does not allow the characteristics of these precious stones to be clearly and repeatedly revealed. Given these circumstances, there is clearly a need to find a harmless alternative solution. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One purpose of the invention is therefore to provide a solution for improving precision when testing the characteristics of precious stones using a system for testing these characteristics that is provided with a lighting device configured to generate illumination of these stones that is precise, dynamic and adaptive. To this end, one of the aspects of the invention relates to a device for illuminating a precious stone comprising a light projector equipped with a main lighting module for generating illumination specifically configured to reveal the characteristics of the precious stone, said main module comprising a circuit board including a plurality of light sources each emitting a light beam and an optical diffusion element arranged facing said plurality of light sources, said main module (14a) comprising a reflector arranged between said support element and the optical diffusion element, said reflector comprising at least one cavity capable of reflecting at least part of the light beams towards the optical diffusion element, each cavity being formed by a back and peripheral walls extending from the back towards the optical diffusion element, with their respective tops arranged at a first distance from the optical diffusion element. In other embodiments: the reflector comprises two cavities capable of reflecting at least part of the light beams towards the optical diffusion element, each cavity being formed by the back, the peripheral walls and a dividing wall separating it from the other cavity, said walls extending from the back towards the optical diffusion element and having their respective tops arranged relative to the optical diffusion element at a first distance for the peripheral walls and a second distance for the dividing wall, the first distance being less than the second distance;the light sources comprise electroluminescent elements;the light sources have adjustable colour temperatures that range between 2,500 K and 7,000 K, preferably between 5,700 K and 6,300 K;the device comprises a module for setting functions performed by the device, this module comprising an organ for controlling these functions and a screen transmitting information relating to these functions;said functions relate to setting the illumination and temperature of the light sources;the device comprises an articulated arm comprising first and second parts connected at one of their two ends;these first and second parts each comprise at least one motor for controlling the horizontal and/or vertical movement of the projector relative to said precious stone;the device comprises peripheral modules arranged in lateral parts of said projector and configured to attenuate luminous disturbances likely to result from a light source external to the device; Another of these aspects of the invention relates to a system for testing the characteristics of a precious stone comprising such a lighting device and a support element to which is fastened said device which is configured to generate illumination of a zone of interest comprised on a plate on said support element, said zone of interest 8 compr