Signaling device for an obscured environment

A thermal imaging system comprising:

• a portable signaling device for use in a reduced visibility environment, the signaling including:
• a housing for carrying the signaling device into the reduced visibility environment, the housing having a signaling side and an attachment side, the signaling side configured to transmit an infrared signal and the attachment side configured to position the housing in a given location;
• an infrared energy source located within the housing, the infrared energy source including a power source, an emitter connected to the power source, and a switching mechanism connected to the power source and the emitter;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the infrared energy source for transmitting a plurality of infrared signaling patterns, each of the plurality of infrared signaling patterns corresponding to a different visual indication of a firefighting operation, the control circuit configured to:
• operate the infrared energy source to transmit a first infrared pattern of the plurality of infrared signaling patterns;
• receive a wireless signal indicating a selection of a second infrared signaling pattern of the plurality of infrared signaling patterns;
• and
• configure the infrared energy source to change from transmitting the first infrared signaling pattern to transmitting the second infrared signaling pattern of the plurality of infrared signaling patterns indicated in the wireless signal;
• and
• a thermal imaging camera configured to receive and display a message.

A method of transmitting a message in a reduced visibility environment, said method comprising:

• positioning a signaling device at a first location within the reduced visibility environment, the signaling device including an infrared emitter and a control circuit coupled to the infrared emitter for transmitting a plurality of infrared signaling patterns, each of the plurality of infrared signaling patterns corresponding to a different visual indication of a firefighting operation;
• activating a power source within the signaling device;
• operating the infrared emitter to transmit a first infrared pattern of the plurality of infrared signaling patterns;
• causing transmission, to the signaling device, of a wireless indication of a selection of a second infrared signaling pattern of the plurality of infrared signaling patterns to be transmitted by the signaling device;
• and
• the signaling device configuring the infrared emitter to change from transmitting the first infrared signaling pattern to transmitting the second infrared signaling pattern based on the wireless indication.