System and method for wireless control using a deadman switch
First Claim
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a water jet cutting or cleaning device for performing a cutting or cleaning operation;
providing a hand-held computing device remote from the a water jet cutting or cleaning device;
wirelessly linking the water jet cutting or cleaning device and the computing device together;
controlling the cutting or cleaning operation of the water jet cutting or cleaning device using the computing device;
providing an element on the computing device;
determining whether a user is in control of the computing device by determining if there is continuous contact by the user with the element;
allowing the cutting or cleaning operation to begin and continue running if the user keeps continuous contact with the element while simultaneously operating the computing device to control the water jet cutting or cleaning devicerepeatedly determining whether the user is maintaining continuous contact with the element while simultaneously operating the computing device while the cutting or cleaning operation is running; and
halting the cutting or cleaning operation of the water jet cutting or cleaning device when the user breaks contact with the element of the computing device.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for wirelessly controlling an operating device by way of a wireless connection between the operating device and a computing device. The computing device provides an interface for controlling the operating device. The interface includes a switch for use as a deadman switch, whereby releasing the switch will cease the operation of the operating device. The user may remotely control the operating device via the computing device while the switch is actuated. Upon releasing the switch, the computer device wirelessly halts the operating device for safety.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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providing a water jet cutting or cleaning device for performing a cutting or cleaning operation; providing a hand-held computing device remote from the a water jet cutting or cleaning device; wirelessly linking the water jet cutting or cleaning device and the computing device together; controlling the cutting or cleaning operation of the water jet cutting or cleaning device using the computing device; providing an element on the computing device; determining whether a user is in control of the computing device by determining if there is continuous contact by the user with the element; allowing the cutting or cleaning operation to begin and continue running if the user keeps continuous contact with the element while simultaneously operating the computing device to control the water jet cutting or cleaning device repeatedly determining whether the user is maintaining continuous contact with the element while simultaneously operating the computing device while the cutting or cleaning operation is running; and halting the cutting or cleaning operation of the water jet cutting or cleaning device when the user breaks contact with the element of the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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8. An apparatus adapted to actuate a cutting or cleaning operation of a remote water jet cutting or cleaning device, the apparatus comprising:
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a portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device includes a processor, a memory, an element, and a wireless module, wherein the wireless module is adapted to wirelessly connect the portable computing device to a remote operating device;
wherein thethe element is adapted to be actuated by direct continuous contact therewith by a user of the portable computing device; a plurality of circuits, wherein the plurality of circuits interconnects the element, the processor, and the memory; a switch variable stored in the memory, wherein the switch variable is settable to one of a first state and a second state, wherein the cutting or cleaning operation of the remote water jet cutting or cleaning device is enabled when the switch variable is in the first state, and wherein the cutting or cleaning operation is disabled when the switch variable is in the second state; wherein the switch variable is set to the first state when the user actuates the element by contacting the element and maintaining continuous contact with the element on the computing device while simultaneously operating the computing device to control the water jet cutting or cleaning device; and wherein the switch variable is set to the second state when the user breaks contact with the element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A system for enabling and disabling a cutting or cleaning operation of a remote water jet cutting or cleaning device, the system comprising:
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a portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device includes a wireless module and an element; a software application executable by the portable computing device, wherein the software application is adapted to selectively enable the cutting or cleaning operation of a remote water jet cutting or cleaning device or to selectively disable the cutting or cleaning operation of the remote water jet cutting or cleaning device and to perform the cutting or cleaning operation when a user is in direct contact with the element on the computing device and wherein while maintaining direct contact with the element the user controls the water jet or cleaning device to perform the cutting or cleaning operation in real time; wherein the software application disables the cutting or cleaning operation of the remote water jet cutting or cleaning device by default; wherein the software application enables the cutting or cleaning operation of the remote water jet cutting or cleaning device only when the element on the computing device is continuously manually pressed by the user while the user simultaneously operates the computing device to control the water jet cutting or cleaning device; wherein the software application activates the cutting or cleaning operation of the remote water jet cutting or cleaning device via the wireless module when the cutting or cleaning operation is enabled by the software application and the user actuates the portable computing device to activate the cutting or cleaning operation; and wherein the application deactivates the cutting or cleaning operation of the remote water jet cutting or cleaning device via the wireless module when the user manually releases the element on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification