Detachable protective coverings and protection methods

• US 10,209,065 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2018
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Estevo, Jr., Curtis R., Penuelas, Basilio, DeStories, Jason G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Menz, Laura M
• Application Number:
  US15/887,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20180188024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/026 Acoustical sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/027 Electromagnetic sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects

Abstract

A detachable hazard detection device includes a protective covering configured to detachably couple to an article. A plurality of proximity sensors are coupled to the protective covering. Each of the plurality of proximity sensors is configured to gather proximity information. Electronics are embedded in the protective covering, and the electronics include a controller coupled to the plurality of proximity sensors. The controller is configured to determine a proximity of the article to an object based on the proximity information. The controller is further configured to initiate a notification based on the proximity.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

while a protective covering is detachably coupled to and is conformed to a first article, gathering proximity information by proximity sensors coupled to the protective covering and by using electronics embedded in the protective covering;

determining, by a controller, a proximity of the first article to an object based on the proximity information; and

outputting, by the controller, a notification based on the proximity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing the protective covering from the first article; and

detachably coupling the protective covering to a second article, wherein the protective covering is detachably coupled to the second article using a clip, a clamp, or a magnet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the notification includes initiating an audible notification, a visual notification, a haptic notification, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the notification comprises, while the protective covering is detachably coupled to the first article, transmitting one or more signals corresponding to proximity information to a computer, and further comprising, responsive to a control signal received from the computer, adjusting a first course of a transportation device, the transportation device moving the first article and the adjusting based on the proximity information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering of the proximity information includes receiving, by the proximity sensors, a signal, the signal being one of an electrical signal, an acoustic, and an electromagnetic signal.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein, when the notification is the audible notification, an adjustment based on the proximity is applied to the notification, the adjustment corresponding to a modification of:

a pitch, a first frequency, a first duration, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein, when the notification is the visual notification, an adjustment based on the proximity is applied to the notification, the adjustment corresponding to a modification of:

a color, a first intensity, a second frequency, a second duration, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein, when the notification is the haptic notification, an adjustment based on the proximity is applied to the notification, the adjustment corresponding to a modification of:

a second intensity, a third frequency, a third duration, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gathering of the proximity information by the proximity sensors, includes receiving, wirelessly, from a transmitter, a signal, the transmitter remote from the protective covering.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is indicative of a collision between the article and the object.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing at a memory, by the controller, impact information corresponding to the collision.

12. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

gathering second proximity information by the proximity sensors and by the electronics;

determining, by the controller, a second proximity of the second article to another object based on the second proximity information; and

outputting, by the controller, a second notification based on the second proximity.

13. A method comprising:

at a hazard detection device including a protective covering, a plurality of proximity sensors coupled to the protective covering, and electronics embedded in the protective covering, the electronics including a controller coupled to the plurality of proximity sensors, performing;

while the protective covering is detachably coupled to and is conformed to an article;

generating, by a first proximity sensor of the plurality of proximity sensors, first proximity data; and

generating, by a second proximity sensor of the plurality of proximity sensors, second proximity data;

receiving, at the controller, proximity information from the plurality of proximity sensors, the proximity information including the first proximity data and the second proximity data;

determining, at the controller, a proximity of the article to an object based on the proximity information; and

outputting, by the controller, a notification based on the proximity.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, by the first proximity sensor, a first signal, the first signal based on the object being positioned in a detection region of the first proximity sensor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first signal is received from a transmitter external to the protective covering.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising emitting, by the first proximity sensor, a second signal, the second signal reflected or diffracted from the object, wherein the generation of the first proximity data is based on a return signal, the return signal corresponding to a reflected or a diffracted portion of the second signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first signal and the second signal are one of a sonic signal or an electromagnetic signal.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing, by the controller, the proximity to a threshold, wherein the notification is output based on the proximity satisfying the threshold.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the proximity is divided into a first proximity and into a second proximity, and further comprising adjusting, by the controller, at least one characteristic of a plurality of characteristics of the notification, wherein the notification is outputted based on the first proximity satisfying a first threshold, and wherein, during the outputting of the notification, the at least one characteristic is adjusted based on the second proximity satisfying a second threshold.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a controller of a protective covering, cause the controller to perform operations including:

while the protective covering is detachably coupled to and is conformed to an article, cause one or more proximity sensors to gather proximity information, the one or more proximity sensors coupled to the protective covering and to electronics, and the electronics embedded in the protective covering;

determine a proximity of the article to an object based on the proximity information; and

output a notification based on the proximity.