Monitoring and warning system for individuals working under hazardous pperating conditions

• US 20040135693A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MSA AUER GmbH (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MSA AUER GmbH (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schubert, Axel, Lubkoll, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 6,894,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00

Abstract

A monitoring and warning system for firefighters and individuals exposed to similar risks comprises a number of monitoring, warning and control devices (1, 9 to 16) as well as a telemetry module (17) for transmitting information to a base station and for receiving commands. All units of the system are connected in a galvanic or galvanically separated manner to a shared open or closed bus (8) and, in fact, are used either for master/master operation or for master/slave operation. The system functions rapidly and in a noise-free manner while having a low level of complexity with regard to connections and being able to be easily retrofitted with additional units, and can also be used in potentially explosive areas.

Claims

1. A monitoring and warning system for people working in hazardous environments, preferably comprising a monitoring device (ICU) that consists of a microcomputer as well as data and alarm displays and alarm sensors and is connected to a compressed air breathing apparatus, a telemetric module and other monitoring and/or control units, characterized in that all monitoring and warning devices (1 and 11 through 16), control units (9, 10) and the telemetric module (17) of the system are interconnected via a common—

open-type or closed-type—

bus (8) and wherein the units (1, 9-16) are switched either for master-slave or for master-master operation.

2. The monitoring and warning system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a bus (8) with parallel transfer of data, address and control signals.

3. The monitoring and warning system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a serial bus (8) for serial transfer of data, address and control signals over one and the same line section.

4. The monitoring and warning system according to any one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that each unit has its own power supply and is separately connected via optocouplers or a fiber optic connection to the bus (8) or is connected via a high-frequency radio connection for system operation in areas subject to explosion hazards.

5. The monitoring and warning system according to any one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that a common power supply (18) for all units (1, 9 through 16) is incorporated into the bus (8) for system operation in areas not subject to explosion hazards and that the units are electrically connected to the bus (8).

6. The monitoring and warning system according to any one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the units are connected in a star shape wherein one of the units operates as bus master for scanning the respective data from the other units and transferring this data to the telemetric module (17).

7. The monitoring and warning system according to any one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the units of the system are connected in parallel to the bus (8).

8. The monitoring and warning system according to any one of claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the units of the system are connected in series to a ring bus (8).

9. The monitoring and warning system according to any one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the units of the system are connected via a high-frequency connection.