System and method for accident prevention

• US 20060208577A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDENT Technology AG (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IDENT Technology AG (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richter, Wolfgang, Donat, Stefan, Rosenbeck, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,982,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/326
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/00 Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body F16P5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

This invention relates to a system for accident prevention on operating devices with a user terminal, comprising an output unit for the transmission of signals with authorizing user data by means of the body of the user and signal receiver, provided for at least one device with an interface unit for receiving signals transmitted by means of the body of the user, units for checking the received authorizing user data and units for the generation of a release signal on a successful checking of the received authorisation user data

Claims

1. A system for preventing accidents in the operation of machine or apparatus (56), with:

at least one user end device or terminal (2) with an output unit (10) for the transmission of authorizing user data signals through the body of a user, and

at least one signal receiver (28) assigned to the monitored apparatus or machine (56) having an interface unit (30) for receiving signals transmitted through the body of the user, unit (36-40, 44-48) for checking the received user data dealing with authorization and units (42, 50, 54) for outputting a clearance signal that allows an operation of the at least one machine or apparatus (56) after a successful test of the received authorizing user data, whereby

the signal receiver (28) is equipped and programmed to terminate the output of the clearance signal following a successful test of the authorization data, when subsequent tests of the authorization data fail.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the output unit (10) of the user end device or terminal (2) comprises a coupling unit (4) for the inductive and/or capacitive coupling of the authorizing user data signal into the body of the user.

3. The system according to claim 1 in which the output unit (10) of the user end device or terminal (2) has a contact region (6) for direct coupling of the authorizing user data signal into the body of the user and/or a signal output (8) for transmitting the signals comprising the authorization user data to a device directly connected with the body of the first user.

4. The system according to claim 1 in which the user end device or terminal (2) is equipped and programmed to transmit signals which comprise a code giving authorization to the user and control commands for controlling the signal receiver (28).

5. The system according to claim 1 in which the interface unit (30) of the signal receiver (28) comprises a contact sensitive unit which receives the signals from the user end device or terminal (2) upon contact of the contact sensitive unit with the user.

6. The system according to claim 1 in which the interface (30) of the signal receiver (28) has an inductive and/or capacitive unit for receiving the signals of the user end device or terminal (2) by means of inductive and/or capacitive signal transmission.

7. The system according to claim 1 in which the unit (36-40, 44-48) of the signal receiver (28) or testing the authorizing data, comprise a correspondence register (46) with at least two storage or memory location or data or testing the authorizing data.

8. The system according to claim 1 in which the signal receiver (28) is equipped and programmed depending upon the received signal from the user end device or terminal (2) to access data for testing the data to serve as authorization data.

9. The system according to claim 1 in which at least one user end device (2) is arranged in or on protective clothing.

10. A user end device or terminal (2) for use with the system according to claim 1 with an output unit (10) for transmitting authorizing data signals through this body of a user.

11. A user end device or terminal (2) according to claim 10 with the features according to one of claims 2 - 4.

12. A user end device or terminal (2) according to claim 10, for arrangement on or in protective clothing.

13. A signal receiver (28) for use with the system according to claim 1 with:

an interface (30) for receiving through a body of a user signals comprising authorization data and transmitted through the body of the user,

units (36-40, 44-48) for testing the received authorizing data, and

units (42, 50, 54) for producing a clearance signal upon a successful test of the authorizing data, whereby the signal receiver (28) is equipped and programmed to terminate the clearance signal outputted as a result of a successful test of the authorizing data when subsequent tests of the authorizing data fail.

14. The signal receiver (28) according to claim 13 with the features according to one of claims 5 -9.

15. Protective clothing, like for example a protective helmet, protective glasses or goggles, safety shoes and the like with the user end device or terminal (2) according to claim 10.

16. A device or apparatus like a household appliance, electric and mechanical tool, machine tool or the like with the signal receiver (28) according to claim 13.

17. A hand grip device with a hand grip based body including a hand grip outer surface (7) which is engaged by an inner surface of the hand and has a segment forming a hand rest for the inner surface, whereby in the region of the hand inner surface rest at least one pressure sensitive zone (8) is formed for generating a signal indicating the hand grip gripping state.

18. The hand grip arrangement of claim 17, characterized in that it includes a plurality of pressure sensitive zones (8).

19. The hand grip device according to claim 17 characterized in that the pressure sensitive zone forms part of a fluid chamber system (9).

20. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that the pressure sensitive zone is formed by an elastically deformable pressure chamber wall.

21. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that the pressure chamber is filled with a liquid, gel or gas.

22. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that the pressure chamber is coupled with a switch device.

23. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that the pressure chamber is coupled with a pressure measurement device.

24. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that the hand grip device in the region of the hand inner surface rest has pressure sensitive zones in the hand ball rest region and a finger inner surface rest region.

25. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that in the region of the hand grip device a plurality of individual finger inner surface pressure sensitive zones are provided.

26. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that in the region of the hand grip device an orientation detecting device is provided.

27. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that the hand grip device is a hand grip of a drill.

28. The hand grip device according to claim 17 in which a signal transmitting device is coupled a signal to the user.

29. The hand grip device according to claim 28 characterized in that the signal transmitter device is so configured that it effects a signal coupling on the basis of electrostatic interaction.

30. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that in the hand grip device a signal modulating device is provided for the modulation of the signal imitated by the coupling device.

31. The hand grip device according to claim 17, characterized in that the signal is so modulated that it contains a dated telegram.

32. A power driven tool with a housing device, a first hand grip device (105), a second hand grip device (106) and a device for detecting the gripping state for producing a signal indicating the gripping state of the device.