Radio frequency identification based personnel safety system

• US 20080018472A1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Dasilva, Richard Shervey
• Original Assignee: John Dasilva, Richard Shervey
• Inventors: Shervey, Richard, Dasilva, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/141 using sound propagation, e.g. sonar
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for selectively immobilizing equipment to ensure the safety of a proximate worker. The apparatus comprises an article of clothing wearable by the proximate worker, a sensor and a stopping means for stopping the movement of a portion of the equipment in response to the sensing. The article of clothing has a RFID tag having an antenna distributed about the article so as to substantially surround a worker wearing the article of clothing. The sensor senses the proximity of the RFID tag to a portion of the equipment. The method comprises sensing the proximity of the RFID tag to a portion of the equipment and stopping the movement of a portion of the equipment in response to the sensing.

Claims

1. A method of selectively immobilizing equipment to ensure the safety of a proximate worker, the method comprising:

providing an article of clothing wearable by the proximate worker, said article of clothing having a RFID tag and having an antenna cooperating with said tag wherein said antenna is distributed about said article of clothing so as to substantially surround a worker wearing said article of clothing;

sensing the proximity of said RFID tag to a portion of the equipment; and

stopping the movement of a portion of said equipment in response to said sensing.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a visual indicator on said article of clothing.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing comprises stopping the movement of said portion of said equipment when said RFID tag is less than a first distance from the portion of the equipment.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising providing an audible signal when said RFID tag is less than a second distance from said portion of said equipment.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing ultrasound to measure a distance of said RFID tag to said portion of said equipment.

7. A system for selectively immobilizing equipment to ensure the safety of a proximate worker, the system comprising:

an article of clothing wearable by the proximate worker, said article of clothing having a RFID tag and having an antenna cooperating with said tag, said antenna distributed about the article so as to substantially surround a worker wearing said article of clothing;

a sensor for sensing the proximity of said RFID tag to a portion of the equipment; and

stopping means for stopping the movement of said portion of said equipment in response to said sensing.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said sensor comprises at least one sensing antenna defining a zone for sending and receiving signals to and from said RFID tag within said zone, a transceiver for generating an receiving signals from said at least on antenna and a processor for comparing said signals received by said antenna against values representing distance of said RFID tag to said antenna.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of sensing antennas, all cooperating with said transceiver, wherein said plurality of antennas are mounted adjacent corresponding danger zones on the equipment.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said antennas are directional antennas directionally detecting RFID tags within pre-selected danger zones around the equipment.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said stopping means for stopping comprises a switch adapted to interrupt the movement of said portion of said equipment.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said switch comprises an electrical disconnect switch.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said switch comprises an electromechanical valve actuator.

14. The system of claim 7 further comprising a visual indicator on said article of clothing.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said visual indicator comprises a reflector wherein said article of clothing comprises a safety vest.

16. The system of claim 7 wherein said stopping means is adapted to stop the movement of said portion of said equipment when said RFID tag is less than a first distance from said portion of said equipment.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising an audible signal generator for generating an audible signal when said RFID tag is less than a second distance from said portion of said equipment.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

19. The system of claim 7 wherein said article of clothing is a safety vest, and said antenna is mounted substantially completely around a waist of said vest.

20. The system of claim 7 wherein said article of clothing is adapted to be worn on a torso of the worker and is mounted substantially completely around at least a waist of said article of clothing.

21. The system of claim 7 wherein said article of clothing is adapted to be worn on at least back and front surfaces of said article of clothing corresponding to a back and a front of the worker when worn and wherein said antenna is mounted on said at least said back and front surfaces.

22. The system of claim 7 further comprising an ultrasound sensor for measuring a distance from said RFID tag to said portion of said equipment.