METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ALERTING PERSONS OF OBSTACLES OR APPROACHING HAZARDS

• US 20090237233A1
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Steven L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,362,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/30 Network data restoration; Network data reliability; Network data fault tolerance

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for alerting persons of obstacles and/or approaching hazards are provided. Embodiments may include a warning system that includes a radio source configured to transmit a radio signal and a warning device. The warning device may include at least one vibration device, at least two receiver devices configured to receive the radio signal, and a processing device operably coupled to at least two receiver devices and at least one vibration device, wherein the processing device is configured to determine at least a direction and a distance to the radio source from the warning device and configured to transmit a vibration signal to at least one vibration device based upon the determined direction and distance to the radio source from the warning device.

Claims

1. A warning system, comprising:

a radio source configured to transmit a radio signal; and

a warning device, comprising,

at least one vibration device;

at least two receiver devices configured to receive the radio signal; and

a processing device operably coupled to at least two receiver devices and at least one vibration device, wherein the processing device is configured to determine at least a direction and a distance to the radio source from the warning device and configured to transmit a vibration signal to at least one vibration device based upon the determined direction and distance to the radio source from the warning device.

2. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises a signal strength detector configured to determine the strength of signals received by receiver devices.

3. The warning system of claim 2, wherein the processing device is configured to determine the direction to the radio source from the warning device based at least partially upon the determined strength of signals received by receiver devices.

4. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises an amplitude detector configured to determine the amplitude of signals received by receiver devices.

5. The warning system of claim 4, wherein the processing device is configured to determine the distance to the radio source from the warning device based at least partially upon the determined amplitude for the signals received by receiver devices.

6. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the radio source comprises a component of a vehicle.

7. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the radio source comprises a Wi-Fi enabled device.

8. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the radio source comprises a Zigbee device.

9. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the warning device comprises a belt having at least four vibration devices positioned around the belt.

10. The warning system of claim 9, wherein the at least four vibration devices each have a corresponding receiver device.

11. A method of warning, comprising:

transmitting at least one radio signal from at least one radio source;

receiving at least one radio signal by at least one warning device having at least one vibration device, at least two receiver devices, and a processing device;

determining at least a direction and a distance to at least one radio source from at least one warning device;

producing at least one vibration signal based upon the determined direction and distance to at least one radio source from at least one warning device;

sending at least one vibration signal to at least one vibration device; and

vibrating at least one vibration device based upon at least one vibration signal.

12. The method of warning of claim 11, wherein determining at least a distance comprises determining the amplitude of signals received by receiver devices.

13. The method of warning of claim 11, wherein determining a direction comprises determining the strength of signals received by receiver devices.

14. The method of warning of claim 11, wherein receiving at least one radio signal comprises receiving at least one radio signal by a first receiver device having a corresponding first vibration device and a second receiver device having a corresponding second vibration device.

15. The method of warning of claim 14, wherein vibrating at least one vibration device comprises vibrating the first vibration device at a first intensity based upon a first vibration signal from the processing device and vibrating the second vibration device at a second intensity based upon a second vibration signal from the processing device.

16. The method of warning of claim 15, wherein the first intensity is configured to be greater than the second intensity when the first receiver device is a shorter distance away from the radio source than the second receiver device.

17. The method of warning of claim 11, further comprising selecting at least one vibration device to receive a vibration signal based at least partially upon the determined direction to at least one radio source from the warning device.

18. A warning system, comprising:

an audible source configured to transmit an audible signal; and

a warning device, comprising,

at least two microphones configured to receive the audible signal;

at least one vibration device; and

a processing device operably coupled to at least two microphones and at least one vibration device, wherein the processing device is configured to determine at least a direction and a distance to the audible source from the warning device and configured to transmit a vibration signal to at least one vibration device based upon the determined direction and distance to the audible source from the warning device.

19. The warning system of claim 18, wherein the warning device comprises a belt having at least four vibration devices positioned around the belt and at least four microphones corresponding to the vibration devices around the belt.

20. The warning system of claim 19, wherein the audible source comprises a component of a vehicle.