MECHANIZED AREA CONTROLLER

• US 20140191869A1
• Filed: 01/09/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frederick Energy Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Frederick Energy Products, LLC
• Inventors: Frederick, Larry D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,822,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/551
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/145 using magnetic technology
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9502 Measures for increasing reliability
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9522 with a galvanically isolated probe

Abstract

Mechanized area controller systems and methods for coordinating the movement of workers and vehicles to improve safety are disclosed. Some embodiments of the methods include generating a magnetic field defining a first zone and detecting a response signal from a first device. Other method embodiments also include detecting a response signal from a second device and generating a danger signal when the first and second devices are both within the first zone. Some system embodiments include a magnetic field generator for defining a first zone and a first device configured to detect the first zone magnetic field and generate a first device response signal. Other system embodiments also include a second device configured to detect the first zone magnetic field and generate a second device response signal and a first controller configured to generate a danger signal when the first and second devices are both within the first zone.

Claims

1. A method of proximity detection, the method comprising:

generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone;

detecting a response signal from a first device;

detecting a response signal from a second device; and

generating a danger signal when the first and second devices are both within the first zone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a warning signal when the first device is within the first zone and the second device is not within the first zone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the danger signal causes a visual danger indication at the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the danger signal causes an area-wide alarm to activate.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a second zone magnetic field to define a second zone;

detecting a response signal from the second device;

generating an approach signal to indicate the approach of the second device towards the first zone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second zone magnetic field is generated by at least one ferrite generator, the ferrite being oriented in a vertical direction.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining a speed of the second device and generating a high-speed signal if the determined speed of the second device is above a first predetermined speed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the high-speed signal automatically reduces the speed of a vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is configured to generate a second device magnetic field and the method further comprises:

generating a control signal to reduce the size of the generated second device magnetic field.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first zone magnetic field oscillates at less than about 100 kHz.

11. A traffic control system, the system comprising:

a first magnetic field generator for generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone;

a first device configured to detect the first zone magnetic field and generate a first device response signal;

a second device configured to detect the first zone magnetic field and generate a second device response signal;

a first controller configured to generate a danger signal when the first and second devices are both within the first zone.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first controller is further configured to generate a warning signal when the first device is within the first zone and the second device is not within the first zone.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second device is configured to receive the danger signal and cause a visual danger indication at the second device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the danger signal causes an area-wide alarm to activate.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a second magnetic field generator for generating a second zone magnetic field defining a second zone;

a second controller configured to detect a response signal from the second device and generate an approach signal to indicate the approach of the second device towards the first zone.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second magnetic field generator includes at least one ferrite generator, the ferrite being oriented in a vertical direction.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second controller is configured to determine a speed of the second device and generate a high-speed signal if the determined speed of the second device is above a first predetermined speed.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second device is configured to receive the high-speed signal and automatically reduce the speed of a vehicle.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the second device is configured to generate a second device magnetic field and the first controller is further configured to generate a control signal to reduce the size of the generated second device magnetic field.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the first zone magnetic field oscillates at less than about 100 kHz.