RESTRAINING SYSTEM INCLUDING NEAR FIELD RFID DETECTION

• US 20150090527A1
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Salour, Al, Trimble, Douglas D., Vance, Jonathan B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,477,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 182/3
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0025 Details and accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10396 the interrogation device being wearable, e.g. as a glove, bracelet, or ring wearable aerials in general H01Q1/27

Abstract

A restraining system comprises a restraining device including first and second interlockable parts that, when interlocked, restrain the system. The restraining system further comprises a passive RFID tag attached to the first part, and a passive RFID reader coupled to the second part for near field detection of the tag within a prescribed range of the second part.

Claims

1. A restraining system comprising:

a restraining device including first and second interlockable parts that, when interlocked, restrain the system;

a passive RFID tag attached to the first part; and

a passive RFID reader coupled to the second part for near field detection of the tag within a prescribed range of the second part.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader performs near field detection within a prescribed range of a few inches of the second part.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader continues the near field detection after the parts have been interlocked.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the restraining device further includes an article of clothing that carries the passive reader and the second part.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the restraining device further includes a safety harness that carries the passive reader and the second part.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a lanyard having a free end that carries the first part.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader includes a processor programmed to raise an interlock signal when the reader detects the tag.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further programmed to lower the interlock signal once the reader does not detect the tag.

9. A platform system comprising:

an elevated platform; and

at least one restraining system of claim 1 onboard the platform.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an exciter associated with the elevated platform, the exciter wirelessly broadcasting a unique exciter identifier to each RFID tag onboard the platform.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the RFID reader of each restraining system onboard the platform is configured to read the broadcasted exciter identifier and broadcast a status signal indicating a reader identifier, the exciter identifier, and an interlock status indicating whether the reader detects the tag.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a base station for receiving broadcasted status signals from the reader of each restraining system onboard the platform.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the elevated platform includes a lift mechanism;

and wherein the base station disables the lift mechanism when at least on status signal indicates a non-interlock status.

14. A platform system comprising:

a platform;

a plurality of restraining systems onboard the platform, each restraining system including a passive RFID tag and reader configured to perform near field detection of the tag to determine whether the restraining system is secured to the platform; and

an exciter for broadcasting an exciter identifier to the reader of each of the restraining systems;

wherein each reader broadcasts a status signal indicating a reader identifier, the exciter identifier, and a secure status.

15. The platform system of claim 14, wherein each tag is attached to a free end of a lanyard, and wherein each restraining system includes a safety harness carrying the reader such that the reader detects the tag when the lanyard is interlocked with the safety harness.

16. The platform system of claim 14, further comprising a base station for receiving broadcasted status signals from the readers.

17. The platform system of claim 16, wherein the platform includes a lift mechanism and controller;

and wherein the base station enables the controller when the broadcasted status signals indicate that all of the restraining systems onboard the platform are secured.

18. The platform system of claim 16, wherein the base station uses the status signals to determine at least one of proper platform population and work hours.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the platform is configured for painting aircraft.

20. A method comprising:

performing near field RFID detection within a prescribed detection range of a first interlocking part of a safety harness; and

indicating that the first part is interlocked with a second part at the end of a lanyard for as long as an RFID tag associated with the second interlocking part of is detected within the prescribed range.