METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETECT AND WARN PROXIMATE ENTITIES OF INTEREST

• US 20150170493A1
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Inventors: Beggs, Ryan P., Boerger, James C., Hoffmann, David J., Markham, Ken, McNeill, Matthew, Muhl, Timothy, Nelson, Kyle, Oates, James, Senfleben, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/610,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20150170493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2673 on parts worn by the driver, e.g. clothes, gloves or bags, specially adapted to provide auxiliary vehicle signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Systems and methods to detect and warn proximate entities of interest are described herein. An example warning device for conveying warning signals to a person includes a wearable device to be worn by the person, where the wearable device provides a non-visual warning to the person when the wearable device is activated. A controller receives hazard-indicative input signals to activate the wearable device.

Claims

1. A warning device for conveying warning signals to a person, the warning device comprising:

a wearable device to be worn by the person, the wearable device to provide a non-visual warning to the person when the wearable device is activated; and

a controller to receive hazard-indicative input signals to activate the wearable device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the wearable device comprises at least one of glasses, a helmet, a bracelet, a shoe or a vest.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-visual warning comprises tactile feedback.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the tactile feedback comprises at least one of vibration, heat, cold, or a small shock.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the hazard-indicative signals are representative of a level of imminence of a threat that ranges from a low-level of imminence of a threat to a high-level of imminence of a threat.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the non-visual warning is modulated based on the level of imminence of the threat.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the hazard-indicative input signal comprises directional information relating to a threat.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the wearable device comprises a plurality of positional indicators.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of positional indicators includes a front positional indicator, a rear positional indicator, a right positional indicator and a left positional indicator.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein only one of the front, rear, right or left positional indicators is activated to indicate an approach vector of the threat.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the positional indicators is activated to indicate an approach vector of the threat.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein at least one of the controller or the plurality of positional indicators determines a direction of approach of the threat

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the wearable device comprises a sensor to detect the input signals.

14. A visual warning device for conveying warning signals to a person comprising:

glasses to be worn by the person which include a controllable light source visible to the person when the glasses are worn by the person; and

a controller to receive input signals, the controller to illuminate the light source to provide a warning to the person based on the input signals.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of colors.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the controller illuminates at least one color of the plurality of colors dependent upon the input signals.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of colors convey at least one of different threats or different levels of hazards.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein, to convey different threats, the controllable light source is to be modulated according to at least one or more of characteristics including:

a brightness, a color, a periodicity of repetition, or a rhythm.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the controllable light source is provided along upper rims of each eyepiece of the glasses.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the light source comprises a side-emitting fiber-optic cable.