METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETECT AND WARN PROXIMATE ENTITIES OF INTEREST

• US 20150170498A1
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,633,537 B2
• 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 method includes determining threat levels for hazards in a plurality of different zones within a building, classifying the threat levels into at least one of a first threat level and a second threat level, designating a first zone of the plurality of different zones having the first threat level with a first detectable indicator, and designating a second zone having the second threat level with a second detectable indicator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining threat levels for hazards in a plurality of different zones within a building;

classifying the threat levels into at least one of a first threat level and a second threat level;

designating a first zone of the plurality of different zones having the first threat level with a first detectable indicator; and

designating a second zone having the second threat level with a second detectable indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one of the first detectable indicator or the second detectable indicator as a color.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing at least one of the first detectable indicator or the second detectable indicator as a color comprises coloring at least one of a flooring of the first zone having the first threat level with a first color or coloring a flooring of the second zone having the second threat level with a second color, the first color being different than the second color.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein providing at least one of the first detectable indicator or the second detectable indicator as the color comprises using color lighting associated with at least one of the first zone having the first threat level or the second zone having the second threat level.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a vehicle capable of moving between the first and second zones, the vehicle capable of detecting, via a detector, at least one of the first detectable indicator or second detectable indicator.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising detecting the first detectable indicator which is at least one of a first colored floor or a first colored light indicative of the first zone, or detecting the second detectable indicator which is as at least one of a second colored floor or a second colored light indicative of the second zone.

7. The method of claim of claim 5, further comprising modifying an operational parameter of the vehicle upon detection of at least one of the first detectable indicator or the second detectable indicator.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein modifying the operational parameter of the vehicle comprises at least one of limiting the vehicle to a first speed when the first detectable indicator is detected or limiting the vehicle to a second speed when the second detectable indicator is detected, the first speed being different than the second speed.

9. A method for detection of hazards in different areas of a building, the method comprising:

assigning a first threat level for a hazard in a first area of the different areas;

assigning a second threat level for a hazard in a second area of the different areas, the first threat level being different than the second threat level;

employing a first detection system to detect the hazard in the first area assigned the first threat level, the first detection system having a first ability to detect the hazard in the first area; and

employing a second detection system to detect the hazard in the second area assigned the second threat level, the second detection system having a second ability to detect the hazard in the second area, the first ability being different than the second ability.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising modifying, via the first detection system, an operational parameter of a vehicle based on the vehicle being in the first area.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein modifying the operational parameter of the vehicle comprises limiting a speed of the vehicle in the first area.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein employing the first detection system comprises monitoring, via the first detection system, the hazard in the first area.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein employing the second detection system comprises monitoring, via the second detection system, the hazard in the second area.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising assigning a first color to the first area having the first threat level and assigning a second color to the second area having the second threat level, the first color being different than the second color.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising distinguishing between the first color and the second color via at least one of the first detection system or the second detection system.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the first threat level for the hazard in the first area of the different areas based on a dynamic characteristic of the first area.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the dynamic characteristic is based on at least one of a population density, traffic density or a temporal characteristic in the first area.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising capturing the dynamic characteristic based on statistical analysis.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein statistical analysis comprises monitoring the first area over a predefined period of time using at least one of a population density or a traffic density of the first area.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein monitoring the first area further comprises monitoring the first area over a time-based period such as at least one or more workshifts to determine at least one of the population density or the traffic density of the first area.

21. A method comprising:

receiving an input relating to locations of a plurality of entities of interest;

calculating a proximity between a first entity of interest of the plurality of entities of interest and a second entity of interest of the plurality of entities of interest;

comparing the proximity between the first and second entities of interest to a plurality of thresholds; and

determining a level of warning based on the comparison with the plurality of thresholds.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing the level of warning to at least one of the first entity of interest or the second entity of interest.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving the input comprises receiving detailed location data relating to the pluralities of entities of interest.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising obtaining a facility layout from a database.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining whether an obstacle identified in the facility layout affects the determination of the level of warning.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising identifying a fixed obstacle from the facility layout and determining if the fixed obstacle is positioned between the first entity of interest and the second entity of interest.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a warning to at least one of the first entity of interest or the second entity of interest if the fixed obstacle is not positioned between the first and second entities of interest.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein comparing the proximity to the plurality of thresholds comprises comparing the proximity to a first threshold, a second threshold and a third threshold.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein determining the level of warning comprises determining to continue monitoring the first and second entities of interest when the proximity is less than a first threshold.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein determining the level of warning comprises providing an alarm when the proximity is less than a second threshold and greater than the first threshold.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein determining the level of warning comprises at least one of preventing or reducing movement of at least one of the first entity of interest or the second entity of interest when the proximity is less than a third threshold and greater than the second threshold.