Wireless danger proximity warning system and method

• US 7,148,791 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Grisham, William T., Roberts, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/178,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/903, 340/904, 340/907, 340/993, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 375/130, 375/146, 375/239, 342/1, 342/450
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/06 for warning men working on the route
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 29/24 Means for warning road traffic that a gate is closed or closing, or that rail traffic is approaching, e.g. for visible or audible warning
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication

Abstract

A danger proximity warning system and method are disclosed that utilize ultra wideband (UWB) technology to effectively warn a person when there is a potentially dangerous situation in their vicinity. In one embodiment, the danger proximity warning system includes a transmitting UWB radio coupled to a first object and a receiving impulse radio unit coupled to a second object. The transmitting impulse radio unit operates to transmit an UWB signal towards the second object when the first object is a predetermined distance away. Upon receiving the UWB signal, the receiving UWB radio makes sure a person associated with the second object is informed about the potentially dangerous situation. Several embodiments of the danger proximity warning system and method are disclosed all of which operate to warn a person when there is a potentially dangerous situation in their vicinity.

Claims

1. A warning system comprising:

a first ultra wideband (UWB) radio associated with a first object, said first UWB radio transmitting an UWB signal conveying information about a potentially dangerous situation; and

a second UWB radio associated with a second object, said second UWB radio receiving said UWB signal and alerting a person about the potentially dangerous situation.

2. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the person is alerted when the first object is within a predetermined distance of the second object.

3. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the person is alerted when one of the first object or the second object is determined to be within a predefined area.

4. The warning system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first object or said second object comprises a vehicle.

5. The warning system of claim 4, wherein said vehicle comprises one of a car, a truck, a SUV, a motorcycle, a police car, an ambulance, a fire truck, an emergency personnel vehicle, a boat, a plane, a bus, a train, a mass transit vehicle, a mail delivery vehicle, a garbage collection vehicle, a semi-truck, a special purpose commercial vehicle, a funeral hearse, a fork lift, a backhoe, a dump truck, an industrial vehicle, a tank, an armored personnel carrier, or a military vehicle.

6. The warning system of claim 4, wherein said vehicle is transporting one of hazardous waste, explosive cargo, or flammable material.

7. The warning system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first object or said second object comprises one of a phone, watch, helmet, or computing device.

8. The warning system of claim 1, wherein said first object comprises a sensor.

9. The warning system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first object or said second object is installed in the infrastructure of one of a building, facility, home, business, industrial plant, school, church, hospital, airport, subway, mall, or grocery store.

10. The warning system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first object or said second object is at least one of a sign, traffic barrel, traffic cone, fence, or street light pole.

11. A method for warning a person of a potentially dangerous situation, said method comprising the steps of:

associating a first ultra wideband (UWB) radio with a first object;

associating a second UWB radio with a second object;

transmitting from said first UWB radio an UWB signal conveying information about said potentially dangerous situation; and

receiving said UWB signal at said second UWB radio; and

alerting said person about the potentially dangerous situation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the person is alerted when the first object is within a predetermined distance of the second object.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the person is alerted when one of the first object or the second object is determined to be within a predefined area.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of said first object or said second object comprises a vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said vehicle comprises one of a car, a truck, a SUV, a motorcycle, a police car, an ambulance, a fire truck, an emergency personnel vehicle, a boat, a plane, a bus, a train, a mass transit vehicle, a mail delivery vehicle, a garbage collection vehicle, a semi-truck, a special purpose commercial vehicle, a funeral hearse, a fork lift, a backhoe, a dump truck, an industrial vehicle, a tank, an armored personnel carrier, or a military vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said vehicle is transporting one of hazardous waste, explosive cargo, or flammable material.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of said first object or said second object comprises one of a phone, watch, helmet, or computing device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said first object comprises a sensor.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of said first object or said second object is installed in the infrastructure of one of a building, facility, home, business, industrial plant, school, church, hospital, airport, subway, mall, or grocery store.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of said first object or said second object is at least one of a sign, traffic barrel, traffic cone, fence, or street light pole.