Device and process for entering or leaving an area in a controlled manner

• US 7,170,406 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Safety Incorporated (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Seemann, Gu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung T.
• Application Number:
  US10/940,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/528, 340/506, 340/632, 340/573.1, 340/5.8, 340/5.2, 340/572.2, 340/541, 340/10.1, 340/686.1, 713/182
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A device system and a process for monitoring an industrial plant offers the persons working at the plant with the greatest possible protection. Signal transmitters (4, 5), which are fastened to persons (2, 3) or mobile objects, send or trigger a code related to a person or mobile object. Position marks (31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42, 61, 62, 71, 72, 36, 37, 74), which provide a position code and a direction code for passing through an entrance or an exit, are arranged at entrances and exits of an industrial plant (21, 22). A receiving unit (15, 35, 43, 63, 73) receives the code of the signal transmitters combined with the position code and direction code. A computing and evaluating unit (12) is connected with the receiving unit and generates a topology for the persons or mobile objects to enter or leave the industrial plant.

Claims

1. A device enabling persons or mobile objects to enter or leave an area in a controlled manner, the device comprising:

signal transmitters fastened respectively to persons or mobile objects, said transmitters sending or triggering a code related to a person or mobile objects;

plural position marks at each of the entrances and at each of the exits of the area, said plural position marks providing a position code and a direction code for the passage by an entrance or an exit;

a receiving means for receiving the code of the signal transmitters combined with the position and direction code; and

a computing and evaluating unit connected with the receiving means and designed to generate a topology for persons or mobile objects to enter or leave the area.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a central meeting point position mark provided at a central meeting point, said receiving means being connected with the computing and evaluating unit for receiving the code of the persons or objects located in the range of action of said central meeting point position mark.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the area is provided with monitoring means for sending measured signals to said computing and evaluating unit, said computing and evaluating unit having means for recognizing and localizing a state of alarm or warning from the measured signals, and said computing and evaluating unit having comparison means for comparing the position data of the persons or objects within the area with the position of the monitoring means triggering the state of alarm or warning and for generating a escape signal showing the escape route.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the monitoring means comprise a gas indicator system and a fire alarm system.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the area is an industrial plant with walkable buildings located therein.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the position marks are arranged at said entrances and exits of the industrial plant and the buildings.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plural position marks are physically arranged to generate directional information to form said direction code.

8. A process for enabling persons or mobile objects to enter or leave an area in a controlled manner, the process comprising the steps of:

fastening signal transmitters to persons or mobile objects, the signal transmitters sending or triggering a code related to the person or mobile objects;

arranging plural position marks at the entrances and exits of the area to provide a position code and a direction code for the passage of signal transmitters by an entrance or an exit;

providing receiving means receiving the code of the signal transmitter combined with the position code and the direction code; and

generating a topology for the persons or mobile objects to enter or leave the area with a computing and evaluating unit, which is connected with the reception means.

9. A process in accordance with claim 8, further comprising providing a central meeting point position mark provided at a central meeting point, said receiving means being connected with the computing and evaluating unit and transmitting the code of said persons or mobile objects located in the range of action of the central meeting point position mark.

10. A process in accordance with claim 8, wherein the area is provided with monitoring means sending measured signals to the computing and evaluating unit and states of alarm or warning are localized from the measured signals, the position data of the persons or mobile objects and the site of the state of alarm or warning are compared such that an escape route is shown to one or more exits.

11. A process in accordance with claim 8, further comprising physically arranging each plurality of position marks to generate directional information to form said direction code.

12. A system for monitoring an area, the system comprising:

a transmitter fastened to a person or a mobile object, said transmitter sending or triggering a code related to the person or the mobile object;

a plurality of position marks at the entrances and a plurality of position marks at the exits of the area, said position marks providing a position code and together cooperating to provide a direction code for the passage of the transmitter by an entrance or an exit;

a receiving unit receiving the code of the signal transmitters combined with the position and direction code; and

a computing and evaluating unit connected with the receiving means and providing information as to persons or mobile objects entering and/or leaving the area.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a central meeting point position mark provided at a central meeting point, said receiving means being connected with the computing and evaluating unit for receiving the code of the persons or objects located in the range of action of said central meeting point position mark.

14. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the area is provided with monitoring means for sending measured signals to said computing and evaluating unit, said computing and evaluating unit having means for recognizing and localizing a state of alarm or warning from the measured signals, and said computing and evaluating unit having comparison means for comparing the position data of the persons or objects within the area with the position of the monitoring means triggering the state of alarm or warning and for generating a escape signal showing the escape route.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the monitoring means comprise a gas indicator system and a fire alarm system.

16. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the area is an industrial plant with walkable buildings located therein.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the position marks are arranged at said entrances and exits of the industrial plant and the buildings.

18. A device in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said plural position marks are physically arranged to generate directional information to form said direction code.