Digital situation indicator
First Claim
1. A digital situation indicator, personal monitoring and alarm system for firefighters comprising a sensor module, an integral, self contained, display module, and an incident commander module;
- (SM) said sensor module includes plurality of sensors (1, 4) constructed and arranged for monitoring conditions in connection with a firefighter, said sensors include an ambient temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor for sensing the air pressure in the air tank; and
a first control unit including a microcomputer (3) for analyzing data collected;
said sensor module (SM) further including;
a flashover warning alarm constructed and arranged for analyzing sensor data and determining when ambient conditions are appropriate for impending flashover;
means for computing a cumulative heat stress level and activating a heat stress warning alarm after a predetermined heat stress level has been reached, an infrared temperature sensor (9) for detecting high temperature behind closed doors and inside walls and a visible light laser (11) to show with its beam where said sensor (9) is pointed, said infrared temperature sensor (9) having a switch (10) such as a button for activating said infrared temperature sensor;
a personal alert safety system (PASS) having a motion sensor (6) and an alarm (5;
7);
a SOS button (20); and
a radio frequency transceiver (8, 12) constructed and arranged for transmitting sensor data, analyzed data and alarms to said display module and/or said incident commander module (ICM) and receiving messages from said incident commander module (ICM);
said display module, positioned in a face mask of the firefighter and being constructed and arranged for displaying collected and analyzed data in a numerical or graphical format, and said incident commander module (ICM) positioned at a distance from the firefighter for providing an incident commander with real-time data from said sensors on all firefighters in the area, said incident commander module (ICM) including;
a second control unit which includes a microprocessor (26);
a radio frequency transceiver (27) constructed and arranged for receiving sensor data transmissions and SOS transmissions from a plurality of firefighters, especially from their sensor modules (SM), and for transmitting messages to any selected firefighter or to all firefighters, and a display (28) for indicating information from the firefighters said display module includes a third control unit which includes a microprocessor (24), a display, which comprises an electro-luminescent backlit (22) miniature, digital liquid crystal display (21), and optical enhancement means, which comprises an achromatic doublet lens (22), optimized to correct for on-axis spherical and chromatic aberrations, said display (21) is positioned in a face mask.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personal monitoring system to be worn by an individual in a hazardous situation comprises an enclosed face mask which includes a transparent shield over at least the eves a sensor module secured to the individual which includes a plurality of sensors, a microprocessor and an RF transmission means operable to transmit data obtained by the sensors. The face mask includes a heads-up display comprising a housing containing an electroluminescent display panel, an optical lens, a microprocessor, and an RF receiver operable to receive data from the sensor module. The housing is configured to allow the mounting of the display panel and optical lens in a spaced-apart arrangement so that the display panel is viewed through the lens. The system of the invention also includes a central Incident Commander Module comprising an RF transceiver and a display panel which can receive and display sensor data from a plurality of head-worn devices.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A digital situation indicator, personal monitoring and alarm system for firefighters comprising a sensor module, an integral, self contained, display module, and an incident commander module;
- (SM) said sensor module includes plurality of sensors (1, 4) constructed and arranged for monitoring conditions in connection with a firefighter, said sensors include an ambient temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor for sensing the air pressure in the air tank; and
a first control unit including a microcomputer (3) for analyzing data collected;
said sensor module (SM) further including;
a flashover warning alarm constructed and arranged for analyzing sensor data and determining when ambient conditions are appropriate for impending flashover;
means for computing a cumulative heat stress level and activating a heat stress warning alarm after a predetermined heat stress level has been reached, an infrared temperature sensor (9) for detecting high temperature behind closed doors and inside walls and a visible light laser (11) to show with its beam where said sensor (9) is pointed, said infrared temperature sensor (9) having a switch (10) such as a button for activating said infrared temperature sensor;
a personal alert safety system (PASS) having a motion sensor (6) and an alarm (5;
7);
a SOS button (20); and
a radio frequency transceiver (8, 12) constructed and arranged for transmitting sensor data, analyzed data and alarms to said display module and/or said incident commander module (ICM) and receiving messages from said incident commander module (ICM);
said display module, positioned in a face mask of the firefighter and being constructed and arranged for displaying collected and analyzed data in a numerical or graphical format, and said incident commander module (ICM) positioned at a distance from the firefighter for providing an incident commander with real-time data from said sensors on all firefighters in the area, said incident commander module (ICM) including;
a second control unit which includes a microprocessor (26);
a radio frequency transceiver (27) constructed and arranged for receiving sensor data transmissions and SOS transmissions from a plurality of firefighters, especially from their sensor modules (SM), and for transmitting messages to any selected firefighter or to all firefighters, and a display (28) for indicating information from the firefighters said display module includes a third control unit which includes a microprocessor (24), a display, which comprises an electro-luminescent backlit (22) miniature, digital liquid crystal display (21), and optical enhancement means, which comprises an achromatic doublet lens (22), optimized to correct for on-axis spherical and chromatic aberrations, said display (21) is positioned in a face mask. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- (SM) said sensor module includes plurality of sensors (1, 4) constructed and arranged for monitoring conditions in connection with a firefighter, said sensors include an ambient temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor for sensing the air pressure in the air tank; and
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14. A digital situation indicator, for firefighters, comprising a sensor module(SM), an integral, self contained, display module and an incident commander module;
- said sensor module including plurality of sensors (1,4) constructed and arranged for monitoring conditions in connection with a firefighter, said sensors including an ambient temperature sensor, and an air tank pressure sensor; and
a first control unit including a microcomputer (3) constructed and arranged for analyzing the data collected by said sensors;
said sensor module (SM) further including;
a flashover warning alarm constructed and arranged for analyzing sensor data and detecting when ambient conditions are appropriate for impending flashover;
means for computing cumulative heat stress level and a heat stress warning alarm;
a personal alert safety system (PASS) including motion sensor (6) and alarm (5;
7);
SOS button (20); and
a radio frequency transceiver (8, 12) constructed and arranged for transmitting sensor data, analyzed data and alarms to said heads-up display module and/or said incident commander module (ICM) and receiving messages from said incident commander module (ICM);
said heads-up display module, positioned in a face mask of the firefighter constructed and arranged for displaying collected and analyzed data in a numerical format and further including a liquid crystal display and an optical lens constructed and arranged to correct for on-axis spherical and chromatic aberrations of said liquid crystal display and said incident commander module (ICM) positioned at a distance from the firefighter constructed and arranged for providing an incident commander with real-time sensors data on all firefighters in the area, said incident commander module (ICM) including;
a second control unit including a microprocessor (26);
a radio frequency transceiver (27) constructed and arranged for receiving sensor data transmissions and SOS transmissions from a plurality of firefighters, especially from their sensor modules (SM), and for transmitting messages to any selected firefighter or to all firefighters; and
a display (28) constructed and arranged for indicating information from the firefighters.
- said sensor module including plurality of sensors (1,4) constructed and arranged for monitoring conditions in connection with a firefighter, said sensors including an ambient temperature sensor, and an air tank pressure sensor; and
Specification