System and method for accident prevention

• US 7,982,624 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IDENT Technology AG (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IDENT Technology AG (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Donat, Stefan, Rosenbeck, Peter, Richter, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHANNON, MICHAEL T
• Application Number:
  US10/522,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20060208577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,063 Days
• Field of Search: 340 58- 582, 340 52- 521, 340/626, 340/611, 340/614, 340514-516, 340 105- 1052, 340 33- 331, 340/5.22, 340 35- 354, 173/177, 173/20
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/00 Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body F16P5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system for preventing accidents in the operation of a monitored apparatus carried by a user has terminal in direct contact with the body of the user and provided with a circuit for continuously or periodically transmitting an authorizing user data signal through the body of the user. A signal receiver assigned on the monitored apparatus or machine has an interface in contact with the user for receiving the signal, a circuit for continuously or periodically testing the received data signal, another circuit for outputting a clearance signal that allows operation of the monitored machine or apparatus after a successful test of the received authorizing user data signal, and yet another circuit for terminating output of the clearance signal following a successful test of the authorizing user data signal when a subsequent test of the data signal fails.

Claims

1. A system for preventing accidents in the operation of a monitored machine or apparatus having first and second hand grips adapted to be grasped by respective hands of a user, the system comprising:

a user end device or terminal in the first hand grip in direct contact with the respective hand of the user with output means for continuously or periodically transmitting an authorizing user data signal through the body of the user, and

a signal receiver assigned to the monitored apparatus or machine and having

interface means in the second hand grip in contact with the respective hand of the user for receiving the authorizing data signal transmitted through the body of the user from the first grip,

means for continuously or periodically testing the received data signal,

means for outputting a clearance signal that allows operation of the monitored machine or apparatus after a successful test of the received authorizing user data signal, and

means for terminating output of the clearance signal following a successful test of the authorizing user data signal when a subsequent test of the data signal fails, whereby the monitored machine or apparatus can only be operated when held by the user with both hand grips.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the output means functions inductively or capacitively through the body of the user.

3. The system according to claim 1 in which the output means of the user end device or terminal has a contact region for direct coupling of the authorizing user data signal to the body of the user or a signal output for transmitting the authorizing data signal to a device directly connected with the body of the user.

4. The system according to claim 1 in which the user end device or terminal is equipped and programmed to transmit signals comprising a code giving authorization to the user and control commands for controlling the signal receiver.

5. The system according to claim 1 in which the interface means of the signal receiver comprises contact-sensitive means for receiving the signals from the user end device or terminal upon contact of the contact-sensitive means with the user.

6. The system according to claim 1 in which the interface means of the signal receiver has inductive or capacitive means for receiving the signals of the user end device or terminal by means of inductive or capacitive signal transmission.

7. The system according to claim 1 in which the means of the signal receiver for testing the authorizing data signal comprise a correspondence register with at least two storage or memory locations or data for testing the authorizing data signal.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the signal receiver is equipped and programmed depending upon the signal received from the user end device or terminal to access data for testing the authorization data signal.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the user end device or terminal is arranged in or on protective clothing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitored machine or apparatus comprises a household appliance, electric and mechanical tool, or machine tool.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the output means is configured so that it effects signal coupling on the basis of electrostatic interaction.

12. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the first hand grip has

a body including a hand grip outer surface engageable by an inner surface of the respective hand of the user and having a segment forming a hand rest for the respective hand inner surface, and

in the region of the respective hand inner surface at least one pressure-sensitive zone for generating a signal indicating the hand grip gripping state and constituting the authorizing data signal.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the hand grip outer surface has a plurality of the pressure-sensitive zones.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein the at least one pressure-sensitive zone forms part of a fluid pressure chamber.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the at least one pressure-sensitive zone is formed by an elastically deformable pressure chamber wall.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the pressure chamber is filled with a liquid, gel or gas.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein the pressure chamber is coupled with a switch.

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein the pressure chamber is coupled with a pressure-measurement device.

19. The system according to claim 12 wherein the first hand grip has pressure-sensitive zones in the hand rest region and in a finger inner surface rest region.

20. The system according to claim 12 further comprising a plurality of individual finger inner surface pressure-sensitive zones in the region of the first hand grip.

21. The system according to claim 12, further comprising an orientation-detecting device in the region of the first hand grip.

22. The system according to claim 12 wherein the first hand grip is a hand grip of a drill.

23. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a signal-modulating device for modulation of the authorizing data signal.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the signal is modulated so that it contains a data telegram.