Methods and systems for alerting persons of obstacles or approaching hazards

• US 8,362,896 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/051,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.21, 340/539.23, 340/384.4, 340/7.57, 340/7.58, 340/7.6, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 704/270, 704/271, 704/274, 704/275
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/30 Network data restoration; Network data reliability; Network data fault tolerance

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for alerting persons of obstacles and/or approaching hazards are provided. Embodiments may include a warning system that includes a radio source configured to transmit a radio signal and a warning device. The warning device may include at least one vibration device, at least two receiver devices configured to receive the radio signal, and a processing device operably coupled to at least two receiver devices and at least one vibration device, wherein the processing device is configured to determine at least a direction and a distance to the radio source from the warning device and configured to transmit a vibration signal to at least one vibration device based upon the determined direction and distance to the radio source from the warning device.

Claims

1. A warning system, comprising:

a radio source configured to transmit a radio signal; and

a warning device, comprising,

at least one vibration device;

at least two receiver devices configured to receive the radio signal; and

a processing device operably coupled to at least two receiver devices and at least one vibration device, wherein the processing device is configured to determine at least a direction and a distance to the radio source from the warning device and configured to transmit a vibration signal to at least one vibration device based upon the determined direction and distance to the radio source from the warning device,

wherein the direction is based at least in part on the relative signal strength of the radio signal detected by the two receiver devices.

2. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises a signal strength detector configured to determine the strength of signals received by receiver devices.

3. The warning system of claim 2, wherein the processing device is configured to determine the direction to the radio source from the warning device based at least partially upon the determined strength of signals received by receiver devices.

4. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the processing device comprises an amplitude detector configured to determine the amplitude of signals received by receiver devices.

5. The warning system of claim 4, wherein the processing device is configured to determine the distance to the radio source from the warning device based at least partially upon the determined amplitude for the signals received by receiver devices.

6. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the radio source comprises a component of a vehicle.

7. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the radio source comprises a Wi-Fi enabled device.

8. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the radio source comprises a Zigbee device.

9. The warning system of claim 1, wherein the warning device comprises a belt having at least four vibration devices positioned around the belt.

10. The warning system of claim 9, wherein the at least four vibration devices each have a corresponding receiver device.