Contact monitoring system
First Claim
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1. A system suitable for monitoring contact between a plurality of sources of contact within an environment, the system comprising:
- a monitoring device connected to each of the plurality of sources, each monitoring device comprising an indicator unit and a detecting unit,the indicator unit being operable to emit an electrical signal, andthe detecting unit being operable to detect and identify electrical signals of a type emitted by another indicator unit of another monitoring device upon contact between at least two of the plurality of sources, wherein the contact is from a physical contact between the at least two of the plurality of sources and output an information signal indicative of the type.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for monitoring contact or close proximity between one or more sources of contact within an environment and to one or more devices suitable for implementing such a system. Each source of contact is provided with a monitoring device. Each monitoring device comprises an indicator unit and a detecting unit. The indicator unit is operable to emit a signal and the detecting unit is operable to detect and identify signals of the type emitted by the indicator unit of another monitoring device and output an information signal indicative thereof.
15 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system suitable for monitoring contact between a plurality of sources of contact within an environment, the system comprising:
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a monitoring device connected to each of the plurality of sources, each monitoring device comprising an indicator unit and a detecting unit, the indicator unit being operable to emit an electrical signal, and the detecting unit being operable to detect and identify electrical signals of a type emitted by another indicator unit of another monitoring device upon contact between at least two of the plurality of sources, wherein the contact is from a physical contact between the at least two of the plurality of sources and output an information signal indicative of the type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of monitoring contact between a plurality of sources of contact within an environment, the method comprising:
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attaching monitoring devices to each source, the monitoring devices each comprising an indicator unit and a detecting unit; detecting electrical signals of a type emitted by another indicator unit of another monitoring device with a detecting unit of a given monitoring device, wherein the detected electrical signal indicates a detection of contact between at least two of the plurality of sources, the contact being from a physical contact between the at least two of the plurality of sources; and outputting an information signal indicative of the detected electrical signal.
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31. A monitoring device suitable for monitoring contact between a plurality of sources of contact within an environment, the monitoring device comprising:
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an indicator unit; a detecting unit; a connection means for connecting the monitoring device to a source of the plurality of sources; wherein the detecting unit comprises a receiver operable to detect electrical signals of a type emitted by other indicator units; and a processing unit operable to identify a detected electrical signal and output an information signal indicative of the detected electrical signal.
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Specification