Safety device for a technical installation or a technical process

• US 9,311,800 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Technology AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Hollender, Martin, Atkinson, Tony B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis
• Application Number:
  US14/027,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/575, 340/576, 348/143, 348/148, 348/77, 348/78, 701/1, 701/49, 180/272
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a safety device and a method for detecting and evaluating the degree of attention of an operator of a technical installation or a technical process, which includes a first module which records values of predefined physiological parameters of the operator and determines a first characteristic number from the recorded values, compares the determined first characteristic number with a predefined first characteristic value, which activates a second module which records further values provided by a checking or triggering mechanism. The second module determines a second characteristic number for the degree of attention of the operator from the recorded further values, compares the second characteristic number with at least one second predefined characteristic value, which triggers an activation module in order to take countermeasures which increase the attention of the operator of the installation.

Claims

1. A safety device having a processor for detecting and evaluating the degree of attention of an operator of a technical installation or a technical process, the safety device comprising:

a first module configured to;

record values of predefined physiological parameters of the operator and determine a first characteristic number from the recorded values; and

compare the determined first characteristic number with a predefined first characteristic value and, if the first characteristic value is exceeded and/or undershot or if a predefined first range of characteristic values is left, activates a second module; and

wherein the second module is configured to;

record further values provided by a checking or triggering mechanism;

determine a second characteristic number for the degree of attention of the operator from the recorded further values;

compare the second characteristic number with at least one second predefined characteristic value and, if the second characteristic value is exceeded and/or undershot or if a predefined second range of characteristic values is left; and

request an action from the operator, and if the operator does not respond to the request, triggers an activation module for taking countermeasures which increases the attention of the operator of the installation, the countermeasures including automatically informing a further person of the operator'"'"'s failure to respond to the request.

2. The safety device according to claim 1, comprising:

a processing and evaluation unit configured to;

interact with the first and second modules;

determine a further characteristic number for the degree of attention of the operator in an automated manner from the recorded values;

compare the further characteristic number with at least one predefined further characteristic value; and

trigger a further activation module if the further characteristic value is exceeded and/or undershot or if a predefined further range of characteristic values is left.

3. The safety device according to claim 1, comprising:

a signal generator, which is provided as the triggering mechanism.

4. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the checking or triggering mechanism is configured to transmit a preset signal to the operator in an automated manner, the operator providing the processing and evaluation unit with a value only after feedback from the operator to the transmitted signal.

5. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the degree of attention or the degree of fatigue of the operator is determined using the predefined physiological parameters.

6. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the first module is configured to detect body reactions of the operator.

7. The safety device according to claim 1, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect body reactions of the operator.

8. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the safety device is integrated in an operating and monitoring system.

9. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the operating and monitoring system is a safety-critical technical installation or a safety-critical technical process.

10. The safety device according to claim 9, wherein the technical installation or technical process is an oil and gas platform, a refinery, or a power station installation.

20. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the action from the operator is pressing a button.

11. A method for a technical installation or a technical process using a device for detecting and evaluating the degree of attention of an operator of the installation or the process, the method comprising:

recording values of predefined physiological parameters of the operator using a first module;

determining a first characteristic number from the recorded values;

comparing the determined first characteristic number with a predefined first characteristic value and, if the first characteristic value is exceeded and/or undershot or if a predefined first range of characteristic values is left, activating a second module to record further values provided by a checking or triggering mechanism;

determining a second characteristic number for the degree of attention of the operator from the recorded further values using the second module; and

comparing the second characteristic number with at least one second predefined characteristic value and, if the second characteristic value is exceeded and/or undershot or if a predefined second range of characteristic values is left, requesting an action from the operator and if the operator does not respond to the request, triggering an activation module for taking countermeasures which increase the attention of the operator of the installation, the countermeasures including automatically informing a further person of the operator'"'"'s failure to respond to the request.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising:

determining a characteristic number for the degree of attention of the operator in an automated manner from the recorded values using a processing and evaluation unit which is configured to interact with the first module and the second module;

comparing the characteristic number with at least one predefined characteristic value; and

triggering a further activation module if the characteristic value is exceeded and/or undershot, or if a predefined range of characteristic values is left.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising:

recording the values by the first module and the second module on the processing and evaluation unit; and

determining a long-term characteristic number using the recorded values to make a statement on the average number of signs of fatigue over a predefined period of time.

14. The method according to claim 11, comprising:

generating a signal using motion detection software stored in the first module and/or in the second module if no movement of the operator has been registered over a predefined period of time.

15. The method according to claim 13, comprising:

generating a signal using motion detection software stored in the first module and/or in the second module if no movement of the operator has been registered over a predefined period of time.

16. The method according to claim 11, comprising:

determining the degree of attention or the degree of fatigue of the operator using the predefined physiological parameters.

17. The method according to claim 11, comprising:

detecting body reactions of the operator with the first module.

18. The method according to claim 11, comprising:

detecting body reactions of the operator using at least one sensor.

19. The method according to claim 11, comprising:

integrating the safety device in an operating and monitoring system.