Restraining system including near field RFID detection

• US 9,477,858 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2013
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Salour, Al, Trimble, Douglas D., Vance, Jonathan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Florio, Kristine
• Application Number:
  US14/040,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0025 Details and accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10396 the interrogation device being wearable, e.g. as a glove, bracelet, or ring wearable aerials in general H01Q1/27

Abstract

A restraining system comprises a restraining device including first and second interlockable parts that, when interlocked, restrain the system. The restraining system further comprises a passive RFID tag attached to the first part, and a passive RFID reader coupled to the second part for near field detection of the tag within a prescribed range of the second part.

Claims

1. A platform system comprising:

a plurality of elevated platforms;

a plurality of platform identification devices, each identification device associated with one of the platforms, each identification device wirelessly broadcasting a signal at a first frequency within the confines of its associated platform, the signal including a unique identifier of the associated platform; and

a plurality of restraining systems, each restraining system including first and second interlockable parts, an RFID tag attached to the first part, and an RFID reader coupled to the second part for near field detection of the tag within a prescribed range of the second part, the RFID reader including a telemetry module for receiving a unique platform identifier from one of the identification devices and for broadcasting a status signal to a base station at a second non-interfering frequency with the identification devices.

2. The platform system of claim 1, wherein the elevated platforms are crane stackers.

3. A paint hangar comprising the platform system of claim 1.

4. The paint hangar of claim 3, wherein the elevated platforms are crane stackers.

5. A platform system comprising:

a platform;

a device onboard the platform, for wirelessly broadcasting a signal at a first frequency that identifies the platform with a unique identifier, power and gain of the signal tailored so the signal is broadcast within the confines of the platform; and

a restraining system including a plurality of first and second interlockable parts, an RFID tag attached to each first part, and an RFID reader coupled to each second part performing near field detection of the tag to determine interlock status of the first and second parts, the RFID reader including a telemetry module for receiving the unique platform identifier and for broadcasting a status signal to a base station at a second non-interfering frequency with the device onboard the platform, the status signal indicating the unique platform identifier and the interlock status.

6. The platform system of claim 5, wherein the reader performs near field detection within a prescribed range of a few inches of the second part.

7. The platform system of claim 5, wherein the reader continues the near field detection after the parts have been interlocked.

8. The platform system of claim 5, wherein the restraining device further includes an article of clothing that carries the passive reader and the second part.

9. The platform system of claim 5, wherein the restraining device further includes a safety harness that carries the passive reader and the second part.

10. The platform system of claim 9, further comprising a lanyard having a free end that carries the first part.

11. The platform system of claim 5, wherein the reader includes a processor programmed to raise an interlock signal when the reader detects the tag.

12. The platform system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed to lower the interlock signal once the reader does not detect the tag.

13. The platform system of claim 5, further comprising at least one additional restraining system, wherein the RFID reader of each restraining system onboard the platform is configured to read the broadcasted platform identifier and broadcast a status signal indicating the platform identifier and the interlock status.

14. The platform system of claim 13, wherein the elevated platform includes a lift mechanism;

and wherein the base station disables the lift mechanism when at least on status signal indicates a non-interlock status.