Methods and apparatus to detect and warn proximate entities of interest

• US 9,542,824 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Inventors: Beggs, Ryan P, Boerger, James C., Hoffmann, David J., Markham, Ken, McNeill, Matthew, Muhl, Timothy, Nelson, Kyle, Oates, James, Senfleben, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US14/610,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20150145701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 340/475, 340/435, 340/467, 340/944, 340/439, 340/476, 340/432, 116/28.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2673 on parts worn by the driver, e.g. clothes, gloves or bags, specially adapted to provide auxiliary vehicle signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Systems and methods to detect and warn proximate entities of interest are described herein. An example detection system includes a light source attachable to a forktruck, where the light source projects an illuminated warning field on a floor on which the forktruck is to traverse. The light source projects the illuminated warning field at a distance from a front end of the forktruck. The light source is separate from a headlight of the forktruck.

Claims

1. A detection system comprising:

a light source attachable to a forktruck, the light source to project an illuminated indicator on a floor on which the forktruck is to traverse at a distance from a front end of the forktruck, the light source being separate from a headlight of the forktruck, the indicator to project a first illuminated warning field indicative of a non-hazardous condition when neither a vehicle nor a pedestrian is detected by the forktruck to be within a warning zone of the forktruck, and the indicator to project a second illuminated warning field indicative of a hazardous condition when at least one of the vehicle or the pedestrian is detected within the warning zone of the forktruck, the first illuminated warning field being different than the second illuminated warning field.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is to project a first color to provide the first illuminated warning field when the non-hazardous condition is detected and the light source to project a second color different than the first color to provide the second illuminated warning field when the hazardous condition is detected.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first color comprises green and the second color comprises red.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a selector to enable selection between different modes of movement of the forktruck and a detector to determine which of the different modes of movement has been selected via the selector, wherein the modes of movement include at least one of forward, reverse or stationary.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the illuminated warning field projected by the light source has a pre-determined profile.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the profile of the illuminated warning field comprises a cone-shaped profile.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first illuminated warning field includes

an optical driving path.

16. The forktruck of claim 15, wherein the first illuminated warning field is projected for at least one of movement or non-movement of the forktruck along the floor.

17. The forktruck of claim 15, wherein the first illuminated warning field is conspicuous relative to a light projected by each of the headlights.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is activated without input from an operator of the forktruck.

5. A detection system comprising:

a light source attachable to a forktruck, the light source to project an illuminated indicator on a floor on which the forktruck is to traverse at a distance from a front end of the forktruck, the light source being separate from a headlight of the forktruck, the illuminated indicator to project a first illuminated warning field indicative of a non-hazardous condition when neither a vehicle nor a pedestrian is detected by the forktruck to be within a warning zone of the forktruck; and

a selector to enable selection between different modes of movement of the forktruck and a detector to determine which of the different modes of movement has been selected via the selector, wherein the modes of movement include at least one of forward, reverse or stationary, the light source to illuminate the illuminated indicator on the floor in front of the forktruck when selector of the forktruck is in a forward mode of movement and the forktruck is moving in a forward direction.

6. A detection system comprising:

a light source attachable to a forktruck, the light source to project an illuminated warning field on a floor on which the forktruck is to traverse, the light source to project the illuminated warning field at a distance from a front end of the forktruck, the light source being separate from a headlight of the forktruck, wherein the light source illuminates the illuminated warning field on the floor in front of the forktruck when the forktruck is moving in a forward direction, the light source including at least one of an adjustable aperture, an adjustable lens, or an adjustable position so that at least one of a shape or direction of the light source is modulated based on signal inputs, the signal inputs including at least one of a speed or a mode of movement of the forktruck.

9. A method of providing a warning field, the method comprising:

attaching a light source to a frame of a forktruck;

detecting a direction of travel of the forktruck;

continuously projecting a light from the light source to a floor on which the forktruck is to traverse and in the detected direction of travel of the forktruck, the light providing a visual warning field having a characteristic indicative of a location of the forktruck; and

controlling, via a controller, the light source to project a first color to provide a first warning field when a non-hazardous condition is detected and the light source to project a second color different than the first color to provide a second warning field when a hazardous condition is detected.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising projecting for at least one of movement or non-movement of the forktruck along the floor.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a different mode of movement of the forktruck including at least one of forward, reverse or stationary.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising projecting the visual warning field with a pre-determined profile.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising projecting the visual warning field with a cone-shaped profile.

12. A method of providing a warning field, the method comprising:

attaching a light source to a frame of a forktruck;

projecting a light from the light source to a floor on which the forktruck is to traverse and in a direction of travel of the forktruck, the light providing a visual warning field having a characteristic indicative of a location of the forktruck; and

adjusting at least one of an aperture, a lens, or a position of the light source so that at least one of a shape or direction of the light source is modulated based on signal inputs, the signal inputs including at least one of a speed or the direction of travel of the forktruck.