Method and system for reducing the risk of a moving machine colliding with personnel or an object
First Claim
1. A method for reducing the risk of a moving machine colliding with an object, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a radio frequency (RF) signal and transmitting it by a transmitting antenna attached to or associated with the object, and receiving the RF signal with a receiving antenna attached to the machine;
(b) using a processor to automatically perform a computer-implemented process as directed by a set of program instructions stored in a memory component, the computer-implemented process comprising the steps of;
(i) determining a RF signal-based machine-object distance between the machine and the object based on at least the strength of the RF signal at the receiving antenna; and
(ii) conditional upon at least one minimum safe distance from a plurality of different minimum safe distances stored in the memory component exceeding the determined signal-based machine-object distance, taking at least one signal-based preventative action corresponding to the at least one minimum safe distance which exceeds the machine-object distance wherein the at least one signal-based preventative action comprises determining an acoustic-based machine-object distance using an acoustic location device attached to the machine and operatively connected to the processor; and
conditional upon the at least one minimum safe distance exceeding the determined acoustic-based machine-object distance, taking at least one acoustic-based preventative action comprising one or a combination of;
actuating a sensory alarm;
or actuating a means for slowing or stopping the machine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for reducing the risk of a moving machine colliding with an object involves a receiving antenna attached to the machine receiving an RF signal transmitted by a transmitting antenna attached to the object and energized by a power source. A processor operatively connected to the receiving antenna carries out a computer-implemented process under the direction of a set of program instructions stored in the memory component to determine the machine-object distance based on the strength of the RF signal at the receiving antenna. If the machine-object distance is less than a specified minimum safe distance, then the processor takes a preventative action such as actuating a sensory alarm, actuating a means for slowing the machine, or actuating an acoustic location device to more accurately determine the machine-object distance. The processor may also take a preventative action based on a state variable encoded in the RF signal.
23 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for reducing the risk of a moving machine colliding with an object, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a radio frequency (RF) signal and transmitting it by a transmitting antenna attached to or associated with the object, and receiving the RF signal with a receiving antenna attached to the machine; (b) using a processor to automatically perform a computer-implemented process as directed by a set of program instructions stored in a memory component, the computer-implemented process comprising the steps of; (i) determining a RF signal-based machine-object distance between the machine and the object based on at least the strength of the RF signal at the receiving antenna; and (ii) conditional upon at least one minimum safe distance from a plurality of different minimum safe distances stored in the memory component exceeding the determined signal-based machine-object distance, taking at least one signal-based preventative action corresponding to the at least one minimum safe distance which exceeds the machine-object distance wherein the at least one signal-based preventative action comprises determining an acoustic-based machine-object distance using an acoustic location device attached to the machine and operatively connected to the processor; and
conditional upon the at least one minimum safe distance exceeding the determined acoustic-based machine-object distance, taking at least one acoustic-based preventative action comprising one or a combination of;
actuating a sensory alarm;
or actuating a means for slowing or stopping the machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for reducing the risk of a moving machine colliding with an object having an attached or associated transmitting antenna for transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal, the system comprising:
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(a) a receiving antenna for receiving the RF signal, wherein the receiving antenna is attached to the machine; (b) a receiver operatively connected to the receiving antenna; (c) an alarm; (d) a means for slowing or stopping the machine; and (e) a processor operatively connected to the receiver, the means for slowing or stopping the machine, the alarm and a memory component storing a set of program instructions directing the processor to perform a computer-implemented process comprising the steps of; (i) determining a signal-based machine-object distance between the machine and the object based on at least the strength of the RF signal at the receiving antenna; and (ii) conditionally upon at least one minimum safe distance from a plurality of different minimum safe distances stored in the memory component exceeding the determined signal-based machine-object distance, taking at least one signal-based preventative action corresponding to the at least one minimum safe distance which exceeds the machine-object distance wherein the at least one signal-based preventative action comprises determining an acoustic-based machine-object distance using an acoustic location device attached to the machine and operatively connected to the processor; and
conditional upon the at least one minimum safe distance exceeding the determined acoustic-based machine-object distance, taking at least one acoustic-based preventative action comprising one or a combination of;
actuating a sensory alarm;
or actuating a means for slowing or stopping the machine. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification