Proximity detection system and method and collision avoidance system and method using proximity detection

• US 9,898,930 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Strata Proximity Systems, LLC (Strata Worldwide Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Strata Safety Products LLC (Strata Worldwide Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frederick, Larry D., Hammond, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US15/288,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20170025016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/145 using magnetic technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

The invention relates to a complex proximity safety and warning system. The invention provides a safety system comprising a generator that generates a magnetic field that establishes a boundary, where the generator is capable of receiving radio frequency signals. Also provided is a radio frequency device that sends radio frequency signals, the radio frequency device being capable of sensing the magnetic field and generating a radio frequency response.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a vehicle;

a first field generator that generates a first magnetic field;

a second field generator that generates a second magnetic field; and

an alarm device that sends response signals, the alarm device being configured to determine a strength of the first and the second magnetic fields, respectively, and to generate an alarm if the strength of the first magnetic field is above a first predetermined threshold and the strength of the second magnetic field is not above a second predetermined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device is further configured to not generate an alarm if the strength of the first magnetic field is above the first predetermined threshold and the strength of the second magnetic field is above the second predetermined threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm is an audible alarm.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm is a wireless response signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second field generator is positioned at the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the alarm device is positioned at a dump point.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the alarm device is positioned at a loading dock.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the alarm device is positioned on a worker.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle is a first vehicle, and further comprising a second vehicle, the alarm device being positioned at the second vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the alarm device is a first alarm device, and the system further comprises:

a third generator similar to the first generator, and a second alarm device similar to the first alarm device;

the third generator being positioned at the second vehicle, and the second alarm device being positioned at the first vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a first circuit connecting the first generator and the second alarm device, wherein the circuit disables the second alarm device during the time the first generator generates the magnetic field.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the second alarm device generates an alarm when it senses the magnetic field of the third generator.

13. The system of claim 1, feather comprising;

a plurality of vehicles;

plurality of first and second field generators, each similar to the first and second field generators, respectively;

a plurality of alarm devices, each similar to the alarm device;

each of said vehicles having a corresponding one of the first and second field generators.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said generator senses for a response signal from said alarm device after a predetermined time delay.

15. The collision avoidances system of claim 1, wherein said generator is turned on and off to generate pulses of said magnetic field.

16. The system claim 1, wherein said magnetic field operates at a low frequency of approximately 73 kHz.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising multiple generators that generate oscillating magnetic fields in a random manner within selected periods of time.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein said multiple generators generate oscillating magnetic fields sequentially and not at the same time.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein a size of the magnetic field is modified by changing a width of a waveform input to a tuned circuit of the generator.

20. A system, comprising:

a vehicle;

a first field generator that generates a first magnetic field;

a second field generator that generates a second magnetic field; and

an alarm device configured to detect an identity of the respective first and second magnetic fields based on a coding of the first and second magnetic fields.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the coding is a time division coding.