Pedestrian-vehicle safety systems for loading docks
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a subject at a loading dock that includes an indoor area, an outdoor area, a doorway between the indoor area and the outdoor area, and a dock face generally facing in a forward direction toward the outdoor area, the method comprising:
- projecting, via a sensor, a first sensing projection and a second sensing projection relative to the dock face, the first sensing projection to extend a first sensing length relative to the dock face and the second sensing projection to extend a second sensing length relative to the dock face, the second sensing length being greater than the first sensing length;
detecting an interruption of at least one of the first sensing projection or the second sensing projection by a subject;
determining that the subject is a person when the subject interrupts the first sensing projection and the second sensing projection simultaneously; and
determining that the subject is a vehicle when the subject interrupts the second sensing projection before interrupting the first sensing projection in response to the vehicle moving toward the dock face.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Pedestrian-Vehicle safety systems for loading docks are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein includes sensing whether a person is within a certain area adjacent a dock face of a loading dock, emitting a first signal in response to sensing the person being present within the certain area, sensing rearward movement of a vehicle toward the dock face, emitting a second signal in response to sensing rearward movement of the vehicle while the person is not present in the certain area, and emitting a third signal in response to sensing both the rearward movement of the vehicle and the person being present within the certain area.
63 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a subject at a loading dock that includes an indoor area, an outdoor area, a doorway between the indoor area and the outdoor area, and a dock face generally facing in a forward direction toward the outdoor area, the method comprising:
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projecting, via a sensor, a first sensing projection and a second sensing projection relative to the dock face, the first sensing projection to extend a first sensing length relative to the dock face and the second sensing projection to extend a second sensing length relative to the dock face, the second sensing length being greater than the first sensing length; detecting an interruption of at least one of the first sensing projection or the second sensing projection by a subject; determining that the subject is a person when the subject interrupts the first sensing projection and the second sensing projection simultaneously; and determining that the subject is a vehicle when the subject interrupts the second sensing projection before interrupting the first sensing projection in response to the vehicle moving toward the dock face. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for detecting a subject at a loading dock having a doorway between an indoor area and an outdoor area, the loading dock including a dock face, the method comprising:
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monitoring an area adjacent a loading dock by sensing a width of the area via a first sensor and a second sensor; sensing, whether the first sensor or the second sensor is in a triggered state; determining that a vehicle is present in the area when the first sensor and the second sensor are in the triggered state and are providing two substantially equivalent feedback signals; and determining that a person is present in the area and a vehicle is not present in the area when at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor is in the triggered state, and the first sensor and the second sensor provide different feedback signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting a subject at a loading dock that includes an indoor area, an outdoor area and a doorway between the indoor area and the outdoor area, and a dock face generally facing in a forward direction toward the outdoor area, the method comprising:
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emitting a plurality of sensing projections angularly distributed within approximately a ninety-degree range in an array covering a monitored area; detecting an interruption pattern of the plurality of sensing projections, the interruption pattern including a sequence and a quantity of interrupted sensing projections; comparing the detected interruption pattern to a first predefined interruption pattern and a second predefined interruption pattern; and based on the comparison of the detected interruption pattern, determining at least one of a person is present when a first sensing projection of the plurality of sensing projections is interrupted or a vehicle is present at the loading dock when more than two sensing projections are interrupted simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for detecting a subject at a loading dock that includes an indoor area, an outdoor area and a doorway between the indoor area and the outdoor area, and a dock face generally facing in a forward direction toward the outdoor area, the method comprising:
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sensing, via a first sensor, a person within an area proximate the dock face; sensing, via a second sensor, a vehicle moving toward the dock face; emitting, via a processor, an alert in response to sensing the person present within the area while the vehicle is moving in a direction toward the dock face; detecting, via the processor, a change in speed of the vehicle as the vehicle is moving toward the dock face; and varying, via the processor, the alert based on the change in speed.
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Specification