Mining detection system and method

• US 10,798,282 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2018
• Issued: 10/06/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Kraeling, Mark Bradshaw, Shaffer, Glenn Robert, Andarawis, Emad Andarawis, Brooksby, Glen William, Gushee, Christopher, Mayton, Jeffrey, Chen, Cheng-Po, Stoffel, Nancy Cecelia, Smith, Wyatt, Virgen, Jose Luis R., Olson, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Brian
• Application Number:
  US16/229,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20190149715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A device for detecting proximity to an active alternating current (AC) voltage source is provided. The device includes a housing, at least one antenna configured to generate a signal in response to exposure to electromagnetic radiation, signal processing circuitry configured to process the signal generated by the at least one antenna, a microprocessor configured to determine, from the processed signal, whether the alert device is proximate to the active AC voltage source, a communication device configured to generate a signal in response to a determination that the alert device is proximate the active AC voltage source, and an interference reduction device configured to discharge an accumulated charge on the alert device to reduce electromagnetic interference from sources other than the active AC voltage source.

Claims

1. A detection system comprising:

a housing configured to be worn by a user or carried on a mobile device;

at least one sensing circuit selectively coupled to the housing that is configured to sense or detect one or more of electromagnetic radiation, ionizing radiation, a determined liquid analyte, a determined gaseous analyte, a determined powdered analyte concentration, a level of oxygen below a determine threshold value, a data signal strength, a determined level of magnetic flux, a temperature, or a pressure;

at least one communication device that is configured to one or more of generate or communicate a signal in response to the sensing or detecting by the at least one sensing circuit; and

an interference circuit configured to reduce or eliminate interference by the sensing circuit, wherein the interference circuit is an interference reduction device embedded in the housing and communicatively coupled to a microprocessor, the interference reduction device configured to discharge an accumulated charge on the detection system to reduce electromagnetic interference from sources other than a proximate active voltage source and the microprocessor is further configured to cause the interference reduction device to discharge the accumulated charge after a determined period.

2. The detection system defined in claim 1, further comprising a locating device configured to determine a location of the housing.

3. The detection system defined in claim 2, wherein the at least one sensing circuit is configured to detect at least the electromagnetic radiation, and the interference circuit is configured to dissipate the accumulated charge on the at least one sensing circuit to reduce or eliminate electromagnetic interference.

4. The detection system defined in claim 3, further comprising an external receiver configured to receive the signal from the at least one communication device and to turn off voltage at a device in response to receiving the signal.

5. The detection system defined in claim 2, further comprising a backend system that is configured to communicate with the at least one communication device and thereby to at least receive the signal.

6. The detection system defined in claim 5, wherein the at least one communication device is further configured to transmit first location information from the locating device to the backend system, and the backend system is configured to perform an analysis of one or more signals generated by the at least one communication device and, based at least in part on the analysis and based at least in part on location information of other users is further configured to warn the other users of their approach to or toward an area where a hazard was indicated by the analysis, wherein the analysis is based at least in part on a combination of the one or more signals and the first location information.

7. The detection system defined in claim 5, wherein the at least one sensing circuit is configured to detect one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings, and the at least one communication device is configured to transmit those readings, and additional information, to the backend system;

and

the backend system stores information regarding the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings, and the additional information includes at least the time and location of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings.

8. The detection system defined in claim 7, wherein the backend system is configured to dispatch maintenance to an area in response to an indication by the signal that a threshold value of one or more sensed attributes has been achieved or surpassed, and is configured to tailor the maintenance that is dispatched to the area based at least in part on the hazardous or sub-hazardous readings that were detected.

9. The detection system defined in claim 7, wherein the at least one sensing circuit is configured to detect the one or more hazardous readings, and the at least one communication device is configured to transmit those readings, and the additional information, to the backend system, and

the additional information includes at least the location of the one or more hazardous readings and one or more vital signs of a user of the detection system, wherein a change in the vital signs that could indicate distress of such individual initiates a request for aid for such user to be dispatched to the location.

10. The detection system defined in claim 7, wherein the backend system is configured to monitor location information of a plurality of users, and to predict location movement of users to determine if any of the users are heading towards an area with identified hazardous or sub-hazardous readings.

11. The detection system defined in claim 7, wherein the backend system is configured to generate a heat map of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings, and based on determined threshold values associated with an area of the heat map to initiate one or more of:

dispatch maintenance to identify and address a cause of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings; and

monitor locations and/or vectors of a plurality of detection systems, and to identify users of such detection systems as such users move within a determined distance of the area of the heat map, and one or more of;

change an operation associated with the cause of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings;

alert such users that a possibility of a hazardous condition exists;

monitor such user'"'"'s vital signs for a change that could indicate distress of such individual;

or

dispatch emergency medical and/or hazardous material teams to a location of such users.

12. The detection system defined in claim 11, wherein the backend system is configured to change the operation associated with the cause of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings, and wherein the change in operation comprises one or more of:

switching a lock condition of a door that leads to or from a location corresponding to the area of the heat map;

initiating a ventilation system to seal the location;

initiating the ventilation system to ventilate the location;

de-energizing a circuit in the location;

or

initiating a fire suppression system at the location.

13. The detection system defined in claim 1, wherein the interference circuit comprises an electrically dissipative material.

14. The detection system defined in claim 1, wherein the interference reduction device is configured to discharge the accumulated charge on the detection system to reduce electromagnetic interference generated by the at least one communication device.

15. The detection system defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensing circuit has a substantially omnidirectional angular range.

16. The detection system defined in claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer embedded in the housing and communicatively coupled to the microprocessor, the accelerometer configured to:

detect movement of the detection system; and

selectively activate the microprocessor based on the detected movement.

17. A method, comprising:

collecting with the detection system according to claim 1 the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings;

comparing the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings to an associated set of determined threshold values, and responding to the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings exceeding at least one of the determined threshold values by;

dispatching maintenance to a location where the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings were generated to identify and address a cause of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings;

generating a heat map of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings; and

monitoring locations and/or vectors of a plurality of users, if any one of such plurality of users moves within a determined distance of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings,

wherein the method further comprises one or more of;

dispatching emergency medical and/or hazardous material teams to a location of such users;

alerting such users that a possibility of a hazardous condition exists;

monitoring such user'"'"'s vital signs for a change that could indicate distress of such individual;

or

changing an operation associated with the cause of the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings, wherein changing the operation comprises one or more of;

switching a lock condition of a door that leads to or from a location corresponding to an area of the heat map;

initiating a ventilation system to seal the location;

initiating the ventilation system to ventilate the location;

de-energizing a circuit in the location;

or

initiating a fire suppression system at the location.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein the one or more hazardous or sub-hazardous readings comprises detecting proximity of a high voltage source, and further comprising discharging a static charge on the detection system for detecting the proximity of the high voltage source.