Devices, systems and method of determining the location of mobile personnel

• US 20070229356A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Company (MSA Safety, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kodrin, David
• Application Number:
  US11/705,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229356A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/458
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/047 Displays or indicators G01S1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks

Abstract

A locator system to be associated with a mobile person includes a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals. The transmitter is adapted to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals, and the receiver is adapted to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals from at least one other locator system. The other locator system includes a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals. The locator system and the at least one other locator system provide a distance between the locator system and the at least one other locator system so that the locator system can be located without establishing a reference ultra-wide bandwidth locator system. The locator system can be adapted to be in a low-power mode until activated upon communication of an activation signal to the locator system. A safety system is adapted to be associated with a mobile person and includes a locator system including a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals. The safety system further includes a telemetric communication system adapted to communicate telemetric data and sensor system including at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one parameter. The locator system is adapted to be in a low-power mode until activated upon communication of an activation signal to the locator system. The locator system transmits ultra-wide bandwidth signals periodically and receives periodic ultra-wide bandwidth signals from at least one other like locator system upon activation.

Claims

1. A locator system to be associated with a mobile person, comprising:

a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals;

the transmitter being adapted to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals and the receiver being adapted to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals from at least one other locator system, the other locator system comprising a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals;

the locator system and the at least one other locator system providing a distance between the locator system and the at least one other locator system so that the locator system can be located without establishing a reference ultra-wide bandwidth locator system.

2. The locator system of claim 1 wherein:

the locator system is adapted to be in a low-power mode until activated upon receipt of an activation signal.

3. A safety system adapted to be associated with a mobile person, comprising:

a locator system comprising a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals;

a telemetric communication system adapted to communicate telemetric data;

a sensor system comprising at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one parameter,

the locator system being adapted to be in a low-power mode until activated upon communication of an activation signal to the locator system, the locator system transmitting ultra-wide bandwidth signals periodically and receiving periodic ultra-wide bandwidth signals from at least one other like locator system upon activation.

4. The safety system of claim 3 wherein an activation signal is communicated to the locator system upon the at least one parameter measured by the sensor being within a threshold range, upon manual activation of an actuator of the safety system or upon receipt by the safety system of an activation transmission.

5. The safety system of claim 4 wherein the activation transmission is transmitted to the safety system upon a parameter measured by a sensor system of a like safety system being determined to be within a threshold range.

6. The safety system of claim 3 wherein the telemetric communication system transmits data corresponding to the at least one parameter.

7. The safety system of claim 3 wherein the telemetric communication system comprises a narrow band radio receiver and a narrow band radio transmitter.

8. The safety system of claim 7 wherein the safety system further comprises a controller in operative communication with the ultra-wide bandwidth receiver, the ultra-wide bandwidth transmitter, the narrow band radio receiver, the narrow band radio transmitter and the sensor system.

9. The safety system of claim 8 wherein the safety system further comprises a power supply in operative communication with the ultra-wide bandwidth receiver, the ultra-wide bandwidth transmitter, the narrow band radio receiver, the narrow band radio transmitter and the sensor system.

10. The safety system of claim 9 wherein the safety system is in operative connection with a self contained breathing apparatus.

11. The safety system of claim 10 wherein the sensor system comprises a motion sensor to detect motion of the person.

12. The safety system of claim 10 wherein the locator system is powered upon activation of the self contained breathing apparatus.

13. The safety system of claim 12 wherein the sensor system comprises a motion sensor to detect motion of the person and a sensor to measure pressure in a tank of breathing gas forming a part of the self contained breathing apparatus.

14. A network system comprising:

a plurality of locator systems, each of the locator systems comprising;

a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals;

the transmitter being adapted to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals and the receiver being adapted to receiving ultra-wide bandwidth signals from at least one other locator system, the at least one other locator system comprising a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals;

the locator system being adapted to be in a low-power mode until activated upon receipt of an activation signal.

15. The network system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of locator systems form an ad hoc network.

16. The network system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of locator systems form a mesh network.

17. A network system comprising:

a plurality of safety systems, each safety system adapted to be associated with a mobile person, each safety system comprising;

a locator system comprising a receiver to receive ultra-wide bandwidth signals and a transmitter to transmit ultra-wide bandwidth signals;

a telemetric communication system adapted to communicate telemetric data;

a sensor system comprising at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one parameter,

the locator system being adapted to be in a low-power mode until activated upon communication of an activation signal to the locator system, the locator system transmitting ultra-wide bandwidth signals periodically and receiving periodic ultra-wide bandwidth signals from at least one other like locator system upon activation.

18. The network system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of safety systems form an ad hoc network.

19. The network system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of safety systems form a mesh network.