Information system for a ship

• US 5,640,157 A
• Filed: 11/29/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thales Nederland BV (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Hollandse Signaalapparaten BV (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Langeraar, Huibert Barend
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/564,471
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 34/984, 348/573, 340/825.49, 340/825.73, 455/53.1
• US Class Current: 340/984
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1083 Pager locating systems

Abstract

The invention relates to an information system for a ship (1), and in particular for providing information about the position of ship'"'"'s crew members when a calamity occurs. For that purpose the ship'"'"'s crew members are provided with an identification means having a built-in transponder and the ship is provided with a number of detectors (3i) and with a central unit (5).

Claims

1. An information system for a ship, for providing information concerning the ship in case of crisis situations, comprising:

a system of detectors disposed in at least substantially each ship'"'"'s compartment and capable of detecting the presence of crew members;

a crisis detection means for detecting a crisis situation;

a central unit for processing information detected by said system of detectors and said crisis detection means;

a communication system for supplying information detected by said system of detectors and said crisis detection means to said central unit;

a memory means for storing positions of crew members at least substantially at the time of the crisis situation; and

a display means connected to the memory means for displaying the positions of crew members after detection of a crisis situation by said crisis detection means.

2. An information system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of repeaters, one repeater worn by each crew member;

each detector of said system of detectors periodically generating an electromagnetic radiation field capable of activating any of said plurality of repeaters.

3. An information system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

.

each detector of said system of detectors capable of detecting an activated repeater.

4. An information system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

each of said plurality of repeaters transmits upon activation.

5. An information system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

each of said plurality of repeaters operating on the basis of a harmonic generator.

6. An information system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

.

each of said plurality of repeaters forming part of a visual identification means.

7. An information system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

said central unit capable of establishing a crew member'"'"'s identity.

8. An information system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

said electromagnetic radiation field being generated at least substantially near the entrance to the compartment.