Safety system for operations having a working field on an opposite side of a barrier from a device

Abstract

Systems and methods for increasing situational awareness for a tool operator and an individual approaching a working field of the tool are described. An example method includes activating a first device, where the first device has a working field and has au operational path configured to intersect a barrier. A proximity sensor of the second device then detects a presence of an object in a sensor zone of the second device. The second device transmits a wireless signal to the first device indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device. Then at least one of the first device and the second device issues a first alert indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 activating a first device, wherein the first device has a working field, wherein the first device has an operational path configured to intersect a barrier; 
 detecting, via a proximity sensor of a second device, a presence of an object in a sensor zone of the second device; 
 transmitting, via the second device, a wireless signal to the first device indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device; and 
 based on detecting the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device, issuing a first alert, via at least one of the first device and the second device, indicating the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device; 
 determining, via the second device, a signal strength of the first device by measuring a power level of a pilot signal emitted by the first device; 
 displaying a signal strength indicator on at least one of the first device and the second device, wherein the displayed signal strength indicator is based on the determined signal strength; and 
 positioning the second device relative to the first device based on the displayed signal strength indicator. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting, via the proximity sensor of the second device, the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device comprises detecting the presence of the object in the working field of the first device, and wherein issuing the first alert comprises disabling at least one operative function of the first device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 arranging the second device in a non-line-of-sight position relative to the first device such that the first device and the second device are arranged on opposite sides of the barrier. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, via the second device, a signal strength of the first device;   displaying a signal strength indicator on at least one of the first device and the second device, wherein the displayed signal strength indicator is based on the determined signal strength; and   positioning the second device relative to the first device based on the displayed signal strength indicator.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim  4  1, further comprising:
 moving the first device to a location remote from the second device; 
 determining, via the second device, a that the signal strength of the first device is less than a predetermined signal strength threshold; and 
 in response to determining the signal strength of the first device is less than the predetermined signal strength threshold, moving the second device in a direction of the first device. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein moving the second device in the direction of the first device comprises the second device automatically moving along a guide-rail or a track in response to sensor feedback. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining, via the second device, the signal strength of the first device; 
 determining, via the second device, the signal strength of the first device meets or exceeds the predetermined signal strength threshold; and 
 in response to determining the signal strength of the first device meets or exceeds the predetermined signal strength threshold, ceasing movement of the second device. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 determining that a signal strength of the second device failed to be detected by the first device for a predetermined amount of time; and 
 issuing a second alert via the first device. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein issuing the first alert comprises issuing a visual alert, an audible alert, or a tactile alert. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein issuing the first alert comprises at least one of activating a feedback mode of either the first device or the second device or disabling at least one operative function of the first device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , farther comprising:
 in response to detecting, via the proximity sensor of the second device, the presence of the object in the sensor zone of the second device, recording via a computing device of the second device or a network at least one sensor-signal event. 
 
     
     
       12. A system, comprising:
 a first device having a receiver and at least one of a first alert indicator and an override switch; and 
 at least one second device having a transmitter and a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor configured for communication with the transmitter of the second device, the second device configured to send at least one wireless signal to the receiver of the first device to activate one of the first alert indicator or the override switch in response to the proximity sensor detecting an object within a sensor zone of the second device, and 
 wherein the second device has an alignment indicator configured to determine a signal strength of the first device by measuring a power level of a pilot signal emitted by the first device, and to display a signal strength indicator based on the determined signal strength. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second device is arranged in a non-line-of-sight position relative to the first device such that the first device and the second device are arranged on opposite sides of a barrier. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first device and the second device has an alignment indicator configured to indicate a signal strength of the first device received by the second device. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim  14  12, wherein the alignment indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs, a multicolored LED or a light that blinks at different rates based on the signal strength of the first device. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the proximity sensor comprises at least one of an optical sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a tactile sensor, a contact sensor, a capacitive sensor, a laser-based sensor, a through-beam sensor, a camera-based sensor and a motion sensor. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first alert indicator comprises a controller configured to cause at least one of visual, audible, or tactile feedback. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second device further comprises a computing device configured to automatically move the second device in response to a determination by the computing device that a signal received from the first device has a signal strength that is lower than a predetermined signal strength threshold. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second alert indicator coupled to the first device and configured to activate in response to a determination that a signal strength of the second device failed to be detected for a predetermined amount of time. 
 
     
     
       20. A system, comprising:
 a first device having a receiver and at least one of a first alert indicator and an override switch; and 
 a plurality of second devices each having a proximity sensor and a transmitter that is configured for communication with the proximity sensor, the plurality of second devices configured to send at least one wireless signal to the receiver of the first device to activate one of the first alert indicator or the override switch in response to at least one of the plurality of second devices detecting an object in a sensor zone of the at least one of the plurality of second devices, the plurality of second devices are configured to be arranged in a non-line-of-sight position relative to the first device such that the first device and the plurality of second devices are arranged on opposite sides of a barrier, and 
 wherein at least one of the plurality of second devices has an alignment indicator configured to determine a signal strength of the first device by measuring a power level of a pilot signal emitted by the first device, and to display a signal strength indicator based on the determined signal strength. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the first device comprises activating an electrically-powered tool. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is one of a plurality of second devices arranged in a non-line-of-sight position relative to the first device such that the first device and the plurality of second devices are arranged on opposite sides of the barrier, and the method further comprises:
 detecting, via multiple of the plurality of second devices, presences of the object in respective sensor zones of the plurality of second devices; and   transmitting, via the multiple of the plurality of second devices, wireless signals to the first device to activate one of a first alert indicator of the first device or an override switch of the first device.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the second device sending a signal to the first device to activate an override switch of the first device in response to the proximity sensor detecting the presence of the object within the sensor zone of the second device. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23, further comprising activating the override switch and stopping at least one mode of operation of the first device based on receipt of the signal. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 23, further comprising activating the override switch and the first device responding in real-time to activation of the override switch. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 11, wherein recording the at least one sensor-signal event comprises recording information including a time-stamp, an identification of the proximity sensor that detected the object, and a location of the proximity sensor at a time of detection. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 11, wherein recording the at least one sensor-signal event comprises recording information including an indication as to whether the object was detected in the working field of the first device.