Self-identifying personal protective device and methods of monitoring the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10839176-B2
Application number	US-201816109442-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2018
Priority date	Aug 22, 2018
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

Provided is self-identifying personal protective equipment and methods of monitoring the same. The personal protective equipment may include a wireless tag positioned on or incorporated into an individual's face piece and a wireless tag reader positioned on or incorporated into the breathing apparatus of the personal protective equipment. The wireless tag reader may transmit an interrogation signal to the wireless tag upon actuation of the breathing apparatus, such as actuation of the flow of air through the breathing apparatus to the face piece. The face piece may then be identified automatically with the use of the personal protective equipment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring a wireless communication enabled personnel protective equipment (PPE), the system comprising:
a face piece having a wireless tag configured to store unique identification information,
wherein the unique identification information identifies a user associated with the wireless communication enabled PPE; and
a breathing apparatus corresponding to the wireless communication enabled PPE and configured to be coupled to the face piece, the breathing apparatus comprising:
a wireless tag reader, wherein the wireless tag reader is configured to:
transmit an interrogation signal on actuation of the breathing apparatus, after the breathing apparatus is coupled to the face piece, and
receive a response signal comprising the unique identification information from the wireless tag,
wherein the breathing apparatus is configured to transmit the unique identification information to a central monitoring station, and
wherein the breathing apparatus is configured to supply air to the face piece.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the breathing apparatus further comprises a valve configured to regulate air flow through the breathing apparatus and an actuator configured to actuate the valve to allow air to flow through the breathing apparatus, wherein the breathing apparatus is actuated by actuation of the valve.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the wireless tag reader is configured to be switched on for a set duration of time when the actuator is actuated.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the breathing apparatus further comprises a regulator configured to be removably coupled to the face piece and to supply air from an air tank to the face piece, wherein the wireless tag reader is positioned on the regulator.

5. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensing units configured to detect one or more physical parameters associated with a user of the face piece, the face piece, the breathing apparatus, or a combination thereof, the one or more sensing units being positioned on the face piece, the breathing apparatus, or a combination thereof.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more physical parameters correspond to at least one of: a breathing rate of the user of the face piece, a location of the user of the face piece, pressure of air flow in a regulator of the breathing apparatus, air pressure in an air tank of the breathing apparatus, battery level of the breathing apparatus, alarm status of a personal alert safety system device, operation mode of the personal alert safety system device, heat alert activation, or a battery level of the wireless tag reader.

7. The system according to claim 5 , further comprising a communication device positioned on the face piece, the breathing apparatus, or combination thereof, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the one or more physical parameters to the central monitoring station.

8. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the wireless tag reader is configured to transmit the one or more physical parameters to the central monitoring station.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless tag reader is positioned proximate to the wireless tag when the breathing apparatus is coupled to the face piece.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless tag is a Bluetooth tag, and the wireless tag reader is a Bluetooth transceiver unit.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless tag is an RFID tag, and the wireless tag reader is an RFID transceiver unit.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the unique identification information is stored in a database of the central monitoring station, wherein the database is configured to store unique identification information for each user of the breathing apparatus and identification information for the breathing apparatus, and wherein the central monitoring station is configured to pair the unique identification information to the identification information of the breathing apparatus.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless tag reader is configured to interrogate the wireless tag at a regular interval of time to identify the face piece.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the interrogation signal, from the wireless tag reader, is configured to energize the wireless tag such that an antenna structure of the wireless tag is powered sufficiently to transmit and receive signals.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless tag reader is configured to compare one or more characteristics of the response signal to one or more characteristics of a response signal from another wireless tag to determine which wireless tag is associated with the face piece coupled to the breathing apparatus, wherein the one or more characteristics comprises at least one of:
a time of arrival of the response signal,
an amount of energy associated with the response signal, or
an angle associated with the response signal.

16. A method of monitoring a wireless communication enabled personnel protective equipment (PPE), the method comprising:
transmitting an interrogation signal in response to actuation of a breathing apparatus, after the breathing apparatus is mechanically coupled to a face piece,
wherein the face piece comprises a wireless tag configured to store unique identification information and the breathing apparatus comprises a wireless tag reader configured to transmit the interrogation signal,
wherein the unique identification information identifies a user associated with the wireless communication enabled PPE, and
wherein the breathing apparatus is configured to supply air to the face piece;
receiving a response signal from the wireless tag, the response signal comprising the unique identification information; and
causing the unique identification information to be transmitted to a central monitoring station.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein actuation of the breathing apparatus occurs by actuation of a flow of air through the breathing apparatus.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the breathing apparatus is a powered air purifying respirator or a self-contained breathing apparatus.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the unique identification information further corresponds to an identity of a first responder or industrial worker using the face piece.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Huseth Steve D
• Vrablik Gregory

Classifications

• H04W12/33

  using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses · CPC title

• A62B18/08

  Component parts for gas-masks or gas-helmets, e.g. windows, straps, speech transmitters, signal-devices (eye-pieces for protective goggles A61F9/02; composition of materials for the windows or other transparent parts A62D7/00) · CPC title

• A62B7/00

  Respiratory apparatus (for medical purposes A61M16/00) · CPC title

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• G06K7/10009

  sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves · CPC title