Systems with interactive management of environmental objects relative to human appendages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9740893-B2
Application number	US-201514843702-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2015
Priority date	Sep 2, 2015
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

Systems are described for analyzing an environment. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of tags, at least one tag configured to be coupled to a substrate, at least one other tag configured to be coupled to an environmental object; a remote reader positioned remotely from the plurality of tags and configured to distinctly identify each of the plurality of tags; a processor operably coupled to the remote reader and configured to receive one or more output signals from the remote reader, the one or more output signals corresponding to a threshold associated with the at least one tag coupled to the substrate and the at least one other tag configured to be coupled to the environmental object; and an output reporter operably coupled to the processor and configured to generate one or more communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a plurality of tags, at least one tag of the plurality of tags coupled to a substrate that is configured to conform to a human appendage, at least one other tag of the plurality of tags configured to be coupled to an environmental object;
a remote reader positioned remotely from the plurality of tags and configured to sense respective tags of the plurality of tags;
a processor operably coupled to the remote reader and configured to receive one or more output signals from the remote reader, the one or more output signals corresponding to a threshold associated with the at least one tag configured to conform to a human appendage and the at least one other tag configured to be coupled to the environmental object, the processor configured to generate a recommendation pertaining to the environmental object to reduce at least one of a potential for impact with the environmental object or a degree of severity of impact with the environmental object; and
an output reporter operably coupled to the processor and configured to generate one or more communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a location of an impact between the human appendage and the environmental object.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a distinct identity of a tag of the plurality of tags is associated with a location of the tag.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein a distinct identity of at least one tag of the plurality of tags is associated with a unique identifier independent of a location of the at least one tag.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that an impact has occurred between the human appendage and the environmental object based on the one or more output signals from the remote reader.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine when a distance between the human appendage and the environmental object is less than a threshold distance based on the one or more output signals from the remote reader.

7. The system of claim 1 , further including:
an impact sensor associated with at least one tag of the plurality of tags, the processor configured to receive one or more output signals from the impact sensor.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that an impact has occurred between the human appendage and the environmental object based on the one or more output signals from the impact sensor.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to determine when a distance between the human appendage and the environmental object is less than a threshold distance based on the one or more output signals from the impact sensor.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that an impact has occurred between the human appendage and the environmental object based on the one or more output signals from the remote reader and the one or more output signals from the impact sensor.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a distance between the human appendage and the environmental object is less than a threshold distance based on the one or more output signals from the remote reader and the one or more output signals from the impact sensor.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the recommendation includes a recommendation to reposition the environmental object.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output reporter is configured to generate an alert responsive to instruction by the processor when a distance between the human appendage and the environmental object is less than a threshold distance, wherein the environmental object is identified as at least one of a risk for impact with the human appendage or a previously impacted object.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote reader is configured to distinctly identify each of the plurality of tags.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tags includes at least one of an RFID tag, a magnetic material, a metallic material, or an optical label, and wherein the remote reader includes at least one of an RFID reader, a magnetic detector, a magnet configured to detect the metallic material, or an optical reader.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output reporter includes at least one of a display device configured to provide a visual representation of the one or more output signals, an audio device configured to provide an auditory representation of the one or more output signals, a tactile device configured to provide a tactile representation of the one or more output signals, or a printing device.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the recommendation includes a recommendation to provide the environmental object with at least one of a cushioning material, a visible indicator, or an audible indicator.

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Hyde Roderick A
• Kare Jordin T
• Leuthardt Eric C
• Malamud Mark A
• Pan Tony S
• Sweeney Elizabeth A
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Whitmer Charles
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• G06K7/10128 Primary

  the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device · CPC title

• G01S13/74

  Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems · CPC title

• A61B5/6828

  Leg · CPC title

• G01S13/93 Primary

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• G08G1/005

  including pedestrian guidance indicator · CPC title