Approach Warning System

Abstract

To prevent approach warning from being output to an operator (heavy machine operator) on a driver seat of a heavy machine without adding a new device concerning an approach warning system in the periphery of the heavy machine.SOLUTION: An approach warning system outputs approach warning by detecting an approach of a detector 2 installed in a driver seat of a heavy machine 1 or in the neighborhood thereof to tags 4a and 4b attached to operators 3a and 3b. The detector 2 includes a magnetic field transmission section, an electric wave reception section, a device warning section, and a device control section. Each one of the tags 4a and 4b includes: a magnetic field sensor section for detecting an induction magnetic field to be transmitted from the magnetic field transmission section; an electric wave transmission section for transmitting a magnetic field detection electric wave when the magnetic field sensor section detects the induction magnetic field; a tag warning section; and a tag control section. When intensity of the induction magnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor section is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold, the tag control section prevents the tag warning section from outputting approach warning and also prevents the electric wave transmission section from transmitting the magnetic field detection electric wave.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a proximity warning system that detects the approach of a distance detection control device installed in or near the driver's seat of heavy machinery and an RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function attached to a worker, and outputs a proximity warning. [Background technology]

[0002] In such a heavy machinery proximity warning system, if a worker (heavy machinery operator) in the driver's seat of the heavy machinery has an RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function, an unnecessary proximity warning is output to the worker (heavy machinery operator). R Therefore, a mechanism is required to prevent an approach warning from being output to the worker in the driver's seat of the heavy machinery (heavy machinery operator).

[0003] Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes installing a first transmitter on heavy equipment at a work site that transmits a heavy equipment-specific ID as a trigger ID at an intensity that covers the proximity danger zone around the heavy equipment, and a second transmitter that transmits a driver's seat-specific ID as a trigger ID at an intensity that covers the driver's seat area of ​​the heavy equipment, thereby preventing an approach warning from being output to a worker (heavy equipment operator) in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 proposes that a cancellation unit be installed in the heavy equipment to generate a cancellation signal magnetic field that cancels the area signal magnetic field around the seat in which the operator of the heavy equipment is positioned, thereby preventing an approach warning from being output to the worker (operator) in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment.

[0004] As described above, in the conventional technology, in order to prevent an approach warning from being output to a worker (heavy equipment operator) in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment, in addition to the device (first transmitter in Patent Document 1, and area signal magnetic field generating unit in Patent Document 2) that outputs an approach warning to workers approaching the heavy equipment, a separate new device (second transmitter in Patent Document 1, and cancellation unit in Patent Document 2) must be installed on the heavy equipment, which makes the system configuration more complex and increases costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-115038 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-61075 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to prevent an approach warning system around heavy machinery from outputting an approach warning to a worker (heavy machinery operator) in the driver's seat of the heavy machinery without adding any new equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a proximity warning system comprising: A proximity warning system that detects the approach of a distance detection control device installed in or near the driver's seat of a heavy machine and an RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function attached to a worker and outputs a proximity warning, The distance detection control device includes a magnetic field transmission unit that transmits an induction magnetic field, a radio wave reception unit, an apparatus alarm unit that outputs the approach alarm, and an apparatus control unit that controls these units; The RFID tag with magnetic field detection function includes a magnetic field sensor unit that detects the induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit, a radio wave transmission unit that transmits a magnetic field detection radio wave when the magnetic field sensor unit detects the induced magnetic field, a tag alarm unit that outputs the approach alarm, and a tag control unit that controls these units; A proximity warning system in which the tag control unit does not cause the tag alarm unit to output the proximity warning and does not cause the radio wave transmission unit to transmit the magnetic field detection radio waves when the strength of the induced magnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a proximity warning system comprising: A proximity warning system that detects the approach of a distance detection control device installed in or near the driver's seat of a heavy machine and an RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function attached to a worker and outputs a proximity warning, The distance detection control device includes a magnetic field transmission unit that transmits an induction magnetic field including device ID information of the distance detection control device, a radio wave receiving unit, a device alarm unit that outputs the approach alarm, and a device control unit that controls these units; The RFID tag with magnetic field detection function includes a magnetic field sensor unit that detects an induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit, a radio wave transmission unit that transmits a magnetic field detection radio wave including tag ID information of the RFID tag with magnetic field detection function and the device ID information when the magnetic field sensor unit detects the induced magnetic field, a tag alarm unit that outputs the approach alarm, and a tag control unit that controls these units. A proximity warning system in which, when the strength of the induced magnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the tag control unit does not cause the tag warning unit to output the proximity warning, and adds warning non-output information to the magnetic field detection radio waves output from the radio wave transmitting unit to prevent the device warning unit from outputting the proximity warning. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, in an approach warning system for use around heavy machinery, it is possible to prevent an approach warning from being output to a worker (heavy machinery operator) in the driver's seat of the heavy machinery, without adding a new device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a system configuration diagram of an approach warning system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a distance detection control device and an RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function in the approach warning system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Fig. 1 shows the system configuration of a proximity warning system according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows the configurations of a distance detection control device and an RFID tag with magnetic field detection function in this proximity warning system. In the following description, the "distance detection control device" will be simply referred to as the "detector", and the "RFID tag with magnetic field detection function" will be simply referred to as the "tag".

[0012] As conceptually shown in Fig. 1, in this approach warning system, a detector 2 is installed on the ceiling near the driver's seat of heavy equipment 1 (a forklift in this embodiment), and tags 4a and 4b are attached to workers 3a and 3b, respectively. Fig. 1 shows a state in which worker 3a is in the driver's seat of heavy equipment 1, and worker 3b is approaching heavy equipment 1.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the detector 2 is equipped with a magnetic field transmitting unit that transmits an induced magnetic field, a radio wave receiving unit, an equipment alarm unit that outputs a proximity alarm, and an equipment control unit that controls these, as well as a voltage conversion unit that converts an external power source into a DC voltage (12V) suitable for operating the detector 2. In addition, the tags 4a, 4b have a common configuration, and each comprises a magnetic field sensor unit that detects the induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit of the detector 2, a radio wave transmission unit that transmits a magnetic field detection radio wave when the magnetic field sensor unit detects the induced magnetic field, a tag alarm unit that outputs a proximity alarm, and a tag control unit that controls these, as well as a voltage conversion unit that converts an external power source into a DC voltage (12V) suitable for operating the detectors A, B, and C, and a battery as a power source.

[0014] In Fig. 1, the detector 2 transmits an induced magnetic field 5 of a predetermined strength from its magnetic field transmission unit. Since the strength of the induced magnetic field attenuates inversely proportional to the cube of the distance, the strength of this induced magnetic field 5 is strong in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1 near the detector 2 and becomes weaker as it moves away from the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1 (the detectable range of the induced magnetic field 5 is indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 1).

[0015] Therefore, in one aspect of this embodiment, when the strength of the induced magnetic field 5 detected by the magnetic field sensor unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the tag control unit determines that the tag is in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1, in other words, that the tag is attached to the worker 3a who is in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1, and does not cause the tag alarm unit to output a proximity alarm, and does not cause the radio wave transmitter unit to transmit a magnetic field detection radio wave. As a result, no proximity alarm is output from the device alarm unit of the detector 2.

[0016] The aforementioned threshold value is set to a reference value or less based on the strength (value) of the induced magnetic field 5 detected in the driver's seat of the heavy machine 1. In detail, the aforementioned threshold value can be set so that the strength (value) of the induced magnetic field 5 detected by the tag is equal to or greater than the threshold value only when the tag is substantially in the driver's seat of the heavy machine 1. In other words, the aforementioned threshold value can be set to a value greater than the strength (value) of the induced magnetic field detected by the tag 4b attached to the worker 3b approaching the heavy machine 1. In this case, the strength of the induced magnetic field detected by the tag 4b attached to the worker 3b approaching the heavy machine 1 does not exceed the aforementioned threshold value, so that the tag control unit of the tag 4b outputs an approach warning from the tag warning unit as usual, and transmits a magnetic field detection radio wave from the radio wave transmission unit. Then, an approach warning is also output from the device warning unit of the detector 2. In FIG. 1, a region where the strength of the induced magnetic field 5 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value is surrounded by a dashed line.

[0017] The aforementioned threshold value can be stored in advance in the tag control unit, but the device control unit of the detector 2 can also add information about the aforementioned threshold value to the induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit so that it can be changed appropriately depending on the strength of the induced magnetic field emitted from the detector 2 and the size of the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1, etc. In this case, the device control unit of the detector 2 can also make the aforementioned threshold value changeable. Specifically, the device control unit of the detector 2 can also change the aforementioned threshold value depending on the strength of the induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit. More specifically, the device control unit of the detector 2 can increase the aforementioned threshold value the higher the strength of the induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit.

[0018] In another aspect of this embodiment, the magnetic field transmission unit of the detector 2 transmits an induced magnetic field 5 including device ID information of the detector 2. Furthermore, the radio wave transmission units of the tags 4a, 4b transmit magnetic field detection radio waves including the tag ID information of the tags 4a, 4b and the device ID information of the detector 2 when the magnetic field sensor units detect the induced magnetic field 5. When the strength of the induced magnetic field 5 detected by the magnetic field sensor units is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the tag control units of the tags 4a, 4b do not output a proximity alarm from the tag alarm units, and add alarm non-output information to the magnetic field detection radio waves output from the radio wave transmission units so that the device alarm unit of the detector 2 does not output a proximity alarm. In this way, the device alarm unit of the detector 2 does not output a proximity alarm.

[0019] In this embodiment, even if the radio wave receiving unit receives a magnetic field detection radio wave including the above-mentioned alarm non-output information, if the radio wave receiving unit receives a magnetic field detection radio wave including different tag ID information within a predetermined time (for example, within about 1 to 3 seconds), the device control unit of the detector 2 can output a proximity alarm from the device alarm unit. For example, in FIG. 1, a magnetic field detection radio wave including alarm non-output information is transmitted from the radio wave transmitting unit of the tag 4a attached to the worker 3a in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1 together with the tag ID information of the tag 4a and the device ID information of the detector 2, and the magnetic field detection radio wave is received by the radio wave receiving unit of the detector 2. On the other hand, a magnetic field detection radio wave including the tag ID information of the tag 4b and the device ID information of the detector 2 is transmitted from the radio wave transmitting unit of the tag 4b attached to the worker 3b approaching the heavy equipment 1, and the magnetic field detection radio wave is received by the radio wave receiving unit of the detector 2. In this way, even if the radio wave receiving unit receives a magnetic field detection radio wave including the tag ID information of the tag 4a and the device ID information of the detector 2 as well as the alarm non-output information, if the device control unit of the detector 2 receives a magnetic field detection radio wave including the tag ID information of the tag 4b, which is different tag ID information, and the device ID information of the detector 2 within a predetermined time, the device control unit can output an approach alarm from the device alarm unit. In this case, the approach alarm output from the device alarm unit indicates that a worker 3b other than the worker 3a in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1 has approached the heavy equipment 1, and the worker 3a in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1 can know that the other worker 3b is approaching the heavy equipment 1 by this approach alarm. In addition, the worker 3b who has approached the heavy equipment 1 can know that he or she is approaching the heavy equipment 1 because an approach alarm is output from the tag alarm unit of his or her own tag 4b.

[0020] In FIG. 1, the worker 3b is outside the area (area surrounded by a dashed line) where the strength of the induced magnetic field 5 is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, but when the worker 3b is within the area where the strength of the induced magnetic field 5 is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the following operation is performed. That is, a radio wave transmitting unit of a tag 4a attached to the worker 3a in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment 1 transmits a magnetic field detection radio wave including the tag ID information of the tag 4a and the device ID information of the detector 2 as well as the alarm non-output information, and the radio wave receiving unit of the detector 2 receives the magnetic field detection radio wave. Also, a radio wave transmitting unit of a tag 4b attached to the worker 3b in the area where the strength of the induced magnetic field 5 is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold transmits a magnetic field detection radio wave including the tag ID information of the tag 4b and the device ID information of the detector 2 as well as the alarm non-output information, and the radio wave receiving unit of the detector 2 receives the magnetic field detection radio wave. In this way, even if the radio wave receiving unit receives magnetic field detection radio waves including alarm non-output information together with the tag ID information of tag 4a and the device ID information of detector 2, the device control unit of detector 2 can cause the device alarm unit to output a proximity alarm if it receives magnetic field detection radio waves including alarm non-output information together with the tag ID information of tag 4b, which is different tag ID information, and the device ID information of detector 2 within a predetermined time. In this case, the proximity alarm output from the device alarm unit indicates that a worker 3b other than worker 3a in the driver's seat of heavy equipment 1 has approached heavy equipment 1, and this proximity alarm allows worker 3a in the driver's seat of heavy equipment 1 to know that the other worker 3b is approaching heavy equipment 1. In this case, Tag Alarm Unit No approach warning is output from the

[0021] In this embodiment, the detector 2 may further include an information transmitting unit that transmits information contained in the magnetic field detection radio wave received by the radio wave receiving unit to a server by wire or wirelessly. This allows for comprehensive management of information on the approach of workers 3b and the like to the heavy equipment 1. Note that, although two workers are shown in FIG. 1, the number of workers may be one or three or more.

[0022] As described above, according to this embodiment, in addition to a device (detector 2) for outputting an approach warning to a worker approaching heavy equipment, it is possible to prevent an approach warning from being output to a worker (heavy equipment operator) in the driver's seat of the heavy equipment without adding a separate new device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 1. Heavy machinery 2 Detector (distance detection control device) 3a,3b worker 4a, 4b Tags (RFID tags with magnetic field detection function) 5. Induction magnetic field

Claims

1. A proximity warning system that detects the approach of a distance detection control device installed in or near a driver's seat of a heavy machine and an RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function attached to a worker and outputs a proximity warning, The distance detection control device includes a magnetic field transmission unit that transmits an induction magnetic field, a radio wave reception unit, an apparatus alarm unit that outputs the approach alarm, and an apparatus control unit that controls these units; The RFID tag with magnetic field detection function includes a magnetic field sensor unit that detects the induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit, a radio wave transmission unit that transmits a magnetic field detection radio wave when the magnetic field sensor unit detects the induced magnetic field, a tag alarm unit that outputs the approach alarm, and a tag control unit that controls these units; A proximity warning system in which the tag control unit does not cause the tag alarm unit to output the proximity warning and does not cause the radio wave transmission unit to transmit the magnetic field detection radio waves when the strength of the induced magnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.

2. A proximity warning system that detects the approach of a distance detection control device installed in or near a driver's seat of a heavy machine and an RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function attached to a worker and outputs a proximity warning, The distance detection control device includes a magnetic field transmission unit that transmits an induction magnetic field including device ID information of the distance detection control device, a radio wave reception unit, a device alarm unit that outputs the approach alarm, and a device control unit that controls these units; The RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function includes a magnetic field sensor unit that detects an induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit, a radio wave transmission unit that transmits a magnetic field detection radio wave including tag ID information of the RFID tag with a magnetic field detection function and the device ID information when the magnetic field sensor unit detects the induced magnetic field, a tag alarm unit that outputs the approach alarm, and a tag control unit that controls these units. A proximity warning system in which, when the strength of the induced magnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the tag control unit does not cause the tag warning unit to output the proximity warning, and adds warning non-output information to the magnetic field detection radio waves output from the radio wave transmitting unit to prevent the device warning unit from outputting the proximity warning.

3. 3. The approach warning system according to claim 2, wherein the device control unit causes the device warning unit to output the approach warning when the radio wave receiving unit receives the magnetic field detection radio wave including the alarm non-output information within a predetermined time, even if the radio wave receiving unit receives the magnetic field detection radio wave including different tag ID information.

4. 4. The approach warning system according to claim 2, wherein the distance detection control device further comprises an information transmitting unit configured to transmit information contained in the magnetic field detection radio wave received by the radio wave receiving unit to a server via wired or wireless communication.

5. The approach warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the device control unit adds information about the threshold value to the induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit.

6. The proximity warning system of claim 5 , wherein the device control unit is capable of varying the threshold value.

7. The approach warning system according to claim 6 , wherein the device control unit changes the threshold value in accordance with the strength of the induced magnetic field transmitted from the magnetic field transmission unit.

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