Remote Sensor PPE Display System for Expanded Field of View
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional personal protective equipment (PPE) designs face challenges in integrating sensors, such as thermal imaging cameras, due to the need for modifications to existing facepiece designs, which restricts the range of motion and field of view, limiting the capture of environmental information and providing inadequate data to wearers about critical parameters like temperature, hazardous substances, and safety devices.
Innovation Solution
A remote sensing system comprising sensors disposed remotely from PPE, connected via a processor to a display panel, allowing for the selection and display of critical messages based on environmental parameters, providing an independent and flexible solution that offers a wider field of view and comprehensive information without restricting the wearer's motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a sensor is mounted on the facepiece of PPE, then the sensor can directly monitor the work environment, but the facepiece design must be modified which restricts the wearer's range of motion and field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the sensing function from the display function into separate components. The sensor is mounted on a stationary structure (facepiece), while the display panel is mounted on a movable component (goggle or helmet) that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the sensor to remain fixed for stable environmental monitoring while the display can be optimally positioned for the wearer's view without restricting motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary between the sensor and the display panel. It receives signals from the sensor, processes the environmental data, and transmits relevant information to the display panel. This intermediary function allows the system to decouple the sensing location from the display location, enabling the sensor to be positioned for optimal environmental monitoring while the display is positioned for optimal wearer visibility.
2Loss of information
If a sensor is mounted on the facepiece of PPE, then the sensor can monitor critical parameters, but the field of view is limited which reduces the capture of environmental information
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single fixed viewing angle to a multi-dimensional information presentation. The display panel can be positioned at different locations and orientations relative to the sensor, allowing the wearer to view environmental information from multiple perspectives. This dimensional flexibility in display positioning expands the effective field of view without requiring the sensor itself to have a wider physical field of view.
3Loss of information
If sensors are integrated into existing PPE designs, then comprehensive monitoring is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to modifications to facepiece design
Solution Approach 1:
The display panel is designed as a universal interface that can be mounted on various PPE components (goggle, helmet, or other parts) without requiring modification to the facepiece itself. This multi-functional display unit can serve different PPE configurations and can be independently positioned to optimize visibility. The processor similarly serves multiple functions by handling sensor data processing, signal selection based on environmental parameters, and critical message generation for the display.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a remote sensing system. The remote sensing system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) including a display panel configured to be viewed by a wearer of the article of PPE. The remote sensing system further includes a plurality of sensors disposed remotely from the article of PPE. Each of the sensors is configured to generate a respective signal. The remote sensing system further includes a processor communicably coupled to the plurality of sensors and the display panel of the article of PPE. The processor is configured to receive the respective signals from the plurality of sensors. The processor is further configured to select at least one signal from the respective signals. The processor then determines at least one critical message corresponding to the at least one signal.