Ultrasonic Compliance Zone System for Obstacle Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for establishing compliance zones in large facilities, such as hospitals and factories, face challenges with infrared and radio frequency signals, including line-of-sight limitations, obstruction issues, and difficulty in containing signals within defined areas, which complicates the enforcement of health and safety protocols.
Innovation Solution
The system uses ultrasound signals to create compliance zones, encoding data within these signals to ensure reliable transmission and reception, mitigating multipath interference, and utilizing wearable devices to monitor and enforce protocol compliance by identifying interaction criteria and recording adherence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If infrared signals are used to establish compliance zones, then the signals can be contained within well-defined zones, but the line-of-sight limitation causes the system to fail when the path between transmitter and receiver is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces infrared optical signals with ultrasonic acoustic signals for establishing compliance zones. Ultrasonic waves can penetrate obstacles and do not require line-of-sight transmission, thereby resolving the contradiction between signal containment reliability and operational convenience. The ultrasonic transmitter and receiver can communicate through walls and barriers while still maintaining zone definition capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the signal from infrared (electromagnetic radiation) to ultrasonic (acoustic wave). This parameter change allows the signal to penetrate obstacles and operate without line-of-sight requirements, solving the blockage problem while maintaining zone establishment functionality through the use of ultrasonic wave propagation characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If radio frequency signals are used to establish compliance zones, then the signals can travel through obstacles, but the signals cannot be contained within defined areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes radio frequency electromagnetic signals with ultrasonic acoustic waves. Ultrasonic waves naturally attenuate when encountering obstacles and can be contained within specific areas, unlike radio frequency signals that penetrate walls freely. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing both obstacle penetration capability and zone containment accuracy simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the signal type from radio frequency (electromagnetic) to ultrasonic (acoustic). This parameter change fundamentally alters the propagation characteristics, enabling the signal to penetrate obstacles like radio waves while maintaining containment properties similar to infrared, thus resolving the contradiction between penetration and containment.
3Reliability
If multiple infrared transmitters are used to overcome shadowing, then the zone coverage can be maintained, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex infrastructure of multiple infrared transmitters with a single or fewer ultrasonic transmitters. Since ultrasonic waves can diffract around obstacles and penetrate barriers, a single transmitter can provide reliable zone coverage without requiring multiple units, thereby resolving the contradiction between coverage reliability and system complexity.
4Reliability
If infrared receiver badges are placed outside clothing for signal reception, then the infrared signals can be received, but the infection control barrier is breached and the placement is uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes infrared optical reception with ultrasonic acoustic reception. Ultrasonic waves can penetrate through clothing materials, allowing the receiver to be placed inside protective gear without compromising signal reception. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both reliable signal reception and maintenance of infection control barriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reception mechanism from infrared (optical) to ultrasonic (acoustic). This parameter change allows the receiver to function effectively when enclosed within clothing, as ultrasonic waves penetrate fabric materials that block infrared signals, thereby resolving the contradiction between reception reliability and infection control compliance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for effective and reliable monitoring and enforcement of compliance zones, ensuring protocols are followed without the limitations of infrared and radio frequency technologies, providing real-time alerts and data for analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a compliance zone designator configured to transmit data using an ultrasound system in such a way that results in the creation of the compliance zone
Implementation Method 2
The ultrasound signal includes a burst of between eight carrier cycles per burst and ten carrier cycles per burst, inclusive
Data Source
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AI summary
A system is provided for establishing a compliance zone and monitoring interactions therewith. The system includes a compliance zone designator and a wearable device. The compliance zone designator transmits an ultrasound signal to establish the compliance zone. The ultrasound signal may be encoded with information on the compliance zone. The compliance zone designator is configured for placement at a location in which the compliance zone is desired. The wearable device is separate from the compliance zone designator. The wearable device includes a compliance zone recognition component configured to recognize the compliance zone and identify one or more pre-defined interaction criteria for the compliance zone. When the wearable device is within the compliance zone, the compliance zone recognition component recognizes the compliance zone and identifies the interaction criteria of the compliance zone. Based on the interaction criteria the wearable device determines and records compliance with the interaction criteria. The recorded data is optionally used to set off real-time alerts. The recorded data is also optionally used in subsequent analysis and documentation of compliance with protocols.