FR3108430A1 - Alarm and surveillance system - Google Patents

Abstract

An alarm system for alerting a human operator to the existence of a risk includes a mobile, self-contained alarm and detection apparatus (30) and a portable, self-contained terminal (40). control of the detection and alarm apparatus, the detection and alarm apparatus (30) and the control terminal (40) being arranged to communicate by a wireless link, the apparatus (30) of detection and alarm comprising a device (11) for detecting object (s) in a volume (61, 62) as well as sound and light alarms (13, 14), the object detection device (11) (s) comprising a laser rangefinder (11) scanning along two axes (25, 29), the terminal (40) comprising a man / machine interface (41) arranged to allow entry of operating parameters of the device (30 ) detection and alarm, the parameters including limits (63 to 68) of the volume (61, 62), and the terminal (40) is arranged to i) transmit the parameters operating to the detection and alarm device (30), via the wireless link, and for ii) emitting an alarm signal when an object detection information is transmitted, by via the wireless link, by the detection and alarm device (30). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Alarm and monitoring system

The present invention relates to alarm systems.

STATE OF THE ART

The invention applies in particular to an alarm system making it possible to alert a human operator of the existence of a risk due to the presence of a dangerous object near the operator.

The invention applies in particular to the protection of a person on a construction site or in a workshop, both outside and inside a building, in which moving machinery or moving parts of machines are likely to hit the operator.

Patent FR3068024 describes a mobile platform comprising a balustrade whose handrail is equipped with a control unit for the movements of the platform, a unit for detecting an object located in the environment of the platform, outside of the field of vision of a user located on the platform, in particular above or behind the user, and of an optical, acoustic and/or haptic signaling unit which can emit a signal when an object is detected in the region of the detection unit. This region is divided into horizontal or vertical bands and the signal is adapted to the band in which the object is detected. The movement of the platform commanded by the user is modified when an object is detected, to avoid a collision between the object and the platform or the user.

The patent FR3022386 describes a system making it possible to warn a person when an object at risk - such as a crane hook - approaches the person or when the person approaches an object - such as a pit - which can be dangerous.

For this, a base station uses the location data of a mobile phone worn by the person to be protected, as well as data supplied to the base station by sensors located in a sector of a monitored domain, to determine a risk situation and alert the user via an audible, visual or haptic warning device integrated into the mobile phone.

The sensors used to detect a potential risk can be a camera, a radar, a lidar, or a sensor for locating a fixed or mobile dangerous object, such as a GPS.

This system requires a sensor to be attached to - or associated with - all the dangerous objects, which is costly and impossible to achieve in practice.

This system also requires that the mobile phone is in operation and that its user is located in an area covered by the location system of the phone.

An object of the invention is to propose an alarm system making it possible to alert a human operator of the existence of a risk, in particular due to the presence of a dangerous object near the operator, which is improved and/or which remedies, in part at least, the shortcomings or drawbacks of known alarm systems.

In particular, an object of the invention is to provide such an alarm system which is simple and which can be easily adapted to various industrial environments.

According to one aspect of the invention, an alarm system is proposed which comprises a detection and alarm device and a control/command terminal for the detection and alarm device; the detection and alarm device is mobile, in particular transportable by hand, and has energy autonomy (of at least several hours); the control/command terminal is portable and also has energy autonomy (of at least several hours); the detection and alarm device and the control/command terminal are arranged to communicate via a wireless link; the detection and alarm device comprises a device for detecting object(s) in a volume as well as sound and light warning devices; the object(s) detection device comprises a scanning laser range finder; the control/command terminal comprises a man/machine interface ("HMI") arranged to allow data entry used to define operating parameters of the detection and alarm apparatus, the parameters including limits of the monitored volume by the object detection device(s); and the portable terminal is arranged to i) transmit to the detection and alarm device, via the wireless link, the data or operating parameters and to ii) emit an alarm signal when a Object detection information is transmitted, via the wireless link, by the detection and alarm device.

According to embodiments:

- the object(s) detection device may consist of a two-axis scanning laser range finder; the scanning axes of the laser range finder can be two orthogonal axes, in particular a horizontal axis and a vertical axis;

- the object(s) detection device may also comprise a camera; in this case, the detection and alarm device may comprise an image processing unit which is connected to the camera and arranged to process the images delivered by the camera in order to detect the presence of an object in the field camera vision;

- the object(s) detection device may comprise a camera and a scanning laser range finder; in this case, the detection and alarm device may comprise a data fusion unit arranged to combine object detection data resulting from processing of images delivered by the camera and detection data of object resulting from processing the signals or data delivered by the rangefinder, in order to detect the presence of an object in the monitored volume;

- the detection and alarm device may include:
- a wireless communication unit;
- a control unit ("UC") connected to the object detection device(s), to the light and sound warning devices, and to the wireless communication unit, the control unit being arranged to i) cause a scanning of a volume by the object detection device, the limits (or borders) of the volume being determined by parameters recorded in a memory associated with the control unit, and ii) activating the warning light and the buzzer and causing the wireless communication unit to emit an object detection cue, when the presence of an object in the volume is detected by the object detection device objects);
- a battery for powering the object detection device(s), wireless control and communication units, and light and sound warning devices;

- - the detection and alarm device may comprise a box supporting the object detection device(s) and the light and sound warning devices, the box comprising means for stable support on the ground (or on a support resting on the ground), and receiving the battery and the wireless control and communication units;

- the detection and alarm device may include means of transport facilitating the handling and movement of the detection and alarm device, which are linked to the box;

- the portable terminal may include a second wireless communication unit, the portable terminal being arranged to communicate with the detection and alarm device by cooperation of their respective wireless communication units, and to i) transmit to the detection and alarm device the data used to define the parameters and ii) emitting information or a signal which may be visual, audible, or tactile, via the man/machine interface, when detection information is an object is received by the second wireless communication unit.

The portable terminal can comprise for this purpose a data processing unit (“UTD”) connected to the MMI and to the second wireless communication unit, and arranged (in particular programmed) to control the transmission of the definition data of the parameters and to manage the HMI and the reception of object detection information.

The portable terminal, which can for example take the form of a telephone, a tablet, or a portable computer, is used in particular to define the boundaries of a volume to be monitored by the object detection device(s). ), to transmit data making it possible to define these borders to the detection and alarm device, and to report (on the HMI) an alarm when an intrusion into this volume is detected by the detection and alarm device. 'alarm.

The HMI can be used in particular to enter data making it possible to define control parameters of the scanning rangefinder so that the rangefinder monitors a volume whose limits are determined by these parameters. These parameters may also include a polling (scanning) frequency of the volume to be monitored.

To this end, these data are transmitted to the detection and alarm device by the portable terminal, via the wireless communication units fitted respectively to the detection and alarm device and the portable terminal.

Preferably, the communication units communicate by radio waves, in particular according to a Wifi protocol (IEEE 802.11).

The HMI also makes it possible to alert an operator having the portable terminal, including when the operator is insensitive to the signals emitted by the warning devices integrated into the detection and alarm device, or when the operator is located outside range of these signals.

The parameter data for the volume to be monitored, which can be entered or validated by an operator, via the HMI, can be chosen by the operator or determined by the UTD according to data determining:
(i) the position and extent of an area of a workshop or site in which the operator wishes to be able to operate without risk of impact;
ii) the position and extent of an area of the workshop or site in which a dangerous object is likely to be located or move; And
iii) a position in the workshop or site where it is possible to place the detection and alarm device.

Once the detection and alarm device has been placed in the chosen location and the parameter data for the volume to be monitored has been transmitted to the control unit of the detection and alarm device, the detection device and The alarm system can operate autonomously (without energy or information input) thanks to the battery and the warning devices it contains and the memory containing the telemeter command parameters. The capacity of the battery is preferably chosen to allow continuous monitoring of the volume to be monitored, for several hours or tens of hours.

The volume to be monitored can comprise several contiguous (adjacent) portions and the data and/or parameters defining the limits of each of these portions can be introduced into the portable terminal via the HMI, and can be transmitted to the detection and alarm device and stored in the memory associated with the CPU of the detection and alarm device.

The alarms produced by the light and sound warning devices of the detection and alarm device, as well as the detection information transmitted by the detection and alarm device to the portable terminal, can then vary according to the portion of the monitored volume in which an object has been detected.

The detection and alarm device may include means for detecting or measuring the position or orientation of the object(s) detection device or of the box supporting the object(s) detection device.

These detection or measurement means may comprise one or more sensor(s) or device(s) such as accelerometer(s), magnetometer(s), inertial unit, satellite positioning device (GPS for example), inclinometer(s) or goniometer(s), which is (are) secured to a portion of the box supporting the object detection device(s).

These detection or measurement means can be connected to the CPU which can be arranged to control the operation of a specific alarm (at a specific frequency for example) or transmit specific information to the portable terminal when a position, inclination, or displacement of the detection and alarm device is detected by these detection or measurement means.

This makes it possible to alert an operator, for example, when the detection and alarm device is set up with an inappropriate inclination, or when this device is moved or overturned in an inopportune manner.

The means facilitating the transport of the detection and alarm device may comprise one or more handle(s) or strap(s) fixed(s) or linked(s) to the case of the device, to allow an operator human to carry the device by hand or on the shoulder, for example.

Alternatively or in addition, these means facilitating transport may comprise one or more wheel(s) or pad(s) fixed or linked to the case of the device, to allow a human operator to slide the device on the ground with reduced friction.

These wheels or pads can cooperate with other support members on the ground (such as feet) to form the support means on the ground of the case of the detection and alarm device.

The alarm system according to the invention is simple to implement and adapts to various configurations of fixed or mobile objects likely to present a risk for an operator working near these objects.

The invention also results in a method for protecting an operator on a construction site or in a workshop in which an alarm and monitoring system according to the invention is used.

Other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the invention appear in the following description which refers to the appended figures and illustrates, without any limiting character, preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 schematically illustrates an alarm system consisting of a detection and alarm device and a portable terminal, as well as an object to be detected above the detection and alarm device.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates, in perspective view, a detection and alarm device and two volumes to be monitored overlooking this device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless explicitly or implicitly indicated to the contrary, elements or components – structurally or functionally – which are identical or similar are designated by identical references in the various figures.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the detection and alarm device 30 comprises a box 31, an upper face 23 of which supports a rangefinder 11.

The rangefinder emits a laser beam 26 propagating upwards along an axis 28, from the rangefinder 11, and detects a beam 27 reflected by a surface of an object 51 located on the axis 28, within range of the rangefinder 11. This range is for example located in a range ranging from approximately ten or twenty meters up to approximately fifty or one hundred meters.

The rangefinder comprises means described below allowing the axis 28 of propagation of the incident beam 26 to "scan" part of the space extending above the rangefinder.

Referring to Figure 1, the housing 31 of the device 30 rests on the ground 50 via one or more foot (s) 18 and one or more wheel (s) 19 which are integral with the housing 31, in particular secured to a wall 22 forming the bottom of the case 31. A handle 24 secured to the case 31 facilitates the transport of the device 30.

The case 31, which is preferably waterproof and dustproof, contains or supports a light warning 14 and a sound warning 13, and receives a sensor 12 sensitive to the position of the rangefinder 11 and of the face 23, for example an inclinometer.

The box 31 contains a wireless communication unit 16 (Wifi) and a control unit 10 ("UC") which is connected to the range finder 11, to the light and sound warning devices 13, 14, to the sensor 12, and to the unit 16 for wireless communication, by electrical connections 17.

The box 31 also contains a battery 20 for powering the range finder 11, the wireless control and communication units 10, 16, the sensor 12, and the light and sound warning devices 13, 14. The battery is connected to these components 10 to 14 and 16 by electrical connections 21 represented by broken lines.

The device 30 also includes a memory 15 connected (or incorporated) to the control unit 10.

The electronic control unit 10 may comprise microprocessor circuits which are configured (in particular programmed) to cause a scanning, by the rangefinder 11, of a volume whose limits are determined by recorded data or parameters. in memory 15.

The control unit 10 is also configured to actuate the warning light 14 and the buzzer 13, and to cause the transmission of an object detection information, by the unit 16 of wireless communication, when an object is detected by the rangefinder 11 in this volume.

The alarm system further comprises an autonomous portable terminal 40 for controlling the device 30, such as a mobile or a tablet.

The terminal 40 comprises a man/machine interface 41 (“HMI”) allowing an operator to enter operating and control data for the device 30, in particular data used to define operating parameters of the device 30 detection and alarm, in particular limits 63 to 68 of the volume to be monitored by the range finder 11. The HMI preferably comprises a touch screen, a loudspeaker and a vibrator.

The terminal 40 comprises a wireless communication unit 43 (Wifi) for communicating by radio waves with the detection and alarm device 30 by cooperation of their respective wireless communication units 16, 43.

The terminal 40 includes a data processing unit 42 connected to the HMI 41 and to the wireless communication unit 43.

The unit 42 is programmed to control the transmission of operating data from the device 30, and to manage the HMI and the reception of object detection information.

The terminal 40 transmits the operating parameters to the detection and alarm device 30 via the WiFi link, and emits an alarm signal (audible, visual, or tactile) when it receives detection information from a object emitted by the device 30.

The operating parameters transmitted to the unit 10 and recorded in the memory 15 may comprise the amplitude and the speed of sweeping of the volume by the rangefinder as well as the frequency at which a complete sweep of the volume is carried out.

In Figure 2 is shown a volume 61, 62 to be monitored which extends upwards from a window 11a of the rangefinder 11 which allows the passage of the laser beam 26, 27.

The rangefinder comprises a scanning device making it possible to modify the inclination of the axis 28 and consequently that of the beams 26, 27.

This scanning device may for example comprise a motorized mechanism (not shown) ensuring the rotation of a mirror placed on the optical path of a laser beam emitted by the laser source of the rangefinder 11.

A mechanism for scanning by rotation along the horizontal axis 25 can thus cause the orientation of the axis 28 of propagation of the beams 26, 27 to vary from an initial vertical orientation (in which the axis 28 coincides with the axis 29) to an inclined orientation in which the axis 28 coincides with the axis 63 illustrated in Figure 2.

The same scanning mechanism (by rotation along axis 25) can then cause the orientation of axis 28 to vary in the opposite direction, from an initial vertical orientation (in which axis 28 coincides with the axis 29) to another inclined orientation in which axis 28 coincides with axis 64 shown in Figure 2.

Axes 63, 64 are located in a vertical plane 70 perpendicular to axis 25 and containing axis 29. Axes 63, 64 and 29 form generatrices of the frustoconical envelope of the volume to be monitored.

Another scanning mechanism by rotation along the vertical axis 29 can cause it to vary the orientation of the axis 28 of propagation, from an inclined initial orientation in which the axis 28 coincides with the axis 63, to an inclined orientation in which the axis 28 coincides with the axis 64, for example.

Combinations of scanning commands along the axes 25 and 29 thus allow the laser beam 26 to scan the volume 61, 62 to be monitored which, in this example, has a substantially frustoconical envelope whose apex is substantially located at the intersection of the vertical axis 29 passing through window 11a and a horizontal axis 25.

The volume to be monitored is divided in this example into two tapered portions: a first portion 61 extends from the window 11a to first limits or borders 65, 67 which extend in a first horizontal plane, and a second portion 61 extends from borders 65, 67 to second limits or borders 66, 68 which extend in a second horizontal plane farther from the rangefinder than the first horizontal plane.

The borders 63 to 68 of each portion 61, 62 of the volume to be monitored are recorded in the portable terminal then transmitted to the device 30 so that the unit 10 controls the scanning of this volume by the laser beam of the range finder 11. When the presence of an object in a portion of this volume is detected by range finder 11, corresponding detection information is then produced by unit 10 and transmitted to terminal 40, and horns 13, 14 are activated.

Claims (10)

– Alarm system making it possible to alert a human operator of the existence of a risk, in particular due to the presence of an object close to the operator, characterized in that it comprises a device (30 ) for detection and alarm and a terminal (40) for controlling the detection and alarm device, the detection and alarm device (30) being mobile and autonomous, the terminal (40) for controlling being portable and autonomous, the detection and alarm device (30) and the control terminal (40) being arranged to communicate via a wireless link, the detection and alarm device (30) comprising a device (11) for detecting object(s) in a volume (61, 62) as well as sound and light warning devices (13, 14), the device (11) for detecting object(s) comprising a rangefinder (11 ) scanning laser along two axes (25, 29), the control terminal (40) comprising a man/machine (“HMI”) interface (41) arranged to allow data entry used to define operating parameters of the detection and alarm apparatus (30), the parameters including limits (63 to 68) of the volume (61, 62) monitored by the object(s) detection device (11), and the terminal (40 ) portable is arranged to i) transmit the data or operating parameters to the device (30) for detection and alarm, via the wireless link, and for ii) emit an alarm signal when object detection information is transmitted via the wireless link by the detection and alarm device (30). – System according to claim 1 wherein the two axes (25, 29) are for one horizontal, for the other vertical. – System according to claim 1 or 2 in which the device (30) for detection and alarm comprises:
- a wireless communication unit (16);
- a control unit (10) connected to the device (11) for detecting object(s), to the light and sound warning devices (13, 14), and to the wireless communication unit (16), the unit control being arranged to i) cause the volume (61, 62) to be scanned by the object(s) detection device (11), the limits (63 to 68) of the volume (61, 62) being recorded in a memory (15) associated with the control unit (10), and ii) activating the warning light (14) and the buzzer (13) and causing the transmission, by the communication unit (16) without thread, object detection information, when the presence of an object in the volume (61, 62) is detected by the device (11) for detecting object(s). – System according to claim 3 in which the device (30) for detection and alarm comprises:
- a battery (20) for powering the device (11) for detecting object(s), wireless control and communication units (10, 16), and light and sound warning devices (13, 14) ;
- a box (31) supporting the device (11) for detecting object(s) and the light and sound warning devices (13, 14), comprising means (18, 19) for stable support on the ground (50) , and receiving the battery (20) and the wireless control and communication units (10, 16); And
- Means (19, 24) facilitating the transport of the device (30) for detection and alarm, which are linked to the box (31). – System according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the terminal (40) comprises a second wireless communication unit (43), the terminal (40) being arranged to communicate by radio waves with the device (30) for detecting and alarm by cooperation of their respective wireless communication units (16, 43), and the terminal (40) comprises a data processing unit (42) connected to the HMI (41) and to the second unit (43) wireless and programmed communication device to control the transmission of parameter definition data and to manage the HMI and the reception of object detection information. – System according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the device (11) for detecting object(s) comprises a camera, and in which the apparatus (30) for detection and alarm comprises a unit of image processing which is connected to the camera and arranged to process the images delivered by the camera in order to detect the presence of an object in the monitored volume. – System according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the device (30) for detection and alarm comprises means (12) for detecting or measuring the position or orientation of the device (11) of detection of object(s) or of a box (31) supporting the device (11) for detecting object(s), these means (12) possibly comprising one or more accelerometer(s), magnetometer(s), inertial unit, satellite positioning device, inclinometer(s) or goniometer(s) which can (can) be attached to a portion (23) of the case (31). – System according to claims 3 and 7 wherein the means (12) of detection or measurement are connected to the control unit (10) which is arranged to control the operation of a specific alarm or to transmit specific information to the terminal (40) when a position, inclination, or displacement of the device (30) for detection and alarm is detected by the means (12) for detection or measurement. – System according to claim 4 in which the means (19, 24) facilitating the transport of the device (30) for detection and alarm comprise one or more handle(s) (24), strap(s), wheel( s) (19), or shoe(s) fixed(s) or linked(s) to the casing (31) of the apparatus. - A method of protecting an operator on a construction site or in a workshop in which an alarm system is used in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9.