GB2552134B

GB2552134B - Apparatus for use by operatives in hazardous environments

Info

Publication number: GB2552134B
Application number: GB1611195.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Bernstein Mark
Original assignee: Wearable Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Wearable Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-28
Filing date: 2016-06-28
Publication date: 2019-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-28
Also published as: GB201611195D0; GB2552134A

Description

Apparatus for use by Operatives in Hazardous Environments

The present invention relates to an apparatus for use by operatives in hazardous environments. It is known to include electrically powered devices within items of clothing. For example, a jacket for use by cyclists is described in United Kingdom patent publication 2 521 652 assigned to the present applicant. Given that equipment of this type, in order to be portable, is battery operated, care must be taken to ensure that battery power is available when required and not wasted when not required. Furthermore, in many situations, it may be undesirable for an operative to interact with switches that may be difficult to reach when engaged in an activity or when hands are protected by gloves etc. A possible option is the provision of a large operational area (effectively a large button) on a control module, such that it is possible to activate this button when wearing gloves and possibly through several layers of clothing within which the control unit has been restrained.

Similar high visibility jackets may also be used in hazardous environments. Embedded technology may include illuminating devices. It may also include other devices for detecting dangerous chemicals and for communicating with a base station and other worn devices within the environment. Furthermore, although individual operatives may be less than motivated to activate devices of this type, a supervisory function may require activation in order to monitor the security and health and safety of the operatives under their supervision. Thus, under these circumstances, it is undesirable to rely upon the operatives themselves to ensure that technology included within worn items is activated as required.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for use by an operative in a hazardous environment, as set out in claim 1.

In an embodiment, the non-ionising radiation is infrared radiation and this infrared radiation may be modulated.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows an environment in which operatives use apparatus while working in hazardous conditions;

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the apparatus identified in Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates the operation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a loom of the type included in the jacket of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows an example of a jacket identified in Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows an alternative jacket of the type used in Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows an alternative loom to that identified in Figure 4; and

Figure 8 shows the deployment of the loom of Figure 7.

Figure 1

An environment in which an operative uses apparatus while working in hazardous conditions is illustrated in Figure 1. An item of clothing, in this example a high visibility jacket 101, has electrical conductors embedded therein for conveying electrical power and data. Thus, in this example, power and data may be supplied to a communications device 102 and to a peripheral device, possibly a chemical sensor, 103.

The apparatus also includes a control processor that has an operational state to facilitate communication with devices 102 and 103 etc. Furthermore, the control processor has a minimal power dissipation state that may also be identified as a “sleep” state. In addition, interrupt means are provided for bringing the processor out of its sleep state and into its operational state in response to an interrupt signal. To achieve this, there is an interrupt signal generating device 104 configured to generate an interrupt signal in response to detecting a predetermined frequency of non-ionising radiation.

In the example of Figure 1, an operative has entered a hazardous region by passing through an opening 105. At the position of opening 105, a source 106 of modulated infrared radiation is provided. As an operative wearing a jacket walks under source 106, the modulated infrared radiation is detected by the interrupt signal generating device 104, which in turn generates an interrupt signal. Thus, if the control processor is currently in its sleep state, the act of walking underneath source 106 will cause an interrupt signal to be generated which will in turn place the control processor into its operational state.

In an embodiment, the control processor may remain in its operational state until manually deactivated, possible at the end of a shift when the jacket is removed and returned to storage. Alternatively, the act of connecting the jacket to a recharging device may place the control processor into a sleep state while resident batteries are being recharged. Alternatively, it is possible for the control processor to enter a sleep state after a predetermined period of time.

In an embodiment, the interrupt signal generating device does not operate in a toggle-like fashion. Thus, should the operative leave the hazardous region through exit 105, the modulated infrared signal will be detected again and will again generate an interrupt signal. This will have no effect, given that the processor has already been activated. Thus, to avoid the risk of accidental deactivation, a second detection of the signal does not result in the control processor being returned to its sleep state.

Figure 2 A schematic representation of the apparatus identified in Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2. Interrupt signal generating device 104 provides an interrupt signal to a control processor 201. Control processor 201 and other peripheral devices are powered via a rechargeable battery 202. Peripheral device 103 also provides input signals to the control processor 201. Output signals from control processor 201 are supplied to a first illuminating device 204 implemented as a light emitting diode. Illuminating device 204 may emit white light continuously when activated.

In addition, a further illuminating device 205, implemented as a red light emitting diode is provided. Under normal circumstances, red light emitting diode 205 is not energised. However, if an alarm condition is identified, red LED 205 is illuminated thereby bringing this alarm condition to the attention of the operative.

The control processor 201 is also provided with a radio communication device for facilitating radio communication with other devices in the environment or with a central control station via an antenna 206.

Figure 3

The interrupt signal generating device 104 is provided with a filter 301, a de-modulator 302 and a switching device 303 as illustrated in examples 304, 305 and 306 of Figure 3.

In the example shown at 304, the filter 301 receives ambient light and as such, this does not represent radiation of the required predetermined frequency. Thus, in this example, the ambient light may be generated by artificial light sources and as such these will not activate the interrupt signal generating device. Thus, before an operative enters the hazardous environment, ambient lights may be present and these will not result in the control processor being activated. In this way, battery life is extended while ensuring that the devices are activated prior to an operative entering the hazardous environment.

At 305, an example is shown in which stray infrared signals may be present. These signals may be generated by other infrared sources or may be derived from ambient sources. Under these situations, it is possible for infrared signals to pass filter 301. However, in a preferred embodiment, the infrared signals from source 106 are modulated. Output from filter 301 is therefore supplied to a de-modulator which may be configured to detect pulses in the emitted infrared signal. Thus, if pulses are not provided in the received infrared signal, the de-modulator 302 will not activate and the switching circuit will remain open.

As illustrated at 306, when modulated infrared signals are detected, they are allowed to pass filter 301 and are also allowed to pass de-modulator 302. Consequently, this is interpreted as a valid activation signal, resulting in the switching device 303 being closed. Thus, as a consequence of this, an interrupt signal is generated and the control processor is activated.

In an embodiment, detector 103 is configured to detect the presence of hazardous chemicals, such as toxic or explosive gasses.

Figure 4

The jacket 101 may be constructed with an active loom portion that is combined with a passive shell assembly. To construct the active loom sub-assembly, a substantially H-shaped fabric base 401 is established that may be relatively lightweight and may easily allow holes and openings to be created therein, such that it is possible for connectors to be attached, thereby allowing peripheral equipment to receive power, receive data and transmit data. A wire loom 402 is fabricated having a battery and a control processor restrained within a housing 403. A plurality of connectors 404 to 419 are provided, along with power conductors connecting the battery to the connectors and at least one data line connecting the control processor to the connectors. Connecters, 404 to 419 allow peripheral devices to be connected to the item of clothing.

The H-loom configuration of Figure 4 facilities the application of connectors 404 to 407 for peripherals on the front left of the item of clothing, with connectors 408 to 410 being for peripherals on the front right of the garment, connectors 411 to 412 bring provided for peripherals on the collar of the garment, and connectors 413 to 419 being provided for peripherals at the rear of the garment.

Figure 5

An example of a jacket 101 is illustrated in Figure 5. A passive shell 501 is shown, which remains in an outer position. The H-loom 401 is located on an internal surface 502 and interface connectors extend through the fabric base in order to provide connections to peripheral devices.

In this embodiment, the passive shell includes an outer shell 503 and an inner shell 504. Thus, the H-loom 401 is attached to the inner shell 504. Figure 6

An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 6, in which the passive shell again includes an outer shell 601 and an inner shell 602. However, in this embodiment, the components are combined, such that the loom 401 is located between the inner shell 602 and the outer shell 601.

In this way, peripheral connections are made to the outer shell, in a manner substantially similar to that described with respect to Figure 5, but the loom itself is protected by the inner shell 602.

Figure 7

An H-loom 701 is shown in Figure 7, having a substantially similar construction to the loom illustrated in Figure 4. However, in the configuration of Figure 7, the orientation of the connectors is inverted, such that connection is made through the fabric cover. The sub-assembly 701 illustrated in Figure 7 therefore has a fabric base 702, along with a battery and control processor housing that is restrained by this fabric base.

Peripheral connectors connect peripherals to the control processor and to the battery. The power conductors and the data lines are covered by a fabric cover 703 and required connectors extend through this fabric cover. Thus, in this way, it is possible for LED 204 and LED 205 to be connected to the loom via respective connectors extending through the cover fabric 703.

The sub-assembly of Figure 7 presents a substantially H-shaped loom, in which the conducting cables are restrained within seams connecting the fabric base to the fabric cover. The fabric cover 703 is constructed from a reflective material that enhances the visibility of the assembly when light from an artificial source is directed upon it.

Figure 8 A further example of the H-loom sub-assembly being combined with a passive shell assembly is illustrated in Figure 8. In this example, the passive shell assembly defines a vest 801 and in this embodiment, the vest is located in an inner position, such that the H-loom sub-assembly 701 is in an outer position. Consequently, the reflective material of the cover fabric remains on the outside. The cover fabric thereby provides the dual functionality of presenting a high reflective surface, while at the same time restraining the power and data conductors within the H-loom sub-assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use by an operative in hazardous environments, comprising: an item of clothing with electrical conductors embedded therein for conveying electrical power and data; a control processor having an operational state, a minimal power dissipation (sleep) state and interrupt means for bringing said processor out of said sleep state and into said operational state in response to an interrupt signal; and an interrupt signal generating device connected by said electrical conductors to said control processor and configured to generate an interrupt signal to interrupt said control processor, in response to detecting a predetermined frequency of non-ionising radiation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said non-ionising radiation is infra-red radiation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said non-ionising radiation is modulated.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said non-ionising radiation is modulated to produce pulses.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said item of clothing includes detectors for detecting the presence of chemicals.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said item of clothing includes first illuminating devices that are illuminated when the control processor is in said operational state.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said item of clothing includes second illuminating devices that are illuminated when the control processor is in said operational state and a hazard is detected.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said second illuminating devices are illuminated in response to a detector on said item of clothing detecting a hazard.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, including an output device for producing non-ionising radiation at said predetermined frequency, wherein said output device is configured to be positioned at a location close to an entry into said hazardous environment.