Radio controlled safety stop system for forklift trucks with rfid

Abstract

A security system including an RFID subsystem for detecting entry of an RFID tag within a monitored area; an RFID token associated with a person accessing the monitored area; and an indicator system for providing an indication when the person enters into the monitored area.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A security system, comprising:
 an RFID subsystem including one or more RFID transceiver/detector systems detecting an entry of an RFID token within a monitored area wherein said RFID subsystem is fixed to a first immobile structure within said monitored area and wherein said RFID subsystem wirelessly transmits an activating signal when detecting said entry of said RFID token within the monitored area;   an RFID token associated with a person accessing said monitored area; and   an indicator system, including an entry indicator coupled to a second immobile structure within said monitored area, said entry indicator having a wireless receiver responsive to said activating signal, providing an indication when said person enters into said monitored area by detecting said associated RFID token.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said indicator system includes a safety system coupled to a forklift truck operable within said monitored area, said safety system including an interlock system and a wireless receiver responsive to said activating signal, coupled to said forklift truck, disabling said forklift truck from entering into said monitored area when said person is within said monitored area. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said entry indicator includes a visual indicator that provides visual cues when said person enters into said monitored area. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said indicator system includes a set of status lights for indicating a clear mode, a caution mode, and a warning mode. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said indicator system includes a portable indicator system associated with a forklift truck operating within said monitored area, said portable indicator system having a wireless receiver responsive to said activating signal. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said entry indicator includes an audible indicator that provides audible cues when said person enters into said monitored area. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said RFID token is associated with an article of clothing worn by said person. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said RFID token is provided in a safety vest issued to said person. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said RFID token is provided in a hardhat issued to said person. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said RFID token includes a first RFID tag associated with a first article of clothing and a second RFID tag associated with a second article of clothing, said RFID tags having a specified association. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said RFID subsystem monitors for said first and second RFID tags and said specified association, said RFID subsystem providing an alert when said specified association does not exist. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein a first one of said associated RFID tags is associated with a hardhat and wherein a second one of said associated RFID tags is associated with a safety vest. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a vehicle operates within said monitored area and wherein an operator of said vehicle is associated with a second RFID token and wherein said RFID subsystem tracks said second RFID token within said monitored area. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a recording system coupled to said RFID subsystem storing a history of times of entry and exit of said person with respect to said monitored area. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 an RFID subsystem including one or more RFID transceiver/detector systems detecting an entry of one or more RFID tokens within one or more monitored areas wherein said RFID subsystem is fixed to a first immobile structure within said one or more monitored areas and wherein said RFID subsystem wirelessly transmits an activating signal when detecting said entry of said RFID token within the monitored area;   an RFID token associated with each person accessing any of said monitored areas; and   an indicator system, including an entry indicator coupled to a second immobile structure within said monitored area, said entry indicator having a wireless receiver responsive to said activating signal, providing an indication when any person enters into one of said monitored areas responsive to a detection of any associated RFID token.   
     
     
         16 . A method, the method comprising:
 (a) detecting an entry of one or more RFID tokens within one or more monitored areas using an RFID subsystem by use of an RFID subsystem fixed to a first immobile structure within said one or more monitored areas;   (b) transmitting wirelessly an activating signal from said RFID subsystem when detecting said entry of said RFID token within the monitored area; and   (c) indicating, using an entry indicator coupled to a second immobile structure within said monitored area, to a driver of a vehicle entering into said one or more monitored areas responsive to said activating signal wirelessly received from said RFID subsystem, when one or more RFID tokens have been detected within said one or more monitored areas.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said vehicle includes a safety system with a wireless receiver and wherein said indicating process includes disabling said vehicle, responsive to said activating signal, from entering said one or more monitored areas. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said RFID token includes a pair of associated RFID tags. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a location system that locates a specific RFID token within said monitored area. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said monitored area includes a first region and wherein said indicator system includes a first indicator fixed and immobile and associated with said first region, wherein said indication includes a response by said first indicator; and wherein said response by said first indicator is responsive to a status of said person within said first region. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said monitored area further includes a second region and wherein said indicator system includes a second indicator fixed and immobile and associated with said second region, wherein said indication includes a response by said second indicator; and wherein said response by said second indicator is responsive to a status of said person within said second region. 
     
     
         22 . A system, comprising:
 an RFID subsystem for detecting entry of an RFID tag within a monitored area;   an RFID token associated with a person accessing said monitored area; and   an indicator system for providing an indication when said person enters into said monitored area;   wherein said RFID token includes a pair of associated RFID tags.   
     
     
         23 . A system, comprising:
 an RFID subsystem detecting entry of an RFID tag within a first monitored area wherein said RFID subsystem includes one or more transceivers/detectors, wherein said first monitored area includes one or more immobile structures, and wherein at least one particular transceiver/detector of said one or more transceivers/detectors are fixed to one particular immobile structure of said one or more immobile structures;   one or more RFID tokens, an RFID token associated with each person entering into said first monitored area; and   an indicator system providing an indication when a person enters into said first monitored area.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said first monitored area includes a storage facility wherein one or more vehicles operate and wherein said particular immobile structure includes a wall within said storage facility. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said first monitored area consists essentially of a stationary type of monitored area, the system further comprising a second monitored area consisting essentially of a mobile type of monitored area coupled to said first monitored area through a portal; wherein said one or more RFID tokens are associated with said one or more persons entering into said second monitored area; wherein said RFID subsystem detects entry of any RFID tag of said one or more RFID tags into said second monitored area; and wherein said indicator system provides said indication responsive to said person entering into said second monitored area. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein a particular one RFID token is associated with a particular person, the system further comprising a recording system coupled to said RFID subsystem storing automatically a history of times of entry and exit of said particular person with respect to said monitored areas and responsive to said RFID token. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein a particular RFID token is associated with each particular person entering into one of said monitored areas, the system further comprising a locating system coupled to said RFID subsystem locating automatically each particular person with respect to said monitored areas and responsive to said associated RFID tokens. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said indicator system includes an indicator associated with said portal. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein said vehicles and said persons comprise mobile elements within said monitored areas; wherein said portal includes a portal control physically limiting whether a mobile element may move from said first monitored area to said second monitored area with said portal control including an open mode when movement from said first monitored area to said second monitored area is possible and a closed mode when movement from said first monitored area to said second monitored area is not possible; and wherein said indicator is additionally responsive to said mode of said portal with said indicator providing said indication only when both said portal is in said open mode and when said person is within said second monitored area. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said first monitored area consists essentially of a stationary type of monitored area and wherein said wall includes a portal accessing a second monitored area. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said one or more vehicles may travel through said portal; wherein said portal includes a door having an open mode and a closed mode; wherein said second monitored area consists essentially of a mobile type of monitored area; wherein a side of said portal included in said second monitored area includes a hazard to any one of said vehicles traveling through said portal in said open mode when said second monitored area is absent; and wherein said indicator system provides said indication whenever said door is in said open mode and said second monitored area is absent from said side of said portal. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein said RFID subsystem includes a distance feature and wherein said indicator system is responsive to said distance feature to actuate said indicator whenever a particular one vehicle of said one or more vehicles approaches said portal within said first further distance. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein said distance feature distinguishes between a first further distance and a second closer distance and wherein said indicator system is responsive to said first further distance to actuate said indicator, the system further comprising a lockout system, responsive to said second closer distance and coupled to both said RFID subsystem and to said particular one vehicle, disabling said particular one vehicle from being driven through said portal when said indication is active. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said one or more vehicles may travel through said portal; wherein said portal includes a door having an open mode and a closed mode; wherein said second monitored area consists essentially of a mobile type of monitored area; wherein said one or more RFID tokens are associated with said one or more persons entering into said second monitored area; wherein said RFID subsystem detects entry of any RFID tag of said one or more RFID tags into said second monitored area; and wherein said indicator system provides said indication whenever said door is in said open mode and said second monitored area is present and said second monitored area is occupied by a person.