Patent US5276429A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5276429A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Contact detecting and signaling device
Assignee: Igea SRL
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Filing: 1992-02-03
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Granted: 1994-01-04
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Expires: 2012-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A portable generator generates a predetermined signal and has an output connected to a first transducer for transmitting the above signal to the body of a first operator (e.g. physician, nurse, etc.); and processing means for analyzing a signal picked up by a second transducer on a second operator (e.g. a patient, etc.) and detecting the significant presence of the above predetermined signal, as a consequence, for example, of direct or indirect contact between the first operator and the second operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Ruggero Cadossi
- 👤 Donata Marazzi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B42/00; A61B42/30; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/30; G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/40; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/18; G08B21/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for detecting direct or indirect contact between at least one first operator (3) and a second operator (5) (or machine), characterised by the fact that it comprises: means (7) for generating a predetermined signal; first transducer means (8) for transmitting said predetermined signal to the body of said first operator (3); second transducer means (11) fittable to the body of said second operator (5) (or the structure of said machine) for picking up respective signals present in the same; processing means (12-15; 53-63) connected to said second transducer means (11), for analyzing the signals picked up by said second transducer means (11) and so detecting the significant presence of said predetermined signal; and mass storage means (66) connected to said processing means (53-63), for storing said picked-up and predetermined signals as well as alarm signals generated by said processing means (53-63).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A device for detecting direct or indirect contact between at least one first operator (3) and a second operator (5) (or machine), characterised by the fact that it comprises: means (7) for generating a predetermined signal; first transducer means (8) for transmitting said predetermined signal to the body of said first operator (3); second transducer means (11) fittable to the body of said second operator (5) (or the structure of said machine) for picking up respective signals present in the same; processing means (12-15; 53-63) connected to said second transducer means (11), for analyzing the signals picked up by said second transducer means (11) and so detecting the significant presence of said predetermined signal; and mass storage means (66) connected to said processing means (53-63), for storing said picked-up and predetermined signals as well as alarm signals generated by said processing means (53-63).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said generating means comprise an oscillator (7).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised by the fact that said oscillator (7) generates an alternating signal having a predetermined frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, characterised by the fact that said predetermined frequency is within the audio frequency band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said first and second transducer means (8, 11) substantially comprise at least one electrode for transmitting or picking up electrical potentials in relation to the body of said first and second operator (3, 5) (or the structure of said machine).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said processing means (12, 13, 14, 15) comprise a band-pass filter (12) connected downstream from said second transducer means (11).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said processing means (12, 13, 14, 15) comprise at least a circuit (13) for processing said signal picked up by said second transducer means (11); said circuit (13) having means (25, 26) for converting said signal into a continuous signal, and means (27) for comparing said continuous signal with a predetermined reference value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, characterised by the fact that said processing circuit (13) comprises means (29) for clipping said signal picked up by said second transducer means (11); the output of said clipping means (29) being connected to enabling means (23) only activated by said comparing means (27) if the amplitude of said continuous signal exceeds said predetermined reference value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said processing means (12, 13, 14, 15) comprise at least a check circuit (14) for determining whether the frequency of said signal picked up by said second transducer means (11) substantially matches the frequency of said signal produced by said generating means (7).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, characterised by the fact that said check circuit (14) substantially consists of a phase locked loop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said processing means comprise an analog-digital converter (55) for converting said signal picked up by said second transducer means (11) into a digital signal; and digital processing means (56-62) for receiving said digital signal and detecting the significant presence of said predetermined signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, characterised by the fact that said digital processing means comprise first means (60) for comparing said digital signal with a predetermined reference value; and second means (61) for comparing said digital signal with a predetermined time curve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, characterised by the fact that it comprises a memory (62) for storing said predetermined time curve; and that said second comparing means (61) present an enabling input connected to the output of said first comparing means (60).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, characterised by the fact that said first and second comparing means (60, 61) are implemented via a microprocessor (59).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, characterised by the fact that said digital processing means also comprise a selective digital filter (57) connected downstream from said converter (55); and an effective value detector (58) connected downstream from said digital filter and upstream from said first and second comparing means (60, 61).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as claimed in claim 15, characterised by the fact that said digital filter (57) and said detector (58) are implemented via a programmable device (56) operating as a digital, variable-band filter and tunable to the frequency of said generating means (2), and subsequently as a detector for detecting the effective value of the output signal from said digital filter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said processing means (12-15; 53-62) comprise signaling means (15, 15') for indicating the significant presence of said signal picked up by said second transducer means (11); said signaling means (15, 15') comprising optical (33; 63) and/or acoustic (35) signaling elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 17, characterised by the fact that said signaling means (15) present means (31, 32) for intermittently controlling said signaling elements (33, 35) for a predetermined length of time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as claimed in claim 18, characterised by the fact that said control means (31, 32) substantially consist of a monostable circuit (31) and an astable circuit (32) connected downstream from said monostable circuit (31); the output of said astable circuit (32) controlling said signaling elements (33, 34).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as claimed in claim 17, characterized by the fact that said signaling means (15) are enabled by a check circuit (14) for determining whether the frequency of said signal picked up by said second transducer means (11) substantially matches the frequency of said signal produced by said generating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that it comprises display means including a monitor (65) connected to said processing means (53-63), for displaying said signals picked up by said second transducer means (11) as well as alarm signals generated by said processing means (53-63).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that said generating means (7) and said processing means (12-15; 53-66) are connected to a line having a common reference potential (85).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 22, characterised by the fact that said line consists of a platform (85).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said generating means (7) generates a train of pulses of preset length and in that said processing means (12-15; 53-63) comprises length discrimination means for detecting the length of a received train of pulses and comparing the detected length with said preset length.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-03 | 1997-07-05 | 1998-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-03 | 2001-07-05 | 2002-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-03 | 2005-07-05 | 2006-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |