FIELD OF THE INVENTIVE SUBJECT MATTER

The present inventive subject matter relates to systems that include components that can communicate with each other, and/or in which one or more spatial relationships and/or translational relationships between components is/are detected and used to influence operation of any of such components, other components or one or more pieces of equipment. The present inventive subject matter also relates to methods of operating such components, combinations of such components and/or equipment.

BACKGROUND

There exists an ongoing need to improve, simplify and/or facilitate operation of equipment. There also exists an ongoing need to improve safety of operating equipment, and to improve response when an accident or other event occurs. There also exists an ongoing need to improve efficiency of operation of equipment. There also exists an ongoing need to improve, simplify and/or facilitate operation of equipment and/or reliability of equipment, in combination with: transfer of information and/or sharing of information, safety of operating equipment, improved response when an accident or other event occurs, and/or improved efficiency of operation of equipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE SUBJECT MATTER

Some aspects of the present inventive subject matter relate to systems (and components for such systems, e.g., pendants and bases for such systems) that comprise a pendant and a base, in which: the base is attached to equipment (e.g., the base is mounted on a vehicle, such as a snowmobile or a personal water craft); the pendant is associated with an operator, an object or another piece of equipment (e.g., the pendant is engaged with or attached to the operator, object or other piece of equipment, e.g., by a tether); the pendant and the base are capable of communicating with each other (e.g., they can communicate if they are close enough to each other and any obstruction between them is not significant enough to prevent communication); and a wireless power transmitter in the base can supply energy to the pendant to supply electricity to electronic components in the pendant and/or to a rechargeable energy-retention component in the pendant (e.g., a battery or a super capacitor) can be recharged. In some of such systems:the pendant and the base are configured to be selectively engaged with one another (i.e., they can be engaged with each other and then disengaged from each other, e.g., intentionally or unintentionally), and the pendant and the base being engaged with each other is indicative of (1) an operator being in a position from which the operator can properly operate the piece of equipment, or a second piece of equipment being properly connected to a first piece of equipment, or (2) an object or other piece of equipment being in a particular position (and the pendant and the base becoming (or being) disengaged from each other being indicative of the operator not being in a position from which the operator can properly operate the equipment, or of the second piece of equipment coming dislodged from the first piece of equipment, e.g., a trailer becoming dislodged from a trailer hitch), and/orthe system is configured to conjecture (1) whether one or more components in the pendant is/are in close proximity to one or more respective components in the base (e.g., whether a wireless power receiver in the pendant is in close proximity to a wireless power transmitter in the base, an electromagnetic signal receiver in the pendant is in close proximity to an electromagnetic signal transmitter in the base, and/or an electromagnetic signal receiver in the base is in close proximity to an electromagnetic signal transmitter in the pendant), such close proximity being indicative of the pendant being engaged with the base (and therefore is indicative of (1) an operator being in a position from which the operator can properly operate the piece of equipment, or (2) an object or other piece of equipment being in a particular position), and/orthe system is configured to conjecture (1) whether one or more components in the pendant is/are in medium proximity to one or more respective components in the base (e.g., whether an electromagnetic signal receiver in the pendant is in medium proximity to an electromagnetic signal transmitter in the base, and/or an electromagnetic signal receiver in the base is in medium proximity to an electromagnetic signal transmitter in the pendant), such medium proximity being indicative of the pendant being near a location where it can be engaged with the base (and therefore is indicative of the operator being close to a proper position to operate the piece of equipment (and possibly approaching a position to operate the piece of equipment), or the object or other piece of equipment being close to a particular position), and/orthe pendant has a pendant motion sensor (configured to detect a direction and speed of motion of the pendant, and/or to detect direction and magnitude of acceleration of the pendant), and the base has a base motion sensor (configured to detect a direction and speed of motion of the base, and/or to detect direction and magnitude of acceleration of the base), and the system is configured to compare information detected by the pendant motion sensor with information detected by the base motion sensor to assess whether the pendant and the base are (A) moving in tandem (which is indicative of the pendant being engaged with the base (and therefore is indicative of (1) an operator being in a position from which the operator can properly operate the piece of equipment, or (2) an object or other piece of equipment being in a particular position and/or engaged with another piece of equipment), (B) moving in similar but not identical ways, which is indicative of the pendant being near a location where it can be engaged with the base (and therefore is indicative of the operator being close to a proper position to operate the piece of equipment, or the object or other piece of equipment being close to a particular position), or (C) moving in significantly different ways, which is indicative of the operator or object having fallen off the piece of equipment, or, e.g., the other piece of equipment having become disconnected from the piece of equipment (e.g., a trailer becoming dislodged from a trailer hitch, a train car becoming dislodged from another train car, etc.).

The present inventive subject matter also provides such systems (and components for such systems) in which:the system is configured to conjecture whether a wireless power receiver in the pendant is in close proximity to a wireless power transmitter in the base, based on whether a power quantity that a wireless power receiver in the pendant is receiving from a wireless power transmitter in the base is equal to or greater than a threshold power quantity, and/orthe system is configured to conjecture whether an electromagnetic signal receiver in the pendant is in close proximity to an electromagnetic signal transmitter in the base, based on whether a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the base and received by the receiver in the pendant, is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, and/orthe system is configured to conjecture whether an electromagnetic signal receiver in the base is in close proximity to an electromagnetic signal transmitter in the pendant, based on whether a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the pendant and received by the receiver in the base, is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, and/orthe system is configured to conjecture whether an electromagnetic signal receiver in the pendant is in medium proximity to an electromagnetic signal transmitter in the base, based on whether a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the base and received by the receiver in the pendant, is less than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value and equal to or greater than a lower threshold signal-reception-strength value, and/orthe system is configured to conjecture whether an electromagnetic signal receiver in the base is in medium proximity to an electromagnetic signal transmitter in the pendant, based on whether a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the pendant and received by the receiver in the base, is less than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value and equal to or greater than a lower threshold signal-reception-strength value, and/orthe system is configured to conjecture whether the pendant is engaged with the base, and/or whether the pendant is in medium proximity to the base, based on comparing an extent to which motion detected by the base motion detector corresponds to motion detected by the pendant motion detector.

The present inventive subject matter also provides such systems (and components for such systems) in which the control by the system of one or more aspects of the functioning of a piece of equipment and/or the functioning of one or more components of the system (and/or the functioning of other components)(or the influencing on such aspects by the system) is configured to be affected based on one or more of: conjectured degrees of proximity between the pendant and the base (and/or one or more respective components of the pendant and the base), sequences of such conjectured degrees of proximity, detected speed, direction of travel and/or acceleration of the pendant, detected speed, direction of travel and/or acceleration of the base, comparisons between the speed, direction of travel and/or acceleration of the pendant and the speed, direction of travel and/or acceleration of the base, and other data (e.g., orientation of the base and/or orientation of the pendant). Such “one or more aspects of the functioning of a piece of equipment and/or the functioning of one or more components of the system (and/or the functioning of other components)” includes, e.g., (and is not limited to) aspects such as:the system automatically sends a signal (e.g., a signal indicating that there is an emergency, such as an “SOS” signal), and/orthe system automatically commands the piece of equipment to perform one or more particular actions or functions (and/or to cease performing one or more particular actions or functions)(e.g., the system commands the piece of equipment to slow to a stop if the vehicle is moving at 30 mph and the conjectured proximity changes from close to medium, or from close to remote; or the system commands lights on the piece of equipment to turn on if the conjectured proximity changes to medium after a period of time that was devoid of conjectured close proximity or conjectured medium proximity), and/orthe type or types of information that is/are communicated between the base and the pendant is controlled (e.g., the system decides whether communication of the information is authorized or not authorized), and/orcommands entered on the pendant are performed or not performed (e.g., the systems decides whether such commands are authorized or not authorized), and/orthe system automatically commands another piece of equipment to perform one or more particular actions or functions (and/or commands another piece of equipment to cease performing one or more particular actions or functions), and/orthe system determines whether a pendant (and/or an operator using a pendant) is authorized to cause the system to take particular actions (and/or the system determines the actions, or level of access, that the pendant (and/or operator using the pendant) is authorized to cause the system to take), e.g., by comparing an identification signal received from the pendant with a list of authorized identification signals (or with rules that an identification signal must satisfy) to determine whether the identification signal is valid, and/or by determining whether a PIN entered by the operator is a valid PIN.

Such functioning provides the capability of having any of a wide variety of specific operations to be caused to occur upon various events (or combinations of events) happening (e.g., upon the system and/or other components, as a result of something (or some things) that occur, detecting various things, and/or the system making particular conjectures, and/or an operator making specific commands or requests, etc.). That is, systems in accordance with the present inventive subject matter are not necessarily configured to perform the following actions, but they have the capability of being configured to perform the following representative actions (and there are many other representative actions that the systems are capable of being configured to take upon the occurrence of various things, i.e., following representative actions are only a few of the many possible representative actions that the systems can be configured to take upon the occurrence of various things), i.e., the present inventive subject matter encompasses:a system that is configured such that it would perform any one or more of the following things if an operator were riding on a piece of equipment and traveling 30 miles per hour, with the pendant engaged with the base, and then the operator falls off of the piece of equipment, causing the pendant to disengage from the base, and causing the operator to become spaced 15 meters from the piece of equipment (e.g., the system is configured such that (at least) if the piece of equipment is moving and there is a change (while the piece of equipment is moving) from the pendant being in close proximity to the base to the pendant being in medium proximity to the base (or not being in close proximity or medium proximity), the system issues a command that causes the piece of equipment to stop moving):the system changes from conjecturing that the pendant is in close proximity to conjecturing that the pendant is not in close proximity and is not in medium proximity (e.g., as a result of (1) a power quantity that a wireless power receiver in the pendant is receiving from a wireless power transmitter in the base changing from being greater than a threshold power quantity to being less than the threshold power quantity (including zero power), and/or (2) a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the base and received by the receiver in the pendant, changing from a value that is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, to a value that is less than a lower threshold signal-reception-strength value (including a value of zero), and/or (3) a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the pendant and received by the receiver in the base, changing from a value that is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, to a value that is less than a lower threshold signal-reception-strength value (including a value of zero), and/or (4) an extent to which motion detected by a motion detector in the base corresponds to motion detected by a motion detector in the pendant decreasing by a large extent (e.g., a change that is more than a threshold change),the system causes an event signal to be sent (e.g., from the base or from a processor in the piece of equipment to an emergency dispatcher), the event signal indicating that the operator might need assistance,the system causes an event signal to be sent (e.g., from the base or from a processor in the piece of equipment to an emergency dispatcher), the event signal indicating that the operator might be injured,the system causes an event signal to be sent (e.g., from the base or from a processor in the piece of equipment to an emergency dispatcher), the event signal indicating that the operator might is conjectured to have fallen off of the piece of equipment at a speed of 30 miles per hour,the system (1) causes an event signal to be sent to an emergency dispatcher (e.g., from the base or from a processor (i.e., a processor can send a signal or cause a signal to be sent) in the piece of equipment), the event signal indicating that the operator is likely to have been injured, (2) causes a signal to be sent to the base, instructing the base to attempt to send a signal to the pendant every minute for the next ten minutes (unless the operator responds with a signal stating that the operator does not need assistance), requesting that the operator advise as to whether the operator needs assistance, and (3) if the base does not receive, within ten minutes, a signal from the operator, indicating that the operator does not need assistance, the base sends a signal (or a processor causes a signal to be sent) advising the emergency dispatcher that the operator has not responded to requests for the operator's status,the system causes a slow/stop signal to be sent to the piece of equipment (e.g., to the base and/or to a processor in the piece of equipment), commanding the piece of equipment to slow to a stop (if the piece of equipment is still moving) and switch out of any forward gear.a system that is configured such that it would perform any one or more of the following things if an operator were riding on a piece of equipment and traveling 25 miles per hour, with the pendant engaged with the base, and then the piece of equipment strikes a tree, causing the pendant to become disengaged from the base but the operator remains on the piece of equipment or near the piece of equipment (e.g., the system is configured such that—at least—if there is a change (while the piece of equipment is moving) from the pendant being in close proximity to the base to the pendant being in medium proximity to the base, the system issues a command that causes the piece of equipment to stop moving):the system changes from conjecturing that the pendant is in close proximity to conjecturing that the pendant is not in close proximity (e.g., as a result of (1) a power quantity that a wireless power receiver in the pendant is receiving from a wireless power transmitter in the base changing from being greater than a threshold power quantity to being less than the threshold power quantity (including a value of zero), and/or (2) a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the base and received by the receiver in the pendant, changing from a value that is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, to a value that is less than the upper threshold signal-reception-strength value and equal to or greater than a lower threshold signal-reception-strength value, and/or (3) a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the pendant and received by the receiver in the base, changing from a value that is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, to a value that is less than the upper threshold signal-reception-strength value and equal to or greater than a lower threshold signal-reception-strength value, and/or (4) motion detected by a motion detector in the base changes abruptly (e.g., within 3 seconds) from 25 miles per hour to 0 miles per hour, and/or (5) motion detected by a motion detector in the pendant changes abruptly (e.g., within 3 seconds) from 25 miles per hour to 0 miles per hour,the system causes an event signal (corresponding to any of the event signals described above) to be sent to an emergency dispatcher,the system causes a slow/stop signal (corresponding to the slow/stop signal described above) to be sent to the piece of equipment;a system that is configured such that it would send a possible accident signal (and/or slow a piece of equipment to a stop) if the piece of equipment were traveling 45 miles per hour and strikes a fence, slowing the piece of equipment to 15 miles per hour within three seconds,a system that is configured such that it would perform any one or more of the following things if an operator (to whom a pendant is attached with a tether) approaches a piece of equipment (such that the system determines that the pendant is in medium proximity or close proximity to the base), and within a preselected period of time (e.g., 20 seconds), all of the following occur:the pendant transmitter periodically (e.g., every five seconds) sends an advertisement signal that includes an identification signal,the base receiver receives an advertisement signal from the pendant transmitter, and the system compares the identification signal with a list of authorized identification signals (or with rules that an identification signal must satisfy) to determine whether the identification signal is valid,if the system determines that the identification signal is valid, the system issues a command that one or more lights on the piece of equipment be turned on, and/or that one or more computer functions in the piece of equipment be activated;a system that is configured such that it would perform any one or more of the following things if an operator (to whom a pendant is attached with a tether) sends a request that the piece of equipment turn on its engine, and within a preselected period of time (e.g., 20 seconds), all of the following occur:the system causes the base transmitter to send a signal to the pendant receiver, requesting that the pendant send its identification signal,in response to the signal requesting that the pendant send its identification signal, the pendant transmitter sends to the base receiver a signal including its identification signal,the system compares the identification signal with a list of authorized identification signals to determine whether the identification signal is valid,if the system determines that the identification signal is valid, the system causes the base transmitter to send an inquiry signal to the pendant receiver, the inquiry signal requesting that the operator indicate his or her PIN,if, in response to the inquiry signal, the operator enters a valid PIN, the system conjectures whether the pendant is in close proximity to the base or in medium proximity to the base,if the system conjectures that the pendant is in close proximity to the base or in medium proximity to the base, the system issues a command that the engine in the piece of equipment be turned on and idle;a system that is configured such that it would perform any one or more of the following things if an operator (to whom a pendant is attached with a pendant) sends a request that the system indicate the location of a second piece of equipment, and within a preselected period of time (e.g., 20 seconds), all of the following occur:the system causes the base transmitter to send a signal to the pendant receiver, requesting that the pendant send its identification signal,in response to the signal requesting that the pendant send its identification signal, the pendant transmitter sends to the base receiver a signal including its identification signal,the system compares the identification signal with a list of authorized identification signals to determine whether the identification signal is valid,if the system determines that the identification signal is valid, the system causes the base transmitter to send an inquiry signal to the pendant receiver, the inquiry signal requesting that the operator indicate his or her PIN,if, in response to the inquiry signal, the operator enters a valid PIN, the system conjectures whether the pendant is in close proximity to the base or in medium proximity to the base,if the system conjectures that the pendant is in close proximity to the base or in medium proximity to the base, the system causes the base transmitter to send to the pendant receiver information regarding the location of the second piece of equipment.

In some embodiments, the system is configured such that any one or more of the above capabilities is/are provided, and an operator can send messages (e.g., a request for assistance—such as an SOS signal) through the pendant (for example, such message can be sent from the pendant transmitter to the base receiver, from the base to a processor in the equipment (e.g., an ECU)(via RF or via a serial port), and from the processor to one or more sites that can initiate the provision of assistance (e.g., emergency assistance) via any communication type, e.g., satellite communication.

A first aspect of the present inventive subject matter is directed to a communication system, comprising a pendant and a base,

the pendant comprising:a pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter;a pendant electromagnetic signal receiver; anda wireless power receiver;

the base comprising:a base electromagnetic signal transmitter;a base electromagnetic signal receiver; anda wireless power transmitter,

the wireless power receiver configured to wirelessly receive electrical energy from the wireless power transmitter, and

the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter, the pendant electromagnetic signal receiver, the wireless power receiver, the base electromagnetic signal transmitter, the base electromagnetic signal receiver and the wireless power transmitter are sealed.

As described below, any suitable components can be used for pendant electromagnetic signal transmitters, pendant electromagnetic signal receivers, base electromagnetic signal transmitters and base electromagnetic signal receivers in pendants, bases, communication systems and equipment systems in accordance with the present inventive subject matter, and persons of skill in the art are familiar with a wide variety of such components. A pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter and a pendant electromagnetic signal receiver can together comprise a single pendant electromagnetic signal transceiver, and a base electromagnetic signal transmitter and a base electromagnetic signal receiver can together comprise a single base electromagnetic signal transceiver (in other words, a pendant electromagnetic signal transceiver constitutes a pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter and a pendant electromagnetic signal receiver, and a base electromagnetic signal transceiver constitutes a base electromagnetic signal transmitter and a base electromagnetic signal receiver). The expression “transmitter” is used herein to refer to components that are capable of emitting signals; the expression “receiver” is used herein to refer to components that are capable of receiving signals; the expression “transceiver” is used herein to refer to components that are capable of sending signals and receiving signals.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the pendant further comprises an energy-retention component and a charger, in which the charger is configured to charge the energy-retention component, and the energy-retention component and the charger are sealed.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the communication system is configured to conjecture whether the pendant is in close proximity to the base, and the communication system is configured to conjecture whether the pendant is in medium proximity to the base.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the pendant is configured to determine a magnitude of power that the wireless power receiver is receiving from the wireless power transmitter.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:the pendant is configured to determine a magnitude of power that the wireless power receiver is receiving from the wireless power transmitter, andthe pendant and/or the communication system is configured to cause a power-quantity-received close-proximity signal to be sent upon determining that the wireless power receiver is receiving, from the wireless power transmitter, power that is equal to or greater than a threshold power quantity.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the base comprises a signal-reception-strength detector that is configured to detect a strength with which an electromagnetic signal emitted by the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter is received by the base electromagnetic signal receiver.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:the base comprises a signal-reception-strength detector that is configured to detect a strength with which an electromagnetic signal emitted by the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter is received by the base electromagnetic signal receiver,the communication system is configured to cause a reception-strength close-proximity signal to be sent if the detected signal-reception-strength value is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, and/orthe communication system is configured to cause a reception-strength medium-proximity signal to be sent if the detected signal-reception-strength value is less than the upper threshold signal-reception-strength value and equal to or greater than a lower threshold signal-reception-strength value.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the pendant comprises a signal-reception-strength detector that is configured to detect a strength with which an electromagnetic signal emitted by the base electromagnetic signal transmitter is received by the pendant electromagnetic signal receiver.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:the pendant comprises a signal-reception-strength detector that is configured to detect a strength with which an electromagnetic signal emitted by the base electromagnetic signal transmitter is received by the pendant electromagnetic signal receiver,the communication system is configured to cause a reception-strength close-proximity signal to be sent if the detected signal-reception-strength value is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, and/orthe communication system is configured to cause a reception-strength medium-proximity signal to be sent if the detected signal-reception-strength value is less than the upper threshold signal-reception-strength value and equal to or greater than a lower threshold signal-reception-strength value.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the base comprises a base motion detector, and the pendant comprises a pendant motion detector.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:the base comprises a base motion detector, and the pendant comprises a pendant motion detector,the communication system is configured to compare an extent to which motion detected by the base motion detector corresponds to motion detected by the pendant motion detector,the communication system is configured to cause a motion-detector close-proximity signal to be sent upon the communication system determining that an extent to which motion detected by the base motion detector is similar to motion detected by the pendant motion detector is equal to or greater than an upper threshold extent,the communication system is configured to cause a motion-detector medium-proximity signal to be sent upon the communication system determining that an extent to which motion detected by the base motion detector is similar to motion detected by the pendant motion detector is less than an upper threshold extent and is equal to or greater than a lower threshold extent, and/orthe communication system is configured to cause a motion-detector remote signal to be sent upon the communication system determining that an extent to which motion detected by the base motion detector is similar to motion detected by the pendant motion detector is less than a lower threshold extent.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the communication system is configured to issue a command that stops a piece of equipment to which the base is attached upon a change, while the piece of equipment is moving, from (1) the pendant being conjectured to be in close proximity to the base to (2) the pendant being conjectured to not be in close proximity to the base.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the communication system is configured to send a possible accident signal upon a change, while a piece of equipment to which the base is attached is moving at a rate of at least a threshold speed, from (1) the pendant being conjectured to be in close proximity to the base to (2) the pendant being conjectured to not be in close proximity to the base.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the communication system is configured to send a possible accident signal upon a change in speed, of a piece of equipment to which the base is attached, of at least a threshold speed change amount within a threshold speed change time period.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter is configured to periodically send an advertisement signal that includes an identification signal.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the communication system is configured to issue a command that causes one or more lights on a piece of equipment to which the base is attached to be turned on upon both of (1) and (2) occurring within a preselected period of time:(1) the communication system determining that the pendant is in medium proximity or near proximity to the base, and(2) the communication system determining that an identification signal received from the pendant is valid.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the communication system is configured to issue a command that an engine in a piece of equipment to which the base is attached be turned on and idle upon all of (1)-(4) occurring within a preselected period of time:(1) the communication system determining that the pendant is in close proximity or medium proximity to the base,(2) the communication system determining that an identification signal received from the pendant is valid,(3) the communication system determining that a PIN received from the pendant is valid, and(4) the base electromagnetic signal receiver receiving, from the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter, a request that the piece of equipment turn on its engine.

In some embodiments according to the first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the communication system is configured to issue a command that an engine in a piece of equipment to which the base is attached be turned on and idle upon all of (1)-(3) occurring within a preselected period of time:(1) the communication system determining that the pendant is in close proximity or medium proximity to the base,(2) the communication system determining that an identification signal received from the pendant is valid, and(3) the base electromagnetic signal receiver receiving, from the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter, a request that the piece of equipment turn on its engine.

A second aspect of the present inventive subject matter is directed to an equipment system that comprises a communication system (e.g., as described above) and at least a first piece of equipment, the base attached to the first piece of equipment.

In some embodiments according to the second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the equipment system comprises at least a first processor.

In some embodiments according to the second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:the communication system is configured to conjecture whether the pendant is in close proximity to the base,the communication system is configured to conjecture whether the pendant is in medium proximity to the base,the equipment system comprises at least a first processor,the first processor is configured to receive close-proximity signals and medium-proximity signals from at least one component of the communication system, andthe first processor is configured to make a temporal sequence of conjectures as to whether the pendant is (i) in close proximity to the base, (ii) in medium proximity to the base, or (iii) remote from the base, based on receipt by the first processor of a temporal sequence of events selected from among (i.e., which may include or not include): (1) receipt of close-proximity signals, (2) receipt of medium-proximity signals, (3) receipt of remote signals, and (4) time passages devoid of receipt of any signal selected from among close-proximity signals and medium-proximity signals. In some of such embodiments, the first processor is configured to change among a plurality of equipment-operation modes based on said temporal sequence of conjectures, each said equipment-operation mode comprising at least one of:controlling functions automatically performed by the first piece of equipment based on (1) the temporal sequence of conjectures alone or (2) a combination of the temporal sequence of conjectures alone and one or more other pieces of data;controlling functions automatically performed by the first processor based on (1) the temporal sequence of conjectures alone or (2) a combination of the temporal sequence of conjectures alone and one or more other pieces of data;controlling whether information is provided to an authorized user upon the authorized user requesting such information;controlling whether functions are performed by the first piece of equipment upon the authorized user requesting that the first piece of equipment perform such functions;controlling whether a signal is sent to at least a second piece of equipment, instructing the at least a second piece of equipment to perform one or more activities; andcontrolling whether the first piece of equipment and at least a second piece of equipment perform activities in relation to one another.

In some embodiments according to the second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:the communication system is configured to conjecture whether the pendant is in close proximity to the base,the communication system is configured to conjecture whether the pendant is in medium proximity to the base,the equipment system comprises at least a first processor,the first processor is configured to receive close-proximity signals and medium-proximity signals from the base,the first processor is configured to make a temporal sequence of conjectures as to whether the pendant is (i) in close proximity to the base, (ii) in medium proximity to the base, or (iii) remote from the base, based on receipt by the first processor of a temporal sequence of events selected from among (i.e., which may include or not include) (1) receipt of base-transmitted close-proximity signals, (2) receipt of base-transmitted medium-proximity signals, (3) receipt of remote signals, and (4) time passages devoid of receipt of any signal selected from among base-transmitted close-proximity signals and base-transmitted medium-proximity signals, andthe first processor is configured to change among a plurality of equipment-operation modes based on said temporal sequence of conjectures, each said equipment-operation mode comprising at least one of:controlling functions automatically performed by the first piece of equipment based on (1) the temporal sequence of conjectures alone or (2) a combination of the temporal sequence of conjectures alone and one or more other pieces of data;controlling functions automatically performed by the first processor based on (1) the temporal sequence of conjectures alone or (2) a combination of the temporal sequence of conjectures alone and one or more other pieces of data;controlling whether information is provided to an authorized user upon the authorized user requesting such information;controlling whether functions are performed by the first piece of equipment upon the authorized user requesting that the first piece of equipment perform such functions; andcontrolling whether the first piece of equipment and at least a second piece of equipment perform activities in relation to one another.

A third aspect of the present inventive subject matter is directed to a pendant, comprising:

a pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter;

a pendant electromagnetic signal receiver; and

a wireless power receiver,

the wireless power receiver is configured to receive electrical energy wirelessly,

the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter, the pendant electromagnetic signal receiver, and the wireless power receiver are sealed.

A fourth aspect of the present inventive subject matter is directed to a base, comprising:

a base electromagnetic signal transmitter;

a base electromagnetic signal receiver; and

a wireless power transmitter,

the base electromagnetic signal transmitter, the base electromagnetic signal receiver, and the wireless power transmitter are sealed.

A fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter is directed to a method of communicating, comprising conjecturing a degree of proximity of a pendant (e.g., as described herein) to a base (e.g., as described herein) by at least one action selected from among the group consisting of:determining whether a power quantity that a wireless power receiver in the pendant is receiving from a wireless power transmitter in the base is equal to or greater than a threshold power quantity;determining whether a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from a transmitter in the base and received by a receiver in the pendant, is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value;determining whether a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from a transmitter in the pendant and received by a receiver in the base, is equal to or greater than the upper threshold signal-reception-strength value; andcomparing an extent to which motion detected by a motion detector in the base corresponds to motion detected by a motion detector in the pendant.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the method comprises:determining whether a power quantity that the wireless power receiver in the pendant is receiving from the wireless power transmitter in the base is equal to or greater than a threshold power quantity, andat least one of:determining whether a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the base and received by the receiver in the pendant, is equal to or greater than an upper threshold signal-reception-strength value, anddetermining whether a detected signal-reception-strength value, of a signal sent from the transmitter in the pendant and received by the receiver in the base, is equal to or greater than the upper threshold signal-reception-strength value.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the method further comprises charging an energy-retention component in the pendant with at least some of said electrical energy received by the wireless power receiver.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, a piece of equipment to which the base is attached stops moving upon a change, while the piece of equipment is moving, from (1) the pendant being conjectured to be in close proximity to the base to (2) the pendant being conjectured to not be in close proximity to the base.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the base and the pendant are part of a communication system, and the communication system sends a possible accident signal upon a change, while a piece of equipment to which the base is attached is moving at a rate of at least a threshold speed, from (1) the pendant being conjectured to be in close proximity to the base to (2) the pendant being conjectured to not be in close proximity to the base.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the base and the pendant are part of a communication system, and the communication system sends a possible accident signal upon a change in speed, of a piece of equipment to which the base is attached, of at least a threshold speed change amount within a threshold speed change time period.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein, the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter periodically sends an advertisement signal that includes an identification signal.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:the base and the pendant are part of a communication system, andthe communication system issues a command that causes one or more lights on a piece of equipment to which the base is attached to be turned on upon both of (1) and (2) occurring within a preselected period of time:(1) the communication system determining that the pendant is in medium proximity or near proximity to the base, and(2) the communication system determining that an identification signal received from the pendant is valid.

In some embodiments according to the fifth aspect of the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include, as suitable, any of the other features described herein:the base and the pendant are part of a communication system, andthe communication system issues a command that an engine in a piece of equipment to which the base is attached to be turned on and idle upon all of (1)-(4) occurring within a preselected period of time:(1) the communication system determining that the pendant is in close proximity or medium proximity to the base,(2) the communication system determining that an identification signal received from the pendant is valid,(3) the communication system determining that a PIN received from the pendant is valid,(4) the base electromagnetic signal receiver receiving, from the pendant electromagnetic signal transmitter, a request that the piece of equipment turn on its engine.

In some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, there is provided a system (and components for such system, including a pendant and a base) that can be used with a first piece of equipment, and that is configured to identify the location of an operator (or another piece of equipment), where proximity to the first piece of equipment is necessary in order for the first piece of equipment to conform to certain conditional programmed computerized actions or responses. Furthermore, there is provided a system in which such a pendant and base can detect the location and/or identity of an operator (or other piece of equipment) and in which such a pendant (or components thereof) is/are sealed, and such a base (or components thereof) is/are sealed, so that they are sufficiently robust to withstand environments containing dust and can (if necessary) operate continuously, wide ranging temperatures and humidity, while providing the ability to recharge one or more batteries in the pendant, thereby avoiding sacrifices in ability to withstand harsh environments as well as avoiding the need to discontinue operation to replace batteries.

In some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, there is provided a system in which a piece of equipment can determine a degree of proximity of a pendant to the piece of equipment, while having the ability to communicate with the piece of equipment at longer distances. As an example of the typical states of a representative system: a first degree of proximity (e.g., “remote”) can be where a pendant is at a distance from a base (which is mounted on the piece of equipment) that is beyond that which is pertinent to the piece of equipment (e.g., greater than three meters away); a second degree of proximity (e.g., “medium proximity”) can be where the pendant is within a certain range of distance from the base (e.g., 0.02 to 3 meters away), such that the piece of equipment may make certain programmed operational actions (independent of or involving the pendant); and a third degree of proximity (e.g., “close proximity”) can be where the pendant is close enough to the base (e.g., within 0.02 meters) that the other equipment may make certain other programmed operational actions (independent of or involving the pendant)(optionally including or not including some or all of the operational actions it can make when in the second degree of proximity).

In some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, there is provided a system comprising at least two parts (or a system comprising at least three parts), the first part being a sealed pendant containing a wireless radio for communications and an energy-retention component that is charged through a separate wireless power receiver; the second part being a base containing a wireless radio for communicating to the receiver and a second wireless circuit containing a transmitter for transmitting power to the wireless power receiver. The second part is connected to a power source within or separate from a piece of equipment (e.g., a piece of equipment on which the second part is mounted) and may or may not have a serial wired communication circuit that connects to a computer system in or on the piece of equipment (instead of through a serial wired communication circuit, or in addition to such a circuit, the base can communicate with the piece of equipment through a wireless communication that is the same as or similar to a wireless communication through which the pendant and the base communicate. The base may also contain one or more retaining structures that (when the pendant is in a degree of proximity to the base (e.g., close proximity) retains the pendant in such degree of proximity to the base. An optional third part may consist of a component that retains (or assists in retaining) the pendant in a particular degree of proximity (e.g., close proximity) relative to the base.

In some aspects of the present inventive subject matter, there can be provided a system as described above, in which the system comprises a tether that connects (e.g., releasably) the pendant to an operator or to another piece of equipment. In some embodiments in accordance with such aspects of the present inventive subject matter, the tether does not interfere with placement of the pendant onto the base, nor does it interfere with the communications or wireless power transfer.

The base may or may not comprise one or more retaining structures that (when the pendant is in a degree of proximity to the base, e.g., close proximity) retains the pendant in such degree of proximity to the base.

In some embodiments in accordance with the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include any other features described herein, the base or any other retaining structure(s) can be configured such that the pendant can be removed from the base only by intentional removal of the pendant from the base, or such that certain unintentional forces allow the pendant to be removed from a degree of proximity (e.g., close proximity) relative to the base, so as to stay attached to a user or to another piece of equipment.

In some embodiments in accordance with the present inventive subject matter, which can include or not include any other features described herein, the pendant may or may not contain a motion sensor. In embodiments in which the pendant comprises a motion sensor, the motion sensor can be configured such that certain motions, such a tapping sequence, may invoke a wireless radio in the pendant to transfer specific data that would be translated by the piece of equipment as a command (or as commands) and/or as other information for user operation.

The inventive subject matter may be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the inventive subject matter.

