Patent ID: 8983287
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: G01D,G01H,G01S,G08G,H04Q,H04R

Abstract:
1. A personnel monitoring system comprising: a host node including an optical source for generating optical signals, and an optical receiver; a plurality of fiber optic sensors for converting at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy to optical intensity information, each of the fiber optic sensors including: (1) at least one length of optical fiber configured to sense at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy; (2) a reflector at an end of the at least one length of optical fiber; and (3) at least one field node for receiving optical signals from the host node, the field node transmitting optical signals along the at least one length of optical fiber, the field node receiving optical signals back from the at least one length of optical fiber, and the field node transmitting optical signals to the optical receiver of the host node; memory storage for storing a plurality of predetermined characteristics of events to be monitored using the personnel monitoring system, at least one of the plurality of predetermined characteristics stored in the memory storage including a characteristic of emitted acoustic signals from a beacon used by a personnel member to be monitored using the personnel monitoring system; and control room electronics, including a processor, for comparing a detected characteristic corresponding to a return optical signal received by the optical receiver to the plurality of predetermined characteristics stored in the memory storage to determine if there is a match between a unique signature of the detected characteristic and at least one of the plurality of predetermined characteristics stored in the memory storage.