ACTIVE BADGE OR TAG FOR A LOCATING AND TRACKING SYSTEM

Abstract: A personnel badge or asset tag (10) for a locating and tracking system, the badge or tag including a housing (11) which has a front panel (14) facing away from the person or asset and a back panel facing toward the person or asset when worn by the person or attached to the asset. The personnel badge also including an attachment member (20) mounted on the back panel, the attachment memberincluding a mounting plate (22), a pivoting plate (30) having a portion for engaging the mounting plate, a pivot connector (46) for pivotally connecting the pivoting plate to the mounting plate for attachment of the badge to the person. The asset tag having an opening on the front panel through which light can be transmitted, the asset tag also including at least three light sources, a surface (216) for mounting the at least three light sources (250, 252, 254) between the back and front panels adjacent to the opening in the front panel, each of the at least three light sources being mounted on the surface at an angle between the light source and the surface to maximize the angle of dispersion of light transmitted through the opening in the front panel.

Description: ACTIVE BADGE OR TAG FOR A LOCATING AND TRACKING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a badge and/or tag worn by a person or fixed to an asset which actively transmits signals for locating and tracking such person and/or asset within a facility. More particularly, the invention concerns a universal attachment member for an active personnel badge and a mounting arrangement for light sources in a tag attached to assets BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Badges and tags worn by persons or fixed to assets which actively transmit signals are well known. The signals transmitted by these badges and tags are detected by receivers positioned within a facility to locate and track such persons and assets Generally speaking, the badges and tags which transmit signals are called active badges and tags. Usually the signals that are transmitted by these badges and tags are infrared signals. However, other types of signals, such as radio frequency or ultrasonic signals, might be transmitted from such badges and tags. The active badge or tag that transmits an mfrared signal will include one or more light sources for the infrared signal, an integrated circuit board for the electronics, and a source of DC power such as one or more batteπes. The light sources, electronics and batteπes are usually housed within a housing having a front panel and a back panel. Typically the back panel will include a device for attaching the badge or tag to a person or asset. The front panel of the housing will include one or more openings permitting the transmission of the infrared signals through the openings for detection by the receivers positioned within a facility. One of the problems associated with existing badges worn by persons is that the attachment device permits only one method of attachment. Usually the attachment device is an alligator clip mounted on one end of a plastic stnp which has its other end connected to the badge. The alligator clip is then clipped to the pocket or other surface on the person. However, if the person does not have a surface which permits convenient attachment of the alligator clip no other method of attachment is provided for the badge. Generally speaking, tags that are attached to assets may be placed on the asset at any position except the bottom. This is generally true because the asset may have various shapes and sizes so that limited space is available for attaching the tag. In some instances if the tag is attached to the asset in a particular position, the light being transmitted from the light source in the housing of the tag may not be directed toward a receiver in the facility. Thus, the receiver may not be capable of detecting the presence of the light source. In general, the infrared signal is produced by a single light source having a limited beam width. However, even the use of multiple light sources would not by itself provide a solution to the problem of the receiver not being able to detect the light source when the tag is attached to an asset. The present invention is directed to a universal attachment member for use with a personnel badge that permits the badge to be attached to a surface of the person or the badge to be attached to a strap which hangs around the neck of the person. By providing this universal attachment member, the person using the badge may elect to either attach the badge to a surface on the person or to have the badge hang around the neck of the person. In order to insure that the light source transmits light in a direction permitting the receivers to detect such light, it is important that the front panel of the badge through which the light is transmitted, always faces outwardly from the person. Thus, it is important to insure that the badge does not get twisted or turned in a direction where the infrared light is transmitted in a direction other than outwardly from the person. The present invention also relates to the use of multiple light sources and a mounting arrangement for those light sources within the housing of an asset tag to insure that infrared light is transmitted 360° in a broad band so that the light can be detected by receivers in a facility regardless of where the tag is attached on the asset. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a badge to be worn by a person in a locating and tracking system where the badge can be attached to a surface on the person or be attached to a strap which is worn around the neck of the person. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an attachment member which includes a mounting plate mounted on a back panel of the badge, a pivoting plate having a portion for engaging the mounting plate, a pivot connector for pivotally connecting the pivoting plate to the mounting plate, and a biasing member for normally biasing the pivoting plate toward the mounting plate whereby the badge can be clipped to a surface on the person. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attachment member which includes a channel for receiving a strap to be worn around the person's neck whereby the badge can be hung from the person's neck. It is still another object of the present invention where the channel is formed by two openings in the pivoting plate which are positioned in spaced relation to the longitudinal axis of the badge and in the same vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so that the strap passes through both openings in sufficient spaced relationship to make it difficult for the badge to twist on the strap and thus minimize the possibility that the light being transmitted from the badge will not be received by the receivers in the facility. It is still another object of the present invention where the channel is formed by tabs extending downwardly from the upper portion of the pivoting plate and an intermediate portion of the pivoting plate, and the channel has openings at its ends which are spaced from the longitudinal axis of the badge to minimize the possibility that badge will become twisted. It is still yet another object of the present invention to use a spring for biasing the pivoting plate toward the mounting plate and for the spring to have sufficient tension that the pivoting plate and mounting plate for a clip for clipping the badge to a surface on the person. In another aspect of the present invention it is an object to provide a tag for attachment to an asset in a locating and tracking system where the light transmitted from the tag covers a maximum area within a facility so that it can be received by one or more receivers in the facility regardless of where the tag is attached to the asset. In this aspect of the invention it is a further object to use at least three light sources, and to mount the three light sources on a surface inside the housing of the tag so that each of the three light sources is mounted at an angle between the light source and the surface of 45 ° to maximize the angle of dispersion of the light transmitted from the tag. In this aspect of the invention it is also an object to mount the three light sources on the surface at an angle of 120° between each light source to provide 360° of light projection. In a further aspect of the invention, a first light source is mounted on the surface on the longitudinal axis of the tag and second and third light sources are mounted on the surface in spaced relationship to the longitudinal axis. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the second and third light sources are mounted on the surface in a vertical plane transverse to the longitudinal, and the first light source is mounted on the surface in spaced relationship to such vertical plane. Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention are set forth in the description that follows, and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the drawings in connection with the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an active personnel badge showing one embodiment of an attachment member according to the present invention; Fig. 2 another perspective view of an active personnel badge showing the universal attachment member of Fig. 1 from a perspective different than Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pivot post and helical spring employed to bias the pivoting plate toward the mounting plate of the attachment member according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an active personnel badge showing another embodiment of an attachment member according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the inside of the front panel of the personnel badge shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the front panel shown in Fig. 5 taken along lines 6-6 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the front panel shown in Fig. 5 taken along line 7-7 in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the front panel shown in Fig. 5 taken along line 8-8 in Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is an enhanced sectional view of a portion of the front panel within the dotted circle in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an enhanced sectional view of a portion of the front panel within the dotted circle in Fig. 6; Fig. 11 is an enhanced section of a portion of the front panel within the top dotted circle in Fig. 7; Fig. 12 is an enhanced sectional view of the front panel within the lower dotted circle in Fig. 7; Fig. 13 is an elevational view of the inside of the top back panel of the personnel badge shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the top back panel shown in Fig. 13 taken along line 14-14 in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is an enhanced sectional view of a portion of the top back panel within the dotted circle in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is an elevational view of the inside of the bottom back panel of the personnel badge shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4; Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom back panel shown in Fig. 16 taken along line 17-17 in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom back panel shown in Fig. 16 taken along line 18-18 in Fig. 16; Fig. 19 is an enhanced sectional view of a portion of the bottom back panel shown in the dotted circle in Fig. 17; Fig. 20 is a top elevational view of an actuator lever for activating the personnel badge shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4; Fig. 21 is a bottom elevational view of the actuator lever shown in Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of the actuator lever shown in Fig. 20; Fig. 23 is an exploded view of an asset tag according to the present invention; Fig. 24 is a top elevational view of the printed circuit board housed within the asset tag providing a mounting surface for the light sources; and Fig. 25 is a partial cross-sectional view of the printed circuit board shown in Fig. 24 taken along line 25-25 in Fig. 24. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION An active personnel badge 10 to be worn by a person within a facility having a locating and tracking system which includes several receivers strategically located within the facility is shown in Fig. 1. The badge 10 includes a housing 11 having a front panel 12, a top back panel 14, and a bottom back panel 16. The top and bottom back panels 14, 16 are attached to the front panel 12 in a manner which will be discussed later. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a universal attachment member 20 has a mounting plate 22 which is attached to the top back panel 14 by any conventional connection method, e.g., glue, rivets, screws, etc. The mounting plate is made of metal and is generally rectangular in shape. The mounting plate 22 includes two opposed upwardly extending tabs 24 formed in the mounting plate adjacent the top of the personnel badge 10. Each tab 24 includes an opening for supporting a biasing member as will be explained later. The universal attachment member 20 also includes a pivoting plate 30 having a lower portion 32 and an upper portion 34 in spaced parallel relationship to the mounting plate 22. The lower portion 32 and upper portion 34 are connected by an intermediate portion 36 which extends at an angle to both the lower and upper portions 32, 34. Two opposed downwardly extending tabs 38 are formed in the upper portion 34 of the pivoting plate 30. Each tab 38 includes an opening for supporting a biasing member as will be explained later. The tabs 38 are mated with the opposed upwardly extending tabs 24 on the mounting plate 22 so that openings in the tabs 24, 38 are aligned. The upper portion 34 of the pivoting plate 30 includes two circular openings 35 spaced equal distance from the longitudinal axis 37 of the personnel badge 10 forming a channel for receiving a strap (not shown) which can be hung from the neck of a person. The two circular openings 35 are each located in a vertical plane 39 which is transverse to the longitudinal axis 37 of the personnel badge 10. In addition to the two circular openings 35, an oval opening 33 is provided in the same vertical plane 39 in the upper portion 34 of the pivoting plate. The pivoting plate 30 is connected to the mounting plate 22 by a pivot post 42 extending through the openings in the tabs 24, 28 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, post 42 includes heads 44 on each end of the post 42 for retaining the post in the openings in the tabs 24, 38. A helical spring 46 is wound around post 42. Helical spring 46 includes two ends which terminate in a manner so that one end 48 engages the mounting plate 22 and other end 48 engages the upper portion 34 of the pivoting plate 30. Accordingly, pivoting plate 30 is biased in a manner so that the lower portion 32 is forced against the mounting plate 22 to provide a clip for clipping the personnel badge 10 to a surface such as pocket, sleeve, lapel, collar, etc. on a person. By using the channel formed by the openings 35 a strap (not shown) can be inserted through the channel (openings 35) to permit the badge to be hung from the neck of the person. Thus, the attachment member 20 provides a universal method of attaching the personnel badge 10 to a person regardless of whether the person has a surface to which the attachment can be clipped or desires to have the personnel badge hang from the neck. If the personnel badge is hung from the neck of a person, the openings 35 are sufficiently spaced from the longitudinal axis 37 of the personnel badge 10 to minimize the possibility that the strap will be twisted and thereby misdirecting the infrared light transmitted from the personnel badge through the front panel 12 of the badge 10. Another embodiment of an attachment member 20' according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, elements that are the same as these shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 have been given the same reference number. The attachment member 20' is identical to the attachment member 20 shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 with the exception that the two circular openings 35 have been eliminated from the upper portion 34' of the pivoting plate 30'. In the embodiment of attachment member 20' shown in Fig. 4, a channel 41 for a strap 45 is formed by the downwardly extending tabs 38 of the upper portion 34' of the pivoting plate 30' and the intermediate portion 36 connecting the lower portion 32 and the upper portion 34'. The channel 41 extends in a vertical plane 43 which is transverse to the longitudinal axis 37 of the badge 10. The channel 41 has two ends providing two openings adjacent to the downwardly extending tabs 38. The two openings at the ends of channel 41 are sufficiently spaced from the longitudinal axis 37 of the badge 10 to minimize the possibility that the strip 45 will be twisted and thereby misdirecting the infrared light transmitted from the badge 10. In the embodiment of attachment member 20', the strap 45 can be placed in the channel 41 by depressing the upper portion 34' of the pivoting plat 30' to separate the lower portion 32 from the mounting plate 22 to permit the strap to be inserted into the channel 41. Thus, the attachment member 20' also provides a universal method of attaching the personnel badge 10 to a person regardless of whether the person has a surface to which the attachment can be clipped or desires to have the personnel badge 10 hang from the neck. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the attachment members 20 and 20' could be attached to the back panels 14 and 16 in a position 90° from that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 so that the pivot axis along post 42 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 37 of the badge 10. With this orientation the badge 10 can be clipped to a surface on a person so that the longitudinal axis 37 of the badge 10 is horizontal instead of vertical. The oval opening 33 provides yet another attachment point for attaching the personnel badge 10 to a person using other methods of attachment, such as clips, pins, hangers, etc. Turning to Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the front panel 12 has a circumferential wall 15 perpendicular to the panel 12 and an arcuate upper section 52. As shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, the wall 50 has an outwardly projecting flange for use in attaching the back panels 14, 15 to the front panel in a manner which will be discussed below. The wall 50 also includes a side opening 52 for an actuator lever for activating a function in the active badge 10. As shown in Fig. 5, two openings 54 are formed in the arcuate upper section 52 of the front panel 12 through which light sources can emit infrared light to be detected by receivers in a facility. The front panel 12 also includes battery retainers 56 which include upper arcuate ribs 58 and lower arcuate ribs 60 forming circumferential sections of circles for retaining two batteries. The front panel 12 includes four openings 64 for use in attachment of the top back panel 14 to the front panel 12 and an opening 66 for use in attaching the bottom back panel 16 to the front panel 12. Screws, rivets or other similar connectors may be used. Fig. 13 shows an inside view of the top back panel 14 for the personnel badge 10. Referring to Figs. 13, 14, and 15, the top back panel 14 includes a wall 17 perpendicular to the back panel 14 and an arcuate section 72 which mates with the arcuate upper section 52 of the front panel 12. The top back panel 14 also includes an opening 74 which mates with the opening 54 and the front panel 12 when the top back panel 14 is mounted to the front panel 12. As previously explained, opening 74 is provided for an actuator lever for activating a function in the badge 10. Continuing to refer to Figs. 13, 14, and 15, the top back panel 14 includes cavities 76 for receiving screws or other similar connectors which are threaded through openings 64 in the front panel 12 and engage the cavities 76. As shown in Fig. 16, bottom back panel 16 includes a wall 80 peφendicular to the back panel 16 for engaging the wall 50 on the front panel 12. Referring particularly to Figs. 16, 17, 18, and 19, the bottom back panel 16 also includes several support ribs 82, four of which are located along the wall 80 at the bottom of the back panel 16, and two of which are located in the center of the back panel 16. As shown more particularly in Figs. 16 and 18, a detente 84 is formed in the wall 80 of the bottom back panel 16 for receiving the flange 53 on the wall 50 of front panel 12 when the bottom back panel 16 is attached to the front panel 12. An actuator lever 90 shown in Figs. 20, 21, and 22 is positioned in mating openings 54 and 74 of front panel 12 and top back panel 14 for actuating the personnel badge 10. The actuator lever 90 includes an outer surface 92 which includes several ridges 94 for use by a person to move the actuator lever in the openings 54, 74. As more particularly shown in Figure 19, the actuator lever 90 includes an inner surface 96. An actuator 98 is mounted on the inner surface 96 and includes a base 100 and an arm 102 which extends outwardly from the base at an angle 104 of 20° from the base 100. Upon movement of the actuator lever 90, arm 102 will engage a switch (not shown) inside the housing of the badge 10 to activate an emergency signal. Another aspect of the present invention is shown in Figs. 23, 24, and 25. An asset tag 200 for attachment to an asset in a facility is shown in Figs. 23, 24, and 25. An asset could be equipment, furniture or any other apparatus located within the facility. The tag 200 may be attached to the asset using conventional attachment methods such as Velcro, tape, glue, or other more permanent attachment methods. As shown in Fig. 23, tag 200 has a housing 201 which is typically includes a back panel 202 which attached to the asset. Back panel 202 includes a wall 204 extending peφendicular from the back panel 202. A battery retainer 206 projects upwardly from the inside of the back panel 202 for retaining a battery within the housing 201 of the tag. Back panel 202 also includes support ribs 208 for supporting a printed circuit board 210 which contains electrical circuitry (not shown) for the tag 200. The tag 200 includes a first front panel 212 having a downwardly projecting wall 214 for engaging the wall 204 on the back panel 202. The first front panel 212 also includes an arcuate member 216 forming an opening 218 through which infrared light can be transmitted from the tag to receivers located within the facility. The tag 200 also includes a second front panel 220 having a raised surface for accommodating the printed circuit board 210 and electrical circuitry. The second front panel 220 also includes a downwardly projecting wall 224 for engaging the wall 204 of the back panel 202. The second front panel 220 has an arcuate recess 226 having the same shape as the arcuate member 216. Arcuate recess 226 receives the arcuate member 216 when the first and second front panels 212, 220 are attached to the back panel 202. A transparent or a translucent member 230 is mounted beneath the opening 218. Infrared light transmitted from the interior of the housing 201 is transmitted through the transparent or translucent member 230 to receivers located within the facility. Referring to Fig. 23, printed circuit board 210 includes a battery terminal connector 240 for the positive terminal of the battery (not shown) and a battery terminal connector 242 for the negative terminal of the battery (not shown). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, printed circuit board 210 includes several electrical components shown diagrammatically providing the electrical circuitry for the operation of the tag. The battery terminal connectors 240, 242 are electrically connected to the electronic circuitry on the printed circuit board 210. Printed circuit board 210 provides a surface for mounting light sources for the infrared light transmitted from the tag 200. Referring in particular to Figs. 24 and 25, according to the present invention three infrared light emitting sources 250, 252, and 254 are mounted on the printed circuit board 210. Each light emitting source could be a led emitting diode (LED) of the type manufactured by Siemens Part No. SFH 415-U having a beam width or half angle of dispersion + or - 17°. In order to maximize the beam width or angle of dispersion of the light transmitted from the light sources and the area covered by such transmitted light, the three light emitting sources 250, 252, and 254 are mounted in accordance with the arrangement of the present invention. All of the light emitting sources 250, 252, and 254 are mounted at an angle 256 of 45° with respect to the mounting surface 210 as particularly shown in Fig. 25. Further, each of the light sources 250, 252, and 254 is mounted at an angle 258 of 120° with respect to each of the other light sources so that light is emitted 360° from the tag 200. In order to provide the maximum coverage for transmission of light from the light sources 250, 252, 254 and to provide the angle 258 between each of the light sources with the other light sources, a first light source 250 (the middle light source) is mounted on the longitudinal axis 260 of the printed circuit board. The longitudinal axis 260 also corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the tag 200. The second and third light sources 252, 254 are mounted equal distance from the longitudinal axis 260. Further, the second and third light sources 252, 254 are mounted in the same vertical plane 262 which is peφendicular to the longitudinal axis 260. The first light source 250 is mounted in spaced relationship to the vertical plane 262. The above described mounting arrangement along with the use of three light sources, the mounting angle of 45° with respect to the mounting surface 210 and the 120° angular relationship between the light sources 250, 252, 254 maximizes the area in which the light is transmitted from the tag 200. Thus, except for mounting, the asset tag on the bottom of the asset, anywhere the asset tag 200 is mounted on a surface of the asset, light emitted from the tag 200 will be transmitted to a large enough area to be received by one or more receivers located within the facility where the asset is located. It will be understood that various modifications can be made to the apparatus disclosed in this application without changing the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims attached hereto.

Claims: CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A badge to be worn by a person in a locating and tracking system, the badge comprising: a housing having a front panel facing away from the person when worn by the person and at least one back panel facing toward the person when worn by the person, an attachment member mounted on the at least one back panel, the attachment member including a mounting plate, a pivoting plate having a portion for engaging the mounting plate, a pivot connector for pivotally connecting the pivoting plate to the mounting plate and a biasing member for biasing the pivoting portion normally toward the mounting plate whereby the badge can be clipped to a surface on the person. 2. The badge of claim 1 further including a channel for receiving a strap worn around the person's neck whereby the badge can be hung from the person's neck. 3. The badge of claim 2 wherein the pivoting plate includes a portion forming at least two openings which form the channel for the strap. 4. The badge of claim 3 wherein the pivoting plate includes a lower portion for engaging the mounting plate and an upper portion in spaced relationship to the mounting plate, the upper portion forming the at least two openings. 5. The badge of claim 4 wherein the upper portion and lower portion of the pivoting plate are connected by an intermediate portion. 6. The badge of claim 2 when the pivoting plate includes a lower portion for engaging the mounting plate and an upper portion in spaced relationship to the mounting plate and an intermediate portion connecting the lower portion and the upper portion. 7. The badge of claim 6 wherein the mounting plate includes two opposed upwardly extending tabs and the upper portion of the pivoting plate includes two opposed downwardly extending tabs aligned with the upwardly extending tabs on the mounting plate. 8. The badge of claim 7 wherein the channel is formed by the downwardly extending tabs on the upper portion of the pivoting plate and the intermediate portion connecting the lower portion and the upper portion. 9. The badge of claim 1 wherein the pivot connector includes a post extending through the two opposed downwardly extending tabs and the two opposed upwardly extending tabs and a helical spring wound around the post, the spring having one end engaging the mounting plate and another end engaging the upper portion of the pivoting plate to bias the lower portion of the pivoting plate toward the mounting plate. 10. A tag for attachment to an asset in a locating and tracking system, the tag comprising a housing having back panel for connecting the tag to the asset and, a front panel facing outwardly from the asset, the front panel providing an opening through which light can be transmitted, at least three light sources, a surface for mounting the at least three light sources between the back and front panels adjacent to the opening in the front panel, each of the at least three light sources being mounted on the surface at an angle between the light source and the surface of 45 ° to maximize the angle of dispersion of light transmitted through the opening in the front panel. 11. The tag as recited in claim 10 wherein the each of the at least three light sources is mounted on the surface at an angle of 120° between it and each of the other two light sources to provide 360° of light projection. 12. The tag as recited in claim 11 wherein the tag has a longitudinal axis, a first light source is mounted on the surface on the longitudinal axis of tag, and second and third light sources are mounted on the surface in spaced relationship to the longitudinal axis of the tag. 13. The tag as recited in claim 12 wherein the second and third light sources are mounted on the surface in a vertical plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tag and the first light source is mounted on the surface in spaced relationship to such vertical plane. 14. The tag as recited in claim 11 further including a translucent member covering the opening in the front panel.

Inventors: ABOUJAOUDE ELIAS D, HANSBERGER GERALD L, PIRELLI THOMAS R, ULRICH DANIEL J, ABOUJAOUDE, ELIAS, D., HANSBERGER, GERALD, L., PIRELLI, THOMAS, R., ULRICH, DANIEL, J.
Applicants: ARIAL SYSTEMS CORP, HILL ROM CO INC, ARIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION, HILL-ROM, INC.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: G01C21, G01S13, G09F3