Patent ID: 7176795

Claim:
A device for identifying the location of a person in a working area for a machine and for preventing injury to the person, the device comprising: a plurality of stationary transponders, the transponders being spaced apart over at least the working area, the transponders arranged to emit an identifiable, location-specific signal when activated; a transceiver coupled to the person, the transceiver arranged to activate one or more of the plurality of stationary transponders when the transceiver is located within a predetermined distance from said one or more of the plurality of stationary transponders, the transceiver further arranged to receive and transmit the identifiable, location-specific signal of each activated transponder; a receiver/transmitter arranged to receive the identifiable, location-specific signal from each activated transponder via the transceiver, and to transmit the identifiable location-specific signal to a controller for the machine; wherein the controller for the machine is arranged to identify the location of a person located in the area of the plurality of spaced-apart transponders based upon the received identifiable location-specific signal(s), and to stop the machine if the person is located within the working area.