Patents Assigned to SAFEMINE AG
  • Patent number: 11328461
    Abstract: Automatic generation of a road map of a site can be performed. Data records collected by vehicles with a GNSS-positioning system while driving are provided, each data record having a position information representing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional position of the vehicle, an identification reference specific to a corresponding vehicle, a time tag, and a heading information. The data records are assigned to corresponding trips based on the time tag and the identification reference. The trips are mapped within an area and the area is divided into a plurality of uniform tiles. For each tile, a heading information variance of the data records covered by the respective tile is determined. A tile is defined as junction tile, if the tile has a heading information variance higher than a computed threshold variance. An area of interest (AoI) having a perimeter is determined by which a plurality of junction tiles is surrounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Fabian Ismael Furger, Johannes Huber
  • Patent number: 10969794
    Abstract: A system for determining an object position on a site with large machinery, particularly a mine site, a construction site, or an agricultural area, based on radio frequency time-of-flight ranging. The system is configured to determine a current position of a reference point indicative of a position of a machine on the site, to access an arrangement dataset indicative of a positional relationship between the reference point and a mounting location on the machine of at least one anchor of a point-to-point radio ranging unit, and to determine a position of the at least one anchor based on the current position of the reference point and the arrangement dataset, wherein the position of the at least one anchor is provided to a position determining unit configured for determining position information of tags based on ranging data of the point-to-point radio ranging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kaufmann, Tommi Juhani Kauppinen
  • Patent number: 10921440
    Abstract: A radio frequency time-of-flight ranging system for protecting pedestrians and vehicles on mine sites or similar environments with heavy duty equipment, the system particularly locates people around heavy duty equipment and warns both pedestrian and equipment operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kaufmann, Tommi Juhani Kauppinen
  • Patent number: 10894561
    Abstract: A driving assistance system for reversing a mining haulage vehicle, particularly for reversing a haul truck into a defined target position in a loading or dumping area, wherein the driving assistance system is configured that the target position is determined based on a logged loading tool position of the earthmoving machine, wherein steering instructions are provided to a light indicator when the transmission of the haulage vehicle is shifted to reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignees: SAFEMINE AG, HEXAGON MINING TECHNOLOGIA E SISTEMAS S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Kaufmann, Marcus Mundim, Arthur Queiroz, Fabricio Miranda, Ildefonso Ferreira
  • Publication number: 20210009160
    Abstract: A vehicle assistance system comprising a computer and a client device. The computer is configured to receive an identification reference and a current position of the first vehicle, provide a route of the first vehicle based on the identification reference and the current position of the first vehicle, receiving an identification reference and current position of a second vehicle, providing a route of the second vehicle based on the identification reference and the current position of the second vehicle, detect an expected location where the route of the first and second vehicle intersect or overlap, detect an expected time when the first and second vehicle intersect at the expected location, generate adaptation data based on the expected location and the expected time, the adaptation data representing an adaptation of a route parameter of the route of the first or second vehicle, sending the adaptation data to the client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Fabian HAUSER, Marcos BAYUELO, Barbara HIRTZ, Fabien KRITTER
  • Publication number: 20200327707
    Abstract: Automatic generation of a road map of a site can be performed. Data records collected by vehicles with a GNSS-positioning system while driving are provided, each data record having a position information representing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional position of the vehicle, an identification reference specific to a corresponding vehicle, a time tag, and a heading information. The data records are assigned to corresponding trips based on the time tag and the identification reference. The trips are mapped within an area and the area is divided into a plurality of uniform tiles. For each tile, a heading information variance of the data records covered by the respective tile is determined. A tile is defined as junction tile, if the tile has a heading information variance higher than a computed threshold variance. An area of interest (AoI) having a perimeter is determined by which a plurality of junction tiles is surrounded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Fabian Ismael FURGER, Johannes HUBER
  • Publication number: 20190129025
    Abstract: A radio frequency time-of-flight ranging system for protecting pedestrians and vehicles on mine sites or similar environments with heavy duty equipment, the system particularly locates people around heavy duty equipment and warns both pedestrian and equipment operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Thomas KAUFMANN, Tommi Juhani KAUPPINEN
  • Publication number: 20190129446
    Abstract: A system for determining an object position on a site with large machinery, particularly a mine site, a construction site, or an agricultural area, based on radio frequency time-of-flight ranging. The system is configured to determine a current position of a reference point indicative of a position of a machine on the site, to access an arrangement dataset indicative of a positional relationship between the reference point and a mounting location on the machine of at least one anchor of a point-to-point radio ranging unit, and to determine a position of the at least one anchor based on the current position of the reference point and the arrangement dataset, wherein the position of the at least one anchor is provided to a position determining unit configured for determining position information of tags based on ranging data of the point-to-point radio ranging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Thomas KAUFMANN, Tommi Juhani KAUPPINEN
  • Publication number: 20180354557
    Abstract: A driving assistance system for reversing a mining haulage vehicle, particularly for reversing a haul truck into a defined target position in a loading or dumping area, wherein the driving assistance system is configured that the target position is determined based on a logged loading tool position of the earthmoving machine, wherein steering instructions are provided to a light indicator when the transmission of the haulage vehicle is shifted to reverse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicants: SAFEMINE AG, HEXAGON MINING TECNOLOGIA E SISTEMAS S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas KAUFMANN, Marcus MUNDIM, Arthur QUEIROZ, Fabricio MIRANDA, Ildefonso FERREIRA
  • Patent number: 10096894
    Abstract: A multiband antenna assembly for transmitting or receiving signals in at least two frequency bands is disclosed according to some embodiments. The multiband antenna assembly may include a monopole antenna with a base substrate and a top substrate having defined dimensions and shapes. In some embodiments, the base substrate and the top substrate are arranged with defined distance relative to each other and define a cavity. For example, a first frequency band is basically defined by the present distance. The top substrate may include at least one slot. A second frequency band basically is defined by the design and arrangement of the one slot. The second frequency band may be different from the first frequency band. The cavity may be designed so that the first and the second frequency band comprise preferred monopole sending and/or receiving directions substantially parallel to the extension of the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kaufmann, Urban Mäder
  • Patent number: 9809115
    Abstract: A method for deriving a fatigue score (100) indicative of a current drowsiness state of an operator (1) measures a plurality of signals (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) and derives a personalized fatigue score (100) for the operator using these signals (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90) in a weighted and operator-personalized way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Urban Mäder, Andrea Boris Schlapbach, Peter Spring
  • Publication number: 20170179585
    Abstract: A multiband antenna assembly for transmitting or receiving signals in at least two frequency bands is disclosed according to some embodiments. The multiband antenna assembly may include a monopole antenna with a base substrate and a top substrate having defined dimensions and shapes. In some embodiments, the base substrate and the top substrate are arranged with defined distance relative to each other and define a cavity. For example, a first frequency band is basically defined by the present distance. The top substrate may include at least one slot. A second frequency band basically is defined by the design and arrangement of the one slot. The second frequency band may be different from the first frequency band. The cavity may be designed so that the first and the second frequency band comprise preferred monopole sending and/or receiving directions substantially parallel to the extension of the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: SAFEmine AG
    Inventors: Thomas KAUFMANN, Urban MÄDER
  • Patent number: 9582979
    Abstract: In a system for supervising the safety on a site with at least one movable object, a drowsiness detection system is arranged at the movable object for supplying data related to a drowsiness state of an operator of the movable object. A monitoring system remote from the movable object receives the drowsiness state related data and logs and/or evaluates this drowsiness state related data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Urban Mader, Peter Arnold Stegmaier, Urs Martin Rothacher
  • Patent number: 9129509
    Abstract: Vehicles and other objects in a surface mine are equipped with monitoring devices that communicate by radio in order to detect the risk of collisions. The devices are equipped with GNSS-receivers. At least one of the objects has two devices mounted to it. Each of the two devices determines its position independently, which in turn allows determining not only the position, but also the orientation, of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Urs Martin Rothacher, Peter Arnold Stegmaier
  • Patent number: 8994557
    Abstract: A collision warning apparatus, to be mounted to a vehicle, has a roof mount unit (40), to be fixed to the vehicle's roof, as well as a cabin mount unit (41) to be located in the driver's cabin. A digital transmission line (42) is provided for connecting the two. The roof mount unit (40) houses the antennas as well as the analog circuitry of the apparatus, while the cabin mount unit (41) comprises a display (26). The data sent through the transmission line (42) is digital, which allows to make the transmission line thin and flexible. The roof mount unit (40) has a magnet (43) and batteries (48) mounted in its base section (46), with the lighter components, in particular the antennas (30a, 31a, 32a) located in its head section (47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Safemine AG
    Inventors: Peter A. Stegmaier, Urs M. Rothacher
  • Publication number: 20140333747
    Abstract: In a system for supervising the safety on a site with at least one movable object, a drowsiness detection system is arranged at the movable object for supplying data related to a drowsiness state of an operator of the movable object. A monitoring system remote from the movable object receives the drowsiness state related data and logs and/or evaluates this drowsiness state related data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Urban Mader, Peter Arnold Stegmaier, Urs Martin Rothacher
  • Publication number: 20140285350
    Abstract: Vehicles and other objects in a surface mine are equipped with monitoring devices that communicate by radio in order to detect the risk of collisions. The devices are equipped with GNSS-receivers. At least one of the objects has two devices mounted to it. Each of the two devices determines its position independently, which in turn allows determining not only the position, but also the orientation, of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Urs Martin Rothacher, Peter Arnold Stegmaier
  • Patent number: 8779934
    Abstract: Vehicles and other objects (4a, 4b, 4c, 5, 6, 7, 8) in a surface mine (1) are equipped with monitoring devices (12) that communicate by radio in order to detect the risk of collisions. The devices (12) are equipped with GNSS-receivers (15). At least one of the objects (4a, 4b, 4c) has two devices (12a, 12b) mounted to it. Each of the two devices (12a, 12b) determines its position independently, which in turn allows to determine not only the position, but also the orientation, of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Safemine AG
    Inventors: Urs M. Rothacher, Peter A. Stegmaier
  • Publication number: 20130021146
    Abstract: A collision warning apparatus, to be mounted to a vehicle, has a roof mount unit (40), to be fixed to the vehicle's roof, as well as a cabin mount unit (41) to be located in the driver's cabin. A digital transmission line (42) is provided for connecting the two. The roof mount unit (40) houses the antennas as well as the analog circuitry of the apparatus, while the cabin mount unit (41) comprises a display (26). The data sent through the transmission line (42) is digital, which allows to make the transmission line thin and flexible. The roof mount unit (40) has a magnet (43) and batteries (48) mounted in its base section (46), with the lighter components, in particular the antennas (30a, 31a, 32a) located in its head section (47).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Peter A. Stegmaier, Urs M. Rothacher
  • Publication number: 20130015963
    Abstract: Vehicles and other objects (4a, 4b, 4c, 5, 6, 7, 8) in a surface mine (1) are equipped with monitoring devices (12) that communicate by radio in order to detect the risk of collisions. The devices (12) are equipped with GNSS-receivers (15). In addition, persons operating in the area are also equipped with monitoring devices (12?). This allows the devices (12) on the vehicles to detect the presence of pedestrians and to issue alerts if necessary, thereby improving the safety of the system. Advantageously, the devices are integrated in a helmet (30) for best radio reception/transmission and can be powered by means of a solar power supply (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SAFEMINE AG
    Inventors: Peter A. Stegmaier, Urs M. Rothacher