# US 11,908,312 B2 · Modular proximity sensing in atmospheric suit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,908,312 B2 - Document ID: US11908312B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/540,811 - Filed: 2021-12-02 - Published: 2023-06-08 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-02 - Assignees: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Applicants: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation - Inventors: Jake Rohrig; Ashley Rose Himmelmann; Monica Torralba - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11908312B2 ## CPC - B64G 6/00: Space suits - G08B 7/06: using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources} - G01S 13/08: Systems for measuring distance only (indirect measurement G01S13/46) - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A system for an atmospheric suit includes one or more modular proximity sensors affixed to corresponding one or more portions of the atmospheric suit. Each of the one or more proximity sensors provides a distance to a nearest object from the corresponding portion of the atmospheric suit. The system also includes processing circuitry to obtain the distance from each of the one or more proximity sensors to the nearest object and to provide information to the wearer of the atmospheric suit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for an atmospheric suit, the system comprising: one or more modular proximity sensors affixed to corresponding one or more portions of the atmospheric suit, wherein each of the one or more proximity sensors is configured to provide a distance to a nearest object from the corresponding portion of the atmospheric suit; and processing circuitry configured to obtain the distance from each of the one or more proximity sensors to the nearest object and to provide information to a wearer of the atmospheric suit regarding the distance to the nearest object detected by the one or more proximity sensors; wherein the processing circuitry is configured to provide the information as a haptic output via a feedback device on an inner surface of the atmospheric suit; wherein a location of the feedback device on the inner surface corresponds to a location of a proximity sensor of the one or more proximity sensors on an outer surface of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more proximity sensors is configured to obtain the distance to the nearest object periodically. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to provide the information based on the distance from one or more of the one or more proximity sensors being at or below a threshold distance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to obtain the threshold distance as an input from the wearer of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to provide the information as an audible alarm through one or more speakers in a helmet of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to provide the information as a visual alarm based on light emitting diodes co-located with the one or more of the one or more proximity sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to provide the information as an alert on a display in a helmet of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to obtain a request for a distance from one of the one or more proximity sensors as an input from the wearer of the atmospheric suit and to trigger the one of the one or more proximity sensors to obtain the distance based on the request. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to provide the distance from the one of the one or more proximity sensors as the information on a display or audibly via a speaker in a helmet of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 10 A method of assembling a system for an atmospheric suit, the method comprising: affixing one or more modular proximity sensors to corresponding one or more portions of the atmospheric suit, wherein each of the one or more proximity sensors is configured to provide a distance to a nearest object from the corresponding portion of the atmospheric suit; and configuring processing circuitry to obtain the distance from each of the one or more proximity sensors to the nearest object and to provide information to a wearer of the atmospheric suit regarding the distance to the nearest object detected by the one or more proximity sensors; and providing the information as a haptic output via a feedback device on an inner surface of the atmospheric suit; wherein a location of the feedback device on the inner surface corresponds to a position of a proximity sensor of the one or more proximity sensors on an outer surface of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the configuring the processing circuitry includes the processing circuitry obtaining the distance to the nearest object periodically. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the configuring the processing circuitry includes the processing circuitry providing the information based on the distance from one or more of the one or more proximity sensors being at or below a threshold distance. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the configuring the processing circuitry includes the processing circuitry obtaining the threshold distance as an input from the wearer of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the configuring the processing circuitry includes the processing circuitry providing the information as an audible alarm through one or more speakers in a helmet of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the configuring the processing circuitry includes the processing circuitry providing the information as a visual alarm based on light emitting diodes co-located with the one or more of the one or more proximity sensors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the configuring the processing circuitry includes the processing circuitry providing the information as an alert on a display in a helmet of the atmospheric suit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the configuring the processing circuitry includes the processing circuitry obtaining a request for a distance from one of the one or more proximity sensors as an input from the wearer of the atmospheric suit and to trigger the one of the one or more proximity sensors to obtain the distance based on the request. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the configuring the processing circuitry includes the processing circuitry providing the distance from the one of the one or more proximity sensors as the information on a display or audibly via a speaker in a helmet of the atmospheric suit.