Presence detection and indicator system and method

A safety system for preventing collisions, comprising:

• a presence detection sensor oriented to sense the presence of a person or machine within a first field of monitoring, wherein said presence detection sensor generates an active output when the person or machine is sensed within said first field of monitoring;
• at least one visual and/or audio indicator being changeable between an active state and an inactive state;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the at least one visual indicator, and the presence detection sensor, the controller adapted to receive the output from the presence detection sensor;
• the controller further adapted to receive a signal indicative of the presence of a person or machine in a second field of monitoring and changing the state of the at least one visual indicator in response to a change in the output from the presence detection sensor and a change in the received signal;
• wherein said at least one visual indicator is in an active state when said controller receives an active output from the presence detection sensor, and said at least one visual indicator is in an inactive state when said controller receives either an inactive output from the presence detection sensor or the signal indicative of a person or machine not sensed in a second field of monitoring;
• and
• wherein the first field of monitoring is different than and physically separated from the second field of monitoring.

A method of using a presence detection and warning system comprising,

• providing a presence detection and warning system having
• a first sensor assembly adapted for attachment to a structure, said sensor assembly having a first motion sensor oriented to sense motion within a first field of monitoring, wherein said first motion sensor generates a first active output when motion is sensed within said first field of monitoring or a first inactive output when no motion is sensed within said first field of monitoring,
• a second sensor assembly adapted for attachment to a structure, said sensor assembly having a second motion sensor oriented to sense motion within a second field of monitoring, wherein said second motion sensor generates a second active output when motion is sensed within said second field of monitoring or a second inactive output when no motion is sensed within said second field of monitoring, said first field of monitoring being different than and physically separated from said second field of monitoring,
• each of the first and second sensor assemblies further including at least one visual indicator being changeable between an active state and an inactive state,
• each of the first and second sensor assemblies further including a controller operatively connected to the at least one visual indicator, and the respective motion sensor, the controller receiving the output from the respective motion sensor,
• the controller of the first sensor assembly further receiving a signal indicative of motion sensed in the field of monitoring of the second sensor assembly and changing the state of the at least one visual indicator in response to a change in the output from the motion sensor and a change in the received signal, and
• wherein said at least one visual indicator is in an active state when said controller receives an active output from the motion sensor and a signal indicative of motion sensed, and said at least one visual indicator is in an inactive state when said controller receives either an inactive output from the motion sensor or the signal indicative of motion not sensed in a second field of monitoring;
• and
• using said presence detection and warning system to
• sense motion within the first field of monitoring, and
• generate a first active output.