Zone Monitor Badge Proximity and Communication System
AssigneeEcolab USA Inc.
InventorDavid L. Snodgrass
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present subject matter relates to, among other things, ultra-wideband (UWB) radio hand hygiene compliance monitoring systems and methods that more reliably and robustly communicate in high electromagnetic noise and interference environments, such as clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. In various applications, the present system employs ranges or angle-of-arrival (AoA) and time-of-flight (ToF) calculations to determine multiple zones about a patient and to provide more granular zones about an area of interest for use in activities, such as hand hygiene compliance monitoring. The present subject matter provides additional customizable zone topologies for monitoring than conventional beacon and badge zone monitoring.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a patient zone monitor (PZM) including an ultra-wideband transceiver (UWB transceiver) including a low noise amplifier, an antenna in communication with the a low noise amplifier of the UWB transceiver, and at least one processor in communication with the UWB transceiver, the processor programmed to control the low noise amplifier to set a range of communications of the PZM.
A method for determining patient zone ranges in a healthcare environment, comprising:
- transmitting, by a patient zone monitoring device (PZM), an ultra-wideband (UWB) signal to a range set for the healthcare environment;
- receiving, by the PZM, a response signal from a portable radio device;
- and
- determining the portable radio device is within the range of the PZM.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.