More particularly, this invention is concerned with a device of the above mentioned kind that enables in simple, reliable and economically feasible way to control the presence and the correct utilisation of safety devices and further enables the operation of vehicles, machines and apparatuses in connection with which specifically safety devices are to be used only when the latter are properly furnished and utilised.

It is generally known that most of the vehicles, machines and apparatuses are provided with or require that during their operation use is made of safety devices aimed at safeguarding the psycophysical integrity of the users and/or of the operators.

In this respect, mention can be made, by way of exemplification but not by way of limitation, of protection helmets possibly provided with specific face shields adapted to filter off specific magnetic radiations, as needed in operation of industrial vehicles, such as lifting trucks, shunters, derrick cars, or in driving vehicles designed for personal transport, or in operation of machines, such as welding and cutting machines, or in doing works on scaffolds. Further examples include work gloves, overalls and specific glasses adapted for operating vehicles, machines and industrial apparatuses, as well as safety belts for use in vehicles.

The great relevance connected with the adoption of specific safety devices during the execution of working activities as well as in operation of vehicles, machines and apparatuses is evidenced by the large number of law provisions dictating their employment by users and operators. In this respect, the companies are subject to inspections aimed at ascertaining the fulfilment of the law provisions relating to the adoption of the required safety devices by workers and/or employees.

Anyway, it is not presently possible to monitor in automatic and certain manner the adoption and the correct utilisation of the concerned

safety devices during the execution of working activities and during the operation of vehicles, machines and apparatuses. By way of exemplification, a vehicle for the operation of which the use of a protection helmet is compulsory can also be operated without the driver having worn the helmet and this unproper use of the vehicle is in no way signalled.

The solution suggested by this invention to enable to eliminate this drawback is just to be considered in this context.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to enable in simple, reliable and economically feasible way to automatically control in certain manner the presence and the correct utilisation of safety devices by enabling the operation of vehicles, machines and apparatuses, in connection with which specifically safety devices are to be used, only when the latter are properly utilised and/or by signalling any unproper utilisation of said safety devices.

It is specific subject matter of this invention, therefore, an electronic control device for monitoring the operation of safety devices comprising at least one detection and transmission unit and a reception unit, each detection and transmission unit being connected to said reception unit by means of a communication channel, said at least one detection and transmission unit comprising a data processing electronic device having at least one sensor connected thereto and positioned on the safety device to be monitored in order to ascertain the correct utilisation thereof, said reception unit comprising a data processing electronic circuit adapted to drive one or more optical and/or acoustical signal generators.

According to this invention, said communication channel is a multipolar cable or an infrared'radio channel or a radio frequency radio channel.

Preferably, according to this invention, the data processing electronic device of said at least one detection and transmission unit comprises a microprocessor or a digital data processor.

Still according to this invention, said data processing electronic circuit of said reception unit can comprise a microprocessor or a digital data processor.

Further according to this invention, said data processing electronic circuit of said reception unit controls at least one electronically driven switch circuit, that switches on or off the connection between one or more external terminal pairs.

Also according to this invention, at least one sensor is connected to said data processing electronic circuit of said reception unit.

Preferably according to this invention, the communication between said at least one detection and transmission unit and said reception unit is digital and even more preferably it is coded.

Still according to this invention, said reception unit is provided with an interface for interconnection with an external programming circuit.

Further according to this invention, said reception unit additionally comprises a transmitter circuit adapted to communicate with a remote receiving station, comprising a data processing electronic device which drives one or more optical and/or acoustical signal generators and preferably a display.

This invention will be now described by way of illustration and not by way of limitation according to its preferred embodiment, by particularly referring to the Figures of the enclose drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit of the preferred embodiment of the device according to this invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the application of the device of Figure 1 to a first protection helmet, Figure 3 is a schematic view of the application of a second embodiment of the device according to this invention to a second protection helmet, Figure 4 is a schematic view of a protection helmet to which a component portion of the device of Figure 1 has been applied, and

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit of a second embodiment of the device according to this invention.

Identical reference numerals are utilised in the Figures to designate the same or equivalent items.

By referring to Figure 1, it can be observed that the preferred embodiment of the electronic device according to this invention comprises a detection and transmission unit 1 and a reception unit 2 interconnected with one another by means of a communication channel consisting of a multipolar connection cable 3 in Figure 1. In different embodiments of the concerned device, said communication channel can also be realised by means of a radio channel, preferably operating in the infrared or in the radio frequency ranges.

The detector-transmitter unit 1 comprises a control and management data processing electronic device 4, provided with a microprocessor or a digital signal processor, having at least one sensor 5 coupled thereto, said sensor being preferably external to the processor and connected thereto by means of specific input terminals. Said microprocessor 4 couples to said cable 3 specific, preferably digital signals corresponding to the signals coming from the sensor 5, which is positioned on the safety device the correct utilisation of which is to be monitored.

In similar way, receiver unit 2 includes a data processing electronic circuit 7, preferably provided with a microprocessor or a digital signal processor, which receives the signals coupled to said cable 3 by microprocessor 4 of said detector-transmitter unit 1 and consequently drives one or more optical and/or acoustical signal generators 8.

According to the preferred embodiment, said electronic circuit 7 couples a control signal, preferably a digital control signal, corresponding to the signal received from said cable 3, to at least one electronically controlled, preferably internal, switch circuit 9, operating between one or more external terminal pairs 10.

It is obvious for those skilled in the art to modify the device according to this invention so that said switch circuit be externally provided

and that said control signal be coupled thereto by means of a radio connection.

In other embodiments of the device according to this invention, it can also be provided that said electronic circuit 7 include at least one sensor 11 coupled thereto, said sensor being preferably externally positioned and connected by means of specific input terminals 12.

Communications between detector-transmitter unit 1 and receiver unit 2 can be effected in coded form, thereby assuring in co- operation with the digital format of the signals a high immunity in respect of noise and a high communication safety.

For a better comprehension of this invention, the operation modes of the preferred embodiment of the electronic control device will be hereinbelow described, but it should be understood that similar operation modes can be applied for other embodiments.

The detector-transmitter unit 1 controls the signals coming from said at least one sensor 5 and couples corresponding coded signals to said receiver 2, thereby continuously informing it about the correct utilisation of the safety device to which said sensor 5 is connected.

Furthermore, the detector-transmitter 1 is adapted to carry out a self- testing procedure to check the correct operation of its components and of said sensor 5 and to signal any failures to the receiver 2.

When the concerned safety device is not correctly utilised, receiver unit 2 receives a corresponding signal from said detector- transmitter unit 1 and drives said signal generators 8 so as to notify this situation to the user.

When the concerned safety device is required for operation of a vehicle or an apparatus, according to a preferred embodiment, this invention provides for connecting the above mentioned switch circuit 9 to the power supply circuit for the vehicle or the apparatus and provides for the receiver unit 2 to control the switch circuit 9 so as to turn off the power

supply circuit and to disable the concerned vehicle or apparatus, after a pre-established time period starting from the begin of said signal. In particular, said pre-established time period can be preferably adjusted by suitably programming said electronic circuit 7. By way of exemplification, said receiver can be provided with a suitable electronic interface for connection to an external programming circuit with keyboard and display.

In other words, when the concerned safety device is required for operation of a vehicle or an apparatus, said receiver unit 3 processes the signals furnished by said detector/transmitter unit 1 and drives said switch circuit 9 in order to allow said vehicle or apparatus to operate only when the concerned safety device is correctly utilised.

By way of exemplification, by referring to Figure 2, it can be observed that the concerned electronic control device can be applied to the protection helmet compulsorily required when works are carried out on scaffoldings 13. In particular, a sensor 5, for example a pressure sensor, can signal that the related operator 14 is correctly wearing the protection helmet 12 (and/or a safety belt). Detector-transmitter unit 1 couples the corresponding signal to said receiver unit 2 that, should the helmet (or the safety belt) be not correctly utilised, can operate alarm optical and/or acoustical signal generators.

Should the utilisation of an helmet 12 be required for operation of a welding apparatus 15, said receiver unit 2 allows or denies the operation of said welding apparatus according to the signal coming from said detector-transmitter unit 1.

By referring to Figure 3, it can be observed that the electronic control device can be applied to a protection helmet as required for driving a motocycle 16. In this case, sensor 5 signals whether the driver 14 is correctly wearing his helmet 12 and, in the negative, receiver 12 activates alarm optical and acoustical signal generators and, after a pre-established time period, as needed by the driver for arresting the vehicle, diables the power supply, thereby shutting off the engine.

Other embodiments of the control device can be provided with an attitude sensor, connected to the electronic circuit 7 that processes the data coming from the receiver unit 2, so as to switch the engine off in the case of a fall, even if sensor 5 signals that the concerned helmet 12 is still being correctly worn.

By referring again to Figure 3, further embodiments of the control device can be provided with a second detector-transmitter unit, not shown, applied to the passenger's helmet and adapted to be connected to the receiver unit 2 by means of a second cable, not even shown. A suitable sensor 21 connected to said receiver unit 2 detects the presence of a passenger and activates said receiver unit 2 in order to check the correct utilisation of the helmet by the passenger.

Figure 4 shows an application example of sensor 5, specifically a pressure sensor, to a protection helmet 12. Sensor 5 is connected to detector-transmitter unit 1 which, in turn, is connected to cable 3.

By referring again to Figure 2 and in respect of the application case relating to carrying out works on scaffolds 13 by a worker squad 14, receiver unit 2 could also include a transmitter circuit aimed at signalling to a remote control station 17 whether the corresponding worker 14 is correctly wearing or not the required safety devices 12. In this embodiment, said remote control station 17 should be provided with a corresponding receiving equipment and all signals coming from the various receiver units 2 should preferably furnish all sufficient information to identify all single workers 14.

By referring to Figure 5, it can be observed that such embodiment of the device according to this invention provides for an antenna 18 driven by said transmitter circuit, not shown, and that the receiving station 19 includes an antenna 20, a control and management data processing electronic device 21, one or more optical and/or acoustical signal generators 22 and possibly a display, not shown.

Since the electronic control device according to this invention is adapted to disable the operation of a vehicle, it can also be

advantageously utilised as an antitheft device: in fact, the operation of a vehicle is subordinated to the presence of said sensors 5 and/or of said detector-transmitter units 1 that can be removed by the vehicle proprietor, together with the safety devices to which they are applied, when the vehicle is not utilised.

The power supply for the electronic control device can be furnished by connecting the receiver unit 2 to electric power supply of the vehicle, machine or apparatus in connection with which the safety device to be monitored is to be used, by furnishing such electric power also to said detector-transmitter unit 1 by means of said multipolar cable 3.

In further embodiments, a battery power supply can be provided only for said detector-transmitter unit 1 or for said receiver unit 2, as well.

In this case, the data processing electronic device 4 of said detector- transmitter unit 1 and the data processing electronic circuit 7 of said receiver unit 2 provide for monitoring the charge condition of the battery, so as to indicate any condition of insufficient power supply level.

This invention has been described by way of illustration, but not by way of limitation, according to its preferred embodiment, but it should be understood that variations and/or changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention as defined by the attached claims.