Static electricity monitor comprising a walking footpad electrode and handrail electrode

1. A static electricity monitor operable to test a garment worn by a person, the garment comprising a first piece of footwear worn on a first foot of the person, the static electricity monitor comprising:

a first footpad electrode having a length of at least one meter;

a first handrail electrode wherein a length of the first handrail electrode runs generally parallel to the length of the first footpad electrode; and

control circuitry coupled to the first footpad electrode and the first handrail electrode, and operable to determine if the garment worn by the person passes a soundness test by taking a measurement as the person walks the first piece of footwear along the first footpad electrode while contacting a first hand to the first handrail electrode.

2. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to apply a current to at least one of the first footpad electrode and the first handrail electrode.

3. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry further comprises an ohmmeter operable to measure a resistance between the first footpad electrode and the first handrail electrode in order to determine if the garment worn by the person passes the soundness test.

4. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the garment further comprises a second piece of footwear worn on a second foot of the person;

the static electricity monitor further comprising a second footpad electrode having a length of at least one meter and running generally parallel to the first footpad electrode; and

the control circuitry is further operable to determine if the garment worn by the person passes the soundness test by taking a measurement as the person walks the second piece of footwear along the second footpad electrode while contacting the first hand to the first handrail electrode.

5. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 4 , further comprising a second handrail electrode running generally parallel to the second footpad electrode, wherein the control circuitry is further operable to determine if the garment worn by the person passes the soundness test by taking a measurement as the person walks the second piece of footwear along the second footpad electrode while contacting a second hand to the second handrail electrode.

6. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second handrail electrode running generally parallel to the first footpad electrode, wherein the control circuitry is further operable to determine if the garment worn by the person passes the soundness test by taking a measurement as the person walks the first piece of footwear along the first footpad electrode while contacting a second hand to the second handrail electrode.

7. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a first sensor operable to detect when the person enters a testing zone associated with the static electricity monitor; and

a second sensor operable to detect when the person exits the testing zone associated with the static electricity monitor.

8. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a second handrail electrode in-line with the first handrail electrode and running generally parallel to the first footpad electrode, wherein the second handrail electrode is electrically insulated from the first handrail electrode;

a first sensor operable to detect when the person enters a first testing zone associated with the first handrail electrode; and

a second sensor operable to detect when the person enters a second testing zone associated with the second handrail electrode.

9. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to activate an alarm if the garment worn by the person does not pass the soundness test.

10. The static electricity monitor as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a gate near an exit of a testing zone associated with the static electricity monitor, wherein the control circuitry is further operable to unlock the gate prior to the person reaching the gate if the garment worn by the person passes the soundness test.

11. A method of testing a soundness of a garment worn by a person, the garment comprising a first piece of footwear worn on a first foot of the person, the method comprising:

the person walking the first piece of footwear along a first footpad electrode while contacting a first hand to a first handrail electrode, wherein a length of the first handrail electrode runs generally parallel to a length of the first footpad electrode;

taking a measurement between the first footpad electrode and the first handrail electrode; and

determining whether the garment worn by the person passes a soundness test based on the measurement.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein taking the measurement comprises applying a current to at least one of the first footpad electrode and the first handrail electrode and measuring a resistance.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein:

the garment further comprises a second piece of footwear worn on a second foot of the person; and

the measurement is taken as the person walks the second piece of footwear along a second footpad electrode while contacting the first hand to the first handrail electrode.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein:

the measurement is taken as the person walks the second piece of footwear along the second footpad electrode while contacting a second hand to a second handrail electrode.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein:

the measurement is taken as the person walks the first piece of footwear along the first footpad electrode while contacting a second hand to a second handrail electrode.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:

detecting when the person enters a testing zone associated with the first footpad electrode; and

detecting when the person exits the testing zone associated with the first footpad electrode.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:

the person walking the first piece of footwear along the first footpad electrode while contacting the first hand to a second handrail electrode, wherein the second handrail electrode is in-line with the first handrail electrode and electrically insulated from the first handrail electrode;

taking a measurement between the first footpad electrode and the second handrail;

detecting when the person enters a first testing zone associated with the first handrail electrode; and

detecting when the person enters a second testing zone associated with the second handrail electrode.

18. The method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising activating an alarm if the garment worn by the person does not pass the soundness test.

19. The method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising unlocking a gate prior to the person reaching the gate if the garment worn by the person passes the soundness test.