Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
  • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
  • G08B21/08—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to the presence of persons in a body of water, e.g. a swimming pool; responsive to an abnormal condition of a body of water
  • G08B21/084—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to the presence of persons in a body of water, e.g. a swimming pool; responsive to an abnormal condition of a body of water by monitoring physical movement characteristics of the water

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for detecting the fall of a body in a pool such as a swimming pool, in particular the fall of a child or an animal.
• a device for detecting the fall of a body in a pool such as a swimming pool, in particular the fall of a child or an animal.
• Such a device makes it possible to detect the fall of a body in a body of water and to alert the entourage, by a siren, of the indicator lights, or any other means adapted to attract attention, in order to allow a rescue fast.
• the ideal solution to effectively prevent falls in the pool while maintaining easy access and a friendly seal is to provide the pool with a body falls detection device in the pool.
• detection devices exist and are marketed.
• Aquapremium TM devices, Aquasensor TM SensorPremium, SensorSolar, SensorElite, SensorEspio or SensorDomo marketed by the applicant can detect the fall of a body in the pool of a pool and alert the entourage.
• Known fall detection devices generally consist of a probe plunging into the basin and connected to an emerging housing.
• the immersed probe is adapted to transmit aquatic waves propagating in the basin.
• Water waves means any mass movement of water in the basin whether on the surface (waves) or at depth (submarine waves).
• the water waves can be transmitted to a compression chamber in the housing to measure the pressure variations caused by said waves.
• the compression chamber can be constituted by the probe itself, filled with air. Any movement in the pelvis, and in particular the fall of a body, causes the formation of waves that induce pressure variations in the chamber. compression of the fall detector.
• a sensor for example of the piezoelectric type, converts these pressure variations into voltage and an electronic card processes these signals in order to interpret whether they correspond to a fall.
• the electronic card controls the emission of an alert signal.
• the known detection devices have the disadvantage of being sensitive to external disturbances and of being subjected to nuisance tripping, because the electronic card interprets disturbing signals such as a fall. Such disturbing signals may be due to the movement of the cleaning robot, the start of filtration, but also to rain or waves caused by wind. These disturbances can cause a nuisance tripping of the alarm, which becomes annoying for the entourage and can encourage to put the device at a standstill with the risk of not detecting a real fall. Most of these disturbances can be eliminated by adjusting the sensitivity of the detector.
• the disturbances due to the wind can present a signature of wave very close to that caused by the fall of a child.
• the aforementioned devices marketed by the Applicant include a signal processing system to minimize wind disturbances. Two identical sensors are mounted in differential, a first sensor measuring the pressure variations in the compression chamber and a second sensor measuring only the disturbances caused by the wind blowing on the housing.
• the measurement of the second sensor is deduced from the measurement of the first sensor by the electronic card in order to process only the signal resulting from the pressure differences in the compression chamber.
• This solution eliminates the disturbances due to wind blowing on the housing but not to differentiate the waves in the basin due to wind waves caused by a fall. There is therefore a need to reduce the risk of inadvertent triggering of the alarm of the detection device due to the effect of the wind on the pool while ensuring a real fall detection in the pool.
• the invention proposes to adapt the behavior of the detection apparatus according to the disturbances generated by the wind. Indeed, it is extremely rare that the wind rises at once to blow in strong bursts presenting the signature of a fall of body in the basin of the swimming pool.
• the signals caused by the movements of the water are thus continuously measured and stored in order to adapt the detection mode of the apparatus to the disturbance level of the basin.
• swimming pools increasingly include systems for measuring and monitoring water quality, such as pH, water temperature and the treatment of salt electrolysis, for example.
• Each system for measuring and / or controlling the water of the swimming pool generally comprises its own probe, its own processing electronics and its own visualization or warning system.
• the multiplication of measurement and control systems represents a cost and a congestion for the user of the pool.
• the invention proposes an integration of all these systems to the fall detection apparatus.
• the invention more particularly relates to a device for detecting a fall of a body in a water body of a basin comprising: a probe immersed in the basin and adapted to transmit aquatic waves propagating in the basin; an electronic unit adapted to receive and interpret electrical signals representative of pressure variations caused by the water waves collected by the probe; the electronic unit being adapted to memorize the signals generated by the pool and to alternate the operating mode of the device between different operating modes according to the value of the amplitude and the value of the frequency of the stored electrical signals generated by the pool.
• the device for detecting a fall in a pool comprises one or more of the following characteristics: the signals generated by the pool are memorized over a given time interval; the time interval is between 10 and 60 seconds; the electronic unit is adapted to interpret an electric signal as corresponding to a fall when said electrical signal has an amplitude greater than a predetermined threshold and a frequency substantially equal to IHz; - the electronic unit is adapted to control the triggering of an audible alarm when the received electrical signal has a predetermined number of half-waves exceeding said amplitude; the electronic unit is adapted to alternate the operating mode of the device between a so-called quiet mode, a so-called disturbed mode and a so-called agitated mode according to the value of the amplitude and the value of the frequency of the stored electrical signals generated by the pool ; in the so-called normal mode, the electronic unit triggers an alarm after detection of three half-waves; in said disturbed mode, the electronic unit triggers an alarm after detection of five half-waves; in so-called
• the invention also relates to a method for detecting a fall of a body in a water body of a basin comprising the steps of: measuring aquatic waves propagating in the basin; transforming the pressure variations caused by said water waves into electrical signals; memorizing said signals generated by the pool; alternating the detection mode between different operating modes according to the value of the amplitude and the value of the frequency of the stored electrical signals.
• the detection method according to the invention comprises one or more of the following characteristics: a step of interpreting the electrical signal generated by the pool as corresponding to a fall when said electrical signal has an amplitude greater than a threshold predetermined and a frequency substantially equal to IHz.
• FIG. 1 a diagram of a fall detection device according to the invention
• Figure 2 a diagram of a fall detection device an alternative embodiment of the invention
• Figure 3a a graph illustrating the electrical signals generated in a basin in quiet mode
• Figure 3b a graph illustrating the electrical signals generated in a basin in disturbed mode.
• signals generated by the pool is used to designate electrical signals representative of the aquatic waves (waves and submarine movements) propagating in the basin and received by the electronic card of the device. fall detection via the immersed probe.
• different modes of operation of the fall detection device corresponding respectively to different states of agitation of the basin are also defined.
• a so-called calm mode is thus defined as a state of the basin weakly affected by the wind and in which the signals generated by the basin in the absence of a fall are of low amplitude and of random frequency.
• a so-called disturbed mode is also defined as a partially agitated state of the basin, in particular by the wind, and in which the electrical signals generated by the basin in the absence of a fall can be of high amplitude and of constant and inconstant frequency over a few minutes. periods.
• a so-called agitated mode is defined as a state of the strongly agitated basin, in particular by the wind, and in which the electrical signals generated by the basin in the absence of a fall can have an amplitude and a frequency similar to those of a fall of a body, especially that of a young child. In this state, the pelvis is too agitated to allow a discriminating detection of a fall.
• Figure 1 describes a detection device according to the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a detection device disposed on the rim of a pool 20, such as a pool for domestic use for example.
• a probe 1 dips into the pool water and opens into a compression chamber 8 formed in a portion of the housing 7 of the detection apparatus.
• the compression chamber could be directly constituted by the immersed probe itself filled with air and serving as compression chamber.
• the probe 1 may be a tube having a free end immersed and an end opening into the housing 7 of the emerging detection apparatus.
• the tube 1 is thus adapted to transmit the water waves propagating in the basin 20 to the compression chamber 8.
• This chamber is hermetically closed and perceives the rising water waves of the tube 1 as pressure variations.
• a pressure sensor 2, for example of the piezoelectric type, is arranged in the compression chamber 8 to convert the pressure variations into electrical signals.
• the pressure sensor 2 is connected to an electronic unit 4 disposed in the housing 7 of the detection apparatus, outside the compression chamber 8.
• the electronic unit 4 is adapted to receive and interpret the signals from the pressure sensor 2, that is to say the electrical signals representative of the pressure variations in the compression chamber, therefore representative of the aquatic waves propagating in the basin.
• the expression “signals generated by the basin” to designate the electrical signals transmitted by the sensor 2 to the electronic unit 4.
• the electronic unit 4 is adapted to interpret the signals generated by the pool in that it can correlate in particular electrical signal amplitude and frequency values with a state of agitation of the basin and / or with a fall detection. as will be explained in more detail later.
• the electronic unit may include a microcontroller chip, in a manner known per se.
• the electronic unit 4 is also adapted to memorize the signals generated by the pool.
• the electronic unit may include a memory chip, such as RAM or EPROM.
• the memorization of the electrical signals by the electronic unit makes it possible to monitor the evolution of the disturbance of the basin and to adapt the behavior of the detection device according to the state of agitation of the water in the basin.
• the electronic unit loosely stores the signals generated by the pool over a predetermined time interval, for example of the order of 10 to 60 seconds. This interval is sufficient to detect the evolution of the disturbance generated by the wind, without requiring a large memory and a large software processing time.
• the electronic unit 4 is thus adapted to alternate the operating mode of the device between different operating modes and in particular between a so-called quiet mode, a so-called disturbed mode and a so-called agitated mode.
• the different modes of operation are determined according to the amplitude and frequency values of the stored electrical signals, in particular over the last given time interval.
• the alternation of the operating modes makes it possible to adapt the behavior of the detection device to the basin context and to ensure optimal fall detection, even in the event of wind shaking the basin.
• the electronic unit is adapted to interpret an electrical signal received from the pressure sensor 2 as corresponding to a fall when said electrical signal is a sinusoid having an amplitude greater than a predetermined threshold S with a frequency close to 1 Hz. Such a signal is indeed characteristic of a fall of a body in water.
• the electronic unit is then adapted to control the triggering of an audible alarm 6 disposed in the housing 7 for example.
• the electronic unit can also trigger the transmission of an alert signal by a radio transmitter 5 to a remote siren, for example in the house.
• the invention proposes to adapt the mode operation of the detection device in the climatological context and in particular to the evolution of the basin agitation measured and stored by the electronic unit. This defines a first threshold S corresponding to a predetermined amplitude of the signal generated by the pool beyond which the electronic unit counts the signal as so-called valid information for the detection of a fall.
• a second threshold S ' lower than the first threshold S, is also defined, corresponding to a predetermined amplitude of the signal generated by the pool beyond which the electronic unit counts the signal as information capable of passing the detection device.
• the graph of FIG. 3a illustrates the electrical signal that can be received by the electronic unit in a so-called quiet mode operation.
• a regular sinusoidal signal having an amplitude greater than the first predetermined threshold S with a frequency close to IHz will necessarily be the signature of a fall.
• This sinusoidal signal is conventionally quantified in half-wave 1 / 2T, a half-wave corresponding to a half-period of the sinusoidal signal whose peak exceeds the predetermined threshold of amplitude.
• the electronic unit receives an electrical signal from the pressure sensor whose amplitude exceeds said predetermined threshold S, it counts this event as valid information. If it detects a certain amount of successive and non-missing valid information in a predefined frequency range around 1 Hz, it interprets this as a fall.
• the electronic unit 4 then triggers the audible alarm 6 when the received electrical signal has a predetermined number of half-waves 1 / 2T exceeding said threshold S amplitude. In quiet mode, the electronic unit triggers the alarm after detection of three half waves 3 / 2T for example.
• the graph of FIG. 3b illustrates the electrical signal that can be received by the electronic unit in a disturbed mode operation.
• the wind In disturbed mode, the wind generates aperiodic and erratic signals that can reach a high amplitude, exceeding the first predetermined threshold S.
• a regular sinusoidal signal over a few periods having an amplitude greater than the predetermined threshold S with a frequency close to 1 Hz can be read by the electronic unit.
• the electronic unit will previously have counted signals exceeding the second threshold S 'of predetermined amplitude over the previous stored time intervals and will have passed the detection device of the so-called quiet mode to the said disrupted operating mode. For example, when more than two signals exceed the second amplitude threshold S 'on the last time interval stored in the electronic unit, the electronic unit interprets this as a rising wind disrupting the pool and switches the unit to mode of operation said disturbed.
• a regular sinusoidal signal having an amplitude greater than the first predetermined threshold S with a frequency close to 1 Hz will not necessarily be the signature of a fall.
• the electronic unit 4 triggers the audible alarm 6 only when the electric signal received has five half-waves 5 / 2T against three half waves in the operating mode said calm.
• the detection of three half-waves 3 / 2T can only be a wave signature due to the wind; on the other hand, it is extremely rare that five half-waves 5 / 2T are a signature of waves due to the wind.
• the electronic unit detects five successive valid and non-missing information in said disturbed mode, it interprets this as a fall.
• the sensitivity of the device remains the same regardless of the mode of operation; only the electronic processing, namely the counting of half-waves, is the differentiating element between the so-called calm mode and the so-called disturbed mode. This differentiation, however, greatly reduces the nuisance tripping of the alarm.
• the pool can generate electrical signals having successions of half-waves of amplitude greater than the first predetermined threshold S with an almost regular frequency close to 1 Hz.
• the electronic unit is then no longer able to differentiate the signals due to a fall of the signals due to the wind.
• the electronic unit has passed the detection device in agitated mode.
• the electronic unit 4 neutralizes the triggering of the audible alarm 6, but does not cease to receive the water wave measurements provided by the pressure sensor 2.
• the electronic unit will be able to switch the detection device into disturbed mode and then into a quiet mode and restore the possibility of triggering the audible alarm.
• Thresholds different from the second threshold S ' may be chosen for the inverse alternation of the agitated mode and the disturbed mode and the disturbed mode in the quiet mode.
• the neutralization of the alarm makes it possible to avoid nuisance tripping without putting the device to a standstill.
• the device does not interrupt its detection and automatically reestablishes the triggering of the alarm when the detection conditions allow it. It may be advantageous to provide for the triggering of an audible signal indicating that the detection device has switched to said agitated mode.
• the electronic unit 4 can trigger the emission of one or more audible beeps to warn the entourage that the audible alarm 6 is deactivated for a certain time or that it has changed mode.
• the device when the device is disabled, for example when users are bathing, the device according to the invention maintains a standby measurement of water waves in the pool during this so-called deactivated mode.
• the electronic unit when the device is reactivated, at the end of bathing, the electronic unit is adapted to choose the mode of detection - quiet mode, disturbed or agitated - the most appropriate according to the last memorized signals generated by the basin.
• the device is adapted to automatically restore an appropriate detection mode if users fail to reactivate the device after swimming.
• the detection can be re-established automatically after a simple delay or when the device detects a calm or slightly disturbed state of the basin from the signals generated by the basin.
• the fall detection device thus makes it possible to improve the safety by adapting its mode of operation to the state of agitation of the pool and by maintaining a detection despite the deactivation of the audible alarm, in agitated or deactivated mode, in order to ability to re-establish proper detection as soon as possible.
• the detection device has an indicator of the current mode of operation, for example one or more light diodes alternately switched on according to the operating mode of the device or a screen registering on the device the mode running, or beeps indicating the different modes or switching from one to the other.
• the indications of the current mode of operation can also be displayed on a remote detection unit, for example in the house, the information relating to the mode of operation being transmitted by the electronic unit via the antenna 5 or any other telecommunication link appropriate.
• the electronic unit 4 can receive information relating to the force of the wind in order to supplement the information detected in situ in the basin by the counting of waves exceeding predetermined thresholds.
• the electronic unit 4 can receive data measured by a remote anemometer 10, shown in Figure 2.
• the anemometer 10 can be placed on the roof of the house at any other appropriate point having a good grip or wind .
• the anemometer 10 can transmit its measurements to the electronic unit 4 of the detection device by a radio link via the antenna 5 or by any other appropriate telecommunication link.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the fall detection device according to the invention.
• the elements identical to those of Figure 1 bear the same reference numbers.
• FIG. 2 thus shows a probe 1 immersed in the water of the basin 20 and connected to a compression chamber 8 formed in a housing 7 of the detection apparatus.
• a first pressure sensor 2 is disposed in the compression chamber 8 and a second sensor 3, identical to the first, can be placed in the housing 7, the two sensors being connected to an electronic unit 4 adapted to control an audible alarm 6.
• the second sensor 3 can be used to deduce the effects of wind on the housing 7 of the measurement provided by the first sensor 2, as described with reference to the prior art.
• Figure 2 also shows another probe 9 diving into the water basin.
• This other probe 9 is intended to provide a measurement of the state of the water of the basin 20.
• the measurements of the probe 9 are converted into electrical signals transmitted to the electronic unit 4.
• the probe 9 may be a temperature probe, a pH measuring probe or an electrolysis probe, for example. It is understood that there may be several probes 9 diving into the pond water and providing the electronic unit with different measures.
• the electronic unit 4 is adapted to memorize and interpret the signals supplied by the probe 9 for measuring the state of the water and to display results on a display screen provided on the housing 7 of the device .
• the temperature measurement can be displayed on the housing 7 of the device, near the pool.
• the electronic unit 4 can also transmit the results of the water status measurements to a remote management unit 11, for example in the house. Users can then take the necessary actions depending on the results displayed, for example add chlorine, regulate PH, regulate salt electrolysis, regulate water temperature.
• the electronic unit only receives the data measured by the probe 9 for measuring the state of the water of the basin and transmit these measurements to a remote management unit 11, via the antenna 5 for example. It is then the management unit 11 which is adapted to interpret the water status measurement signals.
• the management unit 11 can simply display the result of the measurements to enable the users to take the appropriate actions or order directly and automatically a basin water treatment device.
• the management unit 11 may be adapted to control one or more metering pumps or control systems in order to restore a good pH value, chlorine, to initiate a salt electrolysis or regulate the temperature of the water. If the installation allows it, the management unit 11 can also trigger the supply of a resistor or a heat pump to heat the water of the basin or to switch on the illumination of the basin to measure a sensor of appropriate brightness.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described by way of example.
• the software processing for determining the transition from one mode of operation to another may be based on a combination of thresholds of predetermined amplitude and predetermined frequency and / or range of amplitude and / or frequency thresholds. .

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• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)
• Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
• Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)
• Examining Or Testing Airtightness (AREA)
• Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Magnetic Means (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)
• Testing Or Calibration Of Command Recording Devices (AREA)
• Position Fixing By Use Of Radio Waves (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-04-26 FR FR0504175A patent/FR2884952B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-04-25 WO PCT/FR2006/000919 patent/WO2006114516A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-04-25 CA CA002601370A patent/CA2601370A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-04-25 DE DE602006010052T patent/DE602006010052D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-04-25 US US11/909,419 patent/US20080174441A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-04-25 AT AT06743737T patent/ATE447220T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-04-25 AU AU2006239101A patent/AU2006239101A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-04-25 EP EP06743737A patent/EP1880373B1/de active Active
• 2007
  • 2007-10-15 ZA ZA200708773A patent/ZA200708773B/xx unknown

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