EP2407039A2 - Object carried on the body, in particular item of clothing - Google Patents

Abstract

The article i.e. protective glove (10), has a sensor device comprising a temperature sensor (16), a thermocoupler (17), an acceleration sensor, a barometer and/or an altimeter for detecting physical and/or chemical and/or physiological properties of a person wearing the article and/or surroundings of the person. An evaluation electronic circuit converts sensor signals of the sensor device into radio signals. A transmission device is provided to transmit the radio signals. A receiver receives the radio signals from article to be worn at a body of other person and/or a control center. An independent claim is also included for a communication network between different articles.

Description

There are situations in which even today's almost nationwide existing mobile communication networks people are not able to exchange information with other people and in particular to give danger warnings or request help. This may be due to the fact that the person in question, for example, is physically unable to communicate with others due to unconsciousness. Or there is such a stressful situation for the person in question that they are not capable of active communication with others. The operation of a mobile phone or a radio requires some attention and time, which is often not available in stressful situations.

Although there are a number of body monitoring systems in the medical field, for example for cardiac activity, the monitored bodily functions can also be transmitted via a communication network from the sickbed to a monitoring center. Furthermore, room monitoring systems are known, with the help of which it is possible to monitor whether a person, in particular a child, is calling for help.

However, all previous monitoring systems do not permit monitoring and / or communication between persons among themselves or between persons and a center when the persons are free to move and may not be actively able to communicate for the reasons described above.

However, such applications are relatively common in emergency services, especially in fire departments. The fire fighting is one of the most dangerous tasks of the fire department. The conditions of use at a fire site are often difficult and imply a heavy burden on the emergency services. Despite good training and equipment, it always comes back to serious injuries and even deaths.

The present invention has for its object to provide a way to automatically detect at least one property of the person or their environment and to convey to other people or a center, if the person is in different places and even if they are different Reasons not to actively communicate. At the same time, however, active communication between the persons should also be possible.

The object is achieved by an article to be worn on the body, in particular a garment, with a sensor device with which at least one physical and / or chemical and / or physiological property of the person wearing the article and / or the environment of the person can be detected, and with an evaluation, which converts the sensor signals into radio signals. The fact that the object is to be worn on the body, he does not restrict the freedom of movement of the person. At the same time, the sensor device detects the desired properties of the person or his environment automatically, that is, without the intervention of the person. The detection of the desired properties is thus ensured regardless of the physical or mental state of the person. By converting the sensor signals into radio signals, the monitored properties are sent automatically, that is, without the intervention of the person, and can be received and evaluated by other persons or a monitoring center. On the other hand, however, the object can also be used for active communication of the person carrying the article.

It is advantageous if the object has at least one transmitting device for the radio signals, so that they can be sent by himself. However, the radio signals generated by the transmitter can also be transmitted to a transmitter, which is not integrated into the object, but is arranged at another location of the body or a piece of equipment.

With the object according to the invention it is thus possible to monitor the health of people working in dangerous environments without hindering them in carrying out their duties. In an integration of the article in a garment or in a fastened to the garment device entrainment of the article is particularly simple. In addition, the risk that his donning accidentally forgotten, low. For example, the article may be part of the protective clothing of rescue workers. However, it is also possible, for example, the item in a bracelet, a chest band or in a device such as a respirator or in a Backpack or bag to integrate. The use of the subject invention is not limited to rescue workers, the police or the military. It can also be used by people who work in a dangerous production environment of an industrial company, or in the medical field.

In particular, when using the article for rescue workers, the police or the military, further decisive advantages arise when the subject has a receiving device for radio signals carried by the body of other people items and / or a central office. If, for example, a person is in distress, the subject's colleagues can be informed actively or passively about the emergency situation. Even about a dangerous environmental situation of a person can inform other people on this catfish and warn them about this.

The receiver can also receive signals from a separate transmitter, such as a mobile phone or a radio. Particular advantages arise when communication with the security system's Tetra digital radio system is possible - both by transmission and by reception. This can be done for example via a W-LAN or Blue-Tooth interface or a plug connection to the object. If the article is designed as a conductive textile, then data can be transmitted via this conductive textile.

If it is additionally provided that the received radio signals of objects carried by other persons can be transmitted by the transmitting device of the object, the objects carried by different persons can form a radio network, with which even at low transmission power over a chain of several Persons a transmission of the radio data over long distances is possible. Such an embodiment of the article is particularly advantageous for use by emergency services, the police and the military.

For example, military units can communicate independently of a wireless network. Site, vitality and environmental data such as temperature or a chemical or chemical attack can be actively or passively directed to an operations center. This gives the operations center information about the physical, mental and environmental conditions that prevail in the individual. It is also detectable whether a soldier, police officer or firefighter is at his limit or dead. If the article is designed as a conductive textile, then the conductive textile itself can be formed as a sensor device and / or communication device.

Which properties are monitored by the sensor device of the object depends on its intended use. In particular when the object is used by firefighters, the sensor device can have at least one temperature sensor. Heat is one of the main sources of fire hazard. Conveniently, therefore, the article may have a temperature sensor that measures the surface temperature of the person's body. This can on the one hand serve to monitor the health of the person concerned, but also provide a reference variable for a further temperature sensor, which is preferably designed as a thermocouple and with which the ambient temperature of the person is measurable. With such a temperature sensor, in addition or as an alternative to a temperature sensor for the body surface temperature can be integrated into the object, it can be determined whether the person is in such a hot environment that a longer stay there without health damage is not possible. Also, the temperature of objects with which a person comes in contact, can be detected.

The sensor device can also have chemical sensors, in particular for the detection of liquid or gaseous chemicals or warfare agents. Sensors for physiological properties such as blood pressure, heart rate, perspiration or oxygen saturation and the like, that is to say so-called vitality senses, can also be provided.

Further advantages result if the sensor device has at least one acceleration sensor. Such acceleration sensors can fulfill various functions. If they are inactive for a predeterminable period of time, it is possible to infer an unconsciousness or another emergency situation of the person carrying the object. In this case, the transmitter generates an emergency call signal. However, acceleration sensors can also be used for gesture recognition. Forces at fire brigades and other emergency services often communicate with each other via certain, predetermined body gestures. If there is no visual contact between the emergency services or the emergency services and the rescue center, or if the communication is to be silent, the acceleration sensors can record the corresponding gestures of the persons and transmit them to the control center and / or to other emergency services.

When using the article by members of emergency services, the military or employees in certain industries, such as mining, it is also advantageous if the sensor device has a positioning system, in particular a satellite positioning system. The location can also be done via triangulation using two radio sources, such as inventive objects or external devices. A location is also possible on the radio strength. The closer a receiver is brought to the sending object, the stronger the received signal. In this way, the position of the person wearing the article can be determined at any time.

The genuineness of the position determination of the person carrying the article can be increased by the fact that the sensor device also has a barometer or another altimeter with which the height position of the person concerned can be determined. This makes it possible, for example, to determine that a soft fireman is staying on the soft floor of a burning building.

Furthermore, evaluation electronics can be provided, with which the data of the satellite positioning system, the radio location system and / or the barometer can be adjusted, so that a higher accuracy in determining the position of the person and in particular of their height position can be achieved. In buildings, the satellite positioning can not be used. Nevertheless, the position of the person in all spatial coordinates can be specified exactly by radio bearing in conjunction with the barometric data.

In a preferred embodiment of the article this may additionally have an acoustic, optical and / or haptic signaling device. This makes it possible for the wearer of the object to read even the variables detected by the sensor device or to be warned at least in the event of imminent danger by the signaling device. As an optical signal or display device such as LEDs or a display in question. However, it is particularly preferred if the signal and display device has at least one vibration motor. The detection of the vibration is immediate and requires no time from the wearer of the item, so that a vibration alarm is effective even in stress and dangerous situations. With the vibration motors can also generate real signals through fixed in a fixed manner consecutive vibration intervals, so that the vibration alarm can also indicate danger situations of another. A retraction signal can also be generated by means of the vibration motors. This signal can be triggered, for example, by a fire and sent to all emergency services.

Further advantages can be achieved if the object has a Blue Tooth and / or W-LAN interface or an interface to a UMTS or GPRS mobile telephone. With this, the signals generated by the transmitter can be transmitted to a elsewhere in another place, such as an accessory, located more powerful transmitter and sent out from there. The transmission via this interface is also wireless, so that the freedom of movement of the person carrying the item is not hindered.

Special advantages arise when the item is a protective glove. Protective gloves are parts of the protective clothing of emergency services or of persons working in certain industrial areas, which must always be worn, so that it is ensured in the embodiment of the subject invention as a protective glove that all persons in use are equipped with the object. It is advantageous that in the back of the protective glove, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the skin, a temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature, at least one acceleration sensor and the transmitter are integrated. In addition, chemical sensors and / or vital sensors may be provided. The placement of these elements in the back of the glove does not hinder the person wearing the glove in their tasks and movements. The sensor devices and the evaluation electronics can be arranged at least largely on a common board. This board can be placed between two layers of the protective glove. Temperature-sensitive components can be placed closer to the inner lining of the glove.

Further, it is advantageous if a transmitting and receiving device is integrated in the protective glove. In addition, a battery unit and / or solar unit can be integrated into the glove. All the elements necessary for determining the desired properties and for the radio connection are then integrated into the protective glove. Simply slip on the glove and the person is equipped with the necessary safety features.

The invention also relates to a communication network between a plurality of objects carried by different persons according to the invention and at least one center, which is characterized in that it is designed as an ad hoc radio network via which the data of the sensor devices of the objects and / or Central are transferable. In this ad hoc network, each item serves as a network node through which radio signals can be forwarded, thereby minimizing the transmit power of the transmitters in the items. Furthermore, this type of network has the advantage that the transmission of signals via other nodes, that is objects of other persons, remains possible even if the transmitting device of an object fails. If a direct radio link between one of the nodes and the center is not possible by a corresponding obstacle, the center can still be reached by bypassing this obstacle via other nodes. It is also possible to set up additional nodes independently of the persons carrying an item. For example, balls equipped with a transmitter and a receiver can be positioned at the desired junctions. The radio frequency used in the network may preferably be between 800 and 1500 MHz.

The network can also form hierarchies of any kind. This means that several people can be grouped together and monitored and addressed by the head office as a group. The group formation can also be triggered by the persons themselves - for example by a corresponding gesture. If the members of a group move too far apart, a warning signal can be triggered.

Hereinafter, an inventive subject matter will be described in more detail with reference to the drawing,

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Gegenstands in Form eines Schutzhandschuhs;

Fig.2

eine schematische Ansicht der Sensoreinrichtungen und der Auswerteelektronik des Gegenstands aus Fig. 1.

• Fig. 1 zeigt einen Schutzhandschuh 10, auf dessen Rückseite 11 die Außenhülle teilweise aufgeschnitten ist und den Blick freigibt auf eine in
• Fig. 2 näher dargestellte Platine 12 sowie beidseitig der Patine 12 jeweils einen Vibrationsmotor 13, 14. In die Stulpe des Handschuhs, deren Rückseite ebenfalls teilweise aufgeschnitten gezeigt ist, ist eine Batterieeinheit 15 sowie ein Temperatorsensor 16 integriert, der die Hauttemperatur des Trägers des Handschuhs misst. Er dient gleichzeitig als Referenzsensor für einen als Thermokoppler 17 ausgebildeten weiteren Temperatursensor, der sich über die Platine 12 und einen großen Teil des Handschuhrückens erstreckt und dessen Aufgabe darin besteht, die Umgebungstemperatur des Handschuhs zu messen. Die Batterieeinheit 15 und der Temperatursensor 16 sind über hier nicht dargestellte, ebenfalls zwischen zwei Schichten des Schutzhandschuhs 10 verlaufende Leitungen mit der Platine 12 verbunden.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an article in the form of a protective glove;

Fig.2

a schematic view of the sensor devices and the evaluation of the article from Fig. 1 ,

• Fig. 1 shows a protective glove 10, on the back 11, the outer shell is partially cut open and the view releases on a in
• Fig. 2 In the cuff of the glove, whose back is also shown partially cut, a battery unit 15 and a temperature sensor 16 is integrated, which measures the skin temperature of the wearer of the glove. It also serves as a reference sensor for a thermocouple 17 formed as another temperature sensor, which extends over the board 12 and a large part of the glove back and whose job is to measure the ambient temperature of the glove. The battery unit 15 and the temperature sensor 16 are connected via not shown here, also extending between two layers of the protective glove 10 lines with the board 12.

As Fig. 2 shows, a central evaluation and transmission unit 18 is disposed on the board 12, in which also a receiving unit for radio signals is integrated. At the four corners of the board 12 each have an acceleration sensor 19 is arranged. Next is an amplifier 20 for the thermocouple 17 and a drive unit 21 for the vibration motors 13, 14 are provided. On the opposite side, an antenna 22, a barometer 23, a battery connection 24 and a connection unit 25, to which, for example, the reference temperature sensor 16 can be connected, are provided. The evaluation and sensor unit may preferably have a ZigBee module. Further, in the glove 10, not shown here, a satellite receiver or a heart rate monitor may be integrated. The transmitting unit 18 and the antenna 22 may preferably be equipped with amplifiers to achieve a long range.

The temperature sensors 16 and 17 allow monitoring of the body temperature and the ambient temperature. The acceleration sensors 17 can be used for gesture recognition as well as for detecting unconsciousness of the wearer. The barometer 23 is used together with a satellite receiver to determine the position of the wearer of the glove 10. About the vibration motors 13 and 14, the wearers of the glove 10 alarm situations can be reported.

Claims (17)

On the body to be worn article, in particular garment, with a sensor device (16, 17, 19, 23), with the at least one physical and / or chemical and / or physiological property of the article (10) and the person supporting the environment Person is detectable, and with an evaluation (18), which converts the sensor signals into radio signals. An article according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one transmitting device for the radio signals. An article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a receiving device for radio signals carried by the body of other persons objects (10) and / or a central office. An article according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that radio signals received by the transmitting device from objects carried by other persons can be transmitted. Article according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sensor device (16, 17, 19, 23) at least one temperature sensor (16, 17). An article according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor (16) measuring the surface temperature of the body of the person. An article according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor (17), which is preferably formed as a thermocouple, with which the ambient temperature of the person is measurable. Article according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sensor device (16, 17, 19, 23) has at least one acceleration sensor (19). Article according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a locating system. Article according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the sensor device (16, 17, 19, 23) has a barometer (23) and / or an altimeter. Article according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises an acoustic, optical and / or haptic signal and / or display device (13, 14). An article according to claim 11, characterized in that the signal and / or display device has at least one vibration motor (13, 14). Article according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is a protective glove (10). An article according to claim 13, characterized in that in the back (11) of the protective glove (10) a temperature sensor (16) for detecting the temperature of the skin, a Temperature sensor (17) for detecting the ambient temperature, at least one acceleration sensor (19) and the evaluation electronics (18) are integrated. Article according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the protective glove has chemical sensors and / or vital sensors. Article according to claim 13 to 15, characterized in that in the protective glove (10) has a transmitting and receiving device is integrated. Communication network between a plurality of objects (10) carried by different persons according to one of Claims 1 to 18 and at least one control center, characterized in that it is designed as an ad hoc radio network via which the data of the sensor devices (16, 17, 19 , 23) of the objects (10) and / or a central office are transferable.

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