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
  • G08B21/04—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons
  • G08B21/0407—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons based on behaviour analysis
  • G08B21/043—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons based on behaviour analysis detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• • 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
  • G08B21/04—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons
  • G08B21/0438—Sensor means for detecting
  • G08B21/0446—Sensor means for detecting worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait

Definitions

• an improved fall detection system that eliminates a predetermined pre-alarm period before the system goes into a full alarm mode.
• an improved fall detection system that is configured to detect a type of a tall event and activate an alarm based on the type of the fall event.
• an improved fall detection system that is configured to detect a type of a tall event and activate an alarm based on the type of the fall event.
• ⁇ 7 system that is configured to detect an orientation of the user relative to a reference plane after the fail event.
• At least one sensor configured to detect acceleration and orientation of a host; at least one indicator device having an alarm mode;
• controller operatively connected to the at least one sensor and the at least one indicator device, the controller programmed or configured to:
• Clause 3 The fall detection system of clause 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined length of time after the acceleration event is in the range of about 0 seconds to about 5 seconds.
• Clause 5 The fall detection system of any of clauses 1-4, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of the following: a 3-axis accelerometer, a 6-axis accelerometer, an omnidirectional magnetometer, or any combination thereof.
• Clause 12 The fall detection system of any of clauses 1-1 1 , further comprising a reset mechanism for turning off the at least one indicator after activation.
• SCBA self-contained breathing apparatus
• a tank mounted on a rigid frame configured for mounting on a user's back using one or more straps;
• Clause 16 The SCBA of clause 14 or 15, wherein the predetermined length of time after the acceleration event is 0 to 5 seconds.
• FIG.3 is a flow chart of steps for activating an alarm mode of the fall detection system of FIG. 1.
• al l ranges or ratios disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and al l subranges or sub-ratios subsumed therein.
• a stated range or ratio of ' to 10 should be considered to include any and all subranges between (and inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all sub-ranges or sub-ratios beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less, such as but not limited to, 1 to 6. 1 , 3.5 to 7.8, and 5.5 to 10.
• fall event means an unintended change in position of a user from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position and the second position differ in orientation or elevation of the user relative to the ground.
• substantially parallel means a relative angle as between two objects (if extended to theoretical intersection), such as elongated objects and including reference lines, that is from 0° to 5°, or from 0° to 3°, or from 0° to 2°, or from 0° to 1°, or from 0° to 0.5°, or from 0° to 0.25°, or from 0° to 0.1°, inclusive of the recited values.
• substantially perpendicular means a relative angle as between two objects (if extended to theoretical intersection), such as elongated objects and including reference lines, that is from 85° to 95°, or from 87° to 93°, or from 89° to 91°, or from 89.5° to 90.5°, or from 89.9° to 90.1 °, comprisi ve of the recited values.
• the senor 102, controller 104, and indicator device 106 may be received within a housing 108 to define an integrated fall detection system 100.
• the housing 108 may be sealed to prevent water intrusion into an interior of the housing that receives the sensor 102, controller 104, and indicator device 106.
• the housing 108 may be made from a material that is resistant to heat such that functionality of the fall detection system 100 can be maintained even with exposure of the housing 108 to high heat (500 ° F).
• the components of the fall detection system 100 may be provided as separate items configured for interacting together.
• the fall detection system 100 may have a power source 110 for powering various components of the fall detection system 100.
• the power source 110 may be integral with the housing 108 such that a single power source 110 provides power to the sensor 102, the controller 104, and the indicator device 106. In other examples, a plurality of power sources 110 may be provided, with each power source 110 powering at least one of the sensor 102, the controller 104, and the indicator device 106.
• the sensor 102 may be an accelerometer configured for detecting acceleration in three reference axes and rotation about each of the three axes (i.e., a 6-axis accelerometer).
• the sensor 102 may be an omni -directional magnetometer. By measuring a magnitude of static acceleration due to gravity, the sensor 102 can be used to determine an angle at which the fall detection device 100 is tilted relative to the ground. Similarly, by sensing a magnitude of dynamic acceleration, the sensor 102 can be used to determine a direction in which the fall detection device 100 is moving.
• the sensor 102 may be operated continuously, or intermittently, such as in pre-determined active intervals separated by pre-determined inactive intervals. In each embodiment or aspect, the sensor 102 is configured for sensing tor acceleration of the fall detection device 100 having pre-determined characteristics that are indicative of a fall event.
• the data obtained by the sensor 102 is communicated to the controller 104, such as by a wired or wireless connection, for analyzing and determining whether the data contains any of the pre-determined characteristics of a fall event that the sensor 102 is configured to detect.
• the pre-determined characteristics may include free fall, impact, and lack of motion.
• the controller 104 can activate the indicator device 106 to provide an alert that a fall event has occurred.
• the controller 104 includes, or is operable to execute appropriate custom-designed or conventional software to perform and implement the processing steps of the method and system of the present disclosure, thereby forming a specialized and particular computing system.
• the controller 104 may include a variety of discrete computer-readable media components for analyzing information sensed by the sensor 102 and for activating the indicator device 106 when the information contains pre-determined characteristics indicative of a fall event.
• this computer-readable media may include any media that can be accessed by the controller 104, such as volatile media, non-volatile media, removable media, non-removable media, transitory media, non-transitory media, etc.
• a basic input/output system with appropriate computer-based routines assists in transferring information between components within the controller 104 and is normally stored in ROM.
• the RAM portion of the system memory typically contains data and program modules that are immediately accessible to or presently being operated on by the processing unit. e.g., an operating system, application programming interfaces, application programs, program modules, program data, and other instruction-based computer-readable codes.
• the indicator device 106 may be an audio indicator device 106b having at least one speaker and/or a piezo buzzer.
• the at least one speaker and/or a piezo buzzer may be integrated with the housing 108 of the fall detection device 100, and/or on an external device in communication with the fall detection device 1 0.
• the indicator device 106 may be a remote signaling indicator device 106c configured to provide a remote signal to an external device.
• the indicator device 106 can wirelessly send a signal to an external device to indicate that a fall event has occurred.
• the remote signal can be a long-range (900 MHz) or a short-range (2,400 MHz) signal.
• Positioning of at least a portion of the fall detection system 100 on the frame 210 provides several advantages. When worn by the user, the frame 210 is positioned close to the center of gravity of the user, regardless of the user's height and weight. In addition, the position of the frame 210 remains substantially unchanged relative to the user's body. In this manner, readings from the sensor 102 may be used to determine the orientation of the user based on the orientation of the frame 210. Fall Detection System Operation
• an expected orientation of the sensor 102 may be a vertical orientation (i.e., substantially perpendicular to the ground) at a height of approximately 36 inches from the ground, or a horizontal orientation (i.e., substantially parallel to the ground) and vertically offset relative to the ground at approximately 24 inches.
• Orientations of the sensor 102 that are not within these expected orientations (or within a pre-determined range from these expected orientations) may indicate that the user has fallen and may need assistance.
• non-typical orientations of the user include, without limitation, if the user is upside- down or lying on his/her back.
• the fall detection system 100 may use information regarding acceleration that is detected by the sensor 102 and correlate this information to a force experienced by the user. In some examples, the fall detection system 100 may use information regarding a magnitude and duration of acceleration during the acceleration event that is detected by the sensor 102, and correlate this information to a force experienced by the user. Depending on the magnitude of acceleration detected by the sensor 102 (and, optionally, duration of acceleration), the controller 104 can initiate an alarm mode by activating the indicator device 106 if the acceleration magnitude (and, optionally, acceleration duration) exceeds a pre-determined threshold (3 G). For example, a zero acceleration measurement in the vertical axis is indicative of a free fall condition.
• a pre-determined threshold 3 G
• the controller 104 analyzes data from the sensor 102 relating to the orientation of the user before an acceleration event, acceleration magnitude during the fall, acceleration magnitude during impact, final orientation of the user, and movement after the fall to determine whether an alarm should be activated. Table I
• the user in a fall from an elevated position, such as when falling from a roof, the user may be initially in an upright position and end in a non-vertical position after falling.
• the user will experience zero acceleration during free falling, and a large acceleration upon impact.
• the controller 104 can automatically activate the indicator device 106 depending on whether the user is able to move within a pre-determined period of time (0 to 5 seconds) after falling.
• the controller 104 can determine whether this information is indicative of a fall event, such as one of the fall events listed in Table I above, and automatically activate the indicator device 106.
• the controller 104 may activate the indicator device 106 to communicate, via short-range signals, to other users in the vicinity of the fallen user. In this manner, other users can provide assistance to the fallen user.
• the indicator device 106 may provide a visual or audible indication to the user that a fall event has occurred and ask the user to acknowledge whether assistance is needed. For example, the user can turn off the indicator device 106 via the reset mechanism 112 if the user is able to safely move after experiencing the fall event.
• the controller 104 continues to monitor the sensor data for any acceleration value that may exceed the acceleration threshold. If the controller 104 detects that the acceleration data from the sensor 102 exceeds the pre-determined threshold, the controller 104 analyzes sensor data regarding the position of the user after the acceleration event (block 306). The controller 104 also analyzes sensor data regarding movement of the user after the acceleration event (block 308). If movement of the user is detected within a predetermined length of time after the acceleration event, the controller 104 will not activate an alarm mode (block 310). However, if no movement of the user is detected within the predetermined length of time after the acceleration event, the controller 104 activates the alarm mode, wherein the indicator device 106 is activated to indicate that the user has fallen.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Psychiatry (AREA)
• Psychology (AREA)
• Social Psychology (AREA)
• Alarm Systems (AREA)
• Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)

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• 2017
  • 2017-04-14 CN CN201780023403.XA patent/CN109074718A/zh active Pending
  • 2017-04-14 WO PCT/US2017/027586 patent/WO2017180979A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2017-04-14 EP EP17719790.2A patent/EP3443547A1/de active Pending

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