ES2542316B1 - Autonomous, wireless system for fall prevention and detection, and monitoring - Google Patents

Abstract

An autonomous, wireless and low-cost system specifically designed to detect falls of people, help prevent them and monitor a change of activity of the person based on behavioral patterns in order to protect and detect early possible cognitive impairment and avoid or delay possible future emergency situations. All functions are integrated in the same device. All functions are integrated in the same device. The system includes wireless means for sending notices and alarms to terminals dedicated to a luminous acoustic beacon and / or mobile phones, tablets or PCs. Likewise, the system, together with other external devices, allows anomalous situations to be detected, such as the abandonment of the house, the opening of doors and windows that pose dangers, or warnings about fires.

Description

Object of the invention

The invention consists of an autonomous, wireless and low-cost system for prevention and detection of falls, and monitoring of people, based on behavior patterns, with all the functions integrated in the same device. Due to the characteristics of the system, it can also be used to send alarms to important situations such as

abandonment of housing by a person with Alzheimer's, opening doors and windows that miss some danger or fire warnings. He

System can detect a fall that occurs at a given time, on the other hand it can help prevent a fall by executing different actions and finally the System also allows monitoring

changes in behavior patterns (for example, the user has stopped rising at the usual time or in the mud the day has not turned on the light) with the proleger and detect early detection of a possible delay

cognitive and avoid or delay possible emergency situations in a

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Older people are living more and more years, bringing the risk of

Falling and presenting irreparable damage also increases especially in the most fragile or health problems. Sometimes a fall is

I could have avoided it if the person when getting out of bed had

the light switch was found in time, or if it could have been notified

Family member sleeping in the next room. Falls and their consequences can lead to a decrease in the quality of life of the

person even his death with the impact that this means for both families and caregivers.

With this system, it is preferable on the one hand to protect people, mainly the elderly and people with disabilities, but they also

develops thinking of family members and caregivers who suffer great physical and emotional wear and tear to be constantly aware of the sick person.

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The prevention of wines and the care of the elderly and also people with reduced mobility is the main objective of the invention. Hence, the same System includes all three functionalities; detection, prevention and monitoring (care) in the same device so that it can be adapted to the needs of each person and at any time. It is possible that a person at night needs care so that in case of getting out of bed a light comes on and that during the day they have only the fall detection function activated.

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The user will not have to carry any device on top since the System acts transparently for people, transferring to the environment the responsibility for the care and prevention of possible falls.

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Its ease of installation and wireless communication with both dedicated devices and standard devices (mobile devices, computers, tablets) makes it possible for the System to be installed in any environment and alarms can reach any person capable of being a recipient (a family, caregiver, telecare company, etc).

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The operating mode of the System (detection, prevention or care) can be changed easily and remotely, which means that the device itself can be managed by the user or caregiver without the need for external agents.

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Technical sector

The invention belongs to the electronics and telecommunications sector

State of the art

At present and as a reference to the state of the art, it should be mentioned that the applicant has knowledge of some similar elements of the

that are mentioned here but that most of them are centered

mainly in the detection of falls. In addition, these systems carry complex management elements, which sometimes means that they become high-cost solutions that are difficult to install.

10 Patent documents US8115641, GB-A-2323196 US 5905436 A and WO 1995032567 Al propose procedures for detecting falls. None of them integrates the possibility of detecting, preventing and protecting

fallen people or possible risks that cause them in a single

15 autonomous device, easy to install and configurable to the needs of the

user at all times. We must bear in mind that in the day to day

people may suffer changes in their abilities and because of that in

many occasions are forced to change and look for a new technology

That suits your needs. The System presented here has 20 as one of its main objectives the adaptability to the capabilities of the

user without the need for changes in installation and technology.

The inventor has no knowledge to date of the existence of a System similar to the object of the present invention

Advantages.

The advantages of this invention are apparent from the present specification, although the most outstanding advantages are cited below with merely character

enunciative and not limiting; Three functionalities in a single device; fall detection, prevention so that no falls occur and monitoring of

A person's behavior changes to help prevent possible emergency situations. Designed for people and thinking about the changes in abilities that occur throughout life. The professional user I can change the mode of

operation without the need for external configurations, being able to

adapt the functionality of the System to the real needs of the

people at the moment they need it. The change in the mode of

operation is done remotely through a wireless push button or a gateway with wireless IP I communication.

Low level of intrusion into the user's life

Developed with standard wireless technology Portable system, which allows use by the same person but in different environments. Reliability in a wide range of situations

The user does not have to carry any device with him.

Pattern storage is not necessary. It works the same way regardless of the user.

Autonomous system (battery operated) and wireless. Ease of

installation. It does not depend on any home automation system or elements management complexes which helps convert it into a low System cost. It allows to install it in the built environment without the need for works.

Possibility of connecting to any System of warning to caregivers of the

market.

Possibility of connection with redundant elements such as push buttons

alarm manuals, light actuators, smoke sensors,

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flood, etc.

The same System can be installed in different types of environments;

housing, hospitals, nursing homes, public dances

accessible, etc.

Auditory and luminous feedback that the alarm has been transmitted to

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notify both deaf and blind people. This could be

configurable because not in all cases it will be necessary.

In case of an emergency situation, it may be possible

establish communication with the user from the checkpoint

to confirm that your alarm has been received.

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The System itself can act as a repeater without the need for

installation of additional elements to expand the range.

Description of the invention

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The present invention relates to an autonomous system, of low cost and

Wireless prevention and detection of emergency situations

Mainly hot. The System also allows you to monitor changes in the

behavioral patterns in order to protect and detect

early possible cognitive impairment and thus avoid or delay possible

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emergency situations in the future.

The System is composed of two motion sensors, a module of

control with wireless communication, LED indicators, audible warning and

battery or connection to an external power supply. All the

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elements are integrated in the same unit, which allows its easy

installation. Motion sensors, LEDs and other additional elements

as a light and communication module they will be connected to the control module, which is the element that contains all the intelligence of the System.

The System has several configuration modes depending on the needs of each user; fall, activity and care, although they can be added more easily as new needs are detected.

In the "fall" mode the System only detects an emergency situation caused by a fall. This configuration mode is intended for both public and private bathrooms, residential rooms, homes, hotels, etc.

In this mode of operation, initially the System is in a state of rest. When a user enters the cover canvas where the System is installed, the sensors detect activity and put the system into operation.

System. From this moment a few seconds are timed and a

notice. During the duration of the notice if there had been a

false alarm or if movement is detected in the upper sensor, the alarm will

You can cancel. During the time of the warning, if no movement is detected in the top pir, an emergency warning will be generated through the control module. The System, for its part, will start the luminous acoustic warning as feedback for the user.

It is also possible that the device through the control module generates a light-up event when it initially detects activity. This option is especially useful as an energy saving system in bathrooms

public,

Being a system where detection is done with sensors

movement, there may be times when a fall without movement is

hard to detect. For these cases it will be possible to connect the System to a wireless input and output control module (input / output sensor)

To an environment. In this way if at a certain time once the

System has detected activity in the environment, stops detecting activity and the input / output sensor has not detected that the person has left the environment, an alarm will be sent as a possible fall without activity. The "activity" configuration mode is related to prevention for

prevent falls. The System sends an alarm or a

action (for example, to turn on a light) in case it detects any activity on the part of the user in the environment where it was installed, without the need for a fall This configuration mode is intended for

residences and homes with a character of prevention and care. In this mode of operation the fall detection will also be active.

In this mode of activity the position of the device with respect to the user is important so that the sensors do not generate false alarms.

will use mainly at night when the user is lying down. Sometimes a person can suffer a fall because when he wakes up at night he is disoriented. In this case the upper sensor always

is active, if this sensor detects activity or movement by the

user, activate the lower sensor. Once both assets, both detect

activity at the same time and the control module will send an alarm or

will send the event for which it has been configured as it will be considered

that the person has stood up These events can be to turn on a

light, open a door, raise a blind, or any other device that helps the user not to have a fall.

Finally, we will call the monitoring option the "care ~ mode"

specially designed for residences, homes and hospitals. The control module integrated in the System allows collecting any information related to the sensors and storing it in a plain text file. He

file contains data related to the moment at which a sensor is activated or

another is activated or both are activated. The time they are active. These dates

They can be used to find out if a person enters the bathroom, what time it enters and how long it is. Thanks to this information you can know if the person

You are undergoing some kind of change in your behavior that may indicate some abnormality in your health. The plain text file can be interpreted through simple software and in what cases you can

give one information or another depending on what it has been configured for.

This software In this mode of operation, the detection of broths will also be active and only alamna will be emitted if it occurs.

In the case that alarms are generated in any of the three modes of

operation, these can be sent to a control unit

wireless, or a beacon of acoustic / luminous signaling, to a System of

warning to caregivers or a mobile terminal O pe through an interface

IP / wireless communication.

Thanks to the wireless control module integrated in the System, it can act as a signal repeater for other Systems installed within its scope in order to deliver the alarm to the receiving device. The alamna will arrive identifying the System that sent it. The main objective of this feature is to expand the scope without the need for additional elements such as repeaters · and thus reduce the costs of

installation.

Description of the drawings

For the best understanding of the System we are doing and clarification of the characteristics of the invention, the document of some

designs consisting of 11 figures in which; Figure 1 shows an outline of the complete System, where you can

Observe the elements that compose it.

Figure 2 shows a scheme of the System with the additional elements that may be integrated in case of user needs or

environment needs as required.

Figure number 3 shows a diagram of the control module installed inside the System Figure number 4 shows the way in which the sensor must be partially covered so that the areas of influence do not overlap.

Figure number 5 shows the different devices with which the System

can communicate both to send information such as an alarm

as to receive information to act in a certain way.

Figure number 6 shows how to install the System. Figure number 7 shows System coverage area

Figure number 8 shows the repeater function of the System

Figure number 9 shows the mode of transmission of the information in the

"careful" mode. Sending the information of the sensors to a computer for further processing.

Figure number 10 shows an example of installation in a bathroom.

Figure number 11 shows an example of installation in a room.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, and according to the numbering adopted, an example of a preferred embodiment of the autonomous, wireless and low-cost system that integrates prevention, fall detection and monitoring of the person through behavior patterns in the same device. Which includes parts and elements that are indicated and described below.

Thus, as can be seen in these figures, the System (1) in question essentially comprises motion sensors (2) (3) that are responsible for detecting or not activity, indication LEDs (4) (5) that show at all times that sensor is capturing activity "a battery

(6) for autonomous use of the system without the need for cable installation, a control module (7) where all the intelligence of the System is located.

Both the sensors, as the LEDs and the battery are connected to this module

of control. For cases in which a higher consumption of the System is expected because it is going to be used in environments with a lot of activity, it will be possible to feed instead of a battery, with an external power supply through the connector located in the lower area of the system ( 8).

Optionally, for cases where, as required by the user and / or the environment, it will be possible to install (1) elements in the System

additional as; a buzzer (9) to notify anyone, but

mainly a blind person after the emergency situation that his alanna has been transmitted correctly, a high intensity beacon (11)

at the top of the System (1) to notify anyone, but

mainly to a deaf person that their alarm has been transmitted correctly. and a communication module (10) that allows two-way communication between the person who has suffered the emergency and a checkpoint. This communication will be wireless.

These three elements; buzzer (9), beacon (11) and communication module

(10) may receive information from other emergencies that occur in the

environment like a fire and let the person know at that time

found in the area of influence of the System (1).

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For a correct capture by the sensors (2) and (3) And so that

the vertical transmission beams overlap (18) it is necessary to cover part

sensor (12)

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The control module (7) installed inside the System (1) will be the

responsible for collecting the information that the sensors (2) and (4) and process the

information according to the operating mode you have stored.

For the treatment of this information and wireless communication, the

control module (7) contains a microprocessor (13) that also allows

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Wireless communication at 868Mhz frequency. This microprocessor

(13) will also be responsible for exercising the option of acting as

repeater that the System (1) offers.

The module also has two buttons, one link (17) and one delete

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(14). These buttons (17) and (18) will be used to link the System (1) with

elements such as a button (26) that will be used to make changes in shape

remote in the operating mode of the System (1) or to transmit a

Alarm manually by the user. For cases where

it requires detecting broths without activity the installation of a

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input sensor I output (27) that sends information to the System (1) that the

person has not left the environment. This sensor will be linked to the System (1) at

through the link button (17).

The control module (7) also contains a potential free relay (16) for

activate wired outputs to additional elements such as beacons

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signaling or connection to warning systems to caregivers with tickets

auxiliary

Finally, the control module (7) also has a connection module (15) where, for example, the power supply (6) and (8) or the relay (16) are connected.

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The installation mode of the System (1) is superficial (32) to the wall and the height (19) will depend on the environment and the use you want to use. It is important to locate it in an area where the coverage area (20) is maximum.

!OR

Once the System (1) has detected a possible emergency situation, the alarms can be sent a light beacon I (28), to a switchboard with display (25) or using an 868Mhz wireless communication gateway to IP (24 ) the alarm can be sent from the System (1) to a mobile terminal, tablet or pe.

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For careful operation mode the information will be sent from the System (1) to the gateway (24) wirelessly 868Mhz (29). The gateway will convert this information to IP and dump the data to a plain text file. The software installed on the computer (31) will collect this information and interpret it according to the previously established requirements.

Claims (14)

1.-Autonomous, wireless system, for prevention and detection of falls, and monitoring of people, based on behavior patterns, characterized in that the three functionalities (detection, prevention and monitoring) provided by the system (1) are integrated in a same device consisting of motion sensors (2, 3), signaling means (4, 5), battery (6) or external power supply, and a control module (7) that manages the information of the sensors and the interprets according to the configuration mode for which it has been programmed.  2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of signaling (4, 5) consist essentially of LEDs or some type of  Acoustic warning.  3. System according to claim 1 characterized in that it allows the connection with redundant elements such as a buzzer (9), a high intensity beacon (11) at the top of the system (1), and a module Two-way wireless communication (10) with a checkpoint that allows the user to be given feedback that their alarm has been transmitted correctly, send deaf or blind people notices of others  emergencies and notify other people present in the area of influence of the system, said redundant buzzer elements being also (9), high intensity beacon (11) and bidirectional communication module (10)  trained to receive information from other emergencies that occur in the monitored area, such as a fire, and notify the person currently in the system's area of influence (1). 4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the control module (7) includes two buttons, one to link (17) and one to erase (14), intended to link the system (1) with elements such as a push button (26) intended to make changes remotely in the operating mode of the system (1), or to transmit an alarm manually by the user, and in which the control module (7) also includes a microprocessor ( 13) that in addition to allowing wireless communication at a determined frequency, it is capable of executing a repeater action provided by the system (1). 5. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes means for sending notices related to detected emergency situations, such as an alarm, which, depending on the location of the system, allow them to be used as caretaker of the person, so that installed in the vicinity of a door, such as the door of the street of a house, allow the sending of an alarm to indicate that the person has left. 6. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes autonomous power supply means, such as a long-lasting battery (6), which allows its easy portability. 7. System according to claim one, characterized in that the communication mode for sending alarms and / or any other information to both dedicated devices and mobile terminals or pes, is always wireless. 8. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the devices involved in the detection of the emergency situation are located in a monitoring control zone and are external to the person controlled. 9. System according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that it includes means of communication with a wireless communication gateway and of IP (24) to send the information to mobile terminals, tablets, or a pe. 10. System according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises an extra sensor (27), which links to the system through a link button (17), for the detection of a fall without activity, for the sending information regarding whether the person has not left the environment of  monitoring 11. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said control module (7) also contains a potential-free relay (16) provided for activate wired outputs to additional elements such as signaling beacons, or for connection to warning systems to caregivers with inputs  auxiliary 12. System according to claim 1, characterized in that said sensors of movement (2, 3) managed by the control module (7), are arranged so that they have a reduced field of vision up to half of their capacity, so that the upper sensor (2) is hidden in the lower half of your field of vision and the lower sensor (3) hides the upper half of your field of vision, in order to avoid unwanted mixtures of the signals generated by both sensors and allow discrimination correct of the origin of the generated signal. 13.-A method for prevention and detection of falls, and monitoring of people, based on behavioral patterns, implemented through the wireless autonomous system, defined in claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises: . select a monitoring mode, such as ucaid mode for detection of an emergency situation caused by the person's fall controlled, or "activity" mode to prevent falls, or "careful" mode to detect changes in the behavior mode of people, for the purpose of control in residences, homes and hospitals; from so that: when the selection is in "outbound" mode: detect activity in the coverage area using the sensors of the system and determine system activation; post a notice period, of a few seconds of duration, and issue a warning signal; if a false alarm is determined during the warning period or the sensor in the upper position detects movement, cancel alarm; otherwise, if during the time period of notice no activity is detected in the system sensor located in the upper position, generate emergency warning through the control module and start the acoustic / luminous warning as feedback for the user ; or generate, through the control module, an ignition event of lights when activity is initially detected, with utility specific in applications such as energy saving system in public toilets; when the selection is in "activity ~" mode: generate and send an alarm, or motivate a preset action (lights on) after detecting user activity in the controlled area without the need for a fall. for which purpose the upper positioning sensor is always active and causes the lower sensor to be activated if activity or movement is detected, the control module acting once both sensors are

assets to send an alarm or launch another event such as

turning on a light, opening a door, raising a blind or

any other device;

when the selection is in "careful" mode,

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collect any information through the control module

related to the sensors and store it in a flat text file

for the purpose of storing data such as the activation time of

a sensor either or both, how long they are active, or

any other data related to the activity of the person, to

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effects of control of the movements of the person and of any

possible change in behavior that could be related

with your habits or even with abnormalities in your health, being able to

Plain text be analyzed and interpreted through software

specific.

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14. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that in case

alarms are generated in one or more of the operating modes of

"fall", "activity" or "care", such alarms are sent in a way

alternative or simultaneous, to one or more devices between a switchboard of

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wireless control, a beacon "acoustic / luminous lalization, a system

any warning to caregivers, or using a communication gateway

Wireless to IP (24) the alarm can be sent from the System (1) to a

mobile terminal, tablet or pe.

one.