FI100138B - Device for observing the environment - Google Patents

Description

, 100138

ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATION

The object of the invention is an arrangement for detecting changes and conditions in the environment, such as, for example, humidity, temperature, mechanical stress, etc., e.g. moisture, for example in structures and in the diapers of children and chroniclers. Other applications include e.g. exceeding or falling below temperature limits, movement in structures, e.g. due to fatigue of materials.

10 In practice, there are often situations where it is advantageous to note changes in the environment. Examples of such situations are e.g.

- Detection of moisture accumulating in building structures. Accumulation of moisture in building structures can lead to damage to the structures as a result of rusting or decay. Moisture can also lead to mold growth, causing serious health problems.

Moisture damage to buildings has been found to be very common. Moisture damage occurs in up to 55-90% of residential buildings. Visible mold growth occurs in about a third of houses built after 1950. Mold fungal spores have been found to be highly allergenic. Various studies have estimated that up to 50% of asthmatics are allergic to mold. Mold spores also increase the susceptibility of exposed individuals to viral and bacterial respiratory diseases.

25 - Identifying the need to replace chroniclers and children's diapers. Changing diapers used by chroniclers and children employs nursing staff considerably.

If the wetting of the diapers could be easily detected, they would not need to be replaced unnecessarily and, on the other hand, the need for replacement could easily be met. This would easily improve the quality of care while reducing labor and costs.

Several solutions have been developed for detecting the moisture of diapers and indicating the need for replacement, which require e.g. wiring or installing the device on clothing near the diaper or bed. These solutions are difficult in practice. These 100138 2 solutions are described e.g. in references: US 5,392,032, US 5,291,181, and US 4,539,559.

- The movement of buildings sometimes leads to the rupture of critical structures and this in turn can lead to serious consequences or a significant increase in repair costs if the ruptures are not detected in good time.

- Exceeding or falling below the temperature limits, eg when transporting goods, may lead to damage to the goods. It must be possible to establish a posteriori whether the prescribed limits have been exceeded during transport.

With the arrangement according to the invention, it is possible to detect changes in the environment and to solve problems such as those described above.

15

The arrangement according to the invention is characterized by what is apparent from the characterizing parts of the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which 20 - Figure 1 shows an arrangement according to the invention with a sensor means and a detection device - Figure 2 shows different implementation options of the sensor means - Figure 3 shows a connection of a possible implementation of the detection device - Figure 4 shows the operation sequence and detection signals in a different case - Figure 5 shows an arrangement according to the invention for monitoring the humidity of a bed or diaper of a person, such as a patient or a child, by connecting the detection device to a central control room.

Figure 1 shows the main parts of an arrangement according to the invention: TC is an an-30 safety means, which may be a resonant circuit formed of capacitance and inductance, which oscillates at its characteristic frequency fi. The characteristic frequency fi is known from the formula fi = 1 ^ 2WW’j The DU is, for example, a hand-held detection device with operating control means OC, which may be, for example, a push button, in addition, the DU has, for example, indicating means, e.g.

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100138 3 indicator and VSI is a visual indicator means, such as an indicator light (lamp, light emitting diode, liquid crystal display, etc.). Naturally, the detection device can be wired or wirelessly connected to , NMT) and the like.

Figure 2 shows some implementation options of the sensor means TC. In the presented embodiments, the TC may include a resonant circuit consisting of a coil L and a capacitor C. These components, L and C, can be implemented e.g. with the same technology as the sensor components of the burglar alarms currently in use.

Such solutions, as well as solutions related to the implementation of detection devices, have been described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,137. These solutions can be applied in the arrangements according to the present invention.

The sensor circuit may have one or more sensing means SE. For example, in Fig. 2b, SE is a thin metal film that short-circuits several turns of the coil L. If the foil SE ruptures or, for example, is gradually displaced by an electrochemical process, the inductance of L increases and the resonant frequency of the circuit decreases.

* In Fig. 2c, the SE is placed at the second electrode of the capacitor, in this case the rupture of the SE or the transition due to the electrochemical process causes a decrease in the capacitance C and an increase in the resonant frequency. SE can also cut off the coil L of the sensor circuit. In this case, of course, the circuit has no resonant frequency.

Figure 3 shows a possible connection of the DU's detection electronics. The figure shows only a part of the electronics contained in the DU. For example, power supplies, display components, audio signal components, and any components related to external CPUs are not shown. The EDC is a coil to which the pulse generator PG, controlled by the GATE signal, supplies a current pulse-30 sin via the amplifier EA. The rapid rising edge of the current pulse evokes the oscillation of the sensor circuits TC (not shown in Fig. 3) in its vicinity or in its characteristic frequency or frequencies.

This oscillation induces an EDC signal which is connected via a capacitor C to a preamplifier PA and a bandpass amplifier BPA. After the BPA, 35 is a peak detector that is reset during the pulse to control the GATE signal. Vibration is detected by the comparator COMP. If the amplified signal exceeds the reference level VREF, a detection signal DTS is sent. The figure shows only one possible implementation option. The scope of the invention also includes other possible embodiments in which, for example, the VREF can be adjusted automatically. The EDC may also be a resonant circuit, the load state of which is examined by the electronics connected to it, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,137.

The DU may identify the TC signal based on its eigenfrequency, or the DU may include means for calculating the frequency spectrum of the signal emitted by the TC, for example, by Fourier transform or some other spectral analytical method such as autoregressive algorithms or wavelet transforms.

The DU may also include memory means for storing the received signal and / or information derived therefrom, for example for later clarification. In this case, adding to the DU means which also store the identification of the observation site, for example wirelessly, using at least the TIRIS equipment manufactured by Texas Instruments (USA) or some other wired or wireless technology.

* Figures 4a and 4b show an operation sequence 20 (detection sequence) in connection with Figure 3. During the GATE signal, a current pulse is sent to the coil EDC. This pulse is represented by the ICOIL axis. The resulting signal is represented by the SIGNAL axis and the signal detection time after the pulse is DTIME. The operation is illustrated by an example case where the TC is placed in a jacket, for example. When the sheath is dry, the TC oscillates with its characteristic for a long time because the goodness value (Q value) of the circuit is good. In this case, a strong signal is detected during the DTIME detection period. As the sheath wets, the resonant circuit of the TC is loaded because the urine conducts electricity well and the quality factor (Q value) of the resonant circuit of the TC becomes very small. In this case, the oscillation switches off quickly already during the GATE signal and no significant signal is detected during the detection time DTIME. In this way, the need for a diaper change can be easily identified with the DU.

Fig. 5 schematically shows an arrangement according to the invention, in which the DU is attached to, for example, a bed or a pram PB, the energy exchange means EDC of the DU, which may be a guide loop, may be placed under or inside the mattress MT to improve sensitivity. TC, which is not drawn in the figure, is placed

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100138 5 tu, for example, in the diaper or clothes of a person lying in bed. The DU is connected to the central monitoring unit COU via a signal connection STM. The STM can be a wireless or wired connection. The STM may contain e.g. telephone, radio, ultrasound, light (infrared) or other conceivable means of communication. The COU may be connected to more than one DUr. In this case, each DU may be provided with means for transmitting identification information, whereby the COU is able to identify the DU transmitting the information. The COU may also include tools for presenting and monitoring other variables. Such are e.g. blood pressure, ECG or P movements, which are detected e.g. so that the mattress M has means (such as a piezoelectric material 10) for converting the movements into an electrical signal. The Central Supervisory Authority (CEO) here generally refers to the entity related to supervision. It thus comprises possibly separate display devices, central processing units and their control devices. In addition, a central control unit (COU) may consist of several hierarchical units that form a wider network. Such a network can function, for example, so that the first alarm is performed in a local unit, which may be ward-specific in a hospital, for example, but if the alarm is not responded to within a predetermined time, for example.

20 One application example is demonstrating the need to change a baby's diaper. The DU can be placed in a baby bed or in connection with a pram. When it detects the need for replacement by means of the TC in the jacket, the DU sends a signal to the COU, for example by radio, which in turn informs the parents with an audible signal. Ic. In this case, both the DU and the COU can be battery-operated, making their transfer to different locations effortless and safe to use. The DU can perform its detection sequence either if desired or, to save battery power, every 10 minutes. The DU may also include means for detecting the baby's voice, movement, or, for example, the arrival of outsiders in the vicinity of the baby. The DU can also send an alarm signal in these cases. In this operation, the structure of the TC can be simple, because the good electrical conductivity of the urine greatly degrades the Q value of the resonant circuit in the TC.

Another application example is the replacement of patient diapers. In this case, the DU may be annual and connected to the central monitoring unit COU, to which other monitoring information may be sent. This type of operation is illustrated in Figure 5. Another alternative is for the caregiver to have a portable DU with which to determine the need for a diaper change on a patient-by-patient basis. Because the investigation can be done completely without touching the patient, a lot of time and effort is saved from the caregiver. In addition to cost savings, the end result is an improved level of care. TC may be similar to the previous example.

When applied to the humidity control of buildings, a TC is placed, which can be tape-shaped with an adhesive surface. Such TC tape can then be applied to structures where moisture damage is most likely to occur, such as under a bathroom floor, next to underfloor heating piping, and to kitchen structures. In the TC, it is then advantageous to use an element SE which, by means of an electrochemical process, changes some property of the TC, such as, for example, the resonant frequency or the Q value. In this case, the TC only reacts permanently to the effects of long-term humidity. Sensitivity can be adjusted by the quality and amount of metals contained in the SE. For example, the TC reacts to a short-term increase in humidity by a decrease in the Q value of the resonant circuit it contains.

Because TC can be implemented inexpensively using thin metal foils, it can be made disposable. The TC can be placed in the sheath so that it does not come into contact with the skin. A moisture-absorbent material can be placed on top of the TC coil, which improves operational reliability. Tape tape with a number of TC circuits can be used for humidity control in buildings. In these circuits, SE is implemented so that it is more electrochemically active than the metal used in the implementation of coil L. Then, under the influence of moisture, the SE gradually coats the resonant frequency of L and TC changes. The advantage of such a detector is that only prolonged exposure to moisture leads to a change in the state of the circuit TC. To increase moisture sensitivity, salts of TC materials can be dissolved to improve moisture-induced conductivity. With such an arrangement, leaks in, for example, water supply or underfloor heating pipelines can be located.

The SE can also be a component made of bimetal or memory metal, which changes its shape under the influence of temperature and at the same time changes the circuit TC either temporarily or permanently.

Il 100138 7 SE can also be from an alloy that melts at the desired temperature. Such a metal is used e.g. in automatic fire extinguishing systems.

The TC can detect breakage or movement of the structures, for example, so that the TC is taped to the joint or stress point of the structures. In this case, the movement of the structure breaks the circuit of the TC. The rupture of TC can be promoted e.g. with spring structures which, under sufficient load, trip and open the circuit TC.

In general, the invention relates to a system in which a detection device DU transmits energy to a sensor means TC which returns some of the energy received to the DU and the characteristics of the returned energy, such as frequency, amplitude, phase and transmission duration, are affected by the state of the TC environment.

Furthermore, the invention can be used to help a visually impaired person find necessary objects, such as a wallet, actuator controls, etc., in their environment.

In this case, the TC is attached to the object and the visually impaired can use the DU to locate the object, for example, from a table or cabinet. By adjusting the sensitivity of the DU, the positioning accuracy can be improved when approaching an object. Different objects may * have a characteristic TC with its own resonant frequency. In this case, the search can be performed 20 menus. Furthermore, the invention can be used to assist pieces mounted under panels or other surfaces, for example electrical installation boards.

Only some embodiments of the arrangement according to the invention have been described above.

. Several other embodiments may be considered within the scope of the inventive idea set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

100138 An arrangement for detecting objects, the state of the environment and changes therein, including one or more sensor means (TC), one or more s detection units (DU), the detection unit (DU) including means for transmitting energy and the sensor means (TC) for receiving energy transmitted by the detection unit (DU). and means for transmitting energy, characterized in that the sensor means (TC) is at least partially in electrical, such as galvanic, capacitive or inductive communication with the sensing environment io, and the sensing unit (DU) includes means for receiving some or some of the received energy, e.g. to detect time dependence. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy transmitted by the sensor means (TC) is influenced by one or more physical or chemical quantities of the environment to be detected. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, in particular for detecting moisture, for example in buildings or casings, characterized in that the sensor means TC are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the humidifying area. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor means (TC) is at least partially implemented using a metal conductor. such as aluminum foil on a substrate that is substantially electrically non-conductive, such as plastic or paper. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor means (TC) comprises a moisture-absorbing material. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection unit (DU), which can be, for example, portable, comprises control means (OC), such as a push switch, by means of which the detection unit (DU) is transmitted energy, such as electromagnetic radiation or field, and in addition, the detecting unit (DU) includes signaling means (SI, VI), such as an indicator light or a buzzer, indicating to the user li 100138 information obtained from the energy transmitted by the sensor means (TC) about the state of the sensor means environment, such as humidity, temperature, exceeding temperature limits, movement of structures, deformations or mechanical stress, or usually only the distance between the data sensor means (TC) and the detection unit (DU). Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection unit (DU) comprises means for analyzing the signal transmitted by the received sensor means (TC), such as, for example, a comparator or a signal processor. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection unit (DU) comprises means for collecting and storing the identification information of the detection location. 15 Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection unit (DU) is a data transmission connection (STM), wired, wireless or a combination thereof, in connection with a central control unit (COU). 20 An arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the central control unit (COU) also includes means for safety-related information on other variables, such as, for example, temperature, ECG, movement, blood pressure. to process and display. 25 An arrangement according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the detection unit (DU) comprises means for transmitting identification information. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is used for detecting wetting of the diaper, for example in connection with medical or pediatric care. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is used for detecting changes in structures, such as deformations, moisture accumulation, temperature changes and shocks and vibrations. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it is used for locating objects, i.e. π 100138