JP3238113B2 - Health management device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a health management device suitable for a solitary elderly person, such as an elderly person living alone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid aging of society and the nuclear family, the number of elderly people living alone is expected to increase sharply. These elderly people are often disabled, and regular medical examinations and nursing care are indispensable. The maintenance of facilities such as medical institutions and nursing homes is gradually progressing, and with the introduction of public nursing care insurance, attention is being focused on home care provided by specialized caregivers and helpers at home and at home. These nursing care systems mainly focus on medical examinations by doctors, nurses, caregivers, helpers, etc., but if there are many elderly people to be targeted or if the number of doctors is absolutely small, such as in a depopulated area, some equipment will be used. Requires a remote health management device.

[0003] A system for performing regular health management at home and periodically updating the results to a medical institution or a management center using a communication line such as a public telephone line, A typical prior art in the technical field of a reporting system is disclosed in
148122. In this prior art, a pedometer is always carried by a person to be measured, and the number of steps is counted, and when the counted number runs out, an emergency notification system is provided. That is, in this prior art, an emergency switch for transmitting an emergency signal to the in-home controller by an emergency operation of the pedometer and a walking number data transmitting means for transmitting the walking number data to the in-home controller are provided. To be able to accurately grasp the safety and health status.

In this prior art, the care receiver, who is the subject, sometimes forgets to carry the pedometer. Alternatively, when such a care receiver has dementia, there is a tendency to remove the pedometer worn on the body. When the cared person does not wear the pedometer, it is impossible to grasp the safety and health of the cared person. Furthermore, in this prior art, only data from a pedometer can be obtained, and it is not possible to know a more detailed movement state of the care receiver, for example, the amount of exercise or the amount of activity.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a health management device capable of grasping in detail the health status of a solitary elderly person or the like.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there are provided (a) a mat-shaped detecting means 7, and (a1) a plurality of detecting elements 9 arranged in a matrix. The first and second electrodes 14 and 15 are disposed between the first and second electrodes 14 and 15, respectively, and have elasticity. The first and second electrodes 14, 1 are compressed and deformed by human gravity.
(A2) a plurality of row electrodes 17 that commonly connect the first electrodes 14 for each row; and (a3) a second electrode. (A4) a first sheet 10 made of an electrically insulating material and covering a lower portion of the detection element 9 and the row electrode 17; (B) scanning the row electrode 17 and the column electrode 18 to respectively position the detecting element 9; and a mat-like detecting means 7 including a second sheet made of a conductive material and covering above the detecting element 9 and the column electrode 18. (C) a level detector that responds to an output of the resistance detector and performs level discrimination at a value of 3 or more, and (d) a level detector that responds to an output of the level detector. And the person on the mat-shaped detecting means 7 Emergency state detecting means for detecting an emergency state, the emergency state detecting means comprising: (d1) a first timer for measuring a first time W1 determined in advance; and (d2) the time measured by the first timer. Every,
A plurality of memories for sequentially storing the outputs of the level discriminating means; and (d3) reading the stored contents of each of the memories and reading the difference between the outputs of the detecting elements at the same read position.
(D4) a second timer for measuring a predetermined second time W2 longer than the first time W1, and (d5) a response to the output of the difference calculation means and the second timer. And an emergency state detecting means for determining that an emergency state has occurred when the state in which the difference to pi is zero continues for a second time W2 or more.

[0007] According to the present invention, the mat-shaped detecting means is installed in a place where a person moves in a house, for example, in a part or the whole of a room for an elderly person living alone. A person gets on the mat detecting means. Therefore, it is not necessary for the person to wear the pedometer or the like described in relation to the above-mentioned prior art. As a result, it is possible to grasp the state in which the person is moving in the house, and to grasp the health state of the person in detail. The mat-shaped detection means may have a single relatively large configuration laid over all places where people in the house can move. In another embodiment of the present invention, it is configured to be relatively small so that it can be laid in each place such as kitchen, toilet, bathroom, entrance, veranda, bedroom, living room, etc. It may be used.
The mat-like detecting means may be flexible or tile-like rigid.

According to the present invention, each detecting element constituting the mat-shaped detecting means derives an electric signal having a value of 3 or more representing the applied pressure, and for example, the resistance value corresponding to the pressure is continuously changed. It is a configuration in which a changing electric signal is converted into a digital value by level discriminating the electric signal by a level discriminating means.

According to the present invention, the plurality of detecting elements 9 arranged in a matrix of the mat-like detecting means 7 are respectively arranged on the upper and lower sides of a plane having an area of the size of a human foot. It has second electrodes 14 and 15 and a pressure-sensitive conductor 13 interposed between the first and second electrodes 14 and 15. These first and second electrodes 14 and 15 are commonly connected to a row electrode 17 for each row and a column electrode 18 for each column. Therefore, the row electrode 17 and the column electrode 18
Can be reduced. As a result, reliability can be increased, and the present invention can be realized at low cost.

Further, according to the present invention, the electric resistance depending on the pressure corresponding to the position of each detecting element 9 is detected by the resistance detecting means, and the electric resistance is discriminated by the level discriminating means at a value of 3 or more. That is, according to the present invention, not only the ON / OFF state of each detecting element 9 is detected, but according to the present invention, it is possible for the first time to accurately detect an emergency state of a person riding on the mat-shaped detecting means 7. Become.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

According to the present invention, the outputs from the plurality of detecting elements provided in the mat-shaped detecting means are output at the first time W1 measured by the first timer, for example, every three minutes.
The data is stored in a plurality of at least two memories in a time sequential manner. The difference calculating means calculates the difference Δpi between the outputs of the detection elements at the corresponding positions stored in these memories. If the person does not move on the mat-shaped detecting means, the first
The output of the mat-shaped detection means for each time W1 has the same value for each detection element. Thus, the difference Δpi is zero. When such a state in which the difference Δpi is zero continues for the second time W2 or more, for example, for one hour or more, it can be estimated that a person has fallen or died, and an emergency condition has occurred. Is determined.

The present invention also relates to (a) a mat-shaped detecting means 7
(A1) A plurality of detection elements 9 arranged in a matrix, each detection element 9 having an area equivalent to that of a human foot, and each of the first detection elements 9 being arranged above and below a plane. And the second electrode 14,
15, and between the first and second electrodes 14, 15,
(A2) a first electrode comprising: a pressure-sensitive conductor 13 having a resilience and being compressed and deformed by the gravity of a person to change the electric resistance between the first and second electrodes 14 and 15; 14, a plurality of row electrodes 17 commonly connecting each row, (a3) a plurality of column electrodes 18 commonly connecting the second electrode 15 to each column, and (a4) an electrically insulating material. A first sheet 10 covering below the detecting elements 9 and the row electrodes 17; and (a5) a mat-shaped detecting means 7 comprising: (a5) a second sheet made of an electrically insulating material and covering above the detecting elements 9 and the column electrodes 18. (B) resistance detecting means for scanning the row electrode 17 and the column electrode 18 to detect the electric resistance due to the pressure corresponding to the position of each detecting element 9, and (c) responding to the output of the resistance detecting means. Level discriminating means for discriminating a level with a value of 3 or more; (D) emergency state detection means for detecting an emergency state of a person riding on the mat-shaped detection means 7 in response to an output of the level discrimination means, wherein the emergency state detection means comprises: (d1) a first predetermined state A first timer for measuring the time W1 of: (d2) For each of the times measured by the first timer,
A plurality of memories for sequentially storing the outputs of the mat-shaped detecting means; (d3) reading the outputs of the respective detecting elements detected at the first time W1 counted by the first timer and the stored contents of the memory (D4) a second timer for measuring a predetermined second time W2 longer than the first time W1, and (d4) a second timer for measuring a predetermined second time W2 longer than the first time W1. d5) Emergency state detection that determines that an emergency state has occurred when the state where the difference pi is zero continues for a second time W2 or more in response to the outputs of the difference calculation means and the second timer. And a health management device.

According to the present invention, the output detected by the detecting element of the mat-shaped detecting means for each first time W1 of the first timer is stored in the memory, and the detecting element of the current mat-shaped detecting means is stored. Is directly calculated without storing the output detected by
Ask for. As a result, the processing speed for calculating the difference Δpi can be improved as compared with the configuration of the second aspect.

Further, according to the present invention, when the state where the difference Δpi is zero continues for a second time W2 or more in response to the output of the difference calculating means, the position for detecting the position where the state continues is detected. It is characterized by including a detecting means and a position judging means which responds to an output of the position detecting means and judges whether or not the detected position is a predetermined position.

According to the present invention, the position detecting means
It is possible to detect a position where a person riding on the mat-shaped detecting means may be in an emergency state where the person has fallen or has died.

Further, according to the present invention, the emergency state detecting means further responds to the output of the position determining means, and the state in which the difference Δpi is zero continues for the second time W2 or more, and the detected position is When it is determined that the position is the predetermined position, it is determined that an emergency state has occurred.

According to the present invention, the emergency position detecting means determines that the detected position where the person has fallen or died is a predetermined position, that is, a position other than the entrance. At this time, it is determined that an emergency condition has occurred. It is determined whether the detected position is a predetermined position, for example, a kitchen, a toilet, a bathroom, a veranda, a living room, and the like in a house, that is, whether the detected position is other than the entrance. When a person has fallen or died at the predetermined position other than the entrance, an emergency condition has occurred. Further, when the detected position is not the predetermined position, that is, when the entrance is,
It can be inferred that a person has gone out of the house and gone out, and therefore, it can be prevented that the user is erroneously determined to be in an emergency state.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the signal indicating the emergency condition is transmitted, for example, by a portable telephone or other telephone, through a public telephone line or by wireless communication, and is transmitted to a medical institution, a welfare service, for example. It can be notified to a facility center or a management center.

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

According to the present invention, the mat-like detecting means derives an electric signal corresponding to the applied pressure such as the gravity of a person, and for example, the resistance value corresponding to the pressure changes.
It has a configuration for deriving three or more electric signals. Thus, for example, in a state where a person has fallen or dies on the mat-shaped detection means, the center of gravity is calculated based on the output values of each of the plurality of detection elements present in the fallen area. Can be. By calculating and detecting the position of the obtained center of gravity in the plane on which the detecting element is arranged, it is possible to accurately know the position where the person has fallen or died.

[0029]

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

When the pressure acting on the detecting element is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, it can be detected that a person is on the mat-shaped detecting means. Thus, the relatively small and lightweight pet animal bred indoors can be prevented from being erroneously detected by the detection element, and the human can be detected accurately.

According to the present invention, a mat-like detecting means constituted by a plurality of detecting elements for detecting that a person gets on a plane is provided at a place where a person moves in a house. The movement state of the person is calculated based on the output of the element.

According to the present invention, a plurality of detecting elements are arranged in a plane, and a person moves on the detecting elements.
Accurately grasping the amount of exercise and the degree of activity of a person is surely performed.

The mat-like detecting means has a structure in which the pressure acts when a person rides on the mat, and an electric signal such as a resistance corresponding to the pressure changes. The detection element has a plurality of column electrodes that intersect, for example, orthogonally, cross the row electrodes at intervals above a plurality of parallelly arranged row electrodes. A flexible material is interposed between the row electrode and the column electrode, and has a resilience and a resistance value corresponding to a compressive force changes. This pressure sensitive material
For example, it may have a configuration in which conductive powder such as carbon or metal powder is mixed into a resilient sheet-like body such as rubber or synthetic resin.

[0037]

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a house 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In house 1,
For example, an elderly person living alone, such as an elderly person living alone, lives in the house 1, and mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7e are arranged in the kitchen 2, the toilet 3, the bathroom 4, the other rooms 5 and the veranda 6, respectively. Is done. When a person has fallen or has died on these mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7e, it can be determined that an emergency condition has occurred as described later. Further, in the vicinity of the entrance 8 of the house 1, a mat-shaped detecting means 7f is provided. When the movement of the person on the mat-shaped detecting means 7f is no longer detected, it can be determined that the person has gone out of the entrance 8. These mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7f may be indicated by a reference numeral 7 in general.

FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of a part of the mat-shaped detecting means 7. As shown in FIG. The mat-shaped detecting means 7 may have a shape of, for example, a flexible carpet or the like, or may be formed in a rigid tile shape, and the detecting elements 9 which are pressure-sensitive sensors are arranged in a matrix. It is arranged and configured. These detecting elements 9 are covered with and built in sheets 10 and 11 made of an electrically insulating material such as upper and lower cloths. Each of these detection elements 9 has an area of about the size of a human foot 12, and may have a rectangular planar shape of, for example, 15 × 15 cm.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the detecting element 9. Planar electrodes 14 and 15 are arranged below and above the elastic pressure-sensitive conductor 13. Human foot 1 above seat 11
When gravity acts as indicated by an arrow 16 due to 2, the pressure-sensitive conductor 13 is elastically compressed and deformed. The pressure-sensitive conductor has a configuration in which a conductive powder such as carbon or metal powder is mixed into an elastic insulating material such as rubber and synthetic resin. When pressure is applied to compress and deform as shown by the arrow 16, the electric resistance between the electrodes 14 and 15 changes smaller than in the natural state shown in FIG. Thus, the detecting element 9 derives an electric signal having a resistance value corresponding to the applied pressure.

FIG. 4 is a simplified electric circuit diagram showing the electric configuration of one mat-shaped detecting means 7. The plurality of detection elements 9 are arranged in a matrix, and one electrode 14 of each detection element 9 is commonly connected to a plurality of row electrodes 17 individually corresponding to each row. The other electrode 15
Is commonly connected to a plurality of column electrodes 18 arranged for each column, for each of the detection elements 9 arranged for each column.

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to the plurality of mat-like detecting means 7. The first processing unit 19a is provided for each of the mat detection units 7a to 7f.
To 19f (generally 19) are provided. These first processing means 19 include a row electrode 17 and a column electrode 18.
Are sequentially scanned, and the electric signal of each detection element 9 is received. In scanning these row electrodes 17 and column electrodes 18, during the period when a single row electrode 17 is activated,
The plurality of column electrodes 18 are sequentially activated, an electric signal between each row electrode 17 and the column electrode 18 is received, and such an operation is repeated for each of the plurality of row electrodes 17. Each output of the first processing means 19 is provided to the second processing means 21 and subjected to arithmetic processing. The second processing means 21 includes memories M0 to M0.
M6 is connected, and the output of the mat-like detection means 7, the calculation result, and the like are stored. The second processing means 21 also includes
A public telephone line 22 is connected, and an electric signal indicating the amount of exercise or activity of a person and an electric signal indicating that an emergency condition has occurred are transmitted via the public telephone line 22 to a medical institution or a welfare facility center. Alternatively, it is transmitted to a management center or the like and displayed by the output display means.

FIG. 6 is a simplified plan view of the mat-shaped detecting means 7 provided in the house 1. On this mat-shaped detecting means 7, a television receiver and household goods 23 such as a chest are fixedly provided. The footprint of a person in the room 5 is indicated by reference numeral 24, and the trajectory following the footprint 24 is indicated by reference numeral 25. As described above, the distance L1 moved by the person in the house 1 can be detected by calculating the location, the locus 25, and the like by the operation of the processing means 19, 21.

FIG. 7 shows the first and second processing means 19, 2
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. The process proceeds from step a1 to step a2, in which a predetermined time W1 is measured via the timer operation of the first processing means 19. The time W1 may be, for example, one second.
The time W clocked by the timer in step a3
Each time 1 has elapsed, in the next step a4, the first processing means 19 sets the row electrode 1 described with reference to FIG.
By scanning the 7 and the column electrode 18, the electric signal of the detecting element 9 of the mat-shaped detecting means 7 is received and the level is discriminated.
The electric signal obtained between the electrodes 14 and 15 of the detecting element 9 corresponds to the pressure of the foot 12 which acts, and by discriminating the level of the electric signal, for example, 3
The above-mentioned digital values are converted, and the state of the pressure distribution in each mat-like detecting means 7 is converted into gradation data, so that each detection element corresponds to a pixel, so-called next step a.
5 is stored in the memory M1. Each electrode 14, 1
The discrimination level of the electric signal from 5 is set to a value exceeding the pressure corresponding to gravity of a pet animal or the like which is relatively small and lightweight. For example, the minimum discrimination level of each detection element 9 is set to a value corresponding to, for example, 30 kg. Set to. This makes it possible to detect a pressure corresponding to the gravity of a person such as a solitary elderly person. Further, when the next time W1 has elapsed, the level discrimination operation of the electric signal is performed as described above, and the electric signal is stored in the memory M2. Steps a1 to a4
Is executed by the first processing means 19. Step a
Each operation after 5 is executed by the second processing means 21.

In step a6, the stored contents of the memories M1 and M2 are read, and the levels of electric signals of the respective detecting elements 9 are compared to detect whether or not the change has occurred, that is, whether or not the person has moved. You.

FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram showing the state of the pressure distribution detected by the mat-shaped detecting means 7. The household item tool 23 is fixedly provided on the mat-shaped detection means 7. The footprint 24 is detected as shown in FIG. 8A, and after a lapse of time W1, the footprint 27 is detected at a coordinate position different from that of the footprint 24 as shown in FIG. As a result, the moved footprint 2 is stored in the memory M3.
Only 4, 27 are stored as shown in FIG. In the memories M <b> 1 to M <b> 3, the coordinate position (x, y) where the level-discriminated pressure has acted, the time, and the applied pressure, and thus the gravity of the person, are shown in Table 1 by the operation of the second processing means 21. Is stored as follows.

[0046]

[Table 1]

In step a7, the moving distance L1 followed by the trajectory 25 is calculated and obtained based on the footprints 24 and 27 of the person stored in the memory M3. Step a
In step 8, the position which is the coordinate position to which the person has moved, for example, which of the mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7f, and which position of each of the mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7f are calculated and detected. I do.

In step a9, the results calculated in steps a6 to a8 are stored. Information including the amount of exercise of the person obtained in this manner, for example, the movement distance L1 and the amount of activity, for example, the moved position as described above, can be stored in the memory M4. In step a10, when a predetermined transmission time is set, for example, every half day or every day, in the next step a11, the memory M
4 is transmitted via the telephone line 22. In this way, the amount of exercise and the amount of activity of the people in the house 1 can be known at a remote place, whereby health management can be performed. Thus, in step a12, a series of operations ends.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first and second processing means 19 and 21 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. The process moves from step b1 to step b2, and it is determined whether or not the lockable door 29 of the entrance 8 is locked and locked. The lock means 28 has an insertion slot for an integrated circuit (IC) card, and can be inserted into the insertion slot from inside or outside the house 1. If it is determined that the identification code set on the IC card inserted into the insertion slot is the same as the code preset in the memory, the lock means 28 is unlocked and the door 29 is opened. it can. When the lock means 28 is unlocked by inserting the IC card from inside the house 1,
It is determined that the person living in house 1 is out. When the IC card is inserted into the insertion slot from the outside of the house 1 and the locking means 28 is unlocked, the person returns to the house 1 from an outside place, and it is determined that there is a person in the house 1. As a result, the process moves from step b2 to step b3, and the timekeeping operation for each predetermined time W3 is repeatedly performed. This time W3 may be, for example, 3 minutes. In step b4, in all of the mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7f provided in the room 5 in the house 1, whether or not a person is riding, that is, the pressure distribution is scanned and detected by the first processing means 19a to 19f. You. Step b
At 5, the distribution state is stored in the memory M5. FIG. 10 (1) shows a pressure distribution state detected by the mat-shaped detection means 7 at a certain time and obtained by level discrimination of a state where a person is riding. Further, the pressure distribution state indicating that a person obtained by the mat-shaped detection means 7 after the predetermined time W3 has elapsed from the time when the pressure distribution state shown in FIG. This is shown in FIG. The pressures of the fixedly provided household goods 23 and the footprints 24 and 27 at different positions obtained when the person moves are detected. The stored contents of the memories M5 and M6 for storing the current and previous pressure distribution states are stored in step b6.
At the same position, the difference Δpi of the electric signal level corresponding to the pressure of the detection element 9 at the same position is calculated and obtained. Δpi = | pi-p (i-1) | (1)

Here, pi indicates the output of each detection element detected this time, which is stored in the memory M5.
p (i-1) indicates the output of the detection element detected last time.

In step b7, the difference Δpi is stored in the memory M7 corresponding to the position of each detection element. The difference Δpi for each position corresponding to each position of the mat-like detection means 7 stored in the memory M7 is shown in FIG. 10 (3). This difference Δpi is an absolute value.

At step b8, it is determined whether or not the difference Δpi at each position where the detecting elements 9 of all the mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7f are arranged is zero. The fact that the difference Δpi is zero indicates that the person has stopped moving, that is, that the person is in a stopped state. If there is a position where the difference Δpi is not zero, the process proceeds from step b8 to step b9, where the contents of the memory M5 indicating the current detection state are transferred to the memory M6 and copied. Thereafter, in step b10, the timer is cleared and time measurement of the time W3 is started. In step b8, when it is determined that the difference Δpi is zero at all the positions of the mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7f, in the next step b11,
It is determined whether or not the state where the difference Δpi becomes zero at all the positions is the minimum. If it is determined in step b11 that it is the minimum, in the next step b12,
The previous memory M7 in which the difference Δpi became zero at all positions.
The contents stored in the memory M7 immediately before this are stored in step b
Read at 12. In the memory M7, the difference Δpi is stored in time sequence in the above step b7.

FIG. 11 shows the difference Δ corresponding to the pressure distribution of the mat-like detecting means 7 stored in the memory M7 in time sequence.
It is a figure which shows pi. The footprint 27 is detected as shown in FIG. 11 (1), and thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11 (2), a region 32 is obtained over a plurality of detection elements in which the difference Δpi at each position of the detection element is not zero. Then, FIG. 11 (3)
Assuming that the distribution of the difference Δpi in the region 32 is zero at all positions, as shown in FIG.
In 2, the store contents of FIG. 11B are read.

In step b13, the center of gravity of the memory M7 shown in FIG. 11 (2) is calculated. The center of gravity is
This is indicated by reference numeral 33 in FIG. In this way, the person has fallen on the mat-shaped detecting means 7 and the center of gravity 3
Search for position 3.

In step b14, the position of the center of gravity 33 is
Predetermined position, that is, mat-shaped detecting means 7a to 7e
It is determined whether it is the position of
It is determined whether or not the position is a predetermined position of the mat-shaped detecting means 7f provided in the above. Mat-like detection means 7a provided at a predetermined position other than the vicinity of the entrance 8
When it is determined that the center of gravity 33 is located at ７7e, in the next step b15, a timing operation of a predetermined time W4 is started. This time W4 may be, for example, one hour. When it is determined in step b16 that the time W4 has elapsed, in step b17, it is determined that an emergency condition has occurred. Accordingly, the processing unit 21 transmits an electric signal indicating that the emergency condition has occurred to the telephone line 22. Send.

The center of gravity 3 detected in step b14
If it is determined that 3 (see FIG. 11 (2) described above) is within a predetermined area of the mat-like detecting means 7f provided near the entrance 8, the luggage is placed on the mat-like detecting means 7f. It can be determined that the person has put it and that the person has gone out. Thus, a series of operations is completed.

FIG. 12 is a simplified plan view of a house 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the house 1, a single mat-shaped detecting means 7g is arranged.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a simplified electrical configuration related to the mat-like detecting means 7g shown in FIG. The processing means 34 is provided in the mat shape detecting means 7g.
Is connected. The configuration and operation of this processing means 34 are the same as those of the first and second processing means 19 and 21 described above, and the other configuration is also the same as that of the above-described embodiment.

The mat-like detecting means 7a to 7g derive an electric signal having a value which is level-discriminated by three or more level discriminations corresponding to the pressure.

[0060]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the presence of a person on the mat-shaped detecting means can be detected by the mat-shaped detecting means and the moving state of the person can be calculated. It is possible to know the health condition of a solitary elderly person, cared person, etc. in detail and accurately. Further, in the present invention, it is not necessary for a person to wear a pedometer or the like described in connection with the above-mentioned prior art, and this is particularly true for elderly people with dementia or the like who have worn from the body. The present invention is particularly effective in view of the characteristics to be removed. Thus, for example, by counting the number of steps of a person, the amount of exercise of the person can be known. In addition, it is possible to know, for example, the position of a room in a house where a person is moving around, and to know the amount of activity of the person.

According to the present invention, each of the plurality of detecting elements 9 arranged in a matrix of the mat-shaped detecting means 7 has an area approximately equivalent to that of a human foot, and the upper and lower first and second electrodes 14, 15, the pressure-sensitive conductor 13 is interposed between the first and second
The electrodes 14 and 15 are commonly connected to the row electrode 17 and the column electrode 18 for each row and each column, so that the number of the row electrodes 17 and the column electrodes 18 can be reduced. 7 can be detected. Thus, the row electrode 17 and the column electrode 1
Since the number of 8 can be reduced, the reliability can be improved, and the present invention can be realized at low cost.

Further, according to the present invention, the electric resistance between the row electrode 17 and the column electrode 18 for each detecting element 9 is detected,
Since the level is discriminated with a value of 3 or more, the mat-shaped detecting means 7
It is possible to accurately detect an emergency condition of a person riding on the vehicle.

[0063]

[0064]

Further, according to the present invention, the output of the detecting element provided in the mat-shaped detecting means is changed every first time W1.
A time-sequential store in a plurality of memories to calculate a difference Δpi between their outputs, and when such a state in which the difference Δpi is zero has continued for a second time W2 or more, an emergency state has occurred. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect that a person has fallen or died in a house, and avoid erroneously detecting an object such as a household tool as a person.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as compared with the second aspect of the present invention, the previous output is stored by using the output of the detecting element provided in the mat-shaped detecting means as it is. Since the difference Δpi is calculated by subtracting from the stored contents of the existing memory, the processing speed for calculating the difference Δpi can be improved. Thus, even in a configuration in which the mat-shaped detecting means is laid within a wide range, the occurrence of an emergency state can be quickly determined.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the occurrence of an emergency situation in which a person has fallen or died in the predetermined position, which is a position other than the entrance of a house or room such as an entrance, etc. Thus, it is possible to prevent a person from erroneously determining that an emergency condition has occurred when a person goes out of an entrance such as a house or a room entrance.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the state where the difference Δpi is zero at the predetermined position has continued for the second time W2 or more, it is determined that an emergency state has occurred and the user has gone out. It is possible to prevent erroneous judgment at the time.

[0069]

[0070]

[0071]

[0072]

[0073]

[0074]

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the amount of exercise and the degree of activity of a person can be accurately grasped without wearing the pedometer described in connection with the prior art on the body, and the emergency state Can be determined in detail and accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a house 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of a part of the mat-shaped detecting means 7;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the detection element 9.

FIG. 4 is a simplified electric circuit diagram showing an electric configuration of one mat-shaped detecting means 7;

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to a plurality of mat-shaped detecting means 7;

FIG. 6 is a simplified plan view of a mat-shaped detecting means 7 provided in the house 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining operations of first and second processing means 19 and 21;

FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram showing a state of a pressure distribution detected by a mat-shaped detecting means 7;

FIG. 9 shows a first embodiment of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second processing means 19 and 21.

FIG. 10 is a simplified diagram showing a state of a pressure distribution detected by a mat-shaped detecting means 7;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a difference Δpi corresponding to the pressure distribution of the mat-like detection means 7 stored in the memory M7 in time sequence.

FIG. 12 is a simplified plan view of a house 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a simplified block diagram showing an electrical configuration related to a mat-like detection means 7g shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 House 2 Kitchen 3 Toilet 4 Bathroom 5 Room 6 Veranda 7a-7f Mat-shaped detecting means 8 Entrance 9 Detecting element 10, 11 Sheet 12 Feet 13 Pressure sensitive conductor 14, 15 Electrode 17 Row electrode 18 Column electrode 19 First processing Means 21 Second processing means 22 Public telephone line 23 Household goods 24, 27 Footprint 25 Trace 28 Lock means 29 Door 33 Center of gravity 34 Processing means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Katsurakawa 1-8-4 Higashikawasaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo In-house Research Institute for New Industry Creation (56) References JP-A-5-161613 JP-A-3-275039 (JP, A) JP-A-8-241476 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 5/00-5/02 G01V 3 / 08,9 / 00 G08B 19/00-31/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. (a) a mat-shaped detecting means 7; (a1) a plurality of detecting elements 9 arranged in a matrix, each detecting element 9 having an area approximately equivalent to that of a human foot. And first and second electrodes 1 respectively arranged on the upper and lower sides of a plane.
4, 15 and the first and second electrodes 14, 15, which have elasticity and are compressed and deformed by the gravity of the first and second electrodes 14, 15.
Pressure-sensitive conductor 13 in which electric resistance between electrodes 14 and 15 changes
(A2) a plurality of row electrodes 17 that commonly connect the first electrode 14 for each row, and (a3) a plurality of row electrodes that commonly connect the second electrode 15 for each column. A column electrode 18, (a4) a first sheet 10 made of an electrically insulating material and covering below the detecting element 9 and the row electrode 17, and (a5) a first sheet 10 made of an electrically insulating material and forming a part of the detecting element 9 and the column electrode 18. (B) a resistance detecting means for scanning the row electrode 17 and the column electrode 18 to detect an electric resistance due to a pressure corresponding to the position of each detecting element 9; (C) a level discriminator that responds to the output of the resistance detector and discriminates the level with a value of 3 or more; and (d) responds to the output of the level discriminator and detects a person riding on the mat-shaped detector 7. Emergency state detection means for detecting an emergency state The emergency state detecting means includes: (d1) a first timer for measuring a first time W1 determined in advance; and (d2) for each of the times measured by the first timer,
A plurality of memories for sequentially storing the outputs of the level discriminating means; and (d3) reading the stored contents of each of the memories and reading the difference Δpi between the outputs of the detection elements at the same read position.
(D4) a second timer that counts a predetermined second time W2 longer than the first time W1, and (d5) a response to the output of the difference calculation means and the second timer. And an emergency state detecting means for determining that an emergency state has occurred when the state in which the difference Δpi is zero continues for a second time W2 or more. 2. (a) a mat-shaped detecting means 7; (a1) a plurality of detecting elements 9 arranged in a matrix, wherein each detecting element 9 has an area approximately equivalent to that of a human foot. And first and second electrodes 1 respectively arranged on the upper and lower sides of a plane.
4, 15 and the first and second electrodes 14, 15, which have elasticity and are compressed and deformed by the gravity of the first and second electrodes 14, 15.
Pressure-sensitive conductor 13 in which electric resistance between electrodes 14 and 15 changes
(A2) a plurality of row electrodes 17 that commonly connect the first electrode 14 for each row, and (a3) a plurality of row electrodes that commonly connect the second electrode 15 for each column. A column electrode 18, (a4) a first sheet 10 made of an electrically insulating material and covering below the detecting element 9 and the row electrode 17, and (a5) a first sheet 10 made of an electrically insulating material and forming a part of the detecting element 9 and the column electrode 18. (B) a resistance detecting means for scanning the row electrode 17 and the column electrode 18 to detect an electric resistance due to a pressure corresponding to the position of each detecting element 9; (C) a level discriminator that responds to the output of the resistance detector and discriminates the level with a value of 3 or more; and (d) responds to the output of the level discriminator and detects a person riding on the mat-shaped detector 7. Emergency state detection means for detecting an emergency state The emergency state detecting means includes: (d1) a first timer for measuring a first time W1 determined in advance; and (d2) for each of the times measured by the first timer,
A plurality of memories for sequentially storing the outputs of the mat-shaped detecting means; (d3) reading the outputs of the respective detecting elements detected at the first time W1 counted by the first timer and the stored contents of the memory (D4) a second timer that counts a predetermined second time W2 longer than the first time W1, and (d5) a difference timer that calculates a difference Δpi from the output of each detection element at the same position. And urgent state detecting means for responding to the outputs of the difference calculating means and the second timer and judging that an emergency state has occurred when the state in which the difference Δpi is zero continues for a second time W2 or more. A health care device comprising: 3. In response to the output of the difference calculation means, the difference Δp
When the state where i is zero continues for the second time W2 or more, the position detecting means for detecting the position where the state continues, and the detected position is determined in advance in response to the output of the position detecting means. The health management device according to claim 1, further comprising: a position determination unit configured to determine whether the position is a predetermined position. 4. The emergency state detection means further responds to an output of the position determination means, wherein the state in which the difference Δpi is zero is equal to or longer than a second time W2.
4. The health management device according to claim 3, wherein when it is determined that the position is continued and the detected position is the predetermined position, it is determined that an emergency condition has occurred. 5. The health management device according to claim 1, wherein the mat-shaped detecting means is installed at a place where a person moves in the house.