KR101645617B1 - Apparatus for preventing fall - Google Patents

Abstract

The fall preventing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an acceleration measuring unit (10) disposed at the waist of a wearer (1) for measuring an acceleration, A distance measurement unit 30 disposed on the foot 5 of the wearer 1 and measuring the distance from the foot 5 to the obstacle 7 at the front, A foot height measuring unit 40 disposed on the floor 1 of the wearer 1 for measuring a foot height from the floor of the wearer 1 to the foot 5 and a foot height measuring unit 40 disposed on the soles of the wearer 1, A controller 50 for comparing the data obtained from the acceleration, the angular velocity, the distance to the obstacle 7, the foot height, and the pressure with predetermined reference values, 60) for applying a stimulation signal to the wearer (1) And a unit (70).

Description

{APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING FALL}

The present invention relates to a fall prevention apparatus.

In modern society, the number of elderly people is increasing due to the increase in life expectancy. These elderly people are at increased risk of falls due to decreased motor function. In addition, patients suffering from trauma, brain damage, degenerative diseases, inner ear diseases, etc. have frequent falls because they have impaired physical exercise and posture control functions. Falls fall or fall, injuring the body. About 1 in 10 fall patients suffer a femoral fracture or head injury. These patients have to be hospitalized for a long period of time and, in serious cases, even to death, so that you and your family suffer economic and psychological suffering as well as economic hardship. As a countermeasure against this, the Korea Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute developed a personal emergency alarm system using a fall detection mobile phone in July, 2007. Such a system automatically senses the user's fall when a user carrying a special sensor falls over and informs the emergency rescue system and family mobile phone of an emergency. Also, as disclosed in the patent documents of the following prior art documents, a fall detection method using image processing has also been devised. In this fall detection method, a webcam is installed in a space for monitoring a patient, and images transmitted through the webcam are processed to determine whether or not the patient falls. However, such a conventional fall detection system can not prevent falls in advance because it is designed to judge whether a fall occurs after a fall occurs and urgently transport or treat the patient. Therefore, the conventional fall detection system can not prevent falls, so that the occurrence frequency of fall patients can not be reduced. In addition, the conventional fall detection system can not know the fall direction and the degree of impact of a fall patient, so that there is a problem that rapid emergency treatment and patient return are difficult.

Accordingly, there is an urgent need for a solution to the problem occurring in the fall detection system according to the prior art.

KR 2012-0114629 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the conventional art described above, and one aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of estimating a fall probability, comprising: measuring acceleration, angular velocity, distance to an obstacle, height of a foot, And a stimulation signal unit for applying a stimulation signal to prevent a fall of the wearer.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a fall prevention apparatus capable of rapid emergency treatment and patient backwarding by providing a monitor unit for displaying the direction of fall and the amount of impact.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a fall preventing apparatus comprising: an acceleration measuring unit disposed at a waist of a wearer and measuring an acceleration; an angular velocity measuring unit disposed at the waist for measuring an angular velocity; A foot height measurement unit arranged on the foot for measuring a foot height from a floor surface touched by the wearer to the foot and a foot height measurement unit arranged on the soles of the wearer A pressure measuring unit for measuring a pressure when the wearer presses the floor, a data value obtained from the acceleration, the angular velocity, the distance to the obstacle, the foot height, and the pressure are compared with preset reference values, And a control unit for predicting the possibility of a fall, It includes.

Further, in the fall preventing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the acceleration measuring unit includes an acceleration sensor.

Further, in the fall preventing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the angular velocity measuring unit includes a gyroscope.

Further, in the fall prevention apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance measuring unit and the foot height measuring unit include an ultrasonic sensor.

Further, in the fall preventing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure measuring unit includes a pressure sensor.

Further, in the fall preventing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the controller determines whether or not the wearer balances and walks from the acceleration and the angular velocity, calculates a distance to the obstacle, And judges whether the friction force is increased or decreased based on the acceleration and the pressure.

Further, in the fall preventing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller predicts that there is a fall possibility in the case of an abnormal motion in which the data value exceeds the reference value.

Further, in the fall preventing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit corrects the reference value when the data value falls below the reference value for a predetermined time after the fall probability is predicted.

Further, in the fall preventing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the reference value is determined on the basis of the data obtained from the wearer for a predetermined period.

Further, in the fall prevention apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a server for storing the data.

Further, in the fall prevention apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the stimulus signal unit applies an electric stimulus or a vibration stimulus in a direction in which the fall is expected.

In addition, in the fall preventing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the waist height measuring unit is disposed on the waist and measures waist height from the bottom surface to the waist.

In addition, in the fall preventing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the controller determines whether or not the fall occurs in accordance with the change in the waist height.

In addition, in the fall prevention apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, an alarm unit for alarming when the fall occurs is further included.

The fall preventing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a monitor unit for displaying the falling direction and the amount of impact determined by the control unit from the data when the fall occurs.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings.

Prior to that, terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed in a conventional and dictionary sense, and the inventor may properly define the concept of the term in order to best explain its invention It should be construed as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

According to the present invention, by providing the acceleration section, the angular velocity, the distance to the obstacle, the height of the foot, the measurement section for measuring the pressure applied to the floor surface, the control section for predicting the fall probability and the stimulus signal section for applying the stimulus signal, Is compared with a predetermined reference value to predict a fall possibility and a stimulus signal is applied to a wearer, thereby preventing a wearer from falling.

Further, according to the present invention, since the monitor unit that displays the falling direction and the amount of impact can be provided, it is possible to predict the fracture and the damaged area and the extent of the fall patient, so that quick emergency treatment and patient return can be performed.

1 is a block diagram of a fall prevention apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of a fall prevention apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart of an algorithm for predicting the fall probability of the fall prevention apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram of a fall prevention apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an algorithm for determining whether a fall prevention apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is fallen or not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objectives, specific advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. It should be noted that, in the present specification, the reference numerals are added to the constituent elements of the drawings, and the same constituent elements are assigned the same number as much as possible even if they are displayed on different drawings. Also, the terms "first "," second ", and the like are used to distinguish one element from another element, and the element is not limited thereto. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of related arts which may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fall preventing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fall preventing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, It is the flowchart of the algorithm that predicts the possibility.

1 and 2, a fall prevention apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an acceleration measuring unit 10 disposed at the waist of a wearer 1 for measuring an acceleration, A distance measurement unit 30 disposed at the foot 5 of the wearer 1 for measuring the distance from the foot 5 to the obstacle 7 at the front, , A foot height measurement unit (40) for measuring the foot height from the floor surface on which the wearer (1) is stepped to the foot (5) A control unit 50 for comparing the data value obtained from the acceleration, the angular velocity, the distance to the obstacle 7, the foot height, and the pressure with a preset reference value, (60), and a stimulus signal portion (70) for applying a stimulation signal to the wearer (1) .

The fall prevention apparatus according to the present invention includes an acceleration measuring unit 10, an angular velocity measuring unit 20, a distance measuring unit 30, A foot height measuring unit 40, a pressure measuring unit 50, a control unit 60, and a stimulus signal unit 70.

Patients suffering from elderly people, trauma, brain injury, degenerative disease, inner ear disease, etc. have a high risk of falling because they have impaired physical exercise and posture control function. At this time, falling falls or falls to hurt the body, so not only when falling from the bed. This includes the case of losing balance during walking or falling over the obstacle (7). The fall prevention system according to the present invention prevents the physical and psychological distress and economic loss of the person and the family due to the fall because the fall is accompanied by a fracture of the femur or a head injury, resulting in long hospitalization or death.

On the other hand, the acceleration measuring unit 10 is a measuring device for measuring the motion acceleration when the wearer 1 is walking or moving. Therefore, the acceleration measuring unit 10 may include an acceleration sensor. The acceleration measuring unit 10 may measure acceleration in the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions using a three-axis acceleration sensor to measure acceleration in various axes, or may measure a plurality of acceleration sensors in various axial directions As shown in FIG. In this case, since the acceleration in the horizontal, vertical and tilted directions can be measured, it is possible to simultaneously grasp the acceleration change and the slope change due to the walking or the movement. In addition, since the acceleration is integrated once and the position is calculated by integrating the acceleration twice, the acceleration measuring unit 10 instantaneously senses the state of motion of the wearer 1. However, the acceleration measuring unit 10 does not necessarily have to include an acceleration sensor, but may be constituted by all known elements as long as it can be disposed in the wearer 1 and can measure the acceleration.

The angular velocity measuring unit 20 is a measuring device for measuring the angular velocity when the wearer 1 moves. Therefore, the angular velocity measuring unit 20 may include an angular velocity sensor such as a gyroscope. At this time, there may be a plurality of acceleration sensors. However, the angular velocity measuring unit 20 does not necessarily have to include the angular velocity sensor, but may be constituted by all known elements as long as it can be disposed at the wearer 1 and can measure the angular velocity. The angular velocity measuring unit 20 determines whether the wearer 1 is in an equilibrium state during the exercise. In this case, the equilibrium does not mean the left and right horizontal but it means the balance of the posture according to the action. Therefore, it is possible to easily judge whether the wearer 1 is unbalanced during walking by changing the angular velocity.

The acceleration measuring unit 10 and the angular velocity measuring unit 20 are disposed at the waist of the wearer 1. Specifically, they may be detachably attached to clothes or a belt of the wearer 1, respectively, or may be integrally formed by being attached to separate binding means such as a belt or band.

The distance measuring unit 30 is a measuring device for measuring a distance to a specific object. Specifically, the distance measuring unit 30 may include an ultrasonic sensor. These ultrasonic sensors use piezoelectricity or magnetostriction to measure the distance by measuring the time it takes for the ultrasonic waves to reflect back to the object and multiplying the speed of the sound waves to calculate the distance. Further, when the plurality of ultrasonic sensors are arranged at a predetermined height, the height of the object can also be determined. The distance measuring unit 30 including the ultrasonic sensor is disposed on the foot 5 of the wearer 1 so that the distance from the foot 5 to the obstacle 7 at the front and the height of the obstacle 7 It can be judged. The distance measuring unit 30 does not necessarily have to include an ultrasonic sensor but may be provided with any known object as long as it can measure the distance to the obstacle 7 and the height of the obstacle 7, Element.

The foot height measuring unit 40 is a measuring device for measuring the foot height. Here, the foot height means the height from the bottom surface of the wearer 1 to the foot 5 of the wearer 1. At this time, the foot height measuring unit 40 may include an ultrasonic sensor. Specifically, the foot height can be measured by being disposed on the foot 5 of the wearer 1 so that the ultrasonic waves are reflected on the floor surface and returned. However, the foot height measuring unit 40 does not necessarily have to include an ultrasonic sensor, but may be configured with all known elements as long as it can be placed on the foot 5 of the wearer 1 and measure the foot height . When the foot height is measured in this manner and the height of the obstacle 7 is known as described above, it can be determined whether or not the foot 5 is caught by the obstacle 7.

The pressure measuring unit 50 is a measuring device for measuring the pressure when the wearer 1 steps on the floor surface. Specifically, the pressure measuring section 50 may include a pressure sensor. Here, the pressure sensor is a sensor such as a diaphragm, a piezoelectric accelerometer, or the like, and is disposed on the soles of the soles so that the weight of the wearer 1 as well as the position, area, And so on. At this time, the pressure measuring part 50 does not necessarily have to include the pressure sensor but may be constituted of all known elements as long as it can be disposed on the foot 5 of the wearer 1 and measure the pressure.

As described above, the distance measuring unit 30, the foot height measuring unit 40 and the pressure measuring unit 50 are disposed on the foot 5 of the wearer 1, But also includes a case where it is placed not only on the skin of the wearer 1 but also on socks or shoes.

The control unit 60 compares the measured acceleration, the angular velocity, the distance to the obstacle 7, the foot height, and the pressure with a preset reference value to predict the fall probability. Herein, the data value includes not only the acceleration, the angular velocity, the distance from the obstacle 7, the foot height and the pressure value but also the inclination of the wearer 1, the inclination of the floor surface, the height of the obstacle 7, 5 and the area of contact with the foot 5 when the floor is in contact, and vertical drag. Therefore, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the wearer 1 is balanced and walking from the acceleration and the angular velocity, and determines whether or not the foot 5 is obstructed by the obstacle 7 from the distance to the obstacle 7 and the foot height And it is possible to judge the increase or decrease of the frictional force from the acceleration and the pressure. Here, the frictional force is a value obtained by multiplying the friction coefficient by the vertical drag, and the force is a value obtained by multiplying the acceleration by the mass, so that it can be calculated from the data value. When the calculated frictional force decreases, it is judged that the foot 5 can slide on the floor surface. Each of these judgments is made by comparing the data value with a preset reference value. Specifically, when the data value exceeds the reference value, the controller 60 predicts that there is a possibility of a fall due to an abnormal motion. At this time, not all the data values need to exceed the reference value, and it is possible to determine that there is a possibility of falling even when the specific data value exceeds the reference value according to the walking habit, the exercise attitude, and the expected walking environment of the wearer 1 . That is, the wearer 1 may compare the specific data value with the reference value in consideration of each case, because the wearer 1 may lose balance and fall during walking or running, fall over the obstacle 7, or fall over even if slipped . On the other hand, if the control unit 60 predicts that there is a possibility of fall, but the data continues to be input for a predetermined time and the data value falls below the reference value, the possibility of falling is judged incorrectly. Modify it. At this time, since the reference value is increased, even if the same data value is calculated thereafter, the control unit 60 does not judge that there is a possibility of fall. If the reference value is modified in this way, the likelihood of falling can be accurately predicted. Further, since the reference value is compared with the data obtained from the wearer 1, the reference value can also be determined on the basis of the data obtained from the wearer 1. That is, the wearer 1 wears the fall preventing apparatus according to the present invention for a predetermined period of time, thereby collecting the above-mentioned data and determining a reference value. Therefore, the probability of falling can be more accurately predicted.

The stimulation signal unit 70 applies a stimulation signal to the wearer 1 in the event of a fall possibility. Specifically, the stimulus signal portion 70 may include a vibration motor to impart a vibrating stimulus, or may include an electrode to apply an electric stimulus. At this time, the stimulation signal is applied in the direction in which fall is expected. Therefore, the stimulation signal unit 70 informs the wearer 1 of the possibility of falling, and causes the wearer 1 to act on his own in response to the fall.

The fall prevention apparatus according to the present invention may further include a server 80 for storing data. Such a server 80 stores data obtained from the wearer 1 to continuously set and change the reference value and to select specific data related to the likelihood of falling probability, thereby improving the accuracy of the predicted fall probability.

Hereinafter, operation of the fall preventing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in general.

3, when the wearer 1 starts an operation such as walking or moving, the fall preventing apparatus according to the present invention includes an acceleration measuring unit 10, an angular velocity measuring unit 20, a distance measuring unit 30 ), The foot height measurement unit 40 and the pressure measurement unit 50 start to measure various data. The measured data is received by the control unit 60 and stored in the server 80. The control unit 60 compares the preset reference value with the data value and determines that there is a possibility of falling when the data value exceeds the reference value do. In this case, the stimulus signal portion 70 applies the stimulus signal to the wearer 1 in the direction in which the fall is expected. On the other hand, if the fall probability is mispredicted, the control unit 60 corrects the reference value.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a fall prevention apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an algorithm for determining whether a fall prevention apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is fallen or not.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fall preventing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a waist height measuring unit 90.

Here, the waist height measuring unit 90 is a measuring apparatus for measuring waist height. Since the waist height means the height from the bottom surface to the waist, the waist height measuring unit 90 is disposed at the waist of the wearer 1. Specifically, the waist height measuring unit 90 includes the above-described ultrasonic sensor, and the ultrasonic wave is reflected on the bottom surface, thereby measuring the waist height. However, the waist height measuring unit 90 does not necessarily include an ultrasonic sensor, but may be configured with all known elements as long as the waist height can be measured. Through the change in the measured waist height, it is possible to judge whether the wearer 1 is standing, sitting or lying down.

On the other hand, the controller 60 can determine whether or not the wearer 1 has fallen through the change in the waist height and other data described above. Specifically, the control unit 60 determines that the user has fallen when the waist height is lowered due to an abnormal motion, not when the user is sitting or lying in normal motion. In this case, the abnormal motion refers to a case in which data is moved at a high speed, which is different from usual speed. Within these abnormal movements, the changes in acceleration and slope are large and instantaneous pressure is not measured.

In addition, the fall prevention apparatus according to the present invention may further include an alarm unit 100 that alerts the outside. When the fall occurs, the alarm unit 100 sounds an alarm or uses illumination to notify a nearby person or a medical staff of the occurrence of the fall. Therefore, the fall prevention apparatus according to the present invention not only prevents falls, but also enables rapid delivery and treatment of the patient in the event of a fall.

In addition, the fall prevention apparatus according to the present invention may further include a monitor unit 110 to display information such as a falling direction and an amount of impact. At this time, the controller 60 determines the falling direction and the amount of impact based on the data such as the increased acceleration, the decreased inclination, the changed pressure, and the like. The thus determined fall direction and the amount of impact are displayed so that the monitor 110 can recognize the fall direction. Thus, it is possible to prevent a secondary damage that may occur during the backward movement, in addition to the primary damage caused by the fall. Therefore, the fall prevention apparatus according to the present invention provides information through the monitor unit 110 when a patient is fractured due to a fall, thereby promptly determining whether or not a fracture has occurred and identifying a predicted site of fracture so that emergency treatment can be performed. In addition, it prevents the damage of the secondary obstacle that may be caused by the surrounding person or the medical staff being unable to predict the symptom and sending it to the wrong posture.

Hereinafter, operation of the fall preventing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in general.

As shown in Fig. 5, when the wearer 1 starts to operate, the fall prevention apparatus according to the present invention receives data, predicts the possibility of falling, and outputs a stimulus signal to the wearer 1 . In response to such stimulation, the control unit 60 determines whether or not a fall occurs based on the waist height and other data. When the fall occurs, the alert unit 100 notifies the fall through the alarm, Indicates the amount of impact.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the present invention. It is obvious that the modification or improvement is possible.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1: wearer 5: foot
7: Obstacle 10: Acceleration measuring unit
20: angular velocity measuring unit 30: distance measuring unit
40: foot height measuring unit 50: pressure measuring unit
60: control section 70: stimulus signal section
80: server 90: waist height measuring unit
100: alarm unit 110: monitor unit

Claims (15)

An acceleration measuring unit disposed at a waist of the wearer for measuring an acceleration;
An angular velocity measuring unit disposed at the waist for measuring an angular velocity;
A distance measuring unit disposed at the foot of the wearer and measuring a distance from the foot to an obstacle at the front;
A foot height measuring unit disposed on the foot for measuring a foot height from the floor surface on which the wearer steps;
A pressure measuring unit disposed at the soles of the wearer and measuring pressure when the wearer steps on the floor;
A controller for comparing a data value obtained from the acceleration, the angular velocity, a distance to the obstacle, the foot height, and the pressure to a preset reference value to predict a fall probability; And
A stimulation signal unit for applying a stimulation signal to the wearer in the event of the falling possibility;
Lt; / RTI >
The control unit determines the increase / decrease of the frictional force from the acceleration and the pressure,
Wherein the control unit predicts that there is a possibility of falling in the case of abnormal movement in which the data value exceeds the reference value,
Wherein the control unit corrects the reference value when the data value falls below the reference value for a predetermined time after the fall probability is predicted,
Wherein the stimulation signal unit applies electric stimulation or vibration stimulation in a direction in which the fall is expected. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the acceleration measuring unit includes an acceleration sensor. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the angular velocity measuring unit includes a gyroscope. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the distance measuring unit and the foot height measuring unit include an ultrasonic sensor. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the pressure measuring unit includes a pressure sensor. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the controller determines whether or not the wearer balances and walks from the acceleration and the angular velocity, and determines a distance to the obstacle and whether the foot hits the obstacle from the foot height. delete delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the reference value is determined on the basis of the data obtained from the wearer for a predetermined period of time. The method according to claim 1,
A server for storing the data;
Further comprising: delete The method according to claim 1,
A waist height measuring unit disposed on the waist and measuring waist height from the bottom surface to the waist;
Further comprising: The method of claim 12,
Wherein the controller determines whether a fall occurs in accordance with a change in the waist height. 14. The method of claim 13,
An alarm unit that sounds an alarm when the fall occurs;
Further comprising: 14. The method of claim 13,
A monitor unit for displaying a fall direction and an impact amount determined by the control unit from the data when the fall occurs;
Further comprising:

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