KR102502136B1 - Wearable devices for dementia patients and infants with self-charging functions - Google Patents

Abstract

A wearable device for dementia patients and infants with a self-charging function is disclosed. A wearable device with a self-charging function comprises: a power generation unit that generates electrical energy using thermoelectric elements; a power management unit that supplies and manages driving power to the wearable device using the electrical energy generated by the power generation unit; a user detection unit that detects biosignals including at least one of a user's heart rate, electrocardiogram, body temperature, and blood oxygen saturation; an environmental detection unit that detects the external environment including at least one of a position sensor, an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an optical sensor, a gas sensor, a fine dust sensor, and a camera sensor; and a determination unit that determines the user's status based on signals measured through the user detection unit and the environmental detection unit.

Description

Wearable device having self-charging function {WEARABLE DEVICES FOR DEMENTIA PATIENTS AND INFANTS WITH SELF-CHARGING FUNCTIONS}

The present invention relates to a wearable device that is easy to use by the socially underprivileged (eg, infants or patients with dementia), and more particularly, to a wearable device equipped with a self-charging function using a thermoelectric element.

In recent years, the number of missing persons reported each year has been steadily increasing. Accordingly, elderly loitering detectors, dementia patient necklaces, lost child prevention bracelets, etc. are being commercialized and appearing in the market. However, electrical appliances do not function properly when the power is turned off. Due to the nature of the products that must be worn at all times, power management is difficult and can be a problem. In particular, when an emergency occurs, a very difficult situation may occur if power cannot be supplied from the outside and cannot be charged by itself. Therefore, there is a need for a device capable of constant power through a self-charging function without external power.

One object of the present invention to solve the above problems is to provide a wearable device having a self-charging function.

Another object of the present invention to solve the above problems is to provide a wearable device having a self-charging function that enables quick response to an emergency situation that may occur to the socially underprivileged.

In order to achieve the above object, a wearable device having a self-charging function according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power generation unit that generates electrical energy using a thermoelectric element, and a driving power source for the wearable device using the electrical energy generated by the power generation unit. A power management unit that supplies and manages, a user sensing unit that detects a biosignal including at least one of the user's heart rate, electrocardiogram, body temperature, and blood oxygen saturation, a location sensor, an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, and a gas sensor , a fine dust sensor, including at least one of a camera sensor, an environment sensing unit for detecting an external environment, and a determination unit for determining a user's state based on a signal measured through the user sensing unit and the environment sensing unit. .

The generator may generate electrical energy according to an electromotive force generated by a temperature difference between an area where the thermoelectric element and the user come into contact and an area where the wearable device is exposed to the outside.

The determination unit divides the state of the user into three stages including emergency, danger, and normal based on signals measured by the user sensing unit and the environment sensing unit, and when the user's status is emergency, a predetermined external control to transmit emergency situation information to a terminal, control a camera sensor included in the environment sensor to record an emergency situation, and transmit dangerous situation information to the predetermined external terminal when the user's state is in danger; You can control it.

according to one embodiment. The wearable device having a self-charging function further includes an output unit outputting information obtained from the power generation unit, the user sensing unit, the environment sensing unit, and the determination unit, wherein the output unit generates a temperature difference in the power generation unit. When the applied electromotive force is less than or equal to a reference value, predetermined physical activity information and a message may be provided to the user so as to induce an increase in a temperature difference between an area contacted by the user and an area exposed to the outside of the wearable device.

Light of different colors may be output according to the user's body temperature measured by the user sensing unit.

When the determination unit determines that the user's state is urgent, an emergency help request signal may be output.

The wearable device having a self-charging function may change the temperature of an area in contact with the wearable device and the user by controlling the supply of current to the thermoelectric element when the body temperature of the user is out of a predetermined range.

The wearable device having the self-charging function may further include at least one of a QR tag and an RF tag located on the front of the wearable device and capable of verifying the guardian's address and phone number.

The wearable device having a self-charging function may have a ring shape, and an inner circumferential surface of the ring may contact the user and an outer circumferential surface of the ring may contact the user.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wearable device capable of supplying power through self-charging without external power by providing a wearable device having a self-charging function.

In addition, the wearable device having a self-charging function of the present invention has an effect of supporting a user to receive necessary help through an emergency call in an emergency situation.

1 is a block diagram of a wearable device having a self-charging function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an exemplary view of a wearable device having a self-charging function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an exemplary view for explaining a Peltier effect of a thermoelectric element according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a wearable device having a self-charging function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Since the present invention can make various changes and have various embodiments, specific embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. Like reference numerals have been used for like elements throughout the description of each figure.

Terms such as first, second, A, and B may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, a first element may be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The term and/or includes a combination of a plurality of related recited items or any one of a plurality of related recited items.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, but other elements may exist in the middle. It should be. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another element, it should be understood that no other element exists in the middle.

Terms used in this application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, the terms "include" or "have" are intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It should be understood that the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and unless explicitly defined in the present application, they should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning. don't

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

1 is a block diagram of a wearable device having a self-charging function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a wearable device 100 having a self-charging function may include a power generation unit 101, a power management unit 102, a user sensing unit 103_, and an environment sensing unit 104. The power generation unit 101 may generate electrical energy using a thermoelectric element. The power management unit 102 may supply and manage driving power of the wearable device having the self-charging function. Specifically, the power management unit 102 may control to reduce the power used by the user sensing unit and the environment sensing unit when the level of the stored residual power or generated electromotive force is low. For example, the power management unit 102 may reduce the number of active sensors of the user sensing unit and the environment sensing unit or reduce the measurement period when the level of stored residual power or generated electromotive force is low. The user sensing unit 103 may detect a user's biological signal. For example, the user sensing unit 103 may detect the user's biosignal by sensing at least one of heart rate, electrocardiogram, body temperature, and blood oxygen saturation. The environment sensor 104 may detect an external environment. For example, the environment sensor 104 may include at least one of a position sensor, an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an optical sensor, a gas sensor, a fine dust sensor, and a camera sensor. The determination unit 105 may include a determination unit 105 for determining a state of the user based on signals measured through the user detection unit and the environment detection unit.

An output unit 106 outputting information obtained from the power generation unit 101, the user sensing unit 103, the environment sensing unit 104, and the determination unit 105 may be further included. The output unit 106 may output visual information or auditory information.

The output unit 106 induces an increase in a temperature difference between an area in contact with the thermoelectric element and the user and an area exposed to the outside when the electromotive force generated by the temperature difference in the power generation unit is less than or equal to a reference value In order to do so, predetermined physical activity information and a message may be provided to the user. For example, when the user is an infant, the output unit 106 may provide information on physical activities suitable for infants, such as running in place, dancing, hula-ooping, and iron bars. For example, the output unit 106 may provide related physical activity images, activity methods, and encouragement messages through a predetermined display device.

According to another embodiment, when the user is a patient with dementia, the output unit 106 may provide information on physical activities suitable for the user, such as wrist ankle turning, clapping hands, aerobics, light stretching, and the like.

According to an embodiment, when a user releases more heat from an area in contact with the thermoelectric element through physical activity, a temperature difference between an area in contact with the thermoelectric element and the user and an area where the wearable device is exposed to the outside increases. Thus, the power generation unit 101 may further generate electrical energy.

According to another embodiment, when the electromotive force generated by the temperature difference in the power generation unit is less than or equal to a reference value, the output unit 106 generates a voltage between an area in contact with the thermoelectric element and the user and an area where the wearable device is exposed to the outside. A message may be output such that the external exposed area is brought into contact with an object having a temperature difference with the outside in order to induce an increase in the temperature difference of . For example, when the temperature of the area where the wearable device is exposed to the outside is higher than the temperature of the area where the thermoelectric element and the user come into contact, the output unit 106 causes the wearable device to contact a high-temperature object such as an electric pad or a hot pad. The message 'Touch warm object' can be displayed.

The determination unit 105 divides the state of the user into three stages including emergency, danger, and normal based on signals measured by the user sensor 103 and the environment sensor 104, and the user When the state of is emergency, control to transmit emergency information to a pre-designated external terminal, control the camera sensor including the environment sensor 104 to record an emergency, and when the user's state is dangerous , It is possible to control dangerous situation information to be transmitted to the predetermined external terminal.

The determination unit 105 determines the user's state as urgent if the change in the user's body temperature or external temperature exceeds a predetermined value in a situation where the distance between a predetermined external terminal and the wearable device 100 having a self-charging function is more than a predetermined distance. can judge The predetermined distance and the predetermined value are values that can be set in advance and can be changed according to the user's characteristics. Exemplarily, in a state where the distance between a predetermined external terminal and the wearable device 100 having a self-charging function is more than a predetermined distance (eg, 2 km), the user's body temperature is a predetermined value (eg, 0.5 degrees within 1 minute), the determination unit 105 determines the user's state as urgent, transmits emergency situation information to a predetermined external terminal, and the camera sensor included in the environment sensor 104 records the emergency situation. can be controlled to In addition, since the terminal is far from a predetermined external terminal, in order to receive emergency help, the output unit 106 may request help from the outside by outputting an emergency help request signal. According to one embodiment, the emergency help signal is 'help is needed.' or 'You are in need of protection.' It could be an audio signal calling for help around the back.

In another embodiment, the wearable device 100 having a self-charging function may be configured for a case where the user is far away from a predetermined external terminal through a guardian going out mode or a travel mode.

The determination unit 105 may determine the user's condition as dangerous when the user's heart rate is out of a predetermined range. Illustratively, when the user's heart rate per minute is out of a predetermined range (eg, ±50 beats per minute), the determination unit 105 may determine the user's condition as dangerous. When the determination unit 105 determines that the user's state is dangerous, it can control dangerous situation information to be transmitted to the predetermined external terminal.

In another embodiment, a predetermined range (eg, ±50 times) than the average heart rate of the user in a state separated by a predetermined distance (eg, 2 km) or more from an external terminal designated in advance by the environment sensor 104. ) and receiving a signal that the user's body temperature has increased by more than a predetermined predetermined value (eg, 0.5 degrees within 1 minute) by the user sensor 103, the determination unit 105 determines the user's condition as urgent. can

In another embodiment, the average heart rate of the user within a predetermined distance (eg, 2 km) from the external terminal designated in advance by the environment sensor 104 is out of a predetermined range (eg ± 50 times). The determination unit 105 that has received the signal that it has occurred may determine the user's condition as dangerous.

2 is an exemplary view of a wearable device having a self-charging function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the power generation unit 101 generates electric energy according to an electromotive force generated by a temperature difference between an area in contact with the thermoelectric element 220 and the user and an area where the wearable device is exposed to the outside. can

Referring to FIG. 2, the output unit 210 outputs light of different colors according to the user's body temperature measured by the user sensor 103, and the determination unit 105 determines the user's state as urgent. If so, an emergency help request signal can be output.

The wearable device 100 having the self-charging function may further include at least one of a QR tag and an RF tag located on the front of the wearable device and capable of verifying the guardian's address and phone number. The QR tag may include a pattern code associated with the guardian's address and phone number information. When a predetermined terminal scans the pattern code of the QR tag, the predetermined terminal can access the guardian's address and phone number information. An RF tag consists of an antenna and an integrated circuit, and the integrated circuit can transmit information to a reader through the antenna. The information transmitted by the integrated circuit may include a pattern code associated with the guardian's address and phone number information.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the wearable device 100 having a self-charging function has a ring shape, and the inner circumferential surface of the ring is in contact with the user and the outer circumferential surface of the ring is in contact with the external atmosphere and the inner circumferential surface is in contact with the user. can do.

According to an embodiment, the ring-shaped wearable device 100 having a self-charging function can adjust its circumference so that it can easily come in contact with a user.

In another embodiment, sensors included in the wearable device 100 having a self-charging function may be detachable if necessary.

3 is an exemplary diagram for explaining the Seebeck-Peltier effect of a thermoelectric element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The generator 101 of the wearable device 100 having a self-charging function according to an embodiment may generate electric energy by using the Seebeck effect of a thermoelectric element. The power generation unit 101 may receive the user's body temperature from the user's contact area and receive the external temperature from the external exposure area. The thermoelectric element may generate electric energy using an electromotive force generated according to a temperature difference between the received body temperature and the external temperature. Since the temperature difference between both ends of the thermoelectric element is an important variable in the amount of electric energy generated, it may be important to collect the heat well. Therefore, in order to improve the heat collecting ability, a black heat collecting plate may be used or a structure preventing heat from being emitted may be used.

Through the Peltier effect disclosed in FIG. 3 , the wearable device 100 having a self-charging function controls to provide current to the thermoelectric element 230 when the user's body temperature is out of a predetermined range, so that the wearable device and the wearable device 100 The temperature of an area in contact with the user may be changed.

Referring to FIG. 3 , an embodiment in which a pair of P-type semiconductors 330 and 331 and N-type semiconductors 340 and 341 are used as a thermoelectric element will be described. Inside the power generation unit 101, the upper and lower heat collecting plates 310 and lower heat collecting plates 320 and the P-type semiconductors 330 and 331 and the N-type semiconductors 340 and 341 between the upper and lower heat collecting plates are arranged to cross each other, and It may be composed of copper plates 350 , 351 , 352 connecting the N-type semiconductors 330 and 331 and the N-type semiconductors 340 and 341 , an electrode 360 connected to the P-type semiconductor, and an electrode 370 connected to the N-type semiconductor. In this configuration, when the anode is connected to the electrode 370 connected to the N-type semiconductor and the cathode is connected to the electrode 360 connected to the P-type semiconductor, an endothermic reaction occurs in the upper heat collecting plate 310 and the lower heat collecting plate 320 An exothermic reaction may occur. Using this, when the user's body temperature is low according to an embodiment, heat may be generated and the generated heat may be transmitted to the user.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the thermoelectric element may include a pair of bismuth and antimony in addition to a pair of an N-type semiconductor and a P-type semiconductor.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a wearable device having a self-charging function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the wearable device 100 having a self-charging function measures signals through the user sensing unit 103 and the environment sensing unit 104 (S410), and the determination unit 105 determines the user state It can (S420). Illustratively, in step S420, when the determination unit 105 determines that the user's state is urgent, it controls to transmit emergency situation information to a pre-designated external terminal, and the camera sensor including the environment sensor 104. may control to record an emergency situation and control the output unit 106 to output an emergency help request signal.

The methods according to the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer means and recorded on a computer readable medium. Computer readable media may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. Program instructions recorded on a computer readable medium may be specially designed and configured for the present invention or may be known and usable to those skilled in computer software.

Examples of computer readable media may include hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions may include not only machine language codes generated by a compiler but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter and the like. The hardware device described above may be configured to operate with at least one software module to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

In addition, the above-described method or device may be implemented by combining all or some of its components or functions, or may be implemented separately.

Although the above has been described with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will variously modify and change the present invention within the scope not departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims below. You will understand that it can be done.

Claims (5)

In a wearable device having a self-charging function,
a power generation unit generating electrical energy using a thermoelectric element;
a power management unit supplying and managing driving power of the wearable device using electrical energy generated by the power generation unit;
a user sensing unit that detects a biosignal including at least one of a user's heart rate, electrocardiogram, body temperature, and blood oxygen saturation;
an environment sensor for detecting an external environment including at least one of a position sensor, an infrared sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a gas sensor, a fine dust sensor, and a camera sensor;
a determination unit for determining a state of a user based on signals measured through the user sensing unit and the environment sensing unit; and
An output unit outputting information obtained from the power generation unit, the user sensing unit, the environment sensing unit, and the determination unit.
including,
the output unit,
When the electromotive force generated by the temperature difference in the power generation unit is less than or equal to a reference value, a first message related to predetermined body activity information is provided to the user to induce an increase in the temperature difference between the contact area and the externally exposed area, and the wearable device Providing a second message that causes the externally exposed area to contact an object having a temperature difference with the outside to induce an increase in the temperature difference between the externally exposed areas;
The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the power management unit reduces an active sensor unit of the user sensing unit and the environment sensing unit and reduces a measurement period when the level of the stored residual power or generated electromotive force is low.
According to claim 1,
The development department,
The wearable device generates electrical energy according to an electromotive force generated by a temperature difference between an area in contact with the thermoelectric element and the user and an area where the wearable device is exposed to the outside.
According to claim 2,
The judge,
The user's state is divided into three stages including emergency, danger, and normal based on signals measured by the user sensor and the environment sensor,
When the user's state is emergency, control to transmit emergency situation information to a predetermined external terminal, and control a camera sensor included in the environment sensor to record an emergency situation;
When the user's state is dangerous, the wearable device controls to transmit dangerous situation information to the predetermined external terminal.
According to claim 3,
the output unit,
When the electromotive force generated by the temperature difference in the power generation unit is less than the reference value,
Outputting light of different colors according to the user's body temperature measured by the user sensing unit;
The wearable device outputs an emergency help request signal when the determination unit determines that the user's state is urgent.
According to claim 4,
The wearable device having the self-charging function,
When the user's body temperature is out of a predetermined range, control to provide current to the thermoelectric element to change the temperature of an area in contact with the wearable device and the user;
Further comprising at least one of a QR tag and an RF tag located on the front of the wearable device and capable of verifying a guardian's address and phone number;
has a ring shape,
The wearable device, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the ring contacts the user and the inner circumferential surface of the ring contacts the external atmosphere.

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