WO2016030399A1

WO2016030399A1 - Childcare monitoring system

Info

Publication number: WO2016030399A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/069481
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurent Windenberger
Original assignee: A L T Partners
Priority date: 2014-08-27
Filing date: 2015-08-26
Publication date: 2016-03-03
Also published as: FR3025347B1; FR3025347A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a childcare monitoring system (2), comprising at least one first terminal (4), also referred to as the baby terminal, at least one second terminal (6), also referred to as the parent terminal, and a power-line communication system (8) connecting the first terminal to the second terminal, the communication system comprising a home network (34) which distributes high-voltage AC electrical power having an effective value of 220 or 110 volts, the home network including a plurality of electrical wall sockets (36), and at least two power-line communication connections (38, 39) configured to connect each terminal to the home network, each connection comprising at least one adaptor (40, 41) configured to plug into the wall sockets. The power-line communication connection (38) for the first terminal (4) is configured to supply power to the first terminal at a single low-voltage alternating current having an effective value of 3-12 volts. The adaptor of this connection is suitable for converting high voltage to low voltage while maintaining power-line communication data transmission.

Description

PUERICULTURE MONITORING SYSTEM

The invention relates to a childcare monitoring system.

In the field of monitoring and control systems, it is common for a first terminal to be configured to communicate without a wired connection with a second terminal: a radio wave connection is often used to connect the terminals and to transmit relative digital data. to images, videos, sounds / voices and texts. In the case where such a monitoring system is applied to childcare to monitor a baby, typically when the baby is in his room, it turns out that the baby is exposed to a radio frequency environment. Several studies have shown that the absorption of radio waves for a baby exposed to such an environment is very important and significantly greater than the absorption of an adult exposed to the same environment.

In this regard, it is known to use an online power line communication system, which connects a baby terminal to a parent terminal. Powerline communication online makes it possible, to some extent, to make a computer network on an electrical network, such as a home network. The principle of line carrier communication in line is to superimpose on the distribution voltage, which in particular is 220 or 1 10 volts and has a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz, a signal of lower amplitude and higher frequency. CN 2012 44 156 proposes to use a home electrical power distribution network to transmit digital data, removing radio frequencies from the baby's environment. By cons, the baby terminal, including a video camera of the latter, is fed at the voltage of the aforementioned home network, that is to say 220 or 1 10 volts. We understand that it is risky for the baby to place near such a camera because an electrical accident at such a voltage is particularly dangerous.

It is moreover known from WO-A-03/021930, US-A-2007/149258 and US-A-2008/186150 that in-line carrier current communication systems can operate by "mixing" the alternating voltage of a domestic network, worth 1 10 or 220 volts, with a voltage, if any continuous, having a value a little lower.

It is this disadvantage that the invention intends to remedy more particularly by proposing a childcare monitoring system that is safer.

In this spirit, the invention relates to a childcare monitoring system comprising at least a first terminal, also called baby terminal, and at least a second terminal, also called parent terminal. The monitoring system also includes a powerline communication system in line, connecting the first terminal at the second terminal and having a home electrical power distribution network at an alternating high voltage having an effective value of 220 or 1 10 volts, the home network including a plurality of wall outlets. The communication system also includes at least two in-line powerline connections configured to connect each terminal to the home network. In addition, each connection includes at least one adapter configured to connect to wall outlets. According to the invention, the line carrier connection in line for the first terminal is configured to supply the first terminal with a single low AC voltage having an effective value between 3 and 12 volts, the adapter of this connection being adapted to transform high voltage into low voltage, while maintaining in-line carrier data transmission.

Thanks to the invention, the first terminal is powered by an AC voltage having an effective value between 3 and 12 volts, preferably 5 volts. This is obtained through the adapter of the in-line carrier connection of the first terminal, which makes it possible to switch from the high voltage of the home network to the low voltage in order to supply the terminal, while keeping the communication current online carrier, digital data from the first terminal to the communication system. Thus, the first terminal can be positioned near a baby to monitor because, in addition to preserving the baby radio waves too powerful, it does not represent any electrical risk.

According to advantageous but non-mandatory aspects of the invention, such a childcare monitoring system comprises one or more of the following features, taken in any technically permissible combination:

- The first terminal includes a video camera.

The first terminal also comprises a removable communication medium, such as a USB key, connectable to a USB port of the camera, the removable medium including wireless communication means adapted to establish a wireless communication, in particular according to a protocol IEEE 802.1 1, also called Wi-Fi protocol, between the first terminal and the second terminal when the line carrier communication system is off.

- The first terminal also comprises a speaker and / or a microphone and / or a thermometer and / or a hygrometer and / or a night light and / or a fixing system, including attachment to a cot.

The second terminal comprises a decoder configured to decode digital data of the first terminal transmitted by the on-line carrier current communication system, while the decoder includes communication means without wires, in particular according to the Wi-Fi protocol, and / or wired communication means for transmitting the digital data to external electronic devices and / or means of connection to a computer server.

- External electronic devices include a computer and / or a smartphone and / or tablet and / or television.

- The second terminal comprises a receiving station and a digital data display receiver, the station and the receiver being connected by wireless communication means.

- A connection cable for the first terminal is a USB 3.0 cable and the first terminal, including its video camera, is equipped with a USB 3.0 port.

- The low AC voltage has an effective value of 5 volts.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a child care monitoring system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a representation similar to that of Figure 1 for a childcare monitoring system according to a second embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 3 is a representation similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 for a childcare monitoring system according to a third embodiment of the invention.

In FIG. 1, a domestic environment 1, such as a house or an apartment, comprises a childcare surveillance system 2. This system 2 comprises a first terminal 4, also called a baby terminal, a second terminal 6, also called a terminal. parents, and a powerline communication system 8 in line.

The baby terminal 4 comprises a video camera 10 and a fixing system 12. The video camera 10 has a night vision sensor and a mood lighting. The fastening system 12 makes it possible to fix the video camera 10 on a baby bed or on a piece of furniture or a wall next to the baby bed.

According to options not shown in the figures, the baby terminal 4 also comprises a loudspeaker and / or a microphone and / or a thermometer and / or a hygrometer and / or a night light.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the parent terminal 6 comprises a decoder 14. The decoder 14 is configured to decode digital data from the decoder 14. baby terminal 4 which are transmitted by the communication system 8 with carrier current in line.

The decoder 14 is in communication with external electronic devices. In particular, the decoder 14 comprises means 16 for wireless communication, in particular according to an IEEE 802.1 1 protocol, also called Wi-Fi protocol. The communication means 16 are able to receive and transmit according to this Wi-Fi protocol. first embodiment of the invention, the communication means 16 are configured to transmit the digital data to a smartphone 18 and / or a tablet and / or a television and / or a computer. The smartphone 18 is equipped with an application capable of displaying the digital data received.

The decoder 14 also comprises means 22 for wired communication with a computer 24 configured to display on its screen the decoded digital data.

The decoder 14 also comprises means 26 for wired connection via a telephone connector 28 to a computer server 30, this server 30 being configured to transmit the digital data to a computer network 32, in particular an Internet network. The internet network 32 transmits via mobile phone standards the digital data to the smartphone 18 which is equipped with the aforementioned application to display the digital data received. This makes it possible to connect the baby terminal 4 to the smartphone 18 even when the smartphone 18 is outside the domestic environment 1. In other words, this makes it possible to extend the parent terminal 6 beyond the domestic environment 1.

The in-line carrier current communication system 8 comprises a domestic high-voltage AC power distribution network 34 having an effective value of 220 or 1 10 volts.

The home network 34 includes a plurality of wall outlets 36, for example female.

The communication system 8 also comprises two connections 38 and 39 with a carrier current in line.

The connection 38 includes an in-line carrier adapter 40 and an in-line carrier cable 42. The adapter 40 is configured to connect to any of the wall sockets 36 and the cable 42 is provided to connect the adapter 40 and the baby terminal 4 to each other.

The connection 38 thus connects the baby terminal 4 to the home network 34 and, in addition to being configured to transmit online digital carrier power, this connection 38 is provided to feed the video camera 10 of the baby terminal 4 with a low voltage, that is to say a voltage whose value is much lower than that of the voltage of the home network 34.

Indeed, the adapter 40 is adapted to transform the voltage at 220 or 1 10 volts into the low voltage, while keeping the power line transmission online of the digital data of the baby terminal 4 to the communication system 8.

In practice, the value of this low voltage is provided low enough to consider that it does not run an electrical risk to a baby who, accidentally, would be subject to an electric shock via the cable 42. Thus, the bass aforementioned voltage is an alternating voltage having an effective value of preferably 5 volts. More generally, its effective value is chosen between 3 and 12 volts.

The cable 42 is connected to the video camera 10 and to the adapter 40. According to one embodiment, the camera 10 includes a USB 3.0 port, such as a micro-USB 3.0 port B, and the cable 42 is a USB cable. 3.0 associated, such as a USB 3.0 micro B cable, configured for powerline transmission in line and for power supply, typically at 5 volts and 500mA.

The connection 39 comprises an adapter 41 and a cable 43. The adapter 41 is configured to connect to any of the wall sockets 36 and the cable 43 is provided to connect the adapter 41 and the terminal 6. The adapter 41 is adapted to transmit the digital data carrier line power of the communication system 8 to the decoder 14 of the parent terminal 6. The cable 43 is connected to the decoder 14 and the adapter 41. According to one embodiment, the cable 43 is an RJ45 cable.

The connection 39 also includes an electrical outlet 44, for example male, and a power supply cable 45. The electrical outlet 44 is configured to connect to any of the wall outlets 36 and the power cable 45 is provided to connect the receptacle 44 and the parent terminal 6 to one another for power supply purposes. electric decoder 14.

The connection 39 thus connects the parent terminal 6 to the home network 34 and makes it possible, by means of its adapter 41 and its cable 43, to communicate to the decoder 14 the digital data by power line and, by through its socket 44 and its cable 45, to feed the decoder 14 of the parent terminal 6 with the high voltage.

According to a variant not shown in FIG. 1, the connection 39 comprises a single adapter and a single cable, which are configured both to communicate to the decoder 14 of the parent terminal 6 the digital data by carrier current in line and to supply this decoder 14 with high voltage. The operation of the childcare monitoring system 2 is as follows. When the baby is in his room, including sleeping in his bed, the video camera 10 captures visual information and, where appropriate, sound, and transforms it into a sequence of digital data. This digital data is sent, via the cable 42, by in-line carrier current, to the adapter 40, connected to the socket 36, which introduces them into the home network 34. The digital data is then taken from the network 34 by the adapter 41 and sent, via the cable 43, by line carrier, to the decoder 14. The decoder 14, once decoded the digital data, transmits either to the computer 24 or the smartphone 18 via the Wi-Fi protocol or the server 30, the latter for receiving via mobile phone standards the digital data on the smartphone 18 when it is outside the home environment 1.

In Figure 2, the elements of the second embodiment, which are similar to those of the first embodiment, bear the same references, increased by 100, as those of the first embodiment. Subsequently, the elements of the second embodiment which are similar to those of the first embodiment are not described in detail.

In the second embodiment, the parent terminal 106 includes a receiving station 17 and a digital data display receiver 19.

The line carrier connection 139 includes an in-line carrier adapter 46 and an in-line carrier cable 47 configured to connect to the receiving station 17. The connection 139 thus connects the parent terminal 106 to the home network. 134 and is configured to communicate to the parent terminal 106 line carrier digital data in-line and to power the parent terminal 106 with the low voltage.

Indeed, the adapter 46 is adapted to transform the voltage at 220 or 1 10 volts into the low voltage which is preferably 5 volts, while keeping the transmission line current of the digital data of the communication system 108 to the terminal In one embodiment, the cable 47 is an associated USB 3.0 cable, such as a micro USB 3.0 cable.

According to a variant not shown in the figures, the connection 139 consists of a single adapter 46 configured to connect, on the one hand, to the station 17 and, on the other hand, to the wall outlets 136 of the network 134. In other words, the presence of the cable 47 is not essential.

The display receiver 19 is powered by batteries, including lithium batteries. The station 17 is configured to receive the receiver 19. The station 17 comprises means for recharging the lithium batteries of the receiver 19.

The station 17 also comprises means 48 for wireless communication, in particular according to the Wi-Fi protocol as mentioned above. The communication means 48 are adapted to transmit the digital data to the display receiver 19.

According to a variant not shown in the figures, the receiving station 17 and the display receiver 19 are fused in one piece and form a wired receiver.

The operation of the second embodiment of the childcare monitoring system 2 differs from that of the first embodiment at the parent terminal 106. The digital data is taken from the network 134 by the adapter 46 and sent via the cable 47, through in the receiving station 17. This station 17 decodes the information and, when the receiver 19 is detached from the station 19, the station 17 sends the data to the display receiver 19 via the Wi-Fi protocol When the display receiver 19 is received on the station 17, the data transmission is made via wired communication means and the station 17 recharges the batteries of the receiver 19 via its recharging means. The Wi-Fi protocol is interrupted, deleting the corresponding radio frequencies around the parent terminal 106.

In Figure 3, the elements of the third embodiment, which are similar to those of the first embodiment, bear the same references, increased by 200, as those of the first embodiment. In the following, the elements of the third embodiment which are similar to those of the first embodiment are not described in detail.

In the third embodiment, the parent terminal 206 includes the decoder 214, the receiving station 217 and the display receiver 219. The other elements associated with the decoder 214 are omitted from FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity of the drawing.

The video camera 210 of the baby terminal 204 includes a removable communication medium 13, such as a USB key, which is connected to the video camera 210 via a USB port, in particular a USB 2.0 type A port, which is not shown in Figure 3 for clarity of the drawing. The USB key 13 comprises means 15 for wireless communication, in particular according to the Wi-Fi protocol mentioned above. The USB key 13 is configured to transmit the digital data to the display receiver 219 and / or the decoder 214, it being understood that, in this case, the communication means 216 are configured to receive the digital data.

According to one option, the USB key 13 is configured to transmit the digital data according to the Wi-Fi protocol to the smartphone 218 or to the tablet. When the in-line carrier current communication system 208 is off, i.e. the line carrier communication is interrupted while the communication system 208 still provides a power supply via its home network 234, the surveillance system 202 enters "degraded mode" and uses the USB key 1: as indicated schematically in FIG. 3, the digital data is then sent, via the Wi-Fi protocol, either to the receiver 219, or to the smartphone 218, or to the decoder 214, the latter having the same function as that described in the first embodiment.

This third embodiment of the invention that uses the USB key 13 is not preferred over the communication system 208. Indeed, when the communication system 208 is correctly in function, the USB stick 13 is connected or no, the communication between the baby terminal 204 and the parent terminal 206 is by carrier current in line, as described for the first or second embodiment.

The embodiments and alternatives contemplated above may be combined with one another to generate new embodiments of the invention. In particular, it can be envisaged that the parent terminal 6 is devoid of the USB key 13, while cumulating the decoder 14 and the station 17 - receiver 19.

Claims

1. - Childcare monitoring system (2), comprising:

at least one first terminal (4; 204), also called a baby terminal,

at least one second terminal (6; 106; 206), also called parent terminal, and

an on-line carrier communication system (8) connecting the first terminal to the second terminal, the communication system comprising:

- a home network (34; 134; 234) for distributing electrical energy at an alternating high voltage having an effective value of 220 or 1 10 volts, the home network including a plurality of wall outlets (36; 136), and

at least two in-line powerline connections (38, 39; 38, 139) configured to connect each terminal to the home network, each connection comprising at least one adapter (40, 41; 40, 46) configured to connect to the jacks; wall,

the monitoring system being characterized in that the line carrier connection (38) for the first terminal (4; 204) is configured to supply the first terminal with a single low AC voltage having an effective value of between 3 and 12 volts, the adapter (40) of this connection being adapted to transform the high voltage into the low voltage, while maintaining a power line data transmission line.

2. - Surveillance system (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first terminal (4; 204) comprises a video camera (10; 210).

3.- surveillance system according to claim 2, characterized in that the first terminal (204) also comprises a removable communication medium (13), such as a USB key, connectable to a USB port of the camera (210) , the removable medium including wireless communication means (15) adapted to establish a wireless communication, in particular according to an IEEE 802.1 1 protocol, also called Wi-Fi protocol, between the first terminal and the second terminal (206) when the In-line carrier communication system (208) is off.

4. Monitoring system according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the first terminal (4; 204) also comprises a speaker and / or a microphone and / or a thermometer and / or a hygrometer and / or a night light and / or a fastening system (12), including fixing on a cot.

5. - Surveillance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second terminal (6; 206) comprises a decoder (14; 214) configured to decode digital data of the first terminal (4; 204) transmitted by the in-line carrier communication system (8; 208) and in that the decoder includes wireless communication means (16; 216), in particular according to the Wi-Fi protocol, and / or wired communication means ( 22) for transmitting digital data to external electronic devices and / or means (26) for connection to a computer server.

6. - Monitoring system according to claim 5, characterized in that the external electronic devices comprise a computer (24) and / or a smartphone (18) and / or a tablet and / or a television.

7. - Surveillance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second terminal (106; 206) comprises a receiving station (17; 217) and a display receiver (19; 219) digital data. , the station and the receiver being connected by wireless communication means (48).

8. - surveillance system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cable (42) of the connection (38) for the first terminal (4) is a USB 3.0 cable and in that the first terminal, including its video camera (10), is equipped with a USB 3.0 port.

9. Monitoring system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the low AC voltage has an effective value of 5 volts.