Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
  • A61B5/103—Measuring devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
  • A61B5/11—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb
  • A61B5/1116—Determining posture transitions
  • A61B5/1117—Fall detection

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for detecting a fall, in particular for detecting the fall of a person, with a view to transmitting an alert signal so as to provoke, if necessary, an emergency intervention comprising at least one housing in which at least two atmospheric pressure sensors are mounted.
• Detection is achieved through the use of three-dimensional velocity sensors or accelerometers or position sensors which identify the wearer moving from the vertical station to an inclined or horizontal position and emitting a signal following this detection.
• These devices have a high error rate, in the form of so-called positive errors, that is to say that they trigger a signal on the basis of an erroneous interpretation, for example when the wearer has sudden movements playing cards, waking up suddenly or stooping to pick up an object or in the form of negative errors, that is to say they do not trigger a signal while the wearer performs, for example, a fall slow by holding onto a wall or leaning against an object.
• Such an apparatus is for example illustrated by the European patent application published under No. 1,731,098 A1, which relates to a "method for detecting a fall of a person" using at least one accelerometer and one magnetometer. A fall is identified when the apparatus records a large and rapid oscillation of the acceleration signal which coincides with a variation of the ambient magnetic field.
• Another device for detecting, alerting and transmitting information is represented by the European patent application published under No. 1,632,920 A1 which describes a portable device comprising at least one shock sensor and a fall sensor which include a miniature inertial unit including accelerometers and gyroscopes and means for transmitting an alert signal.
• Another autonomous fall detection device is described by the international publication WO 2004/100092 A2, this device being arranged to measure the acceleration, to detect an acceleration and to ensure the transmission of a signal to a remote receiver arranged for trigger an alarm for an emergency response.
• the European patent application published under No. 1,870,037 A1 describes a device for detecting a fall and immobility of a carrier, this device comprising at least one sensor providing, if necessary, an acceleration signal and a position signal of the user of the device.
• US Pat. No. 3,667,293 also discloses a bimorph sensor arranged to measure pressure variations, in particular for altitude measurements in the field of aeronautics.
• This type of sensor does not work on the same bases as that of the device of the invention and does not allow the fall detection with an acceptable error rate. Indeed, it uses either a single sensor or two sensors subjected on one side to the pressure of the air and on the other side to the vacuum.
• the two sensors used are always arranged coaxially head to tail and the ambient air is conveyed equally on each of them thus allowing the separation of the effect of gravity, which greatly increases the reliability of the measurements.
• the innovative solution proposed therefore resolves in a certain and reliable manner the problem of identifying a fall of a person carrying the device of the invention, by simple, economic and miniaturized means such that they are likely to be integrated into various objects worn by the user, without causing discomfort and without causing inconvenience in terms of aesthetics.
• the fall detection device as defined in the preamble is characterized in that said sensors are arranged to communicate both directly with the ambient air in order to deliver a measurement of absolute value of the pressure. atmospheric, and in that they are coaxially arranged head to tail so as to cancel the effect of gravity on the difference in atmospheric pressure generated during a fall.
• the sensors are preferably identical and of the absolute pressure sensor type and they are arranged to deliver a measurement of absolute value of the atmospheric pressure.
• the at least one housing comprises two cavities arranged to accommodate respectively said two sensors, said cavities each being provided with at least one opening arranged to convey the ambient air on the two atmospheric pressure sensors equally.
• the device comprises means arranged to generate said warning signal as a function of the values of the pressure measurements. atmospheric effected by the sensors and means arranged to transmit this alert signal to a transmitting station.
• the device comprises two pairs of atmospheric pressure sensors, arranged to communicate both directly with the ambient air and arranged so that the sensors of each of said pairs are arranged coaxially head-to-tail, the sensors of one of the pairs being mounted along a first axis and the sensors of the other pair being mounted along a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis.
• the sensors of each of said pairs are advantageously identical and deliver a measurement of absolute value of the atmospheric pressure.
• the device may comprise three pairs of atmospheric pressure sensors, arranged to communicate all three directly with the ambient air and arranged in such a way that the sensors of each of said pairs are arranged coaxially head-to-tail and mounted in three axes respectively perpendicular to each other.
• FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention
• FIG. 1A is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, in the direction defined by arrow A
• FIG. 1B represents a view from above of the device of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrow B
• FIG. 1C is a sectional view along a plane of section integrating the axis C-C, of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 2 represents an alternative perspective view of the embodiment of the device of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 2A represents an elevational view in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 2B represents a view from above in the direction of arrow B of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 2C represents a sectional view along a plane of section integrating the axis CC 1 of the device of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 2D represents a sectional view along a plane of section integrating the axis D-D, of the device of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• FIG. 3A represents an elevational view in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 3B represents a view from above of the device of FIG. 3
• FIG. 3C represents a sectional view along a plane of section integrating the axis CC, of the device of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 3D represents a sectional view along a plane of section integrating the axis D-D, of the device of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• FIG. 4A represents an elevational view in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 4B represents a view from above in the direction of arrow B of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 4C represents a sectional view along a plane of section integrating the axis C-C, of the device of FIG. 4, and
• FIG. 4D represents a sectional view along a plane of section integrating the axis D-D, of the device of FIG. 4,
• the fall detection device 10 consists of two identical housings 11 each containing an identical sensor 12 housed in a suitable cavity 13 of the housing 11 corresponding.
• the sensors are of the pressure sensor type which can be made with different components, for example piezoelectric sensors, quartz sensors or silicon sensors.
• the housings 11 are mounted on a printed circuit 14 by means of electrical connection tabs 15.
• the cavities 13 in which the sensors 12 are housed are closed by a closure plate 16 constituting a kind of cover resting on the side walls 11a of the housing 11, this closure plate 16 being provided with an opening 17 arranged to the cavity 13 containing the sensor 12 in communication with the ambient air.
• the sensor 12 is in the form of an electronic chip 18 disposed on the bottom 11b of the housing 11 and which is connected to the electrical connection tabs 15. This chip 18 is covered with a layer of a sealing gel 19 intended to protect it from moisture.
• the two sensors 12 are preferably identical, but arranged coaxially head to tail. This arrangement makes it possible to cancel the effect of gravity on the difference in atmospheric pressure and, consequently, the difference in height, which makes the result of the measurements extremely precise.
• the pressure difference acts on both sensors simultaneously. Gravity or other forces external to the fall can be separated from the clean fall.
• the device of FIG. 1 makes it possible to obtain measurements in a single direction which is that of the axis of the sensors, represented by the arrow B 1, this axis being substantially perpendicular to the substrate 14 of the printed circuit.
• the openings 17 are arranged to convey the ambient air equally to the two sensors 12. The analysis of the measurements obtained by the two sensors makes it possible to eliminate disturbances due to the supply of air.
• the electronic chip 18 advantageously comprises means for generating a signal as a function of the fall detection measurements and means for transmitting this signal, preferably automatically in the form of a warning signal, to a transmitting station which is designed to react by provoking an emergency intervention by a suitable structure.
• the device 10 consists of a single housing 11 containing two identical sensors 12, respectively housed in two appropriate cavities 13 of the housing 11.
• Said housing 11 is mounted on a printed circuit 14 by means of electrical connection tabs 15.
• the cavities 13 are closed by a closure plate 16 constituting a kind of cover resting on the side walls 11a of the housing 11.
• the two cavities 13 are separated by a central partition 20 which divides the case into two identical compartments.
• the closure plates 16 do not have openings for the passage of atmospheric air.
• This air supply is provided by an opening 21 passing through a lateral wall 11a of the housing 11 which opens onto a lateral clearance 22 communicating with two chimneys 23 which connect said lateral clearance 22 with the respective cavities 13 of the two sensors 12.
• the operating principle and the advantages of this device are substantially similar to those of the device of FIG. 1.
• the sensors are arranged on one and the same side of the printed circuit, which can have constructive advantages depending on the applications envisaged and according to FIG. implanting sensors in objects such as watches, pendants, bracelets or any other utility object.
• FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D illustrate a second embodiment of the device 10 in which the housing 11 contains four identical sensors 12.
• the housing 11 is mounted on a printed circuit 14 by means of the legs of FIG. electrical connection 15.
• the housing 11 has a central block 30 which serves to support two pairs of sensors 12 arranged two to two head-to-tail along perpendicular axes.
• This central support delimits four cavities 31 by arms 32 in which the sensors are located.
• cavities 31 are either directly open to the ambient air, thanks to the existence of openings in the closing plates of these cavities, or by indirect passages that put the cavities in communication with the ambient air.
• This embodiment makes it possible to have measurements along two orthogonal axes and, consequently, to identify a vertical fall or an oblique fall and to determine the components of the direction of a fall along two perpendicular axes.
• the device 10 consists of a single housing 11 containing six identical sensors 12, mounted on a printed circuit 14 by means of electrical connection tabs. 15.
• the housing 11 comprises a central block 40 which serves to support three pairs of sensors 12 arranged two to two head-to-tail along three perpendicular axes.
• This central support 40 delimits six cavities 41 by arms 42 which create housings in which the sensors are located.
• cavities 41 are either directly open to the ambient air, thanks to the existence of openings in the closure plates of the cavities or by indirect passages that put the cavities in communication with the ambient air.
• This embodiment makes it possible to have measurements along three orthogonal axes and, consequently, to identify a vertical fall or an oblique fall and to determine the components of the direction of a fall along three perpendicular axes.
• the present invention solves the problem posed, namely that of detecting a fall.
• the generated signal can be amplified by cascaded amplifiers integrated in the housings, which reduces their bulk, and low parasitic emission through the use of a high precision analog-to-digital converter. and low level of interference.
• the signal is then communicated by a wired connection or wireless communication by waves, to a central monitoring that drives a possible emergency response.
• the device can find classic applications in the surveillance sector of the elderly or sick, but also in the field of sports such as skydiving, kite flying, mountain sports etc. or for the protection of workers working in isolation in a potentially dangerous environment.

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• Dentistry (AREA)
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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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Family

ID=41211741

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• 2009
  • 2009-03-20 CH CH00428/09A patent/CH700641B1/fr not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2010
  • 2010-03-16 WO PCT/CH2010/000071 patent/WO2010105379A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2010-03-16 US US13/257,477 patent/US20120016270A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-03-16 EP EP10711821A patent/EP2408367A1/de not_active Ceased

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