Apparatus and method for helping Alzheimer patients

• US 10,283,003 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2017
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen R. Zhu
• Original Assignee: Stephen R. Zhu
• Inventors: Zhu, Stephen R
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US15/700,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20170372627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 605 Days
• Field of Search: 434319
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/102 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for helping Alzheimer patients to locate their belonging by allowing the patients to attach to the belonging with a label which can be identified and located by a label identifier in a room. As a result, the patients are now able quickly find where the belonging are and their life quality can be improved by reducing their anxiety and frustration in finding the belongings.

Claims

1. An apparatus for helping a person locating a belonging in a room, comprising:

an input device configured for receiving an input related to the belonging from the person and turning the input into an input signal;

an identifier configured for identifying the presence and location of the belonging upon receipt of the input signal, and outputting an output signal containing information of the presence and location of the belonging,

wherein the identifier comprises

a sensor configured for determining the presence and location of a label operably attached to the belonging, said sensor being connected to three antennas located in the room, wherein the locations of the three antennas in the room are predetermined, and wherein the three antennas are communicated with the label, and

a camera configured for scanning the room to show a 3D map of the room and for recognizing the belonging or an object adjacent to the belonging using an artificial intelligence or machine learning software; and

an output device configured for informing the person of the presence and location of the belonging upon receipt of the output signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an input transfer component configured for transferring the input signal to the identifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an output transfer component configured for transferring the output signal to the output device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input is selected from the group consisting of gesture, touch, typing, voice or brain function.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of TV, LED, PAD, phone, computer, voice activated device, touch screen, BMI (Brain Matter Interface), and motion activated panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device is selected from the group consisting of TV, LED, PAD, phone, computer, voice activated device, touch screen, BMI (Brain Matter Interface), and motion activated panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device and the input device are the same device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the label is pre-made and adhered to the belonging.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device and/or the output device are outside the room.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device and/or the output device are inside the room.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an RFID reader.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the label is an RFID chip.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the belonging is a personal item selected from the group consisting of currency, a wallet, a passport, a card, a key, a notepad, a book, a medicine bottle, a rubber band, a toothbrush, a bag, a pair of shoes, scissors, a needle, a bottle, a tape, a light bulb, a battery, Band-Aids, a UBS drive, a DVD or CD, a hairdryer, a watch, a floss, a lipstick, a dice, a ball, a container, a phone, a pad, a camera, a tool, an antique, an art object, a painting, a photo, a musical instrument, a toy, a jewelry, and a pet stuff.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information of the presence and location of the belonging is presented to the person by GUI, image, or voice.

15. A method for helping a person locating a belonging in a room, comprising:

inputting an input instruction to find the belonging into an input device which converts the input instruction into an input signal;

communicating the input signal to an identifier, said identifier comprising

a sensor configured for determining the presence and location of a label operably attached to the belonging, said sensor being connected to three antennas located in the room, wherein the locations of the three antennas in the room are predetermined, and wherein the three antennas are communicated with the label, and

a camera configured for scanning the room to show a 3D map of the room and for recognizing the belonging or an object adjacent to the belonging using an artificial intelligence or machine learning software;

identifying the presence and location of the belonging upon receipt of the input signal by the identifier;

forming an output signal containing information of the presence and location of the belonging;

communicating the output signal to an output device; and

informing the person of the presence and location of the belonging by the output device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprises:

creating a label name corresponding to the belonging that the person is looking for into the input device.