Monitoring device

• US 20030210149A1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Attenti Electronic Monitoring Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Dmatek, Ltd.
• Inventors: Lerner, Guy, Gemer, Gil, Reisman, Yoav, Galperin, Natan, Levin, Anka
• Granted Patent: US 6,853,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A monitoring device, such as a watch, for monitoring, at a remote location, movements and activities of a person, the device is worn around the wrist of the person being monitored, the device comprising, a housing, a strap connected to the housing for fastening the device around the wrist of the person being monitored, a tamper sensor for detecting tampering with or the removal of the device from the person'"'"'s wrist. It further includes electronic circuitry enclosed within the housing. The circuitry includes a microprocessor and a memory device for receiving and processing data and a transmitter for periodically transmitting data to a remote location and a time display, coupled to a clock mechanism, mounted in the housing so as to be displayed at the front face of the housing.

Claims

1. An electronic monitoring device for monitoring, at a remote location, activities of a person, the device is worn around the wrist of the person being monitored, the device comprising:

a housing having a front face and a back face;

at least one strap connected to the housing for fastening the device around the wrist of the person being monitored;

at least one tamper sensor for detecting tampering with or the removal of the device from the person'"'"'s wrist;

an electronic circuitry enclosed within the housing, the circuitry includes a microprocessor and a memory device for receiving and processing data and a transmitter for periodically transmitting data to a remote location; and

a time display, coupled to a clock mechanism, mounted in the housing so as to be displayed at the front face of the housing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said person is a patient suffering from a dementia or autism or mental retardation or psychiatric related disorder.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said dementia related disorder is Alzheimer disease.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said time display is an analogue time display.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said time display is a digital time display.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second tamper sensor for detecting tampering with or the removal of the device from the person'"'"'s wrist.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the tamper sensor is an open-closure sensor detecting any attempt of unfastening or breaking the device.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the tamper sensor is a sensor for detecting removal of the device.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the tamper sensor is a sensor for detecting damage to the device.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the sensor detects electrical continuity.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor detects any interference with the passage of light through an optical fiber, thus detecting tampering with the strap.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one strap is provided with electric connectors at both its ends and an electric conductive pathway there between, and said at least one strap is electrically connected to said housing such that when the device is secured around the person'"'"'s wrist, a continuity of electric conductivity is obtained and upon cutting or breaking of the strap or the device the continuity is interrupted, enabling the electronic circuitry to detect such removal.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the strap is made of a conductive material.

14. The device of claim 12 further comprising a second strap and a closure member.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the closure member is inserted for fixing the effective length of the straps.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the closure members requires at least two hands to open.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein the strap includes optic fibers for identifying tamper event.

18. The device of claim 13 wherein the strap further comprises an infra red device for detecting a tamper event.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is an Infra Red transmitter.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is wireless.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is provided with an identification code stored in the memory device and wherein the signals periodically transmitted by the transmitter carry said identification code.

23. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor for sensing activities and/or health state of the monitored person.

24. The device of claim 11 wherein the signals periodically transmitted by the transmitter carry data collected by the at least one sensor.

25. The device of claim 11 wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a movement sensor, a body temperature sensor, a pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, and a blood oxygen sensor.

26. The device of claim 11 wherein the signals carry alternating data associated with the active sensor data output.

27. The device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises a receiver for receiving data from a remote location.