Sensing article for a home automation network

• US 20080058740A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Long, Andrew M., Ranganathan, Sridhar, Sullivan, Shawn J., Ales, Thomas M., Clement, Gary A.
• Application Number:
  US11/511,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058740A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/361
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm

Abstract

Provided is a sensing system for use in conjunction with a home automation network controlling an environmental variable in a home, the system including a transmitter adapted to be used with an absorbent article having a sensor, wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate with the sensor and directly with the home automation network. Also provided is a physiological event notification system including an absorbent article including a physiological event sensor; a home automation network controlling an environmental variable in a home; and a transmitter associable with the absorbent article and in signal communication with the physiological event sensor and with the home automation network.

Claims

1. A sensing system for use in conjunction with a home automation network controlling an environmental variable in a home, the system comprising:

a transmitter adapted to be used with an absorbent article having a sensor, wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate with the sensor and directly with the home automation network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental variable is one of temperature;

humidity;

lighting;

physical security including surveillance and the control of doors, windows, and shutters;

sound including home entertainment systems;

appliances; and

intercoms.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a biological sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the biological sensor senses one of the presence of a bodily exudate, a condition marker, a disease marker, and the fullness of the absorbent article.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a location sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an activity sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a wetness sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate by wireless connection.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the home automation network is adapted to communicate with a caregiver.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the caregiver resides in the home.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the absorbent article is one of a diaper, a pant, an incontinence product, and a feminine article.

12. A sensing system for use in conjunction with a home automation network controlling an environmental variable in a home, the system comprising:

an absorbent article including a sensor and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate with the sensor and directly with the home automation network.

13. The sensing system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a wetness sensor.

14. A physiological event notification system comprising:

an absorbent article including a physiological event sensor;

a home automation network controlling an environmental variable in a home; and

a transmitter associable with the absorbent article and in signal communication with the physiological event sensor and with the home automation network.

15. The physiological event notification system of claim 14, wherein the physiological event sensor is a wetness sensor.

16. A method for benefiting a caregiver, the method comprising:

providing an absorbent article including a biological sensor and a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is adapted to communicate with the biological sensor and directly with a home automation network; and

providing instructions to the caregiver with respect to responding to the home automation network once the home automation network has received a communication from the transmitter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the home automation network is adapted to respond to a communication from the transmitter.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the home automation network provides instructions to the caregiver in response to the communication from the transmitter.

19. A sensing absorbent article system comprising:

an absorbent article having a liner, an outer cover, and an absorbent structure positioned between the liner and the outer cover, the absorbent article including a sensing means; and

a transmitter capable of communicating with the sensing means and a home automation network.

20. The sensing absorbent article system of claim 19, wherein the sensing means is a wetness sensor.