BED OCCUPANT MONITORING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A bed occupant monitoring system comprising:
- a first grouping of spaced-apart fiber-optic pressure sensors configured to generate first light output in response to pressure applied to a first portion of a mattress,a second grouping of spaced-apart fiber-optic pressure sensors configured to generate second light output in response to pressure applied to a second portion of a mattress, andelectronics, spaced from the first and second groupings of fiber-optic pressure sensors, including;
at least one first light source to provide light energy to the first grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors,at least one first light sensor to detect the first light output from the first grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors and generate a first electrical signal indicative of pressure applied to one or more of the pressure sensors in the first grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors,at least one second light source to provide light energy to the second grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors,at least one second light sensor to detect the second light output from the second grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors and generate a second electrical signal indicative of pressure applied to one or more of the pressure sensors in the second grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors, andcircuitry to send the first and second electrical signals to a remote monitoring station.
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Abstract
The invention provides a bed occupant monitoring system comprising a pressure sensitive member attached to a support member for supporting a bed occupant, the pressure sensitive member comprising a plurality of pressure sensors. Each of the pressure sensors is configured to provide a reflected wave energy pressure signal by reflecting incident wave energy with an intensity which varies with a pressure applied to the sensor. A pair of fibres are coupled to each pressure sensor, each pair of fibres comprising an input fibre and an output fibre. The fibres are coupled to interface electronics comprising a wave energy source coupled to the input fibre of each of the pairs of fibres for providing the applied light energy, and, a wave energy detector coupled to the output fibre of each of the pairs of fibres for converting the scattered light energy into an electrical signal.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A bed occupant monitoring system comprising:
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a first grouping of spaced-apart fiber-optic pressure sensors configured to generate first light output in response to pressure applied to a first portion of a mattress, a second grouping of spaced-apart fiber-optic pressure sensors configured to generate second light output in response to pressure applied to a second portion of a mattress, and electronics, spaced from the first and second groupings of fiber-optic pressure sensors, including; at least one first light source to provide light energy to the first grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors, at least one first light sensor to detect the first light output from the first grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors and generate a first electrical signal indicative of pressure applied to one or more of the pressure sensors in the first grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors, at least one second light source to provide light energy to the second grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors, at least one second light sensor to detect the second light output from the second grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors and generate a second electrical signal indicative of pressure applied to one or more of the pressure sensors in the second grouping of fiber-optic pressure sensors, and circuitry to send the first and second electrical signals to a remote monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of monitoring occupancy of a bed, the method comprising:
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operably coupling a first array of pressure sensors to a first portion of a bed, wherein each of the first pressure sensors of the first array of pressure sensors is configured to provide a reflected wave energy pressure signal by reflecting incident wave energy with an intensity which varies with a pressure applied thereto, operably coupling a second array of pressure sensors to a second portion of the bed spaced from the first portion of the bed, wherein each of the pressure sensors of the second array of pressure sensors is configured to provide a reflected wave energy pressure signal by reflecting incident wave energy with an intensity which varies with a pressure applied thereto, coupling the first array of pressure sensors to a first photodetector, coupling the second array of pressure sensors to a second photodetector, executing programming logic to calculate a first total applied pressure for the first array of pressure sensors, executing programming logic to calculate a second total applied pressure for the second array of pressure sensors, executing programming logic to determine an occupancy state of the bed based on the first and second total applied pressure values, and automatically activating an attendant call system if the occupancy state is one of occupant not in bed and occupant near edge of bed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A bed occupant monitoring system comprising:
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a support member configured to support at least a portion of a person, a plurality of groups of pressure sensors, each group configured to sense pressure applied to a different area of the support member, each group having a first end proximate a portion of the support member and a second end spaced from the first end, and electronics coupled to the second end of each group and spaced from the first end of each group, the electronics including a microprocessor configured to generate output signals corresponding to light intensities received from at least one of the pressure sensors. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification