Apparatus and Method for Measuring and Recording Data from Violent Events

• US 20110283791A1
• Filed: 06/14/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Med-Eng, LLC (Cadre Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allen-Vanguard Corporation (Contego AV Investments LLC)
• Inventors: Dionne, Jean-Philippe, Chin, Lock-Sui, Levine, Jeffrey, Wong, Doug, Makris, Aristidis, Jeftic-Stojanovski, Gordana
• Granted Patent: US 8,322,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/04 Protection helmets crash helmets A42B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0092 Pressure sensor associated with other sensors, e.g. for measuring acceleration or temperature G01L9/025, G01L9/045, G01L9/065, G01L9/085, G01L9/105, G01L9/125, G01L19/02, G01L19/04 take precedence; measuring two or more variable G01D21/02; temperature sensors with pressure compensation G01K1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/083 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for recording information about an event resulting in application of a force to a body. The apparatus comprises data recording means for recording the information, sensor means for sensing a parameter which enables a predetermined source of force to be distinguished from another, predetermined source of force, and control means responsive to the sensed parameter for controlling the data recording means. The sensor means may comprise a pressure sensor for sensing shockwaves resulting from an explosive force and the resulting signal used to distinguish from other events, such as blunt impacts. The pressure signal may be used to control the storage of acceleration data for injury analysis.

Claims

1. An apparatus adapted for mounting on a head protector and comprising sensor means for sensing the presence of a head in the head protector.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, mounted to and/or incorporated in a head protector.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor means is adapted to sense the dielectric of a head.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor includes first and second spaced apart electrode elements.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the space between the elements is positioned to accommodate a portion of a head, when present in the head protector.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein one or more of said electrode elements comprises a fastener for fastening an object to the head protector.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fastener comprises any one or more of a screw, nut, bolt, rivet, any part of any one of these or any combination of two or more of these elements.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the object is one or more of a suspension system or other object for securing internally of the head protector and an article to be mounted externally of the head protector.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the article comprises a data recorder for recording data to be mounted externally of the helmet.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said data recorder is adapted for recording at least one of acceleration data and pressure data.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said sensor is adapted to provide a signal to a device for mounting to the head protector.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said signal is adapted to control said device.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said device comprises a data recorder and said signal is adapted to control one or more aspects of said data recorder.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said signal is adapted to control the recording of data.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control signal is adapted to control at least one of power to said data recorder and a change of said data recorder between active and inactive states.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a capacitive sensor having first and second spaced apart electrodes, and further comprising a shield for electrically shielding at least one electrode element from capacitive effects of objects external of the head protector.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising means for providing an electrical signal to said shield.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said at least one electrode element comprises an active electrode element.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further comprising means for providing an electrical signal to said active electrode element.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein one electrode element is coupled/connected to ground.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a reference capacitor.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor means is adapted to provide a signal indicative of different relative positions between a head present in the head protector and the head protector.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising means for monitoring said relative position.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23, further comprising recording means for recording data derived from said sensor means indicative of changes in the relative position between said head and said head protector, optionally with time or another parameter.