Modular Assistance System

• US 20140313029A1
• Filed: 10/17/2012
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Feiten, Wendelin, Splettstsser, Uwe
• Granted Patent: US 9,747,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0438 Sensor means for detecting
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Modular assistance system (1) for a person (4), with at least one mobile unit (2) that has a recognition module (6) for recognising a functional requirement of the person (4) and provides the function of the person (4) depending on the detected function requirement of the person (4) by means of at least one replaceable function module (7).

Claims

1. A modular assistance system for a person, the modular assistance system comprising:

at least one mobile unit comprising a recognition module, the recognition module configured for detecting a functional requirement of the person, the at least one mobile unit configured to provide a corresponding function to the respective person, depending on the detected functional requirement of the person, using at least one interchangeable function module.

2. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises a plurality of interchangeable function modules, and

wherein the mobile unit comprises a housing on which, in which, or on which and in which the plurality of interchangeable function modules are situated.

3. The modular assistance system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of interchangeable function modules of the mobile unit are preconfigured in accordance with a physical condition of the person.

4. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one sensor module operable for detecting a position of the person, positioning of the person, detecting a position of a hand of the person, positioning of the hand of the person, or a combination thereof.

5. The modular assistance system of claim 4, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one controllable tablet module including a tablet, the at least one controllable tablet module being automatically movable depending on the detected position or positioning and operable to interchange objects with function modules of the at least one mobile unit or a further stationary unit using a controllable transportation unit, and

wherein the controllable transportation unit is movable in a transportation shaft of the at least one mobile unit.

6. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one supply module operable for storing, preparing, supplying foodstuff, liquids, medicaments, or any combination thereof for the person, or any combination thereof.

7. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one interface module operable for entering commands by the person or for outputting information to the person, to a remote monitoring station, or to the person and to the remote monitoring station.

8. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one cleaning module operable for cleaning a surface within a dwelling of the person, cleaning the person, or a combination thereof.

9. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one measurement module operable for measuring bodily functions of the person, measuring substances taken by the person, or a combination thereof.

10. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one disposal module operable for disposing used articles of daily use, waste, bodily excrements, or any combination thereof from the person.

11. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one appliance control module operable for controlling appliances within a dwelling of the person.

12. The modular assistance system of claim 1, further comprising a stationary unit provided in a dwelling of the person, the stationary unit operable to charge a battery of the at least one mobile unit, automatically fill supply containers of supply modules or of cleaning modules, automatically empty disposal containers of disposal modules, or any combination thereof.

13. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one drive module operable for driving the at least one mobile unit, a piece of furniture for sitting, piece of furniture for lying of the person, or any combination thereof.

14. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile unit comprises a data processing unit, the data processing unit configured to:

evaluate data, provided by a measurement module, with respect to bodily functions of the person, substances taken by the person, or a combination thereof; and

depending on an evaluation result, a physical condition of the person stored in a data storage medium, or a combination thereof, actuate a supply module, a communication module, a tablet module an appliance control module, a drive module, a preparation module of the at least one mobile unit, or any combination thereof, report a current state of the person to the person, to a care attendant, to a monitoring station, or to any combination thereof via an interface module of the at least one mobile unit, or a combination thereof.

15. The modular assistance system of claim 1, wherein the function provided by the at least one interchangeable function module of the mobile unit is logged for evaluation by a care attendant, reported to a stationary unit of the modular assistance system, to a remote monitoring station via an interface module of the at least one mobile unit, or a combination thereof, or is logged and reported.

16. The modular assistance system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of interchangeable function modules comprises at least one sensor module operable for detecting a position of a person, positioning of the person, detecting a position of a hand of the person, positioning the hand of the person, or any combination thereof.

17. The modular assistance system of claim 16, wherein the at least one interchangeable function module comprises at least one controllable tablet module including a tablet, the at least one controllable tablet module being automatically movable depending on the detected position or positioning and operable to interchange objects with function modules of the at least one mobile unit or a further stationary unit using a controllable transportation unit, and

wherein the controllable transportation unit is movable in a transportation shaft of the at least one mobile unit.

18. The modular assistance system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of interchangeable function modules comprises at least one supply module operable for storing, preparing, supplying foodstuff, liquids, medicaments, or any combination thereof for the person, or any combination thereof.

19. The modular assistance system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of interchangeable function modules comprises at least one interface module operable for entering commands by the person or for outputting information to the person, to a remote monitoring station, or to the person and to the remote monitoring station.

20. The modular assistance system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of interchangeable function modules comprises at least one cleaning module operable for cleaning a surface within a dwelling of the person, cleaning the person, or a combination thereof.