Man Down Detector

• US 20150302719A1
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Englot, Kelly, Mroszczak, Stephen J., Thorson, Wally
• Granted Patent: US 9,269,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0469 Presence detectors to detect unsafe condition, e.g. infrared sensor, microphone G08B21/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems

Abstract

A man down indicator includes a gas detector which includes a motion sensor. A separate wearable element also includes a motion sensor. The element is wirelessly coupled to, and paired with, the detector. In responsive to a lack of sensed motion at both detector and the element, a pre-alarm condition is initiated for a predetermined period of time by circuitry carried by one of the detector, or the element. Unless interrupted, when the pre-alarm condition terminates, a man down alarm is generated.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first device which includes a motion sensor;

a second device, wherein the devices are wirelessly paired, and including circuitry which, responsive to the paired state and to an output from the sensor, determines if a selected indicator should be generated.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 where the circuitry, absent a paired communications state, disables generation of the selected indicator.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 where the first device comprises a gas detector and the selected indicator comprises a man down alarm.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 which includes a structure for attaching the second device to a user.

5. An apparatus as in claim 3 where in the absence of a motion indicating signal, and in the presence of pairing, the circuitry generates a man down alarm.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4 which includes a structure for attaching the first detector to a user.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 where the second device includes a motion sensor, and, where movement of either device terminates a pre-alarm state.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein in the presence of pairing, and in the absence of motion a man down alarm is generated.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1 where the circuitry provides a pre-alarm state during which detection of motion terminates the state.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an ambient condition detector which includes a motion sensor; and

a separate element with a motion sensor, the element is wirelessly coupled to the detector wherein responsive to a lack of sensed motion at both detector and the element, a pre-alarm condition is initiated for a predetermined period of time by circuitry carried by one of the detector, or the element, and, unless interrupted, when the pre-alarm condition terminates, an alarm is generated.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 where movement of one of the detector or element terminates the pre-alarm condition.

12. An apparatus as in claim 10 where the detector is selected from a class which includes at least gas detectors, fire detectors, smoke detectors, humidity detectors.

13. An apparatus as in claim 10 which includes circuitry to transmit the alarm to a displaced monitoring location.

14. A method comprising:

providing a first device and including a motion sensor therein;

providing a second device;

wirelessly pairing the devices; and

providing circuitry which responds to the paired state and to an output from the sensor, and determining if a selected indicator should be generated.

15. A method as in claim 14 which includes providing coupling structures for both devices to attach them to an individual to be monitored.

16. A method as in claim 15 which includes establishing a pre-alarm state in response to the determining.

17. A method as in claim 16 which includes terminating the pre-alarm state in response to sensing motion.