Multi-Sensor Based Motion Sensing in SCBA

• US 20160059048A1
• Filed: 08/26/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Palacharla, Praveen Kumar, Kanakala, LG Srinivasa Rao, Bhaskarwar, Rahul Ramesh, Shipley, Jeffrey, Vrablik, Gregory, Fischer, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,328,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 7/02 with compressed oxygen or air
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames
• 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 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

Embodiments relate generally to personal alert safety systems (PASS) as well as motion detection systems and methods for motion detection. Some embodiments may comprise methods for determining the alarm status for a PASS, wherein a plurality of motion sensing elements may be utilized by a motion detection system, thereby reducing false alarms. A motion detection system may comprise two motion sensing elements, with one motion sensing element located near the chest and shoulders of a user, and one motion sensing element located near the hips and back of a user.

Claims

1. A Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for use by emergency responders, comprising:

a backpack;

a bottle of gas secured to the backpack;

a motion detection system comprising;

a first motion sensing element, and

a second motion sensing element; and

at least one Personal Alert Safety System (PASS),

wherein;

the motion detection system receives motion information from the first motion sensing element and the second motion sensing element,

the motion detection system employs one or more methods to determine the motion status of a user and therefore the alarm status of the at least one PASS, and

the one or more methods utilize motion information from both the first motion sensing element and the second motion sensing element to determine alarm status.

2. The SCBA of claim 1, wherein the first motion sensing element is located within a first PASS.

3. The SCBA of claim 2, wherein the second motion sensing element is located within a second PASS.

4. The SCBA of claim 2 further comprising a heads-up display device, wherein the second motion sensing element is located within the heads-up display device.

5. The SCBA of claim 1, wherein the first motion sensing element is located on a first portion of the user'"'"'s body, and wherein the second motion sensing element is located on a second portion of the user'"'"'s body, different from the first portion of the user'"'"'s body.

6. The SCBA of claim 1, wherein the first motion sensing element is located near the shoulders or chest of the user, and wherein the second motion sensing element is located near the hips of the user.

7. The SCBA of claim 1, wherein the motion detection system is operable to:

calculate a first vector sum of data received from the first motion sensing element;

calculate a second vector sum of the data received from the second motion sensing element; and

compare the two vector sums to a threshold value, wherein if the vector sum exceeds the threshold, motion is indicated.

8. The SCBA of claim 1, wherein the motion detection system is operable to check the motion detection of both the first motion sensing element and the second motion sensing element when determining alarm status.

9. A motion detection system for use in combination with a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), comprising:

a first motion sensing element;

a second motion sensing element; and

a computer system operable to;

receive information from the first motion sensing element and the second motion sensing element;

communicate with a Personal Alert Safety System (PASS) of the SCBA; and

determine alarm status for the PASS based on the received information from the motion sensing elements.

10. The motion detection system of claim 9, wherein the first motion sensing element is located near the shoulders and chest of a user.

11. The motion detection system of claim 9, wherein the second motion sensing element is located near the hips of a user.

12. The motion detection system of claim 9, wherein the computer system is further operable to:

determine the motion status for the first motion sensing element;

determine the motion status for the second motion sensing element when the motion status for the first sensor indicates no-motion for a set time period; and

communicate an alarm status to the PASS when the motion status of the second motion sensing element indicates no-motion for a set time period.

13. The motion detection system of claim 9, wherein the first motion sensing element is located within a first PASS.

14. The motion detection system of claim 13, wherein the second motion sensing element is located within a second PASS.

15. A method for determining the alarm status for a Personal Alert Safety System (PASS), the method comprising:

receiving motion information from a motion detection system, the motion detection system comprising at least two motion sensing elements, during a preset time period;

determining the motion status for a first motion sensing element;

determining the motion status for a second motion sensing element;

activating a PASS alarm when the motion status of both the first motion sensing element and the second motion sensing element indicate no-motion for a set time period; and

continuing to receiving motion information from the motion detection system for a subsequent time period.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising deactivating the PASS alarm when the motion status of the first motion sensing element indicates motion for the subsequent time period.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising deactivating the PASS alarm when the motion status of the second motion sensing element indicates motion for the subsequent time period.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the motion information is received in sample time periods.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a first motion sensing element is located near the shoulders and chest of a user.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a second motion sensing element is located near the hips of a user.