APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING A SUBJECT

• US 20170231545A1
• Filed: 02/14/2017
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EarlySense Ltd.
• Original Assignee: EarlySense Ltd.
• Inventors: SHINAR, ZVIKA, TSOREF, LIAT, MEGER, GUY
• Application Number:
  US15/431,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20170231545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described for use with a seat (82) of a vehicle, including a sensor unit (80) configured to be placed underneath the seat and configured to detect motion of a subject who is sitting on the seat during motion of the vehicle. The sensor unit includes a housing (90, 100), a first motion sensor (96, 106) disposed within the housing such as to generate a first sensor signal that is indicative of the motion of the vehicle, and a second motion sensor (98, 108) disposed within the housing, such as to generate a second sensor signal that is indicative of the motion of the subject and the motion of the vehicle. A computer processor at least partially distinguishes between motion of the subject and motion of the vehicle by analyzing the first and second sensor signals. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a sensor unit configured to be placed underneath the seat and configured to detect motion of a subject who is sitting on the seat during motion of the vehicle, the sensor unit comprising;

a housing;

at least one first motion sensor disposed within the housing, such that the first motion sensor generates a first sensor signal that is indicative of the motion of the vehicle;

at least one second motion sensor disposed within the housing, such that the second motion sensor generates a second sensor signal that is indicative of the motion of the subject and the motion of the vehicle; and

a computer processor configured to at least partially distinguish between the motion of the subject and the motion of the vehicle by analyzing the first and second sensor signals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first motion sensor is disposed within the housing such that the first motion sensor is isolated from the motion of the subject, such that the first motion sensor only detects motion that is due to motion of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the computer processor is configured to:

derive the motion of the vehicle from the first sensor signal, and

based upon the derived motion of the vehicle, to subtract, from the second sensor signal, a portion of the second sensor signal that is generated by the motion of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of the housing is flexible,

the apparatus further comprises a fluid compartment disposed on an inner surface of the housing,

the at least one first motion sensor is disposed on a surface of the fluid compartment, and

at least one second motion sensor is disposed on at least one inner surface of the flexible portion of the housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first motion sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a deformation sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and an accelerometer.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second motion sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a deformation sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and an accelerometer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one second motion sensor comprises two or more second motion sensors disposed on respective inner surfaces of the flexible portion of the housing.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the housing comprising flexible and rigid portions;

the at least one first motion sensor is disposed on at least one inner surface of the rigid portion of the housing;

the at least one second motion sensor is disposed on at least one inner surface of the flexible portion of the housing, and configured to generate a second sensor signal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first motion sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a deformation sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and an accelerometer.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second motion sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a deformation sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and an accelerometer.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first motion sensor comprises two or more first motion sensors disposed on respective inner surfaces of the rigid portion of the housing.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the at least one second motion sensor comprises two or more second motion sensors disposed on respective inner surfaces of the flexible portion of the housing.

13. Apparatus for use with a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a sensor unit configured to be placed underneath the seat and configured to detect motion of a subject who is sitting on the seat during motion of the vehicle, the sensor unit comprising;

a housing at least a portion of which is flexible;

a fluid compartment disposed on an inner surface of the housing;

at least one first motion sensor disposed on a surface of the fluid compartment, and configured to generate a first sensor signal;

at least one second motion sensor disposed on at least one inner surface of the flexible portion of the housing, the second motion sensor being configured to generate a second sensor signal; and

a computer processor configured to at least partially distinguish between the motion of the subject and the motion of the vehicle by analyzing the first and second sensor signals.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first motion sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a deformation sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and an accelerometer.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second motion sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a deformation sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and an accelerometer.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one second motion sensor comprises two or more second motion sensors disposed on respective inner surfaces of the flexible portion of the housing.

17. Apparatus for use with a seat of a vehicle comprising:

a sensor unit configured to be placed underneath the seat and configured to detect motion of a subject who is sitting on the seat during motion of the vehicle, the sensor unit comprising;

a housing comprising flexible and rigid portions;

at least one first motion sensor disposed on at least one inner surface of the rigid portion of the housing, and configured to generate a first sensor signal;

at least one second motion sensor disposed on at least one inner surface of the flexible portion of the housing, and configured to generate a second sensor signal; and

a computer processor configured to at least partially distinguish between the motion of the subject and the motion of the vehicle by analyzing the first and second sensor signals.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first motion sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a deformation sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and an accelerometer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second motion sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a deformation sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and an accelerometer.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one first motion sensor comprises two or more first motion sensors disposed on respective inner surfaces of the rigid portion of the housing.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the at least one second motion sensor comprises two or more second motion sensors disposed on respective inner surfaces of the flexible portion of the housing.

22-42. -42. (canceled)