APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HELPING ALZHEIMER PATIENTS

• US 20170372627A1
• Filed: 09/09/2017
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen R. Zhu
• Original Assignee: Stephen R. Zhu
• Inventors: ZHU, Stephen R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,283,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/102 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for helping Alzheimer patients to locate their belonging by allowing the patients to attach to the belonging with a label which can be identified and located by a label identifier in a room. As a result, the patients are now able quickly find where the belonging are and their life quality can be improved by reducing their anxiety and frustration in finding the belongings.

Claims

1. An apparatus for helping a person locating a belonging in a room, comprising:

an input device configured for receiving an input from the person and turning the input into an input signal;

a label identifier configured for identifying the presence and location of a label operably attached to the belonging upon receipt of the input signal, and outputting an output signal containing information of the presence and location of the label, wherein said input is related to the label or the belonging; and

an output device configured for informing the person of the presence and location of the belonging upon receipt of the output signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

an input transfer component configured for transferring the input signal to the label identifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

an output transfer component configured for transferring the output signal to the output device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input is selected from the group consisting of gesture, touch, typing, voice or brain function.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of TV, LED, PAD, phone, computer, voice activated device, touch screen, BMI (Brain Matter Interface), or motion activated panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device is selected from the group consisting of TV, LED, PAD, phone, computer, voice activated device, touch screen, BMI (Brain Matter Interface), or motion activated panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device and the input device are the same device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the label is pre-made and adhered to the belonging.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device and/or the output device are outside the room.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input device and/or the output device are inside the room.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the label identifier includes a sensor configured for determining the presence of the label.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor is an RFID reader.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the label is an RFID chip.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the label identifier further includes a 3D mapping device configured for determining the location of the label in the space of a three-dimensional setting.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprises:

at least an antenna operably communicated with the label identifier for determining the location of the label.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the belonging is a personal item selected from the group consisting of currency, a wallet, a passport, a card, a key, a notepad, a book, a medicine bottle, a rubber band, a toothbrush, a bag, a pair of shoes, scissors, a needle, a bottle, a tape, a light bulb, a battery, Band-Aids, a UBS drive, a DVD or CD, a hairdryer, a watch, a floss, a lipstick, a dice, a ball, a container, a phone, a pad, a camera, a tool, an antique, an art object, a painting, a photo, a musical instrument, a toy, a jewelry, and a pet stuff.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information of the presence and location of the belonging is presented to the person by GUI, image, or voice.

18. A method for helping a person locating a belonging in a room, comprising:

inputting an input instruction to find the belonging into an input device which converts the input instruction into an input signal;

communicating the input signal to a label identifier;

identifying the presence and location of a label operably attached to the belonging upon receipt of the input signal by the label identifier, said label being related to the input instruction;

forming an output signal containing information of the presence and location of the label;

communicating the output signal to an output device; and

informing the person of the presence and location of the belonging by the output device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprises:

creating a label name corresponding to the belonging that the person is looking for into the input device.

20. An apparatus for helping Alzheimer patient to find an item in a room, comprising:

an input device configured for receiving an input from the person and turning the input into an input signal;

a camera system configured for recognizing the presence and location of an item to be located receipt of the input signal, and outputting an output signal containing information of the presence and location of the item,

an output device configured for informing the patient of the presence and location of the item.