Modular system for monitoring the presence of a person using a variety of sensing devices
DCFirst Claim
1. A modular apparatus for monitoring the presence of a person within a predefined space, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor mat having at least one flexible capacitance sensor, said at least one flexible capacitance sensor comprising a plurality of coplanar conductive elements positioned in spaced relation to one another, said sensor mat being adapted for placement adjacent said person;
a driver/sensor circuit electrically connected to said flexible capacitance sensor of said sensor mat for supplying a voltage between said plurality of conductive elements, detecting a change in capacitance associated with said flexible capacitance sensor in response to a change in position of a person with respect to said flexible capacitance sensor, and generating an output signal having frequency variations representative of said change in capacitance, said driver/sensor circuit being positioned adjacent said plurality of conductive elements to minimize interference from external electromagnetic fields; and
a control/monitor module electrically connected to said driver/sensor circuit for receiving said output signal from said driver/sensor circuit, analyzing said output signal to make a determination of whether said output signal is representative of a change in the presence of said person within a predefined space, and generating an alarm signal if said determination is affirmative.
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Abstract
A capacitive array is housed within a polyester mat or other appropriate nonconductive substrate material which is interconnected with a control module. The control module supplies to the capacitive array a suitable oscillator driver current and concurrently senses capacitance value changes within the capacitive array induced through dielectric shifts within the array brought about by the proximity or absence thereof of the patient'"'"'s body mass. The monitor/control module generally comprises a power supply, a driver/sensor circuit, a calibration/comparator logic circuit, a system interconnection integrity circuit, and an alarm generation circuit. It may also optionally contain a nurse call relay circuit for interconnection to a facility'"'"'s nurse call system.
152 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A modular apparatus for monitoring the presence of a person within a predefined space, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor mat having at least one flexible capacitance sensor, said at least one flexible capacitance sensor comprising a plurality of coplanar conductive elements positioned in spaced relation to one another, said sensor mat being adapted for placement adjacent said person;
a driver/sensor circuit electrically connected to said flexible capacitance sensor of said sensor mat for supplying a voltage between said plurality of conductive elements, detecting a change in capacitance associated with said flexible capacitance sensor in response to a change in position of a person with respect to said flexible capacitance sensor, and generating an output signal having frequency variations representative of said change in capacitance, said driver/sensor circuit being positioned adjacent said plurality of conductive elements to minimize interference from external electromagnetic fields; and
a control/monitor module electrically connected to said driver/sensor circuit for receiving said output signal from said driver/sensor circuit, analyzing said output signal to make a determination of whether said output signal is representative of a change in the presence of said person within a predefined space, and generating an alarm signal if said determination is affirmative. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A modular apparatus for monitoring the presence of a person within a predefined space on a bed, said bed having a mattress, said apparatus comprising:
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a mattress cover having at least one flexible capacitance sensor, said at least one flexible capacitance sensor comprising a plurality of coplanar conductive elements positioned in spaced relation to one another, said mattress cover being adapted for overfitting the mattress such that a person may overlie said plurality of coplanar conductive elements when resting on the bed;
a driver/sensor circuit electrically connected to said flexible capacitance sensor for supplying a voltage between said plurality of conductive elements, detecting a change in capacitance associated with said flexible capacitance sensor in response to a change in position of a person with respect to said flexible capacitance sensor, and generating an output signal having frequency variations representative of said change in capacitance, said driver/sensor circuit being positioned adjacent said plurality of conductive elements to minimize interference from external electromagnetic fields; and
a control/monitor module electrically connected to said driver/sensor circuit for receiving said output signal from said driver/sensor circuit, analyzing said output signal to make a determination of whether said output signal is representative of a change in presence of a person within a predefined space, and generating an alarm signal if said determination is affirmative. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A modular apparatus for monitoring the presence of a patient within a predefined space in a hospital, said hospital having an existing switch-based monitor/control unit for monitoring a particular attribute of the patient and generating an alarm signal in response to a preselected condition of said attribute, said hospital further having an existing nurse call system connected to said switch-based monitor/control unit for alerting medical personnel in response to said alarm signal, said apparatus comprising:
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a sensor mat having at least one flexible capacitance sensor, said at least one flexible capacitance sensor comprising a plurality of coplanar conductive elements positioned in spaced relation to one another, said sensor mat being adapted for placement adjacent to a patient;
a driver/sensor circuit electrically connected to said sensor mat for supplying a voltage between said plurality of conductive elements, detecting a change in capacitance associated with said flexible capacitance sensor in response to a change in position of a patient with respect to said capacitance sensor, and generating an output signal having frequency variations representative of said change in capacitance, said driver/sensor circuit being positioned adjacent said plurality of conductive elements to minimize interference from external electromagnetic fields; and
an interconnect adapter module electrically interconnected to said driver/sensor circuit and an existing switch-based monitor/control unit for receiving said output signal from said driver/sensor circuit and relaying said output signal to an existing switch-based monitor/control unit;
wherein the existing switch-based monitor/control unit may be adapted for analyzing said output signal to make a determination of whether said output signal is representative of a change in presence of a patient within a predefined space and generating an alarm signal if said determination is affirmative.
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24. A modular apparatus for monitoring the presence of a patient within a predefined space on a hospital bed, said hospital bed having existing switch-based patient occupancy monitoring electronics, said apparatus comprising:
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a sensor mat having at least one flexible capacitance sensor, said at least one flexible capacitance sensor comprising a plurality of coplanar conductive elements positioned in spaced relation to one another, said sensor mat being adapted for placement adjacent the person;
a driver/sensor circuit electrically connected to said flexible capacitance sensor of said sensor mat for supplying a voltage between said plurality of conductive elements, detecting a change in capacitance associated with said flexible capacitance sensor in response to a change in position of the person with respect to said flexible capacitance sensor, and generating an output signal having frequency variations representative of said change in capacitance, said driver/sensor circuit being positioned adjacent said plurality of conductive elements to minimize interference from external electromagnetic fields; and
an interface connector electrically connected to said driver/sensor circuit and said existing switch-based patient occupancy monitoring electronics, said interface connector having an electronic relay circuit for receiving said output signal from said driver/sensor circuit, analyzing said output signal to make a determination of whether said change in capacitance is representative of a change in presence of the patient within a predefined space, and activating a relay connection to the existing switch-based patient occupancy monitoring electronics if said determination is affirmative.
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Specification