Accelerometer-based infant movement monitoring and alarm device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing the lack of motion of an infant, the apparatus comprising:
- a) an accelerometer formed as a monolithic integrated circuit chip adapted to sense a lack of movement of the infant and to generate an accelerometer output signal in response to the lack of movement containing an output signal component within a specific signal range;
b) a controller connected to the accelerometer and used to analyze the accelerometer output signal; and
c) a sensory perceptible signal generator connected to the controller and selectively activatable by the controller in response to the accelerometer output signal wherein the accelerometer, the controller and the sensory perceptible signal generator are contained within a housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for use with an infant that provides audible or visual signals based on a sensed lack of motion from an infant to stimulate motion by the infant. The sounds or light generated by the device are designed to encourage movement in an infant that is not moving, in order to reinitiate spontaneous movement by the infant and to alert a caregiver as to lack of movement by the infant. The device can also be configured to provide different audible sounds for different movements that are sensed by the device. The motion is sensed by an accelerometer disposed within the device that is formed of a monolithic integrated circuit chip. The accelerometer is connected to a controller that analyzes the accelerometer output signals and controls the sound or lights of the device in response to the accelerometer signals.
84 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing the lack of motion of an infant, the apparatus comprising:
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a) an accelerometer formed as a monolithic integrated circuit chip adapted to sense a lack of movement of the infant and to generate an accelerometer output signal in response to the lack of movement containing an output signal component within a specific signal range;
b) a controller connected to the accelerometer and used to analyze the accelerometer output signal; and
c) a sensory perceptible signal generator connected to the controller and selectively activatable by the controller in response to the accelerometer output signal wherein the accelerometer, the controller and the sensory perceptible signal generator are contained within a housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of sensing a lack of motion of an infant, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a device for sensing a lack of motion, including a housing, an accelerometer formed of a monolithic integrated circuit chip and disposed within the housing and adapted to create an accelerometer output signal in response to a lack of movement of the infant, a controller disposed within the housing and connected to the accelerometer and adapted to receive the accelerometer output signal, and a sensory perceptible signal generator disposed within the housing and operably connected to the controller;
b) activating the device;
c) attaching the device to the infant;
d) detecting a lack of movement of the infant to create the accelerometer output signal, and e) activating the sensory perceptible signal generator in response to the accelerometer output signal to encourage spontaneous movement by the infant if no movement is detected. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
a) generating the accelerometer output signal representative of the lack of movement by the infant;
b) transmitting the accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to the controller; and
c) comparing the accelerometer output signal to a reference value stored in the controller.
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22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of generating the accelerometer output signal further comprises the step of passing the accelerometer output signal through a band pass filter to create an output signal component.
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23. The method of claim 22 wherein the filter is a high pass filter.
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24. The method of claim 22 wherein the filter is a low pass filter.
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25. The method of claim 22 wherein the output signal component is compared to the reference value.
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26. The method of claim 25 wherein the reference value corresponds to a level of no movement of the infant.
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27. The method of claim 17 wherein the accelerometer output signal varies in response to the movement of the infant.
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28. The method of claim 27 wherein the level of activation of the sensory perceptible signal generator varies in response to variations in the accelerometer output signal.
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29. A device for sensing a lack of movement of an infant, comprising:
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a housing adapted to be secured to the infant;
an accelerometer contained within the housing for detecting the lack of movement of the infant; and
a sensory output device contained within the housing and interconnected with the accelerometer for providing a sensory output in response to detection by the accelerometer of a lack of movement by the infant.
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Specification