Motion detection apparatus and method

• US 6,778,094 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Gustason, Michael L., Hertwig, David R., Stone, Timothy W., Krugh, Patrick M., Ross, Susan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, John
• Application Number:
  US09/954,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 340/693.9, 340/429, 340/967, 340/440, 340/671, 340/669, 340/689, 701/1, 701/3, 701/5, 180/282, 734/89, 734/93, 735/140.1
• US Class Current: 340/693.9
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait

Abstract

A motion detection apparatus and method for securing a detector, transducer or accelerometer. The detector is securely positioned in a location corresponding to a portion of the body such as the head, stomach, heart, sternum, or other portion. The mounting apparatus includes a base section to which the detector is secured and support members. Support members can have a fixed-length or be extendable. The support members are adjusted if necessary to position the mounting apparatus and detector to the predetermined position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing a motion detector in a vehicle, comprising:

a base section configured to lock the motion detector; and

a plurality of support members secured between the base section and one or more surfaces of the vehicle, the support members being arranged to maintain the motion detector in a predetermined location based on a position of a person that would occupy the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the base section further comprising:

one or more plates, and

a flange,

wherein the flange is attached to the one or more plates and the motion detector is secured to the flange.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of support members comprises a fixed-length support member in contact with one or more of the vehicle surfaces.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein an end of the fixed-length support member in contact with the one or more vehicle surfaces includes a foot.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the foot is adjustable.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the foot is adjustable in two dimensions.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the foot includes a cushion to prevent movement of the end of the fixed-length support member along the one or more vehicle surfaces.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of support members comprises an adjustable-length support member in contact with one or more of the vehicle surfaces.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustable-length support member comprises a telescoping arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustable-length support member is adjusted in two dimensions.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adjustable-length support member is adjusted in three dimensions.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an end of the adjustable-length support member in contact with the one or more vehicle surfaces includes a foot.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the foot is adjustable.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the foot is adjustable in two dimensions.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the foot includes a cushion to prevent movement of the end of the adjustable-length support member along the one or more vehicle surfaces.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein one of the adjustable-length support members includes a coupling device to stabilize the adjustable-length support member against the one or more vehicle surfaces.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the coupling device comprises a claw.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the coupling device comprises a hook.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the coupling device is secured to a bar in the vehicle.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the coupling device is secured to a portion of the vehicle located opposite of a seating surface of the vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of support members comprises a support strap.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the support strap is adjustable.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the support strap is placed around the vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle surface comprises a seating surface.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the seating surface comprises a back seating surface.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the seating surface comprises a bottom seating surface.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the vehicle surfaces comprises a bar of the vehicle.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the vehicle surfaces comprises a floor of the vehicle.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support members are coupled between the base section and two surfaces of the vehicle.

30. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein one of the plurality of support members extends from the base section to a bottom seating surface of the vehicle,

wherein one of the plurality of support members extends from the base section to a back seating surface of the vehicle, and

wherein one of the plurality of support members comprises a support strap, the support strap being placed around the vehicle and the base to secure the base and the support members.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support members are coupled between the base section and three surfaces of the vehicle.

32. The apparatus of claim 31,

wherein one of the plurality of support members extends from the base section to a front surface of the vehicle,

wherein one of the plurality of support members extends from the base section to a bottom seating surface of the vehicle, and

wherein one of the plurality of support members extends from the base section to a back seating surface of the vehicle.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support members are coupled between the base section and four surfaces of the vehicle.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, the base section further comprising a coupler,

wherein one of the plurality of support members extends from the base section to a front surface of the vehicle,

wherein one of the plurality of support members extends from the base section to a bottom seating surface of the vehicle, and

wherein one of the plurality of support members extends from the coupler attached to the base section to opposite side surfaces of the vehicle.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location based on the position of the person that would occupy the vehicle is based on the person sitting in a seat of the vehicle.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the predetermined location comprises a distance of about 15 inches above a bottom surface of the seat and about 4 inches from a back surface of the seat.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location based on the position of the person that would occupy the vehicle is based on the person standing on a floor of the vehicle.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the predetermined location comprises a distance of about 47 inches above the floor of the vehicle.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location based on the position of the person that would occupy the vehicle comprises a base of a chest of the person.

40. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location based on the position of the person that would occupy the vehicle comprises a heart of the person.

41. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location based on the position of the person that would occupy the vehicle comprises a head of the person.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined location based on the position of the person that would occupy the vehicle comprises a stomach of the person.

43. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises an automobile.

44. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a ride.

45. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

46. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises a transducer.

47. A mounting system for securing an accelerometer to a vehicle, comprising:

a base section, the accelerometer being attached to the base section;

an extendable support member coupled to the base section and directed to a front section of the vehicle; and

a plurality of support members directed to a bottom seating surface and to a back seating surface of the vehicle,

wherein a length of the extendable support member is adjusted such that all of the support members contact respective surfaces of the vehicle to lock the accelerometer in a predetermined position corresponding to a location of a person sitting in the vehicle.

48. A mounting system for securing an accelerometer to a vehicle, comprising:

a base section, the accelerometer being attached to the base section;

a coupler attached to the base section;

a plurality of extendable support members,

wherein one of the extendable support members is coupled to the base section and directed to a front section of the vehicle,

wherein one of the extendable support members is secured by the coupler attached to the base section and directed to opposite sides of the vehicle; and

a plurality of support members directed to a bottom seating surface and a back seating surface of the vehicle,

wherein a length of the extendable support members is adjusted such that all of the support members contact respective vehicle surfaces to lock the accelerometer into a predetermined position corresponding to a location of a person sitting in the vehicle.

49. A mounting system for securing an accelerometer to a vehicle, comprising:

a base section, the accelerometer being attached to the base section; and

a plurality of support members coupled to the base section,

wherein two of the plurality of support members are directed to a bottom seating surface of the vehicle,

wherein two of the plurality of support members are directed to a back seating surface of the vehicle,

wherein one of the plurality of support members comprises a support strap, the support strap being placed around the vehicle,

wherein a length of the support members is adjusted such that all of the support members contact their respective vehicle surfaces to lock the accelerometer into a predetermined position corresponding to a location of a person sitting in the vehicle.

50. A motion detection system, comprising:

a motion detector;

a base section, the motion detector being locked to the base section; and

a plurality of support members coupled between the base section and the vehicle,

wherein at least one of the support members is adjusted such that all of the plurality of support members contact their respective vehicle surfaces to secure the motion detector into a predetermined position corresponding to a position of a person that would occupy the vehicle.

51. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the support member that is adjusted comprises a telescoping support, the telescoping support being directed to a front surface of the vehicle and adjusted such that all of the support members contact their respective surfaces.

52. The motion detection system of claim 51, further comprising:

a coupler attached to the base section; and

an additional telescoping support, the additional telescoping support being secured by the coupler, wherein each end of the additional telescoping support is directed to opposite sides of the vehicle.

53. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein one of the support members comprises a strap, the strap being placed around the vehicle such that all of the support members contact their respective surfaces and secure the motion detector into the predetermined location.

54. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the predetermined location is based on a person sitting in the vehicle.

55. The motion detection system of claim 54, wherein the predetermined location comprises a distance of about 15 inches above a bottom seating surface of the vehicle and about 4 inches from a back seating surface of the vehicle.

56. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the predetermined location is based on a person standing on a floor of the vehicle.

57. The motion detection system of claim 56, wherein the predetermined location comprises a distance of about 47 inches above the floor of the vehicle.

58. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the predetermined position comprises a base of a chest of the person.

59. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the predetermined position comprises a heart of the person.

60. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the predetermined position comprises a head of the person.

61. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the predetermined position comprises a stomach of the person.

62. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the vehicle comprises an automobile.

63. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the vehicle comprises a ride.

64. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

65. The motion detection system of claim 50, wherein the motion detector comprises a transducer.

66. A method of securing a motion detector in a predetermined position within a vehicle, comprising:

mounting the motion detector to a base section of a mounting assembly;

directing a plurality of support members coupled to the base section of the mounting assembly to respective surfaces of the vehicle;

adjusting an extendable support member of the plurality of support members such that all of the plurality of support members are secured against respective vehicle surfaces; and

locking the extendable support member such that all of the plurality of support members are secured to lock the motion detector in the predetermined position.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein adjusting the extendable support member further comprises adjusting a telescoping support.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein adjusting the extendable support member further comprises adjusting a length of a strap placed around the vehicle.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein locking the extendable support member further comprises locking the motion detector into a location based on a person sitting in a seat of the vehicle.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein locking the motion detector into the location based on the person sitting in the seat further comprises locking the motion detector at a distance of about 15 inches above a bottom seating surface and about 4 inches from a back seating surface.

71. The method of claim 66, wherein locking the extendable support member further comprises locking the motion detector into a location based on a person standing in the vehicle.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein locking the motion detector into the location based on the person standing in the vehicle comprises locking the motion detector at a height of about 47 inches above a floor of the vehicle.

73. The method of claim 66, wherein the vehicle comprises an automobile.

74. The method of claim 66, wherein the vehicle comprises a ride.

75. The method of claim 66, wherein the motion detector comprises an accelerometer.

76. The method of claim 66, wherein the motion detector comprises a transducer.