Electronic swimmer monitoring system

• US 7,642,921 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aquatic Safety Concepts, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aquatic Safety Concepts, LLC
• Inventors: Taylor, William G., Cutler, David M., Healy, Thomas F., Miller, Lawrence R., Taylor, Paul E., Gregor, Marlin J., Sutton, Douglas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mortell; John F
• Application Number:
  US12/175,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.6, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.6
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/06 Safety devices; Coverings for baths
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer

Abstract

Electronic Tags are mounted on swimmers to reduce their risk of drowning by identifying when their heads are underwater for periods of time which may indicate a dangerous submersion situation, and for triggering corresponding alerts and alarms. In this method, each monitored person is equipped with a lightweight electronic Tag worn on the body that communicates with monitors that issue the alerts and alarms, including audible and visible distress signals. The monitors, in turn, communicate the alarms to receivers used by supervisory personnel, such as lifeguards or parents. The invention may be used in aquatic environments, such as public recreation facilities, pools, waterfronts, and water parks, as well as in more private settings, such as homes, apartment buildings or hotels.

Claims

1. A method for increasing the safety of swimmers, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching a Swimmer Safety Tag to a swimmer, said Swimmer Safety Tag comprising means for;

i. sensing when said swimmer'"'"'s nose and mouth is-are submersed in water below a predetermined depth;

ii. timing the duration of said submersion; and

iii. transmitting an ultrasonic signal when said duration is greater than

b. predetermined threshold;

c. monitoring for said signal;

d. transmitting an alarm to a supervisor when said monitoring detects said signal;

wherein said means for transmitting said ultrasonic signal comprises a piezoelectric transducer with a mechanical resonance frequency that is less than ultrasonic and an encapsulating layer bonded to said transducer such that said transducer effectively produces an ultrasonic signal when activated.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic signal has a frequency of about 70 kHz.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring is performed by a Swim Monitor Unit, said Swim Monitor Unit comprising:

a. a hydrophone located under water; and

b. an annunciation unit located at least partially out of water wherein said annunciation unit comprises means for transmitting said alarm to said supervisor via an RF signal.

4. The method of claim 3 where wherein said hydrophone is located near the bottom of said water.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said monitoring is performed by two or more Swim Monitor Units.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting said alarm to said supervisor comprises the steps of:

a. Transmitting an RF signal to a Supervisory Control Unit; and

b. Transmitting a digital signal to a portable reception unit, said portable reception unit being mounted on said supervisor'"'"'s wrist.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said RF signal is at a frequency of about 433 MHz.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said digital signal at least partially employs Bluetooth technology.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag has a weight of 10 gm or less in air.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing comprises the steps of:

a. measuring the electrical conductivity between two contacts; and

b. initiating said timing when said conductivity indicates that said two contacts are submersed in water;

wherein said contacts are each on the opposite side of said swimmer'"'"'s head.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said sensing comprises the steps of:

a. measuring pressure; and

b. initiating said timing when said pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said predetermined pressure threshold is about 30 cm of water column.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag is mounted on the head of said swimmer.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag is mounted at or below the waist of said swimmer.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring is at least in part performed by electronics which are battery powered such that said electronics are portable.

16. A system for increasing the safety of swimmers, said system comprising:

a Swimmer Safety Tag, said Swimmer Safety Tag comprising means for;

i. sensing when said swimmer'"'"'s nose and mouth is-are submersed in water below a predetermined depth;

ii. timing the duration of said submersion; and

iii. transmitting an ultrasonic signal when said duration is greater than a predetermined threshold; and

b. a monitor, said monitor comprising means for;

i. detecting said signal; and

ii. transmitting an alarm to a supervisor when said monitor detects said signal;

wherein said means for transmitting said ultrasonic signal comprises a piezoelectric transducer with a mechanical resonance frequency that is less than ultrasonic and an encapsulating layer bonded to said transducer such that said transducer effectively produces an ultrasonic signal when activated.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said Tag further comprises a microprocessor and wherein said ultrasonic signal has a frequency of about 70 kHz which represents an even multiple of the clock speed of said microprocessor.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said monitoring is a Swim Monitor Unit, said Swim Monitor Unit comprising:

a. a hydrophone; and

b. an annunciation unit,

wherein said annunciation unit comprises means for transmitting said alarm to said supervisor via an RF signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said Swim Monitor Unit further comprises a connecting cable, wherein said connecting cable:

a. has a length of at least 3 meters; and

b. is attached at one end to said hydrophone and at another end to said annunciation unit such that an electrical signal can be transmitted therebetween.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said system comprises two or more Swim Monitor Units.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein said system further comprises a Supervisory Control Unit and a portable reception unit and wherein said monitor comprises:

a. means for transmitting an RF signal to said Supervisory Control Unit; and

b. means for transmitting a digital signal to said portable reception unit, said portable reception unit comprising means to be mounted on said supervisor.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said RF signal is at a frequency of about 433 MHz.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein said digital signal at least partially employs Bluetooth technology.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag has a weight of 10 gm or less in air.

25. The system of claim 16 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag comprises means for:

a. measuring the electrical conductivity between two contacts; and

b. initiating said timing when said conductivity indicates that said two contacts are submersed in water.

26. The system of claim 16 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag comprises means for:

a. measuring pressure; and

b. initiating said timing when said pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said predetermined pressure threshold is about 30 cm of water column.

28. The system of claim 16 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag comprises means for removably mounting on the head of a swimmer.

29. The system of claim 16 wherein said Swimmer Safety Tag comprises means for removably mounting at or below the waist of said swimmer.

30. The system of claim 16 wherein said monitor is battery powered such that said monitor is portable.

31. A Tag for increasing the safety of a swimmer, said Tag comprising:

a. means for mounting said Tag on said swimmer;

b. means for detecting immersion in water;

c. means for timing immersion in water; and

d. means for transmitting a first ultrasonic signal in the event that the immersion time exceeds a first predetermined threshold value;

wherein said means for transmitting said first ultrasonic signal comprises a piezoelectric transducer with a mechanical resonance frequency that is less than ultrasonic and an encapsulating layer bonded to said transducer such that said transducer effectively produces an ultrasonic signal when activated.

32. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said Tag has a weight in air of less than 10 gm.

33. The Tag of claim 31 which further comprises means for transmitting a second ultrasonic signal in the event that said immersion time exceeds a second predetermined threshold value, wherein said second predetermined threshold is greater than said first predetermined threshold such that said second ultrasonic signal corresponds to a “

Red Alarm”

which indicates that said swimmer may be in immediate danger of drowning.

34. The Tag of claim 33 wherein said first ultrasonic signal and said second ultrasonic signal are broadcast at the same frequency and wherein said first ultrasonic signal comprises first pulses broadcast for a first duration and at a first rate and said second ultrasonic signal comprises second pulses broadcast for a second duration at a second rate and wherein said first duration is less than one half of said second duration.

35. The Tag of claim 34 wherein said first rate and said second rate are less than or equal to about once every 2 seconds.

36. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said first ultrasonic signal has a frequency of about 70 kHz.

37. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said first ultrasonic signal has a frequency in the range of 30 to 100 KHz.

38. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said Tag has a diameter that is less than or equal to 20 mm, said Tag has a thickness that is less than or equal to 5 mm and said Tag has a weight that is less than or equal to about 3 gm.

39. The Tag of claim 31 which further comprises a microprocessor and a battery, said microprocessor being programmed to generate ultrasonic pings while in a resting state, said pings each having a duration in the range of 5 ms to 30 ms and a repetition rate of at least once every 2.2 seconds when said immersion time is less than said first predetermined threshold value such that said battery has a life of at least 30 days of submersions when said battery has a power rating of about 74 milliamp-hours.

40. The Tag of claim 39 which further comprises means for transmitting a sonic signal in the event that said battery has 20% or less than its full charge available.

41. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said means for mounting said Tag on said swimmer comprises an adhesive.

42. The Tag of claim 31 wherein a logo is displayed on the surface of said Tag and wherein a light is incorporated into said logo and wherein means are provided to flash said light when said Tag is mounted on said swimmer.

43. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said Tag further comprises:

a. means for sensing whether or not said Tag is mounted on a swimmer; and

b. means for transmitting a sonic signal in the event that said Tag is not mounted on said swimmer;

wherein said means for sensing whether or not said Tag is mounted on said swimmer comprises two electrodes that will be electrically connected by water if said Tag should be removed from said swimmer and immersed in said water.

44. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said means for mounting said Tag on said swimmer comprises means for mounting said Tag on the forehead of said swimmer, wherein said means for mounting comprises an adhesive.

45. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said means for detecting the immersion of said Tag into said water comprises two electrical contacts which close an electrical circuit upon immersion into water and wherein said two electrical contacts are each on the opposite side of said swimmer'"'"'s head when said Tag is mounted on said swimmer.

46. The Tag of claim 31 wherein said means for detecting immersion of said Tag into said water comprises a radio transmitter broadcasting at a radio frequency wherein said frequency is blocked by water.

47. The Tag of claim 31 which further comprises an open neck band.

48. The Tag of claim 31 which further comprises means for mounting said Tag in at least one ear canal of said swimmer.