Automatic fall detection system

• US 8,115,641 B1
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael K. Dempsey
• Original Assignee: Michael K. Dempsey
• Inventors: Dempsey, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/426,073
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/573.5, 340/573.7, 340/522, 340/529, 340/540, 340/541, 600/595, 600/587, 395/838, 345/83
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking

Abstract

A system and a method for detecting if a person has fallen down is provided. The system includes at least two sensors which remotely detect energy in at least two zones. The output of the sensors are analyzed and compared to characteristics which are determined to be representative of a fall. If the sensor outputs match the particular characteristics, the system concludes that a fall has occurred and outputs this result. An alarm may be generated if the system detects a fall.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a fall, the method including:

receiving, using a processor, a first data associated with an output from a first sensor;

receiving, using the processor, a second data associated with an output from a second sensor;

analyzing, using the processor, the first data and the second data;

comparing, using the processor, a pattern formed by the first data and the second data to a predetermined pattern; and

outputting, using the processor, an output associated with the predetermined pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern matching to a human fall.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern matching to a human activity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the output associated with the predetermined pattern is a radio signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern formed by the first data and the second data includes one or more of valleys, peaks and high slopes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined pattern includes one or more of valleys, peaks and high slopes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein comparing further comprises comparing the one or more of valleys, peaks and high slopes of the pattern formed by the first data and the second data to the one or more of valleys, peaks and high slopes of the predetermined pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing comprises looking back in time for activity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing comprises looking forward in time for activity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the output of the processor is wired or wireless.

11. A method for detecting human activity, the method comprising:

providing, using a first sensor, a first detection zone;

providing, using a second sensor, a second detection zone;

obtaining, using a processor, data associated with the first detection zone and the second detection zone;

comparing, using a pattern recognition logic stored on the processor, data associated with the first detection zone and the second detection zone to data associated with a predetermined pattern;

detecting, using the pattern recognition logic, a match between the data associated with the first detection zone and the second detection zone and the data associated with the predetermined pattern; and

outputting, using the processor, a signal indicative of the match.