Fall detection system

• US 8,381,603 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Peng, Yang, Jin, Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frank, Rodney T
• Application Number:
  US13/063,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20110162433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 73/10.1, 738/654, 600/587, 600/595
• US Class Current: 73/865.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait

Abstract

There is provided a fall detection system comprising a fall detector for monitoring the movement of a user and detecting if the user has fallen or is about to fall, one or more sensors for collecting measurements of one or more physical characteristics of the user, wherein the fall detector uses the measurements to adapt the fall detection to the physical characteristics of the user.

Claims

1. A fall detection system, comprising:

a fall detector for monitoring movement of a user and detecting if the user has fallen or is about to fall; and

a calibration unit that switches the fall detector into a calibration mode, the calibration unit including one or more sensors for collecting measurements of one or more physical characteristics of the user;

wherein, during the calibration mode, the fall detector uses the measurements to adapt the fall detection to the physical characteristics of the user.

2. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fall detector compares the movements of the user to a parameter set comprising one or more thresholds or patterns to detect if the user has fallen or is about to fall.

3. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fall detector adapts the fall detection to the physical characteristics of the user by selecting a parameter set from a plurality of parameter sets appropriate to the measurements of the physical characteristics.

4. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are provided in the calibration unit, the calibration unit being separate to the fall detector.

5. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the calibration unit is adapted to provide the measurements of the one or more physical characteristics to the fall detector.

6. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the calibration unit comprises a recess adapted to receive at least a part of the fall detector.

7. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a pressure sensor for measuring a body weight or torso weight of the user when the user stands or sits on the calibration unit respectively.

8. A fall detection system as claimed claim 1, wherein the calibration unit is adapted to switch the fall detector into calibration mode in which the fall detector uses the measurements to adapt the fall detection to the physical characteristics of the user when the fall detector and calibration unit are placed in contact with each other.

9. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fall detector comprises the one or more sensors.

10. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a pressure sensor with an associated pressure plate.

11. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fall detector measures a degree of frailty of the user when the user presses on the pressure plate.

12. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fail detector measures the degree of frailty based on a maximum pressure exerted on the pressure plate by the user and/or an average pressure exerted over a period of time on the pressure plate by the user.

13. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fall detector is adapted to switch into the calibration mode in which the fall detector uses the measurements to adapt the fall detection to the physical characteristics of the user when a pressure exerted on the pressure plate exceeds a threshold.

14. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fall detection system further comprises the calibration unit that is adapted to cooperate with the pressure plate of the fall detector such that the pressure sensor measures a body weight or torso weight of the user when the user stands or sits on the calibration unit respectively.

15. A fall detection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the physical characteristics comprises one or more of body weight, torso weight, height, general physical condition, a degree of frailty of the user, heart rate/pulse, blood pressure, ECG signals or other biological signals.

16. A method of operating a fall detection system, the method comprising:

switching, by a calibration unit, the fall detection system to a calibration mode;

collecting, in the calibration mode, measurements of one or more physical characteristics of a user of the fall detection system;

using the measurements to adapt a detection of falls, or falls that are about to happen, to the physical characteristics of the user.