Fall-down alarm system

• US 8,610,584 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: China Medical University
• Original Assignee: China Medical University
• Inventors: Chiou, Jin-Chern, Lin, Tsann, Lo, Shih-Che, Duann, Jeng-Ren, Liang, Sheng-Chuan, Lin, Yung-Jiun
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/186,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.7, 340/689, 340/575, 340/573.4, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait

Abstract

A fall-down alarm system includes a contact detection unit, a non-contact detection unit and a fall-down evaluation unit connecting respectively to the contact detection unit and non-contact detection unit. The contact detection unit and non-contact detection unit respectively detect an abnormal detected shape of an object and abnormal life symptoms of the object, and then the fall-down evaluation unit determines a fall-down condition and sends a trigger signal to request assistance. Through the contact detection unit and non-contact detection unit respectively detecting the shape and life symptoms of the object, the erroneous fall-down judgment can be reduced.

Claims

1. A fall-down alarm system, comprising:

a contact detection unit to perform contact detection to an object located on a surface of the contact detection unit and output a contact detection signal according to a detected shape of the object;

a non-contact detection unit to detect life symptoms of the object through a non-contact means and output a non-contact detection signal;

a fall-down evaluation unit connecting with the contact detection unit and the non-contact detection unit to receive the contact detection signal and the non-contact detection signal respectively and send a trigger signal when the non-contact detection signal indicates that the life symptoms of the object are abnormal and the contact detection signal indicates that the detected shape of the object is abnormal; and

an alarm unit connecting to the fall-down evaluation unit to set off an alert message upon receiving the trigger signal for emergency assistance,

wherein the contact detection unit performs the contact detection through a weight detection means and includes a plurality of weight sensing spots to form a weight sensing array to detect weight of the object and form a weight distribution on the weight sensing array in a shape to be outputted as the contact detection signal, and

wherein the contact detection unit further includes an insulation sheet with a plurality of apertures formed thereon and corresponding to the weight sensing spots, a conductive sheet connecting to a power source and a plurality of multiplexers connecting to the weight sensing spots, the weight sensing spots being located correspondingly to the apertures to form the weight sensing array;

through detecting the weight of the object, the weight sensing spots being pressed to complete an electrical loop with the conductive sheet through the apertures to generate an electric signal.

2. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the alarm unit is a buzzer to beep upon receiving the trigger signal so as to notify nearby people for further assistance.

3. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the alarm unit is linked to an emergency call unit which receives the alert message from the alarm unit to call out for assistance.

4. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the contact detection unit is wrapped within a floor carpet or an anti-slip foot mat.

5. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the contact detection unit performs the contact detection through a light blocking detection means to determine a blocked shape via light luminosity degree to output the contact detection signal.

6. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the contact detection unit performs the contact detection through reflection of light projecting on the object to determine a contact area and a shape via light reflection degree.

7. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact detection unit performs non-contact detection through an infrared detection means by detecting temperature difference between the object and environment to determine the life symptoms of the object.

8. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact detection unit performs non-contact detection through an electromagnetic wave reflection detection means to determine the life symptoms of the object.

9. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the fall-down evaluation unit performs countdown upon receiving the contact detection signal indicating that the detected shape of the object is abnormal;

after the countdown being elapsed and the detected shape remaining abnormal, the fall-down evaluation unit determining an abnormal condition to send the trigger signal.

10. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the fall-down evaluation unit monitors first the non-contact detection unit, and then monitors the contact detection unit after the non-contact detection signal has indicated that the life symptoms of the object are abnormal, and sends the trigger signal when the contact detection signal indicates that the detected shape of the object is abnormal.

11. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the fall-down evaluation unit monitors first the contact detection unit, and then monitors the non-contact detection unit after the contact detection signal has indicated that the detected shape of the object is abnormal, and sends the trigger signal when the non-contact detection signal indicates that the life symptoms of the object are abnormal.

12. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the fall-down evaluation unit is respectively linked to the contact detection unit and the non-contact detection unit via wired connection.

13. The fall-down alarm system of claim 12, wherein the wired connection is performed through wires selected from the group consisting of electric wires, coaxial cables and physical network wires.

14. The fall-down alarm system of claim 1, wherein the fall-down evaluation unit is respectively linked to the contact detection unit and the non-contact detection unit via wireless connection.

15. The fall-down alarm system of claim 14, wherein the wireless connection is performed through wireless media selected from the group consisting of wireless network, Bluetooth, infrared and radio frequency.