System and method of worker fall detection and remote alarm notification

• US 8,665,097 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Worthington, Stephen David, Stinson, Sean Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US13/104,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• 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 fall indicating alarm system includes one or more fall sensors and at least one gas sensor coupled to a displaced alarm system which, responsive to an output from a fall sensor, generates an audible or visual alarm indicator. Both local and displaced alarm indicators can be generated.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a fall sensing device;

an apparatus responsive to an ambient or environmental condition and to an output from the device to produce an indicator of either the ambient or environmental condition, or a fall; and

an alarm generating unit, responsive to the apparatus, to generate at least a fall indicating indicium,

where the fall sensing device includes at least one of an acceleration sensor, or a position sensor, and

where the fall sensing device or the apparatus increases detection of a serious fall event by temporarily changing selected motion detection parameters after the fall sensing device or the apparatus detect an acceleration beyond a certain threshold, and

where, during a period of altered motion parameters after a possible fall, the apparatus generates an alarm signal in the absence of the fall sensing device or the apparatus detecting motion for a predetermined period of time.

2. A system as in claim 1 where the indicium is selected from a class which includes an audible alarm, a visual alarm, or an audible alarm and a visual alarm.

3. A system as in claim 2 where the unit is located local to the apparatus.

4. A system as in claim 3 where a different alarm unit is displaced from the apparatus and is in-part in wireless communication therewith.

5. A system as in claim 1 which includes a housing which carries the device, the apparatus and the unit and where the apparatus includes control circuits coupled to the device and the unit.

6. A system as in claim 5 which includes a bi-directional communication link enabling a remote monitoring system to send a message to the apparatus.

7. A system as in claim 6 where the control circuits include a programmable processor and readable storage wherein a control program is stored and executable by a microprocessor to determine when the fall has occurred and which activates the alarm generating unit.

8. A system as in claim 7 which includes executable instructions, responsive to the determination that a fall has occurred, to communicate that the fall has occurred to a displaced monitoring system.

9. A system as in claim 1 where selectivity to fall events is adjusted over time by altering selected fall and landing thresholds and processing.

10. A system as in claim 1 where the apparatus comprises a gas detector and where the gas detector is portable, and wearable by a user and which includes a housing which carries the device, the apparatus and the unit.

11. A system as in claim 10 where the apparatus includes control circuits coupled to the device and the unit.

12. A system as in claim 11 where the control circuits include a programmable processor and readable storage wherein a control program is stored and executable by a microprocessor to determine when the fall has occurred and which activates the alarm generating unit.

13. A system as in claim 12 which includes executable instructions, responsive to the determination that a fall has occurred, to communicate that the fall has occurred to a displaced monitoring system.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a fall sensor;

a gas sensor; and

control circuits, responsive to outputs from at least the fall sensor to detect the presence of a fall, and generate a fall related indicium,

where the fall sensor or the control circuits increase detection of a serious fall event by temporarily changing selected motion detection parameters after the fall sensor or the control circuits detect a possible fall event, and

where, during a period of altered motion parameters after the possible fall event, the control circuits generate the fall related indicium in the absence of the fall sensor or the control circuits detecting motion for a predetermined period of time.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14 where the control circuits respond to outputs from the gas sensor to detect the presence of a predetermined gas condition, and, to generate a gas concentration related indicium.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15 where the sensors are carried in a common, portable, housing.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16 where the indicia are coupled to an alarm indicating output device.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17 where the output device is displaced from the housing.