Portable wireless personal head impact reporting system

• US 8,860,570 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensetech LLC
• Original Assignee: Sensetech LLC
• Inventors: Bauer, Timothy, Thomas, Biju
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/366,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20120223833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 340/436, 340/438, 340/573.1, 340/426.16, 340/539.26, 340/539.13, 455/404.2, 455/41.2, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/427, 455/345, 701/533, 701/433, 701/431, 701/410
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0433 Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• 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: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system for sensing, analyzing and reporting a collision event experienced by a person or object sensor module designed to a person or object, module angular velocities over time and a processor for analyzing the sensed velocities, calculating properties of angular velocities, such as jerk and jolt, comparing these properties with threshold values selected to correlate to predicted severities of injury to the person or object, transmitting information regarding these properties to communication device user-designated persons. Also provided are group tracking and communication devices for use by monitors to manage multiple persons equipped with sensor modules. The sensor modules and group tracking and communication devices are designed to be portable, attachable and detachable so that they can be attached to different types of gear used by persons engaging in different activities.

Claims

1. A system for sensing, analyzing, and reporting one or more collision events of a person or object with another person, or object, said system comprising:

a sensor module consisting of at least one sensor configured to be operationally connected to one or more persons or objects and capable of sensing angular velocity of said person or object as a result of said collision events over time and of producing first signals comprising information representing properties of said angular velocity over time;

a sensor module processor in signal communication with said sensor module and programmed to analyze said information and compare it to one or more threshold values indicative of a severity of said collision events; and

a transmitter in communication with an output of the sensor module processor to produce a second signal comprising data representing the results of said comparison(s) for transmission to a separate communication device programmed to provide a notification of a severe collision in response to the second signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of:

gyroscopes, 3-axis accelerometers, MEMS (microelectric mechanical systems), piezoelectric accelerometers, force or strain gauges or transducers, and force-sensing textiles.

3. The system of claim 1 also comprising components capable of analyzing and reporting information selected from the group consisting of consisting of climatic data, biometric parameter data, the presence or levels of nerve agents, poisonous gases, bioweapons, oxygen, and sonic, percussive and/or concussive results of explosions.

4. The system of claim 1 also comprising a user interface capable of producing a perceptible audible, visible, or tactile stimulus to the user in response to a signal received by a receiver at said user interface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module processor is equipped with a low energy communication component for receipt and transmittal of signals.

6. The system of claim 1 where the low energy communication component is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) component.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the low energy communication component also comprises a converter for converting the BLE signal to a classic Bluetooth signal for further transmission.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor module measures angular velocity, and/or G-forces in three axes and calculates at least one of angular acceleration, angular deceleration, jerk, and jolt.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor module is removably attachable to said person or an item of said person'"'"'s clothing, equipment or accessories.

10. The system of claim 1 comprising an encryption component for encrypting signals prior to transmission.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a group tracking and communication device with a second receiver for receipt of said second signals and which is attached to one or more people or objects and is programmed to send third signals to one or more receivers.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module comprises at least one gyroscope and said sensor module is positioned relative to said person such that the axis of rotation of said gyroscope is vertical when the person is standing with his or her head normally aligned.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor module comprises sensors for measuring one or more biological parameters selected from the group consisting of:

heart rate, brain waves, blood pressure, and temperature.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module comprises two or three gyroscopes with axes orthogonally positioned with respect to each other.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module is insensitive to velocities resulting from normal movement of said object or person.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module also comprises a component capable of detecting directional linear collision forces.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor also comprises a component capable of detecting the integrity of contact between the sensor module and the person or object to which it is attached.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module is positioned adjacent to or atop said person'"'"'s head for detecting angular velocity of the head during normal movement and head collision.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module is positioned adjacent to a spring positioned at the inside top of a helmet, such that in use said spring pushes said sensor module against the head of a wearer of said helmet.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module is housed directly within a material with approximate density similar to brain density in the range of 0.95 g/mL to 1.15 g/mL.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module is attached to or integral with an accessory carried or worn by said person.

22. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device is attached to or integral with an object designed to be easily carried about or attached to a person.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module is removably attached to the person or an accessory worn or carried by a person and is capable of being removably attached to another person or accessory.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor processing unit comprises a signal-conditioning device for filtering and conditioning signals from sensor.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal-conditioning device filters low frequency signals and converts them from analog to digital or digital to analog.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein said signal-conditioning device comprises a band pass filter to allow selected signals to be transmitted.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor processor comprises a differentiator for determining a plurality of time derivatives of accumulated angular velocity signals from a gyroscope over a predetermined period of time.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein said time derivatives are selected from the group consisting of angular acceleration, angular jerk, and angular jolt.

29. The system of claim 1 further comprising an integrator for integrating said time derivatives over a predetermined period of time.

30. The system of claim 1 also comprising a power supply connected to said sensor module.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein said power supply is selected from the group consisting of photovoltaic cells, charging pads, contact charger adaptors and converters.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module comprises a wake-up module that begins functioning when movement is detected.

33. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor module produces a burst data stream.

34. The system of claim 1 also comprising an electronic storage unit operationally connected to said sensor module processor, said electronic storage unit being capable of receiving, storing and transmitting information from said first and second signals to and from said sensor module processor.

35. The system of claim 1 wherein said electronic storage unit comprises a flash or RAM memory device or a micro SD card.

36. The system of claim 1 wherein said first receiver comprises a component selected from the group consisting of portable communication devices, processors, and internet terminals.

37. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is selected from the group consisting of notebook computers, tablet computers, and personal digital assistants.

38. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device comprises or is operationally connected to a position reporting unit capable of generating a signal representing the location of said device and/or said sensor module.

39. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device comprises an interface for direct connection to the Internet.

40. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device is a cellular telephone.

41. The system of claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone comprises a global positioning system.

42. The system of claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone is in operational connection with a positioning satellite network.

43. The system of claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone is in operational connection with a portable satellite communication device (SPOT).

44. The system of claim 1 wherein said SPOT is capable of sending signals to a communication satellite.

45. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device is capable of sending to and receiving signals from a portable satellite communication device.

46. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device is capable of sending signals to and receiving signals from a cellular tower network, an internet terminal, or a receiving component of an internet cloud.

47. The system of claim 1 wherein said second signals comprise demographic information about the person connected to sensor module and information about properties of a collision event and/or another adverse condition.

48. The system of claim 1 comprising an internet-connected server capable of receiving said second signals and comprising information collected from other collision events and/or adverse situations involving the same and other persons.

49. The system of claim 1 wherein said demographic information comprises information selected from the group consisting of size, weight, head size, age, height, sex, income, political affiliation, net worth, race, ethnicity and lifestyle habits.

50. The system of claim 1 wherein said database also comprises stored information representing the type and severity of injuries sustained by persons as a result of experiencing previous collision events, and information representing properties of angular velocities over time during each said previous collision event.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said internet-connected server comprises or is operationally connected with a prediction processor programmed to analyze data in said database and correlate properties of measured angular velocity over time with type and severity of injuries, and to generate prediction signals which predict the severity and type of injury that results from a subsequent collision event.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein said prediction processor comprises components capable of performing one or more functions selected from the group consisting of:

receiving and storing data in a flash memory;

determining global position via a GPS; and

generating and transmitting signals.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein said prediction processor comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of:

broadband or low frequency wireless interfaces;

antennae for direct-to-Internet communication; and

software to determine if a collision event having measured properties exceeding said threshold values has occurred.

54. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device is attached to or integral with a device designed to be worn, clipped to, or carried upon the person.

55. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device is in signal communication with one or more mobile communication devices comprising receivers capable of receiving signals from multiple sensor modules operationally connected to multiple persons or objects, and is capable of sending signals to multiple receivers.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein said receivers of said mobile communication devices are selected from the group consisting of:

Internet connection devices;

portable communication devices, and communication satellites.

57. The system of claim 55 wherein said mobile communication devices are cellular telephones.

58. The system of claim 55 wherein said mobile communication devices are programmed to send messages to entities selected from the group consisting of:

third party emergency contact resources, rescue and/or emergency provider networks, and user-defined contacts.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein said messages are sent through communication devices selected from the group consisting of:

cellular telephone towers and communication satellites.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein said sensor module and/or said prediction processor generates third and/or prediction signals carrying messages sent to communication satellites via portable satellite communication devices (SPOT).

61. The system of claim 60 wherein said messages generated from said third signals are selected from the group consisting of:

(1) a message to the person connected to the sensor that they have been involved in a minor collision event which has been stored in their sensor device, and advising that based on the accumulated collision events they have experienced and making a recommendation as to whether or not they should seek medical attention;

(2) a message to the person connected to the sensor that they have been involved in a moderate collision event and advising that and recommending that they see a doctor;

(3) a message to a third party emergency contact resource that the person has been involved in a collision event of a specified severity and a message to the person advising that the emergency contact resource has been notified;

(4) a message to a rescue and/or emergency provider network that the person has been involved in a collision event requiring emergency response and a message to the person that the rescue/emergency provider network has been notified; and

(5) a message to the group tracking and communication device of a monitor that a person was involved in a collision event and making a recommendation as to whether or not the person should receive medical attention.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein said group tracking and communication device is in signal communication with a communication device capable of receiving signals from multiple sensor modules operationally connected to multiple persons or objects, and is capable of sending signals to multiple receivers.

63. The system of claim 11 wherein the group tracking and communication device is in signal communication via the Internet with a processor capable of cloud computing to process and accumulate information selected from a group consisting of demographic information, information on current and previous impact collisions, biological parameters and/or climatic information from single or multiple users, and information about the seriousness and type of previous impact collisions of said persons, and to calculate correlations between injury types and seriousness with the other information, and to predict the seriousness of injury caused by a current collision event from the collected information and correlations.

64. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is operationally connected to a person or object and is capable of determining angular, and optionally direct velocity, of said person or object over time as a result of a collision event and of producing first signals comprising information representing properties of said angular velocity over time, wherein the sensor module comprises one or more components selected from the group consisting of gyroscopes, 3-axis accelerometers, processors, wireless transmitters and data storage buffers.

65. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor module processor is in signal communication with the sensor module, wherein said sensor module processor is configured to analyze information about measured properties of a collision event received from said sensor module, and compare said information to one or more selected threshold values indicative of the severity of the collision event, and to produce signals comprising information representing the results of said comparisons.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the sensor module further comprises firmware capable of analyzing and comparing said information and producing said signals.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein said firmware comprises Bluetooth Low Energy to Classic Converter (BLEC) circuitry.

68. The system of claim 66 wherein said firmware comprises Bluetooth Enabled Accelerometer (BEA) circuitry.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein the sensor module is no larger than that of three quarters.

70. The system of claim 66, wherein the sensor module is configured with miniaturized electronic circuitry for converting Bluetooth Low Energy transmission to classic Bluetooth signal wherein said circuitry is capable of being disposed on a component having a size no larger than a quarter.

71. The system of claim 11, wherein the group tracking and communication device further comprises a receiver for receiving signals from two or more sensor modules attached to two or more persons or objects, wherein said signals carry information about measured properties of a collision event occurring to said persons or objects, wherein said group tracking and communication device is programmed to send signals to one or more receivers.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the group tracking and communication device further comprises at least one wireless transmitter capable of broadcasting low frequency or broadband signals.

73. The system of claim 71, wherein the group tracking and communication device further comprises also comprising a processor and RAM data storage unit.

74. The system of claim 71, wherein the group tracking and communication device further comprises Bluetooth Low Energy to Classic Converter (BLEC) circuitry.

75. The system of claim 71, wherein the group tracking and communication device further comprises Bluetooth Enabled Accelerometer (BEA) circuitry.

76. The system of claim 71, wherein the group tracking and communication device is no larger than a cylinder 25 mm in diameter and 6 mm in height.

77. The system of claim 71, wherein the group tracking and communication device is no larger than a cylinder 10 mm in diameter and 2 mm in height.

80. The system of claim 11 wherein said group tracking and communication device comprises at least one wireless transmitter capable of broadcasting low frequency or broadband signals, a processor, and a RAM data storage module.

78. A method of making a system for sensing, analyzing, and reporting a collision event of a person or object with another person, or object, said method comprising:

providing a sensor module consisting of at least one sensor capable of sensing angular velocity of said person or object over time as a result of said collision event and of producing first signals comprising information representing properties of said angular velocity over time;

operationally connecting said sensor module to one or more persons or objects;

establishing signal communication between said sensor module and a processor programmed to analyze said information and compare it to one or more threshold values indicative of a severity of said collision events and to produce a second signal comprising data representing the results of said comparisons; and

transmitting the second signal produced by said processor to a communication device attached to one or more people or objects and programmed to provide a notification of a severe collision in response to the second signal.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the method further comprises establishing signal communication between said processor and a group tracking and communication device attached to one or more people or objects and programmed to send signals to one or more receivers.