51 results about "Fall detector" patented technology

There is provided a method of operating a fall detector, the method comprising, on detecting a fall event by a user of the fall detector, measuring at least one physiological characteristic of the user; and using the measurement of the at least one physiological characteristic to determine whether to expedite an alert that the user has fallen. An apparatus comprising a processor that is configured to perform the method described above is also provided.

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.

A method for detecting a fall by a user includes a method of detecting a fall by a user. The method includes processing measurements obtained from one or more sensors to extract a respective value for a plurality of features associated with a fall. A respective log likelihood ratio for each of the values is determined. Whether the user has fallen is determined based on the determined log likelihood ratios.

A method of gait data collection, the method comprising collecting movement data, determining from the data a movement parameter that includes a third order derivative of position, comparing the movement parameter with a threshold value, and counting at least a near fall if the movement parameter exceeds the threshold value.

There is provided a fall detector for use in detecting falls by a user, the fall detector comprising an accelerometer for producing a time series of measurement samples representing the acceleration acting on the fall detector; a processor for estimating a vertical velocity and / or vertical displacement of the fall detector from the measurement samples and using the estimated vertical velocity and / or vertical displacement to determine whether the user has suffered a fall; wherein the processor is configured to estimate a vertical velocity and / or vertical displacement of the fall detector from the measurement samples by estimating a corresponding time series of unit vectors representing acceleration due to gravity in the reference frame of the accelerometer from the time series of measurement samples; projecting each measurement sample onto the corresponding unit vector and subtracting acceleration due to gravity to give a series of estimates for the vertical acceleration of the fall detector; and integrating the series of estimates for the vertical acceleration over a time period to give a time series of values for the vertical velocity and / or vertical displacement of the fall detector.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for indicating a fall of a user by means of an alarm message. According to the invention, the apparatus (20) comprises a unit (21) for receiving a first alarm message (FAM) sent by a fall detector (30) intended to be worn on the user, the first alarm message indicating whether a fall event in association with the user occurs, which first alarm message is determined by air-pressure data and user motion data detected by the fall detector (30); a unit (22) for acquiring weather data reflecting the weather condition of the area where the user is situated; a unit (23) for determining whether or not the first alarm message is reliable, based on said weather data and predetermined criteria; and an output unit (24) for generating and outputting a fall alarm when the first alarm message is determined as being reliable. The apparatus dramatically reduces false alarms by acquiring weather data for determining the reliability of alarm messages generated by the air-pressure sensor.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for calibrating a fall detector, a method of setting a fall detector, and a fall detector. According to the invention, the method of calibrating a fall detector comprises (a) acquiring the duration of a free fall of the fall detector; (b) calculating the change in height of the fall detector during the free fall from said duration; (c) measuring the change in height of the free fall by the fall detector; (d) calculating the difference between the calculated change in height and the measured change in height; and (e) updating a threshold in the fall detector for determining whether or not a fall has occurred on the basis of this difference.

There is provided a method of detecting a fall by a user, the method comprising detecting whether a user has potentially experienced a fall event from measurements of the movements of the user; on detecting a potential fall event, determining the activity level of the user and a measure of a autonomic nervous system, ANS, response for the user associated with the potential fall event; comparing the determined activity level and the measure of the ANS response to a user profile relating activity level and ANS response for the user; and determining whether the potential fall event is a fall based on the result of the comparison.

A fall detection apparatus detects when a suspected fall event has occurred based on receipt of arm direction information. The fall detection apparatus provides further discrimination of when events involving a subject are suspected fall events.

A method of detecting a state of an insulation resistance fall detector that includes: a detection resistance connected in series to an insulation resistance between a vehicle body and a power source; a condenser provided between the insulation resistance and the detection resistance; a pulse signal applying unit that applies a pulse signal to a serial circuit constituted by the insulation resistance, the condenser and the detection resistance; a low pass filter that filters a voltage of a connecting point between the coupling condenser and the detection resistance; and a fall detecting unit that detects a fall of the insulation resistance on the basis of the output of the filter, the method comprising the steps of: varying a pulse width of the pulse signal; and detecting the state of the insulation resistance fall detector on the basis of the output of the filter when the pulse width is varied.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for detecting fall events of a person. Fall events are falls that are likely to occur, are occurring, or have occurred. Fall detectors and fall detector systems detect fall events of the person. Data relating to the person are received from sensors and analyzed to perform fall detection. Data relating to the person includes accelerations and forces experience by the person, changes in body position of the person, movements of the person, and body signals and sounds of the person. Neurological tests are administered to determine levels of responsiveness and awareness of the person in response to detections. Warnings are issued, and safety measures are deployed, in response to detections. Data relating to fall events are recorded and logged. Fall event histories based upon the logged data and fall detection algorithm performance are used to improve future fall detection and prediction.

A fall detector unit is worn by a patient and performs a wakeup when an acceleration signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. A barometer provides a series of pressure readings over a pressure examination period to provide a first pressure difference value. The pressure signals are further monitored over a compensation period after the examination period to obtain a second pressure difference value representing background environmental changes. The first pressure difference value is compensated by the second pressure difference value to obtain a total pressure difference value and thus derive a total height difference value. The fall detector unit determines a fall event using the total height difference value.