Emergency signaling device

[0002] This invention relates to an Emergency Signaling Device (ESD) which is worn by individuals at risk of falling, becoming unconscious or of becoming lost and which alerts bystanders that the individual wearing the ESD is in some such distress. More particularly, the ESD of the present invention is comprised of means for sensing that the wearer has sustained a shock and fallen, or has become lost, and an alarm and/or other means of communicating or relating messages for alerting bystanders. The device of the present invention does not require any action on the part of one wearing the device to activate the alerting function.

[0003] Numerous situations exist in which it would be advantageous to draw the attention of bystanders to an individual in need of medical assistance. For instance, there are many medical conditions, such as epilepsy, diabetes, narcolepsy, and cardiac and circulatory deficiencies, which put an individual at risk of a convulsive or non-convulsive seizure or which may cause an individual to loose his or her consciousness or balance. Yet other medical conditions, such as Alzheimer's, may cause an individual to wander off and become lost.

[0004] When such events occur, bystanders often do not pay attention to such a fallen, dazed, unsteady or lost individual, thinking that it is a case of inebriation or drug abuse. Frequently, the individual having this problem is unable to communicate his distress or the cause of his problem or to effectively solicit the assistance of bystanders.

[0005] Personal alarm devices which are currently available have deficiencies which are met by the device of the present invention. For example, the personal alarm disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,368 is used primarily for defensive purposes but must be activated by the person in distress. Therefore, an individual who has lost consciousness, motor control or who do not realize they are in distress (such as a wandering Alzheimer's patient) cannot or do not activate the alarm of the device claimed in the '368 patent.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,866,204 discloses an electronic medical warning device which activates an alarm, following a delay period, upon the closing of an attitude switch. The device of '204 patent, however, could undesirably activate. For example, should the wearer of the '204 device lie down for a period greater than the delay period, the alarm would activate.

[0007] Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a device which would sound some sort of audible alarm or signal when the wearer sustains a shock in conjunction with a change in attitude. It would be advantageous for such audible alarm or signal to include a voice message alerting bystanders to the wearer's condition or medical problem. It would be further advantageous to have a device which may be automatically activated at pre-set time intervals or upon the exit of the device from a specified location. It would be further advantageous to have such a device which could also be manually activated by an individual in distress, if such individual were physically and mentally capable of activating the device.

[0008] The present invention addresses the deficiency of prior art personal alarm devices by providing a device which automatically activates the alarm function upon the occurrence of certain events, such as a change in attitude in conjunction with sustaining a shock, upon the exit of the device from a specified area or upon activation by either the wearer or a third party.

[0009] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the ESD contains a means for detecting attitude and shock and which more specifically detects whether the individual wearing the ESD is in an upright or prone position. In the event the individual wearing the alarm looses consciousness or otherwise falls, the device would activate an audible alarm which would draw the attention of bystanders to the individual in distress.

[0010] In the event the individual falls to the ground and sustains a shock, greater than that normally imposed by walking, the device would activate an audible alarm which would alert bystanders but may also play a voice message indicating the wearer's medical conditions.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the ESD contains an alarm which is activated if the ESD is transported beyond a pre-set distance from a base station. Such an embodiment would be most useful with cognitively impaired, such as Alzheimer's patients, who may wander and become lost. Such a device would sound an audible alarm and/or voice message requesting assistance and identifying the caretakers of the patient upon activation. In another embodiment of particular use, the ESD may contain an alarm which is time-dependent and which is set to sound at certain pre-set intervals or times.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a high level diagram of a first preferred embodiment of the Emergency Signal Device.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of a first preferred embodiment of the Emergency Signal Device.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the primary mode of operation of a first preferred embodiment of the Emergency Signal Device.

[0015] The Emergency Signal Device (“ESD”) of the present invention is comprised in a portable casing similar in size and shape to a typical beeper or cellular telephone. The ESD may contain a clip or other means for fastening onto the clothing of the user or may be placed in a holder which is then fastened to the clothing of the user. In the alternative, the ESD may be hung around the neck in necklace fashion using any acceptable lacing material.

[0016] Referring first to FIG. 1, the functions of a first preferred embodiment of the ESD of the present invention may be illustrated. In the first preferred embodiment, the ESD contains means for detecting attitude and shock. To detect attitude in three dimensions, the ESD may contain a single triaxial accelerometer, two biaxial accelerometer or three uniaxial accelerometer. In FIG. 1, the ESD is illustrated as possessing a single triaxial accelerometer 10. It win be understood that in the event two biaxial accelerometers are utilized, one axis of one of the accelerometers would be left idle. In the preferred embodiment, atriaxial accelerometer, available from Analog Devices, Inc., part number ADXL05EM-3, is used. It will be understood, however, that any of a number of commercially available tri-, bi- or uni-axial accelerometers, such as biaxial accelerometer ADXL202EB from Analog Devices, Inc., may be used. A microprocessor 20 is pre-programmed to accept input from accelerometer 10, to analyze such input and to sound an alarm in the event the attitude of the ESD unit is outside pre-programmed thresholds for a time period beyond a pre-programmed time limit in conjunction with the detection of a shock above a pre-set threshold within a pre-set time period of the change in attitude. Although a number of commercially available microprocessor may be used, in the preferred embodiment, microprocessor 20 is obtained from Parallax, Inc., part number Basic Stamp II Module. As shown in FIG. 1, the microprocessor program contains a timing routine 21 for attitude which is calculated using an attitude algorithm 22 using input from accelerometer 10. Microprocessor 20 further contains a timing routine 25 for determining the time difference between a change in attitude and the occurrence of a shock. Microprocessor 20 further contains a shock algorithm 26 which uses data from accelerometer 10 to calculate a shock and to determine whether the shock is greater or less than a pre-set threshold value. Microprocessor 20 further includes an alarm logic 24 which determines the nature, sequence and length of the alarm or messages sounded. Alarm logic 24 may further control a status indicator 30 which is visible on the exterior of the ESD. It will be understood that the status indicator 30 may be any of a variety of currently available lighting means, such as light emitting diodes. In, the preferred embodiment, status indicator 30 displays as green to indicate that the alarm has not been activated and displays as red to indicate that the alarm has been activated. Alarm logic 24 further permits the alarm to be discontinued through use of a reset button 31 or to be manually activated by use of a manual button 32. When activated, alarm logic 24 will activate the multiple message storage device 40 to play one or more pre-recorded alarm sounds or voice messages through external speaker 50. Multiple message storage device 40 may be any of a variety of commercially available storage devices. In the preferred embodiment multiple message storage device 40 is the Multiple Voice Message from Information Storage Devices, Inc., part number ISD 1416P. External speaker 50 may be any of a number of commercially available speakers which is compatible with remaining components of the ESD and which meets the size requirements of the ESD. Referring now to FIG. 2, a detailed wiring diagram of a first preferred embodiment of the ESD is shown. In addition to the components discussed in connection with FIG. 1, the ESD is comprised of a battery 60 and an on/off switch 65. A microphone jack 66 is connected as shown to the multiple message storage device 40 so as to make customized pre-recorded messages.

[0017] FIG. 3 displays the operational mode, also called the check loop, of the ESD. The operational mode includes a loop in which data is collected from accelerometer 10 and then processed by algorithms 22 and 26. If the attitudinal shift, as calculated by algorithm 22 is greater than the pre-programmed attitudinal shift limit, and if that attitudinal shift is maintained for a time period, called the tilt count, greater than a pre-programmed limit, called the tilt count threshold, the amount of shock sustained is checked. If a shock greater than a pre-programmed shock limit is detected within a time period of about three times the length of the tilt count threshold, the alarm is activated. The time period before and after an attitudinal shift during which a shock must occur to activate the alarm is called the shock window. If a shock greater than the shock limit is sustained outside the shock window, the audible alarm is not activated but the status indicator 30 is set to red and the operational loop is repeated.

[0018] It will be understood that the ESD may be placed in other modes. For example, in an initialization mode, variables such as the tilt count and shock count are set to zero. In the initialization mode, the mode which the user of the ESD wishes to access may also be set. In another mode, called mode zero, single voice messages may be recorded and checked. In yet another mode, mode one, multiple voice messages may be recorded and checked. A final mode of operation is called the alarm mode and is the process which occurs upon activation of the alarm. One method of programming a prototype of the ESD is shown in Appendix A. It will be understood that the tilt limit, tilt count threshold, shock limit and shock count threshold may be pre-programmed to some u reasonable limits or in the alternative, may be set by individual users, depending upon each users level of activity and flexibility. For example, for a wheelchair bound patient, the tilt limit may be set to detect even slight attitudinal changes and the tilt count threshold set low so as to be the equivalent of a few seconds, as the patient would not be expected to bend over. However, if the user is a fairly active person with some recurrent disability, such as epilepsy, the tilt limit may be set so as to correspond to a completely prone position. Similarly, the shock limit and shock count threshold may correspond to the user's level of activity. For example, an ESD used by an ambulatory patient should be set such that the shock sustained from normal walking lies lower than the shock limit so that walking does not activate the alarm.

[0019] In a second preferred embodiment of the ESD, an additional timing routine, a periodic timing routine, may be included so as to cause the automatic activation of the alarm at certain pre-set time intervals. In such embodiment, the alarm would be deactivated through reset button 31. It will be understood that in such an embodiment, microprocessor 20 would contain additional programming, a periodic timing routine, to execute such additional functions.

[0020] In a third preferred embodiment of the ESD, a proximity detector may be included so as to activate the alarm if the ESD is transported outside a pre-set geographic area. Such proximity detectors, such as those used to track parolees, are commercially available. It will be understood that microprocessor 20 may be programmed to accept input from such a proximity detector and to activate the alarm upon movement of the ESD outside such pre-set geographic area. It will be further understood that microprocessor 20 may be programmed as to sound he alarm only if the ESD is moved outside the pre-set geographic limits for a time period outside certain acceptable limits.

[0021] In a fourth preferred embodiment of the ESD, the ESD contains a global positioning unit (“GPU”). Global positioning technology utilizing orbiting satellites is now commercially available. It will be understood that microprocessor 20 may be programmed to activate the GPU upon activation of the alarm. In order to minimize the size of the ESD, the device of the fourth preferred embodiment would incorporate cellular digital packet data transmission (“CDPD”) technology which permits the transmission of data through cellular frequencies. In such ESD, activation of the alarm would cause a cellular transmitter to dial out to a pre-programmed emergency number which rings at a cellular base station. Upon receipt of an incoming call from the ESD, the cellular base station, in constant communication with a global positioning satellite (“GPS”), transmits the coordinates of the GPS satellite to the ESD. The ESD then receives, through CDPD, data from the satellite and transmits such data to the cellular base station. Computers located at the cellular base station calculate the location of the ESD and send a distress call, along with the ESD location, to the appropriate authorities, such as police. Because the calculation of the location of the ESD is done by computers located at the cellular base station, the size of the ESD may be minimized. ESDs of this fourth preferred embodiment would, therefore, be further comprised of a cellular antenna, cellular receiver and transmitter, and global positioning satellite antenna, receiver and transmitter.

[0022] In a fifth preferred embodiment, the ESD is further comprised of a means for alerting or activating existing prior art telephone emergency notification systems. For example, Radio Shack product number 49-2559 utilizes a pendant style remote control device which, when activated by manually depressing a button on the remote control, activates a phone dialer console. The phone dialer console may be pre-programmed with up to four telephone numbers to dial upon activation. In the fifth preferred embodiment, the ESD further comprises a means for activating such existing systems upon activation of the alarm.