Personal care device
The personal care device improves fall detection accuracy with a two-stage verification system and emotional support, addressing the limitations of existing systems by ensuring timely medical intervention and spiritual comfort for elderly users.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-09
AI Technical Summary
Current fall detection systems for the elderly often misinterpret fall events due to sensor limitations, lack comprehensive physiological and psychological support, and fail to provide timely rescue, especially in remote areas, leading to potential 'lonely deaths'.
A personal care device with integrated fall detection, infrared thermography, physiological monitoring, and emergency alert systems, including a second confirmation mechanism to verify fall events and play religious music for emotional comfort during critical conditions.
Enhances fall detection accuracy, provides timely medical alerts, and offers emotional support through religious music, reducing misjudgments and ensuring timely assistance and spiritual comfort for elderly users.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE REVELATION Technical Area
[0001] This application concerns a personal device, in particular a personal care device. Description of the state of the art
[0002] Current fall detection systems for the elderly primarily use sensors or video technology to detect a fall and send an alert to the user. However, limitations in the detection performance or range of the sensors can lead to misinterpretations, reducing user confidence. Furthermore, the sensors' function is limited to fall detection; they cannot provide any additional physiological or psychological support or comfort. Moreover, elderly people living alone often cannot be rescued in time after a fall, which is particularly critical in remote areas and can even lead to them dying unnoticed ("a lonely death").
[0003] As a result, in a time of massive population aging, it has become an indispensable problem for modern society how to adequately consider both physiological and psychological individual care. SUMMARY OF THE REVELATION
[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a personal device comprising a fall detection module, a fall data processing module, an alarm module, a first-line infrared thermography detection module, a physiological information processing module, a life detection module, and a religious music playback module. The fall detection module detects one or more types of activity signals from the user's daily activities in their home environment. The fall data processing module analyzes and processes one or more types of activity signals and generates a preliminary fall signal when it detects that the user has fallen. The alarm module is coupled with the fall data processing module and issues a user fall confirmation alarm based on the preliminary fall signal.The first infrared thermography detection module generates an initial infrared thermography signal related to the user's daily activities. The physiological information processing module is coupled with the first infrared thermography detection module and the fall data processing module. Based on the preliminary fall signal, it analyzes the initial infrared thermography signal to generate a vital signs signal for the user. The life detection module is coupled with the physiological information processing module and the alarm module. It analyzes the user's vital signs signal to assess the user's current physiological condition.The religious music playback module is coupled with the life detection module, whereby if the life detection module detects that the user's vital signs are outside a safety area, the alarm module triggers an emergency first aid alarm and the religious music playback module plays religious music in the user's residential environment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a block diagram of the personal care device of this application. Fig. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the personal care device of a further embodiment of this application. Fig. Figure 3 is a block diagram of the personal care device of a further embodiment of this application. Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the emergency monitoring system and the playback of religious music of this registration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0005] The features and technical content of this application are described in detail in the following description and the accompanying drawings. However, the accompanying drawings serve only for reference and explanation and are not intended to limit this application.
[0006] Fig. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the personal care device of this application.
[0007] The personal care device can be installed in a fixed location within the user's living environment, such as the living room, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, or garden. It can also be an electronic device that can move freely within the living environment, such as a robot. Regardless of whether it is installed in a fixed location or is a freely moving robot, the personal care device can be implemented in accordance with this application, including its emergency monitoring system and the playback of religious music.
[0008] Based on medical rescue experience, the general health of elderly individuals is usually stable, but often deteriorates rapidly after a first fall, not only due to the fall injury itself. In other words, a fall is a significant indicator of declining health. Therefore, this registration's personal care device monitors the user for potential falls. For example, this registration may use large-area or high-resolution infrared thermography to determine if the user's body temperature is within the normal range. If the user's body temperature is outside the normal range, it indicates that the user has fallen and is experiencing hypothermia. Alternatively, millimeter-wave detection may be used to assess the likelihood of a fall based on the distance of movement (e.g., a massive displacement within a few milliseconds).A large movement or shift indicates a possible fall. This application can also use image recognition to identify falls through image feature analysis of movements. This analysis captures the user's movement characteristics, allowing for the direct detection of a potential fall. If a fall is suspected, the personal care device issues a first-level alert. Because misinterpretations can occur with the aforementioned conditions, this application performs a follow-up check after detecting a potential fall. This includes using small-scale or low-resolution infrared thermography to determine the user's body temperature or voiceprint recognition for a quick background analysis of the user's condition, such as groaning or whimpering.Because small-scale or low-resolution infrared thermography can quickly capture the user's body temperature readings (without requiring a highly accurate temperature distribution) and voice recognition rapidly matches the meaning of the user's sounds, a very rapid second confirmation is possible to avoid misjudgments. If, after the second confirmation, the user is deemed to require assistance, the personal care device issues a second-level alert to notify medical personnel or relatives for immediate assistance. Before medical personnel or relatives arrive, and if the user is in the dying phase (according to the assessment mechanism for clinical signs of impending death), the personal care device plays religious music for that alert.This is intended to help the user feel less lonely in their final moments, lose their fear of death, be peacefully released from their suffering, and look forward to the afterlife.
[0009] The personal care device used in this application is divided into two detection and alert levels. The first fall detection alert is generated when the personal care device first detects a fall by the user. To avoid misjudgments during the first alert and resulting unnecessary false notifications, the personal care device performs a further condition check of the user to determine whether to trigger the second fall detection alert. Details are explained below.
[0010] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the personal care device comprises a fall detection module 110, a storage module 120, a fall data processing module 125, an alarm module 130, a speech input and output module 140, a communication module 150, a first infrared thermography detection module 160, a physiological information processing module 170, a life detection module 180, and a religious music playback module 190.
[0011] The fall detection module 110 is coupled with the storage module 120 and serves to detect one or more types of activity signals from the user's daily activities in their home environment. The activity signals captured by the fall detection module 110 are stored in the storage module 120 so that the fall data processing module 125 can access the data and analyze the activity signals to determine whether the user has fallen and to generate a preliminary fall signal that serves as an initial fall detection warning.
[0012] The Fall Data Processing Module 125 is coupled with the Memory Module 120, the Alarm Module 130, the Speech Input / Output Module 140, and the Physiological Information Processing Module 170. The Fall Data Processing Module 125 reads one or more types of activity signals from the Memory Module 120 and analyzes and processes these activity signals to assess the user's current physical or mental state, such as the occurrence of a fall. The types of activity signals are described in Fig. 2 explained in more detail. First implementation: First fall detection warning
[0013] The Fall Data Processing Module 125 uses the activity signals stored in the Memory Module 120 to assess whether the user has fallen. If the Fall Data Processing Module 125 tentatively determines that the user may have fallen, it generates a tentative fall signal. At this point, the Alarm Module 130 issues a fall confirmation alarm based on the tentative fall signal. The Speech Input / Output Module 140 receives voice signals from the user, and the Communication Module 150 transmits the voice signals from the user's location, along with the fall confirmation alarm, to an electronic device (not shown) or a remote control center (not shown). Upon receiving the fall confirmation alarm from the electronic device or remote control center, a monitor actively sends a request to verify the user's condition.The monitor's voice signals are played back via the communication module 150 and the speech input and output module 140, allowing the monitor to confirm whether a fall or other emergency has actually occurred.
[0014] If no fall has occurred, the user can respond to and communicate with the monitor via the Speech Input / Output Module 140 to report that everything is currently alright and to reassure the monitor. If the user has indeed suffered a fall and is conscious (awake) enough to feel pain, they can inform the monitor of their current condition via the Speech Input / Output Module 140 to request assistance. Second version: Second fall detection warning
[0015] The first infrared thermography detection module 160 is coupled with the physiological information processing module 170. The life detection module 180 is coupled with the physiological information processing module 170 and the religious music playback module 190.
[0016] The first infrared thermography detection module 160 serves to generate an initial infrared thermography signal. The first infrared thermography detection module 160 is an infrared thermography sensor with a small viewing angle (for example, less than or equal to 60 degrees) and a low resolution (for example, less than or equal to 60 × 80 pixels, such as 8 × 8, 16 × 16, 32 × 32 pixels) to capture images with a smaller viewing angle or lower resolution.
[0017] The first infrared thermography signal contains body temperature, respiration, and heart rate or rhythm, etc., and is a signal with a narrower viewing angle or lower resolution. Body temperature, respiration, and heart rate or rhythm can be used to assess the user's physical condition, for example, whether the body temperature is within the normal range, whether the respiration is within a normal frequency range, or whether the heart rate or rhythm is within a normal frequency range.
[0018] In the first stage of the detection alert, the first fall data processing module 125 sends a preliminary fall signal to the physiological information processing module 170 after detecting a user fall. At this point, the second stage of the detection alert begins. Upon receiving the preliminary fall signal, the physiological information processing module 170 is triggered and begins analyzing the initial infrared thermography signal to generate vital signs such as body temperature, respiration, and heart rate or rhythm. The physiological information processing module 170 then sends the analyzed vital signs to the life detection module 180.
[0019] The Life Detection Module 180 analyzes the user's vital signs to assess their current physiological state, such as the severity of vital signs (whether respiration, pulse, body temperature, etc., are within a range requiring medical treatment or first aid). The Life Detection Module 180 analyzes the user's real-time physiological state to determine whether their vital signs are normal or deficient, which then determines whether the Alarm Module 130 triggers an emergency alarm.
[0020] If the life detection module 180 detects that the user's vital signs are weak (for example, if the vital signs are outside the safety range), the alarm module 130 triggers an emergency alarm so that medical personnel and relatives are informed of the situation and the crucial time period for rescue (golden hour) can be used optimally.
[0021] The Religious Music Playback Module 190 is used to play religious music. In this embodiment, the Religious Music Playback Module 190 activates the playback of religious music when the Life Detection Module 180 detects that the user's vital signs are weak or that they are in the dying process. For example, the user may find spiritual comfort by listening to Buddhist music after a fall and before rescue measures are initiated. The religious music includes, for example, Buddhist music, etc., and can be played according to the user's religious beliefs.
[0022] Fig. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the personal care device of another embodiment.
[0023] Compared to Fig. 1 includes the fall detection module 110 in Fig. 2 at least one of the following modules: a second infrared thermography detection module 112, a millimeter wave detection module 114 and a visual image detection module 116.
[0024] The second infrared thermography detection module 112 generates a second infrared thermography signal. This second infrared thermography detection module 112 is a wide-angle (e.g., greater than 60 degrees) and high-resolution (e.g., more than 60 × 80 pixels) infrared sensor used to capture images with a wider viewing angle or higher resolution.
[0025] The second infrared thermography signal includes body temperature, respiration, and heart rate or rhythm, etc., and is a signal with a wider viewing angle or higher resolution. Body temperature, respiration, and heart rate or rhythm can be used to assess the user's physical condition, for example, whether the body temperature is within the normal range, whether the respiration is within a normal frequency range, or whether the heart rate or rhythm is within a normal frequency range.
[0026] In comparison to the first infrared thermography detection module 160, the second infrared thermography detection module 112 detects images with a large area or high resolution, which requires a greater expenditure of image processing resources.
[0027] The millimeter-wave detection module 114 transmits, receives, and processes millimeter-wave signals to calculate the user's movement distance, enabling the fall data processing module 125 to assess whether the user has fallen. The millimeter-wave detection module 114 can function as a millimeter-wave radar.
[0028] The visual image detection module 116 captures images of the user in their living environment. The visual image detection module 116 can be a camera or a module with an independent image processor.
[0029] The one or more types of activity signals include thermographic signals, millimeter wave signals, and color imaging signals.
[0030] It should be noted that the signals generated by the second infrared thermography detection module 112 have a larger range or higher resolution compared to the first infrared thermography detection module 160, which can lead to a false reading by the fall data processing module 125 during the initial fall detection warning. Furthermore, the millimeter-wave detection module 114 calculates distances, which can also lead to false readings by the fall data processing module 125. Since the visual image detection module 116 provides color image signals, the fall data processing module 125 requires more processing power. Moreover, detection using color images does not guarantee user privacy, giving the user the uncomfortable feeling of being monitored. Therefore, the fall detection module 110 can do without the visual image detection module 116 to protect user privacy.
[0031] Furthermore, the aforementioned assessment mechanism regarding the initial fall detection alert can lead to misjudgments of the user's treatment due to obstacles. To avoid subsequent unnecessary false alerts resulting from misjudgments during the initial fall detection alert, the personal care device does not directly confirm a fall after the fall confirmation alert is triggered. Instead, it performs a second fall detection alert for further confirmation. In the second fall detection alert, the initial infrared thermographic signal is a small-area or low-resolution thermographic signal. This signal can also be analyzed to determine the user's body temperature, respiration, heart rate, and heart rhythm.Due to the smaller area or lower resolution, the amount of data is small, allowing for a quick assessment of whether the user's body temperature, respiration, heart rate, or heart rhythm are normal. For example, upon the second fall detection alert, the Life Detection Module 180 determines that the user's current condition is critical (this critical condition is usually caused by a fall) and that assistance is required. This second fall detection alert triggers the Alarm Module 130 to initiate an emergency rescue alarm, indicating that the user is in a very urgent situation requiring immediate medical assistance.
[0032] This secondary verification mechanism allows the personal care device's analysis result to confirm the user's condition with greater certainty during the second fall detection alert, significantly reducing the problem of misjudgments. Because the personal care device eliminates misjudgments of the first fall detection alert, it avoids the embarrassing situation where the Religious Music Playback Module 190 plays religious music while the user is still alive. If the Life Detection Module 180 confirms that the user's vital signs are poor (e.g., dying or recently deceased) and medical personnel cannot provide timely assistance, the Religious Music Playback Module 190 activates the playback of religious music.This helps the user with poor vital signs, even if no immediate medical assistance has been received, to face death peacefully at the end of life and guides the soul to the afterlife, reflecting a strong humanitarian spirit.
[0033] Fig. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the personal care device according to a further embodiment.
[0034] Compared to Fig. 2 includes the personal care device in Fig. 3 additionally a sound wave detection module 165.
[0035] The sound wave detection module 165 is coupled with the physiological information processing module 170. The sound wave detection module 165 detects the user's sound waves and compares them to samples of physiologically abnormal sound waves. These samples can be pre-stored sound characteristics of groans, cries of pain, typical speech reactions after a fall, or similar occurrences. By comparing the user's sound wave characteristics with these samples of physiologically abnormal sound waves, the sound wave detection module 165 can assess the user's current physical condition.
[0036] The fall detection module 110 is, for example, but not limited to, a processor that can perform fall detection.
[0037] The memory module 120 is, for example, but not limited to, a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an optical memory, or a combination of the aforementioned components.
[0038] The Crash Data Processing Module 125 is, for example, but not limited to, a processor that can perform crash data analysis.
[0039] The alarm module 130, for example, is a loudspeaker and an audio playback device or a video playback device and can be integrated with the speech input and output module 140 to form a single module.
[0040] The speech input and output module 140, for example, is a loudspeaker and an audio playback device or a video playback device.
[0041] The Communication Module 150 is, for example, but not limited to, a communication chip that supports the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Long Term Evolution (LTE), the fifth generation network system (5G) or any subsequently developed network system, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth technology, wired network, or a combination of the aforementioned components.
[0042] The sound wave detection module 165 is, for example, but not limited to, a processor that can perform sound detection.
[0043] The physiological information processing module 170 is, for example, but not limited to, a processor that can perform an analysis of physiological information.
[0044] The Life Detection Module 180 is, for example, but not limited to, a processor that can perform life detection analysis.
[0045] The Religious Music Playback Module 190 is, for example, but not limited to, an audio player.
[0046] The fall detection module 110, the fall data processing module 125, the sound wave detection module 165 and the life detection module 180 can be integrated into the same processor or processor array to perform the above functions.
[0047] The personal care device, as well as the electronic device or remote control unit communicating with it, are equipped with application software. The personal care device, in conjunction with the electronic device or remote control unit communicating with it and by means of the application software, can perform emergency monitoring and play the religious music of this application.
[0048] Fig. Figure 4 shows a flowchart of the emergency monitoring system and the playback of religious music. This can be done by one of the methods described in the Fig. The personal care device is implemented in the embodiments shown in 1 to 3.
[0049] Step S10: The fall detection module 110 detects one or more types of activity signals from the user's daily activities in their home environment.
[0050] Step S11: The memory module 120 stores the one or more types of activity signals that were detected by the fall detection module 110.
[0051] Step S12: The fall data processing module 125 analyzes and processes the activity signals to assess the user's current physical or mental state.
[0052] Step S13: The fall data processing module 125 assesses whether the user's current physical or mental state is abnormal. If it is, step S14 is executed; if it is normal, it returns to step S12.
[0053] Step S14: The alarm module 130 triggers a fall confirmation alarm from the user, the speech input and output module 140 receives voice signals from the user on site, and the communication module 150 transmits the voice signals and the fall confirmation alarm to the electronic device.
[0054] Step S15: The physiological information processing module 170 receives a preliminary fall signal and analyzes an initial infrared thermography signal to generate a vital signs signal of the user.
[0055] Step S16: The Life Detection Module 180 analyzes the user's vital sign signal to assess the user's current physiological state.
[0056] Step S17: If the user's current physiological state is critical, step S18 is executed. Otherwise, there is a misjudgment from the previous step S14, and it returns to step S12 for continuous detection.
[0057] Step S 18: Since the user's current physiological condition is critical, the alarm module 130 triggers an emergency first aid alarm, and the religious music playback module 190 plays religious music so that the user may experience spiritual comfort through the playback of the music after the fall and before the arrival of the rescue services.
[0058] In summary, the personal care device, along with the emergency monitoring and religious music playback system, utilizes several types of sensor modules for contactless detection of the monitoring environment. The user's condition is monitored and confirmed through fall detection, monitoring of the user's physiological state, and real-time voice prompts. If the user is dying or has recently died, medical personnel or relatives are promptly notified to initiate emergency rescue measures. Should immediate rescue not be possible, the user experiences emotional comfort through the playback of religious music.
[0059] The foregoing description merely represents a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. All other equivalent changes and modifications are to be included in the scope of protection of the following claims.