Shoe insert and locating device comprising a shoe insert and locating method for locating persons using such a shoe insert or locating device

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe insert (10), in particular an insole, with a GPS or GNSS module (14), comprising a position-determining unit (15) and a transmitting unit (16), as well as with a supply unit for supplying voltage to the GPS or GNSS module (14), wherein the GPS or GNSS module (14) is provided with an acceleration sensor (24) such that the position-determining unit (15) and / or the transmitting unit (16) are supplied with voltage depending on an output signal of the acceleration sensor (24).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a shoe insert, in particular an insole, with a GPS or GNSS module, comprising a position determination unit and a transmitting unit, as well as with a supply unit for supplying power to the GPS or GNSS module.

[0002] The abbreviation GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) used here is a collective term for satellite navigation systems such as GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO.

[0003] A shoe insole of the type mentioned above is known from CN 213428666 U, wherein the GPS or GNSS module and the supply unit for supplying power to the GPS or GNSS module are accommodated in a recess in the shoe insole, which is closed by means of a cover plate formed independently of the material of the shoe insole.

[0004] In the GPS trackers known from the aforementioned prior art, the GPS module is permanently electrically connected to the power supply unit for the GPS module. This means that the known GPS tracker, in accordance with the constant electrical connection, continuously transmits a position signal based on the position determined in the GPS module, with corresponding energy consumption or voltage reduction in the power supply unit, which in this case is implemented as a battery. This results in the need to replace the battery when necessary, or, in the case of a permanent connection between the battery and the GPS module, to completely replace the unit located on the cover plate.

[0005] The present invention is based on the object of extending the maintenance intervals on the shoe insole, which allow battery replacement due to the limited operating life of the battery, and thus reducing the maintenance effort.

[0006] This object is achieved with a shoe insole having the features of claim 1 and a locating method having the features of claim 7.

[0007] To solve this problem, it is proposed to provide the GPS module with an acceleration sensor such that the position determination unit and / or transmitting unit are supplied with voltage depending on an output signal of the acceleration sensor.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the idea of ​​determining a position and / or sending a position signal to a receiver not continuously, but only when a change in position is detected by the acceleration sensor. This means that the energy stored in the supply unit is only consumed at actually relevant times, namely when a person wearing shoes equipped with the shoe insole according to the invention changes position.

[0009] Depending on how the acceleration sensor is arranged in the electrical circuit comprising the GPS module and the acceleration sensor, the position is determined based on the satellite signals received by the GPS module only when an electrical connection is established between the supply unit and the positioning unit due to an output signal from the acceleration sensor. Of course, it is also possible to make the activity of the transmitting unit dependent solely on an output signal from the acceleration sensor, regardless of any previous position determination by the positioning unit.

[0010] In any case, the voltage supply of the position determination unit and / or the transmitting unit, which depends on an output signal of the acceleration sensor, enables considerable energy savings compared to a permanent voltage supply, so that any maintenance intervals for replacing the supply unit can be significantly extended.

[0011] It proves particularly advantageous if the supply unit is designed as a rechargeable battery or accumulator and is provided with a coupling device for coupling to a charging station located outside the shoe insole. This means that if the battery voltage is no longer sufficient, there is no need to replace the battery, but rather the operating voltage required to operate the GPS module can be restored by charging. The use of a rechargeable battery or accumulator in the shoe insole therefore also eliminates the need for a replaceable arrangement orThe supply unit is housed in the shoe insole, allowing a sealed arrangement of the GPS module equipped with the supply unit within the shoe insole, for example, by encapsulating the GPS module including the supply unit and acceleration sensor in the material of the shoe insole, instead of arranging it in a recess in the shoe insole that can be closed with a cover plate. This not only results in an overall simple construction of the shoe insole, allowing the shoe insole to be designed as an orthopedic insole, as a particularly flat insole, or attached to a slipper, but also in precise, constant positioning of the components within the shoe insole, which is particularly advantageous with regard to the accuracy of the acceleration sensor's output signals.

[0012] If, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, the battery or accumulator is provided with a coupling device designed as a receiver coil for inductive coupling with a transmitter coil of the charging station, the battery or accumulator can be connected to an external charging station arranged outside the shoe insole without affecting the surface design of the shoe insole, so that the arrangement of GPS module, acceleration sensor and battery neither impairs the adaptation of the shoe insole to the foot of a person wearing shoes provided with such a shoe insole nor impairs the adaptation of the shoe insole to a footbed formed in the shoe.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the shoe insole has a communication circuit, preferably designed as a communication chip, so that, for example, communication with a mobile device or a connection to a web-based dashboard can be established. Likewise, a connection to external radio stations or within a Wi-Fi network can be established.

[0014] The locating device according to the invention according to claim 4 comprises a shoe insole according to one of claims 1 to 3 and a stationary shoe receiving device functionally associated with the shoe insole with a charging station which is provided with a transmitter coil for inductive coupling with the receiver coil of the shoe insole.

[0015] The locating device according to the invention is therefore designed in such a way that a charging process of the battery or accumulator arranged in the shoe insole takes place automatically with the arrangement of the shoes provided with the shoe insole in or on the stationary shoe receiving device, so that apart from the arrangement of the shoes in or on the shoe receiving device, no special actions are required from the person using the shoe insole in their shoes in order to keep the shoe insole in an operational condition.

[0016] This proves to be particularly advantageous for people for whom compliance with complex actions or sequences of actions that require corresponding cognitive abilities poses special challenges, as is the case, for example, with people suffering from dementia.

[0017] For such individuals, especially those suffering from dementia, it is particularly advantageous if the shoe storage device is designed as a display for the visible arrangement of shoes, as is the case with a doormat, for example. Since a doormat can be positioned anywhere on a floor, particularly on a doorstep, in a clearly visible manner, and the assignment of shoes equipped with a shoe insole according to the invention to a doormat can be carried out as part of a routine process when entering or leaving a room, placing shoes on the doormat is also a relatively straightforward procedure.

[0018] In the inventive location method for locating persons using a shoe insole according to one of claims 1 to 4 or a location device according to claim 5 or 6, a position is determined and / or a position signal is transmitted to a position display device or a position processing device depending on an output signal from the acceleration sensor of the shoe insole. This makes it possible, depending on the type or frequency of the emission of an output signal or multiple output signals from the acceleration sensor within a defined period of time, to determine follow-up measures by means of the position processing device. These follow-up measures can, for example, define an emergency upon detection of a particular strength or frequency of the acceleration sensor output signal, triggering an action by a caregiver or doctor.

[0019] A further advantageous possibility of carrying out the location method is that the determination of the position and / or the transmission of the position signal takes place depending on an acceleration vector determined by means of the acceleration sensor, so that the direction in which the person is moving can be recognized very early on and, if necessary, measures can be taken to prevent the person from endangering themselves.

[0020] Particularly when the acceleration sensor is designed as a multi-axis sensor, which preferably measures angle and acceleration, falls can be detected particularly precisely by combining this data with position determination. This allows for localization, particularly in indoor spaces such as nursing homes.

[0021] If, in addition, signal processing or signal forwarding takes place depending on the acceleration vector, i.e. if it can be concluded from the direction and magnitude of the acceleration vector that the person has fallen, an action by a caregiver or, if necessary, a doctor can be initiated by means of the position processing device.

[0022] It is also particularly advantageous if the position signal is transmitted depending on the determined position, so that in the sense of geofencing, an action radius can be defined for the person concerned, which defines a danger-free area for the person, and a corresponding position signal is only emitted when the person leaves the danger-free area, for example when a person suffering from dementia enters public space with road traffic outside of a protected area, such as a care facility.

[0023] In a preferred implementation of the positioning method, the positioning method is carried out by accessing a communication circuit, preferably embodied as a communication chip, of the shoe insole within a mobile application (app) or in conjunction with a dashboard. This makes it possible to individually specify or vary the parameters for implementing the positioning method, so that, for example, outside a defined operating radius, other parameters, such as the transmission of a position signal independent of the acceleration sensor, are carried out at defined time intervals.

[0024] According to the invention, the locating device according to claim 5 or 6 or the locating method according to one of claims 7 to 11 is used for a person suffering from dementia.

[0025] In the drawingTo explain the locating method, a shoe insole 10 with a locating device 11 is shown, which is arranged in a shoe 12 in such a way that it fits snugly against a footbed 13 of the shoe 12.

[0026] The shoe insole 10 comprises, embedded in the material of the shoe insole 10, a GPS module 14 with a positioning unit 15 and a transmitter unit 16, as well as a rechargeable battery 17 or accumulator, which is provided with a receiver coil 20 for inductive coupling with a transmitter coil 21 of a charging station 19 arranged outside the shoe insole 10, here in a floor mat 18. In addition to the transmitter coil 22, the charging station 19 has a transformer 22 connected to the voltage network 23.

[0027] As in the drawingAs shown in the embodiment of the locating device 11, an acceleration sensor 24 is provided in the shoe insole 10, which in the present case is arranged in the electrical circuit formed in the shoe insole 10 such that it is located between the battery 17 and the GPS module 14, so that the GPS module 14 is only supplied with operating voltage by the battery 17 when the inertial forces acting on the acceleration sensor 24 during a movement of the person wearing the shoes 12 provided with the shoe insole 10 create an electrical switching contact which electrically connects the battery 17 to the GPS module 14.

[0028] Thus, according to the drawingIn the circuit shown as an example, both a position determination by the position determination unit 15 and an emission of a position signal generated by the position determination unit 15 by the transmitting unit 16 can only take place depending on the switching contact of the acceleration sensor 24.

[0029] As can be seen from the embodiment shown in the drawing, the circuit arranged in the shoe insole can additionally be provided with a communication chip 25, which enables, for example, the implementation of the shoe insole 10 in a mobile radio application.

Claims

1. Shoe insert (10), in particular an insole, with a GPS or GNSS module (14), comprising a position determination unit (15) and a transmitting unit (16), as well as with a supply unit for supplying power to the GPS or GNSS module (14), characterized by that the GPS or GNSS module (14) is provided with an acceleration sensor (24) such that the position determination unit (15) and / or the transmitting unit (16) are supplied with voltage depending on an output signal of the acceleration sensor (24).

2. Shoe insole (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the supply unit is designed as a rechargeable battery (17) and is provided with a coupling device for coupling to a charging station (19) arranged outside the shoe insole (10).

3. Shoe insole according to claim 2, characterized by thatthe battery (17) is provided with a coupling device designed as a receiver coil (20) for inductive coupling with a transmitter coil (21) of the charging station (19).

4. Shoe insole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a communication circuit preferably designed as a communication chip (25).

5. Locating device (11) with a shoe insole (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3 and a stationary shoe receiving device functionally associated with the shoe insole (10) with a charging station (19) which is provided with a transmitter coil (21) for inductive coupling with the receiver coil (20) of the shoe insole (10).

6. Locating device according to claim 5, characterized by that the shoe receiving device is designed as a display for the visible arrangement of shoes (12), in particular as a doormat (18).

7. Locating method for locating persons using a shoe insole (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4 or a locating device (11) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that a position determination and / or a transmission of a position signal to a position display device or a position processing device takes place as a function of an output signal of the acceleration sensor (24) of the shoe insole (10).

8. Location method according to claim 7, characterized by that the acceleration sensor (24) is designed as a multi-axis sensor.

9. Location method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that the determination of the position and / or the transmission of the position signal takes place as a function of an acceleration vector determined by means of the acceleration sensor (24).

10. Location method according to claim 9, characterized by thatsignal processing or signal forwarding takes place depending on the acceleration vector.

11. Location method according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized by that the position signal is transmitted depending on the determined position.

12. Location method according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized by that the locating method is carried out by means of access to a communication circuit of the shoe insole, preferably designed as a communication chip (25), within the framework of a mobile radio application or in connection with a dashboard.

13. Use of the tracking device according to claim 5 or 6 for a person suffering from dementia.

14. Application of the location method according to one of claims 7 to 12 for a person suffering from dementia.

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