Autonomous alert device and associated alert system

Abstract

A doorbell (1), comprising a housing (5), from which emerges a push button (10), such that: the push button is movable relative to the housing, and forming a first end of a connecting member; the housing contains a lug (13) and a hammer (15), forming a second end of the connecting member, the connecting member extending between the push button and the hammer; a bell (17), configured to emit a sound when struck by the hammer, the hammer being movable relative to the bell; the doorbell being characterized in that: the connecting member comprises a contact portion (14); the connecting member, the lug and the bell are configured so that under the effect of pressure exerted on the push button, the contact portion (14) approaches the lug (13), the hammer (15) approaches the bell.

Description

Title of the invention: Autonomous warning device and associated warning system. Technical field

[0001] The technical field of the invention is the surveillance of persons. EARLIER ART

[0002] Currently, the monitoring of persons, for example elderly persons, disabled persons, or hospitalized persons, is carried out using alert systems, often activated by pressing on an electronic circuit, and sending an alert signal to a wired or wireless network.

[0003] The object of the invention is a mechanical doorbell that is particularly easy to use and that sends an audible, rather than electrical, alert signal to request assistance. The doorbell is designed to limit the risk of false positives, for example, if the doorbell is dropped. Description of the invention

[0004] A first object of the invention is a doorbell, comprising a housing, configured to be held between the palm and fingers of a user, from which emerges a push button, arranged to be activated by a finger of the user, in particular the thumb, the doorbell being such that: - the push button is movable relative to the casing, so as to be brought closer to the casing to activate the doorbell, the push button being connected to a first spring, maintaining the push button in an initial position in the absence of pressure exerted on the push button; - the case contains a lug; - the push button forms one end of a connecting element, the connecting element extending into the housing, so that a movement of the push button causes a displacement of the connecting element relative to the lug;

[0005] the doorbell also comprising: - a hammer, forming a second end of the connecting member, the connecting member extending between the push button and the hammer; - a bell, configured to emit a sound when struck by the hammer, the hammer being movable relative to the bell;

[0006] The doorbell being characterized in that: - the connecting element includes a contact portion, extending between the lug and the push button when the push button is in the initial position; - the connecting element, the lug and the bell are configured so that under the effect of pressure exerted on the push button: - the contact portion approaches the lug, the hammer approaches the bell, until the contact portion reaches the lug, then slides along the latter to a limit position, the sliding of the contact portion along the lug causing an elastic deformation of the connecting member relative to an equilibrium position, and a recoil of the hammer relative to the bell; - beyond the limit position, the contact portion no longer being in contact with the lug, the connecting member returns to the equilibrium position, causing, by inertia, a displacement of the hammer to the bell.

[0007] According to one possibility, - the case extends around a longitudinal axis, being configured to be held between the palm of a user's hand and fingers; - the push button extends, parallel to the longitudinal axis, through an opening made in the casing, so that it can be activated by a thumb of the user.

[0008] The push button can be movable in translation parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0009] The connecting element may be movable in translation, for example being of the rod type, or mobile in rotation, for example being a wheel or a portion of a wheel or a trigger.

[0010] According to one possibility: - In the equilibrium position, the connecting element is straight; - under the effect of pressure exerted on the push button, the portion of contact slides along the lug, so as to generate a displacement of the hammer from the equilibrium position.

[0011] According to one possibility: - the bell delimits an internal space; - all or part of the hammer engages in the internal space under the effect of pressing the push button.

[0012] According to one possibility, in the initial position, the hammer extends to at least 10 mm or at least 15 mm or at least 20 mm from the bell.

[0013] A second object of the invention is a person monitoring system, comprising: - a doorbell according to the first object of the invention; - a microphone, placed in a room likely to be occupied by a person, the microphone being configured to detect a sound and produce a detection signal dependent on the detected sound; - a central unit, configured to receive the detection signal and to analyze said detection signal;

[0014] the system being characterized in that: - the central unit is programmed to recognize, from the detection signal, the sound emitted by the doorbell, and generate an alert signal when the sound emitted by the doorbell is recognized.

[0015] According to one possibility, the central unit is configured to produce a spectrogram of the detection signal, so that the analysis of the detection signal is carried out according to the spectrogram.

[0016] According to one possibility, the analysis includes a determination of a spectral power in a previously determined spectral band, corresponding to a spectral emission band of the doorbell.

[0017] According to one possibility, the analysis involves an implementation of a supervised learning artificial intelligence algorithm, in particular a neural network, especially a convolutional neural network.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the description of the exemplary embodiments presented later in this description, in connection with the figures listed below. FIGURES

[0019] Fig. 1A shows the main components of a doorbell in one embodiment.

[0020] Figures IB and IC detail certain components of the doorbell.

[0021] Figures 2A to 2K are chronological representations of a kinematic of the movement of the connecting element and the doorbell hammer during the pressing of a push button.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a spectrogram recorded with a bell as described in relation to figures IA, IB, IC, 2A to 2K.

[0023] Fig. 4 represents the main components of a doorbell user monitoring system. PRESENTATION OF SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0024] Figure 1A describes an example of a doorbell particularly suitable for monitoring a person. In Figure 1A, only the main components are shown.

[0025] The doorbell includes a movable push button 10, for example in translation, and which can be returned to an equilibrium position by a first spring 12. The doorbell includes a housing 5, in which are arranged the components shown in figures IA, IB and IC, as well as described in connection with figures 2A to 2K, with the exception of the push button which emerges from the housing.

[0026] Preferably, the housing 5 is ergonomic. It extends around a longitudinal axis A. It is configured to be held between the palm and fingers of a user. Preferably, the push button extends along the longitudinal axis A, or parallel to it, or substantially parallel to it. By substantially parallel, we mean parallel at + / - 10° or + / - 20°.

[0027] The doorbell is configured to emit a sound, similar to the ringing of a bell upon mechanical impact. The sound has constant spectral characteristics, or characteristics that can be considered as such, regardless of the pressure exerted on the push button 10.

[0028] The doorbell is designed to limit the risk of an unwanted ringing when it is subjected to an impact, for example when dropped by its user or struck against an object. The aim is to limit false positives, a false positive corresponding to an unwanted ringing of the doorbell.

[0029] The push button 10 is connected to a linkage 11 extending within the housing 5, such that the translation of the push button 10 causes a displacement of the linkage 11 within the housing 5. The linkage 11 is made of an elastically deformable material, for example, a metal or a rigid plastic. In this example, the linkage 11 is a rod, movable in translation parallel to the longitudinal axis A. Alternatively, the linkage may be movable in rotation, for example, a wheel or a portion of a wheel, or a trigger.

[0030] The push button 10 forms one end of the connecting member 11. The connecting member 11 is connected to a hammer 15, the hammer 15 forming a second end of the connecting member 11, opposite the push button 10. Thus, the connecting member 11 extends between the push button 10 and the hammer 15. The hammer 15 is designed to strike a bell 17 (or chime) to produce a sound. Under pressure applied to the push button, the connecting member is moved, first bringing the hammer closer to the bell, then moving the hammer further away from the bell, before reaching a final position whereby the hammer is struck against the bell.

[0031] The housing includes a lug 13. Pressing the push button 10 causes the connecting member 11 to move relative to the lug 13. The lug 13 is preferably held fixed within the housing. The lug 13 is intended to provide a bearing point for a contact portion 14, which is part of the connecting member 11. The contact portion 14 is formed here by a protrusion of the connecting member 11, extending towards the lug 13.

[0032] Figure 1B shows in more detail the connecting member 11, as well as the contact portion 14. The contact portion has two adjacent faces 14i and 142. Figure 1C shows the lug 13, positioned opposite the connecting member 11. The lug comprises two opposite faces 13X and 132, which are intended to be in contact respectively with faces 14i and 142 of the contact portion when the push button is pressed (sliding of face 14i along face 13J), and then when the push button is released (sliding of face 142 along face 132), as described below.

[0033] Fig. 2A represents the doorbell in an initial position, with no pressure exerted on the push button 10. The contact portion 14 extends between the lug 13 and the push button 10. The lug 13 extends to a distance from the contact portion 14, preferably greater than 5 mm or 10 mm or 15 mm.

[0034] Preferably, the bell 17 is annular in shape, around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. It is connected, by a second spring 25, to the housing 5. The second spring 25 extends: - between a first fixed attachment point 26, integral with the housing 5, and fixed relative to the latter: - and a second attachment point 27, attached to the bell 17.

[0035] The second spring 25 is here formed of a flexible corrugated rod, for example made of elastic plastic, intended to place the bell 17 in a stable position, while allowing the bell to vibrate, with low damping, when the latter is impacted by the hammer 15.

[0036] The term bell is to be taken in a broad sense: it is an element configured to produce a characteristic sound, or ringing, when struck by a hammer.

[0037] One of the advantages of the invention is that the bell 17 describes a portion of a hollow ring. In the example described, the bell forms a ring portion describing a "C", the internal diameter of which is between 20 mm and 50 mm. This allows the hammer 15 to engage in the internal space delimited by the bell 17 before striking it. This increases the compactness of the doorbell. Compactness is an important criterion for a doorbell intended to be used by hanging it from a pendant, so as to be easily accessible by a user.

[0038] It is also advantageous that the linking member 11, connected to the push button 10, be movable in a plane parallel to a plane in which the ring described by the bell extends: this increases the compactness of the doorbell.

[0039] When the hammer 15 is in the initial position, i.e. in the absence of pressure exerted on the push button 10, the gap between the bell 17 and the hammer 15 is preferably greater than 10 mm, or even greater than 15 mm or 20 mm: this limits the risk of untimely ringing under the effect of a shock suffered by the doorbell.

[0040] Figures 2B to 2K represent different successive configurations of the doorbell when a user presses the push button 10. The arrows Fi They represent the movement of the push button when it is pressed. The arrows F2 represent the movement of the connecting member 11 or the hammer 15.

[0041] When it occupies the initial position (see [Fig.2A]), the contact portion 14 is preferably at a distance of a few mm or 1 or 2 cm from the lug 13. Thus, after a stroke of the push button 10, the contact portion 14 comes into contact with the lug 13, the latter being fixed relative to the housing 5: see [Fig.2B].

[0042] During the movement of the contact portion 14 towards the lug 13, the hammer 15 moves closer to the bell 17. This allows the hammer to be initially held at a certain distance from the bell, preferably greater than 1 cm, or even 2 or 3 cm. Thus, when the doorbell is subjected to an impact, for example when it is dropped by the user, the hammer 15 is sufficiently far from the bell to avoid coming into contact with it, which would trigger an unwanted ringing sound.

[0043] Under the effect of pressure exerted on the push button, the contact portion 14 is configured to slide along the lug, causing the connecting member 11 to tilt: the hammer 15 then undergoes a recoil movement relative to the bell 17: see figures 2C, 2D, 2e and 2F; The tilting is obtained by an elastic deformation of the connecting member 11, relative to an equilibrium position of the connecting member 11. In this example, in the equilibrium position, the connecting member 11 is straight, parallel to the longitudinal axis A. The equilibrium position of the connecting member 11 is the position it takes in the absence of any stress exerted on it.

[0044] The tilting of the connecting member 11 continues until it reaches a limit position, beyond which the contact portion 14 is no longer in contact with the lug 13. The limit position is shown in [Fig. 2F]. At this point, the recoil of the hammer 15 relative to the bell 17 is at its maximum. The elastic deformation of the connecting member 11 is also at its maximum when the limit position is reached. During the tilting of the connecting member 11, up to the limit position, the hammer moves away from the longitudinal axis A.

[0045] Beyond the limit position, the contact portion 14 is no longer in contact with the lug 13. The connecting member 11 tends to return to the equilibrium position under the effect of its elasticity. This causes the hammer 15 to move towards the bell 17: see [Fig. 2G]. Under the effect of inertia, the hammer continues its movement until it strikes the bell 17: see [Fig. 2H].

[0046] From the initial position until the impact of the hammer on the bell ([Fig.2H]), the first spring 12 is compressed. Upon impact of the bell, the contact portion 14 is positioned between the lug 13 and the push button 10.

[0047] Following the impact, in the absence of pressure on the push button 10, the first spring 12 relaxes, which has the effect of returning the linking member 11 to the initial position: see figures 21 to 2K.

[0048] The shapes of the contact portion 14 and the lug 13 are configured so that the contact portion 14 slides along the lug 13, generating a slight and transient deformation of the connecting member 11: see figures 2J and 2K. The connecting member 11 completes its upward movement, returning to the initial position, in the absence of pressure on the push button, as shown in [Fig. 2A].

[0049] Thus, the shapes of the ergot 13 and the contact portion 14 are adapted so that: - When the push button is pressed, the contact portion 14 bears against the lug 13, while sliding along the latter, which causes the connecting member 11 to tilt sufficiently to generate the recoil of the hammer 15 relative to the bell 17. More precisely, the face 14i of the contact portion slides along the face 131 of the lug. : see for example [Fig.2D]. - When the push button is raised to its initial position, the contact portion 14 slides along the lug 13, without excessive deformation of the connecting member 11, the connecting member 11 returning to its initial position. More precisely, during the return to the equilibrium position, the face 142 of the contact portion slides along the face 132 of the lug. See [Fig. 21].

[0050] Figure 3 shows an example of a spectrogram recorded by implementing such a doorbell. X-axis: spectral power. Y-axis: acoustic frequency (Hz). We observe that the spectrogram exhibits high spectral power in narrow frequency bands, for example, around 9000 Hz (dominant frequency) as well as around 8000 Hz and 12000 Hz (harmonics). This yields a spectral signature characteristic of doorbell 1, which facilitates the recognition of the sound produced by the doorbell by a processing unit, as described below.

[0051] The doorbell is configured for use in an environment occupied by a person being monitored. This could be, in particular, a room 4, as shown schematically in [Fig. 4]. The room contains a microphone 2. The microphone 2 is configured to generate a detection signal dependent on the detected sound.

[0052] The detection signal is addressed, by wired or wireless means, to a central unit 3, the latter comprising one or more microprocessors and a memory, in which instructions are stored allowing the implementation of an algorithm for classifying or recognizing the sound produced by the doorbell. Preferably, the detection signal is sent to the central unit via a Wi-Fi connection. Microphone 2 can be connected, via a wired or short-range connection, to a local microprocessor located in the room, in case of a failure of the connection with the central unit 3. The local microprocessor can implement classification based on spectral analysis, which requires less memory capacity, as previously described.

[0053] The classification algorithm may include an analysis of the signal in the predetermined frequency band corresponding to the doorbell. Above a certain spectral power threshold, the doorbell sound is considered detected. An alert signal is sent to personal assistance personnel.

[0054] The advantage of the mechanical doorbell is that the spectral signature is characteristic and can be easily identified.

[0055] According to one possibility, a spectral filter targeting a particular harmonic is implemented, which limits the number of false positives, which can result from spectrally similar noises, for example, the sound of glass or cutlery. An advantage of spectral analysis is that it can be implemented using an embedded analyzer. This type of analysis can be implemented on an analyzer with modest performance.

[0056] According to one possibility, the classification algorithm implements a supervised learning artificial intelligence algorithm. For example, a neural network, in particular a convolutional neural network. The algorithm is fed one or more spectrograms. It has previously been trained to identify the sound emitted by the doorbell. The algorithm could, for example, be a lightweight model of the mobilenet type, comprising convolutional layers with 5.5 million weights.

[0057] The algorithm's output corresponds to a probability of detecting the characteristic sound emitted by the doorbell. The output is binarized, so that above a threshold probability, an alert is considered to have been triggered. The threshold probability is defined as a function of the desired false positive and false negative rates.

[0058] The learning process can be carried out by recording sounds using only the doorbell in use, without any background noise, and preferably by using different doorbells of the same design to account for manufacturing variability. The recorded sounds are then randomly combined with recorded sounds corresponding to everyday activities. The algorithm is then trained to recognize the emission of a sound by the doorbell.

[0059] The use of other algorithms is possible, but the convolutional neural network (CNN) is nevertheless preferred in this invention because it constitutes an undeniably effective approach when managing a database of massive data. Different architectural variants in this same class of models can be taken from the following reference: Review of deep learning: concepts, CNN architectures, challenges, applications, future directions - by Alzubaidi et al. In Journal of Big Data (2021) 8:53.

[0060] The doorbell described above is advantageous because it is not connected to any electrical means and does not contain any electronic components. It is therefore particularly robust and does not need to be recharged or powered. It can withstand impacts without causing unwanted ringing.

Claims

1. Demands Doorbell (1), comprising a housing (5), configured to be held between the palm and fingers of a user, from which emerges a push button (10), arranged to be activated by a finger of the user, in particular the thumb, the doorbell being such that: - the push button is movable relative to the housing, so as to be brought closer to the housing to activate the doorbell, the push button being connected to a first spring (12), maintaining the push button in an initial position in the absence of pressure exerted on the push button; - the case contains a lug (13) - the push button forms a first end of a connecting member (11), the connecting member extending into the housing, so that a movement of the push button causes a displacement of the connecting member relative to the lug; the doorbell also includes: - a hammer (15), forming a second end of the connecting member, the connecting member extending between the push button and the hammer; - a bell (17), configured to emit a sound when struck by the hammer, the hammer being movable relative to the bell; the doorbell being characterized in that: - the connecting member includes a contact portion (14), extending between the lug (13) and the push button when the push button is in the initial position; - the connecting element, the lug and the bell are configured so that under the effect of pressure exerted on the push button: - the contact portion (14) approaches the lug (13), the hammer (15) approaches the bell, until the contact portion reaches the lug, then slides along the latter to a limit position, the sliding of the contact portion along the lug causing a elastic deformation of the connecting member relative to an equilibrium position, and a recoil of the hammer relative to the bell; - beyond the limit position, the contact portion no longer being in contact with the lug, the connecting member returns to the equilibrium position, causing, by inertia, a displacement of the hammer to the bell.

2. Doorbell according to claim 2, wherein - the housing extends around a longitudinal axis (A), being configured to be held between the palm of the hand and fingers of a user; - the push button extends, parallel to the longitudinal axis, through an opening made in the housing, so as to be able to be activated by a thumb of the user.

3. Doorbell according to claim 1, wherein the push button is movable in translation parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. Doorbell according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting member (11) is movable in translation, for example of the rod type, or movable in rotation, for example a wheel or a portion of a wheel or a trigger.

5. Doorbell according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - in the equilibrium position, the connecting member is straight; - under the effect of pressure exerted on the push button, the contact portion slides along the lug, so as to generate a separation of the hammer from the equilibrium position.

6. Doorbell according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the bell delimits an internal space; - all or part of the hammer engages in the internal space under the effect of pressing the push button.

7. Doorbell according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the initial position, the hammer extends to at least 10 mm or at least 15 mm or at least 20 mm from the bell.

8. A person monitoring system comprising: - a doorbell according to any one of the preceding claims; - a microphone (2), disposed in a room likely to be occupied by a person, the microphone being configured to detect a sound and produce a detection signal dependent on the detected sound; - a central unit (3), configured to receive the detection signal and to analyze said detection signal; the system being characterized in that: - the central unit is programmed to recognize, from the detection signal, the sound emitted by the doorbell, and generate an alert signal when the sound emitted by the doorbell is recognized.

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the central unit is configured to produce a spectrogram of the detection signal, such that the analysis of the detection signal is performed according to the spectrogram.

10. System according to any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the analysis comprises a determination of a spectral power in a previously determined spectral band, corresponding to a spectral emission band of the doorbell.

11. System according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the analysis comprises an implementation of a supervised learning artificial intelligence algorithm, in particular a neural network, especially a convolutional neural network.

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