Wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions

Abstract

This invention provides a wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions, comprising a wearable body, a sensing module, a control module, and a protective module. The sensing module includes a tilt sensor, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope to sense posture angle and angular velocity data in real time. The control module has a predictive processing circuit that calculates the rate of change of angular velocity data. When the rate of change, together with the slope of the posture angle, exceeds a preset threshold, a fall trend is identified, and a trigger signal is output. The protective module includes an inflation drive source and an airbag, which inflates before the user lands after receiving the trigger signal. This invention further integrates an Internet of Things (IoT) module to transmit information to the cloud and connect to the nursing station's electronic whiteboard to display the bed number.

Claims

1. A wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions, comprising: a wearable body for a user to wear; a sensing module disposed on the wearable body, the sensing module including a tilt sensor, an accelerometer and a gyroscope for real-time sensing of the user's posture angle, linear acceleration and angular velocity data; a control module disposed on the wearable body and electrically connected to the sensing module, the control module having a prediction processing circuit that receives and calculates the rate of change of the angular velocity data, and when the rate of change of the angular velocity data combined with a slope value of the posture angle exceeds a preset threshold value, the control module outputs a trigger signal; and a protection module electrically connected to the control module, the protection module including an inflation drive source and at least one airbag, the inflation drive source receiving the trigger signal inflating the airbag before the user lands.

2. The wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in claim 1, wherein the prediction processing circuit further includes a trend determination logic, which compares the incremental slope of the angular velocity data by a comparator.

3. The wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in claim 1, further comprising an Internet of Things (IoT) communication module that sends an alarm message to a cloud network.

4. A wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in request item 3, wherein the alarm information is further linked to an electronic whiteboard at a nursing station to display bed number information.

5. A wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in claim 3, wherein the Internet of Things communication module further uploads the angular velocity data to a cloud database.

6. A wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in claim 1, wherein the sensing module further includes a barometric altimeter, and the control module refers to the value of the barometric altimeter to assist in determining the fall trend.

7. A wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in claim 1, wherein the protective module includes a plurality of independent airbags located on the shoulder, the side of the back and the outside of the hip.

8. A wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in claim 7, wherein the control module determines the fall direction based on sensing data and drives an electrically controlled diverter valve assembly of the inflation drive source for selective inflation.

9. The wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in claim 1, further comprising an audible and visual alarm module.

10. A wearable device with fall prediction and protection functions as described in claim 1, wherein the wearable system is a lightweight vest made of breathable nylon material.

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