Danger Detection Using Existing Sensors Without Dedicated Hardware

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for preventing accidents in infants and elderly persons, such as those described in Patent Literature 1 and 2, are ineffective when the disadvantaged person does not carry a portable terminal or when a dedicated weight sensor is not installed, as they rely on the person's ability to recognize warnings or the presence of a specific sensor.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device that uses existing sensors to detect danger and inform nearby users without requiring the disadvantaged person to carry a portable terminal or the installation of a dedicated sensor, by acquiring recognition information from sensor-incorporating apparatuses like image or infrared cameras, and generating informing signals to alert adjacent users through various communication interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a portable terminal is used to warn the disadvantaged person of danger, then the disadvantaged person can be warned of danger when approaching a dangerous location, but the system becomes ineffective when the disadvantaged person does not retain the portable terminal or cannot recognize the warning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of danger warningVSAvoidrequirement for disadvantaged person to carry and recognize portable terminal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of warning the disadvantaged person directly through a portable terminal they carry, the system inverts the approach by detecting the person's approach to dangerous locations using sensors and then notifying guardians or caregivers through their terminals. This reversal ensures the warning reaches someone who can act on it, even if the disadvantaged person cannot recognize or respond to the warning themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism where sensors detect the disadvantaged person's location and the system acts as a mediator to transmit danger warnings to guardians. This intermediary approach bypasses the need for the disadvantaged person to directly receive or understand the warning, solving the reliability issue when they cannot recognize alerts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a dedicated weight sensor is installed on a veranda to detect fall danger, then fall danger can be detected, but the system requires installation of dedicated sensors which increases device complexity and installation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to detect fall dangerVSAvoidinstallation of dedicated sensor on veranda
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing multi-functional devices (smartphones, tablets, or computers with cameras and sensors) that can serve multiple purposes including danger detection, rather than requiring dedicated single-function sensors. This universal approach reduces device complexity and eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensor installations on verandas or other dangerous locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system leverages the self-service capability of existing sensor-incorporating apparatuses (devices with built-in sensors like cameras, accelerometers, and GPS) to detect danger. These devices already possess the necessary sensing capabilities for their primary functions, and the system repurposes them for danger detection without requiring additional dedicated sensors or installations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If existing sensors are used to detect danger without requiring dedicated sensor installation, then the system becomes easier to implement, but may have limitations in detection capability compared to dedicated sensors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveno installation of dedicated sensor requiredVSAvoiddetection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple existing sensor capabilities (camera vision, accelerometer motion detection, GPS location tracking) into a unified danger detection system. By combining these diverse sensing modalities, the system achieves comprehensive detection capability that compensates for the limitations of any single sensor type, while avoiding the need for dedicated single-purpose sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3537406B1Information processing device, informing system, information processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2022.06.15 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3537406B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3537406B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3537406B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An information processing device (100) is equipped with a recognition information acquirer (11), a danger determiner (12), a signal generator (13), and a signal transmitter (14). The recognition information acquirer (11) acquires, from an electric apparatus, recognition information that is information obtained as a result of recognition of sensor information by the electric apparatus that performs operational control using the sensor information, the sensor information being sensed and output by a sensor. The danger determiner (12) determines whether a danger state exists based on the recognition information acquired by the recognition information acquirer (11). The signal generator (13), when the danger determiner (12) determines that the danger state exists, generates an informing signal that causes operation of an informing function of an informing apparatus that informs of danger. The signal transmitter (14) transmits to the informing apparatus the informing signal generated by the signal generator (13).