Emergency Care Device Using Capacitive Touch and Temperature Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional emergency care devices require precise and vigorous button pressing, which users unable to perform due to conditions like excessive bleeding or low body temperature cannot activate the emergency signal effectively.

Innovation Solution

An emergency care device with a processing unit, temperature sensor, touch sensors, and signal transmitting unit that allows users to send an emergency signal by holding the device housing, eliminating the need for precise button pressing, and incorporating features like lamp warnings, audio signals, and positioning data for foolproof activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional emergency buttons are designed to require precise and vigorous pressing to prevent accidental activation, then false emergency signals are reduced, but users in critical conditions (excessive bleeding, low body temperature, fainting) cannot activate the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of accidental emergency signalVSAvoidability to activate emergency signal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical button-pressing system with a capacitive touch sensor system that detects touch through electrical field changes. This allows activation through gentle touching rather than requiring vigorous mechanical pressing, enabling users in critical conditions to activate the device while maintaining safety through software-based anti-misoperation logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates temperature sensing that provides feedback about the user's physiological state. The system monitors body temperature and uses this information to adjust activation requirements - for example, requiring longer touch duration when low temperature is detected, thereby preventing accidental activation while ensuring genuine emergencies can be signaled

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the emergency button requires uniform and vigorous pressing, then accidental activation is prevented, but the device cannot be activated when the user is in critical states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of emergency signal activationVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the activation parameter from mechanical force (button pressing) to electrical field interaction (touch sensing). The capacitive touch sensor detects changes in electrical field caused by human proximity or contact, allowing activation through simple touching gestures rather than requiring complex pressing actions, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple safety measures are added to prevent accidental signaling, then false emergency signals are reduced, but the activation process becomes more complex and harder to use in emergencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of false emergency signalVSAvoidsimplicity of activation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary detection of touch intent through capacitive sensing before requiring full activation. The system can detect preliminary touching gestures and use this information to determine whether to require additional confirmation steps, thereby maintaining simplicity for genuine users while preventing accidental activation by those who inadvertently touch the device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to send emergency signals without identifying button positions or pressing buttons vigorously, ensuring activation even in critical states, while providing multiple safety measures to prevent accidental signaling.

Implementation Method 1

a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is adapted to send a temperature sensing signal to the processing unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy sensing: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

at least one touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor is adapted to send a touch sensing signal to the processing unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11158180B2Emergency care device

Publication Date: 2021.10.26 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

An emergency care device is provided. The emergency care device includes a device housing, a processing unit, a temperature sensor, at least one touch sensor, and a signal transmitting unit. The processing unit is disposed in the device housing. The temperature sensor is coupled to the processing unit, wherein the temperature sensor is adapted to send a temperature sensing signal to the processing unit. The touch sensor is coupled to the processing unit, wherein the touch sensor is adapted to send a touch sensing signal to the processing unit. The signal transmitting unit is coupled to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit controls the signal transmitting unit to send an emergency signal according to the temperature sensing signal and the touch sensing signal.