Protective Headgear Impact Sensor System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for monitoring protective headgear lack comprehensive and accurate methods to assess impact events on the head, often relying solely on acceleration data, which can lead to false positives or negatives in determining concussion severity, and do not provide real-time or detailed analysis of impact energy dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a handheld communication device and an adjunct device with a wireless sensor module that includes both an accelerometer and a gyroscope, generating event data that includes linear and rotational acceleration, and transmitting this data for processing to display impact simulations, allowing for more accurate assessment of impact severity and energy dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only acceleration data is used for impact assessment, then the system is simple to operate, but the measurement precision is insufficient leading to false positives or negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (accelerometers and gyroscopes) into a unified sensor system that collects both linear acceleration and rotational data. This merging of different sensing modalities enables comprehensive impact assessment by analyzing both translational and rotational components of head impacts, thereby improving measurement precision without creating separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: it simultaneously measures linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, impact force, and impact duration. This multi-functional approach allows a single integrated system to provide comprehensive impact assessment data, improving measurement precision while avoiding the need for multiple separate specialized devices.
2Loss of information
If comprehensive sensor data collection is implemented, then the information completeness is improved, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic sampling of sensor data at optimized intervals rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic action allows the system to capture essential impact event information while reducing overall power consumption, as sensors are activated only when impact events are detected or at predetermined time intervals rather than operating continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements selective data collection that focuses on capturing critical impact parameters (impact force, duration, direction) rather than recording all possible sensor data continuously. This partial action approach ensures complete information about impact events is captured while avoiding unnecessary energy expenditure on collecting and processing non-essential data during non-impact periods.
3Productivity
If real-time impact analysis is provided, then the productivity of concussion detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of sensor data by pre-defining impact detection algorithms and thresholds that automatically analyze incoming data streams. This preliminary action enables real-time concussion detection by having processing rules ready in advance, allowing immediate identification of impact events without requiring complex real-time computational analysis, thus improving productivity while managing device complexity.
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
The system provides a more comprehensive analysis of impact events by integrating linear and rotational data, enhancing the accuracy of concussion detection and providing real-time monitoring and simulation of impact severity, aiding in diagnosis and treatment.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor module that generates sensor data in response to motion of the protective headgear, wherein the sensor module includes an accelerometer and a gyroscope
Implementation Method 2
a sensor module that generates sensor data in response to motion of the protective headgear, wherein the sensor module includes an accelerometer and a gyroscope
Data Source
AI summary
A charging device includes a plurality of charging ports, each charging port for selectively coupling to one of a plurality of wireless devices and for coupling a power signal to the one of the plurality of wireless devices based on an external power source. Each of the plurality of wireless devices includes a short-range wireless device transceiver that receives alarm data from the protective headgear in response to an alarm event at the protective headgear. A user interface emits a first detectable alert signal in response to the alarm data to assist the user in the monitoring of the protective headgear. A battery provides power to the short-range wireless device transceiver and the user interface. A connector couples the power signal from one of the plurality of charging ports to charge the battery.