Lanyard Strain Sensor Fall Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current personal emergency response systems and activity trackers face challenges in accurately detecting falls and non-activity states, as well as improving wear compliance, due to limitations in detecting posture and activity types such as lying, sitting, standing, walking, or running, especially in elderly populations.
Innovation Solution
A lanyard device with a flexible neck cord and integrated strain sensors, including fiber optic strain sensors, that sense strain caused by gravitational forces, allowing for differentiation between activity and non-activity states, and wirelessly transmit data for activity monitoring and fall detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strain sensors are integrated into specific clothes, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing function from complex integrated clothing systems and implements it through a simple lanyard device with strain sensors. The lanyard independently measures neck cord strain to detect posture and activity states without requiring integration into garments, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The lanyard device serves multiple functions: it acts as both a decorative accessory and a monitoring device. The same lanyard structure is used for both wearing purposes and sensing purposes, eliminating the need for separate sensing equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a lanyard device is made lightweight, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lanyard device segments the sensing function into discrete strain sensors positioned at specific locations along the neck cord. This allows the majority of the lanyard structure to remain lightweight while only incorporating minimal sensing components where needed, maintaining both wear comfort and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies sensing elements only at specific critical locations on the lanyard where strain measurements are most informative for posture detection. This localized approach ensures adequate measurement precision while keeping the overall device lightweight and comfortable for continuous wear.
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 lanyard device effectively enhances wear compliance and improves fall detection by accurately distinguishing between various activities and non-activity states, providing reliable data for calorie expenditure estimation and alerting systems, while being lightweight and waterproof for continuous use.
Implementation Method 1
gravitational forces due to the weight of the lanyard device and/or a pendant arranged on the lanyard device may exert a stress on the neck cord, causing strain of the flexible neck cord
Implementation Method 2
at least one strain sensor arranged for sensing strain in the flexible neck cord
Data Source
AI summary
A lanyard device (10) having a flexible neck cord (12) and at least one strain sensor (30) arranged for sensing strain in the flexible neck cord; and a personal lanyard monitoring system including the lanyard device (10). A position recognition unit (52) is configured for comparing strain data obtained from the at least one strain sensor (30) to predetermined strain data, and recognizing a position of the flexible neck cord (12) in dependence on a result of the comparison.