Posture Determination Using Multi-Sensor Vibration Waveform Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing posture determination systems for users on beds struggle to accurately determine the posture of users lying on the bed, often requiring additional monitoring methods like cameras, which can be burdensome and raise privacy concerns.
Innovation Solution
A posture determination apparatus equipped with at least two vibration sensors that detect vibrations and a controller to calculate multiple waveforms, allowing for the determination of user posture based on these waveforms while the user is lying in bed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vibration sensors are used to detect user posture, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for multiple sensors and waveform processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the bed into multiple sensing zones with separate vibration sensors positioned at different locations. Each sensor independently detects vibrations in its local area, and the controller processes these segmented signals to determine overall posture. This segmentation allows accurate posture detection while distributing the complexity across multiple simple sensor units rather than requiring one complex sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that receives raw vibration signals from multiple sensors, processes them into waveforms, and determines posture based on waveform characteristics. This intermediary processing layer simplifies the overall system by centralizing the complex analysis function, allowing the sensors themselves to remain simple while achieving accurate measurement through coordinated processing.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to ongoing detection and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic vibration detection cycles rather than truly continuous monitoring. The controller processes vibrations at regular intervals, creating discrete waveform samples that capture posture information. This periodic approach maintains reliability by consistently sampling the user's position while reducing time loss compared to continuous real-time processing, allowing the system to balance monitoring thoroughness with time efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If multiple vibration sensors are deployed, then measurement precision is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to potential privacy concerns and caregiver burden
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary vibration data for posture determination and processes it locally to generate waveform characteristics. By extracting and processing only the essential information rather than continuously monitoring all sensor data, the system reduces the amount of data that could raise privacy concerns and minimizes the processing burden on caregivers, while still achieving accurate posture measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration sensors and controller work autonomously to detect and process posture information without requiring active involvement or constant attention from caregivers. The system self-monitors and processes vibrations automatically, reducing the operational burden on caregivers while maintaining accurate measurement. This autonomous operation also limits the exposure of personal information, addressing privacy concerns by minimizing data handling requirements.
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 accurate determination of user posture on a bed without the need for continuous monitoring, reducing the burden on caregivers and addressing privacy concerns by using vibration data alone.
Implementation Method 1
at least two vibration sensors capable of detecting vibrations while the user is lying in bed
Implementation Method 2
a controller configured to calculate multiple waveforms from the multiple vibrations and determine the posture of the user while the user is lying in bed based on the characteristics of the multiple waveforms
Data Source
AI summary
A posture determination apparatus including at least two vibration sensors and a controller. The controller causes the vibration sensors to detect vibrations while the user is lying in bed, calculates waveforms from the detected vibrations and recognizes the characteristics of the waveforms, and determines the posture of the user based on the characteristics. Thereby, it is possible to provide a posture determination apparatus and capable of appropriately determining the posture of the user which is one factor of the state of the user.