Device for monitoring the presence of a person using a reflective energy beam
US5471198A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 22, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 22, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B21/22
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electromagnetic (EM) radiant energy beam source transmits a beam of reflectable EM energy toward the space in a hospital bed normally occupied by a patient being monitored. In one embodiment, the beam is reflected by the patient if found within the confines of the hospital bed, and the reflected beam is detected by an EM energy sensor located on the apparatus. A control logic circuit then receives data from the energy sensor regarding the level of reflected energy detected. If a certain beam intensity level has been detected, the control logic circuit sends a signal to an output relay that the patient is still in the bed. If the patient is no longer in the bed, an alternate signal is sent to the output relay. The output relay serves as an interface to an external occupancy monitoring system or may alternatively operate an alarm bell or light to indicate the absence of the patient.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.