Method and apparatus for fall detection

US8756032B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KONINIKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. · NL

Inventor

• Ningjiang Chen · Shanghai, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 19, 2009
• Grant date: Jun 17, 2014
• Expiry date: Oct 5, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2562/0219
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for detecting the fall of an object includes: acquiring a plurality of time-varying accelerations associated with a movement of said object; computing a plurality of respective velocities and displacements in the direction of gravity, based on the plurality of time-varying accelerations; determining lead time and return time of the movement, based on the plurality of accelerations, velocities and displacements, wherein the lead time equals a time interval from an original point of the movement to an extreme point of the movement, and the return time equals a time interval from the extreme point of the movement to a final point of the movement; and determining whether the fall of said object occurs, based on whether a peak value of the velocities is larger than a predefined threshold value and whether the lead time is longer than the return time.