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US 8,896,457 B2Granted
Method, system and wireless device with event detection for monitoring protective headgear
AssigneeTHL Holding Company, LLC
InventorsJohn W. Howard, Richard Cutler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wireless device includes a sensor module that generates sensor data in response to an impact to the protective headgear. A device processing module generates event data in response to the sensor data, wherein the device processing module includes an event detection module that analyzes the sensor data and triggers the generating of the event data in response to detection of an event in the sensor data. A short-range wireless transmitter transmits a wireless signal that includes the event data.
Claims12
A system for monitoring protective headgear, the system comprising:
- a first wireless device that includes:
- a first sensor module, coupled to the protective headgear that generates first sensor data in response to an impact to the protective headgear;
- a first device processing module, coupled to the first sensor module, that generates first event data in response to the first sensor data, wherein the first device processing module includes a first event detection module that analyzes the first sensor data and triggers the generating of the first event data in response to detection of a first event in the first sensor data, wherein the first event detection module analyzes the first sensor data by:
- generating aggregate acceleration data from the first sensor data;
- comparing the aggregate acceleration data to an acceleration threshold;
- and
- determining an event window that indicates an event time period based on a time that the aggregate acceleration data exceeds the acceleration threshold, wherein the first event detection module triggers the generating of the first event data based on the event window;
- and
- detecting a fault condition associated with the generating of the first event data using an internal error detection routine;
- wherein the first event data includes an analysis of the first sensor data in absence of the fault condition, and wherein the first event data excludes the analysis of the first sensor data and includes an alarm indication when the fault condition is detected;
- and
- a first short-range wireless transmitter, coupled to the first sensor module and the first device processing module, that transmits a first wireless signal that includes the first event data;
- and
- an adjunct device that includes:
- an adjunct housing that is coupleable to a handheld communication device via a communication port of the handheld communication device to form a single integrated unit;
- an adjunct short-range wireless receiver, coupled to the adjunct housing, that receives the first wireless signal and recovers the first event data;
- and
- an adjunct processing module that transfers the first event data to the handheld communication device via the communication port of the handheld communication device.
15 more elements
A wireless device for use in a system for monitoring protective headgear, the wireless device comprising:
- a sensor module, coupled to the protective headgear that generates sensor data in response to an impact to the protective headgear;
- a device processing module, coupled to the sensor module, that generates event data in response to the sensor data, wherein the device processing module includes an event detection module that analyzes the sensor data and triggers the generating of the event data in response to detection of an event in the sensor data, wherein the event detection module analyzes the sensor data by:
- generating aggregate acceleration data from the sensor data;
- comparing the aggregate acceleration data to an acceleration threshold;
- and
- determining an event window that indicates an event time period based on a time that the aggregate acceleration data exceeds the acceleration threshold, wherein the first event detection module triggers the generating of the event data based on the event window;
- and
- detecting a fault condition associated with the generating of the event data using an internal error detection routine;
- wherein the event data includes an analysis of the sensor data in absence of the fault condition, and wherein the event data excludes the analysis of the sensor data and includes an alarm indication when the fault condition is detected;
- and
- a short-range wireless transmitter, coupled to the sensor module and the device processing module, that transmits a wireless signal that includes the event data, wherein the short-range wireless transmitter transmits the wireless signal to an adjunct device that is coupled to a handheld communication device to form a single integrated unit for processing of the event data by the handheld communication device.
8 more elements
A method for use in a system for monitoring protective headgear, the method comprising:
- generating, via a sensor module, sensor data in response to an impact to the protective headgear;
- analyzing the sensor data to detect an event in the sensor data, wherein analyzing the sensor data includes:
- generating aggregate acceleration data from the sensor data;
- comparing the aggregate acceleration data to an acceleration threshold;
- and
- determining an event window that indicates an event time period based on the comparing of the aggregate acceleration data to the acceleration threshold;
- generating event data in response to the sensor data when triggered by detection of the event in the sensor data wherein generating of the event data is triggered based on the event window;
- and
- detecting a fault condition associated with the generating of the event data using an internal error detection routine;
- wherein the first event data includes an analysis of the sensor data in absence of the fault condition, and wherein the event data excludes the analysis of the sensor data and includes an alarm indication when the fault condition is detected;
- and
- transmitting, via a short-range wireless transmitter, a wireless signal that includes the event data to an adjunct device that is coupled to a handheld communication device to form a single integrated unit for processing of the event data by the handheld communication device.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.