The present invention relates to the field of the monitoring of premises, or external volumes, which are mobile or immobile, and in particular to home automation.
Modern sensors do not make it possible to ascertain enough information to deduce a state of a location, of a person or of an object. They are even less suited to anticipating such a state, in order to deduce a possible, useful or necessary action.
The aim of the invention is to propose a device capable of collecting enough information about a location, a person or an object to ascertain a state thereof and to deduce a future state thereof if necessary.
According to a first subject of the invention, a preferably battery-operated monitoring device comprises an infrared sensor and also at least one sensor from among:
It is also possible to use a plurality of sensors of one and the same type. For example, it is possible to use a plurality of infrared sensors. It is also possible to use a plurality of temperature or humidity sensors that have different operating ranges.
The sensor for determining air quality may comprise means for measuring a concentration of one of the substances from among ethanol and dihydrogen, or a total amount of volatile organic compounds.
The device is preferably battery-powered. This is an advantage over existing devices on the market that require installing a power cable connected to the mains, and therefore makes it possible to achieve easy installation of the device in locations where there is no wired electric power supply.
Advantageously, the device comprises wireless transmission means for outgoing data, for example cellular, Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi transmission means, thereby making it possible to have flexible installation. The device is able to send data in real time or store said data so as to send them later, at regular intervals or not, automatically or upon request. Preferably, the device is also intended to receive incoming information using the same means. These data may be specific configuration data or an update to software embedded in the device.
The device may have a display for the temperature measured using the infrared sensor.
The infrared sensor may comprise means for measuring a temperature in a plurality of sectors, independently, of one and the same observation cone.
According to a second subject, the invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of a person, using a system according to the invention and comprising a device according to the invention having means for measuring a temperature in a plurality of sectors, wherein the presence is deduced from the temperatures measured in each sector.
According to a third subject, the invention relates to a method for measuring a temperature of a person, using a system according to the invention and comprising a device according to the invention having means for measuring a temperature in a plurality of sectors, comprising measuring a temperature of the person in a first sector and simultaneously measuring an ambient temperature in a second sector with the infrared sensor and calculating a temperature of the person by correcting the measured temperature of the person on the basis of the measured ambient temperature, and preferably also on the basis of data from at least one of the following sensors: temperature sensor, relative humidity sensor, ambient light sensor and UV index sensor.
According to a fourth subject, the invention relates to a method for providing a fire alarm, using a device according to the invention, which comprises steps of:
According to a fifth subject, the invention relates to a method for evaluating a sleep quality of a person, using a device according to the invention, which comprises steps of:
According to a sixth subject, the invention relates to a method for preventing a risk of hypothermia for a person, using a device according to the invention and comprising steps of:
According to a seventh subject, the invention relates to a method for warning of a risk of failure of a machine, using a device according to the invention and comprising steps for carrying out:
A number of embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Thus, for example:
In a housing 12, the device 2 furthermore comprises:
In the illustrated example, the device 2 is battery-powered, or powered by a cell, in order to be able to be installed easily in any location without a connection. It comprises a current sensor that makes it possible to analyze and to predict the lifetime of the battery.
A description will now be given of a plurality of methods that may be implemented using a system comprising a device 2 according to the invention. These methods generally comprise prior learning using an artificial intelligence. The system may comprise one or more remote computing means for remotely processing data supplied by the device 2.
One method makes it possible to detect, or assume, the presence of a person, primarily with the aid of the infrared sensor, in particular by analyzing the pixels 6P, the temperature that is revealed, a number and a distribution of the pixels, their change, which may correspond to the movement of a person. This detection method is perfectly suited to learning using an artificial intelligence.
One method makes it possible to measure the temperature of a human body. It is preferably combined with the above method for detecting the presence of a person. The main sensor that is used to measure the temperature of the human body is the infrared sensor 3. The temperature of the human body may vary according to a plurality of parameters outside the human body, in particular ambient temperature, ambient humidity, ambient light level and ambient UV (ultraviolet) index. Taking only a measurement from the infrared sensor as a basis to ascertain the temperature of the human body may lead to an erroneous value. In order to make a correction to the infrared-based human body temperature measurement and have a more exact and precise value, the direct measurement of the infrared sensor may be carried out in particular based on a value measured in the sector 665; it is corrected based on data supplied by other sensors, in particular the ambient temperature sensor, the relative humidity sensor, the ambient light sensor and the UV index sensor, and it is also corrected by a measurement of the ambient temperature, for example measured in the sector 643. The measurements and information supplied by the various sensors at the same time and at the same location make it possible to supply a more reliable measurement of the temperature of the human body. Such a result is made possible by the combined use of the various sensors.
The device 2 is intended to operate autonomously and automatically. However, the infrared sensor has known and specific usage limits. These limits depend on ambient temperature, ambient humidity, atmospheric pressure, light incidence and UV level. In order to guarantee correct usage operation of the product, the measurements from various sensors, in particular from the ambient temperature sensor, the relative humidity sensor, the ambient light sensor and the UV index sensor, are used in order to guarantee that the infrared sensor operates within predefined operating ranges, within limits. This guarantees and safeguards optimum efficiency of the measurements carried out by the infrared sensor. Thus, a method for automatically controlling the operation of the infrared sensor 3 is carried out in real time by the device 2, by virtue of the simultaneous use of a plurality of the sensors included in this device.
The temperature of the human body depends on the ambient temperature and the ambient humidity; taking into account these parameters, the device supplies a more precise measured temperature of the human body.
A method for providing an alarm may also be implemented using a device according to the invention.
The infrared sensor makes it possible to detect the presence of people in its field of view. In the case of a fire starting, when the device detects an increase in temperature above a given threshold and/or an increase in a level of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide above a given threshold and/or an increase in brightness and/or a drop in humidity, in combination with the detection of the presence of a person in the monitored volume, this makes it possible to trigger a smart alarm. Indeed, it may allow the emergency services to intervene more quickly at the location where the presence of a person has been detected. Furthermore, the GPS coordinates sent with the alarm make it possible to quickly locate the location of the fire. The device according to the invention is therefore more efficient than a CO2 sensor on its own or a temperature sensor on its own. Furthermore, the infrared sensor detecting a heat source is capable of detecting the start of a fire even before the fire or carbonic gas is present. The carbonic gas sensor then makes it possible to confirm that a fire has actually started. All of the information supplied by the sensors of the device gives the fire service an early alarm with complete information that allows a more effective and faster intervention.
A method for evaluating the quality of sleep of a person may also be implemented using the device 2 by combining the information from a plurality of the sensors.
The infrared sensor identifies the presence of a person by measuring their temperature, the sound level sensor measures the snoring level of the person, and the temperature, humidity, pressure, light level and air quality sensors determine the state of the environment. These combined measurements make it possible to supply complete information about the sleep quality of the person and the links that may exist between this sleep quality and the state of the environment.
A method for providing an alert in the event of hypothermia for a person may also be implemented using the device 2 by combining the information from a plurality of the sensors.
Diabetic people exhibit risks of hypothermia while they are sleeping. Their temperature may drop without them realizing. The presence of the infrared sensor, by monitoring the temperature at regular intervals, may trigger an acoustic alarm when the temperature drops below a certain value in order to wake up the person.
A method for monitoring the state of health of a person may also be implemented using the device 2.
The device is thus able to measure both the temperature of the body of the person and the sound level in the room. A high measurement of the temperature in combination with an acoustic measurement of coughing may provide a significant indication about the state of health of the person, and about the development thereof over time.
A method for monitoring the pregnancy of a person may also be implemented using the device 2.
The body temperature of a female changes throughout the menstrual cycle. In the course of a normal cycle, during the follicular phase, it is at an initial value lower than 37° centigrade and does not vary much. Just before ovulation, the temperature drops: it is at the lowest point in the cycle. It then increases again above 37° C. It stays at this level throughout the duration of the luteal phase, for the last twelve or fourteen days of the menstrual cycle. In the event of pregnancy, the thermal plateau lasts beyond 28 days. By contrast, if fertilization has not taken place, the temperature drops back to its initial level, just before the period arrives. The device is thus able to continuously measure the body temperature of a female and thus makes it possible to provide an indication of pregnancy.
An alertness method, in particular for a person living alone, more specifically for an elderly person, may also be implemented using the device 2.
The device measures the temperature of a person and thus determines their presence, but also their mobility. The device is thus able to determine whether a person is immobilized. In the event of prolonged immobilization and in the event of a significant reduction in sound level, the device may for example conclude that the person has fallen or is ill and trigger an alarm or contact another person, preferably a designated person. The device, in particular by virtue of its sound sensor, may also be programmed to recognize an “emergency word” intended to be spoken by the single person when they need urgent assistance, for example in the event of a fall.
The device 2 may be mobile. It may in particular be installed in a transport vehicle, for example a bus or a train.
When the device is installed in a public transport vehicle, it may be integrated into a transport management system and method. It may thus make it possible to measure the temperature of people entering the vehicle. It makes it possible to filter out people having a temperature that exceeds a certain threshold, to count the number of people entering the vehicle and to link this number of people to a geographical position of the vehicle. The device may therefore make it possible to implement a transport management method that provides a real-time occupancy level in public transport vehicles in real time, and/or a level of filtering out by temperature and/or a geographical coverage of these figures.
A plurality of devices according to the invention may be networked. They may in particular be connected to a cloud, that is to say a cloud network.
With the sensors being connected to the cloud, the measurements supplied by each device may be correlated in order to supply information about a given geographical area.
A plurality of devices indicating an increase in CO2 concentration make it possible to supply information about pollution in a given geographical area and the direction of movement of this pollution.
A plurality of devices supplying vibration measurements make it possible to give information relating to an earthquake, and may make it possible to determine the epicenter thereof and the amplitude thereof at a given location.
It is thus possible to determine, in a given area:
A sensor according to the invention may also be used in industry, in particular to implement a method for anticipating failure of a machine.
It is possible to install this device, or a plurality of these devices, in or close to a machine in operation; it may then transmit:
The data may be stored in the cloud and learning algorithms (machine learning) are applied in order to establish the link between a failure and the data from the sensors. A system according to the invention, thus applied, makes it possible to predict machine failures. By way of example, an increase in temperature, vibration level and sound level makes it possible to conclude as to a failure in the near future; the type of vibration may also make it possible to identify a defective component.
In the illustrated example, to use infrared to measure the temperature, it is possible to use an electronic component of the type D6T-44L-06, supplied by Omron.
Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the following claims.
Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the embodiments described above in light of the teaching that has just been disclosed to them.
A plurality of methods may in particular be implemented in parallel by one and the same device. These methods may be from among those described above, or others that are not described. For example, one and the same sensor may serve both to detect fire and to warn of a risk of hypothermia and a risk of falling.
A device according to the invention may have numerous applications, in particular:
A device according to the invention also has numerous advantages over existing products:
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2010900 | Oct 2020 | FR | national |
This application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/078497 filed Oct. 14, 2021, which designated the U.S. and claims priority to FR 2010900 filed Oct. 23, 2020, the entire contents of each incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2021/078497 | 10/14/2021 | WO |