阅读说明：本技术 意外事故预防系统及其方法 (Accident prevention system and method thereof ) 是由 海诺·温德尔鲁普 于 2020-02-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种方法,用于警示一可穿戴安全气囊系统(10)的一用户。所述方法(200)包含步骤：i)确保(220)所述安全气囊系统(10)是激活的,ii)检查(230)所述安全气囊系统(10)的当前位置,iii)调用(240)存储多个位置的一服务器(15),每个位置都与一意外事故的一增加风险相关联,以及iv)当所述安全气囊系统(10)的当前位置靠近一存储位置,进一步执行一步骤：警示(250)所述用户。(A method is provided for alerting a user of a wearable airbag system (10). The method (200) comprises the steps of: i) ensuring (220) that the airbag system (10) is active, ii) checking (230) a current location of the airbag system (10), iii) invoking (240) a server (15) storing a plurality of locations, each location being associated with an increased risk of an accident, and iv) when the current location of the airbag system (10) is close to a storage location, further performing a step of: alerting (250) the user.)

1. A method for alerting a user of a wearable airbag system (10), the method (200) comprising the steps of:

ensuring (220) that the airbag system (10) is active;

checking (230) a current position of the airbag system (10);

invoking (240) a server (15) storing a plurality of locations, each location associated with an increased risk of an accident; and

when the current position of the airbag system (10) is close to a storage position, further performing a step of: alerting (250) the user.

2. The method of claim 2, wherein: alerting (250) the user is performed by the wearable airbag system (10).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: the method further comprises a step of: braking (260) a vehicle, such as a bicycle (20), of the user.

4. A method for entering multiple locations while riding a bicycle via a wearable airbag system (10), said wearable airbag system (10) comprising an event detection system (12), said method (100) comprising the steps of:

ensuring (120) that the airbag system (10) is active; and

measuring (130), by the accident detection system (12), a plurality of movements while riding the bicycle;

wherein when the measured motions are indicative of an increased risk of an accident, further performing the steps of:

triggering (140) a communication unit (14); and

-transmitting (150) a position of the airbag system (10) to a server (15) via the communication unit (14).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein: the method further comprises a step of: activating (110) the airbag system (10).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein: the triggering step (140) and the transmitting step (150) are performed after the activating step (110).

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein: the method further comprises a step of: deactivating (170) the airbag system (10).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein: the triggering step (140) and the transmitting step (150) are performed after the deactivating step (170).

9. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein: the method further comprises a step of: deploying (160) the airbag system (10) when the measured (130) movements are indicative of an accident.

10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that: the communicated position is the position of the airbag system (10) when the plurality of movements indicative of an increased risk of an accident are measured.

11. A method of maintaining an accident prevention system, the method comprising the steps of the method (100) of inputting multiple locations according to any one of claims 4 to 10, and the steps of the method (200) of alerting a user according to claims 1 to 3.

12. An accident prevention system, comprising:

a wearable airbag system (10) comprising an accident detection system (12) configured to measure (130) a plurality of motions indicative of an increased risk of an accident; and

a communication unit (14) configured to transmit (150) a location of the airbag system (10) to a server (15).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein: the accident detection system (12) comprises at least one sensor (13), such as a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer.

14. The system according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that: the communication unit (14) includes a global positioning system (16) and a plurality of wireless communication devices (17).

15. The system according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: the communication unit (14) is comprised in the airbag system (10).

16. The system according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein: the communication unit (14) is a remote control unit, such as a mobile telephone.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein: the airbag system (10) and the communication unit (14) are operatively connected to each other by bluetooth.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an accident prevention system and a method thereof. And more particularly, to an accident prevention system, a method of maintaining an accident prevention system, a method of inputting a plurality of positions while riding a bicycle, and a method for alerting a user.

Background

There are many dangers associated with riding a bicycle in an urban setting. Busy intersections, potholes, oil spills, or other low friction areas are common examples of hazards. The applicant has previously developed a wearable airbag system for providing protection in the event of an accident; see, e.g., EP1947966B 1; however, it has been found that precautions need to be taken to further reduce the risk of riding the bicycle. In the prior art, systems currently exist for informing motorists about nearby accidents; see, e.g., JPH 0664565A; however, these types of systems are not suitable for riding bicycles for a variety of reasons.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an accident prevention system suitable for use in riding a bicycle, or when riding a scooter, such as the electric scooter provided by LIME.

Disclosure of Invention

The above and other objects are achieved, in whole or in part, by a method for alerting a user of a wearable airbag system, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention. The method comprises i) ensuring that the airbag system is active; ii) checking a current position of the airbag system; iii) invoking a server storing a plurality of locations, each location associated with an increased risk of an accident; and iv) when the current position of the airbag system is close to a storage position, further performing a step of: alerting the user.

Alerting the user may be performed by the wearable airbag system.

The method further comprises a step of: braking a vehicle, such as a bicycle, of the user. Preferably, this automatic brake-off may be performed after alerting the user, or as a means of alerting the user.

According to a second aspect, a method is provided for inputting a plurality of positions while riding a bicycle via a wearable airbag system that includes an accident detection system. The method comprises i) ensuring that the airbag system is active; and ii) measuring a plurality of motions by the accident detection system while riding the bicycle; wherein step iii) is further performed to trigger a communication unit when the measured motions are indicative of an increased risk of an accident; and iv) communicating a location of the airbag system to a server via the communication unit.

The method may also include a step of: activating the airbag system.

The triggering step and the transmitting step may be performed after the activating step.

The method may further comprise a step of: deactivating the airbag system.

The triggering step and the transmitting step may be performed after the disabling step.

The method may also include a step of: deploying the airbag system when the measured motions are indicative of an accident.

The communicated position may be a position of the airbag system when the plurality of movements indicative of an increased risk of an accident are measured.

According to a third aspect, a method of maintaining an accident prevention system is provided. The method comprises the steps of the method of inputting a plurality of positions according to the second aspect and the steps of the method of alerting a user according to the first aspect.

According to a fourth aspect, an accident prevention system is provided. The accident prevention system comprises a wearable airbag system comprising an accident detection system configured to measure a plurality of motions indicative of an increased risk of an accident; and a communication unit configured to transmit a location of the airbag system to a server.

The accident detection system may also include at least one sensor, such as a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer.

The communication unit may include a global positioning system and a plurality of wireless communication devices.

The communication unit may be included in the airbag system or the communication unit may be a remote control unit, such as a mobile phone.

The airbag system and the communication unit may be operatively connected to each other by bluetooth.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed disclosure, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. All terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a)/an/the [ element, device, component, means, step, etc ]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1a is a schematic view of an accident prevention system according to one embodiment;

FIG. 1b is a schematic view of an accident prevention system according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an accident prevention system in use, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method of inputting multiple locations according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of a method of alerting a user according to one embodiment.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

Beginning with FIG. 1a, an accident prevention system is shown. The accident prevention system includes a wearable airbag system 10. The wearable airbag system 10 is preferably arranged as a collar that surrounds a head of a user. The wearable airbag system 10 includes an airbag 11 configured to deploy upon detection of an accident. The wearable airbag system 10 also includes an accident detection system 12, the accident detection system 12 configured to measure a plurality of movements of the user/collar and determine whether the measured movements indicate an accident. The wearable airbag system 10 also includes a communication unit 14, the communication unit 14 configured to transmit, preferably wirelessly, a location of the wearable airbag system 10 to a server 15.

The accident detection system 12 comprises at least one sensor 13. The sensor 13 preferably detects motion; alternatively, tilt and/or impact may be measured. The sensor data may then be analyzed to determine whether an accident is occurring, such as by a control unit. This detection may, for example, use previously established thresholds or machine learning to accurately determine whether an accident exists. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1a to 1b, the sensor 13 is a gyroscope 13 and an accelerometer 13.

The communication unit 14 includes a positioning unit 16, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS), or any device for determining the current location of the wearable airbag system (e.g., a triangulation system) and an internet communication device 17. The positioning module 16 communicates with a GPS satellite, for example, to receive real-time location data of the wearable airbag system 10, i.e., the user. The internet communication means 17 may be wired or wireless and is preferably a wireless antenna, such as a Wi-Fi antenna. Other examples of communication devices 17 include cellular data devices such as 3G, 4G, 5G, and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the communication unit 14 is programmed to communicate the current location of the wearable airbag system 10 when the accident detection system 12 has determined that an increased risk of an accident exists.

The server 15 may be remote or a local storage, and is preferably a remote storage 15. The server 15 may process the location information in a number of ways, an example being an index list containing a location, time, sensor data and a certain type of classification for a type that has been determined to increase risk (e.g. wet road). The server data is updated according to a method for entering a plurality of locations indicated by reference numeral 100 in fig. 3.

The server 15 may additionally contain user-submitted information regarding a particular incident or incident location. This can further be used to determine whether the hazard is permanent, time-dependent, or repaired.

FIG. 1b shows an accident prevention system according to an alternative embodiment. The embodiment is similar to the embodiment described with respect to fig. 1a, however, the communication unit 14 is in this embodiment an external device, such as a mobile phone of the user, which can communicate with the wearable airbag system 10.

The wearable airbag system 10 includes an airbag 11 configured to deploy upon detection of an accident. The wearable airbag system 10 also includes an accident detection system 12 configured to measure a plurality of motions while riding the bicycle and determine whether the measured motions indicate an increased risk of an accident.

The wearable airbag system 10 also includes a communication unit 14 configured to transmit 150 a location of the wearable airbag system 10 to a server 15. The communication unit 14 is a remote control unit separate from the wearable airbag system 10. In this embodiment, the communication unit 14 is a mobile phone of the user. The remote communication unit 14 includes a positioning module 16, such as a GPS and internet communication device 17.

The communication unit 14 also contains an application program for controlling the communication between the communication unit 14 and the airbag system 10, and between the communication unit 14 and the server 15. The application may also be used to enter information submitted by the user regarding a particular incident or incident location. The application may also be used to access information about a particular incident location to learn more about how to avoid it or see if it has been resolved.

The communication unit 14 and the airbag system 10 are operatively connected to each other by wireless communication means such as bluetooth. Each of the communication unit 14 and the airbag system 10 therefore includes a bluetooth antenna.

Fig. 2 shows the accident prevention system in use. The upper half shows a user riding on a bicycle 20 in an area of increased risk of causing an accident. When the accident detection system 12 determines that there is an increased risk of an accident, the accident detection system 12 triggers the communication unit 14. The communication unit 14 transmits the current location of the user to a server 15.

If the accident detection system 12 determines that an accident does occur, the airbag system 10 may further deploy the airbag 11 to protect the user.

However, the accident detection system 12 is preferably programmed to analyze the measured sensor data and determine one of three possible situations: i) no accident, i.e. normal riding of the bicycle, ii) an increased risk of an accident, or iii) an accident. The inflation of the wearable airbag system 10, i.e. the helmet, is only performed upon the occurrence of an accident, i.e. for case iii). Uploading the location of the wearable airbag system 10 to the server 15 should preferably be performed each time an increased risk of an accident is determined, i.e. case ii).

Thus, even if it is considered that no deployment is required, only the possibility of an accident may induce recording of a dangerous spot.

The lower half shows the same position at a later time while another user on a bicycle 20 is approaching the hazardous location. The airbag system 10 is active and, if an accident occurs nearby, the communication unit 14 is therefore configured to continuously check the position of the user and to invoke or refer to the server 15. When the user approaches a location where an accident has occurred, the communication unit 14 causes the airbag system 10 to alert the user, for example, using light or sound. The user can then avoid an accident by, for example, slowing down and carefully driving.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method 100 for inputting multiple positions by a wearable airbag system 10 while riding a bicycle, the wearable airbag system 10 including an accident detection system 12 as previously described. The method 100 comprises several steps 110 to 170. The steps may be performed in any order, some may be skipped and others may be repeated, and different steps may be performed by different units. These steps may be performed randomly, periodically, or a series of steps may be initiated by a user or automatically.

The ensuring step 120 includes ensuring that the airbag system 10 is active. This action is preferably performed before the metrology step 130. This step 120 may be implemented in the following case: the accident detection system 12 is powered only when the airbag system 10 is active. The effect of the ensuring step 120 is that there is no need to detect an accident when the user is not riding the bicycle.

The measuring step 130 includes measuring a plurality of motions during riding the bicycle and determining whether the measured sensor data indicates an increased risk of an accident. This step 130 is preferably performed by the accident detection system 12. The measurements may, for example, include data from one or more sensors 13. Based on previously established values, there is a first and optionally a second threshold measured from the one or more sensors. If the three conditions i) to iii) are utilized, the measured sensor data may be converted to a scalar. A first threshold is used to determine that there is an increased risk of an accident, while a second (and higher) threshold is used to determine that an accident has occurred.

The ensuring step 120 and the metrology step 130 are repeated during the metrology step 130 until at least the first threshold is reached. Such repetition may be periodic, for example, every second. If the first threshold is reached, the triggering step 140 is performed. If the second threshold is reached, the unfolding step 160 is also performed. The second threshold preferably corresponds to an accident in which a user is at risk, such as a fall, requiring inflation of the airbag.

The triggering step 140 includes triggering a communication unit 14. This may include the crash detection system 12 sending a bluetooth signal or wired signal to the communication unit 14.

The transmitting step 150 includes transmitting the position of the airbag system 10 to a server 15. This step 150 is preferably performed by a communication unit 14. The communication unit 14 includes a positioning module, such as the GPS, and assumes that the communication unit 14, the airbag system 10, and the location of the accident are all nearby. The transmitting step 150 may also include transmitting information about the incident, such as the time of the incident or how fast the bicycle is traveling.

To accommodate rapidly changing urban environments, the server 15 may allow or require more information about an accident, such as time of day, weather, and/or the cause of user input. A user may then be further allowed to report that the source of the incident has changed or resolved, such as ice melting or a new traffic light.

The deploying step 160 includes deploying the airbag system 10 if the measured 130 sudden movement is above the second threshold. To protect the user from deploying the airbag 11 of the airbag system 10.

The activating step 110 includes activating the airbag system 10. This step 110 is preferably performed once the user begins to ride the bicycle. After the activation step 110, the triggering step 140 and the transmitting step 150 are preferably performed. This is advantageous in that it allows the server 15 to obtain information about the location at which to start riding the bicycle. The transmitting step 150, when activated in this manner, may also include transmitting 150 information corresponding to the location at which the riding of the bicycle was initiated.

The deactivating step 170 includes deactivating the airbag system 10. This step 170 is preferably performed when the user stops riding the bicycle. After the disabling step 170, the triggering step 140 and the transferring step 150 are preferably performed. This is advantageous in that it allows the server 15 to retrieve information about the location at which to terminate riding the bicycle. The transmitting step 150, when activated in this manner, may also include transmitting 150 information corresponding to a location at which to terminate riding the bicycle.

Information about the locations at which to start and end riding a bicycle can be used to recommend a safe route or to find common routes that may need improvement, such as an additional bicycle lane.

Fig. 4 shows a flow diagram of a method 200 for alerting the user of the wearable airbag system 10 as previously described. The method 200 comprises a number of steps 220 to 260. The steps may be performed in any order, some may be skipped and others may be repeated, and different steps may be performed by different units. These steps may be performed randomly, periodically, or a series of steps may be initiated by a user or automatically.

The ensuring step 220 includes ensuring that the airbag system 10 is active. Preferably before the metrology step 230. The effect of the ensuring step 220 is that there is no need to detect dangerous locations when the user is not riding the bicycle.

The checking step 230 includes checking the position of the airbag system 10. As previously described, this step 230 may be performed using a GPS of a communication unit 14.

The referencing step 240 comprises referencing a server 15, the server 15 comprising the location of the incident. This step 240 may be performed using an internet communication device of the communication unit 14. This communication unit 14 does not have to be the same as the communication unit 14 performing the checking step 230.

The server 15 may be configured to selectively allow access to only the most relevant places or the communication unit 14 may be configured to reference 240 only the most relevant places. The most relevant location may be determined, for example, by proximity to the airbag system 10, but may also be used to determine relevance if more information about the location is available. For example, if all accidents occur at a site during peak hours, the site may have an increased correlation during peak hours and a decreased correlation during off-peak hours. Similarly, if all accidents happen at a site after a sudden drop in temperature and stop after a rise in temperature, this may be the result of ice associated only in winter.

The alerting step 250 includes alerting the user. This may involve a loud noise or a bright light and may be performed, for example, by the airbag system 10 or the communication unit 14. This step 250 is preferably performed only when the airbag system 10 is located close to the location where the accident occurred. It may be determined that the location is approaching if the location is within a predetermined distance of the user or if the user requires a predetermined time to arrive there based on their speed. The user's speed and position may be measured using a plurality of sensors 13 included in an accident detection system 12 of the airbag system 10.

The braking step 260 includes braking a vehicle of the user. The vehicle is preferably a bicycle. The vehicle's braking system is operatively connected to the airbag system 10, the communication unit 14, or both. By connecting the braking system in this manner, the braking step 260 can brake the vehicle faster than the user can react, preventing an accident.

The method 100 for entering multiple locations through a wearable airbag system 10 while riding a bicycle, and the method 200 for alerting a user of a wearable airbag system 10, can be viewed as a data transmission method 100 and a corresponding data reception method 200 of the same system. In combination, a method of maintaining an accident prevention system is formed. Providing data to the server 15 referenced 230 by the method for alerting 200 according to the method for entering multiple locations 100. The same airbag system 10 may be configured to perform the steps of the two methods 100, 200 at different times or simultaneously.

While the embodiments discussed in this description focus primarily on riding bicycles, the teachings herein are also applicable to other vehicles, such as scooters, motorcycles, and automobiles; or a pedestrian wearing the airbag system 10. However, depending on the vehicle or the absence of a vehicle, different situations may be dangerous. Thus, the first and optionally second threshold may need to be adjusted, different sensors 13 may be more useful, and additional information may be more or less relevant.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Where advantages, benefits or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be understood that such advantages, benefits and/or solutions may apply to some example embodiments, but not necessarily to all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be construed as critical, required or essential to all embodiments or what is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.