SAFETY DEVICE IN A VEHICLE CONFIGURED FOR MONITORING THE CARDIAC HEALTH OF VEHICLE DRIVERS

(hereinafter referred to as the "Invention" or the "Safety Device").

Scope of this Invention

This Invention consists of a safety device created for the transport scope of application in general, but specifically designed to deal with the problem of road accidents caused by heart disease of hauliers. This Invention consists of a control unit capable of real-time communication with systems of detection of the heartbeat, of the oxygen saturation in the blood or in general of the cardiac health, as well as with the vehicle on which this Invention is installed. In case of emergency, this Safety Device intervenes on the vehicle so as to slow it down to the stopping point, to signal the state of danger and, at the same time, to alert rescue.

This Invention represents, then, the focal point of a safety system based on the interaction among a device for monitoring cardiac health (worn by the driver), this Invention itself (installed on the vehicle) and the vehicle on which this Invention Device is installed.

State of the art

The problem of accidents connected with the intervening of cardiac diseases in the vehicle drivers is, sadly, well known. In the majority of the cases, the loss of driving efficiency in the driver affected by such diseases leads to the loss of control of the driven vehicle, with even more serious consequences for the driver, but also with heavy consequences for third parties. Consequently, it is absolutely necessary to have and use a type of instrument capable of intervening on the vehicle when significant cardiac anomalies occur, as well as capable of simultaneously alerting the driver of the vehicle, the rescue Authorities and the nearby third parties.

Even though it is possible, nowadays, to find several cardiac health monitoring devices, it is not also possible, at present, to find any adaptable safety system similar to this Invention, capable of communicating in real time with a driver's cardiac health monitoring system and, in case of anomalies, intervening on the vehicle (of any type) on which it is installed, signaling the danger and calling for help.

Brief presentation of this Invention in its preferred layout

It is, then, purpose of this Invention to provide with a device designed and calibrated in order to react to the eventual detection of anomalies such as relative tachycardia and slow heartbeat as well as in any other cases in which the cardiac frequency appears abnormal so as not to guaranteeing the full physical driving efficiency, so as to:

- Alert the user;

- Simultaneously activate all position-indicators of the vehicle, other than activating an audible signal, in order to alert other vehicles of the close danger;

- Progressively and safely reduce the speed of the vehicle until the stopping point;

Forward a call for rescue to the health and road Authorities .

Furthermore, it is purpose of this Invention to provide with a device very cheap to produce, in order to favor its widespread diffusion. The low costs and simplicity of production allow, accordingly, undoubted and clear advantages both economically and in terms of environmental impact. These and other purposes are, then, reached through this Safety Device, consisting of a motherboard (Fig. 1), equipped with: a.Microprocessor unit (1), Memory unit slot (2) and Acoustic signal (3); b.LTE/GPS module (4, 5, 6); c.Bluetooth units (7, 8); d.Interface to the vehicle (9, 10, 11); e.Power supply system (12) and ON/OFF switch (13). a. In the prototype, the microcontroller (1) used on board the PCB is from Microchip, belongs to the "PIC32MZ" series and is programmed with the appropriate programmer to be inserted on the relevant strip. The board is equipped with a slot for a device for storing data, such as a "Micro SD" memory (2). There is also a buzzer (3), i.e. an acoustic signaling device, also controlled by the central chip. b. Interaction with the network, aimed to calling for rescue, takes place via network communication devices placed on board the hardware. Said devices use LTE connectivity by exploiting the cellular network, thus being able to interface using the classic tools of the mobile network (SMS, voice call). Interfacing may also take place through other tools, such as the TCP/IP and MQTT protocols, which allow communication with a remote server, or more generally with the internet. For complete operation, said LTE device (4), whose antennas are visible on the board in position 5, uses a Simcard, whose slot is visible on the board in position 6. Said LTE component can also establish communication with the GPS network. c. From the point of view of interaction with heart rate monitoring devices and/or oxygen saturation in the blood monitoring devices, the Safety System is suitable for interacting with external monitoring devices through various communication systems. The board is equipped with a Bluetooth device (7), but it is designed for hosting a second Bluetooth device, whose slot is in visible on the board in position 8. The modules that carry out the Bluetooth communication function, then, perform the same function in order to resolve any issues related to compatibility with external devices as well as to allow the possibility of connecting a second device to this Safety Device. d. This Invention processes the data received from the monitoring device with algorithms based on average data relating to the specific user and comparing these with statistical data of medical source. If the algorithm detects danger signals, it intervenes on the vehicle for the purposes described above. In particular, the hardware interacts with the body builder socket of the vehicle through seven outputs (9) and three inputs (10) compatible with 24 V logic. The inputs can receive a 0V - 24V signal, and the outputs, made by relay, provide a 0V - 24V logic signal. The inputs and outputs, present on the "J7" connector, whose slot is in position 11, are sent and received through a multi-purpose cable suitable for all needed types of connection. e. The power supply system of the motherboard (12) works with a voltage ranging from 12V to 24V for the correct operation of the relay outputs; the power supply is chosen based on the logic with which the device interfaces. There is also an ON/OFF switch (13) for turning on and off the device.

The software developed for this Invention belongs to the category of "firmware", a category of software specifically designed for microcontrollers and responsible for the entire management of the hardware. The software is organized in cooperative functional modules that deal with: a. Configuring the microcontroller based on the hardware peripherals that said microcontroller shall manage; b. Configuring the communication peripherals; g. Managing communication on data lines through dedicated drivers; d. Managing communication with the outside world (input/output) and implement the intervention logics towards the vehicle; e. Implementing the monitoring and intervention algorithm in case of alarm. a. The configuration software modules deal with the configuration of the registers internal to the microcontroller, regulate the clock frequency, set the working speed of the communication peripherals, set the operation of the microcontroller pins with respect to both inputs and outputs. b. The communication management software modules operate as peripheral drivers and take care of managing the entire communication process towards the peripherals, which typically takes place asynchronously with other activities. Correct data management takes place through the implementation of send/receive buffers. The communication module with the wearable device for heart rate measurement and/or detection of oxygen saturation in the blood also manages the communication protocols. The control unit manages the double Bluetooth and ANT+ standard in order to have wide flexibility in interfacing devices with different performance and characteristics. y. The control algorithm is implemented according to a finite state machine model. The intervention logic is conditioned by the monitored data, which are processed with algorithms originating from medical sources in relation to the average data of the specific user, in order to recognize potential situations of danger to the driver's health. Any false alarm situations are reduced as the data produced by the algorithm are compared with statistical data obtained from significant samples. d. In case the algorithm detects dangerous situations, the software is able to intervene on the vehicle and send reports to a remote station. The intervention logic on the vehicle is adaptable to the different vehicles on which the control unit can be installed, because it occurs through the actuation of individually programmable relays. e. The software manages remote communication through a specific telephonic module. Communication takes place via dedicated protocols and can be adapted to different alarm collection centers. The software is capable of sending SMS or establishing communications over the TCP/IP network.

Brief description of the Figures

This Invention shall now be described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, with particular reference to the drawings of the attached figures, in which:

- Fig. 1 shows a top view of this Invention in relation to a first possible constructional layout; here follows an enumerative list of the reported components:

1 - Microcontroller;

2 - SD Memory Slot;

3 - Buzzer;

4 - LTE/GPS Module: LTE/GPS device;

5 - LTE/GPS Module: LTE/GPS device antennas;

6 - LTE/GPS Module: Simcard slot;

7 - Communication with monitoring devices Module: "HC06"

Bluetooth unit;

8 - Communication with monitoring devices Module: "NRF24"

Bluetooth unit slot;

9 - Interface with the vehicle Module: seven outputs; 10 - Interface with the vehicle Module: three inputs;

11 - Interface with the vehicle Module: "J7" connector slot;

12 - Power supply system;

13 - ON/OFF switch.

- Fig. 2 shows a functioning scheme of this Invention in relation to a first possible construction layout, organized according to a logic having the Microcontroller (1) as its fulcrum. The bilateral arrows represent the communication between said Microcontroller (1) and the modules, as well as between the modules and the peripherals, according to the indicated guidelines:

Monitoring: through the Bluetooth module/s (7, 8), the

Microcontroller (1) receives the signal from the cardiac health monitoring peripheral/s;

Recording: the Microcontroller (1) communicates data to the SD Memory (2), that records such data;

Intervening: through the interface with the vehicle module (9, 10, 11), the Microcontroller (1) intervenes on the vehicle;

Signalling: through the Buzzer (3), the Microcontroller (1) emits an acoustic signal; furthermore, through the LTE/GPS module (4, 5, 6), the Microcontroller (1) contacts rescue.

Conclusions

As per the provided description, in conclusion, this Invention: represents a sensitive innovation of the state of the art, presenting itself as a solution to issues unresolved so far; represents a low cost and low environmental impact device; it is suitable for a potentially total diffusion, being produced at low cost and easily usable by any user and, at the same time, easily installable on all types of vehicle, both for the transport of goods and for the transport of passengers; represents a useful safety device for all users of the road network and other areas of possible application, since heart disease often results in tragic events that may involve not only the driver but also third parties.

This Invention may be modified by maintaining the inventive concept that underlies it, every detail being suitable for replacement with another technically equivalent.