JP6766585B2 - Observed person monitoring device and method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a monitored person monitoring device and a method for monitoring a monitored person.

In an aging society like Japan (Japan) in recent years, the number of nurses requiring nursing care due to illness, injury, or the elderly is expected to increase further in the future.

Such nurses requiring nursing care enter hospitals, welfare facilities for the elderly, and other facilities to receive nursing care and long-term care. At such facilities such as hospitals and welfare facilities for the elderly, those who provide nursing care such as nurses (hereinafter referred to as nurses) regularly patrol to confirm their safety.

However, compared to the day shift hours, the number of nurses and the like decreases and the work load per person increases during the semi-night shift and night shift hours, so that the work load is required to be reduced. For this reason, in recent years, a monitored person monitoring device that monitors (monitors) a person requiring nursing as a monitored person has been researched and developed.

For example, in the device described in Patent Document 1, the movement of the monitored person in the room is analyzed by a Doppler sensor using radio frequency (RF), the respiratory rate and the body movement are acquired, and the safety of the monitored person is monitored. are doing. Patent Document 1 discloses an example in which the Doppler sensor is arranged in a hospital room, an example in which the Doppler sensor is arranged in a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, a toilet, or the like.

On the other hand, in terms of safety confirmation, a solitary person living alone is the same as the person requiring long-term care and is a person to be monitored.

Japanese Patent No. 5682504

In general, since breathing has a small amplitude, the Doppler sensor is used in a state where the directivity is narrowed (that is, the detection range is narrowed) and the sensitivity is increased. Therefore, when the Doppler sensor is placed in a hospital room or bedroom, the detection range is limited to a narrow range including bedding in order for the monitored person to acquire the respiratory rate and body movement during sleep. Therefore, the device described in Patent Document 1 does not consider detecting a person to be monitored away from the bedding. As a result, the Doppler sensor is not effectively utilized depending on the position of the monitored person, such as the state where the monitored person is away from the bedding.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a monitored person monitoring device and a method capable of effectively utilizing the Doppler sensor unit according to the position of the monitored person. It is to be.

One aspect of the present invention is
It is a monitored person monitoring device that monitors the monitored person.
A Doppler sensor unit that outputs a Doppler signal of a Doppler frequency component based on the emitted transmitted wave and the reflected wave of the transmitted wave and acquires a monitoring signal for monitoring the monitored person.
An imaging unit installed in the room of the monitored person, which images a predetermined area including the monitored person and outputs an imaging signal.
A range changing part that changes the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave,
Based on the Doppler signal, the first determination unit that determines the position of the monitored person and
A second determination unit that determines the position of the monitored person based on the imaging signal, and
The range changing unit is controlled to emit the transmitted wave according to the position of the monitored person determined by the first determination unit or the position of the monitored person determined by the second determination unit. A range control unit that changes the size of the range,
With
The range control unit initially sets the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave to the first range including the bedding arranged in the room, and determines that the monitored person is located on the bedding. When the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range and it is determined that the monitored person is not located on the bedding, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range. Change to a second range that is larger than the range ,
When the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range, the first determination unit determines the presence or absence of the first body movement including the respiration of the monitored person using a predetermined threshold value. Then, when the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the second range, a second body movement larger than the first body movement including the fall of the monitored person is used using a threshold value different from the predetermined threshold value. It determines the presence or absence of body movement .

In this embodiment, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave radiated from the Doppler sensor unit is determined according to the position of the monitored person determined based on the Doppler signal or the position of the monitored person determined based on the imaging signal. Be changed. Therefore, according to this aspect, the Doppler sensor unit can be effectively utilized according to the position of the monitored person. Further, the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is initially set to the first range including the bedding. Then, when it is determined that the monitored person is located on the bedding, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range. Since the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to a narrow range of the first range including the bedding, the sensitivity of the reflected wave in the Doppler sensor unit increases. Therefore, the Doppler sensor unit can acquire the biological signal of the monitored person as a monitoring signal for monitoring the monitored person. Further, when it is determined that the monitored person is not located on the bedding, the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is changed to the second range larger than the first range. Since the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is expanded from the first range to the second range, the sensitivity of the reflected wave in the Doppler sensor unit is lower than that in the case of the first range. Therefore, it becomes difficult to acquire the biological signal of the monitored person. However, even if the monitored person is separated from the bedding, if the monitored person is located within the second range, it is possible to determine the position and operation of the monitored person based on the Doppler signal. Therefore, the Doppler sensor unit can be effectively used. In addition, if it is determined that the monitored person is not located on the bedding, the reflected wave from the monitored person may be obtained even if the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is maintained in the first range including the bedding. Will be low. However, if the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is expanded to a second range larger than the first range, the possibility that the reflected wave from the monitored person can be obtained increases. Therefore, the Doppler sensor unit can be effectively used.

In the above aspect, the second range may include the first range. Further, in the above aspect, the second range does not include the first range and may be a range different from the first range.

In the above embodiment, for example, the range changing unit focuses the radio wave lens element that focuses the transmitted wave radiated from the Doppler sensor unit and the radio wave lens element or the Doppler sensor unit so that the transmitted wave can be focused. It may include a drive unit that moves the position and the retracted position where the transmitted wave cannot be focused.

In this embodiment, the transmitted wave radiated from the Doppler sensor unit is focused by the radio wave lens element. The radio wave lens element or the Doppler sensor unit is moved by the drive unit between a focusing position where the transmitted wave can be focused and a retracted position where the transmitted wave cannot be focused. Therefore, according to this aspect, the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave can be changed by the configuration including the radio wave lens element and the driving unit.

Another aspect of the present invention is
It is a monitored person monitoring method in a monitored person monitoring device that monitors a monitored person to be monitored.
The monitored person monitoring device is
A Doppler sensor unit that outputs a Doppler signal of a Doppler frequency component based on the emitted transmitted wave and the reflected wave of the transmitted wave and acquires a monitoring signal for monitoring the monitored person.
An imaging unit installed in the room of the monitored person, which images a predetermined area including the monitored person and outputs an imaging signal.
A range changing part that changes the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave,
With
The monitored person monitoring method is
The first determination step of determining the position of the monitored person based on the Doppler signal, and
A second determination step of determining the position of the monitored person based on the imaging signal, and
The range changing unit is controlled to emit the transmitted wave according to the position of the monitored person determined by the first determination step or the position of the monitored person determined by the second determination unit. The range control process that changes the size of the range and
With
In the range control step, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is initially set to the first range including the bedding arranged in the room, and when it is determined that the monitored person is located on the bedding, it is determined. When the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range and it is determined that the monitored person is not located on the bedding, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range. Change to a second range that is larger than the range ,
In the first determination step, when the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range, the presence or absence of the first body movement including the respiration of the monitored person is determined using a predetermined threshold value. Then, when the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the second range, a second body movement larger than the first body movement including the fall of the monitored person is used using a threshold value different from the predetermined threshold value. It determines the presence or absence of body movement .

In this embodiment, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave radiated from the Doppler sensor unit is determined according to the position of the monitored person determined based on the Doppler signal or the position of the monitored person determined based on the imaging signal. Be changed. Therefore, according to this aspect, the Doppler sensor unit can be effectively utilized according to the position of the monitored person. Further, the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is initially set to the first range including the bedding. Then, when it is determined that the monitored person is located on the bedding, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range. Since the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to a narrow range of the first range including the bedding, the sensitivity of the reflected wave in the Doppler sensor unit increases. Therefore, the Doppler sensor unit can acquire the biological signal of the monitored person as a monitoring signal for monitoring the monitored person. Further, when it is determined that the monitored person is not located on the bedding, the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is changed to the second range larger than the first range. Since the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is expanded from the first range to the second range, the sensitivity of the reflected wave in the Doppler sensor unit is lower than that in the case of the first range. Therefore, it becomes difficult to acquire the biological signal of the monitored person. However, even if the monitored person is separated from the bedding, if the monitored person is located within the second range, it is possible to determine the position and operation of the monitored person based on the Doppler signal. Therefore, the Doppler sensor unit can be effectively used. In addition, if it is determined that the monitored person is not located on the bedding, the reflected wave from the monitored person may be obtained even if the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is maintained in the first range including the bedding. Will be low. However, if the size of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is expanded to a second range larger than the first range, the possibility that the reflected wave from the monitored person can be obtained increases. Therefore, the Doppler sensor unit can be effectively used.

According to the present invention, the Doppler sensor unit can be effectively utilized according to the position of the monitored person.

It is a figure which shows schematic the whole structure of the monitored person monitoring apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic the detection range of the Doppler sensor part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of each part of the monitored person monitoring apparatus schematicly. It is a figure which shows schematicly the Doppler sensor part, the radome, and the motor. It is a figure which shows schematicly the Doppler sensor part, the radome, and the motor. It is a figure which shows schematic the detection range different from FIG. 2 of a Doppler sensor part. It is a figure which shows roughly the determination information stored in the memory in advance. It is a flowchart which shows typically an example of the operation of the monitored person monitoring apparatus of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows typically the example different from FIG. 8 of the operation of the monitored person monitoring apparatus.

(Background to the invention of one aspect of the present disclosure)
First, one aspect of the viewpoint of the present disclosure will be described. As described above, it is desired to detect the movement of the monitored person in a place away from the bedding in the hospital room or the bedroom. However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose the use of a camera to detect the movement of a monitored person in a place other than the bedding. Therefore, it is conceivable to monitor the monitored person by using both the Doppler sensor and the camera. In this case, the Doppler sensor and camera will be installed, for example, on the ceiling of the hospital room or bedroom to monitor the entire room.

The camera can detect events or abnormalities such as getting up of the monitored person, getting out of the bedding, falling while walking in a place other than the bedding, and falling from the bed, with the entire room as the imaging range. On the other hand, the Doppler sensor can detect information such as respiration with a small amplitude by narrowing the detection range to the bedding as described above.

However, when the camera is installed almost in the center of the ceiling and the monitored person is monitored away from the bedding placed in the corner of the room, if the monitored person is located in the immediate vicinity of the camera, the monitored person's body will be affected. It will be hidden in your head. For this reason, if the person being monitored falls down from the knee, for example, in the immediate vicinity of the camera, the fall must be determined only from the change in the size of the head. As a result, even if the monitored person falls, it cannot be determined that the person has fallen and an alarm cannot be output, or even if the person being monitored has not fallen, it is determined that the person has fallen and an alarm is erroneously output. There is a high possibility of misjudgment.

Further, since the Doppler sensor is directed to the bedding, the information of the monitored person cannot be acquired when the monitored person leaves the bedding. For this reason, the Doppler sensor cannot be utilized while the monitored person is away from the bedding.

Therefore, the present inventor may be able to detect the monitored person outside the bedding by expanding the directivity (detection range) of the Doppler sensor when it is determined that the monitored person is away from the bedding. I wondered if there was one. By doing so, it becomes possible to effectively utilize the Doppler sensor, which has not been utilized while the monitored person is away from the bedding. In addition, it is possible to reduce erroneous determination by using the data output from the Doppler sensor for abnormalities such as a fall of the monitored person, which is likely to be erroneously determined by the camera alone.

(Embodiment)
Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the configurations with the same reference numerals in the respective drawings indicate the same configurations, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a monitored person monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a detection range of the Doppler sensor unit. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of each part of the monitored person monitoring device. 4 and 5 are diagrams schematically showing a Doppler sensor unit, a radome, and a motor. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a detection range different from that of FIG. 2 of the Doppler sensor unit.

The monitored person monitoring device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a sensor box 10 and a server device 20. The sensor box 10 includes, for example, a Doppler sensor unit 40, a control unit 50, a camera 60, a radome 70, and a motor 80, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor box 10 is installed on a substantially central surface of the ceiling 4a of the room 4 in which the bedding 3 (bed in the present embodiment) used by the monitored person 2 is arranged.

The monitored person monitoring device 1 is arranged at an appropriate place according to the monitored person 2. The monitored person 2 is, for example, a person who needs nursing care due to illness or injury, a person who needs nursing care due to deterioration of physical ability, a person living alone, or the like. In particular, from the viewpoint of enabling early detection and early response, the monitored person 2 is a person who needs the detection when a predetermined inconvenient event such as an abnormal state occurs in the person. Is preferable. Therefore, the monitored person monitoring device 1 is preferably arranged in buildings such as hospitals, welfare facilities for the elderly, and dwelling units, depending on the type of the monitored person 2.

The Doppler sensor unit 40 is a sensor device that transmits a transmitted wave, receives a reflected wave of the transmitted wave reflected by an object, and outputs a Doppler signal of a Doppler frequency component based on the transmitted wave and the reflected wave. .. When the object is moving, the frequency of the reflected wave shifts in proportion to the moving speed of the object due to the so-called Doppler effect, so that there is a difference (Doppler frequency component) between the frequency of the transmitted wave and the frequency of the reflected wave. Occurs. The Doppler sensor unit 40 generates and outputs a signal of this Doppler frequency component as a Doppler signal.

The transmitted wave may be an ultrasonic wave, a microwave, or the like, but in the present embodiment, it is a microwave of 2.4 GHz to 24 GHz. Since microwaves can pass through clothes and be reflected on the body surface of the living body, the movement of the body surface can be detected even when the living body is wearing clothes, which is preferable. The Doppler signal of the Doppler frequency component is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 to the control unit 50.

More specifically, such a Doppler sensor unit 40 includes a transmission unit 41, a transmission antenna 42, a reception antenna 43, a reception unit 44, and an analog-to-digital conversion unit (AD), as shown in FIG. 3, for example. A conversion unit) 45 is provided.

The transmission unit 41 is a circuit that generates a transmission wave of an electric signal corresponding to a microwave, and is configured to include, for example, a microwave oscillation circuit including a Gunn diode, an amplifier circuit, or the like. The transmitting antenna 42 is an antenna that is connected to the transmitting unit 41, converts the transmitted wave of the electric signal generated by the transmitting unit 41 into the transmitted wave of the microwave, and radiates the transmitted wave of the microwave. The transmitting antenna 42 is omnidirectional and emits a transmitted wave of microwaves. The receiving antenna 43 is an antenna that acquires microwaves (reflected waves) reflected by the monitored person 2 and converts the microwaves into electric signals.

The receiving unit 44 is a circuit that is connected to the receiving antenna 43 and generates a Doppler signal of a Doppler frequency component by signal processing from the electric signal output from the receiving antenna 43 and the transmitted wave of the electric signal.

The receiving unit 44 may be a circuit that generates a 1-channel Doppler signal, but in the present embodiment, for more accurate detection, for example, an orthogonal phase detector or the like is provided, and the I channel and the Q channel are provided. This is a circuit that generates a 2-channel Doppler signal (I channel data I (t) and Q channel data Q (t)). In the two-channel receiver 44, the Doppler signal Dp (t) of the Doppler frequency component becomes a complex signal of I (t) + i × Q (t) (Dp (t) = I (t) + i × Q ( t) and i are imaginary units, and i ² = -1).

The AD conversion unit 45 is a circuit that is connected to the reception unit 44 and converts an analog Doppler signal into a digital Doppler signal by sampling at a predetermined sampling interval and digitizing the signal. The AD conversion unit 45 is connected to the control unit 50 and outputs the AD-converted digital Doppler signals (I channel data I (t) and Q channel data Q (t)) to the control unit 50. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the AD conversion unit 45 is provided in the Doppler sensor unit 40, but may be provided in the control unit 50 instead.

As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 60 (corresponding to an example of the imaging unit) is arranged side by side with the Doppler sensor unit 40 on the surface of the ceiling 4a of the room 4 (FIG. 2). The camera 60 is configured so that the imaging range of the camera 60 covers the entire room 4 (FIG. 2). The camera 60 captures an image of, for example, an imaging range (that is, the entire room 4) at predetermined time (for example, 1/60 second). The camera 60 outputs the captured imaging signal to the control unit 50 at predetermined time (for example, 1/60 second).

The radome 70 (corresponding to an example of the range changing unit) is a radio wave lens element that enhances the directivity of the microwave emitted by the Doppler sensor unit 40. The radome 70 is arranged below the Doppler sensor unit 40, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. As described above, the transmitting antenna 42 of the Doppler sensor unit 40 radiates the transmitted wave of the microwave in an omnidirectional manner. When the transmitting antenna 42 arranged on the ceiling 4a of the room 4 radiates the transmitted wave of the microwave in an omnidirectional manner, the receiving antenna 43 receives all the reflected waves reflected in the room 4. .. In that case, the breathing movement with relatively small movement is likely to be buried in noise. Therefore, in order to improve the SN ratio, the detection range of the received wave is narrowed by increasing the directivity of the transmitted wave radiated from the transmitting antenna 42 by using the radome 70.

As shown in FIG. 4, the radome 70 includes a reflective frame body 70a and a lens portion 70b. The reflection frame body 70a is formed in a substantially tubular shape and is arranged immediately below the Doppler sensor unit 40. Openings are provided on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the reflection frame body 70a. A protrusion 70c is provided so as to surround the Doppler sensor portion 40 around the opening on the upper surface side of the reflection frame body 70a. By the protrusion 70c, almost all of the omnidirectional transmitted wave radiated from the transmitting antenna 42 of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is guided to the inside of the reflection frame 70a. A metal foil or the like is attached to the inner circumference of the reflective frame body 70a to form a reflective surface that efficiently reflects microwaves. A bearing portion 70d is projected from the reflective frame body 70a in the lateral direction (left side in FIG. 4).

The lens portion 70b is arranged so as to cover the opening on the lower surface side of the reflective frame body 70a. The lens unit 70b focuses the microwaves radiated from the Doppler sensor unit 40 and reflected by the reflecting surface on the inner circumference of the reflecting frame 70a. The lens portion 70b is formed of, for example, a dielectric material having a property of focusing microwaves, and is formed in a shape like a convex lens having a circular curved surface that becomes convex downward.

In the radome 70, the transmitted wave radiated from the transmitting antenna 42 is focused by the lens unit 70b and transmitted toward the room 4, and the reflected wave reflected by, for example, the monitored person 2 in the room 4 is a lens. It is configured to be received by the receiving antenna 43 via the unit 70b.

The motor 80 (corresponding to an example of the drive unit and the example of the range changing unit) is fixed to the inside of the sensor box 10 immediately beside the radome 70 (left side in FIG. 4). A stepping motor may be used as the motor 80. The rotating shaft 80a of the motor 80 is inserted and fixed in a through hole formed in the bearing portion 70d of the radome 70. The motor 80 rotatably supports the radome 70 via the rotation shaft 80a.

At the initial position of the motor 80, the radome 70 is arranged immediately below the Doppler sensor unit 40, as shown in FIG. In this state, the transmitted wave radiated from the transmitting antenna 42 is radiated toward the bedding 3 via the radome 70, as shown in FIG. 2, and is transmitted in the detection range 46 (corresponding to an example of the first range). The wave radiation range (corresponding to an example) is limited to a narrow range including the bedding 3. Further, the reflected wave reflected by the monitored person 2 on the bedding 3 is received by the receiving antenna 43 via the radome 70.

When the motor 80 is driven and the rotation shaft 80a rotates from the initial position, the radome 70 retracts from below the Doppler sensor unit 40, as shown in FIG. In this state, the transmitted wave radiated from the transmitting antenna 42 is radiated toward the entire room 4 as shown in FIG. 6, and the detection range 47 (corresponding to an example of the second range, the radiation range of the transmitted wave). (Corresponding to one example) is the entire room 4, which is wider than the detection range 46 (FIG. 2). In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the reflected wave reflected from the entire room 4 including the monitored person 2 away from the bedding 3 is received by the receiving antenna 43.

In FIG. 3, the control unit 50 is connected to the Doppler sensor unit 40, the camera 60, and the motor 80. The control unit 50 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a memory 51 for storing programs, data, and the like, peripheral circuits, and the like. The memory 51 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory.

By executing the program stored in the memory 51, the CPU of the control unit 50 functions as a biological signal processing unit 52, a drive control unit 53, and a communication unit 54, as shown in FIG.

The biological signal processing unit 52 is connected to the AD conversion unit 45 of the Doppler sensor unit 40, signals the Doppler signal in time and space input from the Doppler sensor unit 40, and calculates the respiratory rate of the monitored person 2. The biological signal processing unit 52 outputs the calculated respiratory rate to the communication unit 54. Further, the biological signal processing unit 52 outputs the time-space Doppler signal input from the Doppler sensor unit 40 to the communication unit 54.

The drive control unit 53 (corresponding to an example of the range change unit) controls the drive of the motor 80 based on the control signal transmitted from the server device 20 via the communication unit 54. Alternatively, the drive control unit 53 may control the drive of the motor 80 by itself instead of the control signal transmitted from the server device 20.

The communication unit 54 is a communication interface that connects to a LAN, a telephone network, a data communication network, or the like by wire or wirelessly, and transmits / receives a communication signal to / from the server device 20 via the network (network) according to a predetermined communication protocol. To do. The communication unit 54 transmits the respiratory rate of the monitored person 2 input from the biological signal processing unit 52 and the time-space Doppler signal input from the Doppler sensor unit 40 to the server device 20. The communication unit 54 transmits the image pickup signal input from the camera 60 to the server device 20. The communication unit 54 outputs the control signal of the motor 80 transmitted from the server device 20 to the drive control unit 53.

The server device 20 is, for example, a computer, and includes a control unit 21, a memory 22 for storing programs, data, and the like, a peripheral circuit, and a display unit 23. The memory 22 is composed of a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, and the like. The peripheral circuit includes an input unit 24 and a communication unit 25.

The display unit 23 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display panel. Alternatively, the display unit 23 may include an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel. The input unit 24 may include a keyboard and a mouse. When the display unit 23 is a touch panel type, the input unit 24 may be the touch panel of the display unit 23.

The communication unit 25 is a communication interface that connects to a LAN, a telephone network, a data communication network, or the like by wire or wirelessly, and is connected to the control unit 50 of the sensor box 10 via a network (network) according to a predetermined communication protocol. Sends and receives communication signals with. The communication unit 25 receives from the control unit 50 the respiratory rate of the monitored person 2, the body movement level of the monitored person 2, and the time-space Doppler signal input from the Doppler sensor unit 40.

The control unit 21 includes, for example, a CPU. By executing the program stored in the memory 22, the CPU of the control unit 21 functions as the first determination unit 61, the second determination unit 62, and the range control unit 63.

The first determination unit 61 calculates the magnitude (body movement level) of the body movement of the monitored person 2 from the time space Doppler signal input from the Doppler sensor unit 40 via the communication unit 25. The body movement is, for example, turning over when the monitored person 2 is sleeping on the bedding 3, and walking or falling when the monitored person 2 is away from the bedding 3. The first determination unit 61 determines the position of the monitored person 2 from the calculated body movement level. The position determination method of the first determination unit 61 will be described in detail later.

The second determination unit 62 determines the position of the head of the monitored person 2 in the imaging range (that is, the entire room 4) based on the imaging signal output from the camera 60, for example, by template matching. The second determination unit 62 determines from the position of the determined head of the monitored person 2 whether the monitored person 2 is lying on the bedding 3 or away from the bedding 3. Further, when the second determination unit 62 determines that the monitored person 2 is away from the bedding 3, the second determination unit 62 determines whether or not the monitored person 2 has fallen from the movement of the head of the monitored person 2.

The range control unit 63 radomes based on at least one of the determination result of the position of the monitored person 2 by the first determination unit 61 and the determination result of the position of the monitored person 2 by the second determination unit 62. A control signal for driving the motor 80 to change the position of the 70 is output to the drive control unit 53 via the communication units 25 and 54.

Further, by executing the program stored in the memory 22, the control unit 21 determines the respiratory rate of the monitored person 2, the determination result of the presence or absence of body movement of the monitored person 2, and the fall of the monitored person 2. The presence / absence determination results are stored in the memory 22 in association with the date and time when they were acquired.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing determination information 700 stored in advance in the memory 22. The position determination method of the first determination unit 61 will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the detection range 46 of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is limited to a narrow range including the bedding 3, the first determination unit 61 has a slight amount of the monitored person 2 such as breathing. Determine the presence or absence of body movement. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the detection range 47 of the Doppler sensor unit 40 extends over the entire room 4, the first determination unit 61 is large for the monitored person 2 such as walking or falling. Determine the presence or absence of body movement. Therefore, the threshold value when the first determination unit 61 determines is different between the two.

The range control unit 63 notifies the first determination unit 61 of information regarding the control signal for driving the motor 80. Specifically, in the range control unit 63, the motor 80 is in the initial position (that is, the radome 70 is located below the doppler sensor unit 40, and the detection range 46 of the doppler sensor unit 40 is limited to a narrow range including the bedding 3. The motor 80 is driven from the initial position (that is, the radome 70 is retracted from below the Doppler sensor unit 40, and the detection range 47 of the Doppler sensor unit 40 extends to the entire room 4. ), The information of is notified to the first determination unit 61.

When the detection range 47 of the Doppler sensor unit 40 extends over the entire room 4, the first determination unit 61 refers to the determination information 700 and uses the threshold values TH1 and TH2 (TH1 <TH2) to be monitored. Determine the position of person 2.

Specifically, the first determination unit 61 determines that the body movement of the monitored person 2 is not detected if the data Dd of the Doppler signal is Dd <TH1. Therefore, the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is either absent from the room 4 or is in an abnormal state in which the person is not moving in the room 4.

If the data Dd of the Doppler signal is TH1 ≦ Dd <TH2, the first determination unit 61 determines that the data of normal body movements such as walking of the monitored person 2 has been output. Therefore, the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is in the room 4 away from the bedding 3 and is in a normal state.

If the data Dd of the Doppler signal is TH2 ≦ Dd, the first determination unit 61 determines that abnormally large body movement data such as a fall of the monitored person 2 has been output. Therefore, the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is in the room 4 and is in an abnormal state.

On the other hand, when the detection range 46 of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is limited to a narrow range including the bedding 3, the first determination unit 61 refers to the determination information 700 and uses the threshold value TH3 to monitor the person 2. Determine the position of.

Specifically, if the Doppler signal data Dd is Dd <TH3, the first determination unit 61 determines that the data of slight body movements such as turning over of the monitored person 2 is not output. Therefore, the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is either absent from the bedding 3 or is in an abnormal state of not moving on the bedding 3.

If the data Dd of the Doppler signal is TH3 ≦ Dd, the first determination unit 61 determines that the data of slight body movements such as turning over of the monitored person 2 has been output. Therefore, the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is in a normal state on the bedding 3.

The threshold values TH1, TH2, and TH3 may be experimentally obtained in advance using the Doppler sensor unit 40 and stored in the memory 22. For example, for each room size, the Doppler signal output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 is simulated in advance to obtain the threshold values TH1, TH2, and TH3, and the threshold values TH1, TH2, and TH3 are obtained according to the size of the room in which the Doppler sensor unit 40 is installed. , The threshold values TH1, TH2, TH3 to be used may be determined and stored in the memory 22.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the operation of the monitored person monitoring device 1 of the present embodiment. The operation of FIG. 8 is executed at regular time intervals (for example, 50 msec).

In step S800, the second determination unit 62 determines whether or not the monitored person 2 is lying on the bedding 3 based on the image pickup signal output from the camera 60. If it is determined that the monitored person 2 is lying on the bedding 3 (YES in step S800), the process proceeds to step S801. On the other hand, if it is determined that the monitored person 2 is not lying on the bedding 3 (NO in step S800), the process proceeds to step S805.

In step S801, the range control unit 63 determines whether or not the current detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is a narrow range including the bedding 3 (that is, whether or not the radome 70 is located below the Doppler sensor unit 40). To judge. If the detection range of the current Doppler sensor unit 40 is the entire room 4 (NO in step S801), the process proceeds to step S802. If the detection range of the current Doppler sensor unit 40 is a narrow range including the bedding 3 (YES in step S801), the process proceeds to step S803.

In step S802, the range control unit 63 transmits a control signal for returning the motor 80 to the initial position to the control unit 50 via the communication unit 25. In response to this control signal, the drive control unit 53 drives the motor 80 and positions the radome 70 below the Doppler sensor unit 40. After that, the process proceeds to step S803.

In step S803, the first determination unit 61 determines whether or not a slight body movement data is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 using the threshold value TH3. When it is determined that the data of slight body movement is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (YES in step S803), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is normal, and the process of FIG. 8 ends. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined that the data of the slight body movement is not output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (NO in step S803), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 may be abnormal. Then, the process proceeds to step S804.

In step S805, the range control unit 63 determines whether or not the current detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is the entire room 4 (that is, whether or not the radome 70 is retracted from below the Doppler sensor unit 40). To do. If the detection range of the current Doppler sensor unit 40 is a narrow range including the bedding 3 (NO in step S805), the process proceeds to step S806. If the detection range of the current Doppler sensor unit 40 is the entire room 4 (YES in step S805), the process proceeds to step S807.

In step S806, the range control unit 63 transmits a control signal for rotating the motor 80 from the initial position to the control unit 50 via the communication unit 25. In response to this control signal, the drive control unit 53 drives the motor 80 and retracts the radome 70 from below the Doppler sensor unit 40. After that, the process proceeds to step S807.

In step S807, the first determination unit 61 determines whether or not the data of normal body movement such as walking is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 by using the threshold values TH1 and TH2. When it is determined that the normal body movement data is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (YES in step S807), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is normal, and the process of FIG. 8 ends. To do. On the other hand, when it is determined that the data of abnormal body movement such as a fall is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (NO in step S807), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 may be abnormal. Then, the process proceeds to step S804.

In step S804, the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 may be abnormal, and therefore performs an abnormality process such as displaying an alarm message on the display unit 23. After that, the process of FIG. 8 ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when it is determined that the monitored person 2 is not lying on the bedding 3 based on the image pickup signal output from the camera 60, the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is the room 4. It is said to be the whole of. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the Doppler sensor unit 40 can be effectively utilized when the monitored person 2 is not lying on the bedding 3.

Further, according to the present embodiment, by using the Doppler sensor unit 40 in addition to the camera 60, it is possible to accurately detect an abnormality such as a fall of the monitored person 2.

Further, in the present embodiment, when it is determined that the monitored person 2 is lying on the bedding 3 based on the image pickup signal output from the camera 60, the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is narrowed to a narrow range including the bedding 3. Will be done. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to detect a slight body movement of the monitored person 2 lying on the bedding 3.

(Transformed embodiment)
(1) In the above embodiment, the radome 70 is moved between the position below the doppler sensor unit 40 and the position retracted from the doppler sensor unit 40 by driving the motor 80 to rotate the radome 70. ing. However, the method of moving the radome 70 is not limited to this. For example, the radome 70 may be placed on the rail, and the radome 70 may be moved in a plane between a position below the doppler sensor unit 40 and a position retracted from the doppler sensor unit 40.

(2) In the above embodiment, the radome 70 is moved between the position below the Doppler sensor unit 40 and the position retracted from the Doppler sensor unit 40. That is, there are two types of detection ranges of the Doppler sensor unit 40: a detection range 46 on the bedding 3 (FIG. 2) and an overall detection range 47 (FIG. 6) of the room 4. Instead of this, for example, the detection range may be changed to three or more types. For example, a plurality of radomes having different focusing ranges of transmitted waves may be provided, and each radome may be moved between a position below the Doppler sensor unit 40 and a position retracted from the Doppler sensor unit 40.

For example, in FIG. 5, on the right side of the Doppler sensor unit 40, the focusing range of the transmitted wave, which is rotatably supported by the rotation axis of the motor like the radome 70, is wider than that of the radome 70 and narrower than that of the entire room 4. The radome of 2 may be provided. When both the second radome and the radome 70 are retracted from below the Doppler sensor unit 40, the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 can be set to the entire room 4. On the other hand, when the second radome is positioned below the Doppler sensor unit 40, the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 can be wider than that of the bedding 3 and narrower than that of the entire room 4. According to this configuration, the sensitivity of the received wave of the Doppler sensor unit 40 can be set to an intermediate sensitivity between the case where the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is a narrow range including the bedding 3 and the case of the entire room 4. ..

Alternatively, in the above embodiment, the lens unit 70b of the radome 70 is composed of a plurality of lens groups, and the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is changed steplessly by changing the inter-lens distance in the lens group. May be good.

(3) In the above embodiment, the radome 70 is moved between the position below the Doppler sensor unit 40 and the position retracted from the Doppler sensor unit 40. Alternatively, the radome 70 may be fixed and the Doppler sensor unit 40 may be moved between a position above the radome 70 and a position retracted from the position above the radome 70. Even with this configuration, the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 can be changed between a narrow range including the bedding 3 and the entire room 4.

(4) In FIG. 8 of the above embodiment, first, the second determination unit 62 determines whether or not the monitored person 2 is lying on the bedding 3 based on the image pickup signal output from the camera 60. (Step S800). That is, in FIG. 8 of the above embodiment, the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is changed by using the image pickup information of the camera 60, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 may be changed by using only the Doppler signal of the Doppler sensor unit 40.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart schematically showing an example different from FIG. 8 in the operation of the monitored person monitoring device 1. The operation of FIG. 9 is executed at regular time intervals (for example, 50 msec).

In step S900, the range control unit 63 determines whether or not the current detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is a narrow range including the bedding 3 (that is, whether or not the radome 70 is located below the Doppler sensor unit 40). To judge. If the detection range of the current Doppler sensor unit 40 is the entire room 4 (NO in step S900), the process proceeds to step S905. If the detection range of the current Doppler sensor unit 40 is a narrow range including the bedding 3 (YES in step S900), the process proceeds to step S901.

In step S901, the first determination unit 61 determines whether or not a slight body movement data is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 using the threshold value TH3. When it is determined that the data of slight body movement is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (YES in step S901), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is normal, and the process of FIG. 9 ends. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined that the data of slight body movement is not output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (NO in step S901), the process proceeds to step S902.

In step S902, the range control unit 63 transmits a control signal for rotating the motor 80 from the initial position to the control unit 50 via the communication unit 25. In response to this control signal, the drive control unit 53 drives the motor 80 and retracts the radome 70 from below the Doppler sensor unit 40. After that, the process proceeds to step S903.

In step S903, the first determination unit 61 determines whether or not the data of normal body movement such as walking is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 by using the threshold values TH1 and TH2. When it is determined that the normal body movement data is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (YES in step S903), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is normal, and the process of FIG. 9 ends. To do. On the other hand, when it is determined that the data of abnormal body movement such as a fall is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (NO in step S903), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 may be abnormal. Then, the process proceeds to step S904.

In step S905, the first determination unit 61 determines whether or not the data of normal body movement such as walking is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 by using the threshold values TH1 and TH2. When it is determined that the normal body movement data is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (YES in step S905), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is normal, and the process of FIG. 9 ends. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined that the body movement data is not output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (NO in step S905), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 may be in the bedding 3. , The process proceeds to step S906.

In step S906, the range control unit 63 transmits a control signal for returning the motor 80 to the initial position to the control unit 50 via the communication unit 25. In response to this control signal, the drive control unit 53 drives the motor 80 and positions the radome 70 below the Doppler sensor unit 40. After that, the process proceeds to step S907.

In step S907, the first determination unit 61 determines whether or not a slight body movement data is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 using the threshold value TH3. When it is determined that the data of slight body movement is output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (YES in step S907), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 is normal, and the process of FIG. 9 ends. To do. On the other hand, if it is determined that the data of slight body movement is not output from the Doppler sensor unit 40 (NO in step S907), the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 may be abnormal. Then, the process proceeds to step S904.

In step S904, the first determination unit 61 determines that the monitored person 2 may be abnormal, and therefore performs an abnormality process such as displaying an alarm message on the display unit 23. After that, the process of FIG. 9 ends.

For example, due to the influence of disturbance such as the movement of the curtain installed in the room 4, the camera 60 may not be able to determine whether the monitored person 2 is leaving or entering the floor. Even in this case, according to the operation of FIG. 9, if the Doppler sensor unit 40 does not output the slight body movement of the monitored person 2 in the bedding 3, the detection range is expanded to the entire room 4. As a result, the Doppler sensor unit 40 can acquire a large body movement of the monitored person 2. Then, if the Doppler signal representing the normal large body movement of the monitored person 2 can be acquired, it becomes possible to correct the judgment based on the image pickup information of the camera 60 and accurately judge the situation of the monitored person 2.

Further, although it is determined in the image pickup information of the camera 60 that the monitored person 2 is in the bedding 3, the Doppler sensor unit 40 may not detect a slight body movement of the monitored person 2. possible. In this case, the detection range of the Doppler sensor unit 40 is expanded to the entire room 4, so that the normal large body movement of the monitored person 2 can be acquired. Even in that case, if the Doppler signal indicating the normal large body movement of the monitored person 2 cannot be acquired, there is a high possibility that a significant problem has occurred in the health condition of the monitored person 2, so an alarm is given. It becomes possible to judge that it is a situation that should be issued.

1 Monitored person monitoring device 2 Monitored person 3 Bedding 40 Doppler sensor unit 46,47 Detection range 53 Drive control unit 60 Camera 61 First judgment unit 62 Second judgment unit 63 Range control unit 70 Radome 80 Motor

Claims (3)

It is a monitored person monitoring device that monitors the monitored person.
A Doppler sensor unit that outputs a Doppler signal of a Doppler frequency component based on the emitted transmitted wave and the reflected wave of the transmitted wave and acquires a monitoring signal for monitoring the monitored person.
An imaging unit installed in the room of the monitored person, which images a predetermined area including the monitored person and outputs an imaging signal.
A range changing part that changes the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave,
Based on the Doppler signal, the first determination unit that determines the position of the monitored person and
A second determination unit that determines the position of the monitored person based on the imaging signal, and
The range changing unit is controlled to emit the transmitted wave according to the position of the monitored person determined by the first determination unit or the position of the monitored person determined by the second determination unit. A range control unit that changes the size of the range,
With
The range control unit initially sets the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave to the first range including the bedding arranged in the room, and determines that the monitored person is located on the bedding. When the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range and it is determined that the monitored person is not located on the bedding, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range. Change to a second range that is larger than the range ,
When the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range, the first determination unit determines the presence or absence of the first body movement including the respiration of the monitored person using a predetermined threshold value. Then, when the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the second range, a second body movement larger than the first body movement including the fall of the monitored person is used using a threshold value different from the predetermined threshold value. Judging the presence or absence of body movement,
Observed person monitoring device. The range change part
A radio wave lens element that focuses the transmitted wave radiated from the Doppler sensor unit, and
A drive unit that moves the radio wave lens element or the Doppler sensor unit between a focusing position where the transmitted wave can be focused and a retracted position where the transmitted wave cannot be focused.
The monitored person monitoring device according to claim 1. It is a monitored person monitoring method in a monitored person monitoring device that monitors a monitored person to be monitored.
The monitored person monitoring device is
A Doppler sensor unit that outputs a Doppler signal of a Doppler frequency component based on the emitted transmitted wave and the reflected wave of the transmitted wave and acquires a monitoring signal for monitoring the monitored person.
An imaging unit installed in the room of the monitored person, which images a predetermined area including the monitored person and outputs an imaging signal.
A range changing part that changes the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave,
With
The monitored person monitoring method is
The first determination step of determining the position of the monitored person based on the Doppler signal, and
A second determination step of determining the position of the monitored person based on the imaging signal, and
The range changing unit is controlled to emit the transmitted wave according to the position of the monitored person determined by the first determination step or the position of the monitored person determined by the second determination step. The range control process that changes the size of the range and
With
In the range control step, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is initially set to the first range including the bedding arranged in the room, and when it is determined that the monitored person is located on the bedding, it is determined. When the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range and it is determined that the monitored person is not located on the bedding, the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range. Change to a second range that is larger than the range ,
In the first determination step, when the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the first range, the presence or absence of the first body movement including the respiration of the monitored person is determined using a predetermined threshold value. Then, when the magnitude of the radiation range of the transmitted wave is set to the second range, a second body movement larger than the first body movement including the fall of the monitored person is used using a threshold value different from the predetermined threshold value. Judging the presence or absence of body movement,
Observed person monitoring method.

Images