Monitoring handrails to reduce falls
A monitor, which may be closely associated with a handrail, may determine the amount of force applied to the handrail. The monitor may also determine the pattern in which force is applied to the handrail in order to assess how the user is contacting the handrail. The user's application of force to the handrail can be monitored along the course of movement along the handrail and may be compared to historical usage patterns.
1. A method comprising:
receiving force data from one or more force sensors mounted on a handrail; and
recording, based on the force data, a force pattern associated with use of the handrail;
monitoring a light level in a vicinity of the handrail; and
outputting an activation signal to one or more vibrating actuators mounted on the handrail.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein recording the force pattern comprises recording a magnitude identified by the force data, a contact area identified by the force data, or any combination thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, from the recorded force pattern, a long term trend of dependency on the handrail, wherein the long term trend includes a trend in pressure applied to the handrail, in contact area with the handrail, or any combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising determining, based on the long term trend of dependency on the handrail, whether a user using the handrail is prone to fall.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the force pattern to a server.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting, based on the force data, a discontinued contact with the handrail.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising detecting, after a discontinued contact with the handrail, a continued contact with the handrail;
determining if the continued contact is moving along the handrail; and
if the continued contact is not moving along the handrail, determining that a fall has occurred.
8. A monitoring apparatus comprising:
a handrail;
one or more force sensors mounted on the handrail, wherein the one or more force sensors are configured to output force data in response to a user's contact with the handrail;
a light sensor configured to monitor a light level in a vicinity of the handrail; and
one or more vibrating actuators mounted on the handrail, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the one or more vibrating actuators to activate.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the force data comprises a force magnitude, a contact area with the handrail, or any combination thereof.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein one or more of the plurality of sensors are configured to be powered down until a force is detected at the handrail, and to power up in response to the detected force.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a controller configured to receive the force data from one or more of the plurality of force sensors, and to determine a trend in a magnitude from the force data, a trend in contact area from the force data, or any combination thereof.
12. A method comprising:
receiving force data from one or more force sensors mounted on a handrail; and
recording, based on the force data, a force pattern associated with use of the handrail;
monitoring a light level in a vicinity of the handrail; and
outputting, based on a light level, an activation signal to a lighting system, an activation signal to a vibrating actuator, a voice alert, or any combination thereof.
13. A monitoring apparatus comprising:
a handrail;
one or more force sensors mounted on the handrail, wherein the one or more force sensors are configured to output force data in response to a user's contact with the handrail;
a light sensor configured to monitor a light level in a vicinity of the handrail; and
outputting, based on the monitored light level, an activation signal to a lighting system, an activation signal to a vibrating actuator, a voice alert, or any combination thereof.