Patent Issued for Wearable system for detection of environmental hazards (USPTO 11626001): United Services Automobile Association

2023 MAY 01 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A patent by the inventors Diosdado, Noemy (Como, TX, US), Hansen, Gregory David (San Antonio, TX, US), Khmelev, Yevgeniy Viatcheslavovich (San Antonio, TX, US), Krishnaswamy, Pooja (McKinney, TX, US), Lyle, Ruthie D. (Durham, NC, US), Philbrick, Ashley Raine (San Antonio, TX, US), Post, Nathan Lee (Rockport, TX, US), Russell, Christopher (The Colony, TX, US), Serrao, Nolan (Plano, TX, US), filed on July 28, 2021, was published online on April 11, 2023, according to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx correspondents.

Patent number 11626001 is assigned to United Services Automobile Association (San Antonio, Texas, United States).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Vehicles or persons travelling on foot may encounter hazardous conditions such as flood waters, ice, or oil on a roadway or path. For example, according to FEMA, just six inches of fast-moving water could knock down an adult pedestrian. For an individual traveling on foot, water measuring about 20’ deep and moving with a velocity of two miles per hour will present an increased risk to most adults. Ice and oil slicks may cause pedestrians to lose their balance, and may often result in dangerous accidents. In addition, just 12 inches of fast-moving flood water could cause an average vehicle to lose firm contact with the roadway, rendering steering and braking systems ineffective.

“These and other dangerous environmental conditions, stemming from weather, uneven ground surfaces, construction, and other sources, can be dangerous to individuals, particularly in cases where there is low visibility. Individuals may approach dangerous conditions and reach a very close proximity to the individuals before the individual becomes aware of the danger. For example, some snowstorms or thunderstorms develop very quickly and/or may travel rapidly across the countryside. Heavy storms may cause flooding or road blocks, which can pose a danger to pedestrians and drivers alike. Similarly, cracks in sidewalks and roads, as well as unexpected debris, are associated with a greater likelihood of accidents and injury. Individuals may benefit from early notice and guidance as to how to avoid these hazards.

“There is a need in the art for systems and methods that address the shortcomings discussed above. In particular, there is a need in the art for monitoring systems that can provide personalized, real-time guidance to a user.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “In one aspect, a wearable environmental monitoring system includes an article of apparel including a first sensor and a second sensor, and a system controller associated with the article of apparel that further includes a processor and machine-readable media including instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive first data about one or more conditions of a physical environment in a sensor range of the article of apparel from the first sensor, and to determine, based on the first data, that an unsafe condition is present at a first location in the physical environment. In addition, the instructions cause the processor to receive second data about a speed and direction of the article of apparel during a first time period from the second sensor, and to determine, based on the second data, that the article of apparel was approaching the first location during the first time period. Furthermore, the instructions cause the processor to cause, in response to the determination that the article of apparel is approaching the first location during the first time period, a first alert to be generated by a first feedback component of the article of apparel.

“In another aspect, a wearable environmental monitoring system for detecting unsafe conditions includes a first article of apparel to which a first sensor and a first feedback component are attached, a system controller associated with the first article of apparel and connected to both the first sensor and the first feedback component, and a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the wearable environmental monitoring system.

“In another aspect, a method of alerting a user of a wearable environmental monitoring system to the presence of a nearby unsafe condition includes a first step of receiving first data from a first sensor about one or more conditions of a physical environment in a sensor range of an article of apparel worn by the user, where the article of apparel includes the first sensor. A second step includes determining, based on the first data, that an unsafe condition is present at a first location in the physical environment, and a third step includes receiving second data about a speed and direction of the user during a first time period from a second sensor of the article of apparel. In addition, a fourth step includes determining, based on the second data, that the user was approaching the first location during the first time period. Furthermore, a fifth step includes causing, in response to the determination that the user is approaching the first location during the first time period, a first alert to be generated by a first feedback component of the article of apparel.

“Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the disclosure, and be protected by the following claims.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A wearable environmental monitoring system comprising: an article of apparel including at least a first sensor and a second sensor, the article of apparel being one of a garment and footwear that is configured to be worn by a user; a system controller associated with the article of apparel, the system controller comprising a processor and machine-readable media including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive, from the user, a selection of a first operation mode that comprises a pre-configured profile which affects the type of alert that will be presented to the user; receive first data about one or more conditions of a physical environment in a sensor range of the article of apparel from the first sensor; determine, based on the first data and the selected first operation mode, that a first unsafe condition is present at a first location in the physical environment; receive second data about a speed and direction of the article of apparel during a first time period from the second sensor; determine, based on the second data, that the article of apparel was approaching the first location during the first time period; select a first alert type based on the first operation mode; and cause, in response to the determination that the article of apparel is approaching the first location during the first time period, a first alert of the first alert type to be generated by a first feedback component of the article of apparel.

“2. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: receive third data about a speed and direction of the article of apparel during a second time period subsequent to the first time period; determine, based on the second data, that the article of apparel continues to approach the first location during the second time period; and cause, in response to the determination that the article of apparel is approaching the first location during the second time period, a second alert to be generated by the first feedback component that is of a greater intensity than the first alert, the first feedback component being a forward-facing haptic-feedback component providing tactile-based feedback and being disposed along the user’s abdomen.

“3. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to cause, in response to the determination that the article of apparel is approaching the first location during the first time period, a second alert to also be generated by a second feedback component of the article of apparel, wherein the first feedback component is disposed along a right arm of the user and the second feedback component is disposed along a left arm of the user.

“4. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the first feedback component vibrates to alert the user to avoid the right and the second feedback component vibrates to alert the user to avoid the left.

“5. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is one of a gyroscope, accelerometer, and motion sensor.

“6. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the first feedback component vibrates to guide the user toward the right and the second feedback component vibrates to guide the user toward the left.

“7. A wearable environmental monitoring system for detecting unsafe conditions, comprising: a first article of apparel being one of a vest, shirt, and sweatshirt that is configured to be worn by a user to which a first sensor and a first feedback component are attached; a system controller associated with the first article of apparel and connected to both the first sensor and the first feedback component, the system controller being configured to: receive, from the user, a selection of a first operation mode that comprises a pre-configured profile which affects the type of alert that will be presented to the user, and select a first alert type based on the first operation mode; and a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the wearable environmental monitoring system.

“8. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the first sensor is one of a camera, proximity sensor, chemical sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, and motion sensor.

“9. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the first feedback component is configured to generate one of haptic-based output, audio-based output, and visual-based output.

“10. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 7, further comprising a second article of apparel being one of footwear and gloves to which a second sensor and a second feedback component are attached, and wherein the system controller is further connected to both the second sensor and the second feedback component.

“11. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the system controller triggers the first feedback component to: vibrate in a first pattern to alert the user when approaching a first type of hazard, and vibrate in a second pattern to alert the user when approaching a second type of hazard that differs from the first type of hazard, the first pattern differing from the second pattern.

“12. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the system controller triggers the first feedback component to vibrate in a first pattern to alert the user that they are approaching a slippery surface.

“13. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the system controller triggers the first feedback component to vibrate in a first pattern to indicate the current status of a traffic signal ahead of the user.

“14. The wearable environmental monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the system controller is in communication with a wheelchair-accessible navigational database, and the system controller triggers the first feedback component to vibrate in a first pattern to indicate the ending of a paved surface ahead of the user, as determined based on information in the wheelchair-accessible navigation database.

“15. A method of alerting a user of a wearable environmental monitoring system to the presence of a nearby unsafe condition, the method comprising: receiving first data from a first sensor embedded in an article of apparel worn by a user about one or more conditions of a physical environment, the article of apparel being one of a garment or footwear; receiving, from the user, a selection of a first operation mode that comprises a pre-configured profile which affects the type of alert that will be presented to the user; determining, based on the first data and the selected first operation mode, that a first unsafe condition is present at a first location in the physical environment; receiving second data about a speed and direction of the user during a first time period from a second sensor of the article of apparel; determining, based on the second data, that the user was approaching the first location during the first time period; select a first alert type based on the first operation mode; and causing, in response to the determination that the user is approaching the first location during the first time period, a first alert of the first alert type to be generated by a first feedback component of the article of apparel.

“16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving third data about a speed and direction of the user during a second time period subsequent to the first time period; determining, based on the second data, that the user continues to approach the first location during the second time period; and causing, in response to the determination that the user is approaching the first location during the second time period, a second alert to be generated by the first feedback component that is of a greater intensity than the first alert, the first feedback component being a forward-facing haptic-feedback component providing tactile-based feedback and being disposed along the user’s abdomen.

“17. The method of claim 15, further comprising causing, in response to the determination that the user is approaching the first location during the first time period, a second alert to also be generated by a second feedback component of the article of apparel, wherein the first feedback component is disposed along a right arm of the user and the second feedback component is disposed along a left arm of the user.

“18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first feedback component vibrates to alert the user to avoid the right and the second feedback component vibrates to alert the user to avoid the left.

“19. The method of claim 15, wherein the second sensor is one of a gyroscope, accelerometer, and motion sensor.

“20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first feedback component vibrates to guide the user toward the right and the second feedback component vibrates to guide the user toward the left.”

URL and more information on this patent, see: Diosdado, Noemy. Wearable system for detection of environmental hazards. U.S. Patent Number 11626001, filed July 28, 2021, and published online on April 11, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(11626001)&db=USPAT&type=ids

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