Patent ID: 12252169

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Specific structural and functional descriptions of embodiments of the present invention disclosed in the present specification or application are illustrated for the purpose of describing embodiments according to the present invention, and embodiments according to the present invention may be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described in the present specification and application.

While embodiments according to the present invention are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein, but on the contrary, the present invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The terms “first” and/or “second” are used to describe various components, but such components are not limited by these terms. The terms are used to discriminate one component from another component. For example, a first component may be called a second component and the second component may be called the first component within the technical spirit of the present invention.

When a component is “coupled” or “connected” to another component, it should be understood that a third component may be present between the two components although the component may be directly coupled or connected to the other component. When a component is “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another component, it should be understood that no element is present between the two components. Further, other representations describing a relationship between components, that is, “between”, “immediately between”, “adjacent to” and “directly adjacent to” should be construed likewise.

The terms used in the specification of the present invention are merely used in order to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. An element described in the singular form is intended to include a plurality of elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the specification of the present invention, it will be further understood that the term “comprise” or “include” specifies the presence of a stated feature, figure, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, or combinations thereof.

All the terms that are technical, scientific or otherwise agree with the meanings as understood by a person skilled in the art unless defined to the contrary. Common terms as found in dictionaries should be interpreted in the context of the related technical writings not too ideally or impractically unless expressly disclosed herein.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by describing preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in each figure indicate like elements.

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a mobile infant care device for generating shaking in a carrier provided with a space where an infant lies or moves by itself, and intelligently caring for infants, and an infant care system including the same.

FIG.1is a side view of a mobile infant care device according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG.2is a block diagram of the mobile infant care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.1,2and4, the mobile infant care device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a carrier100having an inner space110in which an infant is located and including driving wheels130provided at the lower part120, a monitoring system200fixed to the carrier100and configured to monitor the state of the infant located in the inner space110of the carrier100, a driving system300for moving the position of the carrier100by driving the driving wheels130, a communication system400for performing wireless communication to transmit a monitoring result of the monitoring system200to a user terminal device T or to receive an operation input from the user terminal device T, and a controller500for controlling the driving system300to move the carrier100based on a monitoring result of the monitoring system200or an operation input received through the communication system400.

Specifically, the carrier100may have various shapes, but may be hardware in the shape of a general stroller. In particular, the carrier100has the bed-shaped inner space110in which an infant can lie, and the lower part120supporting the inner space110includes the driving wheels130for allowing the carrier100to be movable. Although the driving wheels130may be driven by the driving system300, they may also be rotatable by external force of the user.

The monitoring system200is a component fixed to the carrier100, and in one embodiment, the monitoring system200may be positioned in the inner space110of the carrier100or positioned above the inner space110to monitor the infant from above.

The monitoring system200may receive sensing data from various sensors which will be described later and monitor the state of the infant by combining the received sensing data.

The operation of the driving system300is controlled by the controller500, and the driving system300can generate a driving force for driving the driving wheels130. In one embodiment, the driving system300may be a motor that receives power to generate a driving force and may include a battery for storing charged power.

The communication system400is a wireless communication device and may be a device that performs wireless data communication with a short-distance or long-distance terminal or performs data communication with a server S as will be described below. In particular, the communication system400may transmit a monitoring result of the monitoring system200received from the monitoring system200to the user terminal device T and may receive an operation input from the user terminal device T and transmit the same to the controller500.

A communication network used by the communication system400includes both wired and wireless communication networks. For example, a wired/wireless Internet network may be used as a communication network. Here, wired networks include the Internet, a cable network, and a public telephone network (PSTN), and wireless communication networks include CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, Evolved Packet Core (EPC), Long Term Evolution (LTE), WiBro, and the like. The present invention is not limited thereto and may be used, for example, in a cloud computing network under a cloud computing environment, a 5G network, and the like.

If the communication network is a wired communication network, an access point within the communication network can access a switching center of a telephone company. In the case of a wireless communication network, data can be processed by accessing an SGSN or Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) operated by a communication company or data can be processed by accessing various repeaters such as a base transceiver station (BTS), NodeB, and e-NodeB.

In addition, the communication network may include an access point (AP). Here, the access point includes a small base station, such as a femto or pico base station, which is installed in a building. Of course, the access point may include a short-range communication module for performing short-range communication such as Zigbee and Wi-Fi. The access point may use TCP/IP or real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) for wireless communication. Here, short-range communication may be performed using various standards such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, infrared, radio frequency (RF) such as ultra-high frequency (UHF) and very high frequency (VHF), and ultra-wideband communication (UWB) in addition to Wi-Fi. Accordingly, the access point may detect the location of a data packet, designate a best communication path for the detected location, and deliver the data packet to the user terminal device T or server S along the designated communication path. The access point may share multiple lines in a general network environment and includes, for example, a router and a repeater.

The monitoring system200, the communication system400, and the controller500according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by a nonvolatile memory (not shown) that store an algorithm configured to control operations of various components of a vehicle or data related to software commands for executing the algorithm, and a processor (not shown) configured to perform operations which will be described below using data stored in the memory. Here, the memory and the processor may be implemented as separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single integrated chip. The processor may take the form of one or more processors.

Although specific positions of the communication system400and the controller500are not indicated, they may be components fixed to the carrier100. The communication system400and the controller500may be connected to transmit/receive signals or data to/from the monitoring system200and the driving system300and may be located in any part of the carrier100.

The controller500may move the carrier100based on the state of the infant according to a monitoring result of the monitoring system200or may move the carrier100based on an operation input of the user terminal device T input to the communication system400.

More specifically, upon determining that the infant needs to be cared for based on a monitoring result sensed by the monitoring system200or upon reception of an operation input for requesting a call from the user terminal device T, the controller500may control the driving system300such that the carrier100moves to a preset position or the position of the user terminal device T.

In one embodiment, the controller500may control the driving system300to move the carrier100along a movement path to a preset position or the position of the user terminal device T.

Here, the preset position may be a single position or a plurality of positions designated by the user, for example, designated positions inside a building, such as a living room, a kitchen, and a main room. The controller500may set a movement path along which the carrier100moves to a preset position or the position of the user terminal device T and may control the driving system300according to the set movement path.

In addition, when there is a plurality of preset positions, the controller500may receive a user's selection through the terminal device T and set a movement path according to the user's selection or may select one of the plurality of preset positions based on a monitored state of the infant and set a movement path according to the selected result.

Alternatively, the controller500may receive an operation input for selecting any one of a preset position and the position of the user terminal device T from the terminal device T and set a movement path according to or monitor a movement path according to the user's selection, or select any one of a preset position and the position of the user terminal device T based on the monitored state of the infant and set a movement path according to the selected result.

For example, upon determining that diaper change is necessary for the infant as a result of monitoring of the monitoring system200, the controller500may set a movement path to a toilet among preset positions. In addition, upon determining that the infant's body temperature is high as a result of monitoring of the monitoring system200, the controller500may set a movement path to the position of the user terminal device T instead of a preset position.

More specifically, the controller500may turn on/off a function of automatically moving the carrier100to a preset position or the position of the user terminal device T based on a monitoring result sensed by the monitoring system200. When the automatic mode is off, the controller500may control the driving system300to move the carrier100to a preset position or to the position of the user terminal device T only when an operation input for requesting a call is received from the user terminal device T.

In addition, upon determining that the infant needs to be cared for as a result of monitoring of the monitoring system200, the communication system400may transmit a signal to activate a voice listening function in the user terminal device T. In this case, a position at which a movement path along which the driving system300will move the carrier100is set may be input to the user terminal device T.

FIG.3is a block diagram illustrating the monitoring system200according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG.3, the monitoring system200includes a camera210for photographing the inner space110of the carrier100, and the monitoring system200can monitor the motion, body temperature, or excretion of the infant based on images captured by the camera210.

The camera210includes a general closed circuit television (CCTV) camera210or an Internet protocol (IP) camera210as a surveillance camera210. In addition, the camera210may include a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera210capable of panning, tilting, and zooming operations as well as a fixed camera210.

The camera210may monitor the motion of the infant while continuously photographing the infant. In particular, the camera210may monitor the presence or absence of the infant, movement or whether the infant is sleeping through a captured image.

In addition, the camera210may include an infrared camera210for sensing the temperature in a captured image. Accordingly, the camera210may monitor whether the infant is excreted by sensing the infant's body temperature or sensing the temperature around the infant's diaper. In addition, the monitoring system200may further include a temperature sensor for sensing the body temperature of the infant.

In addition, the camera210may sense the illuminance around the infant based on a captured image instead of an illuminance sensor which will be described later. In addition, the camera210may capture an image or a photo according to operation input of the user's terminal and may transmit a captured image or photo of the infant to the user's terminal device T or the server S through the communication system400.

The monitoring system200may include a microphone220for receiving voice input, and thus the monitoring system200can monitor crying of the infant or monitor whether the infant is sleeping based on voice input applied to the microphone220.

The microphone220is a device for receiving a voice and may detect crying of the infant or sound according to sleeping of the infant.

In addition, the monitoring system200includes a heart rate sensor230worn on the infant or a pressure sensor240for sensing the pressure of the bottom of the infant, and thus the monitoring system200can monitor the heart rate of the infant input through the heart rate sensor230and monitor the respiration of the infant sensed through the pressure sensor240.

The heart rate sensor230may be selectively worn on the infant, and in particular, may be worn to be attached to a wrist or ankle of the infant. The heart rate sensor230may sense the heartbeat of the infant.

The pressure sensor240is located on the bottom of the inner space110in which the infant is positioned, and in particular, may be located under the infant. The pressure sensor240may sense the surface pressure acting on the bottom surface of the inner space110of the carrier100and sense the respiration cycle of the infant through change in pressure distribution according to periodic respiration of the infant.

The monitoring system200may include an environmental sensor250for sensing at least one of temperature, humidity, fine dust, and illuminance around the infant, and thus the monitoring system200can monitor environmental data of an environment to which the infant is exposed, input through the environmental sensor250.

Here, the environmental sensor250is a temperature sensor for sensing the ambient air temperature, a humidity sensor for sensing the humidity of the air, a dust sensor for sensing the concentration of fine dust, or an illuminance sensor for sensing the ambient illuminance to which the carrier100is exposed, or a combination thereof.

In particular, the environmental data refers to data regarding the environment to which the infant is exposed and may refer to data related to the health of the infant or data related to deep sleep of the infant.

In addition, the monitoring system200may determine whether the environment is suitable for the infant to be exposed to based on the monitored environment data and may transmit a determination result to the user terminal device T or the server S.

The monitoring system200includes a gyro sensor260for sensing rotational movement, rotational angular velocity or rotational acceleration of the carrier100, and thus the monitoring system200can monitor whether the carrier100is overturned based on the rotational movement, rotational angular velocity, or rotational acceleration of the carrier100, sensed by the gyro sensor260.

The gyro sensor260in the form of a chip in which a gyroscope is applied with MEMS technology may sense a rotational angular velocity. Further, the gyro sensor260may sense rotational movement or rotational acceleration through integration or differentiation of an angular velocity. The monitoring system200may detect whether the carrier100is overturned through the rotational movement, rotational angular velocity, or rotational acceleration of the carrier100sensed by the gyro sensor260.

In another embodiment, the monitoring system200may monitor a roll, a pitch, etc. of the carrier100by including an acceleration sensor.

A detection sensor700for detecting an obstacle adjacent to the carrier100or an obstacle located on a movement path of the carrier100may be further included, and the controller500may determine a movement path along which the carrier100will be moved to a preset position or the position of the user terminal device T based on detection information of the detection sensor700, and control the driving system300based on the determined movement path.

The detection sensor700may be mounted on the carrier100in a state in which it is disposed toward the outside of the carrier100and may detect an obstacle adjacent to the carrier100or an obstacle located on a set movement path of the carrier100. For example, the detection sensor700may be a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a camera sensor (image sensor).

In one embodiment, the detection sensor700includes a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a camera sensor (image sensor), and the controller500may determine a movement path along which the carrier100will be moved to a preset position or the position of the user terminal device T and control the driving system300based on the determined movement path.

In particular, when the detection sensor700detects that an obstacle is present on the movement path of the carrier100, the controller500may correct the movement path to avoid the obstacle, and when it is impossible to avoid the obstacle, may transmit warning information to the user terminal device T through the communication system400.

In another embodiment, a mapping system800for performing mapping through simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) based on detection information of the detection sensor700may be further included, and the controller500may determine a movement path of the carrier100based on a mapping result of the mapping system800and detection information of the detection sensor700.

Specifically, the mapping system800may perform mapping to create a map of the external environment while detecting the position of the carrier100based on a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm. In particular, the carrier100may include a position detection sensor for detecting the position of the carrier100, such as a GPS sensor or a gyro sensor. It is known that, in the process of implementing the SLAM algorithm, additional sensor information of the detection sensors700(an infrared sensor, a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like) may be used.

When the controller500moves the carrier100based on a monitoring result of the monitoring system200or an operation input received through the communication system400, the controller500may move the carrier100along a movement path based on a map mapped by the mapping system800.

A speaker900that generates a warning sound based on a monitoring result of the monitoring system200or provides a pre-stored or input sound based on an operation input received through the communication system400may be further included.

The speaker900may generate a warning sound upon determining that the infant needs to be cared for as a result of monitoring of the monitoring system200. In particular, the speaker900may generate a warning sound upon determining that urgent care is needed due to a problem in respiration or the heartbeat of the infant, for example, as a monitoring result.

In addition, the speaker900may provide a pre-stored or input sound based on an operation input received through the communication system400. Here, the pre-stored or input sound may be music that helps the infant sleep well, such as a lullaby or classical music. The pre-stored sound may be a user's voice pre-stored through the microphone220or the user terminal device T through recording, and the input sound may be received from the server S or the user terminal device T.

An actuator600for generating rocking in the inner space110of the carrier100with respect to the lower part120provided with the driving wheels130during operation may be further included, and the controller may control the operation of the actuator600based on a monitoring result of the monitoring system200or an operation input received through the communication system400.

The actuator600may be operated by an electric motor or through a solenoid method. When the actuator600operates, rotation of the driving wheels130is fixed and thus the inner space110positioned at the upper part of the carrier100with respect to the lower part120fixed to the floor may rock. Rocking may be a rotational motion based on a central axis.

In another embodiment, the controller500may generate rocking vibration in the carrier100by alternately driving the driving wheels130in the forward direction and the reverse direction.

FIG.4is a block diagram of an infant care system including the mobile infant care device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG.4, the infant care system according to an embodiment of the present invention is an infant care system including the mobile infant care device, and includes a user terminal device T that wirelessly communicates with the communication system400to receive a result monitored by the monitoring system200or to transmit an operation input received from a user, and a server S that receives the monitoring result of the monitoring system200from the communication system400or the user terminal device T, stores the received monitoring result in a database, and transmits analysis data obtained by comparing the received monitoring result with data pre-stored in the database to the user terminal device T.

The user terminal device T may transmit/receive data to/from the communication system400of the infant care device through wireless communication, and in particular, receive a monitoring result of the monitoring system200from the communication system400or transmit an operation input received from the user to the communication system400.

The user terminal device T may be a communication device such as a mobile phone or a smartphone, or a portable device such as a tablet computer.

The server S may be hardware or software in which a database DB for storing data is constructed and may be capable of wireless communication with the communication system400and the user terminal device T. Monitoring results of the monitoring system200transmitted from the communication system400may be continuously stored in the database of the server S. In addition, average monitoring data of infants may be transmitted to the database of the server S through the Internet.

In addition, the server S may compare a monitoring result of the monitoring system200received through the communication system400with data pre-stored in the database to analyze the monitoring result. In one embodiment, the server S may derive graphs of a sleep pattern and health pattern of an infant, an environmental pattern to which an infant is exposed, and the like based on the monitoring results, and compare the graphs with data stored in the database to determine characteristics of the infant.

In addition, the server S may receive body data of the infant input by the user using the user terminal device T, and transmit care data regarding care of the infant to the user terminal device T based on the received body data and monitoring results.

The body data may be data that can be input from the user, such as a growth period from the birth date of the infant, height, weight, and sex.

In addition, the server S may transmit care data that can help in caring for the infant to the user terminal device T based on the received body data and monitoring results. For example, the server S may provide massage tips helpful to the infant based on the growth period of the infant or provide tips on maintaining humidity when the environment to which the infant is exposed is dry as a result of monitoring.

According to the mobile infant care device and the infant care system including the same of the present invention, it is possible to continuously monitor the state of an infant on behalf of a guardian, thereby safely securing free time from childcare for the guardian.

In addition, it is possible to reduce the labor of the guardian by moving the infant to the guardian and putting the infant to sleep in place of the guardian when the infant needs to be cared for or when the guardian requests it.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention a mobile infant care device and an infant care system may continuously monitor infants and move them to guardians when they need care.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.