Apparatus for Measuring Data for Injury Analysis with Power Management

Abstract

An apparatus for recording data indicative of acceleration of a part of a person's body or other object, including first memory means for receiving acceleration data from an acceleration sensor, second memory means operatively coupled to the first memory means for receiving data from the first memory means, and a data transfer controller for controlling the transfer of data from the first memory means to the second memory means based on the acceleration data.

1 . An apparatus for recording data indicative of acceleration of a part of a person's body or other object, comprising first memory means for receiving acceleration data from an acceleration sensor, second memory means operatively coupled to the first memory means for receiving data from the first memory means, and a data transfer controller for controlling the transfer of data from the first memory means to the second memory means based on the acceleration data. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first memory means requires electrical power to hold data therein. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second memory means is capable of holding data therein in the absence of electrical power or with less power than required by said first memory means. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said controller is adapted to enable the transfer of data from said first memory means to said second memory means in response to and/or only in the event of said acceleration data meeting a predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said predetermined criteria is one of (a) a sensed value of acceleration reaches a predetermined value and (b) a sensed value of acceleration exceeds a predetermined value. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said predetermined value is at or above a value which is sufficient to cause injury or is likely to cause injury to the part of the person. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body part is a person's head. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second memory means is an internal memory of a processor. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a third memory means operatively coupled to said second memory means for receiving data therefrom. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a memory controller for controlling the transfer of data from said second memory to said third memory. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said memory controller is conditioned to transfer acceleration data from said second memory means to said third memory means only if said second memory means contains acceleration data from a plurality of separate events. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said memory controller is adapted to transfer acceleration data relating to a plurality of different events from said second memory means to said third memory means in a single or the same write operation. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said memory controller is adapted to transfer acceleration data relating to three or more events in a single or the same operation. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said third memory means is adapted to hold data in the absence of electrical power or with less electrical power than required by at least one of said first and second memory means. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring means for monitoring the time of an acceleration event and means for recording the time of the event in a manner in which the time of the event is associated with acceleration data of the event. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as claimed  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of one or more components of the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising means for recording the temperature at the time of a recorded acceleration event in such a manner that the temperature is associated with the acceleration data of the event. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising sensing means for sensing acceleration and providing a signal indicative of the sensed acceleration to the first memory means. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said sensing means comprises a plurality of sensors, each capable of measuring acceleration in a single direction, and configured to measure acceleration in a direction which is mutually perpendicular to the direction of one or more other of said acceleration sensors. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said temperature sensor and said first and second memory means are mounted on a common substrate. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second memory means and said controller are mounted on a common substrate. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second memory means and said controller are contained in a unit adapted to be part of a helmet assembly. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising structure for enabling the unit to be mounted to a helmet. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said structure includes fastening means for releasably fastening the unit to the helmet. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  adapted to be mounted on a military or combat helmet. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed  claim 24 , wherein said sensing means is adapted to sense accelerations having values resulting from a blast or explosive force.