WO2025223991A1

WO2025223991A1 - Wearable protection element

Info

Publication number: WO2025223991A1
Application number: PCT/EP2025/060650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian-Nils Boda; Per Gustafsson; Dan Brase; Sagar Venkatesh; Alberto Morando
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 2024-04-23
Filing date: 2025-04-17
Publication date: 2025-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-23
Also published as: DE102024111386A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to protection technology. In particular, the present disclosure relates to determining a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element. Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to a wearable protection element and a method for determining a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element. Accordingly, there is provided a wearable protection element (110), arranged to be worn on an upper body part (116) of a wearer (118), wherein the wearable protection element (110) is arranged to surround the upper body part (116) when being worn, the wearable protection element (110) comprises one or more tension sensor elements (112) arranged to generate sensor data, and a processing element (120) arranged to process the sensor data and to generate an output dependent of the sensor data, where the output is indicative of a situational status of the wearer of the wearable protection element.

Description

Wearable protection element

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] The present disclosure relates to protection technology.

[0002] In particular, the present disclosure relates to determining a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element.

[0003] Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to a wearable protection element and a method for determining a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element.

BACKGROUND

[0004] The present disclosure is concerned with wearable protection, for example for use when operating a vehicle. Wearable protection elements are particularly beneficial when operating a vehicle, enhancing both the safety of the operator and, in some cases, the passengers. These benefits extend across various types of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and industrial vehicles like forklifts.

[0005] One particular benefit is the reduction in the severity of injuries in the event of an accident. Wearable protection like jackets and pants may be designed to absorb and distribute the force of an impact, protecting the wearer's body from severe abrasions, cuts, and blunt force injuries commonly experienced in vehicle accidents. Comfortable and ergonomically designed wearable protection elements may reduce fatigue by shielding the operator from windblast, vibrations, and other physical stressors encountered while driving, leading to better concentration and control of the vehicle and may further provide a sense of security, encouraging more confident vehicle operation. By mitigating the risks associated with vehicle operation, wearable protection elements contribute significantly to the overall safety of the driving environment, making them an essential consideration for anyone operating a vehicle.

[0006] Despite these advantages, conventional wearable protection elements may essentially be passive elements that do not take into consideration a current situational status of a vehicle operator. Knowing the situational status of a vehicle operator may enable proactive measures to enhance safety, efficiency, and comfort, contributing to better outcomes for the operator, passengers, and the broader public, for example in case of an accident.

[0007] Thus, there may be a need for an improved wearable protection element. Further, there may be a need for a wearable protection element that are capable of ascertaining the situational status of a vehicle operator. SUMMARY

[0008] At least one such need may be met by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are provided in the dependent claims and are explained in detail in the following description.

[0009] The present invention relates to detecting a situational status of a person wearing a wearable protection element.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a wearable protection element, arranged to be worn on an upper body part of a wearer, wherein the wearable protection element is arranged to surround the upper body part when being worn, the wearable protection element comprises one or more sensor elements, for example tension sensor elements, arranged to generate sensor data, and a processing element arranged to process the sensor data and to generate an output dependent of the sensor data, where the output is indicative of a situational status of the wearer of the wearable protection element.

[0011 ] According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method for determining a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element, wherein the wearable protection element is arranged to be worn on an upper body part of the wearer, wherein the wearable protection element is arranged to surround the upper body part when being worn, wherein the wearable protection element comprises one or more tension sensor elements and a processing element, the method comprising the steps of generate, by the one or more tension sensor elements, sensor data, process, by the processing element, the sensor data, and generate, by the processing element, an output dependent of the sensor data, where the output is indicative of a situational status of the wearer of the wearable protection element.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a computer program product or a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processing element, cause the processing element to carry out the method according to the present disclosure.

[0013] A wearer in the context of the present disclosure may in particular be a rider or other occupant of a vehicle, e.g., a motorcycle, or another powered two-wheeled or four- wheeled vehicle.

[0014] A situational status of a wearer, e.g., a rider, when referring to their personal circumstances rather than the surrounding traffic, involves various aspects of the wearer's condition and context. Physical condition, including the wearer's health at the time of riding, such as fatigue, physical fitness, or any impairments due to illness or injury that could affect their ability to operate the vehicle safely. Mental and emotional state including factors such as stress, emotional distress, or distraction may influence a wearer’s focus and decision-making abilities. Skill and Experience, for example the wearer's level of training, the amount of riding experience, and familiarity with the vehicle being used may impact the situational status. Less experienced wearers may have different situational statuses compared to seasoned wearers due to differing skill levels. Influence of Substances including whether the wearer is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or even some prescription medications that could impair riding abilities. Intent and Purpose of the Ride, for example commuting, leisure, or racing, may also affect their approach to riding and preparedness. Understanding the situational status in these terms can provide insights into the wearer's readiness and safety while on the road, independent of external traffic conditions.

[0015] Knowing the situational status of a vehicle operator may be beneficial for several reasons. A major benefit may be increased safety. Understanding the situational status, including the operator's alertness, health condition, and potential distractions, may help in preventing accidents. For example, monitoring for signs of fatigue or distraction may trigger alerts or interventions to ensure the operator remains focused on driving.

[0016] Further, knowing the situational status may help in optimizing the operation of the vehicle for efficiency. For instance, understanding the operator's stress levels and driving patterns may lead to suggestions for more fuel-efficient driving practices or routes that may reduce the operator's stress.

[0017] In case of an emergency, understanding the situational status of the operator can be crucial in providing timely and appropriate assistance. For instance, if the operator is incapacitated, a wearable protection element can may automatically alert emergency services with precise details, like a global position, determined by a Global Navigation Satellite Systems, e.g., GPS, Galileo, BeiDou or GLONASS, so that appropriate roadside assistance may be provided. Further, analysis of the situational status over time may identify patterns or behaviours that may need correction, training or improvement. This data may be used for targeted training programs to improve the operator's performance and safety awareness. For commercial vehicle operations, knowing the situational status may help ensure compliance with regulations regarding working hours, rest periods, and driving behaviour, thereby reducing the risk of legal issues and improving road safety.

[0018] Further, understanding the operator's preferences and current status may allow for the personalization of the vehicle's environment, such as adjusting the cabin conditions for comfort or changing the infotainment system's content to suit the operator's mood, enhancing the overall driving experience.

[0019] The present disclosure provides a wearable protection element, for example a wearable upper body protection element typically used when riding a powered two-wheeler, when skiing or riding a bicycle. However, the wearing of a wearable protection element is generally conceivable, e.g., also while driving a powered four-wheeler like an automobile. The wearable protection element may be inflatable, or may be static/non-inflatable, it may or may not comprise sleeves. The wearable protection element may be positioned around the human body, e.g. may be wrapped around or circumscribing at least a part of the human body, e.g. on or close to the chest. It may comprise a suitable closure element like a zipper, e.g., in the front or the back of the wearable protection element, considering a correct wearing position, or it may comprise or consist of an elastic element or elastic material/fabric and be donned and doffed by being pulled over a part of the body of the wearer, for example like a pullover, a jacket or a vest.

[0020] The wearable protection element may comprise an electronic processing element used for processing data from other electronic elements, like a sensor, for example an accelerometer, a gyroscope or the like, which may be part of, e.g. incorporated into the wearable protection element.

[0021 ] In one particular embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic element may be sensor element, for example a strain gauge type sensor element and/or tension sensor element, which may be attached to fabric of the wearable protection element, and which may output sensor data depending on a tension within the fabric. The tension may be related to a person wearing the wearable protection element, and in particular to a movement of the wearer within or relative to the fabric and/or a situational status the wearer is in. E.g., the output of the electronic element/sensor element may be processed or otherwise analysed to derive different states/situational statuses of the person wearing the electronic element.

[0022] The electronic element may be sewn to or otherwise attached to the fabric of the wearable protection element and may be electrically connected to a processing element also attached to the wearable protection element.

[0023] The electronic element may be arranged to detect movement of a body part, like the chest (e.g., due to breathing of the wearer of the wearable protection element), for example in case it is a jacket type wearable protection element, where the movement causes a signal response in the electronic element. Using this signal response, the processing element may infer various situational states of the wearer, e.g., ’’wearer is breathing”, ” wearer is not breathing”. Further, for example by further data analysis, e.g., by using machine learning and/or artificial intelligence methods, further situational states may be inferred, like ’’wearer is fatigued (sleepy)”, or a finer granularity of different situational status may be determined.

[0024] The body part may be an upper body part of the wearer, for example the torso or the chest. In certain embodiments the sensor element may be arranged at a neck or head region of the upper body part and/or may be arranged to acquire sensor data of a neck or head movement of the upper body part.

[0025] The one or more sensor elements may be arranged at various positions of the wearable protection element. E.g., in case of a shirt type or jacket type wearable protection element, the sensor elements may be arranged in a chest area, a front abdomen area, and upper back area and/or a lower back area. In case of more than one sensor elements, signals recorded from the sensor elements, which may have separate, distinct positions will be fed into a function, so that noise or false signals may be eliminated or their influence on the determined situational status at least be reduced. In case the wearable protection element uses a closure element, like a button/line of buttons or a zipper, it may be preferable to arrange sensor elements at each side of the closure element.

[0026] A sensor element may be arranged within an elastic guidance element, which on the one hand may support the sensor element, and which on the other hand may simplify or enhance signal acquisition by the sensor element. E.g., such an elastic guidance element may be a rib like structure having a plurality of openings through which the sensor element is fed to arrive at a will leaving pattern. When tension is occurring within the wearable protection element, the elastic guidance element itself may be subjected to said tension, e.g., may be stretched, while a meandering arrangement of the sensor element within the elastic guidance element promotes the acquisition of appropriate sensor data by the sensor element.

[0027] For example, a sensor element may be placed into the pockets of an elastic guidance element embodied as plastic or elastic ribs (e.g., in a zigzag or meandering pattern) for increase stretchability while remaining close to the skin or body surface of the wearer. The elastic guidance element, e.g. its ends, may be rigidly connected to the wearable protection element, so that a tension occurring within the fabric of the wearable protection element increases the distance between said ends, thereby subjecting the sensor element to said tension, in particular due to the meandering arrangement of the sensor element within the elastic guidance element.

[0028] Various embodiments of elastic guidance elements having different slits or pockets which may accommodate a sensor element are conceivable. The sensor elements may additionally be connected to an amplifier module or other control or detection circuitry to amplify and/or process the acquired sensor signal. Said circuitry may be fixed, e.g., glued, stitched or welded to the fabric of the wearable protection element.

[0029] The output, the sensor data and/or information related to or indicative of the situational status of the wearer may be transmitted to a further device and/or third entity, for example for processing or initiating an action dependent on the output, sensor data and/or the situational status.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the signal may be indicative of a movement and/or movement type of and/or within the upper body part of the wearer, for example a chest movement.

[0031 ] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the situation status may be at least one status out of the group consisting of wearer is breathing, wearer is not breathing, wearer is fatigued, wearer is agitated, wearer is excited, wearer is incensed, wearer is driving under the influence, wearer is impaired, wearer is intoxicated, wearer is conscious, and wearer is unconscious.

[0032] By acquiring a signal that is indicative of such a movement, the situational status of the wearer may be determined. In particular a succession in time of a movement, e.g., a movement determined at certain time intervals or a position at certain time intervals, may allow determining a state the wearer is in. A movement in this regard, may also be understood as a change in the physical properties of the body part of the wearer. For example, a situation where the body part of the wearer expands and contracts rapidly, where the body part has a higher movement or movement velocity, may be indicative of an agitated state of the wearer. Contrary hereto, a situation where the body part has a low movement or movement velocity may be indicative of a relaxed or calm state of the wearer.

[0033] Alternatively or additionally, such a movement, movement type and/or movement velocity may be indicative of a different psychological or physiological conditions. For example, little or no movement of the body part may reflect a situation where the wearer is unconscious as not even the nominal movement related to breathing may be determinable. Alternatively or additionally, also a movement or movement type of the body part itself may be indicative of a situational status. E.g., in case the wearer, and thus the body part is swaying from side to side, such may be an indication that the wearer is, at least partly, unable to control the body movement with sufficient precision, which may be an indication that the wearer is under the influence of alcohol or similar substances. Upon determination of such a situation or situational status, a wearable protection element may indicate such in the output. E.g., the wearable protection element by transmitting the output to a further entity, may indicate to said further entity the situation or situational status the wearer is in.

[0034] The entity may subsequently initiate appropriate measures in reaction to the determined situation or situational status, like initiating a slowing down or a controlled breaking of the vehicle the wearer is currently operating or may dispatch emergency medical services or enforcement agencies to react to the determined situation or situational status. [0035] Further sensor elements, e.g., sensor elements arranged in the vehicle and/or in a mobile device like a smart phone associated with the wearer, may be used to determine the situation or situational status. For example, sensor data of such further sensor elements may be aggregated, e.g., data from at least one other sensor of the vehicle, to deduce the context the wearer is in.

[0036] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more tension sensor elements may be sensor elements for determining a tension and/or change of tension occurring within the wearable protection element and arranged to generate the sensor data based on said tension and/or change of tension, and/or the one or more tension sensor elements may be strain gauges arranged to react to a strain or a change of strain occurring within the wearable protection element and may be arranged to generate the sensor data based on said strain or change of strain, and/or the wearable protection element may be made at least in part of a fabric, and the one or more tension sensor elements may be generating the sensor data based on the tension, the change of tension, the strain and/or the change of strain is occurring within said fabric of the wearable protection element

[0037] Tension elements in general may be arranged to determine a movement of the body part by determining an expansion and/or contraction of the body part. Such a movement may relate to a breathing of the wearer while the specific type of movement may relate to the situational status the wearer is in. E.g., a slow and shallow breathing may be indicative of a relaxed situational status while a rapid and deep breathing may be indicative of an agitated status.

[0038] To determine the tension in the fabric, strain gauges may be considered an easy implementation of tension sensor elements, which facilitate incorporation of the sensor element in the wearable protection element. Depending on the specific embodiments of the tension sensor elements, embodiments may be preferably arranged for determining a quantitative change in the body part, e.g., determine the numerical value often elongation or contraction, while the embodiments may be preferably arranged for determining a qualitative change in the body part, e.g., how rapid and/or how instantaneous a change in the body part is.

[0039] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more tension sensor elements may be arranged to detect whether the wearer of the wearable protection element is breathing or is not breathing

[0040] A constant and/or repetitive change of the tension sensor element may be indicative of the wearer breathing, while minimal or no change of the tension sensor element may be indicative of the wearer not breathing. In case it is determined that the wearer is not breathing, or at least not breathing normally, there wearable protection element or an entity receiving the output may determine said situational status, and may initiate appropriate measures. As mentioned previously, such a measure may be the dispatch of emergency medical services.

[0041 ] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the one or more tension sensor elements may be at least one of attached to the surface of the wearable protection element, integrated into the fabric of the wearable protection element or integrally formed with the fabric of the wearable protection element.

[0042] By attaching to or integrating into/integrally forming with the fabric off the wearable protection element, the tension sensor element may easily derive the sensor data from a change within the fabric that is due to a movement of the wearer within the wearable protection element/within the fabric. For example, the wearable protection element may be a jacket type clothing that is worn by the wearer. Any movement of the wearer within the jacket type clothing may thus change strain or tension occurring within the fabric of the wearable protection element, which change may then be detected by the tension sensor element, to generate sensor data.

[0043] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the one or more tension sensor elements may be arranged in at least one position on the wearable protection element out of the group consisting of the anterior side, the posterior side, the chest region, the abdomen region, the upper back region, the lower back region, central to the central axis of the body of the wearer, offset to the left of the central axis, and offset to the right of the central axis

[0044] A tension sensor element is preferably arranged in a position that exhibits a strain or tension, in general, a change within the fabric, when the wearer is moving. For example, a tension sensor element, arranged within the fabric of the wearable protection element, so that it is arranged across the chest of the wearer, may facilitate the detection of a movement, compared to, e.g., a tension sensor element parallel to the shoulder line.

[0045] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection element may comprise more than one tension sensor element, each tension sensor element may be arranged to generate sensor data independently, and the processing element may be arranged to correlate the sensor data from at least two and/or each tension sensor element for generating the output.

[0046] Providing more than one tension sensor element may increase the precision of the generated sensor data and thus a generated output. Such an increase in position, may result from correlating data from more than one sensor element, or it may be that different tension sensor elements may register different movements differently, so that one tension sensor element may register a first subset of movements, while a further tension sensor element may register a second subset of movements.

[0047] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection element may further comprise an elastic guidance element arranged to support at least of the one more tension sensor elements, the elastic guidance element may be arranged so that the one or more tension sensor elements may be supported and/or routed through the elastic guidance element in at least one of a non-straight, a meandering, a zig-zag, interweaving and/or interleaving arrangement.

[0048] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic guidance element may be connected to or formed within the fabric of the wearable protection element, so that a tension or change of tension occurring within the fabric may be transmitted to and reversibly deforms the elastic guidance element, and wherein by transmitting to and reversibly deforming the elastic guidance element, the one or more tension sensor elements supported and/or routed through the elastic guidance element may generate the sensor data.

[0049] By using an according guidance element, precision of the sensor data and/or the output may be increased due to a more direct contact or connection of the sensor element two or with the fabric of the wearable protection element. E.g., the guidance element may be attached to the fabric of the wearable protection element while at the same time, the sensor element engages with the guidance element. Thereby, a movement and/or tension occurring within the fabric may be transmitted to the guidance element, and may subsequently be transmitted from the guidance element to the sensor element for generating sensor data.

[0050] Providing a guidance element may facilitate the attachment of the sensor element to the fabric in particular in those scenarios, where a direct attachment of the sensor element to the fabric, may result in a damage of the sensor element. For example, a particular sensor elements may not be suitable to be sewn to the fabric, while a guidance element may be sewn to the fabric without impacting its functionality. The sensor element may then be routed or guided through or generally be supported by the guidance element, thereby establishing the contact between the fabric and the sensor element for data acquisition. Here, the sensor element may be removable from the guidance element, so that e.g., a damaged sensor elements may be replaced without any destructive interaction between the fabric and the sensor element as would be the case if the sensor element is sewn to the fabric.

[0051 ] It is also conceivable to fit or retrofit a wearable protection element once certain properties of the wearer are determined. For example, a wearer with a large chest crosssection may require different sensor elements than a wearer with a small chest cross-section. In case the sensor element is reversibly removable, a wearable protection element may be adapted to different wearer’s during its operational lifetime without any destructive interaction.

[0052] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic guidance element may be made of a material from the group consisting of metal, alloy, composite material, reversible elastic material, metal, steel, stainless steel, copper alloys, elastomer material, polymer material, composite materials and shape memory alloys.

[0053] Reversible elastic elements are materials or components that can return to their original shape after being deformed when the force causing the deformation is removed. The choice of material for a reversible elastic element depends on the specific requirements of the application, such as the amount of deformation needed, the forces involved, the environment (temperature, presence of chemicals, etc.), and the expected life cycle of the component. Some common materials used for reversible elastic elements include metals like steel, for example spring steel or copper alloys, for example phosphor bronze and beryllium copper, which are used where electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance are required along with elasticity. Further suitable materials may be elastomers like rubber or thermoplastic elastomers. Both natural and synthetic rubbers (like neoprene, silicone, nitrile) may be used for their elasticity and resilience. Thermoplastic elastomers materials may be seen as combining the elastic properties of rubbers with the processability of plastics. Still further materials may be polymers like polyurethane, nylon and polyethylene. Polyurethane may be known for its excellent elasticity, toughness, and resistance to abrasion and impacts, while nylon and polyethylene may be used in applications requiring lower levels of elasticity compared to rubbers but with excellent wear resistance and mechanical properties. Also, composite materials, like Fiber-reinforced polymers or Shape Memory Alloys, like nitinol may be used. Fiber-reinforced polymers like carbon fibre or glass fibre reinforced plastics may be seen as offering high strength-to-weight ratios and may be engineered to provide desired elastic properties. Shape Memory Alloys may be known for its shape memory and super elasticity, making it useful in applications requiring large, recoverable strains.

[0054] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more tension sensor elements may be made of conductive fabric or conductive yarn, and the conductive fabric or conductive yarn may be integrally formed with the fabric of the wearable protection element.

[0055] By integrally forming the sensor elements, with the fabric of the wearable protection element, in immediate contact between the sensor element and the fabric may be established. Thereby, it may be avoided that other influences are acting on the sensor element or altering the movement/tension withing the fabric before it is acquired by or is able to act on the sensor element.

[0056] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection element may be at least in part inflatable, the wearable protection element further may further comprise an inflation element for inflating the wearable protection element, the processing element may be arranged for initiating inflating the wearable protection element dependent on at least one of the sensor data, the output and the situational status.

[0057] Having an inflatable wearable protection element may allow reacting to an anticipated events depending on the situational status and/or a change in situational status of the wearer. For example, a wearer that has been a calm for a prolonged period of time, but suddenly exhibits a change to an excited situational status may be an indication of an exceptional situation, e.g., a situation of an imminent accident. Upon detection of such a change in situational status, the processing element may prepare the wearable protection element by inflating or at least partly inflating an inflatable element of the wearable protection element, so to react to the exceptional situation. For example, upon determination of such a change in situational status, and thus the anticipation of an accident, the inflatable wearable protection element may be at least partly inflated so to shorten a time span required to fully inflated the wearable protection element in case the occurrence of an accident is determined to be likely or highly likely and the processing element initiates a full inflation of the wearable protection element.

[0058] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable protection element may further comprise a communication element for communicating with a further entity or device, and wherein dependent on at least one of the sensor data, the output and the situational status, the wearable protection element is arranged to perform or initiate an action out of the group consisting of informing a third party about the sensor data, the output and the situational status and/or at least partly controlling operation of a vehicle the wearer is operating while wearing the wearable protection element.

[0059] For example, in case a certain situational status is determined, the wearable protection element may initiate appropriate measures to mitigate any risk of injury for the wearer of the wearable protection element, e.g., while riding or driving a vehicle. For example, in case an imminent or occurring accident is assumed based on the situational status of the wearer, the wearable protection element may inform third parties like emergency medical services and/or enforcement authorities about said imminent or occurring accident. Additionally, or alternatively, upon detection that the situational status suggests that the wearer is driving under the influence, the wearable protection element may communicate with e.g., the vehicle and/or again with third parties like emergency medical services and/or enforcement authorities. In case of a communication with the vehicle, the vehicle may be arranged to appropriately react and/or the vehicle may be controlled by the wearable protection element to said situational status. Example reactions or control measures may be a slowing down, breaking, stopping of the vehicle, or in case the vehicle is stationary, prohibit the use of the vehicle, e.g., by disabling starting the vehicle. An according notification may be provided to the wearer, e.g. by a display of the wearable protection element, and/or the vehicle, or the wearable protection element may communicate with a mobile device of the wearer, e.g. with a smart phone, showing an according notification.

[0060] According to a further embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the processing element, when processing the sensor data and/or when generating the output dependent of the sensor data, may be arranged to employ a machine learning and/or an artificial intelligence algorithm to determine the situational status of the wearer.

[0061 ] Using a machine learning and or artificial intelligence algorithm may allow a more precise determination of the situational status and/or may allow a more granular determination, i.e., a determination where situational status is are more finely differentiated. E.g., and ML or Al algorithm may allow determining parameters to differentiate statuses where the wearer is agitated, excited or incensed, while a regular analysis of sensor data may only reveal whether the wearer is calm or not calm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0063] Fig. 1 shows a schematic overview of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0064] Fig. 2 shows a schematic overview of the function of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0065] Fig. 3A,B show further embodiments of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0066] Fig. 4A,B show a further schematic overview of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0067] Fig. 5A,B show a cross-sectional view and an exploded view of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0068] Fig. 6A,B further embodiments of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure. [0069] Fig. 7 shows a usage scenario of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0070] Fig. 8 shows a method for determining a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071 ] Now referring to Fig. 1 , which shows a schematic overview of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0072] Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a wearable protection element 1 10, which is embodied as a jacket type or vest type clothing element. A wearer 1 18 wears the wearable protection element 1 10 around a body part 116, in figure 1 an upper body part. The upper body part 116 in figure 1 is characterized that the wearable protection element 110 is arranged around the torso or chest area of the wearer 118. In addition, the wearer 1 18 wears a helmet, as further safety gear.

[0073] The wearable protection element 1 10 comprises exemplarily one sensor element 112. Sensor element 1 12 is arranged in the back region, generally in or slightly below the region of the shoulders of the wearer 118. Sensor element 112 may be a strain gauge type sensor element or a tension sensor element arranged to detect movement or tension 114, in particular a change of tension, within the fabric of the wearable protection element 110.

[0074] Now referring to Fig. 2, which shows schematic overview of the function of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure is shows.

[0075] Sensor element 1 12 may be arranged to detect movement or tension 114, in particular a change of tension, within the fabric of the wearable protection element 1 10. The movement, tension or change of tension 1 14 is indicated by the two-headed horizontal arrow below sensor element 1 12. Generally, the movement 1 14 may result from a movement of the wearer 118 within the wearable protection element 1 10. Additionally, or alternatively, the movement, tension or occurring change of tension 114 may occur due to breathing of the wearer 118. During breathing, regularly, the chest area of a person is expanding and contracting depending on inhalation or exhalation during a breathing cycle. During inhalation, the chest is expanding so that a tension within the fabric of the wearable protection element 110 may be assumed to increase. Likewise, during exhalation, the chest is contracting so that a tension within the fabric of the wearable protection element 110 may be assumed to decrease.

[0076] The occurring tension over time, when considering breathing cycles, is depicted in the diagram in the top right corner of figure 2. As can be seen, successive breathing cycles consist of a plurality of inhalations followed by exhalations. During inhalation, the tension in the fabric is increasing, and the sensor element 1 12 is subjected to said tension. During exhalation, the tension in the fabric is decreasing. The sensor element 1 12 may thus acquire a sensor signal related to the (momentary) tension within the fabric, which allows determining the change of tension over time.

[0077] A processing element 120, not further depicted in figure 2, may be arranged with the wearable protection element 110, and may receive the sensor signal, or sensor data, from sensor element 112. The processing element 120 may evaluate the sensor signal or sensor data. In order to determine the occurring tension and/or the change of tension over time, the processing element may evaluate the sequence of measurement values over time.

[0078] Said change of tension over time may be an indicator for a situational status the wearer 1 18 of the wearable protection element 110 is currently in. For example, in case the wearer is in a calm state, a comparably low breathing frequency may occur. Contrary hereto, in case the wearer is in an agitated state, a comparably high or higher breathing frequency may occur. From said evaluation, a situational status of the wearer may be determined.

[0079] In particular, a change of the breathing frequency may be an indication of a change in the situational status of the wearer 118. For example, a wearer, 1 18, currently operating a vehicle 142, may transition from an initial calm state exhibiting a comparably low breathing frequency to a state, for example, an agitated state, with a comparably high or higher breathing currency. Such a change may be an indication of a particular event being in development, e.g., that an accident is about to happen. In anticipation of said accident, the processing element, may initiate certain measures like activating a protective function of the wearable protection element. The protective function may e.g. be inflation of an inflatable element to provide extra cushioning to protect from an impact which may occur during an accident.

[0080] Now referring to Fig. 3A,B, which show further embodiments of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0081 ] Figure 3A, shows an embodiment where exemplarily two sensor elements 1 12, are arranged at the front of the wearable protection element 1 10. In order to don and doff the wearable protection element 1 10, a closure element 119 in the front of the wearable protection element 1 10 is provided. In figure 3A, the closure element 1 19 is exemplarily a zipper. One of the two sensor elements 1 12 of figure 3A is exemplarily arranged in the chest area of the wearable protection device, while the other sensor element 112 is exemplarily arranged in an abdomen area of the wearable protection device 1 10. The two sensor elements 112 of further exemplarily arranged at opposite sides of the closure element 1 19. [0082] A processing element 120, not further depicted in figure 3A, may thus employ sensor data from both sensor elements 112. The sensor data of each sensor element 1 12 may be processed independently, the sensor data may be correlated and processed together or sensor data of one sensor may be processed and verified with sensor data of the other sensor.

[0083] In the embodiment in figure 3B, exemplarily a single sensor element 112 is arranged in the chest area of the wearable protection element 110. Such a position may be preferable compared to an arrangement where the sensor element is arranged on the back side of the wearable protection element 1 10, in particular in case the fabric of the wearable protection element 110 is comparably thin and stretchy, as during breathing, regularly, the chest area expands and contracts more compared to the back area in the chest region so that a sensor element, arranged at the front of the wearable protection element 1 10 may obtain a stronger sensor signal than a sensor element, arranged at the back side of the wearable protection element 1 10.

[0084] Now referring to Fig. 4A,B, which show a further schematic overview of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0085] Figures 4A, B show an inflatable wearable protection element 1 10. The wearable protection element 1 10 in figure 4 a, exemplarily comprises a single sensor element 1 12 arranged at the back side of the wearable protection element 1 10 generally in or slightly below the shoulder region of the wearer.

[0086] Figure 4B shows a schematic overview of the wearable protection element 110. Wearable protection element 110 comprises a vest type structure and comprises a closure element 1 19 in the front region. In addition to the sensor element 112, the back region of the wearable protection element 110 of figure 2B comprises a passive protector structure 130, embodied as a plurality of ribs extending across the back generally in the region of the spine of the wearer. Sensor element 1 12 may be arranged more inwardly to the passive protector structure 130, e.g., between the wearer and the passive protector structure 130, so that the passive protector structure 130 does not interfere with sensor signal acquisition. Exemplarily arranged adjacent to the sensor element 1 12 is processing element 120. The processing element 120 may be in communicative connection with the sensor element, and with further inflation elements 126, which are arranged to the inflatable upon activation by the processing element 120. Thus, in case the processing element 120 determines that a change in the situational status of the wearer indicates an imminent or occurring accident, the inflation elements 126 may be inflated to provide additional protection or cushioning to the wearer. Further, a battery 132 is provided for powering the processing element 120 and/or for providing a power source used in conjunction with inflating the inflatable elements 126. Alternatively, or additionally, the inflatable elements 126 may be pyrotechnic inflatable elements using a gas charge or the like . For inflation.

[0087] Now referring to Fig. 5A,B, which show a cross-sectional view and an exploded view of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0088] Figure 5A provides a cross-sectional view through the wearable protection element 110. In the exemplary embodiment of figure 5A, B, and elastic guidance element 122 is used to facilitate sensor data acquisition. The elastic guidance element 122 comprises a rip structure comprising a plurality of openings that are arranged to accommodate sensor element 112. Sensor element 1 12 is fed through the openings of the elastic guidance element 122 in a zigzag or meandering manner, as indicated by the black arrows depicted in conjunction with the elastic guidance element 122. By routing the sensor element 112 through the openings of the elastic guidance elements 122, forces or tension occurring within the fabric may be acquired by the sensor element 1 12 in a more reliable manner, since a single deformation of the elastic guidance element 122 may result in a plurality of deformations of the sensor element 112, thus, e.g., leading to an increased sensor signal and thus an increase in sensitivity of the sensor element 1 12.

[0089] The elastic guidance element 122 may be attached to the wearable protection element 1 10 essentially only at its ends, which are depicted as tabs at the left and right side of the elastic guidance element 122 in figure 5B.

[0090] As shown, the wearable protection element 110 comprises a fabric 124 to which the elastic guidance element 122 is attached to. Further fabric 134 may be provided at the opposite side of the elastic guidance element 122, so that the elastic guidance element 122 and thus, the sensor element 1 12, are encased by fabric 124 and 134. Alternatively, or additionally, fabric 134 may be separate from the wearable protection element 1 10, e.g., may be other fabric 134, e.g., a T-shirt, worn by the wearer underneath the wearable protection element 1 10. In this scenario, the elastic guidance element 122 and the sensor element 112 may be exposed in the interior of the wearable protection element 110.

[0091 ] A stretching of the fabric 124 of the wearable protection element 110, as indicated by a change of tension 114 in figure 5A, thus results in a stretching or elongation of the elastic guidance element 122, so that the sensor element 112 generates a sensor signal.

[0092] Now referring to Fig. 6A,B, which further embodiments of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0093] The exemplary embodiments in figures 6A, B employ a different type of sensor element 1 12. Here, sensor elements 112 employ a conductive yarn or conductive fabric that may integrated into the fabric of the wearable protection element 110. Thus, the sensor element 1 12 may be integrally formed when manufacturing the wearable protection element 110, or may be added subsequently. Exemplarily, in figures 6A, B, the wearable protection element 1 10 comprises a plurality of sensor elements 112, here seven sensor elements 1 12 across the chest and abdomen area of the wearable protection element 110. The individual sensor elements 112 are connected, exemplarily with external wiring to a processing element 120. Thus, a chest movement due to inhalation and exhalation results in the acquisition of exemplarily, seven independent sensor signals. Thus, a situational status may be acquired or different situational statuses may be differentiated with high precision, in particular in case a plurality of separate sensor signals are correlated and/or used for mutual verification.

[0094] Now referring to Fig. 7, which shows a usage scenario of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0095] Figure 7 shows a wearable protection element 110 a being worn by a wearer 118. The wearable protection element 1 10 is arranged to determine a situational status of the wearer as described previously. However, figure 7, does not depict any specific arrangement of sensor elements. Wearable protection element 100 comprises a communication element 128. Thus, the wearable protection element is arranged to communicate 129 with further devices or entities 140. For example, the wearable protection element 100 may employ the communication element 128 to communicate 129 the output indicative of a situational status of the wearer, acquired sensor data generated by the sensor elements and/or intermediary data derived from sensor data to said further devices or entities 140.

[0096] The wearable protection element 1 10/the communication element 128 may be arranged to communicate 129 via short range communication, near field communication or low energy, communication, for example, RFID, NFC or Bluetooth. Alternatively or additionally, wearable protection element 110/the communication element 128 may be arranged to communicate 129 via medium range or long-range communication, e.g., WiFi/WLan or cellular communication using a mobile communication network.

[0097] Both scenarios are depicted in figure 7. For example, the wearable protection element 110 may communicate 129 with a mobile device via any of the above-mentioned communication technologies, e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cellular communication. Further, the wearable protection element 110 may communicate 129 with a vehicle 142, e.g., a motorcycle, via any of the above-mentioned communication technologies, e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cellular communication. Still further, the wearable protection element may employ a communication 129 with mobile device 138 to communicate 129 with further devices or entities 140.

[0098] In figure 7, entity 140 may be associated with emergency medical services, law enforcement, or may be a supervision entity, potentially enabling or disabling the use of the vehicle 142, dependent on the situational status of the wearer. In order to communicate 129 with entity 140, the wearable protection device 1 10 may either directly communicate 129 with entity 140, e.g., using a mobile communication network 146, or may communicate 129 with mobile device 138, which in turn may communicate 129 with entity 140, e.g., again using a mobile communication network 146.

[0099] The wearable protection element 1 10 may thus transport 129 the output indicative of a situational status of the wearer, acquired sensor data generated by the sensor elements and/or intermediary data derived from sensor data to mobile device 138, vehicle 142 and/or entity 140. Upon receiving data or the output from wearable protection element 1 10, a mobile device may display information in relation to the situational status, e.g., to provide further information to the wearer 1 18 of the wearable protection element 110. The vehicle 142 in turn may enable or disable 144, at least part of its operation dependent on the received situational status or data. For example, if it is determined that the situational status of the wearer 118 relates to a dui (driving under the influence) situation, or the wearable appears to be agitated, the vehicle 142 may prohibit 144 operation of the vehicle, e.g., riding the motorcycle.

[0100] Likewise, entity 140, upon reception of data, or the output from wearable protection element 1 10 may dispatch emergency medical services and/or law enforcement. Alternatively, or additionally, entity 140 may communicate with the vehicle 142 to prohibit operation 144 of the vehicle, e.g., riding the motorcycle.

[0101 ] It is further conceivable that a communicated 129 situational status or change of the situational status may indicate an emergency situation, triggering an appropriate reaction from any of the mobile device 138, the vehicle 142 or entity 140. Such a reaction may e.g., again be dispatch of emergency medical services or an operation of the vehicle 142 in order to bring it to a controlled stop, in case the situational status indicates that the wearer 118 may be unable to bring the vehicle 142 to a controlled stop themselves.

[0102] Now referring to Fig. 8, which shows a method for determining a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element according to the present disclosure.

[0103] Method 200 determines a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element 1 10, wherein the wearable protection element 110 is arranged to be worn on an upper body part 1 16 of the wearer 1 18, wherein the wearable protection element 1 10 is arranged to surround the upper body part 1 16 when being worn and wherein the wearable protection element 110 comprises one or more tension sensor elements 112 and a processing element 120. The method comprises the steps of generating 202, by the one or more tension sensor elements, sensor data, processing 204, by the processing element, the sensor data, and generating 206, by the processing element, an output dependent of the sensor data, where the output is indicative of a situational status of the wearer of the wearable protection element.

[0104] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements may be made without deviating from the concepts described here. Any of the features described above and below may be used separately or in combination with any other features described herein, provided they are not mutually exclusive, and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and subcombinations of one or more features described herein.

[0105] Finally, it should be noted that the term "comprising" not exclude other elements or steps, and that "a" or "one" does not exclude the plural. Elements that are described in relation to different types of embodiments can be combined. Reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of a claim.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

110 wearable protection element

112 sensor element

114 movement/tension/change of tension

116 body part

118 wearer

119 closure element

120 processing element

122 elastic guidance element

124 fabric

126 inflation element

128 communication element

129 communication connection

130 passive protector

132 battery

134 T-Shirt/fabric

136 skin

138 mobile device

140 3rd party entity

142 vehicle

144 deactivation/prohibit operation

146 mobile communication network

200 Method for determining a situational status

202 generate sensor data

204 process the sensor data

206 generate an output

Claims

1 . A wearable protection element (1 10), arranged to be worn on an upper body part (116) of a wearer (118), wherein the wearable protection element (1 10) is arranged to surround the upper body part (1 16) when being worn, the wearable protection element (1 10) comprises one or more tension sensor elements (112) arranged to generate sensor data, and a processing element (120) arranged to process the sensor data and to generate an output dependent of the sensor data, where the output is indicative of a situational status of the wearer of the wearable protection element.

2. The wearable protection element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the signal is indicative of a movement (114) and/or movement type of and/or within the upper body part (116) of the wearer (118), for example a chest movement, and/or wherein the situation status is at least one status out of the group consisting of wearer is breathing, wearer is not breathing, wearer is fatigued, wearer is agitated, wearer is excited, wearer is incensed, wearer is driving under the influence, wearer is impaired, wearer is intoxicated, wearer is conscious, and wearer is unconscious.

3. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more tension sensor elements (112) are sensor elements for determining a tension (114) and/or change of tension occurring within the wearable protection element (110) and arranged to generate the sensor data based on said tension (1 14) and/or change of tension, and/or wherein the one or more tension sensor elements (1 12) are strain gauges arranged to react to a strain (1 14) or a change of strain occurring within the wearable protection element (1 10) and arranged to generate the sensor data based on said strain (1 14) or change of strain, and/or wherein the wearable protection element (1 10) is made at least in part of a fabric (124), and the one or more tension sensor elements (1 12) are generating the sensor data based on the tension (114), the change of tension, the strain and/or the change of strain is occurring within said fabric (124) of the wearable protection element.

4. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more tension sensor elements (1 12) are arranged to detect whether the wearer (118) of the wearable protection element (1 10) is breathing or is not breathing.

5. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the one or more tension sensor elements (1 12) is at least one of attached to the surface of the wearable protection element (1 10), integrated into the fabric (124) of the wearable protection element (110) or integrally formed with the fabric (124) of the wearable protection element (1 10).

6. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the one or more tension sensor elements (112) is arranged in at least one position on the wearable protection element (110) out of the group consisting of the anterior side, the posterior side, the chest region, the abdomen region, the upper back region, the lower back region, central to the central axis of the body of the wearer (118), offset to the left of the central axis, and offset to the right of the central axis.

7. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising more than one tension sensor element (1 12), wherein each tension sensor element (112) is arranged to generate sensor data independently, and wherein the processing element (120) is arranged to correlate the sensor data from at least two and/or each tension sensor element (1 12) for generating the output.

8. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an elastic guidance element (122) arranged to support at least of the one more tension sensor elements (1 12), wherein the elastic guidance element (122) is arranged so that the one or more tension sensor elements (1 12) is supported and/or routed through the elastic guidance element in at least one of a non-straight, a meandering, a zig-zag, interweaving and/or interleaving arrangement.

9. The wearable protection element (1 10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the elastic guidance element (122) is connected to or formed within the fabric (124) of the wearable protection element (110), so that a tension or change of tension occurring within the fabric (124) is transmitted to and reversibly deforms the elastic guidance element (122), and wherein by transmitting to and reversibly deforming the elastic guidance element (122), the one or more tension sensor elements (112) supported and/or routed through the elastic guidance element (122) generate the sensor data.

10. The wearable protection element (1 10) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the elastic guidance element (122) is made of a material from the group consisting of metal, alloy, composite material, reversible elastic material, metal, steel, stainless steel, copper alloys, elastomer material, polymer material, composite materials and shape memory alloys.

11 . The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the one or more tension sensor elements (1 12) are made of conductive fabric or conductive yarn, and wherein the conductive fabric or conductive yarn are integrally formed with the fabric (124) of the wearable protection element (1 10).

12. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wearable protection element (110) is at least in part inflatable, the wearable protection element (1 10) further comprising an inflation element (126) for inflating the wearable protection element (112), wherein the processing element (120) is arranged for initiating inflating the wearable protection element (110) dependent on at least one of the sensor data, the output and the situational status.

13. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, the wearable protection element (1 10) further comprising a communication element (128) for communicating with a further entity or device, and wherein dependent on at least one of the sensor data, the output and the situational status, the wearable protection element (1 10) is arranged to perform or initiate an action out of the group consisting of informing a third party about the sensor data, the output and the situational status and/or at least partly controlling operation of a vehicle the wearer is operating while wearing the wearable protection element (110).

14. The wearable protection element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing element (120), when processing the sensor data and/or when generating the output dependent of the sensor data, is arranged to employ a machine learning and/or an artificial intelligence algorithm to determine the situational status of the wearer.

15. Method (200) for determining a situational status of a wearer of a wearable protection element (1 10), wherein the wearable protection element (1 10) is arranged to be worn on an upper body part (1 16) of the wearer (1 18), wherein the wearable protection element (1 10) is arranged to surround the upper body part (1 16) when being worn, wherein the wearable protection element (1 10) comprises one or more tension sensor elements (1 12) and a processing element (120), the method comprising the steps of generate (202), by the one or more tension sensor elements, sensor data, process (204), by the processing element, the sensor data, and generate (206), by the processing element, an output dependent of the sensor data, where the output is indicative of a situational status of the wearer of the wearable protection element.

16. A computer program product or a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processing element, cause the processing element to carry out the method of claim 15.