Claims:I/We Claim:
1. A smart pill box (100) comprising:
a body (102), wherein the body (102) comprising compartments (122a-122d) having a lid (124);
a first sensor (106) and a second sensor (108) configured to sense signals representing a room temperature and a presence and/or absence of a human in a vicinity of the smart pill box (100), respectively;
a servo motor (118) operatively coupled to the lid (124), and configured to rotate the lid (124); and
a processing unit (120) coupled to the first sensor (106) and the second sensor (108), and configured to:
determine and compare the room temperature with a predefined safe room temperature and generate a first signal when the room temperature is greater than the predefined safe room temperature;
generate a second signal when the presence of the human is detected in the vicinity of the smart pill box (100); and
match a current time associated with a built-in clock with preset slots to enable the servo motor (118) to rotate the lid (124) to 45 degrees when a default time is a morning slot, to 90 degrees when the default time is an afternoon slot, to 135 degrees when the default time is an evening slot, and to 180 degrees when the default time is a night slot.
2. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a keypad (104) and a liquid crystal display (LCD) (114), wherein the keypad (104) is configured to enable a user to enter the current time such that the current time is displayed by way of the LCD (114).
3. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the LCD (114) is further configured to display the room temperature.
4. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a photodiode (110) and a neo pixel (112), wherein the photodiode (110) is configured to sense signals representing a day time and/or a night time and when the processing unit (120) detects the night time based on the sensed signals, the processing unit (120) activates the neo pixel (112) and when the processing unit (120) detects the day time based on the sensed signals, the processing unit (120) deactivates the neo pixel (112).
5. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the neo pixel (112) is selected from one of, a 12 pixel/ring, a 16 pixel/ring, a 24 pixel/ring, a giant 60 pixel/ring, or a combination thereof.
6. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a buzzer (116), to generate an audio alarm based on the first signal.
7. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, prior to rotating the lid (124) by way of the servo motor (118), the processing unit (120) detects a reception of the second signal.
8. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensor (106) is a temperature sensor.
9. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensor (108) is a Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor.
10. The smart pill box (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined safe room temperature is 40° Celsius.
Date: 23rd March 2022
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant

, Description:BACKGROUND
Field of the invention
[001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a medical apparatus and particularly to a smart pill box.
Description of Related Art
[002] There are many patients all over the world who are suffering from common diseases or illnesses that affects their health and life. Therefore, they need to continuously keep on with their health status, or immediate relief in some emergency cases, to avoid serious complications of the disease on patient’s health. Such patients have to maintain proper intake of medicines. However, such patients tend to forget time for medicine intake which can cause a lot of problems. Moreover, if the patients take the expired medicines, then that can cause serious health issues.
[003] There is thus a need for an automated device that can remind the patients about a medicine intake timing.
SUMMARY
[004] Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a smart pill box. The smart pill box comprising a body. The body comprising compartments having a lid. The smart pill box further comprises a first sensor and a second sensor configured to sense signals representing a room temperature and a presence and/or an absence of a human in a vicinity of the smart pill box, respectively. The smart pill box further comprises a servo motor operatively coupled to the lid, and configured to rotate the lid. The smart pill box further comprises a processing unit coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, and configured to: determine and compare the room temperature with a predefined safe room temperature and generate a first signal when the room temperature is greater than the predefined safe room temperature, generate a second signal when the presence of the human is detected in the vicinity of the smart pill box, and match a current time associated with a built in clock with preset slots to enable the servo motor to rotate the lid to 45 degrees when a default time is a morning slot, to 90 degrees when the default time is an afternoon slot, to 135 degrees when the default time is an evening slot, and to 180 degrees when the default time is a night slot.
[005] Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a smart pill box that is easy to use and cost effective.
[006] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a smart pill box that notifies a user based on preset time slots for medicine intake. Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a smart pill box that generates an audio alarm to notify the user for the medicine intake.
[007] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[008] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present disclosure. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present disclosure and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present disclosure in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present disclosure are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[009] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a smart pill box, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a processing unit of the smart pill box, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0012] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for operating the smart pill box, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0013] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be clear from this description of the disclosure that the disclosure is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the disclosure also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims.
[0015] "In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like."
[0016] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a smart pill box 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The smart pill box 100 may be a user-friendly pill box that can be used with a click of a button on a keypad. Further, the smart pill box 100 may be a cost-effective pill box. The smart pill box 100 may be configured to notify a time of taking a medicine and further to sense a temperature for safe storage of the medicine. Further, the smart pill box 100 may be configured to automatically glow light based on a time of the day. Furthermore, the smart pill box 100 may be configured to automatically open lids to enable a user to fetch the medicine from compartments of the smart pill box 100.
[0018] The smart pill box 100 may include a body 102 that may be designed to house components of the smart pill box 100. In some embodiments, the body 102 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, plastic, metal, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the material for the body 102, including known, related, and later developed materials. Further, the body 102 may have a shape such as, but not limited to, a cuboidal, a cylindrical, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any shape of the body 102. The smart pill box 100 may include a keypad 104, a first sensor 106, a second sensor 108, a photodiode 110, a neo pixel 112, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 114, a buzzer 116, a servo motor 118, and a processing unit 120. The smart pill box 100 may further include compartments 122a-122d having a lid 124 that covers the compartments 122a-122d and may be actuated by a way of the servo motor 118.
[0019] The compartments 122a-122d may be divided according to preset time slots such that the user may put the medicines according to the preset time slots in the corresponding compartments 122a-122d. For example, a first compartment 122a corresponds to a morning time slot i.e., 8:00 am, a second compartment 122b corresponds to an afternoon time slot i.e., 13:00 pm, a third compartment 122c corresponds to an evening time slot i.e., 17:00 pm, and a fourth compartment 122d corresponds to a night time slot i.e., 21:00 pm.
[0020] The keypad 104 may be disposed on a surface of the body 102 and coupled with a built-in clock (not shown) such that the keypad 104 enables the user to enter a current time for the smart pill box 100. In some embodiments, the keypad 104 may be, but not limited to, a membrane keypad, a capacitive keypad, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the keypad 104, including known, related, and later developed technologies. Based on the entered time, the LCD 114 may be configured to display the current time, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] The first sensor 106 may be disposed in the body 102 such that the first sensor 106 is configured to sense signals representing a room temperature. In some embodiments, the first sensor 106 may include a temperature sensor such as, but not limited to, a thermocouple, a Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD), a thermistor, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the first sensor 106, including known, related, and later developed technologies.
[0022] The second sensor 108 may be disposed in the body 102 such that the second sensor 108 is configured to sense signals representing a presence and/or an absence of a human in a vicinity of the smart pill box 100. In some embodiments, the second sensor 108 may include, but not limited to, an inductive proximity sensor, an optical proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, an ultrasonic proximity sensor, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the second sensor 108 may be a Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the second sensor 108, including known, related, and later developed technologies.
[0023] The photodiode 110 may be disposed on the body 102 of the smart pill box 100 such that the photodiode 110 is configured to sense signals representing a day time and/or a night time. In some embodiments, the photodiode 110 may be, but not limited to, a Positive-Negative (PN) photodiode, a Positive-Intrinsic–Negative (PIN) photodiode, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the photodiode 110, including known, related, and later developed technologies.
[0024] The neo pixel 112 may be disposed on the surface of the body 102 of the smart pill box 100 such that the neo pixel 112 illuminates the smart pill box 100 upon receiving input from the processing unit 120. The neo pixel 112 may be, but not limited to, a 12 pixel/ring, a 16 pixel/ring, a 24 pixel/ring, a giant 60 pixel/ring, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any size of the neo pixel 112, including known, related, and later developed technologies. The LCD 114 may be disposed on the surface of the body 102 of the smart pill box 100 such that the LCD 114 may be configured to display the current time and the room temperature based on the inputs received from the processing unit 120.
[0025] The buzzer 116 may be disposed in the body 102 such that the buzzer 116 may be configured to generate an audio alarm based on the input received from the processing unit 120. In some embodiments, the buzzer 116 may be, but not limited to, a Piezoelectric buzzer, a Magnetic buzzer, an Electromagnetic buzzer, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the buzzer 116, including known, related, and later developed technologies.
[0026] The servo motor 118 may be disposed in the body 102 of the smart pill box 100 and operatively coupled to the lid 124 such that the servo motor 118 is configured to rotate the lid 124 based on the input received from the processing unit 120 to enable the user to access the medicine stored in the compartments 122a-122d. In some embodiments, the servo motor 118 may be, but not limited to, a positional rotation servo motor, a continuous rotation servo motor, a linear servo motor, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the servo motor 118, including known, related, and later developed technologies.
[0027] The processing unit 120 may be coupled to the keypad 104, the first sensor 106, the second sensor 108, the photodiode 110, the neo pixel 112, the LCD 114, the buzzer 116, and the servo motor 118 by way of a wired and/or a wireless communication medium. It will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, that the processing unit 120 may be coupled to the keypad 104, the first sensor 106, the second sensor 108, the photodiode 110, the neo pixel 112, the LCD 114, the buzzer 116, and the servo motor 118 by way of any type of the wired and/or the wireless communication medium, without deviating from a scope of the present disclosure. The processing unit 120 may include suitable logic, instructions, circuitry, interfaces, and/or codes to perform one or more operations. For example, the processing unit 120 may be configured to notify the user for taking the medicine based on the time set by the user and the preset time slots. Further, the processing unit 120 may be configured to alert the user when environmental temperature is above a predefined threshold value such that the user may change a storage location of the smart pill box 100. Examples of the processing unit 120 may include, but not limited to, a microprocessor, a microcontroller processor, a development board, and the like. Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to include and/or otherwise cover any type of the processing unit 120, including known, related, and later developed technologies.
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates the processing unit 120 of the smart pill box 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The processing unit 120 may include a data collection module 200, a data processing module 202, an alert generation module 204, a lid control module 206, and a device lighting module 208.
[0029] The data collection module 200 may be configured to receive signals from the first sensor 106 and the second sensor 108. The data collection module 200 may be further configured to temporarily store the received signals in a memory (not shown). Further, the data collection module 200 may be configured to provide the received signals to the data processing module 202.
[0030] The data processing module 202 may be coupled to the data collection module 200. The data processing module 202 may be configured to determine a numerical value of the temperature of the surrounding environment of the smart pill box 100 based on the sensed signals received from the first sensor 106. Further, the data processing module 202 may be configured to compare the determined numerical value of the temperature with a numerical value of a predefined safe room temperature stored in the memory. In some embodiments, the predefined safe room temperature is 40 °Celsius. The data processing module 202 may be configured to generate a first signal when the determined numerical value of the temperature is greater than the numerical value of the predefined safe room temperature. Further, when the determined numerical value of the temperature is less than or equal to the numerical value of the predefined safe room temperature, then the data processing module 202 may be configured to fetch the sensed signals from the data collection module 200 to determine the corresponding numerical value of the temperature for comparison with the numerical value of the predefined safe room temperature.
[0031] In some embodiments, the data processing module 202 may be further configured to determine the presence and/or an absence of the human in the vicinity of the smart pill box 100 based on the sensed signals received from the second sensor 108. The data processing module 202 may be configured to generate a second signal when the presence of the human is detected in the vicinity of the smart pill box 100. Similarly, when the absence of the human is detected, then the data processing module 202 may be configured to generate a third signal.
[0032] In some embodiments, the data processing module 202 may be further configured to compare the current time in the built-in clock with the time entered by the user using the keypad 104. The data processing module 202 may be configured to generate an alert signal when the current time in the built-in clock is equal to the time entered by the user. In some embodiments, the data processing module 202 may be configured to process the sensed signals received from the photodiode 110 to detect the night time and/or the day time. When the data processing module 202 detects the night time, then the data processing module 202 may be configured to generate a light activation signal. Similarly, when the data processing module 202 detects the day time, then the data processing module 202 may be configured to generate a light deactivation signal. The data processing module 202 may be configured to provide the first signal and the alert signal to the alert generation module 204. The data processing module 202 may be further configured to provide the second and third signal to the lid control module 206. Further, the data processing module 202 may be configured to provide the light activation signal and the light deactivation signal to the device lighting module 208.
[0033] The first signal may enable the alert generation module 204 that may be configured to generate a first audio alarm to notify the user that the temperature is greater than the safe room temperature for the storage of the medicine. The data processing module 202 may be configured to generate the first audio alarm by way of the buzzer 116. Similarly, in some embodiments, the alert signal may enable the alert generation module 204 that may be configured to generate a second audio alarm to notify the user about timings for the medicine intake. In some embodiments, the alert generation module 204 may be further configured to alert the user about the timings for the medicine intake by displaying the current time through the LCD 114.
[0034] The lid control module 206 may be configured to fetch the current time from the built-in clock of the smart pill box 100. In an embodiment, when the lid control module 206 determines that the current time is equal to the time entered by the user for the morning slot and the lid control module 206 detects reception of the second signal, the lid control module 206 may be configured to activate the servo motor 118 such that the servo motor 118 rotates the lid 124 to 45 degrees. Similarly, when the lid control module 206 determines that the current time is equal to the time entered by the user for the afternoon slot and the lid control module 206 detects the reception of the second signal, then the lid control module 206 may be configured to activate the servo motor 118 such that the servo motor 118 rotates the lid 124 to 90 degrees. Similarly, when the lid control module 206 determines that the current time is equal to the time entered by the user for the evening slot and the lid control module 206 detects the reception of the second signal, then the lid control module 206 may be configured to activate the servo motor 118 such that the servo motor 118 rotates the lid 124 to 135 degrees. Similarly, when the lid control module 206 determines that the current time is equal to the time entered by the user for the night slot and the lid control module 206 detects the reception of the second signal, the lid control module 206 may be configured to activate the servo motor 118 such that the servo motor 118 rotates the lid 124 to 180 degrees.
[0035] The light activation signal may enable the device lighting module 208 that may be configured to activate the neo pixel 112 to illuminate the smart pill box 100. Similarly, the light deactivation signal may enable the device lighting module 208 that may be configured to deactivate the neo pixel 112 to stop the illumination of the smart pill box 100.
[0036] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 for operating the smart pill box 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] At step 302, the smart pill box 100 may receive the current time in HH:MM format (24 hrs format) entered by the user by way of the keypad 104.
[0038] At step 304, the smart pill box 100 may display the current time and the current room temperature by way of the LCD 114.
[0039] At step 306, the smart pill box 100 may compare the current room temperature with the predefined safe room temperature (i.e., 40°Celsius). When the smart pill box 100 determines that the current room temperature is greater than the predefined safe room temperature, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 308, otherwise the method 300 may return to the step 304.
[0040] At the step 308, the smart pill box 100 may generate the audio alarm by way of the buzzer 116 and further may display a warning message (i.e., “WARNNING!”) by way of the LCD 114.
[0041] At step 310, the smart pill box 100 may detect the night time and/or day time. When the smart pill box 100 detects the night time, then the method 300 may proceed to a step 312, otherwise the method 300 may proceed to a step 318.
[0042] At the step 312, the smart pill box 100 may activate the neo pixel 112 to illuminate the smart pill box 100.
[0043] At step 314, the smart pill box 100 may determine the presence and/or absence of the human in the vicinity of the smart pill box 100. When the smart pill box 100 determines the presence of the human, the method 300 may proceed to a step 316, otherwise the method 300 may return to the step 308.
[0044] At the step 316, the smart pill box 100 may rotate the servo motor 118 to 45 degrees when the default time is the morning slot, to 90 degrees when the default time is the afternoon slot, to 135 degrees when the default time is the evening slot, and to 180 degrees when the default time is the night slot.
[0045] At the step 318, the smart pill box 100 may deactivate the neo pixel 112 to stop the illumination of the smart pill box 100.
[0046] Embodiments of the disclosure are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the diagrams and combinations of blocks in the diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto one or more general purpose computers, special purpose computers, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce machines, such that the instructions which execute on the computers or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. Such computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the block or blocks.
[0047] While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0048] This written description uses examples to disclose the disclosure, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined in the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.