Zero position detection device and method for medicine tray

Abstract

The invention provides a zero position detection device and method for a medicine tray. The zero position detection device comprises a round medicine tray, a stepping motor and a photoelectric switch. The round medicine tray is equally divided into m fan-shaped grids with the radius being R, and a light-transmitting area with the width being w and a zero position area with the width being 3w are arranged below each fan-shaped grid. The round medicine tray is connected with a stepping motor, and the stepping motor drives the round medicine tray to rotate at a constant speed; when the light-transmitting area and the zero area pass through the photoelectric switch, corresponding pulses are generated, detection and counting are carried out according to the pulses, after the preset number of pulses are counted, the stepping motor stops rotating, and the fan-shaped grids corresponding to the zero area directly face the medicine outlets in the round medicine tray. According to the zero position detection device and method for the medicine tray provided by the embodiment of the invention, the medicine tray automatically returns to the zero position before each time of medicine discharging through a method of increasing the zero position area, the rotation of the medicine tray caused by misoperation of personnel is avoided, meanwhile, the rotation of the medicine tray caused by abnormal errors of a system is also avoided, and the medicine taking accuracy is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of drug detection, and more specifically, to a zero position detection device and method for a medicine tray. Background Art

[0002] Existing smart medicine boxes with separate formats all use Hall switches or photoelectric switches to detect the rotation of the medicine tray, but they all rely on software to record the relative increments of the rotation of the medicine tray to handle medication management, and cannot determine the absolute position of the medicine tray. Once a human error or system abnormality causes the medicine tray to rotate, people may take the wrong medicine.

[0003] In order to avoid the medicine tray from rotating accidentally, the following two solutions are mainly adopted in the prior art: First, add a mechanical lock to fix the cover. Normally, the mechanical lock is closed, and personnel cannot open the cover to touch the medicine tray. When medicine is needed, the mechanical lock can be opened with a key. Second, add a medicine tray transmission mechanism, which has a braking effect on the rotation of the medicine tray to avoid misoperation.

[0004] Both of the above solutions require the addition of mechanical devices to prevent the medicine tray from rotating accidentally. The disadvantages are that the structural volume, cost and assembly complexity are increased, and the key that comes with the mechanical lock needs to be properly kept, which is not user-friendly for the elderly. In addition, neither of these two solutions can solve the problem of the medicine tray rotating due to software system abnormalities.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method to avoid medication errors caused by accidental rotation of the medicine tray to solve the above problem. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention provides a zero position detection device and method for a medicine tray that overcomes the above problems or at least partially solves the above problems. According to a first aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a zero position detection device for a medicine tray, comprising:

[0007] Round medicine tray, stepper motor and photoelectric switch;

[0008] The circular medicine plate is equally divided into m sector-shaped grids with a radius of R, and a light-transmitting area with a width of w and a zero-position area with a width of 3w are provided below each sector-shaped grid;

[0009] The circular medicine tray is connected to a stepper motor, and the stepper motor drives the circular medicine tray to rotate at a constant speed;

[0010] When the light-transmitting area and the zero-position area pass through the photoelectric switch, corresponding pulses are generated, and detection and counting are performed based on the pulses. After the count reaches a preset number of pulses, the stepper motor stops rotating, and the fan-shaped grid corresponding to the zero-position area faces the medicine outlet on the circular medicine tray.

[0011] The photoelectric switch includes a switch S1 and a switch S2. The switch S1 detects and counts the pulses generated in the zero position area, and the switch S2 detects and counts the pulses generated in the light-transmitting area.

[0012] When it is detected that the zero position area generates a 3T width pulse through the switch S1, the T width pulse generated by the light-transmitting area through the switch S2 starts to be counted, where T is a period.

[0013] Wherein, the stepper motor drives the circular medicine tray to rotate clockwise at a uniform speed.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention further provides a method for detecting a zero position of a medicine tray, comprising:

[0015] The switch S1 detects and counts the pulses generated in the zero position area, and the switch S2 detects and counts the pulses generated in the light transmission area;

[0016] When it is detected that the zero position area passes through the switch S1 to generate a 3T width pulse, the T width pulse generated by the light transmission area passing through the switch S2 starts to be counted;

[0017] After the continuous counting reaches a preset number of pulses, the stepper motor stops rotating so that the sector-shaped grid corresponding to the zero position area faces the medicine outlet. At this time, the position of the medicine tray is called the zero state.

[0018] Wherein, the method further comprises:

[0019] Before the circular medicine tray dispenses medicine, the circular medicine tray is adjusted to a zero state, and

[0020] When the device is in an abnormal state, the circular medicine disc is adjusted to a zero state.

[0021] Wherein, the method further comprises:

[0022] When the circular medicine tray is adjusted to a zero state, the number of pulses generated by the switch S2 is calculated according to the medication plan and medication record;

[0023] The stepper motor is controlled to rotate, and the grid corresponding to the medicine outlet is adjusted based on the number of pulses.

[0024] The embodiments of the present invention provide a zero position detection device and method for a medicine tray. By adding a zero position zone, the medicine tray automatically returns to the zero position before each medicine is dispensed, thereby avoiding rotation of the medicine tray due to human error and system abnormality. This improves the accuracy of medication and does not require the coordination of structural parts such as mechanical locks and gears, thereby reducing the product size and product cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a zero position detection device for a medicine tray provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 It is a schematic flow chart of a zero position detection method for a medicine tray provided in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The specific implementation of the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a zero position detection device for a medicine tray provided by an embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 1 As shown, including:

[0029] Round medicine tray, stepper motor and photoelectric switch;

[0030] The circular medicine plate is equally divided into m sector-shaped grids with a radius of R, and a light-transmitting area with a width of w and a zero-position area with a width of 3w are provided below each sector-shaped grid;

[0031] The circular medicine tray is connected to a stepper motor, and the stepper motor drives the circular medicine tray to rotate at a constant speed;

[0032] When the light-transmitting area and the zero-position area pass through the photoelectric switch, corresponding pulses are generated, and detection and counting are performed based on the pulses. After the count reaches a preset number of pulses, the stepper motor stops rotating, and the fan-shaped grid corresponding to the zero-position area faces the medicine outlet on the circular medicine tray.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the circular medicine tray 1 is a circular rotatable compartmented medicine tray for storing medicines. The customer mixes different medicines according to the instructions and puts them into corresponding compartments.

[0034] The circular medicine plate 1 is equally divided into m sector-shaped grids with a radius of R, where m>1, R>0, and a light-transmitting area 5 with a width of w is provided below each sector-shaped grid. One of the light-transmitting areas is set as a zero-position area 4 with a width of 3w.

[0035] A square groove is provided in the center of the circular medicine tray 1, through which the stepper motor 3 is connected. The photoelectric switch 2 is located below the circular medicine tray 1. When the stepper motor 3 drives the circular medicine tray 1 to rotate, the light-transmitting area 5 with a width of w will be converted into a square wave signal with a pulse width of T after passing through the photoelectric switch 2, where T is the period, and the zero-position area 4 with a width of 3w will be converted into a square wave signal with a pulse width of 3T after passing through the photoelectric switch 2. The microprocessor can determine the zero-position area based on the pulse width difference of the square wave signal, and then rotate the medicine tray to the corresponding sector-shaped grid to dispense medicine according to the medication plan, and remind people to take medicine.

[0036] The embodiments of the present invention provide a zero position detection device and method for a medicine tray. By adding a zero position zone, the medicine tray automatically returns to the zero position before each medicine is dispensed, thereby avoiding rotation of the medicine tray due to human error and system abnormality. This improves the accuracy of medication and does not require the coordination of structural parts such as mechanical locks and gears, thereby reducing the product size and product cost.

[0037] On the basis of the above embodiment, the photoelectric switch includes a switch S1 and a switch S2. The switch S1 detects and counts the pulses generated in the zero position area, and the switch S2 detects and counts the pulses generated in the light-transmitting area.

[0038] The embodiment of the present invention provides two photoelectric switches for detecting the width of the light-transmitting area. S1 and S2 are identical devices, located below the circular medicine tray. When the stepper motor drives the circular medicine tray to rotate at a constant speed, the light-transmitting area with a width of w will be converted into a square wave signal with a pulse width of T through the photoelectric switch, and the zero position area with a width of 3w will be converted into a square wave signal with a pulse width of 3T through the photoelectric switch.

[0039] On the basis of the above embodiment, when it is detected that the zero position area generates a 3T width pulse through the switch S1, the T width pulse generated by the light-transmitting area through the switch S2 starts to be counted, where T is a period.

[0040] For the start counting and zeroing state, when the device detects that the zero position area passes through the 3T width pulse generated by the photoelectric switch S1, the system starts counting the T width pulse generated by the light-transmitting area passing through the photoelectric switch S2. After counting n pulses continuously (n>1, determined by the relative positions of the photoelectric switches S1 and S2), the stepper motor stops rotating. At this time, the sector-shaped grid where the zero position area is located is just aligned with the medicine outlet. The state of the medicine tray at this time is called the zeroing state.

[0041] On the basis of the above embodiment, the stepper motor drives the circular medicine tray to rotate clockwise at a constant speed.

[0042] It can be understood that the stepper motor provided in the example of the present invention is a controllable motor, which rotates at a uniform speed to ensure the uniform distribution of the light-transmitting area. For the convenience of operating habits, the clockwise rotation direction is adopted, and the process can also be achieved counterclockwise. The embodiment of the present invention does not make specific limitations on this.

[0043] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a zero position detection method for a medicine tray provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, including:

[0044] 201. Switch S1 detects and counts pulses generated in the zero position area, and switch S2 detects and counts pulses generated in the light transmission area;

[0045] 202. When it is detected that the zero position area generates a 3T width pulse through the switch S1, the T width pulse generated by the light transmission area through the switch S2 is counted;

[0046] 203. After the continuous counting reaches the preset number of pulses, the stepper motor stops rotating so that the sector-shaped grid corresponding to the zero position area faces the medicine outlet. At this time, the position of the medicine tray is called the zero state.

[0047] Combination Figure 1 , Figure 2 The embodiment of the present invention is Figure 1 The control method proposed based on the device specifically includes step 201, using two photoelectric switches S1 and S2 to detect the width of the light-transmitting area, the stepper motor drives the medicine tray to rotate clockwise at a uniform speed, and the light-transmitting area will pass through the photoelectric switches S1 and S2 in sequence, the photoelectric switch S1 is responsible for detecting and counting the pulses generated in the zero-position area, and the photoelectric switch S2 is responsible for detecting and counting the pulses generated in the light-transmitting area. When the light-transmitting area passes through the photoelectric switch, the photoelectric switch will generate a corresponding pulse, and the width of the pulse is proportional to the width of the light-transmitting area. The light-transmitting area with a width of W corresponds to a pulse width of T, and the zero-position area with a width of 3W corresponds to a pulse width of 3T.

[0048] In step 202, when it is detected that the zero-position area passes through the 3T width pulse generated by the photoelectric switch S1, the system starts counting the T width pulses generated by the light-transmitting area passing through the photoelectric switch S2. This is the initial counting state of the device.

[0049] Finally, in step 203, after continuously counting n pulses (n>1, determined by the relative positions of photoelectric switches S1 and S2), the stepper motor stops rotating, and the fan-shaped grid where the zero position area is located is just aligned with the medicine outlet. The state of the medicine tray at this time is called the zero state. This is the zero state of the device, and the specific value of n is set according to the actual distance.

[0050] The embodiments of the present invention provide a zero position detection device and method for a medicine tray. By adding a zero position zone, the medicine tray automatically returns to the zero position before each medicine is dispensed, thereby avoiding rotation of the medicine tray due to human error and system abnormality. This improves the accuracy of medication and does not require the coordination of structural parts such as mechanical locks and gears, thereby reducing the product size and product cost.

[0051] Based on the above embodiment, the method further includes:

[0052] Before the circular medicine tray dispenses medicine, the circular medicine tray is adjusted to a zero state, and

[0053] When the device is in an abnormal state, the circular medicine disc is adjusted to a zero state.

[0054] It is understandable that before the medicine tray dispenses medicine each time, the system will adjust the medicine tray to a zero state to prevent the medicine tray from rotating accidentally under unknown circumstances.

[0055] Based on the above embodiment, the method further includes:

[0056] When the circular medicine tray is adjusted to a zero state, the number of pulses generated by the switch S2 is calculated according to the medication plan and medication record;

[0057] The stepper motor is controlled to rotate, and the grid corresponding to the medicine outlet is adjusted based on the number of pulses.

[0058] It can be understood that after the medicine tray returns to zero, the system will calculate the number of pulses generated by the photoelectric switch S2 that is passed through to transfer the medicine tray to the designated grid based on the medication plan and medication records, and then control the stepper motor to rotate at a uniform speed, and transfer the designated grid to the medicine outlet according to the number of pulses generated by the photoelectric switch S2, so as to facilitate the user to take the medicine.

[0059] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative, wherein the units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the scheme of this embodiment. Ordinary technicians in this field can understand and implement it without paying creative labor.

[0060] Through the description of the above implementation methods, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each implementation method can be implemented by means of software plus a necessary general hardware platform, and of course, it can also be implemented by hardware. Based on this understanding, the above technical solution is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, a disk, an optical disk, etc., including a number of instructions for a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in each embodiment or some parts of the embodiments.

[0061] Finally, the method of the present application is only a preferred implementation scheme and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A zero position detection device for a medicine tray, characterized in that: include: Round medicine tray, stepper motor and photoelectric switch; The circular medicine plate is equally divided into m sector-shaped grids with a radius of R, and a light-transmitting area with a width of w and a zero-position area with a width of 3w are provided below each sector-shaped grid; The circular medicine tray is connected to a stepper motor, and the stepper motor drives the circular medicine tray to rotate at a constant speed; When the light-transmitting area and the zero-position area pass through the photoelectric switch, corresponding pulses are generated, and detection and counting are performed based on the pulses. After the count reaches a preset number of pulses, the stepper motor stops rotating, and the fan-shaped grid corresponding to the zero-position area faces the medicine outlet on the circular medicine tray.

2. The zero position detection device for a medicine tray according to claim 1, characterized in that: The photoelectric switch includes a switch S1 and a switch S2. The switch S1 detects and counts the pulses generated in the zero position area, and the switch S2 detects and counts the pulses generated in the light-transmitting area.

3. The zero position detection device for a medicine tray according to claim 2, characterized in that: When it is detected that the zero position area generates a 3T width pulse through the switch S1, the T width pulse generated by the light-transmitting area through the switch S2 starts to be counted, where T is a period.

4. The zero position detection device for a medicine tray according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stepper motor drives the circular medicine tray to rotate clockwise at a uniform speed.

5. A method for detecting the zero position of a medicine tray, characterized in that: include: The switch S1 detects and counts the pulses generated in the zero position area, and the switch S2 detects and counts the pulses generated in the light transmission area; When it is detected that the zero position area passes through the switch S1 to generate a 3T width pulse, the T width pulse generated by the light transmission area passing through the switch S2 starts to be counted; After the continuous counting reaches the preset number of pulses, the stepper motor stops rotating so that the sector-shaped grid corresponding to the zero position area faces the medicine outlet. At this time, the position of the medicine tray is called the zero state.

6. The method for detecting the zero position of a medicine tray according to claim 5, characterized in that: The method further comprises: Before the circular medicine tray dispenses medicine, the circular medicine tray is adjusted to a zero state, and When the device is in an abnormal state, the circular medicine disc is adjusted to a zero state.

7. The method for detecting the zero position of a medicine tray according to claim 5, characterized in that: The method further comprises: When the circular medicine tray is adjusted to a zero state, the number of pulses generated by the switch S2 is calculated according to the medication plan and medication record; The stepper motor is controlled to rotate, and the grid corresponding to the medicine outlet is adjusted based on the number of pulses.

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