Patient Support Battery Control With Selective Function Cutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patient care devices, such as thermal management systems and support apparatuses, often lack effective battery management, providing inadequate information about battery state and failing to conserve power efficiently, leading to inefficient usage and potential device malfunction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a control system that monitors battery charge and replacement status, enabling power conservation modes, displaying battery status information, and automatically adjusting device functionality to extend battery life and ensure continued operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the actuator is disabled in a first manner (raising support surface) but enabled in a second manner (lowering support surface) when battery charge state is below threshold, then battery power is conserved, but patient egress capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the actuator's operational characteristics based on the specific movement direction. When battery charge is below threshold, the control system allows the actuator to operate only in the energy-efficient direction (lowering the support surface for patient egress) while disabling the opposite direction (raising the surface). This selective enablement based on local operational needs resolves the contradiction by preserving patient egress capability while conserving battery power.
2Duration of action of moving object
If automatic power conservation steps are taken before battery is drained, then battery life is extended, but device functionality is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the device's functional capabilities adaptive to the battery charge state. The control system dynamically adjusts which functions are available based on real-time battery monitoring. When charge is sufficient, full functionality is available; when charge drops below thresholds, the system automatically transitions to power-conservation modes that limit functionality to essential operations only, thereby extending battery operational duration while maintaining necessary adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively implementing power conservation measures before the battery is completely drained. The control system monitors battery charge state and preemptively disables non-essential functions when charge drops below predetermined thresholds, preventing complete battery depletion and ensuring the device maintains critical functionality throughout the battery's operational life.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If sleep state cuts off power to all instruction-executing processors, then power consumption is minimized, but device responsiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through the sleep/awake state cycle of the control system. The system alternates between low-power sleep states (where instruction-executing processors are powered off) and active awake states (where processors are powered on and the device is fully responsive). This periodic cycling minimizes average power consumption while maintaining the capability for rapid response when needed, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, recliner, cot, stretcher, operating table, or the like, includes battery-powered circuitry whose functions are reduced, but not eliminated, as the battery charge level falls below a threshold. Electrical power may be cut off to one or more components of the battery-powered circuitry while still providing battery-supplied electrical power to the other components of the circuitry. A user interface provides battery status data, including a replacement status of a rechargeable battery, and allows a user to select different formats for displaying battery status data. Such formats include displays of battery charge level information not only in manners specific to the battery, but also in manners relative to the patient support apparatus, such as displays of how many, or how much of, one or more functions the patient support apparatus is able to perform based on the battery's current charge level.