Patient Support Battery Control With Low-Charge Function Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patient care devices, such as thermal management systems and support apparatuses, often lack effective battery management, providing insufficient information about battery state and health, leading to inefficient power usage and potential battery drainage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a control system that monitors battery charge and replacement status, enabling power conservation by adjusting device functionality, displaying battery status information, and automatically switching to a low-power sleep state to extend battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the device provides full functionality and continuous operation, then the user experience and device performance are improved, but the battery charge is depleted faster
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts device functionality based on battery charge state. When charge exceeds the threshold, full functionality is enabled. When charge falls below the threshold, the system automatically reduces functionality to essential operations only, thereby adapting power consumption to available energy reserves and extending operational time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters based on battery charge level. It monitors charge state continuously and modifies device behavior parameters (such as motor operation, display refresh rates, sensor polling intervals) according to whether the charge is above or below the predetermined threshold, optimizing energy usage for each charge condition.
2Loss of information
If the device provides detailed battery status information, then the user can make informed decisions about device usage, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements a feedback mechanism that monitors battery charge state and provides information to the user through the display interface. The system compares actual charge state against the threshold and communicates status (full functionality available vs. limited functionality) to enable informed user decisions without requiring complex monitoring infrastructure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device allows full actuator movement in both directions, then the device versatility is maintained, but the battery charge depletes faster when charge is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different operational constraints to different actuator movements based on charge state. When charge is below the threshold, the system selectively limits certain movements (such as raising the support surface) while allowing others (such as lowering), applying local quality control to prioritize energy-efficient operations while maintaining essential functionality.
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.