Patient Bed Display Brightness Control Using Ambient Light Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patient support apparatuses lack an effective mechanism to automatically adjust the brightness of illuminated components such as displays, alert lights, and controls based on ambient light levels, potentially causing visual disturbances for patients and caregivers.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a system with ambient light sensors and a controller that adjusts the brightness of illuminated components in real-time, taking into account ambient light levels, and allowing for manual override or machine learning algorithms to determine optimal brightness settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the display and illuminated components are kept at high brightness levels, then visibility and readability are improved, but visual disturbances are caused to patients and caregivers
Solution Approach 1:
The display brightness is made dynamic rather than static. The controller automatically adjusts the brightness level based on ambient light conditions detected by light sensors, allowing the display to adapt its illumination intensity to the current environment. This resolves the contradiction by making brightness variable - high enough for visibility when needed, but reduced to avoid visual disturbance when ambient light is sufficient
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism is implemented where light sensors continuously monitor ambient light levels and provide this information to the controller. The controller then adjusts the display brightness accordingly, creating a closed-loop system. This feedback loop ensures the display brightness automatically responds to changing light conditions, preventing both excessive brightness and insufficient visibility
2Ease of operation
If manual brightness control is provided, then user preference can be accommodated, but the system requires additional user intervention and cannot automatically adapt to changing light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs brightness adjustment automatically without requiring user intervention. Light sensors detect ambient conditions and the controller autonomously modifies display brightness settings. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual adjustment while maintaining optimal visibility, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and automatic adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to handle multiple functions: it responds to both manual user inputs and automatic sensor-based adjustments. The controller can operate in different modes - manual override when users intervene, or automatic adjustment when sensors detect light changes. This multi-functionality allows the system to accommodate both manual control preferences and automatic adaptation requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures that illuminated components are adjusted to optimal brightness levels, reducing visual disturbances and improving usability and safety by automatically adapting to changing light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of ambient light sensors adapted to detect ambient light levels adjacent the display
Data Source
AI summary
A patient support apparatus, such as a bed, cot, stretcher, recliner, or the like, includes a patient support surface, a display, a plurality of indicators and/or controls, an ambient light sensors, and a controller. The display is adapted to be illuminated at multiple illumination levels, and the controller is adapted to receive ambient light level readings from the ambient light sensor, to use the ambient light level readings to automatically select a particular brightness level for the display, and to cause the display to display information at the particular brightness level. In some embodiments, multiple ambient light sensors are included and the readings of those within a valid range are averaged together to determine the particular brightness level. Machine learning algorithms may also be included for selecting the brightness level based on a user's prior history of manually selecting a brightness level.