Nurse Call Communication Bus Wiring Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nurse call communication systems face increased economic and environmental costs due to the need for additional wiring and power to support enhanced functionality, particularly with the integration of microcontrollers for digital communication between patient and room controllers.
Innovation Solution
A communication system utilizing a communication bus with a single data line and speech line, shared among multiple patient communication devices, connected to a nurse communication device via wired or wireless connections, allowing for efficient speech communication initiation and management without dedicated wiring for each device, using a serial protocol with frames and a speech direction unit to enable half-duplex communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If microcontrollers and digital communication are used to enhance functionality in patient communication devices, then speech communication and data transfer capabilities are improved, but the number of wires and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication functions (speech communication, data transfer, power supply) into a single communication bus infrastructure. The room controller and patient communication devices share common wiring for power and ground, and use the same bus for both analog speech signals and digital data frames, eliminating the need for separate dedicated wiring for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication bus is designed to serve multiple purposes: it provides power supply, carries analog speech signals, and transmits digital data frames simultaneously. This multi-functional bus replaces what would traditionally require separate dedicated wires for each function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced capabilities.
2Reliability
If dedicated wiring is used for each patient communication device, then communication reliability is improved, but the economic and environmental costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple patient communication devices are connected to the room controller through a shared communication bus rather than dedicated individual wiring. The bus combines power supply, ground, and signal transmission functions, reducing the total quantity of wiring material needed while maintaining reliable communication through proper signal addressing and protocols.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional power is provided to support enhanced functionality, then speech communication capabilities are improved, but the power budget of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply function is merged with the communication bus infrastructure. The same wiring that carries speech and data signals also provides power delivery to patient communication devices, eliminating the need for separate power wiring and reducing overall power budget requirements while supporting enhanced functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is related to a communication system. More in particular, the present invention is related to a nurse call system with which a patient can establish a speech communication link with a nurse using a patient communication device located for instance near the bed of the patient. The communication system of the present invention uses a serial protocol for data transfer in combination with speech data transfer over a communication bus with a limited amount of wiring.