handset
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handsets for controlling surgical operating tables are cumbersome and difficult to use, requiring healthcare operators to search for and select movement functions from numerous push buttons, which lacks feedback and control over movement speed.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device with a touchscreen display and minimal physical switches, arranged in ergonomic groups, allowing for intuitive selection and control of movement functions with visual, audible, and haptic feedback, enabling precise control over the surgical operating table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If many push buttons are provided on the handset to control all movement functions, then the device can control all functions, but the handset becomes complex and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The single joystick control serves multiple functions by detecting different directions and magnitudes of movement to trigger various table adjustment commands. Instead of requiring separate buttons for each function, the joystick universally controls all movement functions through its positional and directional information, reducing complexity while maintaining full control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical push button array with an electronic joystick interface that uses electrical signals and computer processing to interpret user input. This substitution allows for more intuitive control through natural hand movements rather than requiring precise button pressing, significantly improving ease of operation.
2Area of stationary object
If the array of push buttons is made small to fit the handset, then the device size is reduced, but it becomes more difficult to locate and select buttons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical button array with a digital touchscreen interface displaying visual icons. This allows the handset to maintain a compact size while providing large, easily visible control elements that are simple to locate and select through touch, eliminating the trade-off between size and usability.
3Speed
If push buttons are used to control movement speed, then speed control is possible, but multiple buttons are required for different speed levels
Solution Approach 1:
The joystick provides dynamic speed control where the magnitude of movement from the center position directly corresponds to the speed level. Instead of requiring discrete buttons for different speed levels, the continuous analog nature of the joystick allows smooth, proportional speed adjustment, reducing complexity while enabling precise speed control.
4Ease of operation
If manual button pressing is used to activate movements, then control is simple, but no visual, audible or touch feedback is provided to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates multiple feedback mechanisms including visual display updates showing current table position and active commands, audible alerts for system status, and haptic feedback through the touchscreen interface. This comprehensive feedback system maintains control simplicity while providing rich information to the user, eliminating the loss of information problem.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A handset for controlling a device having a plurality of movable elements, the handset comprising a housing, a display on a front face of the housing, the display being divided into a plurality of zones, each zone including at least one icon switch, each icon switch being aligned with a respective associated icon, wherein each icon identifies a respective element or group of elements of a device to be controlled by the respective icon switch, and a plurality of physical switches on the front face, each physical switch being associated with a respective zone, and wherein each physical switch is configured to control movement of the element or elements shown by the icon or icons in the respective zone, and a control mechanism within the housing which is connected to the plurality of icon switches and the plurality of physical switches, the control mechanism being arranged to generate an output control signal for transmission to the device in response to an input command at the plurality of icon switches and the plurality of physical switches.