Virtual Control Panel for Medical Beds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional person support apparatuses, such as beds and stretchers, have control panels that are difficult to clean and disinfect, posing a risk of infectious material transmission, and lack dynamic control capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A virtual control panel system using an image projector, image sensor, and actuator to project control images on a surface, allowing users to interact with the apparatus through finger movements, with infrared detection for precise control and ambient light adjustment, enabling easy cleaning and dynamic control changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional control panels with buttons and touch screens are used, then control functionality is provided, but the control panels are difficult to clean and disinfect, posing infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an image projector to project a visual representation of control buttons onto a smooth, non-porous surface. This creates a virtual copy of the control panel interface without requiring physical buttons or touch screens. The projected image can be easily wiped away or cleaned from the smooth surface, eliminating the infection risk associated with conventional control panels while maintaining full control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical control panel system (physical buttons, switches, and touch screens) with an optical system (image projector displaying virtual controls). This substitution allows the control interface to be implemented on a smooth surface that can be easily cleaned and disinfected, resolving the contradiction between control functionality and ease of cleaning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional static control panels are used, then basic control functionality is provided, but the controls lack dynamic adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control by allowing the projected image to change its content, position, and characteristics in real-time. The control interface can adapt to different users, functions, and contexts by projecting different button configurations and layouts. This dynamic capability provides versatility without requiring multiple physical control panels, as the single projector can display any control configuration needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The image projector serves multiple functions: it displays control buttons, provides visual feedback, indicates system status, and can be reconfigured for different control scenarios. This single device replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized components, achieving adaptability while actually reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If image projector is used for virtual control panel, then ease of cleaning is improved, but control precision and user interaction accuracy may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors (such as capacitive, optical, or infrared sensors) that detect user interaction with the projected control interface. When a user approaches or touches the projected button area, the sensor provides feedback by detecting the interaction and triggering the corresponding control function. This feedback mechanism ensures precise control activation despite the virtual nature of the interface, maintaining measurement precision while preserving ease of cleaning.
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 virtual control panel reduces the risk of infectious transmission by being easy to clean and disinfect, while providing dynamic control options that enhance user interaction and apparatus functionality, such as adjusting height and orientation.
Implementation Method 1
an image projector that projects a control image onto the surface
Implementation Method 2
an infrared light source that projects a beam of infrared light along a plane that is generally parallel to the surface and spaced from the surface the threshold distance. The infrared detector detects reflections of the infrared light when the user's finger intersects the infrared light
Implementation Method 3
an actuator that moves a component of the person support apparatus when actuated
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual control panel for a person support apparatus includes at least one image sensor that monitors a movement of a user's finger(s) relative to a control surface. The control surface includes one or more control images thereon. When the user's finger(s) move within a threshold distance of the control image, a controller reacts as if the user had pushed an actual control button for the function that corresponds to the control image. The control image may be projected by a projector, and may have static or dynamic content. Alternatively, the control image may be printed on the surface, adhered thereto, or otherwise physically present. In some embodiments, ancillary devices may connect to the person support apparatus and forward images for projection on the control surface, thereby allowing the control surface of the person support apparatus to be used to control the ancillary devices.