Nurse call indicator lamp

• US 20040222897A1
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Simplexgrinnell LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Simplexgrinnell LP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Brenner, Andreas, Schuhmann, Werner
• Application Number:
  US10/804,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20040222897A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/222 Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems selective calling systems and call receivers H04W84/00, H04W68/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A nurse call indicator includes a housing capable of supporting plural, individually replaceable indicator lamps, as well as plural indicator lamps. Each indicator lamp is mountable in a single indicator space within the housing. Indicator lamps may be single or multi-color, for example, by using different colored LEDs which light depending on the applied polarity.

Claims

1. A nurse call indicator, comprising:

a housing capable of supporting plural, individually replaceable indicator lamps; and

said plural indicator lamps, each such indicator lamp comprising

a printed circuit board mountable in a single indicator space within the housing, and

at least one LED mounted on the printed circuit board.

2. The nurse call indicator of claim 1, each lamp displaying a distinct color.

3. The nurse call indicator of claim 1, each indicator lamp further comprising a resistor such that the lamp is able to operate at a standard voltage normally used for a non-LED bulb.

4. The nurse call indicator of claim 1, at least one of indicator lamp comprising plural LEDs of same color, the plural LEDs being activated simultaneously to provide extra brightness.

5. The nurse call indicator of claim 1, at least one indicator lamp being capable of displaying at least two colors, a first polarity activating a first color, and a second polarity activating a second color.

6. The nurse call indicator of claim 5, said multi-color indicator lamp having thereon different colored LEDs, the first polarity lighting a first LED having the first color, the second polarity lighting a second LED having the second color.

7. The nurse call indicator of claim 5, said multi-color indicator lamp identifying at least two different room statuses depending on the activated color.

8. The nurse call indicator of claim 1, the housing having been constructed to accept standard bulbs, each indicator lamp able to replace a standard bulb within the housing.

9. The nurse call indicator of claim 1, the printed circuit having mounted thereon means for electrically connecting the printed circuit to an incandescent bulb socket in the housing for the purpose of supplying power to said indicator lamp.

10. The nurse call indicator of claim 1, the printed circuit having mounted thereon electrically conductive rails for electrically connecting the printed circuit to an incandescent bulb socket in the housing for the purpose of supplying power to said indicator lamp, said rails having protrusions which, when inserted into said socket, are in electrical contact with said socket.

11. The nurse call indicator of claim 1, the printed circuit having an opening which fits over said socket.

12. An individually replaceable nurse call indicator lamp for use in a nurse call indicator housing capable of supporting plural indicator lamps, said indicator lamp comprising:

a printed circuit board mountable in a single indicator space within the housing, and

at least one LED mounted on the printed circuit board.

13. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 12, each lamp installed in the housing displaying a distinct color.

14. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 12, further comprising a resistor such that the lamp is able to operate at a standard voltage normally used for a non-LED bulb.

15. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 12, further comprising plural LEDs of same color, the plural LEDs being activated simultaneously to provide extra brightness.

16. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 12, said indicator lamp being capable of displaying at least two colors, a first polarity activating a first color, and a second polarity activating a second color.

17. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 16, said indicator lamp having thereon different colored LEDs, the first polarity lighting a first LED having the first color, the second polarity lighting a second LED having the second color.

18. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 16, said indicator lamp identifying at least two different room statuses depending on the activated color.

19. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 12, the housing having been constructed to accept standard bulbs, said indicator lamp able to replace a standard bulb within the housing.

20. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 12, the printed circuit having mounted thereon means for electrically connecting the printed circuit to an incandescent bulb socket in the housing for the purpose of supplying power to said indicator lamp.

21. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 12, the printed circuit having mounted thereon electrically conductive rails for electrically connecting the printed circuit to an incandescent bulb socket in the housing for the purpose of supplying power to said indicator lamp, said rails having protrusions which, when inserted into said socket, are in electrical contact with said socket.

22. The nurse call indicator lamp of claim 12, the printed circuit having an opening which fits over said socket.

23. A method for replacing a nurse call dome lamp incandescent bulb with an LED indicator lamp, said method comprising:

removing the incandescent bulb; and

installing the LED indicator lamp in place of the incandescent bulb, the LED indicator lamp comprising

a printed circuit board mountable in a single indicator space within the housing, and

at least one LED mounted on the printed circuit board.

24. The method of claim 23, said indicator lamp being capable of displaying at least two colors, a first polarity activating a first color, and a second polarity activating a second color.

25. The method of claim 24, said indicator lamp having thereon different colored LEDs, the first polarity lighting a first LED having the first color, the second polarity lighting a second LED having the second color.

26. The method of claim 24, said indicator lamp identifying at least two different room statuses depending on the activated color.

27. The method of claim 23, the housing having been constructed to accept standard bulbs, said indicator lamp replacing a standard bulb within the housing.

28. The method of claim 23, the printed circuit having mounted thereon means for electrically connecting the printed circuit to an incandescent bulb socket in the housing for the purpose of supplying power to said indicator lamp.

29. The method of claim 23, the printed circuit having mounted thereon electrically conductive rails for electrically connecting the printed circuit to an incandescent bulb socket in the housing for the purpose of supplying power to said indicator lamp, said rails having protrusions which, when inserted into said socket, are in electrical contact with said socket.

30. The method of claim 23, the printed circuit having an opening which fits over said socket.