METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF AN APPARATUS

• US 20120286179A1
• Filed: 01/11/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buffalo Filter LLC
• Original Assignee: Medtek Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Palmerton, Daniel R., Pepe, Gregory J., Lizauckas, Anthony L. III, Shvetsov, Kyrylo, Palmerton, Christopher A., Bonano, Samantha, Kellner, William J., Miller, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,164,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/001 Means for regulating or setting the meter for a predetermined quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/005 Valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25312 Pneumatic, hydraulic modules, controlled valves

Abstract

A remotely activatable valve unit having: an inlet port; an exit port; an electronically activatable valve configured and arranged between the inlet port and the exit port; a receiver having an output; and a controller configured to operate the valve as a function of the receiver output. The exit port may be configured to attach to a vacuum means or to a wall vacuum.

Claims

1. A remotely activatable valve unit comprising:

an inlet port;

an exit port;

an electronically activatable valve configured and arranged between said inlet port and said exit port;

a receiver having an output; and

a controller configured to operate said valve as a function of said receiver output.

2. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exit port is configured to attach to a vacuum means.

3. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said exit port is configured to attach to a wall vacuum.

4. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a liquid exit port.

5. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve is a solenoid valve.

6. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve has a biased default position.

7. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 6 wherein said default biased position is a closed position.

8. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 7 wherein said receiver is an input wire.

12. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver is a current sensor.

13. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said current sensor is arranged in series between a power supply and an electrosurgical device.

14. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said current sensor is electrically isolated from a current flow it is configured to sense.

15. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 12 wherein said current sensor is a hall effect sensor.

16. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver is a acoustic sensor.

17. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 16 wherein said acoustic sensor is configured and arranged to narrowly sense a sound frequency produced by an electrosurgical power unit.

18. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to open said valve when said receiver output is greater than a first threshold, and close said valve when said receiver output is less than said first threshold.

9. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 101 wherein said receiver is a radio-frequency sensor.

10. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 9 wherein said receiver is configured to measure a radio-frequency signal across a narrow frequency range.

11. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 9 wherein said frequency range is centered at about 13.56 megahertz.

19. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 101 wherein said controller is configured to open said valve when a time average of said receiver output is greater than a first threshold.

20. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 101 wherein said controller is configured to calculate a frequency range of said receiver output.

21. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 101 wherein said controller is configured to open said valve as a function of a time delay threshold.

22. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 101 wherein said controller is configured to open said valve when said receiver output is greater than a first threshold for a duration of time greater than a time delay.

23. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 101 wherein said controller is configured to keep said valve open for a second time delay before closing said valve when said receiver output drops below a first threshold.

24. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 101 and further comprising a filter.

25. The remotely activatable valve unit as set forth in claim 101 and further comprising a canister for collecting liquid.

26. A remote control unit comprising:

an receiver having an output;

an output control line for controlling a device;

a threshold setting button;

a threshold parameter storage;

a controller, configured to store a threshold parameter into said threshold parameter storage when said threshold setting button is depressed, said threshold parameter being a function of said receiver output; and

wherein said controller is configured to produce a signal on said output control line as a function of said receiver output and said threshold parameter storage.

27. A remote control unit as set forth in claim 26 wherein said receiver is a RF receiver.

28. A remote control unit as set forth in claim 27, wherein said RF receiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.

29. A remote control unit as set forth in claim 27, wherein said RF receiver is an IEEE 802.11b transceiver.

30. A remote control unit as set forth in claim 26 wherein said receiver is an acoustic receiver.

31. A remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 wherein said output control line is a digital wire whereby a first voltage on said output control line is used to identify when said device is turned on and a second voltage on said output control line is used to identify when said device is turned off.

32. A radio-frequency remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 wherein said RF receiver may comprise an antenna.

33. A radio-frequency remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 wherein said antenna is an integrated antenna.

34. A radio-frequency remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 and further comprising a delay parameter.

35. A radio-frequency remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 wherein said controller is configured to produce a signal on said output control line as a function of said delay parameter.

36. A radio-frequency remote control unit as set forth in claim 35, and wherein said controller is configured and arranged such that when said threshold setting button is depressed, said controller sets said delay parameter as a function of a duration of time that said threshold setting button is depressed.

37. A radio-frequency remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 and further comprising a logic level parameter used to designate whether a high voltage on said output control line designates an on or an off command to said device.

38. A radio-frequency remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 wherein said controller is configured and arranged to debounce said RF receiver output.

39. A radio-frequency remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 and further comprising a transistor for amplifying said RF receiver output.

40. A remote control unit as set forth in claim 201 and further comprising a channel for retaining a current carrying wire.

41. A remote control unit as set forth in claim 40 wherein said channel is configured to hold a plurality of wires.

42. A remote control unit comprising:

an receiver having an output;

an output control line for controlling a device;

a threshold parameter storage;

an integrated antenna;

a controller;

wherein said controller is configured to produce a signal on said output control line as a function of said receiver output and said threshold parameter storage.