Voice-actuated, speaker-dependent control system for hospital bed

• US 5,335,313 A
• Filed: 12/03/1991
• Issued: 08/02/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry L. Douglas
• Original Assignee: Terry L. Douglas
• Inventors: Douglas, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knepper, David D.
• Application Number:
  US07/801,257
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 381/29-51, 395/2, 364/413.01-413.04, 128/630
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05 Parts, details or accessories of beds devices for prevention against falling out A47C21/08, A47D7/00 ; mattresses A47C27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A voice-actuated environmental operator system of the kind which enables a user/patient to use simple voice commands to control a plurality of hospital environment room functions including operation of selected bed movement and room environment functions associated with a provided multi-function hospital bed. The operator system uses a conventional IBM PC, XT, AT or like computer which has been adapted for interfacing in a pass-through manner with the control unit of a provided hospital bed. The computer includes a voice card and associated voice recognition and training software for interpreting and translating voice input into digital information readable by a controller card for operating a plurality of bed motor and room function commands. The controller card includes a plurality of relay switch devices, each of which are dedicated to performing a specific bed movement or room function. An FCC registered data access arrangement is also provided to the controller card for telephone interface capability. In a first embodiment, data communication between the computer and the provided hospital bed'"'"'s control unit is by pass-through hard wire cable interface connection between bed control unit and the DB9 and DB15 serial port connectors on the back of the computer. The DB9 and DB15 serial port connectors are desoddered off the computer'"'"'s motherboard and wired directly to the controller board. A headset microphone assembly wearable by a patient user is provided to the system for transmitting voice input to said voice recognition means and receiving system command confirmation signals and telephone communications.

Claims

1. A voice-actuated speaker-dependent control system for use with a hospital bed having patient related devices of the kind which enable a user-patient to use simple voice commands to control a plurality of said patient-related devices including those in said hospital bed, each of said devices having an activating unit and a switch relay which activates said activating unit of each said device, said voice-activated patient-related device control system having means for acknowledging the receipt of said patient-user'"'"'s request and comprising in operative combination:

a) a computer disposed in association with said multi-functional hospital bed, said computer including;

i) a monitor, a keyboard, and a motherboard connected to said monitor and said keyboard and comprising a main central processor unit having a floppy-disk drive for a floppy disk and video card for displaying teaching instructions for said patient-user on said monitor;

ii) means for recognizing a patient'"'"'s voice for transforming a user-patient'"'"'s voice input into digital information and transmitting said digital information to said motherboard;

iii) a controller card is connected to said motherboard and to said patient-related devices and which functions as an interface between said motherboard and said patient-related devices, said controller card also being connected to said means for recognizing a user-patient'"'"'s voice; and

iv) teaching means for teaching said system to recognize teaching instructions from said user-patient'"'"'s voice; and

b) a headset assembly which is worn by said patient-user, said headset assembly including a microphone for use as a conventional telephone transmitter for transmitting voice input to said means for patient voice recognition and to said floppy disk, and an earphone for use as a conventional telephone receiver for receiving a signal from said means for acknowledging said patient-user'"'"'s request.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said teaching means comprises a program stored in said floppy disk and displayed on said monitor via said video card.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said means for recognizing a user-patient'"'"'s voice comprises a voice-recognition card connected to said headset assembly and to said motherboard.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein one of said patient-related devices is a telephone, said controller card comprises a plurality of indicating means for indicating the condition of said switch relay, and including a telephone amplifier for amplifying signals of said telephone, each of said indicating means being connected to a relay of said patient-related device associated with said relay.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said controller card further includes a first input connection element for connection to a first computer bus and two computer output serial ports and a telephone jack for connecting said telephone amplifier to said telephone.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein, apart from said multi-functional hospital bed and said telephone functions, said patient-related devices comprise at least one device selected from the group consisting of a nurse-call device, a bed light, a bed-movement motor control, and a television set with control of volume, channel, and on-off functions.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said voice-recognition card comprises a second input connection element for connecting to a second computer bus;

a microphone receiver jack connected to said microphone of said headset; and

an analog-to-digital converter between said headset and said second computer bus.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said means for acknowledging the receipt of said patient-user'"'"'s request comprises sound producing means connected to said motherboard.

9. A voice-actuated control system consisting of patient-related devices of the kind which enable a user-patient to use simple voice commands to control a plurality of patient-related devices, including a multi-functional hospital bed, each of said devices having a drive mechanism and a switch relay which activates said drive mechanism of each said device, said voice activated patient-related device control system having sound producing means for acknowledging the receipt of said patient-user'"'"'s request and comprising in operative combination:

a) a computer disposed in association with said multi-functional hospital bed, said computer including;

i) a monitor, a keyboard, and a motherboard connected to said monitor and said keyboard and comprising a main central processor unit having a floppy-disk drive for a floppy disk and video card for displaying teaching instructions for said patient-user on said monitor;

ii) means for recognizing a patient'"'"'s voice for transforming a user-patient voice input into digital information and transmitted to said motherboard, said means for recognition comprising a voice-recognition card which is connected to said headset assembly and to said motherboard;

iii) a controller card is connected to said motherboard and to said patient-related devices and which functions as an interface between said motherboard and said patient-related devices, said controller card being connected to said voice-recognition card;

one of said patient-related device being a telephone, said controller card comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes for indicating the condition of said switch relay, a telephone amplifier for amplifying signals of said telephone, each said light-emitting diodes being connected to a relay of said patient-related device associated with said relay; and

iv) teaching means for teaching said system to recognize a set of predetermined commands pronounced in the voice of said patient user; and

b) a headset assembly which is worn by said patient-user, including a microphone for use as a conventional telephone transmitter for transmitting voice input to said voice recognition card and to said floppy disk, and an earphone for use as a conventional telephone receiver for receiving a signal from said means for acknowledging said patient-user'"'"'s request.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said teaching means comprises a program stored in said floppy disk and displayed on said monitor via said video card.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said controller card further includes a first input connection element for connecting to a first computer bus and two computer output serial ports and a telephone jack for connecting said telephone amplifier to said telephone.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein, apart from said multi-functional hospital bed and said telephone, said patient-related devices include at least a nurse-call device, a bed light and a television set with control of volume, channel, and on-off functions.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said voice-recognition card comprises:

a second input connection element for connecting to a second computer bus;

a microphone receiver jack connected to said microphone of said headset; and

an analog-to-digital converter between said headset and said second computer bus.

14. A method of controlling patient-related devices by user-patient voice commands, including operating a multi-functional hospital bed, comprising in any operative sequence the steps of:

a) providing a multi-functional hospital bed having a plurality of associated patient-related devices, means for activating said patient-related devices, said patient related devices being responsive to voice commands, a headset comprising a microphone and an earpiece worn by a patient, a computer with a memory, a keyboard, a monitor, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting voice commands to digital signals, said computer having voice-recognition means for recognizing a set of predetermined voice commands of said patient, said computer having a floppy disk with reaching means for enabling said user-patient to teach said computer through said voice-recognition card to store and recognize said predetermined voice commands;

b) teaching said computer to store and recognize said predetermined voice commands by entering into said memory of said computer a set of predetermined voice commands by said user-patient who pronounces said commands through said microphone by repeating the teaching instructions shown on said monitor form said floppy disk;

c) disconnecting and removing said monitor and said keyboard from said computer after the completion of said teaching step;

d) storing said digital signals in said memory and backing up said digital signals in said floppy disk; and

e) selectively activating said patient-related devices by said patient selectively pronouncing said predetermined voice commands through the use of said microphone and said voice card without the use of said monitor and said keyboard.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said patient-related devices include at least a hospital bed, a telephone, a bed light, a nurse call, and television set.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said computer further includes:

a) a motherboard which contains said memory and is connected to said monitor and said keyboard and comprises a main central processor unit having a floppy disk drive for said floppy disk, and video card for displaying said teaching instructions for said user-patient on said monitor;

said voice recognition means comprising a voice recognition card which is connected to said headset and to said motherboard; and

b) a controller card which is connected to said mother board and to said patient related devices and which functions as an interface between said motherboard and said patient-related devices, said controller card being connected to said voice-recognition card, said controller card having a telephone amplifier.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said controller card further includes a first input connection element for connection to a first computer bus and two computer output serial ports and a telephone jack for connecting said telephone amplifier to said telephone.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said voice-recognition card comprises a second input connection element for connecting to a second computer bus;

a microphone receiver jack connected to said microphone of said headset; and

said analog-to-digital converter between said headset and a second computer bus.

19. A voice-actuated speaker-dependent control system for use with a hospital bed having patient-related devices of the kind which enable a user-patient to use simple voice commands to control, a plurality of patient-related devices, including those in said hospital bed, each of said devices having an activating unit and a switch relay which actives said activating unit of each said device, said voice-activated patient-related device control system having means for acknowledging the receipt of said patient-user'"'"'s request and comprising in operative combination:

a) a computer which is disposed in association with said multi-functional hospital bed, said computer has;

i) a motherboard which contains a central processor unit with built-in memory;

ii) a floppy-disk drive and a floppy disk which stores said simple voice commands of said user-patient and an operating program for said control system, said operating program including reaching instructions, said floppy disk drive being connected to said motherboard;

iii) a video card connected to said motherboard;

iv) a controller card which is connected to said motherboard and said patient-related devices and functions as an interface between said motherboard and said patient-related devices;

v) a voice recognition card for the recognition of said simple voice commands to transform said simple voice commands into digital-information transmitted to said motherboard under commands of said operating program, said voice commands consisting of teaching commands and operating commands; and

vi) a headset assembly which is worn by said patient-user including a microphone for use as a conventional telephone transmitter and for transmitting said simple voice commands to said voice recognition card and to said floppy disk, and an earphone for use as a conventional telephone receiver and means for receiving a signal from said means for acknowledging said patient-user'"'"'s request.

20. The system of claim 19, further including a plurality of removable parts which are used only during teaching said computer to recognize said simple voice commands, said plurality of removable parts comprising a monitor for displaying teaching instructions to said user patient, said monitor being connected to said video card, and a keyboard connected to said computer for entering said teaching instruction to said computer during said teaching for activating said operation program.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said voice-recognition card is connected to said headset assembly and to said motherboard.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein one of said patient-related devices is a telephone, said controller card comprising a plurality of indicating means for indicating the conditions of said switch relays, a telephone amplifier for amplifying signals of said telephone, each said indicating means being connected to a relay of said patient-related device associated with said relay.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said controller card further includes a first input connection element for connection to a first computer bus and two computer output serial ports and a telephone jack for connecting said telephone amplifier to said telephone.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein, apart from said multi-functional hospital bed and said telephone functions, said patient-related devices comprise at least one device selected from the group consisting of a nurse-call device, a bed light, a bed-movement motor control, and a television set with control of volume, channel, and on-off functions.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said voice-recognition card comprises a second input connection element for connecting to a second computer bus;

a microphone receiver jack connected to said microphone of said headset; and

an analog-to-digital converter between said headset and said second computer bus.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said means for acknowledging the receipt of said patient-user'"'"'s request comprises sound producing means connected to said motherboard.