Surgical light with touchless switch

• US 5,637,863 A
• Filed: 08/24/1994
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MDT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MDT Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Hara, Shawn E., Sanborn, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US08/295,997
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 315/362, 315/155, 315/158, 315/159, 315/313, 315/312, 315/153, 362/804, 362/13, 362/33, 362/227, 362/233, 250/221, 250/214 B, 250/227.23
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An operatory light fixture having a touchless switch operatively connected to a lamp disclosed. The touchless switch is constructed to detect a user'"'"'s hand when positioned in a command location relative to the touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating the lamp. In a preferred embodiment, the touchless switch is an active infrared-type switch, comprising means for emitting infrared light toward a command location, means for detecting infrared light reflected from an object such as a hand which is positioned at or near the command location, and relay means responsively connected to the detection means and operatively connected to the lamp. In another preferred embodiment, the touchless switch includes means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of an object such as a user'"'"'s hand at the command location, from randomly occurring fluctuations in light intensity in the operatory environment.

Claims

1. An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having at least one lamp disposed in a housing, and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to include detection means to detect an object placed in a command location, within said sterile environment, relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp and further including means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said object at said command location from stray light impinging on said detection means.

2. An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having at least one lamp disposed in a housing, and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location, within said sterile environment, relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, said touchless switch being an active reflectance-sensitive switch, comprising means for emitting light, means for detecting light reflected from said object, and relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp.

3. The operatory light of claim 2, wherein said light-emitting means emits infrared light.

4. The operatory light of claim 2, wherein said means for emitting light is constructed to focus said emitted light to said command location, and said means for detecting light is constructed and positioned to receive a substantial portion of reflected light which is reflected from said object in said command region.

5. The operatory light of claim 4, which further includes means for discriminating a true signal produced by said object at the command location from stray light and fluctuations in stray light intensity impinging on the detection means from the surrounding environment.

9. The operatory light of claim 3, which is a dental operatory light.

6. An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having:

at least one lamp disposed in a housing; and

a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising;

means for emitting light, wherein said means for emitting light is constructed to focus said emitted light to said command location;

detection means for detecting light reflected from said object, wherein said detection means is constructed and positioned to receive a substantial portion of reflected light which is reflected from said object in said command location;

relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and

discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by said object at the command location from stray light and fluctuations in stray light intensity impinging on the detection means from the surrounding environment;

wherein said discrimination means comprises optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light impinging on said detection means.

7. An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having:

at least one lamp disposed in a housing; and

a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp;

wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising;

means for emitting light, wherein said means for emitting light is constructed to focus said emitted light to said command region;

detection means for detecting light reflected from said object, wherein said detection means is constructed and positioned to receive a substantial portion of reflected light which is reflected from said object in said command location;

relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and

discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by said object at the command location from stray light and fluctuations in stray light intensity impinging on the detection means from the surrounding environment;

wherein said discrimination means comprises electrical filtering means disposed between an output of said detection means and said switch, for blocking detected signals having a frequency below a selected frequency limit.

8. The operatory light of claim 7, wherein said discrimination means further comprises optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light received by said detection means.

10. A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state and means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of a user'"'"'s hand at a command location from stray light, constructed and arranged such that said switch will toggle in response to only true signals.

11. The light fixture of claim 10, wherein said touchless switch is constructed to include detection means to detect a user'"'"'s hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp and further including means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said hand at a command location from stray light impinging on said detection means.

12. A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being an active reflectance-sensitive switch, comprising means for emitting light, means for detecting light reflected from a user'"'"'s hand, and relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp, said touchless switch being constructed to detect said hand when said hand is positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp.

13. A dental operatory light fixture, comprising at least one lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being constructed to detect a user'"'"'s hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising:

light emitting means for emitting light;

detection means for detecting light reflected from said user'"'"'s hand;

relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and

a block having first and second channels formed therein, wherein said light emitting means is disposed within said first channel and said detection means is disposed within said second channel.

14. The light fixture of claim 13, wherein said first and second channels each have corresponding longitudinal axes, and said first and second channels are angled towards each other such that said longitudinal axes intersect in said command region.

15. The light fixture of claim 14, wherein said first and second channels have respective first and second interior diameters, said second interior diameter being between about half and about 3/4 of said first interior diameter.

16. The light fixture of claim 15, further including optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light received by said detection means.

17. The light fixture of claim 16, wherein said light-emitting means emits infrared light.

18. A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being constructed to detect a user'"'"'s hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, further including means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user'"'"'s hand at the command location from stray light impinging on the detection means.

19. A dental operatory light fixture, comprising:

at least one lamp within a housing;

a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, wherein said touchless switch includes detection means constructed to detect a user'"'"'s hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp; and

discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user'"'"'s hand at the command location from stray light impinging on the detection means, wherein said discrimination means comprises optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light received by said detection means.

20. A dental operatory light fixture, comprising:

at least one lamp within a housing;

a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, wherein said touchless switch includes detection means constructed to detect a user'"'"'s hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp; and

discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user'"'"'s hand at the command location, from stray light impinging on the detection means, wherein said discrimination means comprises electrical filtering means disposed between an output of said detection means and said switch, for blocking detection means signals having a frequency below a selected frequency limit.