Apparatus for manipulating an operating theater lamp

• US 6,160,582 A
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gebrueder Berchtold GmbH
• Original Assignee: Gebrueder Berchtold GmbH
• Inventors: Hill, Wolfram
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alemu, Ephrem
• Application Number:
  US09/237,505
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/312, 315/317, 315/318, 315/316, 315/292, 348/68, 348/69, 348/211, 348/370, 348/373, 362/804, 362/285, 600/122, 600/149
• US Class Current: 348/370
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/403 for operation or dentist lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

In a method for the manipulation of an operating theater lamp, control signals are conducted via a signal path which is conducted in the interior of the lamp between an operating unit and at least one setting element. The control signals are modulated via a modulator onto a carrier signal and demodulated back from the latter via a demodulator.

Claims

1. An operating theater lamp comprising a lamp body including a grip;

a miniature camera attached to the grip;

a suspension supporting the lamp body and having a plurality of joints each including a drive device for manipulating the lamp body;

first and second modulator/demodulator units connected via an electric line, the first modulator/demodulator unit being attached to the lamp body;

an operating unit connected to the second modulator/demodulator unit and generating control signals for independently controlling operation of the miniature camera and at least one of lamp body manipulation movements and a portion of the suspension; and

means for supplying a carrier signal and modulating the control signals with one of the first and second modulator/demodulator units onto the carrier signal and demodulating the modulated control signals with the other one of the first and second modulator/demodulator units.

2. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, comprising a remote controlled laser pointer at the lamp body and a drive element for moving the laser pointer.

3. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 2, comprising one of a sensor pad, a joystick and a keyboard for controlling movements of the laser pointer.

4. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1 comprising modulating/demodulating means for modulating one or more of a speech signal and an image signal onto the carrier signal.

5. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1 including a power supply line of the operating theater lamp, and wherein the carrier signal is transmitted through the power supply line.

6. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, comprising a power supply of the operating theater lamp and a separate line for conducting the carrier signal.

7. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, comprising a line for conducting the carrier signal, one lead of which comprises a ground potential line.

8. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, comprising first and second separate lines for respectively a first carrier signal carrying control signals for and/or image signals of the miniature camera, and a second carrier signal carrying control signals for the manipulation movements of the lamp body.

9. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, comprising illumination means attached to the lamp body for generating a variable size light field, and a drive for moving the illumination means.

10. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein the miniature camera generates a video output image, and further comprising a remote controlled indicator which,can be varied with the operating unit and is represented as a marker within the video output image of the miniature camera.

11. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, including a microphone attached to the operating theater lamp and connected with the modulator/demodulator units.

12. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, comprising a light source attached to the operating theater lamp and means for remotely controlling a brightness of light generated by the light source.

13. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, comprising transmission means allowing a bi-directional signal transmission of the control signals.

14. Operating theater lamp in accordance with claim 1, comprising coding means for digitally coding the control signals.