System and method for remotely controlling devices

• US 7,659,833 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clutterfree Dental Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Clutterfree Dental Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Haselhuhn, Howard, Warner, Thomas P., DeZorzi, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/195,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20070031782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/5.6, 340/5.64, 606/34, 606/1, 433/101, 433/98
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0023 Foot control
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics

Abstract

A system and a method for remotely controlling at least a first device based on operation of a foot pedal apparatus are provided. The foot pedal apparatus has a movable member. The system includes a first module configured to transmit a first RF signal in response to at least partial displacement of the moveable member of the foot pedal apparatus from a first operational position. The first signal has a first identifier. The system further includes a second module configured to receive the first RF signal and to transmit a second RF signal having the first identifier and a second identifier in response to the first RF signal. The system further includes a third module configured to receive the second RF signal and to control operation of the first device in response to the second RF signal.

Claims

1. A system for remotely controlling at least a first device based on operation of a foot pedal apparatus, the foot pedal apparatus having a movable member, comprising:

a first module configured to transmit a first RF signal in response to at least partial displacement of the moveable member of the foot pedal apparatus from a first operational position, the first signal having a first binary identifier associated with the first module, and a first activation binary command;

a second module configured to receive the first RF signal and to transmit a second RF signal having the first binary identifier, the first activation binary command, and a second binary identifier associated with the second module, in response to the first RF signal;

a third module configured to receive the second RF signal;

the third module further configured to compare the first and second binary identifiers in the second RF signal with first and second binary values, respectively, stored in a memory device of the third module;

the third module further configured to compare the first activation binary command with a first binary command value stored in the memory device; and

the third module further configured to activate the first device when the first and second binary identifiers correspond to the first and second binary values, respectively, and the first activation binary command corresponds to the first binary command value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module is further configured to detect at least partial displacement of the moveable member of the foot pedal apparatus by monitoring a pressure level in a conduit operably coupled to the foot pedal apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module is further configured to detect at least partial displacement of the moveable member of the foot pedal apparatus by monitoring a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the moveable member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module is further configured to transmit a third RF signal having the first binary identifier and a de-activation binary command after transmitting the first RF signal when the moveable member is substantially at the first operational position;

the second module further configured to transmit a fourth RF signal having the first and second binary identifiers and the de-activation binary command in response to receiving the third RF signal;

the third module further configured to receive the fourth RF signal and to compare the first and second binary identifiers in the fourth RF signal with the first and second binary values, respectively, stored in the memory device of the third module;

the third module further configured to compare the de-activation binary command with a second binary command value stored in the memory device; and

the third module further configured to de-activate the first device when the first and second binary identifiers in the fourth RF signal correspond to the first and second binary values, respectively, and the de-activation binary command corresponds to the second binary command value.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module is further configured to transmit a third RF signal having the first binary identifier after transmitting the first RF signal when the moveable member remains displaced from the first operational position;

the second module further configured to transmit a fourth RF signal having the first and second binary identifiers and the first activation binary command in response to receiving the third RF signal;

the third module further configured to receive the fourth RF signal and to compare the first and second binary identifiers in the fourth RF signal with the first and second binary values, respectively, stored in the memory device of the third module;

the third module further configured to compare the first activation binary command in the fourth RF signal with the first binary command value stored in the memory device; and

the third module is further configured to maintain activation of the first device during a first time period from at least receipt of the second RF signal to receipt of the fourth RF signal, if the first time period is less than or equal to a threshold time period and the first and second binary identifiers in the fourth RF signal correspond to the first and second binary values, respectively, and the first activation binary command in the fourth RF signal corresponds to the first binary command value.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the third module is configured to de-activate the first device if the first time period is greater than a threshold time period.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first RF signal is transmitted at a frequency less than or equal to 160 kilohertz.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second RF signal is transmitted at a frequency within a frequency band of 260-470 megahertz.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a dental implement or a medical implement.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises one of a drill, a microprocessor position-controllable dental chair, an infrared photo-optic imaging camera, a dental irrigator, an intra-oral camera, a video capture circuit, a laser, an air-abrasion unit, an electro-surgery unit, an ultrasonic teeth cleaning unit, a piezo-ultrasonic unit, an air polishing prophylaxis device, a gum depth measurement probe, a surgical microscope with controllable focusing adjustment, a microprocessor controlled anesthetic delivery system, and an endodontic heat source device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a video capture circuit, the third module operably coupled to the video capture circuit, the third module configured to receive the second RF signal and to induce the video capture circuit to store a video image in a memory in response to the second RF signal.

12. A method for remotely controlling at least a first device based on operation of a foot pedal apparatus having a movable member, comprising:

transmitting a first RF signal from a first module in response to at least partial displacement of the moveable member of the foot pedal apparatus from a first operational position, the first RF signal having a first binary identifier associated with the first module, and a first activation binary command;

transmitting a second RF signal from a second module having the first binary identifier, the first activation binary command, and a second binary identifier associated with the second module, in response to the first RF signal;

receiving the second RF signal at a third module;

comparing the first and second binary identifiers in the second RF signal with first and second binary values, respectively, stored in a memory device of the third module, utilizing the third module;

comparing the first activation binary command with a first binary command value stored in the memory device, utilizing the third module; and

activating the first device when the first and second binary identifiers correspond to the first and second binary values, respectively, and the first activation binary command corresponds to the first binary command value, utilizing the third module.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a third RF signal from the first module having the first binary identifier and a de-activation binary command after transmitting the first RF signal when the moveable member is substantially at the first operational position;

transmitting a fourth RF signal from the second module having the first and second binary identifiers and the de-activation binary command in response to receiving the third RF signal;

receiving the fourth RF signal at the third module;

comparing the first and second binary identifiers in the fourth RF signal with the first and second binary values, respectively, stored in the memory device of the third module, utilizing the third module;

comparing the de-activation binary command with a second binary command value stored in the memory device, utilizing the third module; and

de-activating the first device when the first and second binary identifiers in the fourth RF signal correspond to the first and second binary values, respectively, and the de-activation binary command corresponds to the second binary command value, utilizing the third module.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a third RF signal from the first module having the first binary identifier after transmitting the first RF signal when the moveable member remains displaced from the first operational position;

transmitting a fourth RF signal from the second module having the first and second binary identifiers and the first binary activation binary command in response to receiving the third RF signal;

receiving the fourth RF signal at the third module;

comparing the first and second binary identifiers in the fourth RF signal with the first and second binary values, respectively, stored in the memory device of the third module, utilizing the third module;

comparing the first activation binary command in the fourth RF signal with the first binary command value, utilizing the third module; and

maintaining activation of the first device utilizing the third module during a first time period from at least receipt of the second RF signal to receipt of the fourth RF signal, if the first time period is less than or equal to a threshold time period, and the first and second binary identifiers in the fourth RF signal correspond to the first and second binary values, respectively, and the first activation binary command in the fourth RF signal corresponds to the first binary command value.