Verifying speaker operation during alarm generation
First Claim
1. A method for verifying operation of a speaker for a dialysis machine, comprising:
- generating an audio alarm for the dialysis machine by sending electric power to a speaker;
sensing a waveform of the electric power;
verifying the waveform conforms with a power consumption by the speaker; and
visually alarming or placing the dialysis machine in a safe mode if the waveform fails to conform with a reference waveform of a correctly functioning speaker.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The patent discloses a method of verifying that a dialysis machine audio alarm has been sounded. The method senses a waveform of electric power, such as a waveform of the current or voltage that drives a speaker. When the speaker produces sound, power consumption changes the waveform in a manner that is detectable by electrical and electronic sensors. The amplitude envelope and frequency or period of the waveform is specific to the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the speaker. The waveform may be detected by a current-sensing resistor in series with the speaker power source, by a non-contact current transformer or hall-effect sensor, or may be sampled by an ADC. A computer program then compares this resulting signal to an expected signal or waveform and verify the speaker is working. If the speaker is not working, the machine sends a visual alarm or places itself in a safe state.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for verifying operation of a speaker for a dialysis machine, comprising:
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generating an audio alarm for the dialysis machine by sending electric power to a speaker; sensing a waveform of the electric power; verifying the waveform conforms with a power consumption by the speaker; and visually alarming or placing the dialysis machine in a safe mode if the waveform fails to conform with a reference waveform of a correctly functioning speaker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for verifying speaker operation, comprising:
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generating an audio alarm in a medical therapy machine by sending electric power to a speaker; sensing a waveform of the electric power; verifying the waveform conforms with a power consumption by the speaker of the medical therapy machine by comparing an amplitude or a period of the waveform to a desired amplitude or desired period; and visually alarming if the amplitude or period fails to conform with the desired amplitude or desired period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for verifying speaker operation, comprising:
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generating an audio alarm by sending electric power to a speaker for a medical therapy machine; sensing a current or a voltage of the electric power; verifying with a computer program that the current or the voltage conforms with a power consumption by a known good speaker by comparing an amplitude portion or a period portion of the current or the voltage to a desired amplitude portion or desired period portion; and visually alarming if the current or voltage fails to conform with the power consumption by the speaker. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification