Examination table with motion tracking
First Claim
1. An examination table, comprising:
- a base;
a support surface mounted on the base and including a seat portion and a backrest portion;
a first motor configured to drive the support surface with respect to the base, the first motor including a brushless direct-current electric motor;
a second motor configured to drive the backrest portion with respect to the seat portion, the second motor including a brushless direct-current electric motor; and
a control system including a control panel with a first button, a first Hall-effect sensor configured to detect rotations of the first motor to determine a current position of the support surface, and a second Hall-effect sensor configured to detect rotations of the second motor to determine a current position of the backrest portion,wherein each of the first and second Hall-effect sensors includes a magnet coupled to the corresponding first or second motor and includes at least one Hall-effect device sensing rotations of each magnet with the corresponding motor to thereby count rotations of the corresponding motor, andwherein when the first button on the control panel is actuated, the control system executes a movement algorithm for moving the support surface and the backrest portion to a desired position from the current position, the movement algorithm being configured to;
(1) detect the current position of the support surface;
(2) actuate the first motor until the support surface has moved to the desired position;
(3) detect the current position of the backrest portion; and
(4) actuate the second motor until the backrest portion has moved to the desired position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An examination table includes a support surface movable with respect to a base. The support surface includes a seat portion and a backrest portion. A first motor drives the support surface with respect to the base, and a second motor drives the backrest portion pivotally with respect to the seat portion. A control system includes a control panel and first and second Hall-effect sensors for detecting rotations of the respective first and second motors to determine the current positions of the support surface and the backrest portion. The control system executes a movement algorithm for moving the support surface and the backrest portion to a desired position from the current position. The control system also executes a calibration algorithm for calibrating position tracking of the support surface and the backrest portion.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An examination table, comprising:
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a base; a support surface mounted on the base and including a seat portion and a backrest portion; a first motor configured to drive the support surface with respect to the base, the first motor including a brushless direct-current electric motor; a second motor configured to drive the backrest portion with respect to the seat portion, the second motor including a brushless direct-current electric motor; and a control system including a control panel with a first button, a first Hall-effect sensor configured to detect rotations of the first motor to determine a current position of the support surface, and a second Hall-effect sensor configured to detect rotations of the second motor to determine a current position of the backrest portion, wherein each of the first and second Hall-effect sensors includes a magnet coupled to the corresponding first or second motor and includes at least one Hall-effect device sensing rotations of each magnet with the corresponding motor to thereby count rotations of the corresponding motor, and wherein when the first button on the control panel is actuated, the control system executes a movement algorithm for moving the support surface and the backrest portion to a desired position from the current position, the movement algorithm being configured to;
(1) detect the current position of the support surface;
(2) actuate the first motor until the support surface has moved to the desired position;
(3) detect the current position of the backrest portion; and
(4) actuate the second motor until the backrest portion has moved to the desired position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An examination table, comprising:
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a base; a support surface mounted on the base and including a seat portion and a backrest portion; a first motor configured to drive the support surface between a distal position and a proximal position with respect to the base, the first motor including a brushless direct-current electric motor; a second motor configured to drive the backrest portion to pivot between a first position and a second position with respect to the seat portion, the second motor including a brushless direct-current electric motor; and a control system including a control panel with a calibration button, a first Hall-effect sensor configured to detect rotations of the first motor, and a second Hall-effect sensor configured to detect rotations of the second motor, wherein each of the first and second Hall-effect sensors includes a magnet coupled to the corresponding first or second motor and includes at least one Hall-effect device sensing rotations of each magnet with the corresponding motor to thereby count rotations of the corresponding motor, and wherein when the calibration button on the control panel is actuated, the control system executes a calibration algorithm for calibrating position tracking of the support surface and the backrest portion, the calibration algorithm being configured to;
(1) actuate the first motor to drive the support surface to the proximal position;
(2) set a Base Position Variable Minimum to zero at the proximal position;
(3) actuate the first motor to drive the support surface to the distal position;
(4) set a Base Position Variable Maximum to a number of first motor rotations detected by the first Hall-effect sensor during the movement of the support surface to the distal position;
(5) actuate the second motor to drive the backrest portion to the first position;
(6) set a Backrest Position Variable Minimum to zero at the first position;
(7) actuate the second motor to drive the backrest portion to the second position; and
(8) set a Backrest Position Variable Maximum to a number of second motor rotations detected by the second Hall-effect sensor during the movement of the backrest portion to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for operating an examination table, comprising:
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receiving input from a calibration button on a control panel of the examination table, the examination table further comprising a base;
a support surface mounted on the base and including a seat portion and a backrest portion;
a first motor configured to drive the support surface between a distal position and a proximal position with respect to the base;
a second motor configured to drive the backrest portion to pivot between a first position and a second position with respect to the seat portion; and
a control system including a first Hall-effect sensor configured to detect rotations of the first motor and a second Hall-effect sensor configured to detect rotations of the second motor,wherein each of the first and second Hall-effect sensors includes a magnet coupled to the corresponding first or second motor and includes at least one Hall-effect device sensing rotations of each magnet with the corresponding motor to thereby count rotations of the corresponding motor, and operating the examination table to perform a series of operations defining a calibration algorithm in response to the received input from the calibration button, the series of operations including; actuating the first motor to drive the support surface to the proximal position; setting a Base Position Variable Minimum to zero at the proximal position; actuating the first motor to drive the support surface to the distal position; setting a Base Position Variable Maximum to a number of first motor rotations detected by the first Hall-effect sensor during movement of the support surface from the proximal position to the distal position; actuating the second motor to drive the backrest portion to the first position; setting a Backrest Position Variable Minimum to zero at the first position; actuating the second motor to drive the backrest portion to the second position; and setting a Backrest Position Variable Maximum to a number of second motor rotations detected by the second Hall-effect sensor during movement of the backrest portion from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification