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Examination table with motion tracking

  • US 8,266,743 B2
  • Filed: 08/23/2010
  • Issued: 09/18/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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.

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