Variable control for handheld device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a handheld medical instrument including an electronic device, wherein the handheld medical instrument is selected from;
an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a thermometer, a sphygmomanometer, a skin surface microscope, a unidirectional occluder, an examination light, an electronic stethoscope, a tympanometric instrument, and an audiometer; and
a power handle coupled to the electronic device, the power handle comprising;
a variable control that detects a capacitance of and movement of a user'"'"'s finger on an external surface of the power handle, the variable control comprising at least three spaced conductive strips separated from the exterior surface by an electrically insulating material, wherein the variable control generates a control signal upon detection of changes in capacitance at the spaced conductive strips in response to the movement of the user'"'"'s finger across the external surface of the power handle; and
a variable output power supply electrically connected to the electronic device and configured to receive the control signal from the variable control, wherein the variable output power supply supplies a variable voltage output to the electronic device based on the control signal.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld device includes a capacitance sensing variable control that detects the presence of and movement of a user'"'"'s finger on an external surface of the device. The handheld device also includes a variable output power supply and an electronic device that is powered by the variable output power supply. Upon detection of the movement on the external surface of the device, the output of the variable output power supply is adjusted. The adjusted output changes the operation of the electronic device.
87 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A device comprising:
-
a handheld medical instrument including an electronic device, wherein the handheld medical instrument is selected from;
an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a thermometer, a sphygmomanometer, a skin surface microscope, a unidirectional occluder, an examination light, an electronic stethoscope, a tympanometric instrument, and an audiometer; anda power handle coupled to the electronic device, the power handle comprising; a variable control that detects a capacitance of and movement of a user'"'"'s finger on an external surface of the power handle, the variable control comprising at least three spaced conductive strips separated from the exterior surface by an electrically insulating material, wherein the variable control generates a control signal upon detection of changes in capacitance at the spaced conductive strips in response to the movement of the user'"'"'s finger across the external surface of the power handle; and a variable output power supply electrically connected to the electronic device and configured to receive the control signal from the variable control, wherein the variable output power supply supplies a variable voltage output to the electronic device based on the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A device comprising:
-
an otoscope including a variable intensity light generator, wherein the intensity of light generated by the light generator is modified by changing a magnitude of power supplied to the light generator; and a power handle coupled to the otoscope, the power handle comprising; a housing including an external surface; a capacitance sensing variable control sealed within the housing and separated from the external surface by an insulating material, the capacitance sensing variable control including at least three spaced conductive strips arranged and configured to detect changes in capacitance at the conductive strips indicative of a sliding movement of a finger along the external surface, wherein the capacitive sensing variable control generates a control signal when a user'"'"'s finger moves across the external surface by detecting changes in capacitance at the spaced conductive strips; a power source within the housing; and a variable power supply within the housing and electrically coupled between the power source and the light generator, wherein the variable power supply receives the control signal from the capacitance sensing variable control and adjusts the power supplied to the light generator based on the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification