Foot switch and output system having foot switch

• US 7,375,644 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Taro
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan; Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/218,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636.1, 324/426, 320/136, 320/132, 320/134, 606/34, 606/1, 429/90
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements

Abstract

The foot switch includes a pedal, an output command signal generating section for transmitting, when the pedal is operated, an output command signal to an apparatus which has a function of producing active output, a storage battery for supplying electrical power to the output command signal generating section, a condition-detecting section for detecting a remaining capacity of the storage battery, and a notifying section for making notification of an amount corresponding to the remaining capacity detected by the condition-detecting section. The condition-detecting section can detect the remaining capacity based on the remaining voltage of the storage battery.

Claims

1. A foot switch comprising:

a pedal;

an output command signal generating section transmitting, when said pedal is operated, an output command signal to an apparatus main body having a function of producing active output;

a storage battery supplying electrical power to said output command signal generating section;

a condition-detecting section detecting a remaining capacity of said storage battery;

a notifying section making notification of an amount corresponding to said remaining capacity detected by said condition-detecting section; and

a movement detection switch for detecting whether or not said foot switch is moved, said notifying section making said notification when said movement detection switch detects that said foot switch is moved.

2. The foot switch according to claim 1, wherein said output command signal generating section includes a radio communication section radio-transmitting said output command signal.

3. The foot switch according to claim 1, wherein said condition-detecting section detects said remaining capacity of said storage battery on the basis of a remaining voltage of said storage battery.

4. The foot switch according to claim 1, wherein said notifying section makes notification of a remaining voltage of said storage battery.

5. The foot switch according to claim 1 further comprising a calculating section calculating, on the basis of said remaining capacity detected by said condition-detecting section, a remaining time during which said storage battery can supply electric poser to said output command signal generating section, said notifying section making notifying of said remaining time calculated by said calculating section.

6. The foot switch according to claim 1 further comprising a trigger switch, said notifying section determining said notification amount when said trigger switch is operated.

7. The foot switch according to claim 1 further comprising an activation switch for activating said foot switch, said notifying section making said notification when said activation switch is operated.

8. The foot switch according to claim 1, wherein said notifying section makes said notification when said pedal is operated.

9. An output system including a foot switch and an apparatus main body having a function of producing active output,

said foot switch comprising:

a pedal;

an output command signal generating section transmitting an output command signal to said apparatus main body when said pedal is operated;

a storage battery supplying electrical power to said output command signal generating section;

a condition-detecting section detecting a remaining capacity of said storage battery;

a notifying section making notification of an amount corresponding to said remaining capacity detected by said condition-detecting section; and

a movement detection switch for detecting whether or not said foot switch is moved, wherein said notifying section makes said notification when said movement detection switch detects that said foot switch is moved;

said apparatus main body comprising;

an output producing section producing active output upon receiving said output command signal transmitted from said foot switch.

10. The output system according to claim 9, wherein said output command signal generating section of said foot switch includes a communication section radio-transmitting said output command signal, and said apparatus main body includes a main body communication section receiving said output command signal radio-transmitted from said foot switch.

11. The output system according to claim 9, wherein said output producing section includes an ultrasonic vibrating element.

12. An output system including a foot switch and an apparatus main body having a function of producing active output,

said foot switch comprising:

a pedal;

an output command signal generating section transmitting an output command signal to said apparatus main body when said pedal is operated;

a storage battery supplying electrical power to said output command signal generating section;

a condition-detecting section detecting a remaining capacity of said storage battery; and

a movement detection switch for detecting whether or not said foot switch is moved;

said output command signal generating section including a communication section transmitting said output command signal, said remaining capacity detected by said condition-detecting section to said apparatus main body and a notification when said movement detection switch detects that said foot switch is moved;

said apparatus main body comprising;

a main body communication section receiving said output command signal and said remaining capacity transmitted from said foot switch;

an output producing section producing active output when said main body communication section receives said output command signal transmitted from said foot switch; and

a main body notifying section making notification of an amount corresponding to said remaining capacity when said main body communication section receives said remaining capacity transmitted from said foot switch.

13. The output system according to claim 12, wherein said output producing section includes an ultrasonic vibrating element.