System for use in gathering or processing data in a healthcare facility having fleet of mobile workstations
First Claim
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1. A system for use in gathering or processing data in a healthcare facility comprising:
- a fleet of mobile workstations located in the healthcare facility, and each including a computerized device having a computer readable data storage medium and a battery input interface;
a set of interchangeable batteries each configured to couple with the battery input interface of any one of the mobile workstations for providing power to the corresponding computerized device; and
a battery recharging system for the set of interchangeable batteries including a common battery charger having a plurality of docking stations, each of the docking stations including a battery charging interface, and a control device coupled with each of the battery charging interfaces;
the control device being configured to receive inputs indicative of at least one of, battery identification and charging cycle count, for a plurality of the interchangeable batteries each docked with one of the docking stations, via each of the battery charging interfaces, and to responsively output a battery selection signal, such that the docked interchangeable battery having the lowest charging cycle count is selected for removing from the common battery charger.
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Abstract
A system for use in gathering and/or processing data in healthcare facilities includes a fleet of mobile workstations, a set of interchangeable batteries for the fleet of mobile workstations and a battery recharging system for the set of interchangeable batteries. The battery recharging system includes a common battery charger and a control device configured to reduce variation in charging cycle count among the batteries at least in part by outputting a battery selection signal in response to comparing charging cycle counts for each of the batteries.
44 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for use in gathering or processing data in a healthcare facility comprising:
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a fleet of mobile workstations located in the healthcare facility, and each including a computerized device having a computer readable data storage medium and a battery input interface; a set of interchangeable batteries each configured to couple with the battery input interface of any one of the mobile workstations for providing power to the corresponding computerized device; and a battery recharging system for the set of interchangeable batteries including a common battery charger having a plurality of docking stations, each of the docking stations including a battery charging interface, and a control device coupled with each of the battery charging interfaces; the control device being configured to receive inputs indicative of at least one of, battery identification and charging cycle count, for a plurality of the interchangeable batteries each docked with one of the docking stations, via each of the battery charging interfaces, and to responsively output a battery selection signal, such that the docked interchangeable battery having the lowest charging cycle count is selected for removing from the common battery charger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of reducing variation in charging cycle count among a plurality of interchangeable batteries for a fleet of mobile workstations comprising the steps of:
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docking a plurality of interchangeable batteries with a common battery charger; receiving inputs associated with a charging cycle count for each of the plurality of interchangeable batteries; and outputting a battery selection signal which is based at least in part on the inputs, such that the docked battery having the lowest charging cycle count is selected for removing from the common battery charger; decoupling a battery from one of the mobile workstations of the fleet of mobile workstations; and docking the selected battery with the one of the mobile workstations in place of the decoupled battery. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for use in gathering or processing data in a healthcare comprising:
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a fleet of mobile workstations located in the healthcare facility and each including a computerized device having a computer readable data storage medium, and a battery input interface; a set of interchangeable batteries each configured to couple with the battery input interface of any one of the mobile workstations for providing power to the corresponding computerized device; a battery recharging system for the set of interchangeable batteries including a common battery charger having a plurality of docking stations and being located at a fixed location within the healthcare facility, such that a use cycle including gathering or processing data with each of the mobile workstations at a plurality of other locations within the healthcare facility begins and ends at the common battery charger; and a control device configured to receive data indicative of a charging cycle count of each of the interchangeable batteries when docked with one of the docking stations and responsively output a battery selection signal, such that a first docked interchangeable battery having a lower charging cycle count than a second docked interchangeable battery is selected for removing the common battery charger. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification