EP3437617B1 - Bed with a control system comprising an operating unit and a control unit with interfaces for wireless relaying of control signals - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bed, in particular a medical bed, for example a hospital bed or a nursing bed with the features of the preamble of claim 1. Such a bed is made US20070157385 known.

In particular of medical beds, it is known that various settings of a bed surface of the bed are made with the help of motors. For many beds it is possible to adjust the height of the lying surface with motors. Likewise, individual elements of the bed can be adjusted, such as a backrest, a thigh support or a lower leg support. It is also known that the inclination of the lying surface can be changed by means of motors. In addition, it is known that lights are connected to the bed. It can be u.a. to act reading lights or lights for under bed lighting. In addition, other components of the or external components could be controlled. The external components may be, for example, a light, a blind or a roller blind, a door opener or other.

To control the motors and other components, the beds have control systems that include one or more control units and a control unit. By means of the operating units, a user, be it a bed-occupier or a caregiver, can generate control signals which are transmitted to the control unit via a cable or a radio or infrared channel. The operating units have the necessary interfaces. Also, the control unit has one or possibly more interfaces to read the control signals in the control unit and according to the control signals actuators, such as switches or the like to control, then close, for example, circuits, whereby the one or more driven motors or others Components are set in operation to adjust the bed according to the control signals.

In most known beds, the control units are connected via cables to the control units. But there are also some beds that have radio remote controls as operating units that are connected via a radio channel with the control units.

Some beds have both a wired first control unit and a wireless remote control as a second control unit to make adjustments to the bed.

In principle, if a plurality of operating units are provided for a bed, it is possible for two users to generate control signals for driving various components, for example motors or for driving the same components with conflicting commands, for example motors in different directions, and forwards them to the control unit become. Depending on the origin of the control signals, these are referred to below as first or second control signals, even if they are formed according to the same specifications of a standard.

If the control signals received by a control unit conflict with each other, this contradiction must be eliminated so that there are no damages in the control, in the components, in particular the motors, and in the bed as a whole.

This is where the present invention begins.

Likewise, it may be desired that in principle a control unit or the operator of this control unit is assigned a special significance, which are reflected therein is intended that no matter what use of this control unit, a control of a component of the bed is prevented by means of another control unit.

The present invention has for its object to avoid interference by conflicting control instructions.

This object is achieved by a bed with the features of claim 1. According to the invention, it is provided that the control system is set up such that the first control signal always has a priority over a second control signal. Preferably, no matter what operation of the first operating unit generates a first control signal, which leads to the fact that the communication signals from the second operating unit run in emptiness and do not entail actuation of a component. Thus, it is possible that the first operating unit can be put into operation only with a previous activation and / or unlocking for actuating components of the bed or of external components. Already the activation and / or unlocking of the first operating unit can lead to a first control signal being generated by the first operating unit, which is given to the control system via the first interface. This first control signal can lead to communication signals of the second operating unit from the control system not leading to an activation of one of the components.

The background for the solution according to the invention is that a first control signal from a wired first operating unit basically can or should be given more confidence. This can be due to a secure connection via a cable in comparison to a radio connection. That is but Also, the fact that the wired control units for the beds, which have a radio remote control as a control unit and a wired control unit, are usually available to the nursing staff to adjust the bed, while the radio remote control is usually (also) available to the bed ,

A first operating unit may also be an emergency stop switch, an operating panel integrated in a head part, foot part or side part, a foot switch, a switch fastened to a side part, a head part and / or a foot part or any other type of switch.

The control system of a bed according to the invention may have a first interface for receiving the first control signals. It may be a standardized interface, which is connected via a standardized cable to the first control unit.

It is possible for the first interface to have a first connection at least for each of the first control signals. It can then be a parallel interface. However, it is also possible that the interface has fewer connections than control signals are transmitted between the first operating unit and the control system. Control signals could then be transmitted successively via the interface. It could be an Ethernet, USB interface, CAN bus, LIN bus or other interface used on computers or interface used in automation technology, in particular building automation technology.

The control system of a bed according to the invention, a second interface for a wireless recording of Have communication signals. The second interface can be an EnOcean, a Bluetooth, WLAN or another radio interface, which is used in automation technology, in particular in building automation technology or on computers.

According to the invention, the first control signals may be formed according to a first specification. A control system of a bed according to the invention may comprise a communication circuit which converts the communication signals generated by the second operation unit and received by the communication circuit into second control signals according to the first specification. For example, En Ocean signals could be converted into control signals according to the first specification. The motor (s) or one or more other components of the bed may then be driven by the second control signals as well as by the first control signals without special adaptation of the motor or motors or component (s) to the second control signals. The first specification may include, for example, an Ethernet specification, a USB specification, or other specification used in the field of computer hardware that describes the transmission of TCP / IP signals or other signals. The first specification may also be a specification known from the field of automation technology, in particular building automation technology. The communication circuit could be a router.

The communication circuit of a control system of a bed according to the invention may have a second connection at least for each of the second control signals.

The control system of a bed according to the invention may comprise a logic circuit for linking the first terminals and the second terminals. With the logic circuit, the control signals can be merged so that they can be transmitted via a third interface to the one or more components, such as the motors.

To the third interface may be connected another control of the bed which is connected to the components of the bed and / or the external components via wireline or wireless.

The link can be achieved in several ways. It is possible for the logic circuit for each first control signal to have a signal line from the first terminal of the first interface assigned to the first control interface to a respective connection node and for each second control signal a signal line from the second connection of the communication circuit assigned to the second control signal to a respective connection node wherein at each of the linking nodes, the first control signal and the second control signal, with which a same function of a component of the bed or an external component is controllable, are connectable. Each of the linking nodes can then be connected to a respective connection of the third interface of the control system, via which one or more motors are connected to the control system.

The logic circuit could also be a switch or a USB hub.

The control system of a bed according to the invention may have a priority circuit which generates a priority signal as soon as a first control signal is present at one of the first terminals of the first interface. The priority circuit may have a connection for the priority signal. At this connection, the priority signal can be tapped. It indicates that a first control signal is generated by the first operating unit. If the priority signal is generated or the priority signal at the designated port, it can be used that the generation and / or forwarding of second control signals to a component of the bed or an external component, such as the engine or the motors of the bed is prevented.

The communication circuit of a bed according to the invention may have an input for the priority signal, for example a reset input, via which the terminals for the second control signals, regardless of the communication signals applied to the second interface, can be brought into a state in which no second control signals at the second terminals abut the communication circuit.

In the case of a control system of a bed according to the invention, the connection of the priority signal for the priority signal can be connected to the input for the priority signal of the communication circuit. Then, as soon as a first control signal is generated by the first operating unit, the priority signal is switched to the input for the priority signal, thereby preventing second control signals from being generated by the communication circuit.

Furthermore, it is possible that the priority signal interrupts a power supply of the communication circuit. This can be done, for example, in a power supply circuit of the communication circuit, a relay or a controllable switch be used. A control input of the relay or the switch may then be connected to the terminal of the priority signal priority circuit. If there is then a priority signal at the connection of the priority circuit for the priority signal and at the control input, this can lead to an actuation of the relay that interrupts the circuit for supplying the communication circuit.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide an emergency stop switch as the first operating unit, which alone is provided to prevent an actuation of one, several or all of the components controlled via the second operating unit of the bed and / or external components, for example if there is a risk of delay is. In particular, this first operating unit can be designed so that the power supply of the communication circuit interrupts.

It is possible that the bed next to an emergency stop button as the first operating unit has no further first operating unit, but only one or more second operating units.

In a bed according to the invention in another embodiment, in which the first control unit via an Ethernet connection to a switch and the second control unit via a router or a Bluetooth interface with the same switch is connected and the switch with the engine or the motors Controllers or driver circuits of the motors may be programmed so that primarily first control signals are processed and possibly simultaneously present second control signals are ignored.

Fig. 1

ein Blockschaltbild einer Anordnung aus einer ersten Bedieneinheit, einer zweiten Bedieneinheit, einem Steuerungssystem und Motoren eines erfindungsgemäßen Bettes,

Fig. 2

ein vereinfachtes Schaltbild der Kommunikationsschaltung und

Fig. 3

ein vereinfachtes Schaltbild der Verknüpfungsschaltung und der Vorrangschaltung.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a block diagram of an arrangement of a first control unit, a second control unit, a control system and motors of a bed according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a simplified circuit diagram of the communication circuit and

Fig. 3

a simplified circuit diagram of the combination circuit and the priority circuit.

A bed according to the invention has a first operating unit 1 and a second operating unit 2. The first operating unit 1 has an interface and this is connected via a in the example at least achtpoliges cable 3 with a first (eight-pin) interface S1 of a control system 4, 5, 7 of the bed. The interface S1 is connected within the control system via (eight) lines with a priority circuit 4. The priority circuit 4 is connected via (eight) lines to a logic circuit 5. The logic circuit 5 is connected via (eight) lines to a third (eight-pole) interface S3 of the control system 4, 5, 7 with four motors 6 in the example.

The second operating unit 2 is connected via a radio interface to a second interface S2 of the control system 4, 5, 7. The second interface S2 is connected to a communication circuit 7 within the control system (4, 5, 7). The communication circuit 7 is on the one hand via a line with the Priority circuit 4 and on the other hand via (eight) lines connected to the logic circuit 5.

The first control unit 1 has control elements, not shown, which are connected to also not shown electrical switches or buttons. By operating the controls electrical circuits can be opened or closed.

These circuits lead in a conventional bed via a line to one of the motors and a ground line back to the first control unit. In a conventional bed, voltages are applied by opening and closing the circuits at the inputs of the motors 6 and drive circuits 61 to 64 of the motors 6, respectively. The driver circuits 61 to 64 then turn on or off according to the voltages of the motor 6 in one or the other direction.

Even with a bed according to the invention, the switches or buttons in the first operating unit are connected via lines to the inputs of the driver circuits 61 to 64 of the motors 6. In the conduction path between the first operation unit 1 and the drive circuits of the motors, the priority circuit 4 and the combination circuit 5 are provided. By the priority circuit 4 and the logic circuit 5, the first control signals generated by the first operating unit 1 are not changed in a bed according to the invention. The first control signals correspond to the same specification as in a conventional bed, in which the first operating unit 1 is directly connected to the driver circuits 61 to 64 of the motors 6.

The second operating unit 2 has operating elements. With these controls, an EnOcean sensor 22 is actuated. This generates on the one hand due to an operation of electrical energy and on the other hand communication signals that are transmitted via radio to the communication circuit 7.

The communication signals are received by the communication circuit 7. For this purpose, the communication circuit 7 has an EnOcean actuator 70 which drives signal generating means 71 to 78 which generate second control signals corresponding to the specification of the first control signals. These second control signals are transmitted to the logic circuit 5. For every second control signal while a line is provided.

The logic circuit 5 has logic nodes 51 to 58. In these linking nodes, the lines from the first operating unit 1 to the motors 6 are connected to the lines from the communication circuit 7 to the linking unit. Through this link, the second control signals can also be sent to the driver circuits of the motors 6, which then put the motors 6 into operation in the desired direction if necessary.

So that at the same time possibly conflicting control signals from the first operating unit or from the second operating unit to the motors 6 can not be given, the priority circuit 4 is provided which ensures that the first control signals, so the control signals from the connected via the cable 3 first operating unit 1, in front of the second control signals, which are generated by the second, radio-controlled operating unit, have priority.

The priority circuit 4 has eight input lines. Depending on one of these lines is connected via a connection node 41 to 48 to the lines between the logic nodes 51 to 58 and the terminals of the first interface S1 of the control system. The input lines are merged in a node 49. Between the connection nodes 41 to 48 and the node 49, a diode is connected in each of the input lines, so that a current can flow from the connection nodes 41 to 48 to the node 49, but not vice versa. The circuit results in that it can be recognized at the node 49 that one of the first control signals controls one of the motors 6. If one of the first control signals controls one of the motors 6, according to the invention no second control signal may control one of the motors 6. The signal applied to the node 49 thus indicates that the first operating unit 1 must be granted priority and is therefore referred to as a priority signal.

This priority signal is supplied to the communication circuit 7. The communication circuit 7 has a reset input 79 connected to the node 49. If the priority signal is present at the reset input 79, this leads to the fact that the communication circuit 7 does not generate any second control signals. At the logic junctions 51 to 58, only the first control signals are present.

If, on the other hand, no first control signal is generated by the first operating unit 1, no priority signal is present at the reset input 79 of the communication circuit 7. The communication circuit 7 is then able to generate second control signals representing the linking nodes 51 to 58 and then ultimately the driver circuits 61 to 62 of the motors 6 are supplied.

Claims (17)

1. Bed with controllable components, in particular switches and/or motors of a motor-adjustable lying surface of the bed and/or an external interface for controlling components outside the bed via control signals, comprising

   - a first operating unit (1) to operate at least one of the components, wherein the operating unit (1) comprises an interface (11) to transmit first control signals via a wire (3),

   - a second operating unit (2) to operate at least one of the components, wherein the operating unit (1) comprises an interface (21) for a wireless transmission of communication signals, and

   - a control system (4, 5, 7) to receive the first control signals from the first operating unit (1) and to receive the communication signals from the second operating unit (2),

   characterised in that

   - the control system (4, 5, 7) is configured so as to prioritise an operation of a component within the bed, for example of a motor (6), or of a component outside the bed by means of the first operating unit (1) over operation of the component (6) by the second operating unit (2).
2. Bed according to claim 1, characterised in that each of the first control signals leads to a rejection of one of the communication signals by the control system.
3. Bed according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the control system (4, 5, 7) comprises a first interface (S1) to receive the first control signals.
4. Bed according to claim 3, characterised in that the first interface (S1) comprises at least one first connection for each of the first control signals.
5. Bed according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the control system (4, 5, 7) comprises a second interface (S2) to wirelessly receive the communication signals.
6. Bed according to claim 5, characterised in that the first control signals are generated according to a first specification and that with a communication circuit (7) of the control system (4, 5, 7), the communication signals received by the control system via the second interface can be converted into second control signals according to the first specification.
7. Bed according to claim 6, characterised in that the communication circuit (7) comprises at least one second connection for each of the second control signals.
8. Bed according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the control system (4, 5, 7) comprises a logic circuit (5) to link the first connections and the second connections, wherein the logic circuit links the first connections and the second connections, at which first and second control signals can be present, which control the same function of one of the components.
9. Bed according to claim 8, characterised in that for each first control signal, the logic circuit (5) comprises a signal line from the first connection of the first interface (S1) assigned to the first control signal to one respective interconnection node (51 to 58) and for each second control signal, a signal line from the second connection of the communication circuit (7) assigned to the second control signal to one respective interconnection node (51 to 58), wherein, at each of the interconnection nodes (51 to 58), the lines for the first control signal and the second control signal, with which an identical function can be controlled, are linked.
10. Bed according to claim 9, characterised in that each of the interconnection nodes (51 to 58) is connected to one respective third connection of a third interface (S3) of the control system (4, 5, 7), via which one, more or all of the components are connected to the control system (4, 5, 7).
11. Bed according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the control system (4, 5, 7) comprises a priority circuit (4), which generates a priority signal as soon as a first signal is present at one of the first connections of the first interface (S1).
12. Bed according to claim 11, characterised in that the priority circuit (4) comprises a connection (49) for the priority signal.
13. Bed according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the communication circuit (7) comprises a reset input (71) via which the second control signals present at connections of the communication circuit (7) for the second control signals can be disabled irrespective of the communication signals present at the second interface.
14. Bed according to claim 13, characterised in that the connection (49) of the priority circuit (4) for the priority signal is connected to the reset input (71) of the communication circuit (7).
15. Bed according to claim 3, characterised in that the wire between the first operating unit (1) and the first interface (S1) is a bus line, in particular an ethernet bus line, and the third interface (S3) is a bus interface, in particular an ethernet interface.
16. Bed according to claim 5, characterised in that the connection between the second operating unit (2) and the second interface (S2) is a Bluetooth or a WLAN interface.
17. Bed according to claims 6, 8, 14 and 15, characterised in that the communication circuit (7) is a router and the logic circuit (5) is a switch.

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