The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 2019
Filed:
Nov. 20, 2014
Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Richard A. Derenne, Portage, MI (US);
Ammon K. Wright, Portage, MI (US);
Richard Thomas DeLuca, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Abstract
A virtual control panel for a person support apparatus includes at least one image sensor that monitors a movement of a user's finger(s) relative to a control surface. The control surface includes one or more control images thereon. When the user's finger(s) move within a threshold distance of the control image, a controller reacts as if the user had pushed an actual control button for the function that corresponds to the control image. The control image may be projected by a projector, and may have static or dynamic content. Alternatively, the control image may be printed on the surface, adhered thereto, or otherwise physically present. In some embodiments, ancillary devices may connect to the person support apparatus and forward images for projection on the control surface, thereby allowing the control surface of the person support apparatus to be used to control the ancillary devices.