Control device for providing a reconfigurable operator interface

A control device for providing a reconfigurable operator interface for a medical apparatus is provided. The control device comprises a control surface comprising at least one control actuator arranged on the control surface. The control device further comprises a plurality of modules arranged side-by-side and attached to each other via adjacent abutting side surfaces in a liquid-tight manner, wherein the plurality of modules comprise a first terminal module having a closing end surface and an abutting side surface opposite the closing end surface, and a second terminal module having an abutting side surface facing towards the abutting side surface of the first terminal module, and an opposite closing end surface. Operation of the control device is enabled when all the abutting side surfaces of the plurality of modules are in an attached state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a control device for providing a reconfigurable operator interface for a medical apparatus.

The control of various apparatuses is becoming more and more complex, especially in the field of medical applications. New features and functionalities are appearing e.g. for X-ray or other medical purposes. There is a need for controllers, control devices enabling a simple accommodation of these new functionalities, examinations and medical interventions without a complete re-design of the control device.

Another need is connected to the fact that a medical apparatus can be used in various medical applications requiring different control options. An X-ray apparatus used e.g. for cardiography only necessitates a few control actuators, pushbuttons, while the same apparatus needs many control options when used for neurology applications. It is generally known that control devices should be as compact as possible without unused control actuators, as unused control actuators may result in delays and false controls due to uncertainties of the operating person. Furthermore, control actions are often carried out in dark environments, as complicated medical operations are mainly followed on screens. Therefore, operators are not in favor of a ‘universal’ control device accommodating all possible control options and always having some unused control actuators in different locations thereon, depending on the actual application.

It is also known that control devices realized on touch-screens are readily reconfigurable. However, also for the above mentioned reasons, medical applications need hardware control actuators, such as pushbuttons and joysticks. The operating person needs a tactile feedback when a control actuator is actuated.

A further need is to enable the re-assignment of control functions to the control actuators in a dynamic way. For example, left-handed users may prefer to mirror the functionalities of the control device. Control devices can be usually positioned at more than one place around the medical apparatus to be controlled. If the control device is e.g. repositioned on the opposite side of the apparatus, it might be desirable to mirror or change the functionalities of the control device.

Control devices with a reconfigurable hardware were not proposed in the prior art, mainly because no intelligent modules having liquid-tight attachments (being a requirement e.g. in medical applications) were available. Liquid-tight attachments have to be maintained during the entire period of operation in many applications, especially in medical ones.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,337 discloses a vehicle control unit that can be reconfigured according to application needs via an operator input or a specific message on a specific bus interface.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,773 B1 discloses a dynamically reconfigurable control display that can reconfigure itself when a new device is added to the system. A computer program enabling the work with the new device is obtained either from a local archive or from a remote one via wireless means.

US 2004/0066374 A1 discloses a configurable keyboard where the display of the keys can be changed according to the keyboard's mapping.

The known solutions do not provide the possibility to change, reconfigure the hardware control actuators of control devices.

Thus, there is a need for a control device eliminating the drawbacks of prior art control devices. There is a particular need for a control device allowing reconfiguration of the hardware control actuators thereon, while maintaining liquid-proof properties usually needed for such applications. There is also a need for a control device that is only enabled if its modules are attached in a liquid-tight or liquid-proof manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a control device for providing a reconfigurable operator interface for a medical apparatus is provided. The control device comprises a control surface comprising at least one control actuator arranged on the control surface. The control device further comprises a plurality of modules arranged side-by-side and attached to each other via adjacent abutting side surfaces in a liquid-tight manner, wherein the plurality of modules comprise a first terminal module having a closing end surface and an abutting side surface opposite the closing end surface, and a second terminal module having an abutting side surface facing towards the abutting side surface of the first terminal module, and an opposite closing end surface. Operation of the control device is enabled when all the abutting side surfaces of the plurality of modules are in an attached state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first toFIG. 1, a control device with reconfigurable controller hardware is shown that can be easily customized to support the needs of different users or different applications.

The control device provides a reconfigurable operator interface for a medical apparatus. The control device comprises a control surface and control actuators arranged on the control surface. The control surface is provided by modules, which are arranged side-by-side on a support rail10and can be attached to each-other via their adjacent abutting side surfaces in a liquid-tight manner. The modular control device can be extended with modules to accommodate new control actuators (buttons, joysticks or touch-screens) if needed, while ensuring a safe operation maintaining liquid-proof properties. InFIG. 1, the modules are in an un-attached state in which the control device cannot be activated.

The modules comprise a first terminal module11having a closing end surface12and an abutting side surface13opposite the closing side surface12, as well as a second terminal module14having an abutting side surface15facing towards the abutting side surface13of the first terminal module11, and an opposite closing end surface16. The terminal modules11,14may also serve ergonomic purposes by providing rounded edges at the sides of the device.

The particular control device also contains two intermediate modules20,23, which are arranged between the first terminal module11and the second terminal module14. The intermediate modules20,23can be attached to each-other and to the first and second terminal modules11,14via their adjacent abutting side surfaces21,22,24,25in a liquid-tight manner. Intermediate modules20,23only contain a few control actuators and enable limited functionality additions to the system.

The control device also comprises means for enabling an operation of the control device only if all the abutting side surfaces13,15,21,22,24,25in the control device are in an attached state. In this way, safe operation is ensured during the entire operation period of the control device. The enabling means may comprise a switch. The switch may be a mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical or software switch, and can be realized in any suitable way.

The enable signal of the switch may activate the communication and control functionalities of the control device. As discussed later, the active modules of the control device may be interconnected with bus connectors arranged on the abutting side surfaces, so it may be advantageous to enable operation only if the bus is in an un-interrupted state.

All the modules of the exemplary embodiment are active, i.e. they are control modules carrying segments of the total control surface. Each control module has at least one configurable control actuator arranged thereon. Separate display means may be assigned to each or to the majority of the control actuators. The display means display information relating to the actual function assigned to the particular control actuator. The displayed information can also indicate the state of the controlled function, like enabled, disabled, active, selected, highlighted, warning sign. By the application of such display means, the re-configuration is more flexible and apparent, while a high level of effectiveness, safety, learnability and intuitiveness are maintained

The modules may comprise pushbuttons as control actuators like pushbutton30in intermediate module20. Pushbutton30may have a transparent surface, and the display means in this case can be an LCD display unit arranged below the transparent surface. So, the pushbuttons on the modules can be backlit with LCD display units, allowing an easy change of the indicated ‘labels’.

The modules may also comprise joysticks as control actuators, like joystick31in intermediate module21. In this case, the display means may be LCD display units32,33oppositely arranged around the joystick31. So, the labeling of joystick31can be easily configured for different purposes.

FIG. 2shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the control device, where the modules are in an attached state. The embodiment contains only one intermediate module26having pushbuttons. The attached state means that the modules are connected to each other in a liquid-tight manner, so no liquid can penetrate between the modules, and the electrical contacts of the bus connectors are safely protected.

In an embodiment shown inFIG. 3the control device does not contain any intermediate module. Only the two terminal modules11,14are present and both of them are active, i.e. control module. It some embodiments, however, one or both of the terminal modules are passive and do not provide any control possibilities. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, second terminal module17is passive. Also in this case, an enabling means is realized in the control device, e.g. by means of a software switch detecting the bus connector of the passive terminal module17having a special wiring or interconnection.

FIG. 5illustrates an intermediate module27having pushbuttons on its control surface segment. The modules of the control device may be slidably mounted onto the support rail10.FIG. 6shows an intermediate module28having a four-directional joystick35in addition to some pushbuttons. The joystick is surrounded by four oppositely arranged LCD display units35,36,37,38showing what each joystick axis is controlling. The LCDs may show different joystick functions as the user reconfigures the joystick to his needs.

Intermediate module29shown inFIG. 7accommodates a touch-screen39. The touch-screen39may contain any type of controls or can display images and messages.

FIGS. 8 to 10illustrate various control device configurations realized with the above described modules. It can be seen that the control device can be configured and extended according to the given needs or applications.

FIGS. 11 and 12schematically show a first terminal module41having a closing end surface42and an abutting side surface43opposite the closing side surface42, as well as a second terminal module44having an abutting side surface45and an opposite closing end surface46. A recess50accommodating a female bus connector51is formed in the abutting side surface43of the first terminal module41. A protrusion52formed on the abutting side surface45of the second terminal module44carries a male bus connector53.

FIG. 13depicts an intermediate state of the mating of the two modules in cross section. An additional sealing insert54can be placed onto the end of the protrusion around the male bus connector53for enhancing the sealing of the connectors. After joining the two modules, the modules can be attached to the support rail10, whereby the modules are fixed to each-other safely due to the structural constraints. A sealing edge may also be provided around the abutting side surfaces in order to enhance the sealing properties.

A schematic diagram of the structure of the control device inFIG. 2is depicted inFIG. 14. Each module11,14,26of the control device comprises a configuring bus interface60and a memory62assigned to the control actuators. A function is assignable to the control actuators by storing data relating to the functions via the configuring bus interface60into the memory62. A data interface61serves for organizing the transfer of data. Memory62may store the relations between the control actuators and the displayed images on their respective displays, e.g. a message that is displayed when the user actuates the control actuator.

If the control device has more than one control module, the configuring bus interfaces60of the control modules may be linked to each other via respective configuring bus connectors arranged at the abutting side surface(s) of the control modules, e.g. like in the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 11 to 13. In this case, the same configuring bus70, which can be an Ethernet bus, may be linked to the configuring bus interfaces60. The configuring bus interfaces60may also serve as control bus interfaces, and the configuring bus70may also serve as a control bus carrying control signals of the control device. The control bus can be a CAN (Controller Area Network) bus.

FIG. 14also shows that one of the control modules can be a master control module, while the remaining control modules may be slave control modules, in which case the communication to and from the slave control modules may be organized by the master control module. In the depicted embodiment, the enabling means64is a software module stored in the master module. The enabling means64may check whether the bus connectors of the intermediate modules26are in an attached state and whether the second terminal module14is also attached, and enables the operation of the entire control device only if both conditions are satisfied.

The proposed modular controller system may consist of a set of modules that may be attached side-by-side to the support rail of e.g. a table of an X-ray apparatus. The modular design allows the addition or removal of modules, so smaller or larger user interfaces can be created to meet the actual needs.

By means of these aspects of the device, development engineers or even the users themselves can easily customize the user interface for different applications and needs. Moreover, it is also possible to allow different users of the same system to customize their own preferred configuration, or the same user can customize the user interface for different applications.

The control modules can be fixed side-by-side on the rail. If only basic functions are used, only a few controller modules are attached. If a user wishes to control more functions from the table-side, he just attaches more modules. The developers may also recommend or supply more controller modules if a new functionality is introduced.

In case more users are necessary for controlling the apparatus, more than one control device may be attached at different locations.

Users can decide what controls to be included on the table-side controllers and at which location. Each user can create an own profile that contains the functions and the location of each function. The proposed control device results an easier introduction of new features and functionalities at reduced engineering efforts.

The control device may comprise a program means effecting a rearrangement of the functions of the control actuators. This program means may also be controlled by one or some of the control actuators. This enables a dynamic re-configuration, e.g. for left-handed users or when the control device is re-located around the apparatus to be controlled.

Visual feedback to the user may be provided by the LCD display units as described above. The LCD display units may be located under the control surface, under or next to the given control actuator. The displayed text or image may be changed via a server72even in real-time, which enables the indication of e.g. a disabled state of a control actuator, or the assigning of a new function to a pushbutton even during the system is powered and running.

As depicted inFIG. 14, the configuration messages may be processed by the master module. The communication between the master module and the server72may be realized via Ethernet, or via other wired or wireless connections. The master module communicates with the slave modules via the bus interfaces60and bus70.

The master module may receive power from an outside power source71through wired connection or by induction charging. The master module may distribute the power to the slave modules via the bus70. Each module may have an internal battery63which supplies enough power for a limited duration in case if power failure occurs.

Alternatively, there may be no master-slave relationships between the modules and each module may communicate with the server72and may be powered independently.

FIG. 15schematically shows the modules of a control device and hardware elements forming a part of the means64for enabling operation only if the modules are in an attached state. The control device consists of a first terminal module81, intermediate modules82and a second terminal module84. Every active module (master and slave modules) has a watertight switch85on its right side. The switch85serves as an activator enabling the use of the control device. The closing module (which can be active or passive), being the second terminal module84, has a protrusion86on its left side, which activates the aforementioned switch85.FIG. 16shows a minimum configuration of the control device consisting of the first and second terminal modules81,84, only. This way, the protrusion86and the corresponding switch85—both together forming a part of the enabling means64—activate the system at attaching the closing module. The attached state of the further modules can be checked e.g. by the presence of an uninterrupted bus connection between the modules. So, this way the control device cannot be activated by the enabling means64without an attached closing module.