Abstract:
A nurse call indicator includes a housing capable of supporting plural, individually replaceable indicator lamps, as well as plural indicator lamps. Each indicator lamp is mountable in a single indicator space within the housing. Indicator lamps may be single or multi-color, for example, by using different colored LEDs which light depending on the applied polarity.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/456,971, filed Mar. 24, 2003. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the health care industry, particularly with certain hospitals and nursing homes, monitoring and call devices provide patient information to hospital staff. Indicator lights, or dome lamps located outside a patient&#39;s room notify hospital staff that certain conditions exist and alert the hospital staff when there is an emergency. Such a dome lamp may also show the status of an existing call and nurse presence information for each patient room. For example, one color light dome lamp may indicate a “code blue” which refers to an immediate life-threatening condition. Another color dome light may indicate a “patient call,” meaning that a patient needs nurse care. The number of sections or colors on a dome lamp varies with different systems and may require 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or more different colors for each dome lamp.  
           [0003]    In typical applications, 24V bulbs provide different colors in a dome lamp. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical four-color dome lamp using conventional 24V bulbs  11  positioned in snap-in sockets  13  in a housing  10 , shown with the dome lamp cover off. A bulb is required for each corresponding color. Therefore, multi-colored dome lamps result in increased overall light/housing size. Some dome lamps utilize color light emitting diodes (LED) as light sources. However, replacing these LEDs can be arduous, typically requiring the removal and replacement of a printed circuit board fastened to the housing.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Clearly, drawbacks exist with each of the dome lamp solutions discussed above. A need exists for a dome lamp application that utilizes LEDs that can replace existing 24V bulbs to avoid additional costs, and to provide multi-colored light with the least number of light sources per dome lamp for indicating different status information while minimizing overall dome fixture size.  
           [0005]    A nurse call indicator, according to an embodiment of the present invention, includes a housing capable of supporting plural, individually replaceable indicator lamps, and the plural indicator lamps. At least one such indicator lamp includes a printed circuit board that fits within a single indicator space in the housing, and one or more LEDs mounted on the printed circuit board. Several LEDs of a single color may be activated simultaneously to provide extra brightness.  
           [0006]    In one embodiment, each indicator lamp within the housing displays a distinct color.  
           [0007]    Each indicator lamp can include a current-limiting resistor to enable the lamp to operate at a standard voltage, such as 24 VDC, normally used for a non-LED bulb.  
           [0008]    In another embodiment, an indicator lamp is capable of displaying at least two colors, a first polarity activating a first color, and a second polarity activating a second color, for example, by using different colored LEDs. Such a multi-color indicator lamp can be used to identify different room statuses depending on the activated color.  
           [0009]    In at least one embodiment, the housing has been constructed to accepted standard bulbs, e.g., 24 VDC bulbs. The indicator lamps are constructed such that each one is able to replace a standard bulb within the housing.  
           [0010]    In another aspect of the present invention, an individually replaceable nurse call indicator lamp for use in a nurse call indicator housing includes a printed circuit board mountable in a single indicator space within the housing, and one or more LEDs mounted on the printed circuit board.  
           [0011]    The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional dome lamp with 24V bulbs.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 illustrates the dome lamp housing of FIG. 1 in which LED indicator lamps according to an embodiment of the present invention have replaced the 24V bulbs.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 illustrates a single color LED indicator lamp in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the single color LED of FIG. 3.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 illustrates a dual color LED indicator lamp in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the dual color LED apparatus of FIG. 5.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an LED indicator lamp of FIG. 2 as seen from above.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the LED indicator lamp of FIG. 7 as seen from below.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a mechanical cut-away side-view of the LED indicator lamp of FIG. 2.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is illustrates the single color LED indicator lamp of FIG. 3, shown without a cover, installed in the conventional dome lamp housing.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    The apparatus in accordance with the present invention replaces existing 24V bulbs in dome light applications whereby LEDs fit into existing lamp housings. FIG. 2 illustrates a dome lamp housing  10  such as that shown in FIG. 1 in which LED indicator lamps  50  according to an embodiment of the present invention have replaced the 24V bulbs.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 illustrates a single color LED indicator lamp  20  in accordance with the present invention. This apparatus is used with a dome light housing (not shown). FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the single color LED of FIG. 3.  
         [0025]    Two LEDs  22  of the same color are mounted on a small printed circuit board  28 . Two are used for increased brightness; however a single LED, or more than two LEDs could also be used. A bridge rectifier  24  ensures that regardless of how the printed circuit board  28  is installed in the housing  10  (FIG. 1), the correct polarity is delivered to the LEDs. Alternatively, mechanical means could be used to ensure that the board  28  may only be installed one way, obviated the need for the rectifier. A resistor  26  limits the current.  
         [0026]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the LED indicator lamps are adapted to work with existing dome lamp housings. Thus, each printed circuit board  28  of this embodiment has a rectangular hole  29  designed to fit over a bulb mounting  16  (FIG. 1) which includes a snap-in socket. When so positioned, electrically conductive rails  25  make electrical contact with electrical contacts  55  (FIG. 10) within the bulb socket  13  (FIG. 1) and pick up the 24 VDC power from the socket. Protrusions  27  on the rails  25  provide two functions: first, when inserted into a socket, they mechanically hold the LED indicator lamp in place. Second, they provide the electrical connection to the socket.  
         [0027]    In another embodiment, two different colors are available within a single LED indicator lamp, which displays one of the two colors depending on the direction of current, i.e., the polarity of the 24 VDC power. FIG. 5 illustrates a populated printed circuit board  31  for a dual color LED indicator lamp in accordance with the present invention. Again, two LEDs are used for each color for brightness, but different numbers could be used. A first set or pair of LEDs  34 , when activated, light in a first color, for example, white; a second set or pair of LEDs  36 , when activated, light in a second color, for example, blue. A resistor  38  limits the current.  
         [0028]    Such an indicator lamp can identify two different room statuses within a single section of the dome lamp. For example, the first section of a dome lamp may light white to signal a patient call, and blue to signal a “code blue.” FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the dual color LED apparatus of FIG. 5. The polarity of the power on the two contact leads  25  controls which of the two colors is activated.  
         [0029]    A third color can be achieved by alternating the polarity at a rate that is too fast for the human eye to detect. For example, if the first color were red and the second color green, alternating the polarity might produce an apparent color of orange, signifying yet a third room status within the single section of the dome lamp.  
         [0030]    Alternatively, multi-color LEDs could be used in place of two discrete LEDs of different colors.  
         [0031]    Additional color dome lamps can also be utilized for 4, 5 and 6 section applications by using dual color LED indicator lamps on one or more sections. By using LEDs instead of 24V bulbs, the current is approximately ten times smaller. In addition, by using LEDs, replacement issues associated with 24V bulbs is avoided.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an LED indicator lamp of FIG. 2 as seen from above, showing a translucent cover  40  mounted over the printed circuit board  28 . Such a cover helps to diffuse the light, as well as provide easy handling of the lamp for installation and removal.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the LED indicator lamp  50  of FIG. 7 as seen from below. The aperture  29 , which fits over an existing bulb socket in the housing, is seen near the middle of the printed circuit board  28 . Power rails  25  can be seen through the aperture  29 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a mechanical cut-away side-view of the LED indicator lamp  50  of FIG. 2. Here, the protrusion  27  of rail  25  can be clearly seen. Upon installation of the lamp  50  in the housing  10 , the protrusion  27  electrically contacts the snap-in socket to provide power.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is illustrates the single color LED indicator lamp of FIG. 3, shown without a lens cover for illustrative purposes, installed in the conventional dome lamp housing  10 . This illustration shows how the protrusions  27  of the conductive rails  25  come into contact with the electrical contacts  55  inside the incandescent bulb socket  13 .  
         [0036]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.