DE9218191U1 - Power module - Google Patents

Description

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DESCRIPTION

POWER MODULE

The present invention relates to a dental treatment station with a central power supply unit and specific power modules connected to it.

In previous dental treatment stations, a central power supply unit was located in a base, which could be in the lower part of the dentist's chair or outside of it. This central power supply unit in turn fed a series of specific power modules, each of which was assigned to an instrument or other similar consumer. These special power modules were either also located in the base or in the relevant treatment station element (e.g. in the doctor's table or in the assistant's table).

The disadvantage of this system was that the multiple power modules required a relatively large amount of space, that this resulted in a relatively high power loss and that a large number of supply lines were also required for the individual instruments. The latter was because each power module only had limited output data, was therefore only flexible to a certain extent and was therefore only used for one instrument at a time.

The invention is therefore based on the object of avoiding the above-mentioned disadvantages, i.e. gaining more space, reducing power loss and reducing the wiring effort.

This object is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

It should also be added that the multiple power modules that were previously used all had to be connected to a central control unit via separate cables. For example, a foot controller is connected to the central control unit. The invention also means that these multiple connecting cables between the multiple central power modules and the central control unit can now be omitted.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and.

The invention will be explained by way of example using the following figures. They show

Figure 1 shows an example of the arrangement of several power modules and control circuits, each assigned to a treatment station element;

Figure 2 shows an example of the structure of a treatment station element;
Figure 3 shows an arrangement for instrument identification;

Figure 4 shows the different possibilities to configure a treatment instrument; 15

Figure 5 the design of the contacting of two instrument parts for the instrument identification

Figure 6 shows an example of the arrangement of control circuits and an external storage unit; and

Figure 7 shows an example of the structure of such an external storage unit; and

Figure 8 shows the arrangement for controlling the brightness of display units.

Fig. 1 shows the structure of several treatment station elements, whereby in the drawing two elements are functionally similar. Of course, a treatment station can also have more than the four treatment station elements shown. The allocation of individual consumers to a treatment station element is normally based on the spatial placement or functional relationship of the consumers. For example, the instruments to be operated by the doctor are allocated to a doctor element (element I) and the instruments to be operated by the doctor's assistant are allocated to an assistant element (element II). The settings required to carry out the patient chair functions are carried out by a patient chair element (element III) and a supply and disposal element (element IV) is used for the supply and disposal of the spittoon, for example.

Each consumer unit 1 is assigned a power module 3 and a control unit 2. Each power module provides the media in the type and quantity required for the consumers to be supplied, with the control unit 2 reporting to the power module 3 which consumer is being used. All control units 2 can exchange data with one another via a common communication bus 4. Selected functions of various elements can also be controlled using a foot controller 10 connected to it.

The power modules 3 receive the necessary "raw" media via an energy bus 5, which in turn is connected to a central energy supply unit 6.

A detailed examination of an element is to be carried out using the dentist element (element

I) as an example. The remaining elements are essentially comparable in terms of their structure and function. However, significant differences are mentioned.

Fig. 2 shows the detailed structure of the doctor element (element I). As in Fig. 1, the control unit 2, the dentist unit 1 and the power module 3 can be seen. In addition, a foot controller 10, the central energy supply unit 6 and an operating display 15 are shown.

The dentist unit 1 comprises 4 instruments 8a...d, such as an electrically driven drill 8a, a turbine drill 8b, a tartar removal device 8c and a curing light 8d. The four instruments are connected to the power module 3 via a bus-like supply line system 11, whereby controllable switches 7a...d switch on the desired instrument. These switches 7a...d, e.g. mechanical or semiconductor switches, each receive the open or close command from the control unit 2 via control lines 12 connected to the "acknowledgement" outputs of the control unit 2.

These switches 7 are controlled after evaluating an activation signal from one of the storage switches 9a...d. Each instrument is assigned such a storage switch which opens when the instrument is removed from the storage and in this way transmits the activation signal to the control unit 2.

The storage switches 9a...d can be designed, for example, in the form of light barrier-controlled switches, each of which is assigned to an instrument

assigned light barriers detect whether an instrument has been taken out of the tray or is still in the designated place.

To increase operator safety, the acknowledgement signal, i.e. the control command for one of the switches 7a...d, passes through a blocking circuit in the control unit 2, which ensures that only one of the switches 7a...d is closed at any one time. In this way, it is possible to prevent a drill head from being activated when the doctor's assistant replaces it while the dentist is using another instrument. The circuit is designed so that the first instrument to be removed from the holder blocks the other instruments.

If, for example, the dentist takes the curing light 8d out of the storage, as shown in Fig. 2, the corresponding storage switch 9d sends a signal to the storage input of the control unit 2 by opening. This acknowledges the signal via a corresponding control line 12 by closing the switch 7d. The other switches 7a...c are then blocked. When the switch 7d is closed, the curing light 8d receives the corresponding supply media, in this case only electrical energy, in the right amount from the power module 3. The other consumers 8a...c are separated from the supply line system 11.

The power module 3 receives the information about the type and quantity of the supply media to be made available via a control line 14 from the control unit 2.

Closing the switch 7d also causes an identification signal to be applied via the identification line 13 to the identification input of the control unit 2 and to be evaluated there.

Of course, the dentist is also able to switch the identification device 20 to passive mode and enter all the necessary values manually via an operating display 15 and check them via the display.

Function commands that can be executed via the foot controller 10 are transmitted to the respective responsible control unit 2 via the communication bus 4.
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The special feature of the arrangement according to the invention is that only one power module 3 is provided for all four consumers 8, that the power supplied by the central

The energy supply unit supplies electricity, air and water in the appropriate type and quantity to the selected consumer.

As already mentioned, the control unit 2 receives an identification signal from the instrument 8d in use. This signal is evaluated by an identification device 20. The signal value, for example a voltage value, provides information about the type and nature of the selected instrument 8d. This enables a differentiated statement about the connected components of the instrument, for example hose type and gear attachment.
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Fig.3 shows a possible structure of such an instrument identification.

The treatment instrument to be recognized can, for example, have an instrument head 21, an instrument attachment 22, an instrument coupling 23, a hose 24 connected to it, which in turn is connected to a basic device by means of a hose coupling 25 and a counter-coupling member 26.

The electrical setup required for recognition is shown below.

Two electrical contacts 27, 28 on the device side are connected by a pair of wires 32, 33, which extend from the hose coupling 25, through the hose 24, the instrument coupling 23, the instrument attachment 22 to the instrument head 21. The electrical connections between individual components of the instrument are made either with standard plug contacts or with ring contacts, which are explained using Fig. 5. Each instrument part that can be identified has a resistor 29, 30, 31 that connects the pair of wires 32, 33. Accordingly, a parallel circuit of three resistors is connected to the inputs 27 and 28.

To detect the instrument, a reference voltage is applied to an input 27 via a reference resistor. A voltage Uj^ is then present between the inputs 27 and 28, which is determined by the total resistance of the resistors

29, 30, 31. The total resistance is calculated according to the formula
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-L - _L _1 JL

" R2 ^f *3 ^f *4

If a characteristic resistance is chosen for each part of the instrument, the instrument can be clearly identified using the voltage Uj^, which is proportional to the total resistance.

The voltage Uj^ present at the inputs 27 and 28 is fed to a measuring device, for example an analog/digital converter. This determines the digital value of the voltage Uj^ and supplies it to the control unit 2. Using the digitized measured value and with the help of stored tables, it is possible to say exactly which parts the instrument is made up of. Based on this result, the control unit 2 can specify the type and quantity of supply media to the power module 3. The number of instrument arrangements that can be coded is essentially limited by the resolution of the analog/digital converter.

although only two contacts per coupling are necessary.
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Instead of a parallel connection of resistors 29, 30 and 31, a series connection could also be used.

It would of course also be conceivable to use other voltage or current-changing elements instead of resistors, such as capacitors or inductors. These would then have to be supplied with an alternating voltage or individual voltage pulses.

The only decisive factor for detection is that the quantity measured at the inputs 27 and 28 provides information about the properties of the line system 32, 33 connected to it, with each instrument part 21, 22, 24 and 25 making its own, unique contribution to this.

The main advantage of the arrangement specified is that the control circuit 2 also recognizes the replacement of the instrument head 21 or the instrument attachment 22 and can react accordingly. The control circuit 2 is thus able to adjust the operating parameters to the new situation even when a gear attachment is replaced.

Fig. 4 shows a small section of the variety of connection options for different instrument heads to a hose 24 designed as a universal hose. For example, the tartar removal device 21a or the

Turbine drill 21b can be connected to the hose 24 via a coupling 23 using an instrument attachment 22a. This is illustrated using the dot-dash line. Furthermore, a motorless instrument head 21c can be connected to an air motor 22b or an electric motor 22c to the hose 24 using an instrument adapter. The curing light 2Id does not require any adapters and can be connected directly to the hose 24.

In contrast to Fig.3, in this case the resistors required for identification are connected in series. The electrical connection between individual instrument parts is made in two ways.

Normal socket-plug contacts provide the connection between the hose coupling 23 and the instrument part connected to it. The electrical connection between the instrument attachment and the instrument head is made via spring-loaded contacts 40, 41 and corresponding ring-shaped counter-contact surfaces 42, 43.

Fig. 5 illustrates again the connection types used.

The instrument head 21 is plugged onto the end piece of the instrument attachment 22 to create a connection. When connecting, the spring-loaded contacts 40, 41 slide over the outer surface of the corresponding attachment end piece. When plugged in, the two contacts 40, 41 lie on the ring-shaped contact surfaces 42 and 43, respectively, thereby creating an electrical connection between the left-hand pair of lines 32, 33.
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The quality of the electrical contact depends essentially on the contact pressure of the spring-loaded contacts 40, 41, which is determined by the shape and the material used.

The instrument attachment 22 has two plug contacts 44, 45 on its other side, which are connected to the cable pair 32, 33. For the plug contacts 44, 45, corresponding socket contacts are provided on the instrument coupling 23 to establish an electrical connection.

The program data required to execute the functions described are normally stored in a memory of the control unit 2. In order to ensure proper communication between the individual control units 2 via the

To enable communication bus, the individual execution programs must be coordinated with each other.

The program data itself is normally regularly saved in read-only memories (ROMs). The read-only memories themselves are located in sockets provided for this purpose on the control unit 2. If program changes are made, the corresponding read-only memories must be replaced. This usually applies to the read-only memories of all treatment station elements, since, as mentioned above, the programs of different elements must be coordinated with one another.

Fig. 6 shows one way in which the replacement described above can be avoided. For this purpose, each control unit 2 is assigned a reading device 51 which reads the required program data from a data carrier 50, for example a magnetic card or an E-PROM, and stores it in the memory of the control unit 2.

Of course, it is also conceivable that only one control circuit 2 comprises such a reading device 51, with the program data intended for the other control circuits 2 being transmitted via the communication bus.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that the reading device 51 is not directly assigned to a control circuit 2, but rather transmits the associated program code to each individual control circuit 2 via the communication bus 4.

Figure 7 will explain again how such a program exchange takes place. This assumes a memory card 50, which contains a PROM as a data carrier for storing the operating programs.

When the memory card is inserted into the reading device, for example via a plug contact, the reading device first transmits an identification code that uniquely identifies each control circuit 2 and can also be individually set there. Depending on this identification code, which is stored in a memory 53, a corresponding area of the operating program memory 52 is addressed and the data stored therein is read out by the reading device and written into the corresponding memory of the control circuit 2.

As already mentioned, the dentist can display information about various functions on the operator display 15 or other display units (LEDs).

The readability of the display or the LEDs depends very much on the ambient brightness in the treatment room. In order to be able to react to this parameter, the control unit 2 contains a corresponding brightness control, which is shown in Fig. 8. A light-sensitive switching element 60, e.g. a photodiode, measures the ambient brightness and transmits a corresponding value to the control unit 2. This adjusts the LEDs 61 or the display of the operator display 15 by changing the supply voltage. The display brightness is regulated proportionally to the ambient brightness, ie the brighter the room, the brighter the display.
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Claims (11)

Expectations 1. Device for controlling and supplying power to a consumer unit (1) of a dental treatment station having a plurality of consumers (8), such as controllable instruments, with a central energy supply unit (6) and with a control unit (2),
marked by a power module (3) common to all consumers (8) of the consumer unit (1), which, depending on control signals from the control unit (2), provides the supply media for each consumer (8), appropriate in type and quantity. 2. Device according to claim 1 with a feedback sensor (9) for each consumer, which reports the activation of the associated consumer (8) to the control unit (2) by supplying activation signals,
characterized, that the control unit (2) evaluates the activation signals to generate the control signals for the power module (3). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, with several consumer units (1), with a control unit (2) for each consumer unit (1) and with a central energy supply unit (6) common to all consumer units,
marked by Postal address:
PO Box 26 01 32 D-8OOO Munich 26 Office address: Steinsdorfstrasse 10 D-8000 Munich Il Telephone 089/29 66 84
To'.ex 5 23 1&Idigr;5 r.iitsh d
Te.effx OS9/22 63 31 Accounts for official fees: Postgiro Munich, Account 195 75-803 (bank code 700 100 80) EPA Account 28 000 206 an energy bus to which the central energy supply unit (6) on the one hand and the power modules (3) of the individual consumer units (1) on the other hand are connected. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, with several consumer units, with a control unit for each consumer unit and with a central energy supply unit common to all consumer units,
marked by a communication bus (4) to which the control units assigned to the individual consumer units (1) are connected. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each consumer is assigned a switch (7) which connects the consumer to the power module.
15 6. Device according to claim 2 and 5,
characterized, that only one switch (7d) closes at a time, while the other switches (7a..c) remain open, depending on the evaluation of the activation signals. 7. Device according to claim 5,
characterized, that the switches (7) are connected to the power module (3) via common lines (11). 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
marked by an operating display (15) connected to the control unit, which enables the selection of individual consumers (8) as well as their operating parameters and shows them on a display. 9. Device according to claim 8,
characterized, that the brightness of the operating display (15) is adjusted depending on the ambient brightness. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the display brightness also increases as the bypass brightness increases. 11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a light-sensitive circuit element (60) transmits information about the ambient brightness to the control unit (2).