JP2001320336A - Data transmission device, nurse call transmitter, and nurse call system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To simplify a configuration of a battery voltage monitoring portion in a data transmission device. A battery voltage monitoring circuit in a control circuit is provided.
03d compares the voltage of the battery 102 with the voltage obtained by dividing the applied voltage of the transmission monitor LED 104, which is hardly affected by the voltage value of the battery 102, with the resistors 107 and 108. Therefore, it is possible to monitor the decrease in the battery voltage without using a circuit or an element that merely generates a voltage for monitoring the decrease in the battery voltage, which has been conventionally required, thereby simplifying the configuration.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a data transmission device, a nurse call transmitter, and a nurse call system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a data transmission apparatus using a battery as a power source is provided with a dedicated battery voltage monitoring circuit in order to prevent data transmission failure due to a decrease in the battery voltage.
In brief, the battery voltage monitoring circuit generates a reference voltage inside the battery voltage monitoring circuit, and monitors the battery voltage by comparing the reference voltage with the battery voltage. Some data transmission devices allow a user to confirm whether or not data has been transmitted by causing an LED to emit light in accordance with the data transmission.

However, since the above-mentioned device has a battery voltage monitoring circuit for internally generating a battery voltage monitoring reference voltage as described above, the number of parts is increased and the cost is reduced. It was also a factor of up. In particular, in the case of a simple configuration such as a weak transmission method such as a nurse call transmitter of a wireless nurse call system, for example, the data transmission device itself is small and has a battery voltage monitoring circuit as described above. Problems such as an increase in the number of parts, an increase in the number of parts, and an increase in the cost of the structure are large.

According to the present invention, there is provided a data signal generating section for outputting a data signal, a transmitting section for transmitting a signal corresponding to the data signal, an operation using a battery as a power source, and at least the transmitting section includes: A transmission confirmation LED that performs a desired operation in accordance with a transmission operation, and the transmission confirmation LED
And a battery voltage monitoring circuit for monitoring the battery voltage by comparing the voltage according to the applied voltage with the voltage of the battery. In other words, since the voltage applied to the transmission confirmation LED is used as the battery voltage monitoring voltage, a circuit for generating a reference voltage for battery voltage detection, which was conventionally required, can be omitted, and the number of parts and cost can be reduced. Resources can be saved. In addition, power saving can be achieved by omitting a circuit for generating a reference voltage for battery voltage detection, which is conventionally required, and battery life can be extended by power saving. Assuming that the transmission confirmation LED performs an operation different from the desired operation when the battery voltage monitoring circuit detects a decrease in the battery voltage, the user operates the transmission confirmation LED to reduce the battery voltage. The drop can be easily confirmed, and the transmission confirmation LED is also used as the one that notifies the drop of the battery voltage, so that the configuration can be simplified. The data signal generation unit and / or the transmission unit may operate using the battery as a power source, and the transmission unit may prohibit the transmission when the battery voltage monitoring circuit detects a decrease in the battery voltage. If this is the case, it is possible to reduce data transmission errors due to a decrease in battery voltage, and to improve the reliability of data transmission. If the data signal generator and the battery voltage monitoring circuit are incorporated in a one-chip microcomputer, the number of components can be reduced. The present invention provides a nurse call operation unit, a data signal generation unit that outputs a data signal according to a preset identification code when the nurse call operation unit is operated, and a nurse call signal according to the data signal. , A transmission confirmation LED that operates using a battery as a power source and performs a desired operation at least according to the transmission operation of the transmission unit, a voltage corresponding to an applied voltage of the transmission confirmation LED, and the battery. And a battery voltage monitoring circuit for monitoring the voltage of the battery by comparing the voltages of the batteries. Therefore, by using the applied voltage of the transmission confirmation LED for confirming whether or not a nurse call has been transmitted as a battery voltage monitoring voltage, a circuit for generating a reference voltage for battery voltage detection can be omitted, and the number of parts can be reduced. Reduction, cost reduction, and resource saving can be achieved. In addition, power saving can be achieved by omitting a circuit for generating a reference voltage for battery voltage detection, which is conventionally required, and battery life can be extended. If the transmission confirmation LED performs an operation different from the desired operation when the battery voltage monitoring circuit detects a decrease in the battery voltage, a user such as a patient or a nurse can use the transmission confirmation LED. The operation makes it possible to easily confirm a decrease in the battery voltage, and the battery can be appropriately replaced. In addition, since the nurse call transmission confirmation LED is used also as an LED that notifies of a decrease in battery voltage, the configuration can be simplified. The data signal generation unit and / or the transmission unit may operate using the battery as a power source, and the transmission unit may prohibit the transmission when the battery voltage monitoring circuit detects a decrease in the battery voltage. For example, a nurse call transmission error due to a decrease in battery voltage can be reduced, and the reliability of nurse call transmission can be improved.
If the data signal generator and the battery voltage monitoring circuit are incorporated in a one-chip microcomputer, the number of components can be reduced. The present invention provides the nurse call transmitter, a receiving unit that receives a nurse call signal transmitted from the nurse call transmitter, and determines the identification code from the received signal and according to the determined identification code. Since the system includes the nurse call management unit for displaying and / or warning, a nurse call system capable of reducing the number of parts, reducing costs, and saving resources can be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. In FIG. 1, nurse call transmitters 1a to 1n are carried, for example, by a patient or the like, and when a nurse call switch 101 is operated, a nurse call including a different identification code (“IDa” to “IDn”) for each nurse call transmitter is provided. Send a signal. The receivers 2 to 2 are installed, for example, in each room or corridor of a hospital, and receive a nurse call signal transmitted from the nurse call transmitters 1a to 1n. The display panel 3 as the nurse call management unit includes the receivers 2 to
The identification code preset for each nurse call transmitter is determined based on the received nurse call signal by the nurse 2 and a display corresponding to the determination result is displayed on the display unit 3a or a warning is issued on the speaker 3b. FIG. 2 shows details of the nurse call transmitters 1a to 1n shown in FIG.
Since the nurse call transmitters 1a to 1n have the same configuration, only the nurse call transmitter 1a is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a nurse call switch 101 serving as a nurse call operation unit supplies a voltage of a battery 102 to each circuit and each element described later, and is turned on by an operation of a user such as a patient. When the control circuit 102 recognizes the ON operation by the operation of the patient or the like, the control circuit 10
3 turns on the nurse call switch 101 for a predetermined time. The control circuit 103 recognizes the ON state of the nurse call switch 101 based on the magnitude of the voltage input to the input terminal Vcc. A transmission monitor LED 104 as a transmission confirmation LED includes a switch 101, a transistor 10
5. The voltage of the battery 102 is supplied via the resistor 106. The transistor 105 is the output terminal 1 of the control circuit 103.
(Hereinafter referred to as “output 1”). The LED is turned on by the LED drive signal “L” output from the transmission monitor LED 10 when the switch 101 is on.
4 In general, when an LED is used as a light-emitting element, the LED has a characteristic that the forward voltage has a substantially constant value in a recommended current value region. That is, LE
When D is used as a light emitting element, the voltage applied to the LED is a substantially constant voltage. The present invention is directed to an LED in which when an LED is used as a light-emitting element, the applied voltage becomes a stable value even if the current value fluctuates in a recommended current value region
The characteristics are used as a constant voltage source for monitoring the battery voltage. Specifically, by setting the resistance value of the resistor 106 to a desired value, the current in the recommended current value region is supplied to the transmission monitoring LED 104, and is substantially constant without being largely affected by a change in the voltage value of the battery 102. , The forward voltage (VLED) of the transmission monitor LED 104 used for transmission confirmation is detected from the terminal A.
And the value (VR2) divided by the resistor 108, that is, the voltage (voltage at the terminal B) corresponding to the applied voltage of the transmission monitoring LED 104 is used as the battery voltage monitoring voltage. Thus, the LED 10 for monitoring the transmission of the nurse call signal
Since the forward voltage of the LED having the specific use of 4 is used as the battery voltage monitoring voltage, it is not necessary to provide a new constant voltage source for voltage monitoring, and the configuration can be simplified. In this example, a voltage obtained by dividing the forward voltage of the transmission monitor LED 104 is used as the voltage corresponding to the voltage applied to the transmission monitor LED 104.
The voltage applied to the transmission monitoring LED 104 may be used as it is as the voltage corresponding to the voltage applied to the ED 104. Further, when high accuracy is not required as the battery voltage detection accuracy, when setting the resistance value of the resistor 106 to a desired value, a current other than the current in the recommended current value region is supplied to the transmission monitor LED 104. It may be. 109 and 110 are resistors. The control circuit 103 as a data signal generator includes a CPU 103a, a ROM 103b,
A one-chip microcomputer including M103c and, for example, a battery voltage monitoring circuit 103d composed of a logic circuit or the like. An identification code (“IDa” in this example) is stored in the ROM 103b in advance. A nurse call signal including a data signal corresponding to the code “IDa” is output to an output terminal 2 (hereinafter referred to as “output 2”).
And supplies it to the high-frequency transmission unit 111. The battery voltage monitoring circuit 103d compares the voltage (VR2) according to the voltage applied to the transmission monitoring LED 104 with the voltage of the battery 102 input to the input terminal Vcc. That is, as described above, the voltage (VR2) that becomes a constant voltage and the voltage of the battery 102 are compared. The high-frequency transmitter 111 outputs the output 2 of the control circuit 103.
The transmission frequency is modulated based on a nurse call signal including a data signal corresponding to the identification code output from the base station and transmitted by radio. Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. For example,
When the patient or the like feels the need for a nurse call and operates the nurse call switch 101 to turn it on (step 3a), the battery voltage is supplied to the control circuit 103 and the like, and the control circuit 103 starts operating (steps 3b and 3c). Control circuit 10
Reference numeral 3 first outputs a switch control signal from the output terminal 3 to continuously turn on the nurse call switch 101 for a predetermined time. By this operation, the user sets the nurse call switch 1
Even after pressing 01, the battery voltage is continuously supplied to the control circuit 103 and the like for a predetermined time. That is, even if the time during which the nurse call switch 101 is operated is short, the voltage of the battery 102 is continuously supplied for a predetermined time, and a stable operation is possible. Subsequently, the control circuit 103 outputs the LED drive signal “L” from the output 1 to turn on the transistor 105, and transmits the battery 10 to the transmission monitor LED 104.
2 is supplied. This operation allows the transmission monitor LE
D104 emits light to notify the user such as a patient that the operation of the nurse call switch 101 has been received by the nurse call transmitter 1a (step 3d). in this way,
Since the operation of the nurse call switch 101 is notified by the emission of the transmission monitor LED 104, the user such as a patient can be less anxious about whether or not the operation of the nurse call switch 101 is received. Will be possible. With the operation of step 3d,
The voltage (VR2) obtained by dividing the applied voltage (VLED) of the transmission monitoring LED 104 by the resistors 107 and 108 is used as the control circuit 10
3 is input to input terminal 1 (hereinafter referred to as "input 1") (step 3e). As described above, this voltage (VR2) is substantially unaffected by the voltage value of the battery 102 and is a substantially constant value. Battery voltage monitoring circuit 103d in control circuit 103
Compares the voltage (VR2) input to the input 1 with the voltage of the battery 102 input from the terminal C to the input terminal Vcc (step 3f). If the voltage (VR2) is lower than the battery voltage in step 3f, ie, the voltage (V
If the voltage of the battery 102 is higher than R2), the control circuit 103 determines that the voltage of the battery 102 remains sufficiently, and maintains the LED drive signal “L” from the output 1 to maintain the transmission monitor LE.
While turning on D104 for a certain time,
A nurse call signal including a data signal corresponding to the identification code “IDa” stored in the
11 and the high-frequency transmitting unit 111 modulates the oscillation frequency based on the nurse call signal and wirelessly transmits the modulated signal (steps 3g and 3h). In this example, the lighting time of the transmission monitoring LED 104 in step 3g is set in accordance with the operation time in step 3h, that is, the transmission time of the data signal. As described above, the transmission monitor LED 104 is lit while the wireless signal (nurse call signal) is being transmitted, so that a user such as a patient can be less anxious about whether or not the nurse call signal is being transmitted. Will be possible. FIG. 4 shows an example of a nurse call signal including a data signal corresponding to the identification code. As shown in the figure, in this example, a preamble section 4a, a preamble end section 4b, a data start section 4c, and a data signal section 4 corresponding to the identification code are provided.
d, a nurse call signal comprising a data end portion 4e is used, the identification code is 4-bit data, and a different identification code is set for each nurse call transmitter. In the present example, the nurse call signal is set to be transmitted a plurality of times in the operation of step 3h. Therefore, even if noise or the like is present in any of the nurse call signals transmitted a plurality of times, the identification code included in the nurse call signal can be determined on the display panel 3 shown in FIG. , That is, even if the user operates the nurse call switch 101, the signal cannot be determined on the display panel 3. FIG. 5 shows an output waveform of the high-frequency transmission unit 111. As shown in FIG. 5, the transmission frequency is switched between when the data in the nurse call signal is "L" and when it is "H". In this example, when the data in the nurse call signal is “H”, the frequency of the signal transmitted from the high frequency transmission unit 111 is transmitted, and when the data in the nurse call signal is “L”, the high frequency transmission unit 111 transmits the frequency. Higher than the frequency of the signal. When the data in the nurse call signal is “H”, the frequency of the signal transmitted from the high frequency transmission unit 111 is changed to the frequency of the signal transmitted by the high frequency transmission unit 111 when the data in the nurse call signal is “L”. It may be lower.
Returning to FIG. 2, if the voltage (VR2) is higher than the battery voltage in step 3f, that is, if the voltage of the battery 102 is lower than the substantially constant voltage (VR2), the control circuit 10
No. 3 judges that the voltage of the battery 102 is low and the battery 102 is in a shortage state, outputs an output 1 that alternates between “0” and “1” alternately for a certain period of time, and blinks the transmission monitor LED 104 for a certain period of time. To notify the user of the decrease in the battery level, and prohibits the transmission of the data signal. As described above, since the voltage used for battery voltage detection is obtained from the voltage applied to the transmission monitoring LED 104, a circuit for generating a reference voltage for battery voltage detection, which was conventionally required, can be omitted, and the number of parts can be reduced. Cost reduction and resource saving can be achieved. In addition, by eliminating the circuit that generates the reference voltage for battery voltage detection, which was required in the past, it is possible to save power that was previously consumed by this omitted circuit, and it is possible to extend the battery life by saving power. Becomes Further, as described above, in the nurse call transmitter, when a user such as a patient operates the nurse call switch, the application voltage of the transmission monitor LED, which can confirm whether the nurse call signal is being transmitted, is used for detecting the battery voltage. Therefore, a circuit for generating a reference voltage for battery voltage detection, which is conventionally required, can be omitted, and the number of parts, cost, and resources can be reduced. Further, by eliminating a circuit for generating a reference voltage for detecting a battery voltage, which is conventionally required, the power consumed by the circuit can be saved, and the battery life can be extended by the power saving.
Further, when the battery voltage monitoring circuit 103d detects a drop in the voltage of the battery 102, the transmission monitor LED 104 performs an operation different from that when the voltage of the battery 102 is sufficient, so that the user can easily confirm the drop in the battery voltage. The configuration can be simplified because the transmission monitor LED is also used as an LED that notifies of a decrease in battery voltage. Also,
When the battery voltage monitoring circuit 103d detects a drop in the voltage of the battery 102, the transmission of the data signal is prohibited.
02 can reduce data transmission errors due to the voltage drop, and improve the reliability of data transmission. Further, in the normal state, the operation of notifying the decrease of the battery voltage is not performed, and the user is notified of the decrease of the remaining battery level after operating the nurse call switch 101, that is, the user is not interested in the nurse call transmitter. Since the low battery level is notified when the user is interested in the nurse call transmitter instead of when, the useless operation for notifying the low battery level can be reduced. Therefore, power saving can be achieved. Such power saving has the effect of reducing the frequency of cumbersome operation of battery replacement in a data transmission device that operates using a battery as a power supply. Further, as a nurse call system, cost reduction and the like can be achieved with simplification of the configuration of the nurse call transmitter. Next, an example in which the voltage applied to the transmission monitoring LED 104 is used as an oscillation control signal of the high-frequency transmission unit 111 will be described with reference to FIG.
In this example, the voltage of the terminal A is used as an oscillation control signal of the high-frequency transmission unit 111. Specifically, the voltage V is applied to the terminal A.
Only when the LED is generated, the high-frequency transmission unit 111 modulates the transmission frequency according to the nurse call signal output from the output 2 of the control circuit 103. That is, the voltage VLED is used as an ON signal for oscillation control of the high-frequency transmission unit 111,
The state in which this voltage VLED does not exist is referred to as a high-frequency transmitting unit 111.
Off signal for oscillation control. Therefore, the high-frequency transmitting unit 1
The voltage level of the ON signal of the oscillation control 11 is constant. The operation is the same as that of FIG. As described above, whether or not the transmission frequency is modulated according to the nurse call signal is controlled using the stable voltage (VLED), so that the voltage level of the ON signal of the oscillation control of the high-frequency transmission unit 111 is stabilized. In addition, it is possible to reduce the fluctuation of the radio signal due to the fluctuation of the voltage value of the ON signal, and to output a stable radio signal. In addition, since the voltage applied to the transmission monitor LED 104 is used as an ON signal for oscillation control of the high-frequency transmission unit 111 in which the voltage is stabilized, it is not necessary to use a special constant voltage element. The size of the configuration can be reduced. In this case, the LED drive signal from the output 1 for controlling the on / off of the transmission monitor LED is transmitted to the high-frequency transmission unit 1.
11 also serves as an on / off signal. Therefore, the control signal can be simplified. Further, the oscillation operation of the high-frequency transmission unit 111 is turned on in synchronization with the lighting of the transmission monitor LED.
A process for synchronizing the lighting of the ED and the oscillation operation of the high-frequency transmission unit 111 is not required, and control can be facilitated. In the above description, a nurse call transmitter is employed as the data transmission device. However, the data transmission device is not limited to the nurse call transmitter and can be appropriately changed. For example, the present invention may be applied to a remote control device of an electronic device.

According to the present invention, since the voltage applied to the transmission confirmation LED is used as a voltage for monitoring the battery voltage drop, only the voltage for monitoring the battery voltage drop is generated. It becomes possible to monitor a decrease in battery voltage without using circuits and elements. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and resources can be saved. In addition, by omitting circuits and elements that only generate a voltage for monitoring a decrease in battery voltage, power consumed by the circuits and elements can be saved and power can be saved. In addition, when a battery is used as a power supply due to power saving, the battery life can be extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data signal of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an output waveform diagram showing a main part of a transmission signal according to a data signal of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a to 1n Nurse call transmitter 101 Nurse call operation unit 103 Data signal generation unit 1, Chip microcomputer 103d Battery voltage monitoring circuit 104 Transmission confirmation LED 111 Transmission unit 2 Receiver 3 Nurse call management unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G016 CA00 CB12 CC01 CC04 CC12 CC27 CD04 CD09 CD14 CE01 4C341 LL10 5G003 BA01 DA02 EA06 FA08 GC05 5H030 AA06 AS11 FF44 5K042 AA06 CA02 CA11 CA24 DA00 EA03 FA05 GA01 JA01 KA03

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A data signal generator for outputting a data signal, a transmitter for transmitting a signal corresponding to the data signal, and a desired operation which operates using a battery as a power source and at least according to a transmission operation of the transmitter. LE for sending confirmation
D, and a battery voltage monitoring circuit that monitors the voltage of the battery by comparing the voltage of the battery with the voltage corresponding to the voltage applied to the transmission confirmation LED. 2. The transmission confirmation LE according to claim 1, wherein
D. The data transmission device, wherein when the battery voltage monitoring circuit detects the decrease in the battery voltage, the device performs an operation different from the desired operation. 3. The data signal generating unit and / or the transmitting unit according to claim 1, wherein the data signal generating unit and / or the transmitting unit operates using the battery as a power supply. A data transmission device for prohibiting the transmission when detecting a decrease in the data transmission. 4. The data transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the data signal generator and the battery voltage monitoring circuit are built in a one-chip microcomputer. 5. A nurse call operation unit, a data signal generation unit that outputs a data signal according to a preset identification code when the nurse call operation unit is operated, and a nurse call according to the data signal A transmission unit for transmitting a signal; and a transmission confirmation LE that operates using a battery as a power source and performs a desired operation at least in accordance with the transmission operation of the transmission unit.
A nurse call transmitter comprising: D; and a battery voltage monitoring circuit that monitors the battery voltage by comparing a voltage corresponding to an applied voltage of the transmission confirmation LED with a voltage of the battery. 6. The transmission confirmation LE according to claim 5, wherein
D is a nurse call transmitter that operates differently from the desired operation when the battery voltage monitoring circuit detects a drop in the battery voltage. 7. The data signal generation unit and / or the transmission unit according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the transmission unit operates using the battery as a power supply, and the transmission unit includes a battery voltage monitoring circuit that controls the battery voltage. A nurse call transmitter for prohibiting the transmission when detecting a decrease in the number of nurses. 8. The nurse call transmitter according to claim 5, wherein the data signal generator and the battery voltage monitoring circuit are built in a one-chip microcomputer. 9. The nurse call transmitter according to claim 5, a receiver for receiving a nurse call signal transmitted from the nurse call transmitter, and the identification code from the received signal. A nurse call management unit for performing a determination and performing a display and / or a warning according to the determined identification code.