ES1073671U - Articulated multimedia terminal (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Articulated multimedia terminal, of the type used mainly in hospitals, residences or homes to enable access to communication networks and multimedia content to lying people in bed, characterized in that it comprises a support (1) attached to the wall or bed which houses electronic circuitry, from which emerges a horizontal articulated arm formed by at least two segments (2) provided with turning means (3) with respect to each other and with respect to the support (1), and through which runs the appropriate wiring of interconnection (4), and ending in a deformable articulated tube (5), vertically arranged, from which hangs a user terminal (6), which in turn comprises a flat screen (7) of graphic display with superimposed tactile keyboard, speakers (8), a video camera (9), a microphone (10) and one or more connectors (11) for digital devices. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Articulated multimedia terminal.

The present specification refers to, as its title indicates, to an articulated multimedia terminal of the type of those used mainly in hospitals, residences or homes to enable access to communication networks and content multimedia to people lying in bed characterized by It includes a support attached to the wall or to the bed by conventional mechanical means, which serves both to fix the device and location of the main circuits electronic, from which emerges an articulated arm with several sections to through which the appropriate interconnection wiring runs, and which ends in a deformable or flexo articulated tube, from which it hangs a user terminal that has a flat screen display graphic with overlay touchpad, preferably a screen touch type LCD, LED, TFT etc, speakers, a camcorder, a microphone and one or more connectors for digital devices, being able to carry additionally devices for wireless communications, and means of identification of the Username.

At present, multiple and varied types of intended to provide multimedia content to people lying in a bed are widely known. The simplest ones, such as the one described in Utility Model 9901212 "Support device for screens ", are limited to placing a television receiver on the wall, through which the contents are broadcast. This type of embodiment has the disadvantages of being very limited in its possibilities, in addition to being away from the patient most of the controls.

More complex equipment is known, such as the one described in Chinese Patent 101408995 " Queue system for examination and distribution with multimedia " consisting of monitors in which the organization of hospital care queues is combined with the reproduction of contents multimedia to entertain the waiting time of patients, but has the disadvantage of not being specifically designed for patients or people in bed.

Likewise, more advanced realizations have been developed, integrating different multimedia functionalities for hospital patients or staff staying in residences, as for example we can find in Spanish Patent 9801482 " Control and management system of services provided in the rooms of a building " or in Japanese Patent 2003242252 " Support system for sick rooms, television for sick rooms and sick rooms ", in addition to other commercially available equipment for articulated support of television monitors in hospitals, near the patient. These equipments suffer from problems mainly with articulated arms, which, having to bear a fairly high weight, as corresponds to the necessary monitor, screen, speakers and operating electronics assembly, with continuous movement, requires sophisticated, expensive and complicated mechanisms , of articulation and support that also make them rigid, little operative and prone to breakdowns and jams, both for wall anchoring and for integration into a bed. In addition, by integrating a monitor or even a computer at the end of the arm, a focus of heat and noise is induced near the patient, which usually produces quite negative effects.

There have been some attempts to alleviate this type of structure, such as found in European Patent 89123084 "Control Unit", but only allow integrating controls into one unit at the end of an articulated arm, not presenting solution to integrate all multimedia functions .

To solve the problem in the news regarding the adaptation of terminals for content multimedia for people lying in hospital beds, residences or private homes, and in order to promote a integration of new technologies within the hospital framework and of residences, the articulated multimedia terminal has been devised object of the present invention, which consists of a support solidary to the wall or to the bed by mechanical means conventional, which serves both to fix the device and to location of the main electronic circuits, from which it emerges an articulated arm with several sections through which the Timely interconnection wiring, and ending in a tube deformable or flexo articulated, from which hangs a terminal of Username.

This user terminal in turn comprises a graphic display flat screen with touch keyboard superimposed, preferably a touch screen type LCD, LED, TFT, etc ..., speakers, a camcorder, a microphone and one or more connectors for digital devices, preferably USB type, for FLASH memory cards or a combination of both, being able to carry in addition complementary devices for wireless communications, and means of identification of the Username.

Since the support houses inside all the electronic circuitry necessary for operation, distributed in independent compartments accessible by separate, which facilitate repair and maintenance, the largest part of the weight of the assembly is fixed to the wall, not influencing the articulated arm and contributing to lighten the structure and the user terminal, which only has to keep the screen touch and minimal multimedia peripheral elements, no need of superfluous elements both in weight and in heat generation and noise.

In this way, the patient or person who lies in the bed, can easily orientate, and even put horizontal, the user terminal, having access to television, radio, Internet, communications networks, telephony, videoconferencing, movies, music, etc ..., with less effort.

This articulated multimedia terminal that presents brings multiple advantages over the systems available in currently being the most important to lighten the terminal of the user, the support arm can be much lighter since most of the weight is in solidarity with the wall, getting a more resistant and simple device manufacture.

Another advantage is that it allows, in a way simple and economical, the patient's personal access to television, radio, Internet, communications networks, telephony, videoconferencing, movies, music, etc ..., without needing get out of bed

Another important advantage is that, when carrying the electronics modularly integrated in the bracket, repair and maintenance is done quickly, being all at hand reach, on the support preferably attached to the wall or to the bed itself, without the need to disassemble the structure, with the consequent savings in maintenance costs.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it is a lightweight and easy to handle support set for any person lying or sick, even with little strength on their part, eliminating in many cases the need for another person to help in your operation

Another of the most important advantages to highlight is the inclusion of a stretch of flexo that allows to use the user terminal in horizontal position, as if it were a laptop or notebook

Also another added advantage is its low weight, which results in less structural effort on the walls and a Greater operational safety.

Finally, it should also be noted that the terminal user is very flat, even extra-flat, which results in little intrusive, eliminating the feeling of overwhelm and complexity that They produce conventional equipment.

To better understand the purpose of this invention, an example of preferential practical implementation of a multimedia terminal articulate. In this plane, figure -1- shows an overview of the device, with the user terminal in front view.

Figure -2- shows an overview of the device, with the user terminal seen in profile.

Figure -3- shows the terminal of Username.

Figure -4- shows the support together with the first arm section, detailing an example of possible distribution of the compartments corresponding to the circuitry electronics.

Figure -5- shows a block diagram simplified of the main modules that make up the device.

The articulated multimedia terminal object of the present invention, it is basically formed, as can be seen in the annexed plane, by a support (1) integral to the wall or to the bed by conventional mechanical means, from which emerges a articulated arm through which the appropriate wiring of interconnection (4), and ending in a deformable articulated tube (5) or flexo, vertically arranged, from which hangs a terminal of user (6). This user terminal (6) in turn comprises a flat screen (7) graphic display with touch keypad in screen, preferably a touch screen type LCD, LED, TFT etc, speakers (8), a camcorder (9), a microphone (10) and one or several connectors (11) for digital devices, preferably USB type, for FLASH memory cards or a combination of both of them.

It is planned that, alternatively, the user terminal can also incorporate a module for wireless communications (12), preferably protocol Bluetooth, and user identification means (13), such as for example a fingerprint reader, a card reader by RFID technology, a card reader with magnetic stripe or type smart-card, a telephone device etc ..., being easily adaptable to new trends or devices.

The support (1) integral to the wall houses in its internal electronic circuitry necessary for operation distributed in three independent compartments accessible by separate, which facilitate repair and maintenance, being one of the compartments (15) to accommodate a motherboard with microprocessor, RAM and non-volatile memory, another one of the compartments (16) to house a communications module digital, and the third of the compartments (17) to house a power supply. Nonvolatile memory can be a memory FLASH, solid memory disk, memory card or hard disk. He Digital communications module will preferably be of type ETHERNET or other equivalent wired communications.

The connection to the user terminal (6) is performs by means of a simple interconnection wiring (4), consisting of supply wires and bus wires of data. In this way most of the weight of the set is fixed to the wall, not influencing the articulated arm and contributing to lighten the structure.

The horizontal articulated arm is formed by at least two segments (2) provided with turning means (3) with each other and with respect to the support (1). In this way, the user can easily move the user terminal (6) by a handle (14), tilting it at your convenience through the articulated tube deformable (5) or flexo, being able to put it even in position horizontal for easy use.

Claims (9)

1. Articulated multimedia terminal, of the type used mainly in hospitals, residences or homes to allow access to communication networks and multimedia content to people lying in bed, characterized in that it comprises a support (1) integral to the wall or bed which houses an electronic circuitry, from which emerges a horizontal articulated arm formed by at least two segments (2) provided with means of rotation (3) with each other and with respect to the support (1), and through which the appropriate wiring of interconnection (4), and which ends in a vertically arranged deformable articulated tube (5), from which a user terminal (6) hangs, which in turn comprises a flat screen (7) of graphic display with superimposed touch keyboard, speakers (8), a camcorder (9), a microphone (10) and one or more connectors (11) for digital devices. 2. Articulated multimedia terminal, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electronic circuitry located in the support (1) is distributed in three independent compartments accessible separately, being one of the compartments (15) to house a motherboard with microprocessor and memory , another of the compartments (16) to house a digital communications module, and the third of the compartments (17) to accommodate a source of
feeding. 3. Articulated multimedia terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that the memory comprises a hard disk. 4. Articulated multimedia terminal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user terminal (6) comprises a module for wireless communications (12). 5. Articulated multimedia terminal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user terminal (6) comprises user identification means (13). 6. Articulated multimedia terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that the user identification means (13) consist of a fingerprint reader. 7. Articulated multimedia terminal according to claim 5, characterized in that the user identification means (13) consist of a card reader. 8. Articulated multimedia terminal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user terminal (6) comprises a handle (14). 9. Articulated multimedia terminal, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interconnection wiring (4) consists of power wires and data bus wires.