JP2001119335A - Radio-type nurse call device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate whether nurse calls are given from plural patients or the call is from one patient in a radio-type nurse call device. SOLUTION: When nurse calls where ID numbers are radio-transmitted from one transmission unit 1 are received in two reception unit 2 to 2, the ID number which is received by the reception unit 2 of a smaller serial number and the signal intensity of a radio signal are sent to a center unit 3. They are stored in a memory in the center unit 3 as one record by relating it to the serial number. Then, the ID number received by the reception unit 2 whose serial number is secondarily large and the signal intensity of the radio signal are stored in the memory in the center unit 3 as one record. When the same ID numbers are given in the records stored in the memory, the center unit 3 displays them on a display unit 3C based on information in the record having the largest reception intensity among the two records.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless nurse call device used in hospitals and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a nurse call device generally used in hospitals and the like is of a wired type in which a nurse call is made by pressing a nurse call button arranged near a bed.
In this case, there is a possibility that the patient may be disconnected due to reckless use of the patient or the like, and in that case, there is a problem that a nurse call becomes impossible in an emergency. Also, when the patient leaves the bed, it cannot be used.

In order to eliminate these inconveniences,
Wireless nurse call devices are beginning to be used. This wireless nurse call device carries a specific transmitter with each patient, and when the nurse call switch is pressed, radio waves transmitted from the transmitter are transmitted not only to the hospital room but also to the toilets and corridors in hospitals. Detecting the nurse call by receiving it with the arranged receiver eliminates the risk of disconnection, and enables the use of the nurse call even when the patient leaves the bed.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned wireless nurse call apparatus, a plurality of receivers sometimes receive radio waves emitted from one transmitter. In this case, all the receivers that have received the radio wave from the transmitter report a nurse call to the nurse center, so that a plurality of nurse calls are generated at the nurse center at the same time. In such a case, it is not possible to determine whether there is a nurse call from multiple patients or only from one patient, and therefore it is also not possible to determine whether a nurse should rush with multiple people or alone. It was very inconvenient. In particular, a failure to accurately recognize a life-threatening call called a nurse call poses a risk of causing a fatal problem.
Also, even if it was apparent that a plurality of nurse calls were actually from one patient, it was impossible to know where the nurse call was located.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a transmitting unit which is carried by each patient and transmits first identification information preset for each patient by a radio signal when a nurse call switch is operated. Receiving the first identification information wirelessly transmitted from the transmission unit, the first identification information being arranged at a plurality of desired places where the patient may be present in a hospital, and receiving the first identification information A plurality of receiving units that output signal strength information of the received wireless signal, and a first identification information that is installed in a nurse center and is output from the receiving unit and the signal strength information of the received wireless signal. Receiving the first identification information, the signal strength information of the wireless signal, and the identification information of the receiving unit that has output these information, and responding to the first identification information. In the wireless nurse call device, whether a nurse call is from a single transmission unit or a nurse call from a plurality of transmission units is included. Can be determined. In addition, it is possible to confirm the area where the transmitting unit exists, that is, the location of the patient who made the nurse call.

[0006] When the center unit receives the same first identification information from a plurality of receiving units,
Assuming that the area corresponding to the identification information of the receiving unit that has transmitted the signal strength information having the highest signal strength among the plurality of receiving units is the existing area, the transmitting unit is regarded as an area where the transmitting unit exists. It can be the area corresponding to the closest receiving unit. In other words, it is possible to accurately confirm an influential area as the location of a patient who has made a nurse call.

If the center unit displays the area corresponding to the received signal strength information and the identification information of the receiving unit that has output this information as the area where the patient is present, the transmitting unit can be more accurately determined. The existing area can be confirmed. That is, the location of the patient who made the nurse call can be confirmed more accurately.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the present embodiment. The transmitting units 1 to 1 are carried by each patient, and when a patient calls a nurse, that is, when a nurse calls, a nurse call switch 1A described later is operated. Radio waves are transmitted from a transmitter 1C described later. Receiving units 2 and 2 are installed in each hospital room, corridor, toilet, and the like, and when receiving the radio wave transmitted from transmitting unit 1,
A signal is sent by wire to the center unit 3 installed in the nurse center. The center unit 3 is the receiving unit 2
The information corresponding to the signal is displayed on the basis of the signal transmitted from the device to inform a nurse or the like. In this example, it is assumed that n receiving units 2 are used, and each receiving unit 2 has a serial number (i) (where i
= 1, 2,..., N. ) Is attached. Less than,
The receiving unit 2 with the serial number (i) is referred to as a receiving unit 2 (i).

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the transmission unit 1. In the figure, when the nurse call switch 1A is pressed, the one-chip microcomputer 1B detects the depression and transmits an ID number as identification information set in the one-chip microcomputer 1B in advance by radio from the transmitter 1C. .
This ID number is associated with a patient who is determined in advance to carry the transmission unit 1 in which the ID number is set. That is, this ID number corresponds to a specific patient.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the receiving unit 2. In FIG. 4, a receiver 2A receives a signal wirelessly transmitted from the transmission unit 1, a one-chip microcomputer 2B receives the received information and detects the signal strength of the wireless signal, and transmits the information to the interface 2C from the interface 2C. Is transmitted to the interface 3A of the center unit 3 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the center unit 3. The interface 3A receives information transmitted from the transmission unit 2, the one-chip microcomputer 3B stores the information in the internal memory 3B1, and displays the display 3 based on the information.
Activate C. 3D is a clear switch.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the interface 3A in the center unit 3, and the input ports 3A connected to the interface 2C of the transmitting unit 2 (i), respectively.
1, an output port 3A2, a selector 3A3 and a serial interface 3A4. The signal UP (i) output from the receiving unit 2 (i) is input to the input port 3A1, and the signal DOWN (i) is supplied from the output port 3A2 to the receiving unit 2 (i).

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the outline of the transmission operation with the center unit 3 as viewed from one receiving unit 2 (i) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the receiving unit 2 shown in FIG.
The signal UP output from the interface 2C of (i)
(I) and the state of the signal DOWN (i) output from the output port 3A2 of the center unit 3 is shown. It is assumed that the normal signal UP (i) and the signal DOWN (i) are both at “H”, and (i) added to each signal is a serial number i assigned to the receiving unit 2. And

When receiving unit 2 (i) receives the radio signal from transmitting unit 1, it drops signal UP (i) to "L" (see t1). When the center unit 3 knows that the signal UP (i) has become "L", the corresponding signal DOWN (i) drops to "L" via the serial number i (t2).
reference). The receiving unit 2 (i) waits for the signal DOWN (i) to go to “L”, and
The D number and its signal strength are transmitted as serial data using the signal UP (i) (see t3). When this data transmission is completed, the signal UP (i) is returned to "H" (see t4). The center unit 3 that has finished receiving the serial data returns the signal DOWN (i) to "H" (see t5).

Such an operation is performed by the receiving unit 2 (1),
, 2 (i), ..., 2 (n) and the center unit 3. Next, the operation will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 shows the operation of the receiving unit 2.
FIG. 8 shows the operation of the center unit 3. When the patient operates the nurse call switch 1A of the transmission unit 1 carried by the patient to make a nurse call, a preset ID number is wirelessly transmitted by radio waves from the transmitter 1C of the transmission unit 1.

Referring to FIG. 7, receiving unit 2 in this state
When the receiving unit 2 (i) near the transmitting unit 1 receives a radio wave from the transmitting unit 1,
The one-chip microcomputer 2B in the receiving unit 2 determines that there is received data (step A), and sets the signal UP (i) output from the interface 2C to "L".
Center unit 3 that there was a nurse call
(Step B). Thereafter, this state is maintained until the signal DOWN (i) sent from the center unit 3 becomes "L" (step C).

As described above, the receiving unit 2 (i) outputs the signal "L" until the center unit 3 detects the "L" state of the signal UP (i) and changes the signal DOWN (i) to "L". Since the state is maintained, the presence of the nurse call can be reliably notified to the center unit 3.

The operation of the center unit 3 in this state will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The receiving units 2 to 2 input to the input port 3A1 of the center unit 3 will be described.
The one-chip microcomputer 3B in the center unit 3 reads the state of the signal UP from the CPU (step F). That is,
At this time, the receiving units 2 (1),..., 2 (i),
... the signal UP (1) output from 2 (n),
, (I),..., (N) are read together.

Subsequently, the one-chip microcomputer 3B sets the serial number variable i provided in the internal memory to 1 (step G), and the signal UP (1) corresponding to the serial number variable i (in this case, i = 1). Is "L".
That is, it is determined whether or not the receiving unit 2 (1) to which 1 is assigned as the serial number i has received a nurse call (step H).

In step H, serial number variable i = 1
"L" while the signal UP (i = 1) corresponding to
Otherwise, the receiving unit 2 (i = 1) determines that a nurse call has not been received, and sets 1 to the serial number variable i.
Is added, and the serial number variable i at that time is
If the total number n has not been reached, the signal UP
It is determined that all the states of (i) have not been seen, and the process returns to step H and performs the same operation as above (steps I and J).
When the serial number variable i reaches the total number n of the receiving units 2,
If it is determined that all the states of the read signal UP (i) have been seen and the clear switch 3D is not turned on (step K), the process returns to step F and the signal output from the input unit 3A1 from the receiving units 2-2. UP (i) is read again, and the same operation as above is performed.

In step H, when detecting that the signal UP (i) is at "L", the one-chip microcomputer 3B sends the signal U at "L" to the selector 3A3.
The receiving unit 2 (i) that outputs P (i) is selected, and the signal DOWN (i) for the selected receiving unit 2 (i) is reduced to “L” via the output port 3A2 (steps L and M). .

Returning to FIG. 7, the signal DOW supplied to the receiving unit 2 (i) which makes the signal UP (i) "L"
When N (i) becomes "L" (step C), the one-chip microcomputer 2B of the receiving unit 2 (i) serially outputs the received ID number and the detected signal strength via the signal UP (i) ( Step D) When the output is completed, the signal UP (i) is returned to "H" (Step E), and Step A
Return to

Referring to FIG. 8, the one-chip microcomputer 3B in the center unit 3 inputs the ID number input from the selector 3A3 and the detected signal strength via the serial interface 3A4, and the selector 3A3 selects them. 1 associated with the serial number i of the receiving unit
Record as one-chip microcomputer 3B
Is stored in the memory 3B1 and when the reception is completed, the signal DO is output.
WN (i) is returned to "H" (steps N and O).

Subsequently, if there is a record having the same transmission unit ID number with reference to the memory 3B1 in the memory 3B1, the one-chip microcomputer 3B compares the signal strengths of the records and determines the record having the maximum reception strength. The display of the display 3C is changed according to the information in the above, and the process proceeds to step K.
If the clear switch 3D has not been operated, step F
And the state of the signal UP (i) is read from the input port 3A1 again, and the same operation as described above is performed (step P,
Q).

At this time, that is, when returning to step F, the signal UP (i) of the receiving unit 2 which has transmitted the information such as the ID number to the center unit 3 in the previous operation is "H". At times, a different receiving unit in which the signal UP is "L" is detected.
Therefore, for example, when a nurse call wirelessly transmitted from one transmitting unit is received by two receiving units, a record corresponding to the nurse call received by the receiving unit with the smaller serial number is detected first, and then the serial number is detected. The record corresponding to the nurse call received by the receiving unit having a large size is detected. At this time, since the ID number of the transmission unit in the detected record is the same,
The information is displayed on the display 3C in accordance with the information in the record having the maximum reception intensity from the two records. Specifically, the ID number is displayed as the patient information, and the serial number of the receiving unit 2 is displayed as the patient's presence area so as to indicate the area near the receiving unit that has received the nurse call.

As described above, the ID number (first identification information) of the transmitting unit 1 received by the receiving unit 2, the signal strength of the received signal, and the serial number of the receiving unit 2 that outputs these information (identification information of the receiving unit) ), The patient information corresponding to the received ID number of the transmission unit 1 and the area where the patient is present are displayed. Therefore, in the wireless nurse call device, a nurse call from one transmission unit or a plurality of transmission units from a plurality of transmission units. Can be identified as a nurse call. In addition, it is possible to confirm the area where the transmitting unit exists, that is, the location of the patient who made the nurse call.

When a plurality of receiving units 2 receive a nurse call from the same transmitting unit 1, the area corresponding to the serial number (identifying information of the receiving unit) of the receiving unit 2 that has received the radio signal with the strongest signal strength. Is set as the area where the transmitting unit 1 is located, so that a powerful area can be confirmed as the location of the patient who made the nurse call.

FIG. 9 shows a case where 90 patients are given patient numbers 1 to 90, and each patient carries a transmission unit 1 in which an ID number (1 to 90 in this case) corresponding to the patient number is set. In a situation in which a receiving unit 2 (i) with a serial number i is installed in a plurality of desired places where a patient may be present in a hospital, for example, in each hospital room, corridor, toilet, or the like, An example of a record stored in the memory 3B1 by the above operation is shown. In this case, the display 3C performs display as shown in FIG.

The nurse at the nurse center displays 3C.
When the clear switch 3D is operated by confirming the presence of the nurse call by looking at the display, the one-chip microcomputer 3B clears the display on the display 3C and the contents stored in the memory 3B1 (step R).

In the above example, the same transmission unit 1
When a plurality of receiving units 2 can receive a nurse call from the user, the one that detects the maximum signal strength is selected. However, such a selection is not made and the signal strength is displayed including the signal strength. Good. For example, the memory 3 shown in FIG.
All the stored contents of B1 may be displayed on the display 3C. In this case, the signal strength may be represented not by a number but by color. In this way, for example, when a nurse call is detected by two receiving units, it is found that the patient exists in a region that can be detected by the two receiving units,
Further, since the display of the signal strength indicates which of the receiving units is closer, it is possible to more accurately confirm the position of the patient.

The display on the display 3C is not limited to that shown in FIG. 10. For example, the display of a patient or a place is not a number, but a preset patient name or a place name (“1”).
Room 02, "3rd floor toilet,""lobby," etc.). Further, a map may be used as a display board so that a patient number (or name) can be displayed at each location.

[0032]

According to the present invention, when a nurse call is made, the first identification information output from the receiving unit that receives the first identification information set in advance for each patient transmitted by radio signal from the transmitting unit is output. Receiving the identification information and the signal strength information of the wireless signal, and displaying the patient information corresponding to the first identification information and the area where the patient is present based on the received information and the identification information of the receiving unit that has output this information. Since it includes a center unit that performs a nurse call, a nurse call from one transmitting unit and a nurse call from a plurality of transmitting units can be determined, and it is possible to know which receiving unit is closer to the transmitting unit that made the nurse call. When receiving the same first identification information, the area corresponding to the identification information of the receiving unit that transmitted the signal strength information having the highest signal strength among the receiving units that received the same first identification information is set to the patient's area. If the existence area is set, the area where the transmission unit exists can be the area corresponding to the reception unit closest to the transmission unit. In other words, it is possible to accurately confirm an influential area as the location of a patient who has made a nurse call. As an area where the patient exists, if the area corresponding to the received signal strength information and the receiving unit that outputs this information is to be displayed,
The area where the transmission unit exists can be confirmed more accurately.
That is, the location of the patient who made the nurse call can be confirmed more accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a main part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a main part of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Transmission unit 1A Nurse call switch 2 Receiving unit 3 Center unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first device which is carried by each patient and is preset for each patient when a nurse call switch is operated.
A transmitting unit for transmitting the identification information of the patient as a wireless signal, and receiving the first identification information wirelessly transmitted from the transmission unit, the reception unit being arranged at a plurality of desired locations where the patient may be present in the hospital A plurality of receiving units for outputting the received first identification information and the signal strength information of the received wireless signal; and a first identification information installed in a nurse center and output from the receiving unit. And the signal strength information of the received wireless signal. Based on the received first identification information, the signal strength information of the wireless signal, and the identification information of the receiving unit that outputs the information, the first A wireless nurse call device, comprising: a patient unit corresponding to the identification information of (1) and a center unit for displaying an area where the patient exists. 2. The signal strength information according to claim 1, wherein the center unit has the highest signal strength among the plurality of receiving units when receiving the same first identification information from the plurality of receiving units. A wireless nurse call device, wherein an area corresponding to the identification information of the receiving unit that has transmitted the above is set as the existence area. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the center unit displays, as the patient's presence area, an area corresponding to the received signal strength information and identification information of a receiving unit that has output the information. A wireless nurse call device.