JPH0690963A - Memory card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a device that does not require expensive exchange of working program memories such as E-PROMS used for a control circuit in dental treatment equipment. CONSTITUTION: This is a controlling unit of multiple consuming parts such as power-consuming units with controllable instruments in dental treatment facilities, and the unit has a controlling unit 2. The apparatus further has at least one reader 51 connected to at least one controlling unit 2, the reader 51 read out data from a data carrier 50, and supplies the data to the controlling unit 2. The read-out data is, for instance, a controlling program of the dental treatment instrument.

Description

The present invention relates to dental treatment equipment, and more particularly to a control arrangement for controlling a treatment instrument. Conventionally, in this field, a separate control device is provided for each treatment equipment element (for example, doctor's element, assistant's element, etc.). These control devices have their own operation programs as largely different control functions. These operation programs are separately stored in a non-volatile memory such as E-PROMS. Substantial changes will later be necessary if the treatment equipment is introduced in a so-called dentist. For example, new equipment may require the installation of a dedicated foot start switch. The foot start switch sends a control signal suitable for the device. These new control signals cannot already be processed by the control circuit. Therefore, the E-PROM must be replaced with another E-PROM of the appropriate date provided by the manufacturer. If the control circuits of different treatment equipment elements communicate with each other, the E-PROMS of the other control circuit may also need to be replaced. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems mentioned above, and to avoid particularly expensive memory replacement. This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Other advantages of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

[0001]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the construction of a plurality of treatment equipment elements. In this figure, each pair of elements is functionally identical. The treatment facility of course has more than the four treatment facility elements shown. The relationship between each consumer and the treatment equipment element generally occurs according to the spatial arrangement, ie the functional mutual relationship of the consumers. For example, an instrument used by a doctor or dentist is connected to a doctor or dentist element (element I) and an instrument used for an assistant is connected to an assistant element (element II). The settings necessary to achieve the patient's chair function are provided by the patient's chair element (element III), eg the supply and storage elements (element IV) are used to provide and return the washbasin.

A power / supply module 3 and a control unit 2 are connected to each consumer 1. Each supply module supplies the appropriate type and amount of media to the consumer and the control unit 2 informs the supply module 3 that the consumer is in use. All control units 2 can exchange data via a common communication bus 4. The functions selected for the different elements are the foot control 10 connected to the communication bus 4.
Can also be controlled by.

The supply module 3 receives the required "raw" medium via an energy bus 5, which bus 5 is connected to a central energy supply unit 6. An example will be described using the dentist element (element 1). The other elements are substantially identical with respect to structure and function, thus accounting for the apparent differences.

FIG. 2 shows the detailed structure of the doctor element (element 1). As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 2 and the dentist unit 1
And the supply module 3 is shown. Also, foot control 1
Besides 0, the central energy supply unit 6 and the operation / display console 15 are shown.

The dentist unit 1 has, for example, an electric drill 8
a, turbine drill 8b, tooth scaling
Device 8c and hardening light 8d etc. 4
Including one instrument 8a ... d. These four appliances supply module 3 via a supply wiring system 11 of a bus-like structure and via control switches 7a ... d of the desired appliance.
It is connected to the. These switches 7a ... d are, for example, mechanical switches or semiconductor switches, and receive an open or close command from the control unit 2 through the control wiring 12, and the control wiring 12 outputs the control unit 2 "acknowledgement". ) "It is connected to the.

These switches 7 are storage unit switches (repos
Itory switches) 9a ... d are controlled according to an operation signal output from one of them. Such a storage compartment switch is connected to each instrument, and when the instrument is removed from the container, said switch opens and thus sends an activation signal to the control unit 2.

The housing switches 9a ... d are, for example, switches of the type controlled by a light shield, which is connected to each fixture and whether the fixture is removed from the container or at a given location. To detect.

In order to improve the reliability of operation, an approval signal,
That is, the control command for one of the switches 7a ...
It is carried out via a blocking circuit that is present in the control unit 2, which circuit ensures that only one of the switches 7a ... d is closed at any given time. In this way, when the assistant replaces the drill head, the doctor's use of other instruments, if any, can be prevented. The circuit is thus configured such that the first device removed from the container blocks other devices.

For example, when the dentist removes the curing light 8d from the container, as shown in FIG. 2, the associated storage compartment switch 9d is opened, thereby sending a signal to the storage compartment input of the control unit 2. . The control unit 2 sends an approval signal by closing the switch 7d via the corresponding control wiring 12. And the other switches 7a ... 7c are blocked. By closing the switch 7d, the curing light 8d causes the supply module 3 to supply an appropriate amount of an appropriate supply medium (in this case, only electrical energy).
Receive from. The other consumer units 8a ... c are the supply wiring system 1
Separated from 1.

The supply module 3 receives information about the type and quantity of supply medium from the control unit 2 via the control wiring 14. By closing the switch 7d,
The recognition signal is supplied via the recognition line 13 to the recognition input of the control unit 2, where the recognition signal is evaluated.

Of course, the dentist can make the recognition arrangement 20 passive, supply the required amount of air manually using the motion / display console 10, and supply the amount of air via the display. You can control.

Function commands that can be executed via the foot control 10 are guided to each control unit 2 via the communication bus 4. A feature of the arrangement according to the invention is that only one supply module 3 is provided for all four consumer parts 8,
This module uses a suitable type and quantity of supply medium (current,
Air and water), this supply medium being provided by the central energy supply unit to the selected consumer.

As mentioned above, the control unit 2 receives a recognition signal from the instrument 8d in use. This signal is evaluated by the recognition arrangement 20. This signal value, eg the voltage value, thus gives information about the type and configuration of the selected appliance 8d. Different statements are possible with respect to the parts connected to the device, such as the type of hose and the drive strength.

FIG. 3 shows a structure capable of recognizing such an instrument. Recognized treatment instruments include, for example, instrument head 21,
A device extension 22, a device coupling 23, a hose 24 connected to it, a hose coupling 25 for coupling the hose 24, a counter coupling member 26 to the basic device, etc. are conceivable.

The electrical configuration required for recognition will be described below. Two electrical contacts 2 on the side of the device
A wire pair 32, 33 is connected to 7, 28, and this wire pair is connected from the hose coupler 25 to the hose 24 and the instrument coupler 2.
3. It extends to the instrument head 21 through the instrument extension 22. The electrical connections between the individual components of the device consist of conventional plug contacts or annular connections as shown by way of example in FIG. Each recognized appliance part has a resistance of 29, 30, 3
1 and this resistor connects the wire pair 32, 33. Therefore, a parallel connection with three resistors is used for inputs 27 and 2
8 provided.

A reference voltage is input 2 to identify the instrument.
7 via a reference resistor. As a result, the voltage Uk
Is fed between inputs 27 and 28, which are resistors 29, 3
It depends on the total resistance value of 0 and 31. The total resistance value is generally calculated according to the following equation.

[0017]

[Equation 1]

If a characteristic resistance is selected for each device, that device can be clearly identified by reference to the voltage UK, which is proportional to the total resistance. The voltage UK supplied to the inputs 27 and 28 is supplied to a measuring device, for example an analog / digital converter, which measures the voltage UK and supplies it to the control unit 2. By referring to the digitized measurement values and the stored table, it is possible to accurately determine which part constitutes the device. Based on this result, the control unit 2 can identify the type and amount of supply medium for the supply module 3. The number of cable fixtures is substantially limited by the resolution of the analog-to-digital converter, but each coupler requires only two contacts.

A series connection can be used instead of the parallel connection of the resistors 29, 30 and 31. Of course, instead of resistors, other voltage or current conversion elements can be used, for example capacitors or inductors, which have to work with alternating current or with each voltage pulse.

The decisive factor for the identification is that the values measured at the inputs 27 and 28 give information about the characteristics of the wiring systems 32, 33 connected to them, each appliance part 21, 22, 24 and 25 being To give them a distinct difference of their own.

In the given configuration, the control circuit 2 also detects whether or not the instrument head 21 or the instrument extension 22 has been replaced, and if a corresponding process can be performed,
That is the greatest advantage. Therefore, even when the driving range is exchanged, the control circuit 2 can adapt the operation parameter to a new state.

FIG. 4 shows a few different examples of connecting different instrument heads to a hose 24 configured as a universal hose. For example, the tooth scale device 21a or the turbine drill 21b can thus be connected to the hose 24 with the coupler 23 via the appliance extension 22a. This can be clarified using chain wiring. Further, the motor-free instrument head 21c is connected to the air motor 22b or the electric motor 22c and the hose 2 through the instrument intermediate piece.
4 can be connected. The curing light 21d does not require any intermediate piece and can be connected to the hose 24.

In contrast to FIG. 3, the resistors required for identification are in this case connected in series. The electrical connection between each instrument part is made in two ways. Conventional plug socket contacts are important for the connection between the hose coupler 23 and the instrument parts connected to it. Electrical contact between the instrument extension and the instrument head is made through the resilient contacts 40, 41 and corresponding resilient contact surfaces 42, 43.

FIG. 5 again shows the type of connection used for the above parts. The instrument head 21 forms a connection located at the end of the instrument extension 22. Upon connection, the resiliently configured contacts 40, 41 slide along the outer surface of the corresponding ends. 2 when inserted
Two contacts 40, 41 are on the annular contact surfaces 42, 43, through which electrical contact is made with the left wiring pair 32, 33.

The quality of the electrical contact depends on the elasticity of the contact 4.
It mainly depends on the contact pressure of 0, 41, which is determined by its shape and material. The instrument extension 22 has two plug contacts 44, 45 on the other side, which are connected to the wire pairs 32, 33. Corresponding socket contacts that achieve electrical contact are plug contacts 44,
Provided on the instrument coupler 23 with respect to 45.

The program data required to carry out the above functions are generally stored in the memory of the control unit 2. To enable sufficient communication between the control units 2 via the communication bus, the respective execution programs must be compatible with each other.

Generally, the program itself is stored in a read only memory (ROM). The read-only memory is inserted into a socket provided on the control unit 2.
When a program change is made, it must be replaced with the appropriate read-only memory. This applies generally to the read-only memory of all treatment equipment elements. This is because, as mentioned above, programs of different elements must be adapted to each other.

FIG. 6 shows a method of avoiding the aforementioned exchange.
For this purpose, each control unit 2 has a reader 51.
Are connected. The reading device 51 reads necessary program data from a data carrier 50 such as a magnetic card or an E-PROM, and reads the data from the control unit 2.
Stored in memory.

Of course, it is also possible for one control unit 2 to include such a reader 51 and to transmit the program data for the other control circuit 2 via the communication bus.

Furthermore, the reading device 51 can send a program to each control circuit 2 via the communication bus 4 instead of being directly connected to the control circuit 2. FIG. 7 shows again how such a program exchange takes place. It is based on a memory card 50, which comprises a PROM which stores operating programs as a data carrier.

When a memory card is inserted into the reading device, for example via a plug contact, the reading device first sends out an identification code. This code clearly characterizes each control circuit 2 and can also be set for an individual control circuit 2. The code is stored in the memory 53 depending on the identification code. Then, the corresponding area in the operation program memory 52 is accessed, and the data stored therein is read by the reading device and written in the corresponding memory of the control circuit 2.

As already mentioned, the dentist can read information regarding different functions from the operation / display console 15 or other display units (LED's). The visibility of the display or photodiode depends largely on the brightness in the treatment room. In order to be able to respond to this parameter, the control unit 2 has a corresponding brightness control function, which is shown in FIG. The light-sensing circuitry 60, for example a photodiode, measures the ambient brightness and sends the corresponding value to the control unit 2. This unit regulates the LEDs 61 or display of the motion / display console 15 by varying the supply voltage. The display brightness is controlled in proportion to the ambient brightness. That is, if the room is bright, the brightness of the display also rises accordingly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a control circuit for multiple supply modules and dental care equipment elements.

FIG. 2 is a configuration example of a treatment equipment element.

FIG. 3 is a configuration related to device recognition.

FIG. 4 shows another configuration that can be provided as a therapeutic device.

FIG. 5 is a contact operation configuration of two instrument parts for recognizing an instrument.

FIG. 6 is a configuration example of a control circuit and an external memory unit.

FIG. 7 is a structural example of an external memory unit.

FIG. 8 is a configuration example of adjusting the brightness of a display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Consumer part, 2 ... Control unit, 3 ... Electric power / supply module, 6 ... Central energy supply unit, 7a-7d ...
Switch, 8a to 8d ... Instrument, 9a to 9d ... Storage section switch, 10 ... Foot control, 21 ... Instrument head, 22 ... Instrument extension section, 23 ... Instrument coupler, 24 ... Hose, 40/41
42.43 ... Resilient contact, 42.43 ... Annular contact surface, 61 ... LEDs, 60 ... Photodetection circuit element

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hermann Gumainder Germany, Day-7950 Bibelach / Mettenberg, Troitbeek 7 (72) Inventor Linus Baumann Germany, Day-7955 Bellamont, Ochsenhauser Strasse 29

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A device for controlling a plurality of consumer parts (8), such as consumer part units having controllable appliances in a dental treatment facility, said device comprising a control unit (2), said device comprising: Furthermore, at least one reader (5) connected to said at least one control unit (2)
1), the reading device comprises a data carrier (5
0) reading data from 0) and supplying the data to the control unit (2). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the data carrier (50) is a programmable read-only memory (ROM). 3. The data carrier (50) is a read / write
The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a write buffer memory. 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the reading device (51) reads out data relating to the reading device. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the control circuit (2) has a code, by means of which the reader (51) can identify the control unit. 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the data supplied to the control unit (2) are stored in a memory. 7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a module with a data carrier (50) can be inserted into the reading device (51). 8. The module comprises a pin strip.
trip), and this strip has the reading device (5
Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it can be inserted into the receptacle according to 1).