US 12,272,453 B2
Tool for configuring headwall units used for patient support apparatus communication
Kirby M. Neihouser, Portage, MI (US); Krishna Sandeep Bhimavarapu, Kalamazoo, MI (US); Nicholas S. Brajak, Portage, MI (US); Michael Harry Lau, Bristol, IN (US); and Jerald A. Trepanier, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Portage, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/559,374.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/131,508, filed on Dec. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0208368 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 13/00 (2006.01); G06F 13/38 (2006.01); G06F 13/42 (2006.01); G16H 40/63 (2018.01)
CPC G16H 40/63 (2018.01) [G06F 13/382 (2013.01); G06F 13/4282 (2013.01); G06F 2213/0042 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A portable handheld configuration tool for configuring a headwall unit attached to a headwall of a healthcare facility, wherein the headwall unit is adapted to be electrically coupled to an outlet on the headwall that is in electrical communication with a room device positioned within a room in which the headwall unit is located, the portable handheld configuration tool comprising:
a housing;
a transceiver for communicating with a portable computer;
a first infrared transceiver adapted to communicate with a second infrared transceiver incorporated into the headwall unit;
a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver adapted to communicate with a second radio frequency (RF) transceiver incorporated into the headwall unit; and
a controller adapted to perform the following:
(a) receive an identifier from the headwall unit via at least one of the first infrared transceiver or the first radio frequency transceiver, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies the headwall unit;
(b) establish a communication link between the first RF transceiver and the second RF transceiver;
(c) receive a configuration setting from the headwall unit via at least one of the first infrared transceiver or the first radio frequency transceiver; and
(d) transmit the configuration setting to the portable computer via the transceiver, wherein the configuration setting includes at least one of the following: (1) voltage data specifying a voltage level the headwall unit applies to a pin of the outlet in order to control a television; (2) first sequence data specifying a first sequence of voltage levels the headwall unit applies to the pin to cause the television to change channels; (3) a second sequence of voltage levels the headwall unit applies to the pin to cause the television to change volume; (4) an identification of pins for communicating with a nurse call system; (5) electrical data indicating how to control a room light; or (6) electrical data indicating how to control a reading light.