Address assignment system and method for surgical lighthead components
AssigneeAmerican Sterilizer Company
InventorIan Hugh Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for assigning addresses to components sharing a common bus. In one embodiment, an iterative elimination process is used to assign the addresses to each component. In another embodiment, each component includes a distance sensor that detects a distance to a front face of a calibration plank. Addresses are assigned to the components based upon the distance readings of the sensors.
Claims12
A method for assigning addresses to a plurality of components sharing a common bus, wherein each component has at least two operating states, said method comprising:
- (a) establishing all components needing an address assignment as active components;
- (b) selecting a target component among the plurality of components that is to be assigned an address for communication therewith;
- (c) setting all active components to a random state by transmitting an instruction to the plurality of components to select a random state;
- (d) detecting the current state of the target component, wherein the current state is established as state X;
- (e) deactivating all of the components that do not match state X, wherein deactivated components are removed from evaluation for address assignment;
- and
- (f) determining if the target component is the only remaining active component among the plurality of components, wherein
- (i) if the target component is the only remaining active component, then assigning an address to the target component, deactivating the target component, and repeating steps (a)-(f) for components still needing an address assignment, and
- (ii) if the target component is not the only remaining active component, then repeating steps (c)-(f).
A system for assigning addresses to a plurality of light modules sharing a common bus, said system comprising:
- a calibration unit having a control system and a sensing device for detecting at least one lighting parameter of the plurality of light modules, the calibration unit programmed to:
- (a) establish all light modules needing an address assignment as active light modules;
- (b) select a target light module among the plurality of light modules that is to be assigned an address for communication therewith;
- (c) set all active light modules to a random state by transmitting an instruction to the plurality of light modules to select a random state, wherein each state includes one or more lighting parameters;
- (d) detect the current state of the target light module, wherein the current state is established as state X;
- (e) deactivate all of the light modules that do not match state X, wherein deactivated light modules are removed from evaluation for address assignment;
- and
- (f) determine if the target light module is the only remaining active light module among the plurality of light modules, wherein
- (i) if the target light module is the only remaining active light module, then assigning an address to the target light module, deactivating the target light module, and repeating steps (a)-(f) for light modules still needing an address assignment, and
- (ii) if the target light module is not the only remaining active light module, then repeating steps (c)-(f).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.