Abstract: A patient assisting system includes a frame having a sling assembly attachment point and a lifting arm which is movable relative to the frame and which includes a receptacle. When the sling assembly is attached to the attachment point and extends through the receptacle, a portion of the sling travels through the receptacle as the lifting arm moves relative to the frame. Another embodiment includes exactly one four bar linkage comprised of a frame having an attachment point for a sling assembly, a lifting arm having a receptacle, a lower cross arm and an upper cross arm. The lifting arm is adapted to be movable between a person-seated position and a person-standing position. The receptacle is located along the lifting arm so that motion of the lifting arm causes the receptacle to move along a curved path having a concave side which is person-facing.

Abstract: A motive system for a patient lifting assembly, a patient lifting assembly and a method of operating a patient lifting assembly. The motive system includes an electric motor, numerous sensors and an adaptive control unit cooperative with one another so that a memory and processor that are part of the control unit that can respectively store and execute a computer readable and executable instruction set. By comparing collected data from the sensors during operation of the motor to corresponding reference values associated with one or more motor operational parameters—such as accumulated motor wear over time or differences in operating temperature of the motor—the system can selectively adjust the maximum amount of current available for use by the motor. In this way, changes in motor efficiencies that arise with these parametric changes can be taken into consideration when determining an upper limit on how much electrical current may be delivered to the motor for a given load.

Abstract: A patient assisting system includes a frame having a sling assembly attachment point and a lifting arm which is movable relative to the frame and which includes a receptacle. When the sling assembly is attached to the attachment point and extends through the receptacle, a portion of the sling travels through the receptacle as the lifting arm moves relative to the frame. Another embodiment includes exactly one four bar linkage comprised of a frame having an attachment point for a sling assembly, a lifting arm having a receptacle, a lower cross arm and an upper cross arm. The lifting arm is adapted to be movable between a person-seated position and a person-standing position. The receptacle is located along the lifting arm so that motion of the lifting arm causes the receptacle to move along a curved path having a concave side which is person-facing.

Abstract: A patient assisting system includes a frame having a sling assembly attachment point and a lifting arm which is movable relative to the frame and which includes a receptacle. When the sling assembly is attached to the attachment point and extends through the receptacle, a portion of the sling travels through the receptacle as the lifting arm moves relative to the frame. Another embodiment includes exactly one four bar linkage comprised of a frame having an attachment point for a sling assembly, a lifting arm having a receptacle, a lower cross arm and an upper cross arm. The lifting arm is adapted to be movable between a person-seated position and a person-standing position. The receptacle is located along the lifting arm so that motion of the lifting arm causes the receptacle to move along a curved path having a concave side which is person-facing.

Abstract: Patient handling devices for transporting patients in health care settings are disclosed herein. The patient handling devices may include a support member and a torso support member. The patient handling device includes at least one articulating joint that is coupled to the support member and the torso support member. The articulating joint is selectable to arrest or allow articulation of the respective torso support member or the lower extremities support member relative to the support member through a variety of orientations.

Abstract: A patient assisting system includes a frame having a sling assembly attachment point and a lifting arm which is movable relative to the frame and which includes a receptacle. When the sling assembly is attached to the attachment point and extends through the receptacle, a portion of the sling travels through the receptacle as the lifting arm moves relative to the frame. Another embodiment includes exactly one four bar linkage comprised of a frame having an attachment point for a sling assembly, a lifting arm having a receptacle, a lower cross arm and an upper cross arm. The lifting arm is adapted to be movable between a person-seated position and a person-standing position. The receptacle is located along the lifting arm so that motion of the lifting arm causes the receptacle to move along a curved path having a concave side which is person-facing.

Abstract: A method of rehabilitating a person using a person lift device, includes the steps of: calculating a first amount of assistance provided by the person lift device to assist a person in moving between a first position and a second position at a first time; comparing the first amount of assistance to a previously determined amount of assistance; and providing a second amount of assistance as a function of the difference between the first amount of assistance and the previous amount of assistance to assist a person in moving between the first position and the second position at a second time.

Abstract: Patient handling devices for transporting patients in health care settings are disclosed herein. The patient handling devices may include a support member and a torso support member. The patient handling device includes at least one articulating joint that is coupled to the support member and the torso support member. The articulating joint is selectable to arrest or allow articulation of the respective torso support member or the lower extremities support member relative to the support member through a variety of orientations.

Abstract: A motive system for a patient lifting assembly, a patient lifting assembly and a method of operating a patient lifting assembly. The motive system includes an electric motor, numerous sensors and an adaptive control unit cooperative with one another so that a memory and processor that are part of the control unit that can respectively store and execute a computer readable and executable instruction set. By comparing collected data from the sensors during operation of the motor to corresponding reference values associated with one or more motor operational parameters—such as accumulated motor wear over time or differences in operating temperature of the motor—the system can selectively adjust the maximum amount of current available for use by the motor. In this way, changes in motor efficiencies that arise with these parametric changes can be taken into consideration when determining an upper limit on how much electrical current may be delivered to the motor for a given load.

Abstract: A method of rehabilitating a person using a person lift device, includes the steps of: calculating a first amount of assistance provided by the person lift device to assist a person in moving between a first position and a second position at a first time; comparing the first amount of assistance to a previously determined amount of assistance; and providing a second amount of assistance as a function of the difference between the first amount of assistance and the previous amount of assistance to assist a person in moving between the first position and the second position at a second time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patient lift system having a sling bar with an inductively charged integrated scale. The lift system comprises a lift apparatus, a lift strap connected at a first end to the lift apparatus, a sling bar connected to a second free hanging end of the lift strap, the sling bar having a scale with a tension load cell integrally disposed therein for measuring forces applied thereto and a power source electrically connected to the scale to provide power to the scale and load cell. An accelerometer is disposed within the sling bar to determine a tilt angle of a lift axis of the load cell relative to a vertical direction of gravitational force. Programming stored in a processor of the integrated scale calculates an accurate weight of an active load suspended from the sling bar, based on the determined tilt angle and the measured force on the load cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a patient lift system having a sling bar with an inductively charged integrated scale. The lift system comprises a lift apparatus, a lift strap connected at a first end to the lift apparatus, a sling bar connected to a second free hanging end of the lift strap, the sling bar having a scale with a tension load cell integrally disposed therein for measuring forces applied thereto and a power source electrically connected to the scale to provide power to the scale and load cell. An accelerometer is disposed within the sling bar to determine a tilt angle of a lift axis of the load cell relative to a vertical direction of gravitational force. Programming stored in a processor of the integrated scale calculates an accurate weight of an active load suspended from the sling bar, based on the determined tilt angle and the measured force on the load cell.

Abstract: The invention is directed to echo cancellation for a microphone system. An exemplary microphone system comprises a first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor is connected to a ground terminal via a microphone electret element, the microphone electret element being associated with a capacitance and a voltage, the microphone electret element reverse biasing the first transistor; and a second transistor in parallel with the first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the second transistor is connected to the ground terminal via a capacitor, the capacitance of the capacitor being selected to suppress at least a portion of a common mode signal, and wherein the gate terminal of the second transistor is not connected to the microphone electret element. The common mode signal comprises the echo, which may be the output of a speaker system that is received as input to the microphone system.

Abstract: The invention is directed to echo cancellation for a microphone system. An exemplary microphone system comprises a first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor is connected to a ground terminal via a microphone electret element, the microphone electret element being associated with a capacitance and a voltage, the microphone electret element reverse biasing the first transistor; and a second transistor in parallel with the first transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the second transistor is connected to the ground terminal via a capacitor, the capacitance of the capacitor being selected to suppress at least a portion of a common mode signal, and wherein the gate terminal of the second transistor is not connected to the microphone electret element. The common mode signal comprises the echo, which may be the output of a speaker system that is received as input to the microphone system.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a sensor for determining the position of an input member, such as a user's finger or stylus, for example, relative to a user interface of the device. Before the input member contacts the user interface, the sensor detects the horizontal and vertical positions of the input member and generates positional signals indicative of those positions. A controller at the device determines the horizontal and vertical positions of the input member based on the positional signals, and generates first and second feedback signals as a function of the detected horizontal and vertical positions to indicate the input member position relative to the user interface.

Abstract: A system includes a first matching network having a first impedance and a second matching network having a second impedance, where the second impedance is different than the first impedance. The system further includes a switching connector having first and second switching positions, where when the switching connector is in the first switching position an input terminal is connected through the first matching network to a first antenna and where when the switching connector is in the second switching position the input terminal is connected through the second matching network to a second antenna and the first antenna is connected to ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable communication device and a method of controlling the matching of an antenna in a portable communication device. The device may include an antenna; a radio circuit to send a radio frequency signal to the antenna via a signal path; a matching network including a number of network components and configured to be in the signal path; a detector configured to detect an electromagnetic field from the antenna; and a control unit configured to control matching of the antenna by influencing at least one of the first matching network or the antenna based on the detected electromagnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable communication device and a method of controlling the matching of an antenna in a portable communication device. The device may include an antenna; a radio circuit to send a radio frequency signal to the antenna via a signal path; a matching network including a number of network components and configured to be in the signal path; a detector configured to detect an electromagnetic field from the antenna; and a control unit configured to control matching of the antenna by influencing at least one of the first matching network or the antenna based on the detected electromagnetic field.

Abstract: An external heat sink device that can be attached to an electronic device during periods of excess heat generation, such as during a gaming session, for example. The external heat sink device can be removed from the electronic device during times of relatively lower heat generation. Other external accessories can be associated with the external heat sink device, such as an external antenna, speakers, game input device, power supply, etc.

Abstract: A system includes a first matching network having a first impedance and a second matching network having a second impedance, where the second impedance is different than the first impedance. The system further includes a switching connector having first and second switching positions, where when the switching connector is in the first switching position an input terminal is connected through the first matching network to a first antenna and where when the switching connector is in the second switching position the input terminal is connected through the second matching network to a second antenna and the first antenna is connected to ground.