Method of selectively pairing wireless controller to multiple dental/medical instruments

摘要

In a dental operatory system a master device coordinates the activity levels of multiple slave devices. The master device coordinates activity via a communication link with all slave devices. A communication protocol incorporates a closed system addresses scheme in which the master device learns all associated addresses of slave devices, and all slave devices learn all associated addresses of the master device. Each communication between master device and any slave device includes both the master device address and the slave device address. The master device scans all slave devices for an activity status and determines which slave device exhibits a threshold level of activity, and whether activity is increasing or decreasing. The master device passes a communication control token to the slave device to be controlled by operation of the master device.

主权项

1. A system for controlling a plurality of devices, the system comprising:
a master device and a plurality of slave devices; the master device configured to control one slave device selected from the plurality of slave devices; a communication protocol configured with a predetermined addressing scheme in which the master device is configured to learn an address associated with each slave device, and each slave device is configured to learn all addresses associated with each slave device and of the master device; wherein a communication between the master device and the one slave device includes both the master device address and the slave device address; the communication protocol configured to:
request an activity level from each of the plurality of slave devices;determine which slave device of the plurality of slave devices exhibits a predetermined threshold level of activity;select the one slave device having the predetermined threshold level of activity; andcontrol the one slave device by the master device wherein the master device is a foot pedal; wherein the activity level includes at least a first piece of information and a second piece of information; the first piece of information comprising a number representing a level of activity a corresponding slave device has encountered over a predetermined interval; and the second piece of information comprising a derivative of a time weighted average representing a direction of the level of activity; wherein the activity levels are determined by at least one sensor which is activated by a touch or a near touch of a hand or by a detection of motion; and wherein the number comprises a time averaged weighted value over a predetermined time interval; and wherein the time weighted average makes it possible to determine an average duration of time the slave device is utilized.