Bed Actuators, Controls and Sensors
Students will explore the principles of operation, troubleshooting, and maintenance for various bed actuators, including linear and rotary motors, and their associated motor drivers. The course covers the architecture and function of control boards, understanding their role in bed articulation and patient safety features. Practical application extends to calibration and service of integrated weighing scales, and the functionality of bed-exit sensors. Furthermore, students will learn to integrate and troubleshoot nurse-call interface systems, ensuring seamless communication within healthcare environments. Emphasis is placed on systematic diagnostic approaches, safety protocols, and the use of specialized tools relevant to these critical components.
InstructorJacob CalhounPrerequisites
Course outline
Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.
Syllabus
["Week 1: Introduction to Electromechanical Patient Support Systems","Week 2: Principles of Linear Actuators: Motors and Gears","Week 3: Motor Driver Technologies and Control Principles","Week 4: Lab: Actuator Disassembly, Inspection & Testing","Week 5: Control Board Architecture and Signal Flow","Week 6: Input Devices: User Interfaces and Remote Controls","Week 7: Power Management: Power Supplies and Battery Backup Systems","Week 8: Lab: Control Board Diagnostics & Actuator System Integration (Midterm Review)","Week 9: Weighing Systems: Load Cells and Scale Calibration","Week 10: Bed-Exit Sensing Technologies: Principles and Calibration","Week 11: Lab: Sensor Troubleshooting and Calibration","Week 12: Nurse-Call Interface Standards and Integration","Week 13: Systematic Troubleshooting and Diagnostic Tools","Week 14: Capstone Service Project: Integrated System Diagnostics"]