WO2016036709A2

WO2016036709A2 - Apparatus having multi-color indicator and related method

Info

Publication number: WO2016036709A2
Application number: PCT/US2015/047893
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonardo Diego MORAL
Original assignee: Norgren Kloehn LLC
Current assignee: Norgren Kloehn LLC
Priority date: 2014-09-05
Filing date: 2015-09-01
Publication date: 2016-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-05
Also published as: WO2016036709A3

Abstract

A method of indicating a status of a device (220) with a status indicator (222) comprising the steps of: blinking the status indicator (222) a predetermined number of times to indicate a first portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator (222) is a first color; and blinking the status indicator (222) a predetermined number of times to indicate a second portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator (222) is a second color that differs from the first color, and wherein a color combination of the first and second colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness, and wherein the combination of the first portion of a status code and the second portion of a status code indicate a complete status code.

Description

APPARATUS HAVING MULTI-COLOR INDICATOR AND RELATED

METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments described below generally relate to status indicators. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an improved multi-color indicator, related devices, and related methods.

BACKGROUND

Color blindness (a.k.a. color vision deficiency) comes in many forms, but generally manifests itself as a decreased ability to see color or to perceive differences in color. Some estimates place the number of males with color blindness at roughly 8% of the population, with approximately 0.5% of females exhibiting the condition. The most common forms of color blindness are genetic variations, which result in missing or damaged retinal photopigments that fail to adequately relay accurate color information to the optic nerve and central nervous system. Color blindness may, however, also arise due to physical damage to the eye or related structures, and although the underlying reason for deficiencies in color vision differ, the end result is a similar manifestation.

Cone cells are specialized cell types found in human optic tissue that are adapted to detect colors. It is generally recognized that three different types of cone cells are present in optic tissue, with each type of cone cell expressing a different photosensitive pigment. Cone cells absorb light, and respond to photostimulation via downstream signaling cascades that indicate to the nervous system the presence of a particular wavelength or wavelength range of light. Each of the cone types is sensitive to a different spectrum, and are characterized by peak spectral sensitivity to red, green, and blue colors. This is why the various cone cells are often referred to red cones, green cones, and blue cones. It should therefore be readily apparent that if there is a deficiency in a particular cone type, the result may manifest itself in a color vision deficiency.

Protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia are examples of specific types of common color blindness. In protanopia, a deficiency of red cone cells leads to the inability to distinguish between colors found in the green/yellow/red spectrum. Cyan may be indistinguishable from white, and violets and purples may be indistinguishable from shades of blue. In deuteranopia, a deficiency of green cone cells also leads to the inability to distinguish between colors found in the green/yellow/red spectrum. Lastly, in tritanopia, a deficiency of blue cone cells leads to the inability to distinguish between yellow and pink, while purples may be perceived as reds.

When operating equipment in general, it is common for users to experience status or warning lights. While operating conditions/faults may be communicated to a user by many types of visual displays, such as via an LCD screen or seven-segment LED, an extremely economical approach to warning a user of particular equipment or process conditions is through the use of a single warning light. A familiar example is the "dummy light" found in many automobiles that illuminates in the case of low engine oil pressure. In this example, a single light warns of only a single condition. Another vehicle-related example is a "check engine light," which warns of a fault, yet fails to specify what the fault may be.

To indicate multiple conditions with a single light, a blink pattern may indicate a code to a user. This scheme works well, but only for a limited number of conditions. As the number of conditions that must be communicated through a single light increases, so does the complexity of the blink patterns needed to communicate all the potential conditions. One way to overcome the need for complex patterns is to employ a single light source that may produce multiple colors, such as through a multi-color LED (Light Emitting Diode). Multi-color LEDs are typically available in bi- color, tri-color, and tetra-color arrangements. Using a multi-color LED allows for not only different blink patterns, but also different color combinations.

Unfortunately, a multi-color code scheme may be difficult, or even impossible, for a person suffering from color blindness to perceive. Depending on the type of equipment, this could yield dangerous conditions. For example, a malfunctioning piece of medical equipment, left unchecked during a fault condition, could injure a patient. Often times, a specific system fault may not be noticeable to a user, so a color blind equipment operator could fail to perceive a dangerous condition merely due to the inability to recognize a particular color or color combination.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide a system and method that can accurately provide warning and allow for quick and easy troubleshooting of equipment failures by conveying system faults and conditions to users. There is a need for a multicolor warning light system and method that is useable by those with color blindness. The embodiments described below overcome these and other problems and an advance in the art is achieved.

SUMMARY

A method of indicating a status of a device with a status indicator is provided according to an embodiment. The embodiment comprises the step of blinking the status indicator a predetermined number of times to indicate a first portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator is a first color. The method also comprises the step of blinking the status indicator a predetermined number of times to indicate a second portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator is a second color that differs from the first color, and wherein a color combination of the first and second colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness, and wherein a combination of color and number of blinks of the status indicator indicate a complete status code of a plurality of status codes.

A device is provided according to an embodiment. The device comprises a status indicator, wherein the status indicator is configured to emit a first color and to blink a predetermined number of times to indicate a first portion of a status code, and wherein the status indicator is configured to emit a second color and to blink a predetermined number of times to indicate a second portion of a status code, wherein the second color differs from the first color, and wherein a color combination of the first and second colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness, and wherein the color combination and number of blinks indicate a complete status code of a plurality of status codes.

ASPECTS

According to an aspect, a method of indicating a status of a device with a status indicator comprises the steps of: blinking the status indicator a predetermined number of times to indicate a first portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator is a first color; and blinking the status indicator a predetermined number of times to indicate a second portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator is a second color that differs from the first color, and wherein a color combination of the first and second colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness, and wherein a combination of color and number of blinks of the status indicator indicate a complete status code of a plurality of status codes.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of: blinking the status indicator a predetermined number of times to indicate a third portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator is a third color, and wherein the third color is different from the first and second colors, and wherein a color combination of the first and second and third colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of: looping the complete status code.

Preferably, the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of: red:blue, redxyan, greemblue, greenxyan, green magenta, blue:yellow, bluexyan, yellowxyan, and cyammagenta.

Preferably, the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of red:blue; green:blue; greemmagenta; blue:yellow; and blue: cyan.

Preferably, the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of: greenxyamblue, greenxyan magenta, red:cyan:blue, and yellowxyamblue.

Preferably, the predetermined number of blinks is between 1 and 9 blinks.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of: providing a key configured to decipher the complete status code.

Preferably, the status indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

Preferably, the status indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode. Preferably, the status indicator is configured to produce at least two blinks of red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, white, and magenta light.

Preferably, the last color in a sequence that comprises the complete status code is blue.

According to an aspect, a device comprises a status indicator, wherein the status indicator is configured to emit a first color and to blink a predetermined number of times to indicate a first portion of a status code, and wherein the status indicator is configured to emit a second color and to blink a predetermined number of times to indicate a second portion of a status code, wherein the second color differs from the first color, and wherein a color combination of the first and second colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness, and wherein the color combination and number of blinks indicate a complete status code of a plurality of status codes.

Preferably, the status indicator is configured to emit a third color and to blink a predetermined number of times to indicate a third portion of a status code, wherein the third color is different from the first and second colors, and wherein a color combination of the first and second and third colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness.

Preferably, the status indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

Preferably, the status indicator is configured to emit multiple colors.

Preferably, the status indicator emits two or more colors chosen from the group consisting of red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, white, and magenta.

Preferably, the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of red:blue; green:blue; greemmagenta; blue:yellow; and blue yan.

Preferably, the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of: green:cyan:blue, green:cyan:magenta, red:cyan:blue, and yellow:cyan:blue.

Preferably, the device comprises a pump system

Preferably, the pump system comprises: a drive mechanism attachable to a syringe assembly; a plunger assembly, joined to the syringe assembly comprising a syringe plunger in a syringe barrel, configured to at least one of aspirate and dispense a fluid contained in the syringe barrel; a drive portion of the drive mechanism, wherein the drive portion is configured to actuate the plunger assembly; and wherein the plurality of status codes indicate statuses of the pump system.

Preferably, at least one of the plurality of status codes indicate a fault of the pump system.

Preferably, a memory configured to store the status codes.

Preferably, the color combination and number of blinks comprises a fixed rate of blinking. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art LED;

FIG. 2 illustrates a circuit diagram of an indicator installed in a device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating status indicator color combination possibilities according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a device having an indicator according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1-4 and the following description depict specific examples of status indicators and related methods, and to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode of the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these examples that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific examples described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art multi-color LED 100. The LED 100 illustrated is a RGB (red, green, blue) LED, and has four leads 102, 104, 106, and 108. Leads 102, 104, and 106 correspond with light emitters that are red, green, and blue, respectively. Lead 108 is a common lead (anode or cathode). In an example, a LED 100 has a common anode 108 and three single-color LEDs (red, green and blue) combined into a single package. The LED 100 utilizes a direct current power source, such as five volts DC for example without limitation, and upon applying power to any one of the leads 102, 104, 106, light will be emitted from a lens 110. For example, if lead 104 is given power, then a green light will be emitted. Besides the light produced from individually powered leads 102, 104, 106, by powering multiple leads 102, 104, 106 at the same time, the alternate colors of yellow, cyan, and magenta may be emitted from the LED 100. The truth table of Table 1 illustrates which colors are emitted based combination of power applied to leads 102, 104, 106.

Table 1; Color Truth Table

Since a single RGB LED can generate six colors, the number of color combinations can be determined from formula (1):

(n-r)! (r!)

Where:

c = number of possible color combinations;

n = number of objects from which combinations are formed; and

r = number of objects used to form combinations.

Therefore, as an example without limitation, for an RGB LED, n=6, and for a two-color combination, r=2. Therefore, the number of color combinations, c, is 15. The two-color combinations that may be generated are listed in Table 2. Table 2; Two-color combinations for an RGB LED

As noted above, taking the color combination limitations of those who suffer from protanopia, deuteranopia, or tritanopia into account, the following combinations of colors may present difficulty in recognition: red:green, red:yellow, red:purple; green:yellow, blue:purple; yellow:pink, and cyamwhite. Thus, of the combinations noted in Table 2, only the combinations noted in Table 3 are discernable by color blind individuals, and are therefore the color combinations utilized by the embodiments described herein. Table 3: Two-color RGB LED Combinations discernable by color blind users

In an embodiment, only the color combinations chosen from the following pairs are utilized to ensure color blind individuals are able to resolve color changes: red:blue; redxyan; greemblue; greenxyan; greemmagenta; blue:yellow; bluexyan; yellowxyan; and cyammagenta. In a related embodiment, color combinations chosen from the following pairs are utilized: red:blue; greemblue; greemmagenta; blue:yellow; and blue: cyan.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a circuit 200 utilized to drive an indicator 222 to create color blind-discernable illuminated color combinations, according to an embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated, the indicator 222 is a tri-color LED, which is an example only, as any light source known in the art is contemplated. A logic 201 provides signals to the indicator 222. The logic 201 may comprise an integrated circuit, an analog circuit, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a computer, power source, memory, combinations thereof, or any other means for driving an indicator 222 known in the art. In an embodiment, outputs 202, 204, and 206 are connected to leads 102, 104, and 106 of the indicator 222, respectively, via respective interconnects 208, 210, and 212. In an embodiment, resistors Rl, R2, and R3 are connected, in series, to interconnects 208, 210, and 212, respectively. The circuit 200 may comprise resistors R1-R3 connected in parallel, and may also comprise more or less than the three resistors illustrated. The resistors R1-R3, in an embodiment, have resistance values between about 20 Ω and 2000 Ω. The resistance of the resistors R1-R3 may be the same or different from each other. In an embodiment Rl and R3 are about 220 Ω, and R2 is about 320 Ω. Lead 108 is a common lead in an embodiment. In an embodiment, lead 108 is connected to a ground 214. In an embodiment, a ground connection 216 with the logic 201 is connected to the ground 214 via an interconnect 218. The circuit 200 illustrated is capable of driving the indicator 222 to emit red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, or yellow light. In an embodiment, the indicator 222 may emit white. In an embodiment, the indicator 222 may emit any other color known in the art. The interconnects 208, 210, 212, and 218, in an embodiment, comprise a four-conductor wire. In an embodiment, the indicator 222 is connected to a harness that plugs into a circuit board (not shown) for purposes of connecting the indicator 222 to logic 201.

The circuit 200 is configured, in an embodiment, to optimize illuminated indications so to avoid those color combinations difficult for individuals with color blindness to resolve. Optimized combinations are discussed above and also listed in Table 3. Additionally, light blink combinations are contemplated in an embodiment, and are employed to provide a user with a status indication. In an embodiment, the circuit 200 is part of a device 220, wherein the device 220 may indicate a status to a user. The status, in an embodiment, is a combination of colors and blink patterns that represent a status code. In an example, to indicate a two digit number with a single indicator 222, the ten's digit may be indicated by blinking the indicator 222 a predetermined number of blinks with a first color. This is then followed by a predetermined number of blinks with a second color to indicate the one's digit. In an embodiment, the second color is different from the first color. As a non-limiting example, for clarification purposes, should the indicator 222 blink 4 times red, followed by 7 times blue, this would indicate a status code of 47. In an embodiment, the first color may blink from 1 to 9 times, while the second color may also blink from 1 to 9 times. This allows integer numbers from 11 to 99 to be conveyed to a user. The colors red and blue are utilized in this example, as they are easily distinguished from one another by a person with color blindness. For this reason, a red sequence followed by a green sequence would not be used, for example, as there is a risk that a person with color blindness would be unable to decipher the associated status code. In an embodiment, the rate of blinking comprises a fixed rate. In a related embodiment, different types of statuses are indicated with different color combinations. For example, a red:blue combination may be utilized such that 1 to 7 red blinks are followed by 1 to 9 blue blinks, and while 8 to 9 green blinks are followed by 1 to 9 blue blinks. This produces a subset of the integer numbers from 11 to 79 (red:blue) and 81 to 99 (green:blue) which correspond to entries in a table of status codes. The codes from 11-79 could be used for indicating errors, while the codes from 81-99 could be used for indicating statuses, for example without limitation.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram used to aid in selecting appropriate color-blind discernable three-color combinations. Three-color combinations are therefore also contemplated by embodiments herein, and this would allow codes from 111 to 999 to be easily determined. Using the diagram of FIG. 3, as an example, a user may decide that a first color (hundred's place in this example) for use in a three-color sequence will be green. The semi-circular arrow that points from green to green indicates that a series of green flashes is acceptable. A semi-circular arrow therefore appears on every color, as every color is allowed to blink a given number of times. Since green only connects to blue, cyan, and magenta, those are the only possible colors for the ten's place. In this example, cyan is chosen. Moving to the cyan circle, it is clear that cyan is connected to red, yellow, blue, magenta, and green. Since yellow and red do not connect back with the starting point (green), yellow and red are not possible choices in this example. This is due to the fact that the three-color combination must, in practice, loop so that a user has multiple chances to observe a particular code. Green has already been chosen as the hundred's place, so is not available for the one's place. This is because there must be a difference in color between the 100's, 10's, and l's place. This leaves only magenta and blue. Therefore, starting with green, the only possible three-color combinations are green:cyan:blue and green:cyan:magenta. Utilizing the guidelines presented in this example, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the only other possible three- color combinations are red:cyan:blue and yellow:cyan:blue. The color combinations noted herein are not order-dependent, thus a sequence of red followed by cyan followed by blue is acceptable, but the permutation of cyan followed by red, followed by blue is equally acceptable, as either combination/permutation is resolvable by an individual with color blindness. In an embodiment, the blink sequence may repeat until the status changes. For example, a blink sequence is completed before an updated status sequence begins. In an embodiment, for a two-color code noted above, the ten's digit is never blue, and the one's digit is always blue, the blink sequence is self- synchronizing in that the start of the blink sequence can be determined solely by a change in color from blue.

Turning to FIG. 4, an example of a device 220 having an indicator 222 according to an embodiment is illustrated. The device 220, in this embodiment, is a pump system 300 configured to actuate a syringe assembly 304. Any other device 220 having an indicator 222 is contemplated, however. The pump system 300 accommodates applications that require a method of dispensing and aspirating liquids such as reagents or prepared clinical sample solutions (e.g., possibly used for gene and blood analysis), for example without limitation. In scientific/industrial settings, such pump systems 300 are often employed in chromatography, electrophoresis, hematology, flow cytometry, immunoassays, and other diagnostics/assays, for example without limitation. In an embodiment, a pump system 300 is configured for automated dosing to a patient. In some embodiments, the pump system 300 can form part of a larger syringe pump manifold system wherein multiple syringe assemblies 304 are coupled to the manifold. Each syringe assembly 304 may include its own pump or rather a single syringe pump 300 may control multiple syringes.

The syringe assembly 304 includes a syringe plunger 316 that moves within a fluid bore defined by a syringe barrel 314. The syringe plunger 316 extracts a fluid when it is retracted from the bore, and can dispense fluid when pushed into the bore. Syringe assemblies 304 are known for their precise fluid control, especially at low fluid rates/volumes, and thus have received great success in the medical and laboratory fields. In an embodiment, the syringe assembly 304 comprises a single fluid port (not visible), wherein fluid is drawn into and expelled from the syringe barrel 314 through the port.

Although syringes can be controlled manually, they are often utilized with a pump system 300 that is automated, as illustrated. In an embodiment, the pump system 300 comprises a motorized device which holds the syringe assembly 304 and moves a syringe plunger 316 at a specified rate, which may be programmed by the user, an external controller, a processing system, etc. The pump system 300 includes a front frame 302 that supports a syringe assembly 304 and drive mechanism 306. A syringe dock 308 accepts a syringe assembly 304, and connects the syringe assembly 304 to mechanisms and fluid channels of the pump system 300 (a description of which is beyond the scope of this specification). It should be noted that other valves, attachment schemes, and/or manifold assemblies may be used instead of the syringe dock 308 illustrated. In some embodiments, the pump system 300 may comprise a reservoir from which to aspirate and/or dispense fluids, for example, or from a needle assembly or array.

In an embodiment, a plunger assembly 310 attaches to a drive portion 312 of the drive mechanism 306, which actuates the plunger assembly 310 to extract or dispense fluid located into/from the syringe barrel 314 of the syringe assembly 304 from/to the pump system 300. The drive mechanism 306 utilizes a lead screw, ball screw, linear actuator, or any other drive known in the art, and is driven by a stepper motor to effectuate precise control of a syringe plunger's 316 position. A stepper motor serves as a non-limiting example, for other drive mechanisms besides stepper motors are also contemplated. The drive mechanism 306 is controlled by at least one of a microprocessor, computing device, and electronics components (not shown), as will be understood by one skilled in the art.

One concern associated with pump systems 300 is in how quickly and accurately they provide warning to users when various equipment failures occur. Currently, known pump systems 300 do not have a convenient means of informing and allowing for users to troubleshoot specific pump system 300 conditions. Generally, with regard to detecting faults in the pump system 300, the task falls on the user to detect that a certain system fault in fact exists. Often times, a specific system fault may not be detectable by a user. According to an embodiment, the pump system 300 incorporates an indicator 222 that displays a blinking color sequence that corresponds to a status code. In an embodiment, the indicator 222 is an LED. In a related embodiment, the LED is a tricolor LED as described above. In an embodiment, a two-digit or three-digit number/color status code is used to indicate pump system 300 status. According to an embodiment, upon observing the indicator 222, the user can refer to an operator's manual, for example, which has a key therein for use in deciphering the status code. The key provides status code names, severity of codes, and descriptions of the codes or even indications of the remedial actions that may be taken for example, without limitation. An example key is provided below in Table 4 for illustrative purposes of a two-color, two-digit status code scheme, yet shall not limit the scope or details of particular codes, conditions, sequences, colors, etc.

Table 4; Code Key Example

LED Code Name Status Description

Green-Blue Blink green ( 10's place) followed by blink blue( 1 's place)

0x81 FAILJDLE I Idle mode

0x82 FAIL_COLD I Cold start after POR

0x83 FAIL WARM I Warm start after reset

0x84 FAIL_MOVE I Motor busy

0x85 FAIL_ERASE I Flash erase

0x86 FAIL_STOP I Motor stopped prematurely

0x91 FAIL_CAVRO w Cavro script error

0x92 FAIL_MPWR w Motor power out of range

0x93 FAIL_TEMP w Temperature out of range

0x94 FAIL_LOGIC w Logic power out of range

0x95 FAIL_TAMPER w Tamper switch asserted

OxAl FAIL_STALL w Motor stalled

0xA2 FAIL_REVERSE w Motor running in reverse

0xA3 FAIL_LIMIT w Motor at travel limit

0xA4 FAIL_PANEL w Front panel pushbutton activated

Red-Blue Blink red (10's place) followed by blink blue (l 's place)

0x11 FAIL_APP E Application task hung, message queue full

0x12 FAIL_LOG E Event logger task failed

0x13 FAIL_MOTOR E Motor task failed

0x14 FAIL_NET E Network task failed

0x15 FAIL_CON E Console task failed

0x16 FAIL_STATUS E Status display task failed

0x17 FAIL_CLI E Command line interpreter task failed

0x21 FAIL_CPU E CPU resources driver failed

0x22 FAIL_SSD E Storage devices driver failed

0x23 FAILJFM E Internal flash driver failed

0x24 FAIL_CRC W CRC hardware failed

0x25 FAIL_OSC W Oscillator failure

0x26 FAIL_STP F Stepper motor driver failed

0x27 FAIL_SPI E SPI bus failed

0x31 FAIL JART E Asynchronous serial driver failed

0x32 FAIL_TIM E Precision timer failed

0x33 FAIL_RTC E Real time clock driver failed

0x34 FAIL_ADC E Analog to Digital converter driver failed

0x35 FAIL_DMA E DMA setup failed

0x36 FAILJ2C W I2C bus driver failed

0x37 FAIL_CAN W CAN bus failed

0x41 FAIL_TASK E Task stack overflow (FreeRTOS)

0x42 FAIL_ASSERT E Assertion failed 0x43 FAIL_RTOS E RTOS start failed

0x44 FAILJTM F Trace and profile fault

0x45 FAIL_PWR W Voltage drop detected by PVD

0x46 FAIL_HEAP E Memory heap (FreeRTOS)

0x47 FAIL_TIMER E Soft timer service fault (FreeRTOS)

0x51 FAIL_CSS W Oscillator failure

0x52 FAIL_HARD E HardFault error

0x53 FAILJJSAGE E Usage fault

0x54 FAIL_BUS E Bus fault

0x55 FAIL_MMU E MemManage memory protection error

0x56 FAIL_STACK E Stack fault

0x57 FAIL WDG E Watchdog fault

0x61 FAILJRQ W Unexpected interrupt, should be impossible failure

0x62 FAIL_LCD W LCD panel failed

0x63 FAIL_TEST W Unit test failed

0x64 FAIL_DAC W Digital to Analog converter driver failed

0x65 FAIL_ENET E Ethernet failure

0x66 FAIL_FSMC F External bus failure

0x67 FAIL_SDIO E SD card socket failure

0x71 FAIL_PCB F Circuit board mismatch

0x72 FAIL_FIRM F Firmware mismatch

0x73 FAIL_BUILD F Build mismatch

0x74 FAIL_OTP W No OTP revision history

The pump system 300 therefore provides an efficient method for conveying specific system faults to users who may suffer from a color vision deficiency. Users who suffer from deuteranomaly, protanomaly, tritanomaly, or other forms of color blindness may therefore efficiently detect faults or status occurrences related to the pump system 300. Following the key of the example provided by Table 4, should a user observe the indicator 222 illuminating red for six blinks followed by seven blue blinks, this indicates a 6 for the ten's unit and a 7 for the one's unit, which equals code no. 67. Using the key for reference, code 67 is a "SD card socket failure." Other information may also be provided in a key, such as classifications for particular codes, as is illustrated by the third column in Table 4, which categorizes the fault by type I, E, W, or F, for example without limitation. I is for information— not an error but a significant event; W is for a warning— a recoverable error; E is for an error— a significant fault which may not be recoverable; F is for a fatal error— an error that cannot be recovered and typically requires technician servicing, such as for a hardware failure. Other classifications are contemplated, or no classifications may be noted in the table.

It is important to note that a color-blind individual may not necessarily know what particular color the indicator 222 is, but only that a first color blinked n number of times followed by a second color that blinked n number of times (in the case of a two- color code). It is advantageous, however, to end the sequence (l's place) with the color blue, as blue is recognizable by those who suffer from deuteranomaly, protanomaly, or tritanomaly, so by using blue for the l 's place, it is clear that a color (even if unidentifiable) that follows blue is the start of a sequence. Therefore, the most easily discernable color permutations are red:blue; green:blue; yellow:blue; cyamblue; cyan:red:blue; red:cyan:blue; cyan:yellow:blue; yellow:cyan:blue; green:cyan:blue; and cyan:green:blue.

In an embodiment, a user may program customizable color/blink sequences that indicate a particular status, code, fault, or other indication specified by the user.

In an embodiment, a memory with the logic 201 is in communication with the device 220. In an embodiment, the memory is a computer programmable media, RAM, non-volatile flash memory, or any other computer-readable memory known in the art. The memory is used as a storage medium for an event recorder. For instance, when an event occurs, the device 220 may record the event occurrence and related event details in a memory and/or a storage device. When the storage device reaches a recording capacity, the device may erase the oldest entries and replace them with the newer entries.

The detailed descriptions of the above embodiments are not exhaustive descriptions of all embodiments contemplated by the inventors to be within the scope of the present description. Indeed, persons skilled in the art will recognize that certain elements of the above-described embodiments may variously be combined or eliminated to create further embodiments, and such further embodiments fall within the scope and teachings of the present description. It will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described embodiments may be combined in whole or in part to create additional embodiments within the scope and teachings of the present invention.

Thus, although specific embodiments are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the present description, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings provided herein can be applied to other syringe systems, and not just to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying figures. Accordingly, the scope of the embodiments described above should be determined from the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method of indicating a status of a device with a status indicator, comprising the steps of:

blinking the status indicator a predetermined number of times to indicate a first portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator is a first color; and

blinking the status indicator a predetermined number of times to indicate a second portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator is a second color that differs from the first color, and wherein a color combination of the first and second colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness, and wherein a combination of color and number of blinks of the status indicator indicate a complete status code of a plurality of status codes.

2. The method of Claim 1, comprising the step of:

blinking the status indicator a predetermined number of times to indicate a third portion of a status code, wherein the status indicator is a third color, and wherein the third color is different from the first and second colors, and wherein a color combination of the first and second and third colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness.

3. The method of Claim 1, comprising the step of:

looping the complete status code.

4. The method of Claim 1, wherein the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of: red:blue, redxyan, green:blue, greenxyan, green magenta, blue:yellow, bluexyan, yellowxyan, and cyammagenta.

5. The method of Claim 1, wherein the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of red:blue; green:blue; greemmagenta; blue:yellow; and bluexyan.

6. The method of Claim 2, wherein the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of: green:cyan:blue, green: cyan: magenta, red:cyan:blue, and yellow:cyan:blue.

7. The method of Claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of blinks is between 1 and 9 blinks.

8. The method of Claim 1, comprising the step of:

providing a key configured to decipher the complete status code.

9. The method of Claim 1, wherein the status indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The method of Claim 1, wherein the status indicator comprises a multi-color light emitting diode.

11. The method of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the status indicator is configured to produce at least two blinks of red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, white, and magenta light.

12. The method of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the last color in a sequence that comprises the complete status code is blue.

13. A device (220) comprising:

a status indicator (222), wherein the status indicator (222) is configured to emit a first color and to blink a predetermined number of times to indicate a first portion of a status code, and wherein the status indicator (222) is configured to emit a second color and to blink a predetermined number of times to indicate a second portion of a status code, wherein the second color differs from the first color, and wherein a color combination of the first and second colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness, and wherein the color combination and number of blinks indicate a complete status code of a plurality of status codes.

14. The device (220) of claim 13, wherein the status indicator (222) is configured to emit a third color and to blink a predetermined number of times to indicate a third portion of a status code, wherein the third color is different from the first and second colors, and wherein a color combination of the first and second and third colors is discernable by a person having a color blindness.

15. The device (220) of claim 13, wherein the status indicator (222) comprises a light emitting diode (100).

16. The device (220) of claim 13, wherein the status indicator (222) is configured to emit multiple colors.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the status indicator (222) emits two or more colors chosen from the group consisting of red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, white, and magenta.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of red:blue; green:blue; greemmagenta; blue:yellow; and blue yan.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the color combination comprises a combination of colors chosen from the group consisting of: green:cyan:blue, green: cyan: magenta, red:cyan:blue, and yellow:cyan:blue.

20. The device (220) of claim 13, wherein the device (220) comprises a pump system (300)

21. The device (220) of claim 20, wherein the pump system (300) comprises:

a drive mechanism (306) attachable to a syringe assembly (304);

a plunger assembly (310), joined to the syringe assembly (304) comprising a syringe plunger (316) in a syringe barrel (314), configured to at least one of aspirate and dispense a fluid contained in the syringe barrel (314); a drive portion (312) of the drive mechanism (306), wherein the drive portion (312) is configured to actuate the plunger assembly (310); and

wherein the plurality of status codes indicate statuses of the pump system (300).

22. The device (220) of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of status codes indicate a fault of the pump system (300).

23. The device (220) of claim 21, comprising a memory configured to store the status codes.

24. The device (220) of claim 21, wherein the color combination and number of blinks comprises a fixed rate of blinking.