IP Library Granted Patent US 12666143
Granted Patent B2
US 12666143 · App. 18/815,281 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Modular monitoring systems and methods

Inventors: David Quinn (Skaneateles Falls, NY); Gene J. Wolfe (Skaneateles Falls, NY); WonKyung McSweeney (Skaneateles Falls, NY)
Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
H04N23/661G16H40/63H04N23/45H04N23/51H04N23/57
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12666143
App. No.
18/815,281
Filed
Aug 26, 2024
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2639
USPC
348/207.1
Abstract

A modular monitor system includes a processor; a plurality of slots including a predetermined shape; a plurality of image acquisition devices configured to be received in any one of the plurality of slots and communicatively coupled with the processor; and a non-transitory, processor readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor that includes one or more instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to: obtain acquisition data; prioritize selection, based on the acquisition data, of one or more image acquisition devices from the plurality of image acquisition devices in accordance with predetermined criteria, the predetermined criteria including a computational load, image acquisition device availability, image acquisition device cost, one or more use cases, or any combination thereof, the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices including a different modality; and control, based on the prioritized selection, operation of the one or more image acquisition devices.

Claims (45)

1 . A modular monitor system, comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of slots that each comprise a predetermined shape;

a plurality of image acquisition devices configured to be received in any one of the plurality of slots and communicatively coupled with the processor; and

a non-transitory, processor readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor, the non-transitory, processor readable storage medium comprising one or more instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to:

obtain acquisition data;

prioritize selection, based on the acquisition data, of one or more image acquisition devices from the plurality of image acquisition devices in accordance with predetermined criteria, the predetermined criteria including a computational load, image acquisition device availability, image acquisition device cost, one or more use cases, or any combination thereof, the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices including a different modality; and

control, based on the prioritized selection, operation of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices.

2 . The modular monitor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the processor to indicate the one or more image acquisition devices that are received in any one of the plurality of slots.

3 . The modular monitor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the processor to indicate the one or more image acquisition devices that are to be received in any one of the plurality of slots.

4 . The modular monitor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the processor to indicate a status of operation of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from plurality of image acquisition devices.

5 . The modular monitor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more image acquisition devices include a daylight visible camera, an infrared night vision camera, a thermal camera, or a point cloud depth camera.

6 . The modular monitor system of claim 1 , wherein the acquisition data includes subject fall risk data, subject respiration data, subject febrile data, subject safety check data, subject symptom data, or subject post-surgical data.

7 . The modular monitor system of claim 1 , further comprising a gimbal stabilizer configured to support the modular monitor system.

8 . The modulator monitor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the processor to:

determine an overlap of modalities between the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices; and

dynamically adjust the one or more use cases based on the overlap of modalities.

9 . The modular monitor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the processor to:

determine interfering modalities between the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices; and

control deactivation of the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices based on the interfering modalities.

10 . The modular monitor system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions further cause the processor to:

determine interfering modalities between the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices; and

prioritize selection of the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices based on the interfering modalities.

11 . A method, comprising:

obtaining acquisition data;

prioritizing selection, based on the acquisition data, of one or more image acquisition devices from a plurality of image acquisition devices in accordance with predetermined criteria, the predetermined criteria including a computational load, image acquisition device availability, image acquisition device cost, one or more use cases, or any combination thereof, the plurality of image acquisition devices configured to be received in any one of a plurality of slots that each comprise a predetermined shape, the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices including a different modality; and

controlling, based on the prioritized selection, operation of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising indicating the one or more image acquisition devices that are received in any one of the plurality of slots.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising indicating the one or more image acquisition devices that are to be received in any one of the plurality of slots.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising indicating a status of operation of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more image acquisition devices include a daylight visible camera, an infrared night vision camera, a thermal camera, or a point cloud depth camera.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the acquisition data includes subject fall risk data, subject respiration data, subject febrile data, subject safety check data, subject symptom data, or subject post-surgical data.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining an overlap of modalities between the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices; and

dynamically adjusting the one or more use cases based on the overlap of modalities.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining interfering modalities between the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices; and

controlling deactivation of the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices based on the interfering modalities.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining interfering modalities between the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices; and

prioritizing selection of the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices based on the interfering modalities.

20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform one or more operations comprising:

obtaining acquisition data;

prioritizing selection, based on the acquisition data, of one or more image acquisition devices from a plurality of image acquisition devices in accordance with predetermined criteria, the predetermined criteria including a computational load, image acquisition device availability, image acquisition device cost, one or more use cases, or any combination thereof, the plurality of image acquisition devices configured to be received in any one of a plurality of slots that each comprise a predetermined shape, the respective ones of the one or more image acquisition devices including a different modality; and

controlling, based on the prioritized selection, operation of the one or more image acquisition devices selected from the plurality of image acquisition devices.