Haptic systems and methods for a user interface of a patient support apparatus

1. A patient support apparatus comprising:

a base;

a patient support deck supported by said base and comprising a fowler section, wherein said patient support deck provides a patient support surface;

an actuator operatively coupled to said fowler section to articulate said fowler section between articulation angles;

a barrier wall supported by said base and comprising a first region free of any electronic visual displays, said barrier wall comprising an exposed exterior surface accessible to a user;

a user input device disposed with respect to said barrier wall such that said first region of said barrier wall separates said user input device from said exposed exterior surface;

an ultrasonic generator system disposed with respect to said barrier wall such that said first region of said barrier wall separates said ultrasonic generator system from said exposed exterior surface;

a controller in communication with said ultrasonic generator system; and

a sensor in communication with said controller and arranged to determine a current articulation angle of said fowler section,

said controller configured to control said ultrasonic generator system to generate haptic feedback in response to actuation of said user input device by the user to indicate to the user a relationship between said current articulation angle of said fowler section and a target articulation angle.

2. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , comprising non-electronic indicia on said first region of said barrier wall, said non-electronic indicia being visible to the user.

3. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said non-electronic indicia is fixed to said exposed exterior surface.

4. The patient support apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said non-electronic indicia comprises printed material on said exposed exterior surface.

5. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said barrier wall comprises a second region free of indicia adjacent to said first region and said exposed exterior surface is continuous between said first region and said second region.

6. The patient support apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said exposed exterior surface is free of seams between said first region and said second region.

7. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said barrier wall is formed of an electrically non-conductive material.

8. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said user input device comprises a user input sensor mounted to said barrier wall to detect user input through said first region of said barrier wall, said controller configured to control said ultrasonic generator system to produce ultrasound waves through said first region of said barrier wall to provide haptic sensations to the user to define a virtual button.

9. The patient support apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said user input sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

10. The patient support apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said user input sensor is embedded in said barrier wall.

11. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said barrier wall forms part of a side rail, a headboard, or a footboard.

12. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said ultrasonic generator system comprises an array of ultrasonic elements.

13. The patient support apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said array of ultrasonic elements comprises ultrasonic transducers controlled by said controller to produce phased ultrasound waves to provide haptic sensations.

14. The patient support apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said ultrasonic transducers are embedded in said barrier wall.

15. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to control said ultrasonic generator system to vary [[said]] haptic sensations to the user.

16. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to control said ultrasonic generator system to provide informational haptic feedback to the user.

17. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said barrier wall defines an interior generally isolated from the user with said user input device and said ultrasonic generator system disposed in said interior.