When everything clicks into place

In its latest product offering, Herga Technology has brought Bluetooth and USB switch actuation techniques together for PC-controlled systems, resulting in what it describes as a wireless and hands-free solution where up to four footswitches can each emulate pre-set single or multiple keystrokes (up to three – such as Alt/Ctrl/Del) or replicate mouse clicks.

The 6311-BLE2 is a Bluetooth-secure, PAN-enabled receiver that features push-button pairing with Herga’s single and multipedal Bluetooth footswitches – while its integrated USB 2.0 port, through simple plug and play set-up, is said to connect seamlessly with Windows, Linux and Mac operation systems. 

Remote operation

For remote operation from footswitch to machine, this housed receiver has a nominal 10 metre wireless range (up to 25 metres line-of-sight) with switching delay flexibility built-in via user selectable switching latency of 100 ms or 200 ms (at 10 metres).

Powered via its USB port, the receiver includes LED indication for pairing and for the footswitch battery condition through the ultra-low-power Bluetooth PAN. Also included is a user-selectable footswitch timeout function of 15 sec or 60 sec for footswitch battery conservation where the footswitch will auto-wake on the press of the pedal.

“Footswitches that emulate computer keystrokes are especially effective for meticulous control measures in medical equipment applications, from surgical procedures to imaging, diagnostic and analytic tasks.

The cable-free wireless operation and completely hands-free capability that the 6311-BLE2 delivers will bring benefit where often-repeated keyboard commands are essential to machine control in high-hygiene conditions or where thoroughly tidy work areas are of upmost importance,” says Herga.

Medically approved

“Herga’s comprehensive IEC 60601/UL 60601 medically approved footswitches extend across single and multipedal Bluetooth models, with IPX7 environmental ratings in ergonomic and attractive designs.

The comprehensive choice includes the recently announced Medical Footswitch Design Platform – a modular system of medically approved electrical or Bluetooth foot- and puck switches that consist of a base system with single and double plinths that can each accommodate a single footswitch, as well as one or two puckswitches.

With up to five plinths interlocked, the system can accommodate a wide gamut of switching tasks to allow hands-free operation for the most complex medical equipment or industrial machine control tasks.”

Single switching

Herga’s Bluetooth range also covers single-switching footswitch events through a choice of a PCB mounted receiver for installation on the customer’s equipment or a standalone housed receiver.

The PCB variant includes eight open collector transistor outputs (24V DC at 100mA max.), while the housed receiver offers up to six normally open contact relay outputs (24V DC at 1.75A max.) The latency setting, footswitch power monitoring and pairing set-up features are similar to the 6311-BLE2 version.