Device with multiple, concurrently-installed power modules and method for controlling same

• US 20030193245A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Powers
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Powers
• Inventors: Powers, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,784,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device

Abstract

A device such as an electrotherapy device implementing the invention includes multiple power module receptacles each of which is configured to received at least one type of power module, and a power management system that selectively routes power provided by one or more installed power modules to the device components and, preferably, to other power module receptacles. The types of power modules that operate in the power module receptacles include, for example, rechargeable battery packs, non-rechargeable battery packs and AC power packs. Preferably these power modules are each fully integrated, functionally self-contained power modules. For example, the rechargeable battery pack includes a charge controller specifically designed to charge the battery pack in which it is implemented.

Claims

1. A power management system for incorporation in a powered device comprising:

a plurality of power module receptacles each configured to have installed therein a power module comprising one of either a rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack and an AC power pack; and

a power distribution system configured to connect a selected one or more installed power modules with components of the device.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system comprises:

one or more power buses each connected to one or more device components; and

a plurality of remotely controlled switches each constructed and arranged to electrically connect an installed power module to one of the power distribution buses.

3. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system is further configured to electrically connect selected installed power modules with each other.

4. A powered device comprising:

a plurality of power module receptacles each adapted to operationally receive a power module, the power module being one or more of a plurality of power module types; and

a power distribution system configured to connect electrically selected power modules installed in the power module receptacles with components of the device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the a power distribution system comprises:

an internal network of power distribution buses constructed and arranged to be electrically couple power modules installed in a the power module receptacle and device components.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the power distribution system further comprises:

a plurality of individually controlled switches each configured to electrically connect an installed power module to one of the power distribution buses; and

a power distribution manager configured to control the switches to connect electrically specified installed power modules and device components to implement a desired power management configuration.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the power management configuration is determined based on an intended use model of the electrotherapy device and the type of power modules installed in the power module receptacles.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the types of power modules comprise one or more of the group consisting of:

a non-rechargeable battery pack;

a rechargeable battery pack; and

an AC power pack.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack and AC power adapter have substantially same form factors.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the power module types include an AC power pack and a rechargeable battery pack, and wherein the power distribution system is configured to connect electrically the AC power pack and rechargeable battery pack.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is an electrotherapy device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the electrotherapy device is a portable defibrillator.

13. An electrotherapy device comprising:

a first power module receptacle configured to have installed therein a power module of a first power module type;

a second power module receptacle configured to have installed therein a power module of a second power module type;

an internal power distribution network for distributing power provided by a selected one or more of the installed power modules to device components;

individually controlled switches configured to electrically connect each installed power modules to one or more buses of the internal power distribution network; and

a power management system for selectively connecting the installed power modules to the power distribution network based on a one or more factors.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first power module type comprises a rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack and an AC power pack, and wherein the second power module type comprises a rechargeable battery pack and a non-rechargeable battery pack.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of power module types have a same form factor.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the power management system is configured to connect an installed rechargeable battery pack to an installed AC power pack.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the power management system determines which of the installed power modules are to be connected to the power distribution network based on an ability of the installed power modules to provide power to the device.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the electrotherapy device is a portable defibrillator.

19. An electrotherapy device having a plurality of power module receptacles configured to have concurrently installed therein a power module, wherein the device connects a first selected one of the plurality of installed power modules to device components and connects a second selected one of the plurality of installed power modules to another concurrently installed power module.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

an internal power distribution network for distributing power provided by installed power modules to the device and power module receptacles; and

a power management system for selectively connecting one or more installed power modules to the power distribution network.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the installed power modules may each be one of the group consisting of a rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack and AC power pack.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack and AC power adapter have a same form factor,

whereby the rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack and AC power adapter may be installed in a same power module receptacle.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the electrotherapy device is a portable defibrillator.

24. A rechargeable battery pack comprising:

a housing;

at least one battery cell mounted within the housing; and

a charge controller mounted within the housing and electrically connected to the battery cell, wherein the charge controller is constructed and arranged to charge the at least one battery cell using an externally-applied DC voltage.

25. The battery pack of claim 24, wherein the battery cell is of a particular chemistry, and further wherein the charge controller generates a DC charge current in accordance with a charging process suitable to charge battery cells of this particular chemistry.

26. The battery pack of claim 24, wherein the particular battery chemistry is selected from the group comprising lithium ion, lead acid and NiCd.

27. A set of power modules for providing a DC voltage to a device when one or more of the power modules is installed therein, the set of power modules comprising:

a rechargeable battery pack including a first housing, one or more rechargeable battery cells and a battery charger mounted within the first housing, wherein the battery charger applies a charging voltage to the battery cells, the charging voltage being derived from an externally-applied DC voltage, and wherein the rechargeable battery cells generate a first DC voltage suitable for use by the device; and

a non-rechargeable battery pack including a second housing and one or more non-rechargeable battery cells mounted within the second housing, wherein the non-rechargeable battery cells provide a second DC voltage suitable for use by the device.

28. The set of power modules of claim 27, wherein the set of power modules further comprises:

an AC power pack including,

a third housing,

an AC-to-DC converter mounted within the third housing, and

an electrical interface for providing an externally-applied AC voltage to the AC-to-DC converter, wherein the AC-to-DC converter converts the applied AC power to a third DC voltage suitable for use by the device.

29. The set of power modules of claim 27, wherein the first and second housings have a same form factor.

30. The set of power modules of claim 28, wherein the first, second and third housings have a same form factor.

31. The set of power modules of claim 28, wherein the rechargeable battery pack, the non-rechargeable battery pack and the AC power pack each have a same electrical interface for interfacing with the device.

32. The set of power modules of claim 31, wherein the electrical interfaces for the rechargeable battery pack and the non-rechargeable battery pack and the AC power pack have different pin assignments within the same configuration.

33. The set of power modules of claim 31, wherein a portion of the rechargeable battery pack electrical interface at which the first DC voltage is provided is the same as a portion of the non-rechargeable battery pack electrical interface at which the second DC power is presented.

34. The set of power modules of claim 28, wherein the rechargeable battery pack, the non-rechargeable battery pack and the AC power pack, each further comprising a smart interface mounted within the first, second and third housings, respectively, wherein the smart interface provides externally data pertaining to the respective power module.