Charge consumption monitor for electronic device
First Claim
1. A method for measuring charge consumption in a battery-powered electronic device having an inductive switching voltage regulator, wherein the inductive switching regulator alternately stores and discharges energy in an inductor in a two-phase power conversion cycle, the power conversion phases designated as fill and dump phases, respectively, such that the inductor current increases until a predetermined peak current value is reached during the fill phase and decreases to zero or other predetermined value during the dump phase, comprising:
- measuring the duration of a power conversion phase during a power conversion cycle; and
, calculating the quantity of charge consumed during the power conversion cycle as the duration of the power conversion phase multiplied by one-half the peak inductor current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A charge consumption measuring circuit is disclosed which is particularly suitable for use in an implantable cardiac device. The circuit utilizes the power conversion cycles of an inductive switching regulator to measure the quantity of charge supplied by a battery and/or drawn by the circuitry of the device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for measuring charge consumption in a battery-powered electronic device having an inductive switching voltage regulator, wherein the inductive switching regulator alternately stores and discharges energy in an inductor in a two-phase power conversion cycle, the power conversion phases designated as fill and dump phases, respectively, such that the inductor current increases until a predetermined peak current value is reached during the fill phase and decreases to zero or other predetermined value during the dump phase, comprising:
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measuring the duration of a power conversion phase during a power conversion cycle; and
,calculating the quantity of charge consumed during the power conversion cycle as the duration of the power conversion phase multiplied by one-half the peak inductor current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A power supply for an implantable medical device, comprising:
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a battery;
an inductive switching voltage regulator connected to the battery for supplying a regulated voltage to the device, wherein the inductive switching voltage regulator alternately stores and discharges energy in an inductor in a two-phase power conversion cycle, the power conversion phases designated as fill and dump phases, respectively, such that the inductor current increases until a predetermined peak current value is reached during the fill phase and decreases to zero or other predetermined value during the dump phase; and
,a circuit for measuring charge consumption in the device by measuring the duration of a power conversion phase during a power conversion cycle, wherein the quantity of charge consumed during the power conversion cycle is the duration of the power conversion phase multiplied by one-half the peak inductor current. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An implantable cardiac rhythm management device, comprising:
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sensing circuitry for sensing cardiac depolarizations;
therapy circuitry for delivering electro-stimulation to a heart chamber;
a controller for controlling the delivery of electro-stimulation;
a battery and an inductive switching voltage regulator connected to the battery for supplying a regulated voltage or voltages to the device, wherein the inductive switching voltage regulator alternately stores and discharges energy in an inductor in a two-phase power conversion cycle, the power conversion phases designated as fill and dump phases, respectively, such that the inductor current increases until a predetermined peak current value is reached during the fill phase and decreases to zero or other predetermined value during the dump phase; and
,a circuit for measuring charge consumption in the device by measuring the duration of a power conversion phase during a power conversion cycle, wherein the quantity of charge consumed during the power conversion cycle is the duration of the power conversion phase multiplied by one-half the peak inductor current. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification