Powered cartridges and other devices within housings

• US 20080087589A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Millipore Corporation
• Inventors: Grzonka, Michael T., Burke, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 7,699,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/91
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/52 Filter identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/56 Wireless systems for monitoring the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/58 Power supply means for regenerating the filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/143 Filter condition indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/429 Means for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields

Abstract

The present invention describes a system and method for supplying electrical power to a device, such as a filter element, located within a housing. In one embodiment, a conductive coil is embedded into the housing base, and a second coil is embedded into the filter element. Current is then passed through the coil in the housing base. Through induction, a current is created in the second coil in the filter element, in much the same way as a transformer functions. This inductive field may interfere with the operation of the various electronic functions, such as communications, sensing or other activities. To overcome this issue, an energy storage component, such as a capacitor, is included in the filter electronics. In this way, the power generated by the inductive field can be stored, and used when the inductive field is no longer present.

Claims

1. A filtering system, comprising a filtering element comprising an embedded electrical conductive coil.

2. The filtering system of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a first matable portion for receiving said filtering element, and wherein said filtering element comprises a second matable portion for insertion into said first matable portion in sealing relationship.

3. The filtering system of claim 2, wherein said coil is embedded in said second matable portion.

4. The filtering system of claim 2, wherein a second electrical conductive coil is embedded in said filter housing.

5. The filtering system of claim 4, wherein said second coil is energized by an associated circuit.

6. The filtering system of claim 4 wherein said second coil and said embedded coil define concentric cylinders.

7. The filtering system of claim 1, wherein said filtering element comprises a TFF filter, having an internal membrane.

8. The filtering system of claim 7, wherein said coil has a central axis and said axis is parallel to said membrane.

9. The filtering system of claim 7, wherein said coil has a central axis and said axis is perpendicular to said membrane.

10. The filtering system of claim 7, wherein said TFF filter further comprises a magnetic member positioned within said coil.

11. The filtering system of claim 10, wherein said member comprises an iron rod.

12. The filtering system of claim 1, wherein said filtering element comprises electronic components.

13. The filtering system of claim 12, wherein said filtering element further comprising an energy storage component adapted to store energy received by said coil.

14. The filtering system of claim 13, wherein said energy storage component comprises a capacitor.

15. A method of wirelessly supplying power to a filtering element comprising:

a. Providing a first electrical conductive coil in said filtering element;

b. Providing a second conductive coil in proximity to said first coil; and

c. Energizing said second coil with an alternating energy source.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said energizing step is performed continuously.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said filtering element comprises an energy storage element and said energizing step is performed intermittently.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said filtering element comprises an energy storage element and said energizing step is performed at regular intervals.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said second coil is embedded in a housing containing said filtering element.