Charging Base with Testing Capability for Medical Device

• US 20090146609A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Santos, Cesario Dos
• Application Number:
  US11/953,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20090146609A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/111
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A charging base for a battery-operated device has a port with a plurality of contacts and a charging connection. Testing circuitry is coupled to the plurality of contacts, and charging circuitry facilitates the charging connection. A housing at least partially encloses the testing circuitry and the charging circuitry.

Claims

1. A charging base for a battery-operated medical device comprising:

a testing port, the testing port having a recess and a plurality of contacts;

a fuse simulator coupled to at least one of the plurality of contacts;

a temperature simulator circuit coupled to at least one of the plurality of contacts; and

a mechanical linkage interface sensor located near the recess;

a charging port, the charging port having a charging connection;

charging circuitry located near the charging port; and

a housing at least partially enclosing the charging circuitry, fuse simulator, temperature simulator circuit, and mechanical linkage interface sensor.

2. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the first and second ports have different shapes.

3. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the first and second ports have different sizes.

4. The charging base of claim 1 wherein a first, interfacing end of a limited reuse assembly is nestable in the testing port and a second, charging end of the limited reuse assembly is nestable in the charging port.

5. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the fuse simulator is a switch.

6. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the temperature simulator circuit is a circuit equivalent of a temperature control device and a thermal sensor.

7. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the mechanical linkage interface sensor is a sensor capable of detecting movement of a mechanical linkage interface.

8. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the charging circuitry further comprises an AC to DC converter suitable for charging a rechargeable battery.

9. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the charging circuitry further comprises a coil for magnetically coupling with a coil located on a charging end of a limited reuse assembly, the magnetic coupling forming the charging connection.

10. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the contacts facilitate communication between the charging base and a limited reuse assembly nested in the testing port.

11. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the charging port and testing port are located adjacent to each other.

12. The charging base of claim 1 wherein the testing port is located in a hood located opposite the charging port.

13. A charging base for a battery-operated device comprising:

a port, the port having a plurality of contacts and a charging connection;

testing circuitry coupled to the plurality of contacts;

charging circuitry facilitating the charging connection; and

a housing at least partially enclosing the testing circuitry and the charging circuitry.

14. The charging base of claim 13 wherein the testing circuitry further comprises:

a fuse simulator coupled to at least one of the plurality of contacts.

15. The charging base of claim 13 wherein the testing circuitry further comprises:

a temperature simulator circuit coupled to at least one of the plurality of contacts.

16. The charging base of claim 13 wherein the testing circuitry further comprises:

a mechanical linkage interface sensor located near a recess in the port.

17. The charging base of claim 13 wherein a first, interfacing end of a limited reuse assembly is nestable in the port and a second, charging end of the limited reuse assembly is also nestable in the port.

18. The charging base of claim 14 wherein the fuse simulator is a switch.

19. The charging base of claim 15 wherein the temperature simulator circuit is a circuit equivalent of a temperature control device and a thermal sensor.

20. The charging base of claim 16 wherein the mechanical linkage interface sensor is a sensor capable of detecting movement of a mechanical linkage interface.

21. The charging base of claim 13 wherein the charging circuitry further comprises an AC to DC converter suitable for charging a rechargeable battery.

22. The charging base of claim 13 wherein the charging circuitry further comprises a coil for magnetically coupling with a coil located on a charging end of a limited reuse assembly, the magnetic coupling forming the charging connection.

23. The charging base of claim 13 wherein the contacts facilitate communication between the charging base and a limited reuse assembly nested in the port.