Power control system for mobile workstation and method

• US 20090276637A1
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PNC Bank National Association (The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enovate Medical, LLC (Enovate Medical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Werthman, Dean A., Inthaluxay, Ary, Coonan, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,775,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0437 Trolley or cart-type apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

A method of controlling a power system includes receiving a signal indicative of user interaction with a handle of a removable battery, and switching a power interface of the power system from a first power sourcing mode receiving power from the removable battery to a second power sourcing mode receiving power from a back-up battery. An electronic control unit for the power system includes a memory storing computer executable instructions for controlling power sourcing in the power control system, a detector interface configured to receive a signal indicative of user interaction with a removable battery of the mobile workstation and a microprocessor configured by way of executing the computer executable instructions to switch a power interface of the power control system from a first power sourcing mode to a second power sourcing mode.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a power system of a mobile workstation comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal indicative of user interaction with a removable battery for a power system of the mobile workstation; and

switching a power interface of the power system from a first power sourcing mode receiving power from the removable battery to a second power sourcing mode receiving power from a second battery, responsive to the signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step includes receiving the signal while the removable battery is electrically connected with the power interface, and wherein the switching step includes switching the power interface while the removable battery is electrically connected with the power interface.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the receiving step includes receiving the signal from a sensor resident on a battery assembly which includes the removable battery.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a user proximity signal from a proximity sensor.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of switching the power interface from the second power sourcing mode back to the first power sourcing mode in response to electrically connecting a replacement battery with the power interface in place of the removable battery.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of activating a countdown timer in response to switching the power interface from the first power sourcing mode to the second power sourcing mode.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising a step of outputting a shutdown signal to the power system in response to expiration of the countdown timer.

8. A power control system for a mobile workstation comprising:

a power interface having a first input interface configured to connect with a first battery, a second input interface configured to connect with a second battery and an output interface configured to receive power from either of the first and second input interfaces for powering a computerized device of the mobile workstation;

a detector interface configured to receive a user interaction signal associated with the first battery; and

a microprocessor coupled with the detector interface and in control communication with the power interface, the microprocessor being configured to switch the power interface from a first power sourcing mode receiving power via the first input interface to a second power sourcing mode receiving power via the second input interface, responsive to the user interaction signal.

9. The power control system of claim 8 wherein the detector interface comprises a sensor interface configured to receive a user interaction signal from a sensor resident on a battery assembly which includes the first battery.

10. The power control system of claim 9 wherein the second power sourcing mode comprises a back-up mode, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to switch the power interface to the back-up mode to receive power via the second input interface from a back-up battery, responsive to the user interaction signal.

11. The power control system of claim 10 wherein the power interface comprises a solid state electronic switch having a first state corresponding to the first power sourcing mode and electrically connecting the output interface with the first input interface but not the second input interface, and a second state corresponding to the second power sourcing mode.

12. The power control system of claim 10 further comprising a display controllably coupled with the microprocessor and having a plurality of display states which are based at least in part on the power sourcing mode of the power interface.

13. The power control system of claim 11 wherein the microprocessor is configured to switch the power interface to a third mode where the first input interface is electrically connected with the second input interface for charging the back-up battery with the first battery.

14. The power control system of claim 11 further comprising a countdown timer coupled with the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to output a start signal to activate the countdown timer in response to the user interaction signal.

15. The power control system of claim 14 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to output a shutdown signal to the power system in response to expiration of the countdown timer.

16. The power control system of claim 9 further comprising a rewritable memory storing computer executable instructions for controlling power sourcing in the power control system, a programming interface and a memory writing device configured to overwrite the computer executable instructions based on inputs from the programming interface.

17. An electronic control module for a power control system of a mobile workstation comprising:

a computer readable memory storing computer executable instructions for controlling power sourcing in the power control system;

a detector interface configured to receive a signal indicative of user interaction with a removable battery of the mobile workstation; and

a microprocessor coupled with the computer readable memory and with the detector interface, the microprocessor being configured by way of executing the computer executable instructions to switch a power interface of the power control system from a first power sourcing mode receiving power via a first input interface to a second power sourcing mode receiving power via a second input interface, responsive to the signal.

18. The electronic control module of claim 17 wherein the microprocessor is configured to switch the power system from the first power sourcing mode receiving power from the removable battery to the second power sourcing mode receiving power from a back-up battery resident on the mobile workstation, in response to the signal.

19. The electronic control module of claim 18 wherein the computer readable memory comprises a computer rewritable memory.