SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTENDING THE BATTERY LIFE IN INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICES

• US 20110187544A1
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Raptis, Mark, Ross, Graham
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/10 Power supply of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods of extending battery life in inventory control devices are disclosed. A passive receiver configured to wirelessly receive an initiation signal having an associated energy field from a remote control system and to output a mode change signal is provided. The passive receiver is configured to be powered by an energy field associated with the initiation signal. A functional module coupled to the passive receiver and configured to be powered by a self-contained power source when the functional module is in an active mode is provided. The functional module is further configured to receive the mode change signal from the passive receiver and to change from an inactive mode to the active mode. The functional module draws more power from the power source in the active mode than in the inactive mode.

Claims

1. An inventory control device comprising:

a passive receiver configured to wirelessly receive an initiation signal having an associated energy field from a remote control system and to output a mode change signal, the passive receiver configured to be powered by an energy field associated with the initiation signal; and

a functional module coupled to the passive receiver and configured to be powered by a self-contained power source when the functional module is in an active mode, the functional module configured to receive the mode change signal from the passive receiver and to change from an inactive mode to the active mode in response to the mode change signal, the functional module drawing more power from the power source in the active mode than in the inactive mode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the passive receiver further comprises a rectifier circuit coupled to a capacitor, the rectifier circuit converting the initiation signal into a direct current for charging the capacitor.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the passive receiver is configured to output the mode change signal when the capacitor is charged above a threshold voltage.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the power source of the functional module comprises a battery.

5. The device of claim 1, the functional module comprising a controller connected to the power source, the controller being placed in a controller low-power mode when the functional module is in the inactive mode, further wherein the controller is configured to receive the mode change signal from the passive receiver and to change from the controller low-power mode to a controller operation mode in response to the mode change signal, the controller drawing more power from the power source in the controller operation mode than in the controller low-power mode.

6. The device of claim 5, the functional module further comprising a transceiver connected to the power source, the transceiver being placed in a transceiver low-power mode when the functional module is in the inactive mode, further wherein the transceiver is configured to change from the transceiver low-power mode to a transceiver operation mode in response to the mode change signal, the transceiver drawing more power from the power source in the transceiver operation mode than in the transceiver low-power mode.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to provide an output indicative of the reception of the mode change signal to the transceiver, the transceiver changing from the transceiver low-power mode to the transceiver operation mode in response to the output.

8. The device of claim 1, the functional module comprising a controller and a switch coupled between the controller and the power source, the controller being disconnected by the switch from the power source when the functional module is in the inactive mode, the switch configured to receive the mode change signal from the passive receiver and to connect the controller to the power source in response to the mode change signal.

9. The device of claim 8, the functional module further comprising a transceiver coupled to the switch, the transceiver being disconnected by the switch from the power source when the functional module is in the inactive mode, wherein the switch is further configured to connect the transceiver to the power source in response to the mode change signal.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the functional module is further configured to at least one of send a data signal to and receive a data signal from the remote control system when the functional module is in the active mode.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the functional module is further configured to return to the inactive mode if an ID signal indicative of the wireless communication device is not received within a preset time duration after receiving the mode change signal.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the functional module is further configured to return to the inactive mode if a data signal is not received from the remote control system within a preset time duration after receiving the ID signal indicative of the wireless communication device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the functional module is further configured to return to the inactive mode if a new data signal is not received from the remote control system within a preset time duration after receiving a last data signal.

14. The device of claim 1, the functional module further comprising at least one visual or audio indicator for alerting a user when an ID signal indicative of the wireless communication device is received by the functional module.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the inventory control device is coupled to a container configured to store an inventory of supply items.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the functional module is further configured to transmit data representative of the inventory stored in the container.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising at least one button for indicating when one or more supplies are taken from or added to the container.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the function module is configured to transmit data indicative of the one or more supplies taken from or added to the container to an external computer system that performs an inventory tracking.

19. A method of conserving battery power in an inventory control having a passive receiver and a functional module, the method comprising:

the passive receiver receiving an initiation signal having an associated energy field from a remote control system;

the passive receiver generating power for the passive receiver from the energy field associated with the initiation signal;

the passive receiver sending a mode change signal to the functional module;

the functional module changing from an inactive mode to an active mode, the functional module using more power in the active mode than in the inactive mode; and

the functional module performing a dedicated function in the active mode.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the generating comprises converting the initiation signal into a direct current (DC) signal.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the functional module changing from the inactive mode to the active mode comprises providing the mode change signal to at least one of a controller and a transceiver and causing at least one of the controller and the transceiver to change from a low-power mode to an operation mode, the at least one of the controller and the transceiver drawing using more power in the operation mode than in the low-power mode.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the functional module changing from the inactive mode to the active mode comprises:

providing the mode change signal to a control input of a switch in the functional module, the switch having a power input connected to a power source and a power output connected to at least one of a controller and a transceiver; and

the switch connecting the power source to at least one of the controller and the transceiver in response to the mode change signal.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the functional module performing the dedicated function comprises the functional module communicating data relating to an inventory of supply items to the remote control system.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the functional module performing the dedicated function comprises the functional module providing at least one of a visual and an audio alert indicative of the location of the wireless communication device.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising returning the functional module to the inactive mode if one or more preset conditions are satisfied.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the one or more preset conditions comprise the functional module not receiving an ID signal indicative of the wireless communication device from the remote control system within a preset time duration after receiving the mode change signal.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more preset conditions further comprise the functional module not receiving a data signal from the remote control system within a preset time duration after receiving the ID signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more preset conditions further comprise the functional module not receiving a new data signal from the remote control system within a preset time duration after a last data communication.