APPARATUS WITH INTERNAL POWER TRANSFER

• US 20120120684A1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Tol, Jeroen Jacob Arnold, Budzelaar, Franciscus Paulus Maria
• Granted Patent: US 9,278,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/002 Intermediate AC, e.g. DC supply with intermediated AC distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic apparatus (I) with a DC power source (B) and power-consuming electronic circuits (EC) and to a method of transferring power between these components. The DC voltage of the power source (B) is converted into an AC voltage which is then transferred via a connector (C) to the electronic circuits (EC). Negative effects due to a contamination of the connector (C) with moisture from the environment can hence be minimized The invention is particularly suited for implantable devices as it allows to couple a replaceable battery (B) with electronic circuits (EC) via a non-sealed connector (C).

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus (I), comprising:

a) a supply module (SM) with a DC power source (B) and power output terminals (TO1, TO2);

b) a consumer module (CM) with power input terminals (TI1, TI2) and power-consuming electronic circuits (EC);

c) a connector (C) for reversibly connecting corresponding power output terminals (TO1, TO2) and power input terminals (TI1, TI2);

d) a DC-AC converter (M1-M4) that is arranged between the DC power source (B) and the power output terminals (TO1, TO2).

3. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the DC power source is a battery (B).

4. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the supply module (SM) and/or the consumer module (CM) is hermetically sealed with the exception of the associated power output terminals (TO1, TO2) or power input terminals (TI1, TI2), respectively.

5. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that a blocking capacitor (C_b) is arranged between the DC-AC converter (M1-M4) and one power output terminal (TO1).

6. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the frequency of the AC output voltage of the DC-AC converter (M1-M4) ranges between 1 Hz and 1 MHz.

7. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the DC-AC converter (M1-M4) has a pulsed operation mode with a pulsed activity.

8. The apparatus (I) according to claim 7, characterized in that the periods of activity are long enough to substantially charge an intermediate power storage (C_h) in the consumer module (CM).

9. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus (I) comprises an AC-DC converter (D1-D4) that is arranged between the power input terminals (TI1, TI2) and the power-consuming electronic circuits (EC).

10. The apparatus (I) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a hold capacitor (C_h) that connects the outputs of the AC-DC converter (D1-D4).

11. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the DC-AC converter (M1-M4) provides a substantially square-wave output voltage.

12. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connector (C) comprises hydrophobic materials, redundant contacts, and/or substantially no voids in its connected state.

13. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus is an implantable device (I), particularly a Deep Brain Stimulation system, a surgical tool, or an ingestible electronic product.

14. The apparatus (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus (I) is a product of consumer electronics, particularly a media player or recorder, a cell phone, a calculator, equipment for pipelines, a shaver, a measuring device, equipment used by divers, or a tool.

15. A supply module (SM) for use in an apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

a) a DC power source (B);

b) power output terminals (TO1, TO2); and

c) a DC-AC converter (M1-M4) that is arranged between the DC power source (B) and the power output terminals (TO1, TO2).

2. A method for transferring electrical power

from a supply module (SM) with a DC power source (B) and power output terminals (TO1, TO2)

to a consumer module (CM) with power input terminals (TI1, TI2) and power-consuming electronic circuits (EC)

via a connector (C) for reversibly connecting corresponding power output terminals (TO1, TO2) and power input terminals (TI1, TI2),

said method comprising:

a) the conversion of the DC voltage provided by the DC power source (B) into an AC voltage with a DC-AC converter (M1-M4);

b) the provision of said AC voltage to the power output terminals (TO1, TO2).