CAPACITIVE POWER SUPPLY FOR HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20120280664A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Wood, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,890,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/166
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

A handheld device includes an electronic instrument and a capacitive power supply for storing and delivering power to the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply includes at least one capacitor, and an electronic circuit operable to boost a voltage from the capacitor to a higher voltage for use by the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply can be rapidly recharged.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an electronic instrument having a minimum operating voltage; and

a capacitive power supply configured to deliver power to the electronic instrument, the capacitive power supply comprising;

at least one capacitor arranged and configured to store energy to power the electronic instrument; and

a boost converter circuit electrically connected to receive power from the capacitor and arranged and configured to boost a voltage from the capacitor to a level greater than or equal to the minimum operating voltage when the voltage from the capacitor falls below the minimum operating voltage.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor is the primary energy storage device of the handheld medical device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive power supply is battery-free.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic instrument includes a light source selected from a bulb and a light emitting diode.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the boost converter provides a substantially constant output voltage.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the boost converter provides a user variable output voltage.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor has a capacitance of greater than 100 F, a power density of greater than 1,000 W/kg, and an energy density in a range from about 1 Wh/kg to about 10 Wh/kg.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the minimum operating voltage is the minimum voltage required to power the electronic instrument for effective use by a healthcare provider during a patient encounter.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a handheld medical device.

10. A power handle comprising:

a housing sized to be held in a hand, the housing including an interface arranged and configured to connect the power handle to an otoscope including a light generator, the interface including a mechanical interface and an electrical interface, the mechanical interface detachably connecting the housing to the otoscope, and the electrical interface configured to electrically connect the power handle to the light generator of the otoscope to provide power to the light; and

a capacitive power supply arranged within the housing and configured to deliver power to the electronic instrument, the capacitive power supply comprising;

a primary power storage device comprising a capacitor;

a boost converter operable to boost a voltage from the capacitor to a higher voltage and to deliver power at the higher voltage to the interface to supply power to the electronic instrument;

a boost regulator coupled to receive power from the capacitor;

a variable control configured to receive input from a user; and

a programmable controller programmed to adjust the higher voltage output from the boost converter based on the input received from the user.

11. The power handle of claim 10, wherein the mechanical interface comprises screw threads.

12. The power handle of claim 10, wherein the variable control is a rheostat.

13. The power handle of claim 10, wherein the housing has a cross-sectional dimension of less than about 3 inches.

14. The power handle of claim 10, further comprising an inductive charging circuit including at least one coil, the coil shaped and positioned to receive power from an external charging station, and the inductive charging circuit including electronics to deliver the power to the at least one capacitor to recharge the at least one capacitor.

15. The power handle of claim 10, wherein the housing is sealed except at the interface.

16. A handheld medical device comprising:

a capacitive power supply including at least one capacitor that is a primary power storage device for the handheld medical device; and

a charging circuit configured to receive power from a charging station and deliver the power to the capacitor, wherein the charging circuit is operable to charge the capacitor from a depleted state to a charged state in less than five minutes.

17. The handheld medical device of claim 16, wherein the charging circuit is operable to charge the capacitor from the depleted state to the charged state in less than one minute.

18. The handheld medical device of claim 16, wherein the charging circuit includes electrical contacts to directly receive power from the charging station.

19. The handheld medical device of claim 18, wherein the charging circuit includes a coil for inductive transfer of power from the charging station.

20. The handheld medical device of claim 16, further comprising a status indicator visually indicating a charge status of the capacitor.