Sensor charger and calibration case

• US 20180131217A1
• Filed: 11/09/2016
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zen-Me Labs Oy, Co.
• Original Assignee: Zen-Me Labs Oy, Co.
• Inventors: Virhi, Toni Matti
• Granted Patent: US 10,468,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A sensor charging case having multiple receptacles for multiple sensors. One receptacle is for charging while the other receptacles are for holding additional sensors. The receptacles can be arranged to hold the sensors releasably by the sides and leaving at least two surfaces generally exposed to the environment, e.g. two opposite surfaces such as a front and back of the sensor. By leaving the front surface of the sensor exposed a user can see what sensor is being held and/or the sensing element on the front surface of the sensor can be exposed to the environment. By leaving the back surface of the sensor exposed a user can remove the sensor and/or heat can be effectively transferred away from the back of the sensor to the environment.

Claims

1. A sensor charger case capable of holding multiple sensor units comprising,

a frame having more than one receptacles for releasable holding sensor units, wherein one receptacle is for charging a sensor unit and at least one other receptacle is for holding a sensor unit,

a power charger coupled to the frame and arranged to be able to charge a sensor unit held in the charging receptacle, and

a releasing means associated with each receptacle for releasing a sensor unit held therein.

2. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the power charger is an induction power charger.

3. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the power charger includes a battery and/or a power input.

4. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the releasing means associated with the charging receptacle is different than the releasing means associated with the at least one other holding receptacle.

5. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the releasing means associated with the charging receptacle is an indentation in the frame which allows access to a side of a sensor unit such that the sensor unit can be removed by a user.

6. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the releasing means is an opening in the frame associated with a receptacle which allows a user to push a sensor unit out of the receptacle.

7. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is capable of holding a sensor unit by a friction means and/or a mechanical means.

8. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein each receptacle includes at least one corner pad located in a corner of the receptacle in order to provide a secure and releasable friction hold of a sensor housed in the receptacle.

9. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the power charger is fixedly arranged in connection with a single charger receptacle.

10. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the power charger is capable of being physically arranged in connection with different receptacles.

11. The sensor charger case of claim 1, wherein the receptacles are arranged in a fixed and predetermined manner with respect to each other.

12. The sensor charger case of claim 11, wherein the sensor charger case is capable of being a calibration case where a plurality of sensors can be releasable held and replaced without recalibration due to the fixed and known relationship of the receptacles to each other.

13. The sensor charger case of claim 1, having one charging receptacle at the bottom of a line of receptacles.

14. The sensor charger case of claim 13, wherein the line of receptacles consists of the bottom charging receptacle and three holding receptacles.

15. The sensor charger case of claim 1, further comprising a digital id tag for the sensor charger case located on or within the frame.

16. A sensor charger system for releasable holding a plurality of sensors in a predefined and repeatable arrangement, said system comprising;

a sensor charger in accordance with any of the preceding claims, and

at least two sensor units,

wherein each of the receptacles has a shape which directly corresponds to the at least two sensor units and is capable of releasable holding said sensor units with a friction means.