System for automatically testing an electronic device during quiescent periods
First Claim
1. A method of testing a preamplifier and an analog-to-digital converter in a front end circuit of a portable defibrillator, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a test signal;
(b) applying the test signal to an input of the front end circuit, the test signal being amplified by the preamplifier in the front end circuit and digitized by the analog-to-digital converter to generate a conditioned test signal;
(c) monitoring the conditioned test signal from an output of the front end circuit; and
(d) analyzing the conditioned test signal to determine a frequency response and a gain of the front end circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable electronic unit, such as a defibrillator, includes an autotest system for automatically self-testing various electrical components within the unit during quiescent periods. The autotest system includes an autotest routine that performs an extensive array of rigorous yet time-consuming tests that are impractical to perform during normal modes of operation of the unit. A real-time clock can be set to initiate the autotest routine at a time when the unit is unlikely to be used for its normal mode of operation. The autotest system provides a strip chart printout of the results of the various self-tests performed on the unit, and provides messages on a visual display of any error conditions. If the autotest system detects a needs service malfunction, the operator must acknowledge the error with an input to the unit before the unit will enter into its normal mode of operation. If the autotest system detects a service mandatory malfunction, the unit will discontinue any normal mode of operation until the malfunction is corrected. The autorest system immediately discontinues the autorest routine upon power-up of the unit by an operator for use of the unit in its normal mode of operation.
54 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of testing a preamplifier and an analog-to-digital converter in a front end circuit of a portable defibrillator, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a test signal; (b) applying the test signal to an input of the front end circuit, the test signal being amplified by the preamplifier in the front end circuit and digitized by the analog-to-digital converter to generate a conditioned test signal; (c) monitoring the conditioned test signal from an output of the front end circuit; and (d) analyzing the conditioned test signal to determine a frequency response and a gain of the front end circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An external defibrillator comprising:
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(a) a high voltage delivery system comprising a defibrillator capacitor and a switch connecting the defibrillator capacitor to the error of the defibrillator; (b) a controller operably connected to the high voltage delivery system; and (c) a self-test system coupled to the high voltage delivery system and the controller, the self-test system automatically testing the high voltage delivery system during a period when the external defibrillator has not been powered on by an operator in order to determine whether the high voltage delivery system is operating correctly, the self-test system generating a status signal to indicate to an operator of the external defibrillator if the high voltage delivery system is determined to be operating incorrectly. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An external defibrillator comprising:
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(a) a high voltage delivery system; and (b) a self test system coupled to the high voltage delivery system, the self-test system automatically testing the high voltage delivery system during a period when the external defibrillator is in a quiescent state and generating a status signal to indicate if an error in operation of the high voltage delivery system is detected. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An external defibrillator comprising:
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(a) a high voltage delivery system including a capacitor and a transfer relay for providing a high voltage charge to a patient to which the external defibrillator is connected, and (b) a self test system coupled to the high voltage delivery system, the self test system automatically testing the high voltage delivery system by providing a test pulse to the high voltage delivery system in order to test the high voltage delivery system, including the transfer relay and capacitor, during a period when the external defibrillator is a quiescent state and generating a status signal to indicate if an error in the operation of the high voltage delivery system is detected.
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Specification