Device with multiple, concurrently-installed power molecules and method for controlling same

• US 6,586,850 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Powers, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/610,634
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 307/150, 307/85, 307/72-76, 713/300
• US Class Current: 307/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device

Abstract

A device such as an electrotherapy device implementing the invention includes multiple power module receptacles each of which is configured to received at least one type of power module, and a power management system that selectively routes power provided by one or more installed power modules to the device components and, preferably, to other power module receptacles. The types of power modules that operate in the power module receptacles include, for example, rechargeable battery packs, non-rechargeable battery packs and AC power packs. Preferably these power modules are each fully integrated, functionally self-contained power modules. For example, the rechargeable battery pack includes a charge controller specifically designed to charge the battery pack in which it is implemented.

Claims

1. A power management system for incorporation in a powered device comprising:

a plurality of power module receptacles each configured to have installed therein a power module comprising one of either a rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack, and AC power pack, wherein at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive an AC power pack and at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive a rechargeable power pack or a non-rechargeable power pack,

wherein the AC power pack comprises a different form factor than that of the rechargeable power pack and that of the non-rechargeable power pack; and

a power distribution system configured to connect a selected one or more installed power modules with components of the device.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system comprises:

one or more power distribution buses each connected to one or more device components; and

a plurality of remotely controlled switches each constructed and arranged to electrically connect an installed power module to a respective said one or more power distribution buses.

3. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system is further configured to electrically connect selected installed power modules with each other.

4. A powered device comprising:

a plurality of power module receptacles each adapted to operationally receive a power module, each power module comprising one of either a rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack, and AC power pack, wherein at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive an AC power pack and at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive a rechargeable power pack or a non-rechargeable power pack, wherein the AC power pack comprises a different form factor than that of the rechargeable power pack and that of the non-rechargeable power pack; and

a power distribution system configured to connect electrically selected power modules installed in the power module receptacles with components of the device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the power distribution system comprises:

an internal network of power distribution buses constructed and arranged to electrically couple the selected power modules installed in the power module receptacles and device components.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the power distribution system further comprises:

a plurality of individually controlled switches each configured to electrically connect an installed power module to one of the power distribution buses; and

a power distribution manager configured to control the switches to connect electrically specified installed power modules and device components to implement a desired power management configuration.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the power management configuration is determined based on an intended use module of an electrotherapy device and the type of power modules installed in the power module receptacles.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the power module types include an AC power pack and a rechargeable battery pack, and wherein the power distribution system is configured to connect electrically the AC power pack and rechargeable battery pack.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is an electrotherapy device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the electrotherapy device is a portable defibrillator.

11. An electrotherapy device comprising:

a first power module receptacle configured to have installed therein a power module of a first power module type;

a second power module receptacle configured to have installed therein a power module of a second power module type, wherein the power module of the first power module type is configured to have a different form factor than the power module of the second power module type;

an internal power distribution network for distributing power provided by a selected one or more of the installed power modules to device components;

individually controlled switches configured to electrically connect each installed power modules to one or more buses of the internal power distribution network; and

a power management system for selectively connecting the one or more of the installed power modules to the power distribution network based on a one or more factors.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first power module type comprises an AC power pack, and wherein the second power module type comprises a rechargeable battery pack or a non-rechargeable battery pack.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the power management system is configured to connect an installed battery pack to an installed AC power pack.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the power management system determines which of the installed power modules are to be connected to the power distribution network based on an ability of the installed power modules to provide power to the device.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the electrotherapy device is a portable defibrillator.

16. An electrotherapy device having a plurality of power module receptacles configured to have concurrently installed therein a respective plurality of power modules, each of said plurality of power modules comprising one of either a rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack, and AC power pack, wherein at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive an AC power pack and at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive a rechargeable power pack or a non-rechargeable power pack, wherein the AC power pack comprises a different form factor than that of the rechargeable power pack and that of the non-rechargeable power pack, and further wherein the device connects a first selected one of the plurality of installed power modules to device components and connects a second selected one of the plurality of installed power modules to another concurrently installed power module.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising:

an internal power distribution network for distributing power provided by installed power modules to the device and power module receptacles; and

a power management system for selectively connecting one or more installed power modules to the power distribution network.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the installed power modules may each be one of the group consisting of a rechargeable battery pack, non-rechargeable battery pack and AC power pack.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the electrotherapy device is a portable defibrillator.

20. A power management system for incorporation into a powered device comprising:

a plurality of power module receptacles,

wherein at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive an AC power pack, at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive a rechargeable power pack, and at least one of said plurality of power module receptacles is configured to receive a non-rechargeable power pack,

wherein the AC power pack, the rechargeable power pack and the non-rechargeable power pack each comprise a different form factor; and

a power distribution system configured to connect a selected one or more installed power modules with components of the device.