Coupling system

• US 7,825,544 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Langerak, Marielle Johanna, Jansen, Gerardus Lucien Mathildus, Hobo, Gijsbert
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBeradinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US12/095,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,434 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/107 Supply appliances supply appliances for dental machines A61C1/0007
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 15/10 Parts, details or accessories A61G15/14 takes precedence; dental instruments A61C
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/0503 Holders, support devices for receptacles, e.g. for drainage or urine bags hanging-up devices for infusion A61M5/1414
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2038/143 for signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence

Abstract

There is elucidated a device (10) comprising first and second magnetic cores (30, 40; 30a, 30b, 30c, 40a, 40b, 40c) forming a magnetic circuit. The circuit includes a first set of electrical windings (300, 310) for magnetically coupling a first electrical signal through the device (10) via a first magnetic path (350) in the circuit. The circuit includes a second set of electrical windings (400, 410) for magnetically coupling a second electrical signal through the device (10) via a second magnetic path (450) in the circuit. The paths (350, 450) are partially spatially intersecting. The sets of windings (300, 310, 400, 410) are configured so that: (a) the first set of windings (300, 310) is sensitive to magnetic flux in the first magnetic path (350), and insensitive to magnetic flux in the second magnetic path (450); and (b) the second set of windings (400, 410) is sensitive to magnetic flux in the second magnetic path (450), and insensitive to magnetic flux in the first magnetic path (350). The first and second cores (30, 40; 30a, 30b, 30c, 40a, 40b, 40c) enable relative motion (50) there between whilst coupling the signals through the circuit. The device (10) is beneficially employed in a medical system (800).

Claims

1. A coupling device comprising at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to form in operation a magnetic circuit, said magnetic circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit, said circuit being provided with a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit, said first and second paths partially spatially intersecting, said first and second sets of windings being configured so that:

(a) the first set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path; and

(b) the second set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path; and

wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured so as to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.

2. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores each include a plurality of limbs projecting from a base, said plurality of limbs on said first magnetic core being elongate substantially in a first direction, and being operable to support motion there along of the second core relative to the first core in said first direction whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.

3. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said at least first and second magnetic cores includes a base having projecting there from a central limb and a plurality of side limbs neighboring thereto, said central limb being operable to provide said second path magnetic path, and said first magnetic path substantially circumventing said central limb and passing via said plurality of side limbs.

4. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least first and second magnetic cores is implemented as a substantially elongate component for supporting in operation said motion there along.

5. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are implemented as cores having a substantially “

E”

-shaped cross-section.

6. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are each implemented from a magnetic material having a relative permeability substantially at least an order of magnitude greater than unity.

7. A coupling system including a coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system includes signal generating means for generating a first signal, and rectifying means for rectifying said first signal magnetically coupled in operation through said device, said first signal being configured to provide an electrical power supply via the rectifying means.

8. A coupling system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said system further includes data processing means operable to provide uni-directional or bi-directional data communication via a second signal magnetically coupled in operation through said device.

9. A method of magnetically coupling first and second signals through a coupling device, said device comprising at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to provide in operation a magnetic circuit, said circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings and a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling first and second signals respectively through said coupling device, said method including steps of:

(a) applying said first signal to said first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling said first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit; and

(b) applying said second signal to said second set of the electrical windings for magnetically coupling said second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit; and

wherein said first and second set of windings are configured so that;

(i) the first set of windings are substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path; and

(ii) the second set of windings are substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path; and

wherein said first and second paths are partially spatially intersecting, and said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.

10. A medical system comprising:

a carrier for receiving a subject, said carrier being provided substantially along at least one peripheral edge thereof with at least one device for magnetically coupling first and second signals there through to system apparatus, said first and second signals being magnetically coupled through said at least one device substantially without crosstalk arising in operation between said first and second signals, said at least one device including at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to form in operation a magnetic circuit, said magnetic circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit, said circuit being provided with a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit, said first and second paths partially spatially intersecting, said first and second sets of windings being configured so that;

(a) the first set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path; and

(b) the second set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path; and

wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured so as to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.

11. A medical system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first signal is a power supply signal and said second signal is a data signal.

12. A medical system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first and second signals both include data signals or wherein said first and second signals both include power supply signals.

13. A medical system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one device is implemented at least in part in elongate form along said at least one peripheral edge of said carrier so as to accommodate in operation repositioning and mounting of said apparatus along said at least one device.

14. A medical system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said carrier is of elongate form including two lateral peripheral edges and two end edges, wherein said at least one device is implemented along at least one of said two lateral peripheral edges and said two end edges.

15. A medical system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one device is detachable from said carrier.

16. A medical system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one device is operable to enable said apparatus to mutually exchange data in operation whilst also providing a power supply to said apparatus.

17. A vehicle comprising:

a coupling device for providing a magnetic data signal and a power supply coupling to units included in said vehicle, the coupling device including at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to form in operation a magnetic circuit, said magnetic circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit, said circuit being provided with a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit, said first and second paths partially spatially intersecting, said first and second sets of windings being configured so that;

(a) the first set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path; and

(b) the second set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path; and

wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured so as to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.

18. A domestic appliance comprising:

a coupling device for providing a magnetic data signal and a power supply coupling to units compatible with said appliance, the coupling device including at least first and second mutually complementary magnetic cores configured to form in operation a magnetic circuit, said magnetic circuit being provided with a first set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a first electrical signal through the device by way of a first magnetic path in the circuit, said circuit being provided with a second set of electrical windings for magnetically coupling a second electrical signal through the device by way of a second magnetic path in the circuit, said first and second paths partially spatially intersecting, said first and second sets of windings being configured so that;

(a) the first set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path; and

(b) the second set of windings is substantially sensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the second magnetic path, and substantially insensitive to magnetic flux established in operation in the first magnetic path; and

wherein said at least first and second magnetic cores are configured so as to enable in operation relative motion there between with their associated windings whilst magnetically coupling said first and second signals through the circuit.