Battery and power management for industrial inspection handset

• US 7,902,990 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Scott, Joshua Lynn, Lopez, Joseph V., Monroe, Richard A., Delmonico, James J., Karpen, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/925,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 340/500, 340/501, 340/505, 340/539.11, 340/657, 340/693.1, 340/693.5, 3406361-6369, 324/426, 324/432, 324/433, 324/434, 324/437, 324/435, 600/101, 600/109
• US Class Current: 340/636.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

An industrial inspection handset is disclosed, comprising a battery assembly for providing power to the handset, wherein the battery assembly comprises a connector for connecting a battery charger, a battery circuit for communicating with a processor in the handset, and a battery charge indicator on the surface of the battery assembly connected to the battery circuit for providing a visual indication of the charge remaining in the battery assembly. A method of power management for an industrial inspection handset is also disclosed comprising the steps of setting a first maximum power output value for the camera illumination for the insertion, monitoring an imager signal processor, to determine that the gain value of the image signal processor is less than a predetermined gain value, and setting a lower second maximum power output value for the camera illumination in order to increase the gain value. Additional methods of power management for an industrial inspection handset are disclosed, comprising the steps of setting a first maximum power output value for the articulation of the insertion tube attached to the handset, monitoring the operator controls to determine that there has been no articulation for a first predetermined amount of time, monitoring the position of the insertion tube to determine whether the insertion tube position is inside or outside of a predetermined zone of coordinates, and reducing or turning off the articulation power to hold the position of the insertion tube.

Claims

1. An industrial inspection handset comprising:

a display for providing visual information to a user;

a control module for operating said handset;

a battery assembly for providing power to said handset;

a handle for receiving said battery assembly; and

a processor;

wherein said processor sets a first maximum power output value for a camera illumination of an insertion tube attached to said handset, monitors an imager signal processor which receives images from said insertion tube to determine whether the gain value of said image signal processor is less than a predetermined gain value, and sets a second maximum power output value, which is less than said first maximum power output value, for said camera illumination when said gain value of said image signal processor is less than a predetermined gain value in order to increase said gain value of said image signal processor to said predetermined gain value; and

wherein said battery assembly comprises

at least one battery cell;

a connector for connecting a battery charger to charge said at least one battery cell;

a battery circuit for communicating with said processor in said handset, wherein said processor monitors information about said battery assembly; and

a battery charge indicator on the surface of said battery assembly connected to said battery circuit for providing a visual indication of the charge remaining in said battery assembly.

2. The industrial inspection handset of claim 1, wherein said at least one battery cell is a lithium ion battery.

3. The industrial inspection handset of claim 1, wherein said connector is a DC connector.

4. The industrial inspection handset of claim 1, wherein said battery charge indicator comprises a membrane switch.

5. The industrial inspection handset of claim 1, wherein said battery charge indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs for providing said visual indication of the charge remaining in said battery assembly.

6. The industrial inspection handset of claim 1, wherein said battery assembly further comprises a spring-based latching member operated by a turn connector for interfacing with a spring-based receiving member of said handset handle for receiving and holding said battery assembly.

7. The industrial inspection handset of claim 1, wherein said battery assembly further comprises a sealing member for providing a seal with said handset handle when said battery assembly is fully inserted in said handle.

8. The industrial inspection handset of claim 1, wherein said handset is not connected to a base unit.

9. An industrial inspection handset comprising:

a display for providing visual information to a user;

a control module for operating said handset;

a battery assembly for providing power to said handset;

a handle for receiving said battery assembly; and

a processor;

wherein said processor sets a first maximum power output value for the articulation of an insertion tube attached to said handset, wherein the movement of said insertion tube is operated by a plurality of actuators, monitors one or more operator controls to determine that there has been no articulation for a first predetermined amount of time, monitors the position of said insertion tube to determine that said insertion tube position is outside of a predetermined zone of coordinates, and sets a second maximum power output value, which is less than said first maximum power output value, for said articulation sufficient to hold said insertion tube in place; and

wherein said battery assembly comprises

at least one battery cell;

a connector for connecting a battery charger to charge said at least one battery cell;

a battery circuit for communicating with said processor in said handset, wherein said processor monitors information about said battery assembly; and

a battery charge indicator on the surface of said battery assembly connected to said battery circuit for providing a visual indication of the charge remaining in said battery assembly.

10. The industrial inspection handset of claim 9, wherein said battery charge indicator comprises a membrane switch.

11. The industrial inspection handset of claim 9, wherein said battery charge indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs for providing said visual indication of the charge remaining in said battery assembly.

12. The industrial inspection handset of claim 9, wherein said battery assembly further comprises a spring-based latching member operated by a turn connector for interfacing with a spring-based receiving member of said handset handle for receiving and holding said battery assembly.

13. The industrial inspection handset of claim 9, wherein said battery assembly further comprises a sealing member for providing a seal with said handset handle when said battery assembly is fully inserted in said handle.

14. The industrial inspection handset of claim 9, wherein said handset is not connected to a base unit.

15. An industrial inspection handset comprising:

a display for providing visual information to a user;

a control module for operating said handset;

a battery assembly for providing power to said handset;

a handle for receiving said battery assembly; and

a processor;

wherein said processor sets a first maximum power output value for the articulation of an insertion tube attached to said handset, wherein the movement of said insertion tube is operated by a plurality of actuators, monitors one or more operator controls to determine that there has been no articulation for a first predetermined amount of time, monitors the position of said insertion tube to determine that said insertion tube position is inside of a predetermined zone of coordinates, and turns off power for said articulation; and

wherein said battery assembly comprises

at least one battery cell;

a connector for connecting a battery charger to charge said at least one battery cell;

a battery circuit for communicating with said processor in said handset, wherein said processor monitors information about said battery assembly; and

a battery charge indicator on the surface of said battery assembly connected to said battery circuit for providing a visual indication of the charge remaining in said battery assembly.

16. The industrial inspection handset of claim 15, wherein said battery charge indicator comprises a membrane switch.

17. The industrial inspection handset of claim 15, wherein said battery charge indicator comprises a plurality of LEDs for providing said visual indication of the charge remaining in said battery assembly.

18. The industrial inspection handset of claim 15, wherein said battery assembly further comprises a spring-based latching member operated by a turn connector for interfacing with a spring-based receiving member of said handset handle for receiving and holding said battery assembly.

19. The industrial inspection handset of claim 15, wherein said battery assembly further comprises a sealing member for providing a seal with said handset handle when said battery assembly is fully inserted in said handle.

20. The industrial inspection handset of claim 15, wherein said handset is not connected to a base unit.