Motor assembly sensor capture systems and methods

• US 8,674,288 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hanson, Ian B., Bente, Paul F. IV, Favreau, Jacques L., Westerweck, Lothar
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyo, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, DON J
• Application Number:
  US13/049,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20110233393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 25023113-23118, 250/233, 250/236, 250/239, 341/11, 341/13, 341/31, 356/616, 356/617
• US Class Current: 250/231.17
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/34 the beams of light being detected by photocells
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/22 Optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A motor may be configured to drive a drive shaft and an engagement member supported on the drive shaft. A detectable feature comprising a rotary member may be supported on the drive shaft such that movement of the drive shaft by the motor changes a state of the detectable feature. At least one sensor may be arranged to detect the state of the detectable feature. Circuitry may be configured to provide a signal in response to a change in the state of the detectable feature detected by the at least one sensor.

Claims

1. A sensor system, the system comprising:

a drive shaft;

an engagement member supported on the drive shaft;

a motor configured to drive the drive shaft and the engagement member supported on the drive shaft;

a detectable feature comprising a rotary member supported on the drive shaft such that movement of the drive shaft by the motor changes a state of the detectable feature;

at least one sensor arranged to detect the state of the detectable feature;

circuitry configured to provide a signal in response to a change in the state of the detectable feature detected by the at least one sensor;

a seating surface against which the at least one sensor is retained; and

a bias member arranged to press the at least one sensor against the seating surface to retain alignment of the at least one sensor relative to the drive shaft.

2. The system of claim 1,

each of the at least one sensor having a slot;

the rotary member arranged to rotate through the slot of each respective sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, the rotary member having a plurality of arms, each of the arms separated by a gap.

4. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

a housing containing the seating surface, the at least one sensor and the rotary member.

5. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

a housing containing the seating surface, the at least one sensor and the rotary member;

the bias member comprising at least one arm member configured to bias a respective sensor of the at least one sensor against the seating surface to retain alignment of the respective sensor relative to the drive shaft.

6. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

a shield arranged relative to the at least one sensor to substantially prevent light from passing through the shield.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the shield is made of a material comprising a metal foil material.

8. The system of claim 6, the system further comprising:

a housing for containing the at least one sensor and the rotary member;

the shield configured to bias the circuitry against a surface of the housing.

9. The system of claim 1, the at least one sensor comprising two or more sensors.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the two or more sensors is positioned around the axis of the drive shaft and relative to each other so that signals of each sensor are substantially perpendicular to each other.

11. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

a housing for containing the at least one sensor and the rotary member;

wherein the engagement member is arranged to be external the housing.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one sensor comprises a photo interrupter sensor.

13. The system of claim 1, the engagement member of the motor configured to be operatively engageable with a plunger arm connected to a plunger head arranged for movement by the motor in an axial direction of a reservoir, the motor configured to drive fluidic media from the reservoir upon the motor being operatively engaged with the reservoir and the plunger arm being moved in the axial direction relative to the reservoir.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the bias member comprises an arm that is sufficiently flexible and resilient to apply a bias force on a respective sensor of the at least one sensor, to force the respective sensor against the seating surface.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a housing containing the seating surface, wherein the arm is formed as a unitary structure with the housing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the housing further contains the at least one sensor and the rotary member.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing connected to the motor, the housing containing the seating surface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the housing further contains the at least one sensor and the rotary member.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the bias member comprises an arm integral with or connected to the housing, the arm being sufficiently flexible and resilient to apply a bias force on the at least one sensor, to force the at least one sensor against the seating surface.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flexible circuit board electrically connected to the at least one sensor, the flexible circuit board being configured to bias the sensor toward the rotary member.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged between the seating surface and the bias member.

22. A sensor system, the system comprising:

a drive shaft;

an engagement member supported on the drive shaft;

a motor configured to drive the drive shaft and the engagement member supported on the drive shaft;

a detectable feature comprising a rotary member supported on the drive shaft such that movement of the drive shaft by the motor changes a state of the detectable feature;

at least one sensor arranged to detect the state of the detectable feature;

circuitry configured to provide a signal in response to a change in the state of the detectable feature detected by the at least one sensor; and

a housing for containing the at least one sensor and the rotary member, the housing having at least one arm member configured to bias a respective sensor of the at least one sensor against a surface of the housing to retain alignment of the at least one sensor relative to the drive shaft.

23. A method of making a sensor system, the method comprising:

providing a drive shaft;

supporting an engagement member on the drive shaft;

configuring a motor to drive the drive shaft and the engagement member supported on the drive shaft;

providing a detectable feature comprising a rotary member supported on the drive shaft such that movement of the drive shaft by the motor changes a state of the detectable feature;

arranging at least one sensor to detect the state of the detectable feature;

configuring circuitry to provide a signal in response to a change in the state of the detectable feature detected by the at least one sensor;

providing a seating surface against which the at least one sensor is retained; and

arranging a bias member to press the at least one sensor against the seating surface to retain alignment of the at least one sensor relative to the drive shaft.