Charging method and charging arrangement

• US 6,114,832 A
• Filed: 02/25/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Lappi, Erkki, Torvinen, Vesa-Pekka, Heikkila, Ilkka, Pietila, Arto
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/257,415
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 600/301, 600/560
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging method and a charging arrangement for a measuring system which measures the heart rate. The functional unit of the measuring system comprises at least a transmitter unit (100) and/or a receiver unit. The charging arrangement comprises a charging unit (340). The charging coil (320) of the charging unit is arranged to transfer electric energy inductively to the power source (302) of the functional unit (100) via an induction coil (310). The induction coil (130) of the functional unit (100) used for charging is connectable to more than one inductively active function in addition to charging.

Claims

1. A charging method particularly for a measuring system which measures the function of at least one organ from a user'"'"'s body non-invasively and comprises at least one functional unit, the at least one functional unit comprising at least one induction coil which performs an inductively active function and a power source, wherein

the measuring system comprises a charging unit and the charging unit comprises a charging coil, charging of the power source of the at least one functional unit being performed wirelessly by the induction coil, the charging coil of the charging unit transferring energy by interaction based on inductive activity to the power source of the functional unit via the induction coil of the functional unit;

and

the induction coil of the functional unit used for charging being connectable to more than one inductively active function in addition to charging.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the induction coil participates in only one inductively active function at a time.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the functional unit to be charged is a transmitter unit.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring system comprises a receiver unit and the functional unit to be charged is the receiver unit.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the functional unit to be charged is a diving instrument.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the induction coil of the functional unit used for charging can be used for at least one of the following inductive functions in addition to charging:

inductive interaction between a plurality of functional units, generation of a sound signal and generation of a background light of a display.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring system further comprises a data transmission unit, the data transmission unit comprising a second induction coil, the data transmission unit interacting inductively with at least one of a receiver unit and a transmitter unit via the second induction coil.

8. A charging arrangement particularly for a measuring system which is arranged to measure the function of at least one organ from a user'"'"'s body non-invasively and comprises at least one functional unit, the at least one functional unit comprising at least one induction coil which performs an inductively active function and a power source, wherein

the charging arrangement comprises a charging unit and the charging unit comprises a charging coil, charging of the power source of the at least one functional unit being performed wirelessly by the induction coil, the charging coil of the charging unit transferring energy by interaction based on inductive activity to the power source of the functional unit via the induction coil of the functional unit;

and

the induction coil of the functional unit used for charging being connectable to more than one inductively active function in addition to charging.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the induction coil participates in only one inductively active function at a time.

10. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the functional unit to be charged is a transmitter unit.

11. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the measuring system comprises a receiver unit and the functional unit to be charged is the receiver unit.

12. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the functional unit to be charged is a diving instrument.

13. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the induction coil of the functional unit used for charging can be used for inductively active interaction between two functional units in addition to charging.

14. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein, if the functional unit comprises at least one of sound signalling and a background light of a display, the induction coil of the functional unit used for charging can be used for at least one of the following functions in addition to charging:

generation of a sound signal and generation of the background light of the display.

15. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the measuring system further comprises a data transmission unit, the data transmission unit comprising a second induction coil, the data transmission unit interacting inductively with at least one of a receiver unit and a transmitter unit via the second induction coil.