User interface powered via an inductive coupling

• US 9,319,110 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Kopychev, Andrey, Hecht, Gideon, Wellings, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haley, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANK, EMILY J
• Application Number:
  US14/073,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/15 with a cassette forming partially or totally the flow circuit for the treating fluid, e.g. the dialysate fluid circuit or the treating gas circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/154 with sensing means or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling

Abstract

A hinge is provided for mechanically and electrically coupling a machine and a display wirelessly. The hinge includes a machine portion having a first transceiver for wirelessly sending a signal concerning an operation or status of the machine and a display portion having a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the operating signal. The hinge machine portion and the hinge display portion are mechanically connected so as to: (i) swivel with respect to each other; or (ii) tilt with respect to each other.

Claims

1. A hinge for mechanically and electrically coupling a machine and a display wirelessly, comprising:

a machine portion of the hinge having a first transceiver for wirelessly sending a signal concerning an operation or status of the machine; and

a display portion of the hinge having a second transceiver for wirelessly receiving the operating signal,

wherein the hinge machine portion and the hinge display portion are mechanically connected so as to;

(i) swivel with respect to each other about a swivel axis, wherein at least one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver is spatially offset from the swivel axis;

or (ii) tilt with respect to each other about a tilt axis, wherein at least one of the first transceiver or the second transceiver is spatially offset from the tilt axis.

2. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver includes a first induction coil embedded within the hinge machine portion, and wherein the second transceiver includes a second induction coil embedded within the hinge display portion.

3. The hinge of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second transceivers includes at least one of an induction coil, an optical transducer, an optical LED, and an infrared transmitter.

4. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the hinge display portion is configured and arranged to (i) swivel and (ii) tilt with respect to the hinge machine portion.

5. The hinge of claim 1, further including an intermediate portion of the hinge mechanically connecting the hinge display portion to the hinge machine portion, the hinge intermediate portion configured and arranged to:

(a) swivel with respect to one of the hinge machine portion or the hinge display portion; and

(b) tilt with respect to the other of the hinge machine portion or the hinge display portion.

6. The hinge of claim 5, wherein the first transceiver includes a first induction coil embedded within the hinge machine portion, the second transceiver includes a second induction coil embedded within the hinge display portion, and further including third and fourth induction coils embedded within the hinge intermediate portion for transmitting the signal from the first induction coil to the second induction coil.

7. The hinge of claim 1, wherein the hinge machine portion includes a first electromagnetic coil for wirelessly transmitting electromagnetic power, and wherein the hinge display portion includes a second electromagnetic coil for wirelessly receiving the electromagnetic power.

8. A method of sending an electrical signal wirelessly through a hinge, comprising:

mechanically connecting a display to a machine via a hinge that (i) enables the display to rotate with respect to the machine about a rotational axis and (ii) positions at least one transceiver to be spatially offset from the rotational axis;

generating signals concerning an operation of the machine;

using the at least one transceiver to wirelessly transmit at least one operating signal from the machine, through the hinge, to the display; and

displaying information on the display based on the at least one operating signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further including swiveling or tilting the display via the hinge while at the same time wirelessly transmitting the at least one operating signal through the hinge.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein wirelessly transmitting the at least one operating signal includes inductively transmitting the at least one operating signal.

11. The method of claim 8, further including transmitting the at least one operating signal using radio waves, an optical signal or infrared energy.

12. The method of claim 8, further including generating electric power and wirelessly transmitting the electric power from the machine, through the hinge, and to the display to power a component of the display.

13. A method of sending an electrical signal wirelessly, comprising:

providing a display configured and arranged to be removably and wirelessly connected to a machine;

inductively transferring at least one operating signal for the machine from the display to the machine;

supplying electric power to the machine;

transferring electric power from the machine to the display when the display is mechanically connected to the machine;

storing electric power within the display; and

enabling the display to operate using the stored electric power when mechanically disconnected from the machine.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein transferring the at least one operating signal includes wirelessly transferring the at least one operating signal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein transferring the electric power includes inductively sending the electric power.

16. The method of claim 13, which includes transferring the at least one operating signal and the electrical power through at least one mechanical connection between the machine and the display.

17. The method of claim 13, which includes transferring the electric power at a frequency between about 20 kHz and about 1 MHz.

18. The method of claim 13, which includes inductively transferring the electric power and transferring the at least one operating signal via radio waves, optical signals or infrared energy.

19. A method of sending an electrical signal wirelessly, comprising:

providing a display configured and arranged to be removably and wirelessly connected to a medical machine;

inductively transferring at least one operating signal for the medical machine between the medical machine and the display;

supplying electric power to the medical machine;

transferring electric power from the medical machine to the display when the display is mechanically connected to the medical machine;

storing electric power within the display; and

enabling the display to operate using the stored electric power when mechanically disconnected from the machine.