Power control techniques for an electronic device

• US 9,755,452 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Minimed Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Trock, Adam, Spurlin, Jon, Ortega, Michael, Kazarians, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz, Elim
• Application Number:
  US14/674,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20150263561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 307 66, 307 43, 307 45, 307 46, 307 64, 307 80, 320103, 320136, 320135, 363 59, 363222
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

A portable electronic device, such as a fluid infusion device, obtains its operating power from a primary battery and a secondary battery. The primary battery may be a replaceable battery, and the secondary battery may be a rechargeable battery that can be charged with the primary battery under certain conditions. The device utilizes a power management scheme that transitions between the primary battery and/or the secondary battery to prolong the useful life of the primary battery. The device may also generate an intelligent battery life indicator that displays an accurate representation of the remaining life of the primary battery.

Claims

1. A power distribution system for a portable electronic device, the power distribution system comprising:

a first voltage rail to provide operating voltage for basic functions of the electronic device;

a second voltage rail to provide operating voltage for high power functions of the electronic device;

a primary battery coupled in a selectable manner to the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail;

a secondary battery coupled in a selectable manner to the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail;

a selection architecture coupled to the first voltage rail, the second voltage rail, the primary battery, and the secondary battery;

a control module to regulate operation of the selection architecture in accordance with;

a first power phase during which the primary battery is coupled to the first voltage rail and to the second voltage rail to provide energy for the basic functions and the high power functions;

a second power phase during which the primary battery is coupled to the first voltage rail to provide energy for the basic functions, and during which the secondary battery is coupled to the second voltage rail to provide energy for the high power functions; and

a third power phase during which the secondary battery is coupled to the first voltage rail and to the second voltage rail to provide energy for the basic functions and the high power functions; and

a voltage converter to convert an output voltage of the primary battery to a main supply voltage for the electronic device, wherein the control module monitors the main supply voltage during operation of the electronic device and arranges the selection architecture in accordance with the first power phase, the second power phase, or the third power phase based on the monitored main supply voltage.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein:

the primary battery is a replaceable battery; and

the secondary battery is a rechargeable battery.

3. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein:

the control module regulates operation of the selection architecture in accordance with the first power phase when the monitored main supply voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold value while coupled to both the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail;

the control module transitions operation of the selection architecture from the first power phase to the second power phase in response to a detected value of the monitored main supply voltage being less than the threshold value while coupled to both the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail; and

the control module transitions operation of the selection architecture from the second power phase to the third power phase in response to a detected value of the monitored main supply voltage being less than the threshold value while coupled to only the first voltage rail.

4. The power distribution system of claim 3, wherein the control module causes the selection architecture to disconnect the secondary battery from the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail for operation in the first power phase.

5. The power distribution system of claim 3, wherein the control module causes the selection architecture to disconnect the primary battery from the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail for operation in the third power phase.

6. The power distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a second voltage converter to convert an output voltage of the secondary battery to a main supply voltage for the electronic device.

7. The power distribution system of claim 1, the selection architecture comprising:

a first voltage multiplexer having a first input coupled to the primary battery, a second input coupled to the secondary battery, and an output coupled to the first voltage rail; and

a second voltage multiplexer having a first input coupled to the primary battery, a second input coupled to the secondary battery, and an output coupled to the second voltage rail.

8. The power distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a charger coupled to the secondary battery to recharge the secondary battery with the primary battery.

9. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the control module arranges the selection architecture to transition from the first power phase to the second power phase when the primary battery can no longer support the high power functions.

10. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the control module arranges the selection architecture to transition from the second power phase to the third power phase when the primary battery can no longer support the basic functions.

11. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a fluid infusion pump comprising a fluid delivery motor;

the fluid delivery motor is coupled to the second voltage rail to obtain operating voltage; and

the high power functions include operating the fluid delivery motor.

12. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a fluid infusion pump comprising a display with a backlight element;

the backlight element is coupled to the second voltage rail to obtain operating voltage; and

the high power functions include operating the backlight element.

13. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein:

the portable electronic device is a fluid infusion pump comprising an audio transducer element;

the audio transducer element is coupled to the second voltage rail to obtain operating voltage; and

the high power functions include operating the audio transducer element.

14. A power distribution system for a portable electronic device, the power distribution system comprising:

a first voltage rail to provide operating voltage for basic functions of the electronic device;

a second voltage rail to provide operating voltage for high power functions of the electronic device;

a primary battery coupled in a selectable manner to the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail;

a secondary battery coupled in a selectable manner to the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail;

a selection architecture coupled to the first voltage rail, the second voltage rail, the primary battery, and the secondary battery;

a control module to regulate operation of the selection architecture in accordance with;

a first power phase during which only the primary battery is coupled to the first voltage rail and to the second voltage rail to provide energy for the basic functions and the high power functions, and during which the secondary battery is disconnected such that the secondary battery provides no energy to support functions of the electronic device;

a second power phase during which the primary battery is coupled to the first voltage rail to provide energy only for the basic functions, and during which the secondary battery is coupled to the second voltage rail to provide energy only for the high power functions; and

a third power phase during which only the secondary battery is coupled to the first voltage rail and to the second voltage rail to provide energy for the basic functions and the high power functions, and during which the primary battery is disconnected such that the primary battery provides no energy to support functions of the electronic device; and

a voltage converter to convert an output voltage of the primary battery to a main supply voltage for the electronic device, wherein the control module monitors the main supply voltage during operation of the electronic device and arranges the selection architecture in accordance with the first power phase, the second power phase, or the third power phase based on the monitored main supply voltage.

15. The power distribution system of claim 14, wherein:

the control module regulates operation of the selection architecture in accordance with the first power phase when the monitored main supply voltage is greater than or equal to a threshold value while coupled to both the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail;

the control module transitions operation of the selection architecture from the first power phase to the second power phase in response to a detected value of the monitored main supply voltage being less than the threshold value while coupled to both the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail; and

the control module transitions operation of the selection architecture from the second power phase to the third power phase in response to a detected value of the monitored main supply voltage being less than the threshold value while coupled to only the first voltage rail.

16. The power distribution system of claim 14, the selection architecture comprising:

a first voltage multiplexer having a first input coupled to the primary battery, a second input coupled to the secondary battery, and an output coupled to the first voltage rail; and

a second voltage multiplexer having a first input coupled to the primary battery, a second input coupled to the secondary battery, and an output coupled to the second voltage rail.