Power supply with vehicle adapter and battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10940250-B2
Application number	US-201715441567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2017
Priority date	Feb 25, 2016
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

A control circuit for controlling a supply of power to an external electronics module for controlling an implanted device of the user, the control circuit electrically coupled to a switching circuit for controlling an electrical connection between an external power source, a battery, and an external electronics module, the control circuit further electrically coupled to a sensor for sensing at least one from the group consisting of a voltage and a current received from the external power source, the control circuit being configured to control the switching circuit to electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the external power source and electrically connect the external electronics module to the battery in response to a sensed fluctuation of at least one from the group consisting of voltage and current and electrically connect the external electronics module to the external power source and electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the battery when the fluctuation is not sensed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control circuit for controlling a supply of power to an external electronics module mountable to a user for controlling an implanted device of the user, the control circuit electrically coupled to a switching circuit for controlling an electrical connection between an external power source, a battery, and an external electronics module, the control circuit further electrically coupled to a sensor for sensing at least one from the group consisting of a voltage and a current received from the external power source, the control circuit being configured to control the switching circuit to:
electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the external power source, and electrically connect the external electronics module to the battery in response to a sensed fluctuation of the sensed at least one from the group consisting of voltage and current, the external electronics module including an alert module configured to issue at least one of an audible and a visual alert to the user when the external electronics module is not electrically connected to the external power source, the external electronics module being connected to a power adapter including a buck-boost converter, a controller, a switching circuit and another battery which stores an amount of charge sufficient to damp fluctuations of the power from the outlet;
the controller comparing a voltage from the back-boost converter coupled with the external power source with the another battery located within the adapter, and when its determined to not have fluctuations, the switching circuit resumes electrically connecting the external power module;
electrically connect the external electronics module to the external power source and electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the battery when the fluctuation is not sensed, the control circuit being configured to deactivate the alert module when the control circuit detects that power is being provided from the external power source; and the external electronics module and the battery are each contained in a common portable housing carriable by the user.

2. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the sensed fluctuation of at least one from the group consisting of the measured voltage and current is at least one from the group consisting of:
above a threshold maximum;
being below a threshold minimum;
increasing more than a threshold percentage and
decreasing more than a threshold percentage.

3. The control circuit of claim 2 , wherein the external power source is a 12-volt vehicle battery, and wherein the sensed fluctuation is the measured voltage being below 9 volts.

4. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control the switching circuit to temporarily electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the external power source and temporarily electrically connect the external electronics module to the battery for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The control circuit of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control the switching circuit to electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the external power source and electrically connect the external electronics module to the battery until the control circuit determines to control the switching circuit to electrically connect the external electronics module to the external power source based on a subsequent measurement of the at least one from the group consisting of voltage and current received from the external power source.

6. An apparatus for adapting power from an outlet of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a control circuit for controlling the supply of power to an external electronics module mountable to a user for controlling an implanted device of the user, the control circuit electrically coupled to a switching circuit for controlling an electrical connection between an external power source, a battery, and an external electronics module, the control circuit further electrically coupled to a sensor for sensing at least one from the group consisting of a voltage and a current received from the external power source, the control circuit being configured to control the switching circuit to:
electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the external power source and electrically connect the external electronics module to the battery in response to a sensed fluctuation of the sensed at least one from the group consisting of voltage and current, the external electronics module including an alert module configured to issue at least one of an audible and visual alert to the user when the external electronics module is not electrically connected to the external power source, the external electronics module being connected to a power adapter including a buck-boost converter, a controller, a switching circuit and another battery which stores an amount of charge sufficient to damp fluctuations of the power from the outlet; the controller comparing a voltage from the back-boost converter coupled with the external power source with the another battery located within the power adapter, and when its determined to not have fluctuations, the switching circuit resumes electrically connecting the external power module;
electrically connect the external electronics module to the external power source and electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the battery when the fluctuation is not sensed, the control circuit being configured to deactivate the alert module when the control circuit detects that power is being provided from the external power source;
the apparatus being electrically coupled between the external power source and an external electronics module; and
the battery, switching circuit, and the control circuit are contained in a common housing carriable by the user.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising an adapter for at least one from the group consisting of increasing and decreasing a voltage and current received from the outlet to a desired level.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the battery is rechargeable and electrically coupled to the adapter, the battery being charged by the outlet when the battery is not electrically connected to the external electronics module.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the adapter, the battery, a second battery, the switching circuit and the control circuit are contained in a common housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the apparatus is adapted to provide an electrical connection to a vehicle battery through a vehicle outlet.

11. A system for controlling a supply of power to an implanted device, the system comprising:
an apparatus including:
a control circuit for controlling the supply of power to an external electronics module mountable to a user for controlling an implanted device of the user, the control circuit electrically coupled to a switching circuit for controlling an electrical connection between an external power source, a battery, and an external electronics module, the control circuit further electrically coupled to a sensor for sensing at least one from the group consisting of a voltage and a current received from the external power source, the control circuit being configured to control the switching circuit to:

electrically disconnect the external electronics module from the external power source and electrically connect the external electronics module to the battery in response to a sensed fluctuation of at least one from the group consisting of voltage and current, the external electronics module being connected to a power adapter including a buck-boost converter, a controller, a switching circuit and a

Assignees

• Heartware Inc

Inventors

• Rudser John

Classifications

• H02J50/10

  using inductive coupling · CPC title

• A61M60/148 Primary

  in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices · CPC title

• A61N1/3787

  from an external energy source · CPC title

• A61M2205/8243

  by induction · CPC title

• A61M2205/8206

  battery-operated · CPC title