Power system for mobile workstation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11485396-B2
Application number	US-201916290831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2019
Priority date	Mar 2, 2018
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A mobile powered workstation can include a head unit assembly that can have at least one power outlet configured to provide power to at least one electronic device. The workstation can include a power system coupled to the head unit assembly. The power system can include a permanent battery and a battery assembly. The battery assembly can include a battery connection housing that can have a plurality of power connectors configured to electrically couple to a corresponding plurality of power connectors of a replaceable battery, the battery connection housing can have a first face and a second face that extends from the first face. The first face can define a first raised portion configured to engage with a corresponding first recessed portion in the replaceable battery. The second face can define a second raised portion configured to engage with a corresponding second recessed portion in the replaceable battery.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mobile powered workstation comprising:
at least one power outlet configured to provide power to at least one electronic device;
a riser coupled to a head unit assembly;
a base coupled to the riser; and
a power system including:
a permanent battery;
a battery assembly, the battery assembly including a battery connection housing having a plurality of power connectors configured to electrically couple to a corresponding plurality of power connectors of a replaceable battery; and
a controller configured to compare a first capacity of the permanent battery with a second capacity of the replaceable battery to switch the power system between a first power mode and a second power mode, wherein:
at least one of the permanent battery and the replaceable battery are configured to supply power to the power system;
in the first power mode, the power system is configured to supply power to the at least one power outlet by receiving power from the replaceable battery; and
in the second power mode, the power system is configured to supply power to the at least one power outlet by receiving power simultaneously from each of the permanent and the replaceable battery.

2. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one magnet positioned in at least one of a first raised portion of a battery connection housing or a second raised portion of the battery connection housing, the at least one magnet configured to engage with a corresponding magnet or ferromagnetic material in at least one of a first recessed portion of the replaceable battery or a second recessed portion of the replaceable battery.

3. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one ferromagnetic material positioned in the battery connection housing, the at least one ferromagnetic material configured to engage with a corresponding magnet positioned in the replaceable battery.

4. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display in communication with the power system, wherein the display is configured to provide battery data to a user.

5. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , further comprising:
the replaceable battery, wherein the replaceable battery includes:
a button; and
at least one push pin mechanically coupled to the button, wherein, when depressed, the button is configured to extend the at least one push pin away from the replaceable battery.

6. The mobile powered workstation of claim 5 , wherein the at least one push pin is spring loaded and biased toward an interior of the replaceable battery.

7. The mobile powered workstation of claim 5 , wherein the replaceable battery further includes a handle, and wherein the button is coupled to a portion of the handle.

8. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , wherein the permanent battery is coupled to the base.

9. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless communication circuit coupled to the controller and configured to communicate battery data with a network device connected to a network.

10. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , wherein the power system is user-configurable to change between a first power mode and the second power mode.

11. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , wherein the riser is a telescoping riser.

12. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , wherein the riser is a stationary riser.

13. The mobile powered workstation of claim 12 , wherein the stationary riser includes a counterbalance mechanism having an energy storage member.

14. The mobile powered workstation of claim 1 , wherein the power system is user-configurable to change between the first power mode and the second power mode.

15. A mobile powered workstation comprising:
at least one power outlet configured to provide power to at least one electronic device;
a riser coupled to a head unit assembly;
a base coupled to the riser; and
a power system including:
a permanent battery;
a battery assembly including a battery connection housing having a plurality of power connectors configured to electrically couple to a corresponding plurality of power connectors of a replaceable battery; and
wherein at least one of the permanent battery and the replaceable battery are configured to supply power to the power system, and the power system includes a controller that is configured to compare a first capacity of the permanent battery with a second capacity of the replaceable battery and switch the power system between at least a first power mode and a second power mode and in each of the first power mode and the second power mode supplies operating power for operation of the at least one power outlet, wherein:
in the first power mode, the power system is configured to supply power to the at least one power outlet by receiving power from the replaceable battery; and
in the second power mode, the power system is configured to supply power to the at least one power outlet by simultaneously receiving power from each of the permanent battery and the replaceable battery.

16. The mobile powered workstation of claim 15 , further comprising:
the replaceable battery, wherein the replaceable battery includes:
a button;
at least one push pin mechanically coupled to the button; and
at least one first ferromagnetic material positioned in a first recessed portion of the replaceable battery and at least one second ferromagnetic material positioned in a second recessed portion of the replaceable battery.

17. The mobile powered workstation of claim 15 , wherein the power system is user-configurable to change between the first power mode and the second power mode.

18. A mobile powered workstation comprising:
at least one power outlet configured to provide power to at least one electronic device;
a riser coupled to a head unit assembly;
a base coupled to the riser; and
a power system including:
a permanent battery;
a battery assembly, the battery assembly including a battery connection housing having a plurality of power connectors configured to electrically couple to a corresponding plurality of power connectors of a replaceable battery; and
a controller configured to compare a first capacity of the permanent battery with a second capacity of the replaceable battery and switch the power system between at least a first power mode and a second power mode, wherein:
at least one of the permanent battery and the replaceable battery are configured to supply power to the power system;
in the first power mode, the power system is configured to supply power to the at least one power outlet by receiving power from the replaceable battery; and
in the second power mode, the power system is configured to supply power to the at least one power outlet by receiving power simultaneously from each of the permanent and the replaceable battery.

19. The mobile powered workstation of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically switch the power system between the first power mode and the second power mode by monitoring by monitoring a frequency the replaceable battery is removed and a frequency that the mobile powered workstation is plugged in to charge to switch the power system between the first power mode and the second power mode to improve performance of the mobile powered workstation.

Assignees

• Ergotron Inc

Inventors

• Hazzard Nicholas Simon
• Tischer William Dale
• Theis John William
• Janechek Matthew J
• Townes Troy Edward

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/92

  with prioritisation of loads or sources · CPC title

• H02J7/02

  for charging batteries from AC mains by converters · CPC title

• H02J9/062 Primary

  for AC powered loads · CPC title