Power supply with vehicle adapter and battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017246366-A1
Application number	US-201715441567-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2017
Priority date	Feb 25, 2016
Publication date	Aug 31, 2017
Grant date	—

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; 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.

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; 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; and the apparatus being electrically coupled between the external power source and an external electronics module.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the battery, switching circuit, and control circuit are contained in a common housing.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , 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.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , 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.

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

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

12 . A system for controlling the 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;
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; and

the apparatus being electrically coupled between the external power source and an external electronics module; and an external electronics module electrically coupled to the apparatus and mountable to a user of the implanted device, the external module comprises:
an external electronics module controller for determining whether an amount of at least one from the group consisting of current and voltage received from the module is sufficient to power the implanted device;
a second battery;
a switch for switching between providing power from the apparatus to the implanted device and providing power from the second battery to the implanted device, in response to the determination of the external electronics module controller; and
an alert module for notifying the user when power is provided from the second battery.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the battery is adapted to provide the amount of at least one from the group consisting of current and voltage sufficient to power the implanted device, and when the battery is providing power from the apparatus to the external electronics module, the switch provides power from the apparatus to the implanted device.

14 . A method of controlling the supply of power to an external module mountable to a user of an implanted device, the external module providing power to the implanted device, the method comprising:
at a control circuit, detecting a fluctuation in the level of power provided from an external power supply; in response to the detection, the control circuit controlling a switching circuit to electrically disconnect the external module from the external power source and electrically connect the external module to a battery coupled to the switching circuit in response to a detected fluctuation; and when no fluctuation is detected, the external

Assignees

• Heartware Inc

Inventors

• Rudser John

Classifications

• A61M2205/8262

  connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter · CPC title

• A61M2205/8243

  by induction · CPC title

• A61M2205/3317

  Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means · CPC title

• A61M2205/8206

  battery-operated · CPC title

• A61N1/3787

  from an external energy source · CPC title