Power scaling
AssigneeMinnetronix, Inc.
InventorsVlad Bluvshtein, Lori Lucke, William Weiss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for measuring and calculating parameters to control and monitor a power transfer in an implanted medical device, including operating the device in a plurality of scalable power modes and/or coupling modes. The system may shift between or among power and/or coupling modes based on input such as data received over system communication lines, programmable timers, or electrical loading information. The system may also shift between or among power and/or coupling modes based on calculated amounts of coupling, levels of detected heat flux, and/or amounts of estimated temperature changes.
Claims18
A method of monitoring and controlling power transfer between a primary assembly and a secondary assembly of a transcutaneous energy transfer system, comprising:
- operating the transcutaneous energy transfer system in a first power mode, the first power mode being one of a plurality of scalable power modes;
- determining if the transcutaneous energy transfer system is to be switched to a second power mode, the second power mode being one of the plurality of scalable power modes, wherein determining if the transcutaneous energy transfer system is to be switched includes at least one of:
- determining if a request to enter a fault mode is received;
- determining if a predetermined time has elapsed since power up;
- determining if a predetermined time has elapsed since a fault condition was detected;
- determining if a predetermined time has elapsed since a change in a coupling coefficient occurred;
- determining if a fault condition is detected;
- determining if a change in a coupling coefficient is detected;
- or
- determining if a load change is detected;
- and
- switching from the first power mode to the second power mode by controlling power transfer between the primary assembly and secondary assembly.
A method of monitoring and controlling power transfer between a primary assembly and a secondary assembly of a transcutaneous energy transfer system, comprising:
- operating the transcutaneous energy transfer system in a first power mode, the first power mode being one of a plurality of scalable power modes;
- determining if the transcutaneous energy transfer system is to be switched to a second power mode, the second power mode being one of the plurality of scalable power modes;
- and
- switching from the first power mode to the second power mode by controlling power transfer between the primary assembly and secondary assembly,
- wherein controlling the power transfer between the primary assembly and secondary assembly includes changing the power mode by an operation of a variable voltage regulator on the primary assembly side.
A method of monitoring and controlling power transfer between a primary assembly and a secondary assembly of a transcutaneous energy transfer system, comprising:
- operating the transcutaneous energy transfer system in a first power mode, the first power mode being one of a plurality of scalable power modes;
- determining if the transcutaneous energy transfer system is to be switched to a second power mode, the second power mode being one of the plurality of scalable power modes;
- and
- switching from the first power mode to the second power mode by controlling power transfer between the primary assembly and secondary assembly,
- wherein controlling the power transfer between the primary assembly and secondary assembly includes changing the power mode by an operation of a phase shifted bridge controller on the primary assembly side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.