US 2011/0084659 A1Published application

Mobile cart docking and communication system

AssigneePower*Otg Incorporated

InventorsKarl Christopher Niemann, Paul Andrew Ashmore, Andrew Rudolph Heyd, Charles Powell Morris, Zbigniew Stanislaw Sobelewski

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Abstract

A power and communication system for a mobile cart is provided. The system includes a wall unit, which includes a processor and a power circuit. The power circuit receives external power and provides switched AC power to the cart unit when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit and the processor enables the power circuit. The system also includes a cart unit. The cart unit includes a memory device storing a signature. The memory device is coupled to the processor when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit. The processor detects continuity when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit, and in response, the processor reads the signature. The processor enables the power circuit if the signature is a valid signature, and disables the power circuit if the signature is invalid. The switched AC power recharges a rechargeable power source of the mobile cart.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A power distribution and communication system for a mobile cart, comprising:

a wall unit fixedly attached to an interior surface of a building, comprising:
a first processor;
and
a power control circuit, wherein the power control circuit receives AC power from a source external to the wall unit;
and
a cart unit attached to the mobile cart, comprising:
a first memory device storing a first signature, wherein the first memory device is coupled to the first processor when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit, wherein the first signature uniquely identifies the cart unit and the mobile cart combination;
wherein the first processor detects electrical continuity when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit, wherein in response to detecting electrical continuity the first processor reads the first signature from the first memory device, wherein the first processor enables the power control circuit if the first processor identifies the first signature as a valid signature, wherein the first processor disables the power control circuit if the first processor does not identify the first signature as a valid signature, wherein the wall unit provides switched AC power to the cart unit when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit and the first processor enables the power control circuit, wherein the switched AC power recharges a main rechargeable power source of the mobile cart, wherein the main rechargeable power source of the mobile cart is external to the cart unit.

5 more elements

A method for providing power and communication to a rechargeable power source of a mobile cart, comprising:

engaging a cart unit of the mobile cart with a wall unit, wherein the wall unit is fixedly attached to an interior surface of a building, wherein the cart unit is attached to the mobile cart;
verifying, by the wall unit, that electrical continuity exists between the wall unit and the cart unit;
in response to determining that electrical continuity exists between the wall unit and the cart unit, reading, by the wall unit, a cart unit signature from the cart unit;
determining, by the wall unit, if the cart unit signature is a valid signature;
if the signature is a valid signature, enabling, by the wall unit, a power control circuit in the wall unit to provide switched AC power to the cart unit, wherein the building provides AC power to the power control circuit, wherein the cart unit provides switched AC power to the rechargeable power source of the mobile cart;
if the signature is not a valid signature, then forgoing enabling, by the wall unit, the power control circuit in the wall unit to provide switched AC power to the cart unit;
wherein the power control circuit is not enabled to provide switched AC power to the cart unit if electrical continuity does not exist between the wall unit and the cart unit.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.