Smiths Medical Asd, Inc.

Ncr Corporation

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Robert L Snyder

Donald L Flowers

Cary McGhin

Zhan Liu

Ashok Mahadevan

Charles K Wike, Jr

Paul F Nugent, Jr

Kurt J Lippert

Roger L Boyer

Alfred J Hutcheon

Ryan Baker

Maurice Wheatley

Daniel F James

Muhamad Ridzuan Bin Azizan

Cary E Mcghin

Methods and apparatus for detecting open circuit fault conditions in a battery pack containing parallel cells include providing a first control signal to a close FET in parallel with a resistive element, the resistive element being in series with a first battery cell in a first cell path between the terminals of the battery pack, the first cell path being in parallel with a second cell path including a second battery cell. While the FET is closed, a test load is applied across the terminals and a first voltage measurement is obtained at a test point in the battery pack. The methods include providing a second control signal to open the FET, applying the test load across the terminals, obtaining a second voltage measurement at the test point, and determining whether a difference between the first and second voltage measurements indicates an open circuit fault condition in the battery pack.

Methods and apparatus for detecting open circuit faults in a battery pack containing parallel cells

Methods and apparatus for controlling charge current in a battery pack containing cells of disparate types are disclosed. The methods include receiving a charge current for charging a battery pack that includes one or more battery cells of a first cell type, and one or more battery cells of a second cell type. Each battery cell of the first cell type has a first impedance and a first charge current limit. Each battery cell of the second cell type has a second impedance greater than the first impedance and a second charge current limit greater than the first charge current limit. The methods include reducing, by a respective current control circuit associated with each battery cell of the first cell type, the amount of the received charge current through the battery cell of the first cell type to an amount less than the first charge current limit.

Methods and apparatus for controlling charge current in a battery pack containing cells of disparate types

Methods and apparatus for extending discharge over-current trip time in a battery protection circuit are disclosed. The protection circuit includes a safety circuit that asserts a first discharge over-current indicator when the discharge current of the battery exceeds a first discharge over-current threshold corresponding to a sustained over-current limit, a delay circuit that applies an added delay to the assertion of the first discharge over-current indicator, and a short circuit detection circuit that asserts a second discharge over-current indicator, with no delay added, when the discharge current exceeds a second discharge over-current threshold corresponding to a cell-specific peak output current limit. The battery protection circuit includes a logic circuit configured to assert a discharge over-current control signal to disable the battery responsive to assertion of the first discharge over-current indicator or the second discharge over-current indicator.

Methods and apparatus for extending discharge over-current trip time in a battery protection circuit

Methods and apparatus for a protection circuit for a battery and a battery connected device during charging are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a load-blocking switch connected between a rechargeable battery and an electronic device and a charge-blocking switch connected between the rechargeable battery and a charger. The apparatus also includes a safety circuit to detect a voltage across and the current flowing through the rechargeable battery. The safety circuit opens the load-blocking switch and the charge-blocking switch when it detects that the voltage across or the current flowing through the battery exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Load side method of blocking charger voltage from a battery load

A humidification system is provided for a respiratory system is provided with a controller having two processors that monitor the operation of each other and of heating elements in the respiratory system to provide CPU redundancy and heating element control. Each heating element is provided with two control paths, for example a relay and a triac connected in series with the heating element and a power supply. Each heater element has one control path connected to a first one of the processors and at least one heating element has at least one control path connected to a second one of the controllers. A hardware watchdog monitors the operation of the first processor, and can be triggered by a signal from the second processor, in response to which it can disable all heating elements.

Redundant power control for respiratory system heaters

Temperature detection circuitry is selectively coupled to a thermistor and one of two sources representing the impedance at respective ends of the expected range of temperature to which the thermistor is to be exposed. The offset of an amplifier and a scale factor to account for gain set of the amplifier are determined in an automatic calibration process while coupled to the source(s), and thereafter temperature readings are taken from the thermistor. During the calibration process, if the gain or scale factor are outside of expected ranges, a failure is determined and an alarm given and/or a heater is disabled.

Thermistor circuit calibration

A breathing circuit includes inspiratory and expiratory limbs, each having a respective electrically energizable heating circuit. The heating circuits are independently and selectively electrically energized through separate power circuits such as to control the temperature in each limb in a desired fashion so as to reduce rainout in the breathing circuit and particularly in the expiratory limb.

Rainout reduction in a breathing circuit

A heated breathing circuit detection system verifies the proper set up and connection of a breathing circuit to a heater unit of a humidification system. The detection system automatically detects that the breathing circuit is connected to the heater unit, and the nature of the heating circuit(s) thereof. In one embodiment, the resistance of the heating circuit(s) is determined and compared to an expected resistance or range of acceptable resistances to determine if the heater circuit(s) is properly or actually attached and properly operating. The humidification system also has the ability to determine the delivery mode of the breathing circuit, i.e., whether a single inspiratory limb, or both inspiratory and expiratory limbs, is connected to the heater unit.

Heated breathing circuit detection

A heater unit includes power failure management to detect disruptions in the electrical power supply, such as the AC supply, for the unit. The heater unit emits an audible alarm in response to detection of such a disruption, and may shut down the heater(s) and visuals display(s). The heater unit advantageously includes a power storage device, such as a super-capacitor, to temporarily power the electronic circuitry of the heater unit. Operating parameters, such as of a processor of the electronic circuitry, may be stored in a non-volatile memory response to the disruption, and recalled if the disruption terminates before the level of power has gotten too low to sustain reliable operation of the processor.

Power failure management for respiratory system heater unit

A self checkout system/terminal includes an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system. The EAS system includes an EAS detector and an EAS deactivator. EAS tag detection is associated with a purchase transaction event, such as scanning or bagging of an item. After EAS tag detection, the customer is directed to deactivate the EAS tag. Some of the self-service checkout terminal (SCOT) operation/functionality may be paused during an EAS tag deactivation period. The subject EAS system and/or process eliminates the need to deactivate every item, thereby streamlining the self checkout process when EAS is used in a store.

Automatic electronic article surveillance for self-checkout

A method of operating a retail terminal having a signal transmitter associated therewith includes the step of detecting an intervention-needed activity and generating an intervention-needed control signal in response thereto. The method also includes the step of operating the signal transmitter so as to transmit a personnel-request signal in response to generation of the intervention-needed control signal. The method further includes the step of receiving the personnel-request signal with a signal receiver associated with an audible message generating device. Moreover, the method includes the step of generating an audible message that is communicated to retail personnel with the audible message generating device in response to receipt of the personnel-request signal. A retail terminal is also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having an RF transmitter for communicating to a receiver associated with an intercom system

A retail terminal assembly includes a portable communication device for use by retail personnel. The assembly also includes a signal transmitter for transmitting a personnel-request signal to the portable communication device. The assembly further includes a processing unit electrically coupled to the signal transmitter. Moreover, the assembly includes a memory device electrically coupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to (a) detect an intervention-needed activity and generate an intervention-needed control signal in response thereto, and (b) operate the signal transmitter so as to transmit the personnel-request signal in response to generation of the intervention-needed control signal. A message is communicated to the retail personnel by the portable communication device in response to receipt of the personnel-request signal by the portable communication device. A method of operating a retail terminal is also disclosed.

Apparatus and method for operating a checkout system having an RF transmitter for communicating to a number of wireless personal pagers

A retail terminal includes a first terminal cabinet and a second terminal cabinet. The retail terminal includes a controller secured to the first terminal cabinet, the controller having a controller data port associated therewith. The retail terminal also includes a port expander device secured to the second terminal cabinet. The port expander device has a first expander data port, a second expander data port, and a third expander data port associated therewith. The retail terminal also includes a first retail peripheral device secured to the second terminal cabinet. The first retail peripheral device has a first peripheral data port associated therewith. The retail terminal further includes a second retail peripheral device secured to the second terminal cabinet. The second retail peripheral device has a second peripheral data port associated therewith. The controller data port is electrically coupled to the first expander data port via a first data cable. The first peripheral data port is electrically coupled to the second expander data port via a second data cable. The second peripheral data port is electrically coupled to the third expander data port via a third data cable.

Growing community of inventors

Suwanee, GA, United States of America

Robert L Snyder