Medical device with improved battery storage
The modular battery storage system with base and additional receptacles and balancing arrangements addresses the challenge of integrating new modules with varying charges, ensuring efficient and cost-effective charge alignment for continuous medical device operation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102024202352
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-04
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-03-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing battery storage systems in medical devices face inefficiencies when replacing a single battery module, as the new module may have a different state of charge than the existing ones, leading to costly replacements and time-consuming passive balancing methods that incur energy loss and are costly due to the need for numerous active balancing circuits.
A modular structure with base and additional receptacles, combined with a balancing arrangement that allows for low-loss adaptation of state of charge between battery modules, using a battery management system, auxiliary charging devices, and active balancing circuits to align charges without disrupting ongoing operations.
Enables efficient, cost-effective integration of new battery modules with any state of charge, reducing time and resources needed for balancing, while maintaining continuous or emergency operation of medical devices.
Smart Images

Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention is based on a medical device, - wherein the device has an electrical battery storage device by means of which ongoing operation of the medical device is supported and / or enabled and / or emergency operation of the medical device is enabled, - wherein the battery storage device comprises a plurality of battery modules, - wherein the battery modules are arranged in module receptacles of the medical device, - whereby the power connection of the battery modules to one another is determined by the arrangement of the battery modules in the module holders.
[0002] Such medical devices are well known.
[0003] A typical example of such a medical device is an X-ray system. While such a system is usually powered from a mains supply, its power consumption fluctuates considerably during operation. During phases of high power consumption (power phases), the battery storage system can therefore supply the medical device with energy, which is then fed back into the battery storage system from the mains supply during phases of low power consumption (power breaks). This makes it possible to even out the power drawn from the mains supply and reduce the maximum power drawn from the mains supply, possibly even significantly. Under certain circumstances, grid-independent, self-sufficient operation may also be possible for a mobile medical device. Depending on the circumstances, the battery storage system can therefore be essential for the ongoing operation of the medical device.If it is essential, only the battery storage enables the ongoing operation of the medical device. If it is not essential, the battery storage supports ongoing operation, for example, by reducing the maximum power drawn from the power grid. Alternatively or additionally, the battery storage can enable ongoing operation or emergency operation of the medical device for a limited period in the event of a power grid failure. The extent to which ongoing operation or emergency operation is enabled is determined by the energy requirements of the medical device and the design of the energy storage system.
[0004] In the current state of the art, battery storage typically consists of a number of battery modules, which are connected in parallel and in series as needed to meet the requirements of the respective system. The individual battery modules are often designed in such a way that handling of the individual battery modules is legally permissible even by service technicians who are not specifically qualified. This allows such personnel to replace modules.
[0005] When the battery storage system is first installed, the battery modules typically all have the same state of charge. During subsequent operation, all modules typically continue to have the same state of charge. However, the state of charge can be anywhere between a minimum and a maximum value—in extreme cases, between 0% (= fully discharged) and 100% (= fully charged).
[0006] If a single battery module fails or otherwise no longer meets the required specifications, the entire battery system is sometimes replaced and disposed of. This is disadvantageous because the other battery modules are usually still functioning properly. This results in excessive costs and unnecessary consumption of resources.
[0007] Replacing a single battery module is a known concept and entirely conceivable. However, this poses the problem that the newly installed battery module may have a different charge level than the battery modules already in the device. For example, due to applicable hazardous goods regulations, newly manufactured battery modules are typically stored and transported with a maximum charge level of approximately 30%. However, the charge level of the battery modules already in the device may have a different value, possibly even a significantly different value. However, in order to fully operate the medical device, all battery modules must have (at least essentially) the same charge level.
[0008] Passive balancing circuits are known in the prior art. Such balancing circuits are used within the respective battery modules to equalize the charge levels between the individual battery cells of a respective battery module. It is conceivable to also use such passive balancing circuits to equalize the charge levels among the battery modules. However, this is disadvantageous. Firstly, such equalization of the charge levels requires considerable time, usually several hours. Furthermore, the equalization of the charge levels in passive balancing circuits occurs by equalizing charge differences through current flow via resistors, so that the energy is converted into heat and thus losses occur.
[0009] Active balancing circuits are also known in the prior art. Such balancing circuits are also used in the prior art to equalize charge levels. It is conceivable to use such active balancing circuits to equalize the charge levels of the battery modules. However, due to the relatively large number of battery modules, a large number of active balancing circuits would be required. This solution is therefore not implemented for cost reasons.
[0010] US 2019 / 0 288 520 A1 discloses a modular management system for balancing, testing, and protecting series-connected rechargeable energy storage cells. Different energy storage cell technologies can be connected in the same battery pack and fully balanced using one or both balancing modes. Furthermore, the modular management system includes bidirectional and unidirectional switches, optionally connected to a single resistive device such as a resistor, to efficiently execute a dual function process (DFP) (i.e., passive / active balancing and test mode for SoH / SoC estimation), preferably without using any additional or external components (i.e., capacitor or inductor or DC / DC converter or power supply).The systems and methods reduce the balancing time, energy loss, heat loss and complexity required to monitor, protect and balance energy storage cell systems such as battery systems, thus reducing overall costs.
[0011] It is known from US 2019 / 0 044 336 A1 that power supplies for medical systems in hospitals must be designed for a wide range of requirements. The instantaneous power demand of modern CT systems can reach hundreds of kilowatts. Sizing a hospital power supply system to provide this instantaneous power level is costly. The usage pattern of medical systems in hospitals means that the instantaneous power is only required for a low duty cycle, with the average power demand of such a system being at least an order of magnitude lower. Therefore, the present application proposes a multifunctional power distribution system with a charging mode, an operating mode, a backup mode, and a bypass mode.In operating mode, the average power can be provided from the public grid, but the relatively rare peak power requirements can be met from an electrical energy storage element charged by the public grid power supply.
[0012] US 2017 / 0 163 060 A1 discloses a system for balancing a battery assembly and associated methods for its manufacture and use. The system can determine the status of a battery assembly having multiple batteries. Based on the determined status, one or more batteries can be selected and the selected batteries balanced. For example, the system can control the active balancing of the selected batteries when the battery assembly is in a static state and control the selective discharging of the selected batteries when the battery assembly is in a discharge state. When the battery assembly is in the charging state, the selective charging of the selected batteries can be controlled. Alternatively, one or more cells comprising the individual batteries can be selected for balancing. A protection circuit can contribute to the safety of the balancing.Battery balancing can be performed in an energy-efficient and time-saving manner, extending the service life of the battery assembly.
[0013] According to US 2009 / 0 027 006 A1, a device for balancing a plurality of at least two batteries or cells of a multi-cell battery comprises a multi-cell battery and a battery management system with a balancing circuit. All individual battery cells are connected to the battery monitoring system, which measures the battery temperature and current in addition to the individual cell voltage. The battery monitoring system can detect the lowest cell voltage and a number of cells whose voltage is above a specified maximum permissible voltage. This voltage is balanced until the charge imbalance has decreased to an acceptable level. The battery management system is active during charging and discharging of the multi-cell battery, and the threshold values vary depending on the battery condition.
[0014] The object of the present invention is to create possibilities by means of which, even when replacing an individual battery module, a low-loss adjustment of the charge state of this battery module to the charge states of the other battery modules is possible in a simple and cost-effective manner.
[0015] The object is achieved by a medical device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the medical device are the subject of dependent claims 2 to 10.
[0016] According to the invention, a medical device of the type mentioned at the outset is designed in that - that the module holders are divided into a plurality of basic holders and at least one additional holder, - that a balancing arrangement is assigned to the battery storage system, - that the equalisation arrangement is capable of achieving a low-loss equalisation of the basic charge level and the additional charge level between battery modules arranged in the basic receptacles and having a uniform basic charge level on the one hand and a battery module arranged in the additional receptacle and having an additional charge level on the other hand, - that the balancing arrangement, however, is not capable of achieving a uniform basic charge level within the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles.
[0017] The modular design of the battery storage system simplifies the replacement of battery modules. The division of the module receptacles into basic receptacles and, theoretically, at least one (in practice, usually exactly one) additional receptacle allows a new battery module to be inserted into the battery module assembly at a defined location. The balancing arrangement enables the charge levels to be aligned with minimal loss. Because the module receptacle in which the new battery module is located (namely, the additional receptacle) is known, and because the new battery module is the only battery module whose charge level can deviate from the uniform charge level of the other battery modules, the balancing arrangement can be designed very simply. This is because the design of the balancing arrangement does not require consideration of the possibility that the new battery module could be located in any module receptacle of the medical device.
[0018] For example, it is possible for the battery modules arranged in the module receptacles to be connected in terms of data technology to a battery management system of the medical device, so that the battery modules arranged in the module receptacles can transmit their respective charge level to the battery management system, and for a base charger which spans the base receptacles to be assigned to the base receptacles and by means of which the uniform base charge level of the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles can be changed without influencing the additional charge level of the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle.
[0019] In this case, the battery management system, which is usually present anyway, can detect or query the charge levels of the battery modules arranged in the module receptacles via communication with them and, if necessary, adjust the uniform basic charge level of the battery modules arranged in the basic receptacles to the additional charge level of the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle.
[0020] In this context, it is particularly preferred if, in order to adapt the uniform basic charge level of the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles to the additional charge level of the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle, the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles are discharged or electrical energy is supplied to the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles during ongoing operation of the medical device in the same way as if no battery module were arranged in the additional receptacle. This is because the adjustment then takes place entirely automatically without any further special measures. Only the additional charge level needs to be known. Which of the two measures - discharging the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles or supplying electrical energy to the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles - is taken depends on whether the additional charge level is greater or less than the basic charge level.
[0021] Emergency operation occurs when the external electrical power supply of the medical device has failed. During emergency operation of the medical device, the battery modules cannot be charged. However, if discharging the battery modules in the base receptacles is necessary to adjust the uniform base charge level of the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles to the additional charge level of the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle, the discharging can also be performed in the same way as if no battery module were arranged in the additional receptacle.
[0022] This procedure is particularly advantageous if the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle is not integrated into the ongoing operation or emergency operation of the medical device.
[0023] Alternatively or in addition to the base charger, it is possible for the additional receptacle to be proprietary with an additional charger, by means of which the additional charge level of the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle can be changed without influencing the uniform base charge level of the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles. In this case, the battery management system can—alternatively or in addition to bringing the uniform base charge level of the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles closer to the additional charge level of the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle—also bring the additional charge level of the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle closer to the uniform base charge level of the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles.
[0024] The latter approach can be implemented with or without integrating the battery module located in the additional receptacle into the ongoing or emergency operation of the medical device. Only a dedicated charging facility for the respective battery module is required.
[0025] A further possibility is that an active balancing circuit is assigned to the battery storage unit, by means of which charge can be transferred with low loss between the entirety of the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles on the one hand and the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle on the other hand, and the change in the additional charge state of the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle is distributed evenly among the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles.
[0026] In this case, the uniform base charge level and the supplementary charge level are adjusted to each other simply by the active balancing circuit, without the involvement of a battery management system. The active balancing circuit is designed to appropriately account for the existing "imbalance" between the plurality of battery modules arranged in the base receptacles and the single battery module arranged in the supplementary receptacle ("many against one"). For example, when the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles are connected in series, the correspondingly higher voltage can be taken into account.
[0027] As already mentioned, it is alternatively possible for the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle to be integrated into the ongoing operation or emergency operation of the medical device or not to be integrated. If it is not integrated, then during ongoing operation and / or emergency operation of the medical device, electrical energy is drawn from the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles to operate the medical device, but not from the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle. If it is integrated, then during ongoing operation and / or emergency operation of the medical device, electrical energy is drawn from both the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles and the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle to operate the medical device.
[0028] It is even possible for a switching device to be assigned to the battery storage unit, which can be used to dynamically adjust whether, during ongoing operation and / or during emergency operation of the medical device, electrical energy is drawn exclusively from the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles or from both the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles and the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle. In this case, in particular, the charge states can be adjusted to one another while the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle is not integrated into the ongoing operation or emergency operation of the medical device. After the charge states have been adjusted, the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle can then be integrated into the ongoing operation or emergency operation of the medical device by actuating the switching device.
[0029] Preferably, the battery storage device is designed such that it supports and / or enables the ongoing operation of the medical device and / or enables the emergency operation of the medical device, as long as a number of base receptacles in which no battery module is arranged or in which the battery module arranged in the respective base receptacle is bridged does not exceed a limit number above 0.
[0030] This can, for example, make it possible to maintain ongoing operation or emergency operation of the medical device even if one of the battery modules arranged in the base receptacles fails and needs to be bridged. At the time of the failure of the said battery module, for example, there may not yet be a battery module arranged in the additional receptacle. Nevertheless, ongoing operation or emergency operation is possible. At a later point in time, a battery module can be inserted into the additional receptacle and the charge levels can be adjusted. While the base charge level and the additional charge level are being adjusted, the battery module arranged in the additional receptacle is usually not integrated into the ongoing operation or emergency operation of the medical device. However, ongoing operation or emergency operation of the medical device can be maintained even during this period.After the charge states have been adjusted, the battery module arranged in the additional holder can either be removed from the additional holder and inserted into a free base holder or integrated into the network of battery modules while maintaining its arrangement in the additional holder.
[0031] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understood in connection with the following description of the embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. Herein, in schematic representation: Fig. 1 a medical device, Fig. 2 a battery storage system, Fig. 3 a battery storage unit and a balancing arrangement, Fig. 4 a battery storage unit and a balancing arrangement, Fig. 5 a battery storage and a balancing arrangement and Fig. 6 a battery storage system.
[0032] According to Fig. 1, a (in principle any) medical device 1 is electrically operated. The medical device 1 therefore has a number of electrical loads 2. Typically, the medical device 1 is supplied with electrical energy via an input stage 3 from a supply network 4. According to Fig. 1 contains an intermediate circuit 5, to which the input stage 3 and output stages 6, which supply electrical power to the loads 2, are connected. The configuration with the intermediate circuit 5 is common, but not mandatory. The medical device 1 can be designed, for example, as an X-ray system.
[0033] The medical device 1 further comprises an electrical battery storage unit 7. The battery storage unit 7 supports and / or enables continuous operation of the medical device 1 (i.e., operation when powered by the utility grid 4). Alternatively or additionally, the battery storage unit 7 can also enable emergency operation of the medical device 1 (i.e., operation without power from the utility grid 4). The battery storage unit 7 can be connected to the intermediate circuit 5, for example, via a converter circuit 8.
[0034] According to Fig. 2, the battery storage 7 has a plurality of battery modules 9, 9'. In Fig. In Figure 2 and the other figures, five battery modules 9, 9' are always shown. However, the number of battery modules 9, 9' can also be larger or smaller. However, the minimum number of battery modules 9, 9' is three.
[0035] The battery modules 9, 9' are arranged in module receptacles 10, 10'. The module receptacles 10, 10' serve at least to mechanically accommodate the battery modules 9, 9'. They can also, if necessary, realize the electrical integration of the battery modules 9, 9' into the medical device 1. Regardless of whether the module receptacles 10, 10' also realize the electrical integration of the battery modules 9, 9' into the medical device 1 or whether this occurs independently (for example, via cables that have pre-assembled plugs at their ends), the power-related interconnection of the battery modules 9, 9' with one another is determined by the arrangement of the battery modules 9, 9' in the module receptacles 10, 10'.
[0036] The module receptacles 10, 10' comprise a plurality of similar module receptacles 10, hereinafter referred to as base receptacles 10. The battery modules 9 arranged in the base receptacles 10 are hereinafter referred to as base modules 9. Furthermore, the module receptacles 10, 10' comprise at least one further module receptacle 10', hereinafter referred to as additional receptacle 10'. The battery modules 9' arranged in the additional receptacles 10' are hereinafter referred to as additional modules 9'.
[0037] In the following, it is assumed that only a single additional receptacle 10' is present, even though multiple additional receptacles 10' could be present. Due to the fact that in this case—albeit only as an example—a total of five battery modules 9, 9' is always assumed, four basic receptacles 10 are present.
[0038] The battery modules 9, 9' each have a charge level L, L'. The respective charge level L, L' can vary between 0 (= fully discharged) and 1 (= fully charged). The charge level L of the base modules 9 is uniform and is referred to below as the base charge level L. The charge level L' of the additional module 9' - referred to below as the additional charge level L' - is independent of the base charge level L. It can therefore have the same value, but it can also have a value different from the base charge level L.
[0039] A balancing arrangement 11 is assigned to the battery storage unit 7. The balancing arrangement 11 is capable of achieving a low-loss equalization of the base state of charge L and the additional state of charge L' between the base modules 9 on the one hand and the additional module 9' on the other hand. The balancing arrangement 11 can thus ensure that, after equalization, the base state of charge and the additional state of charge L' have the same value, i.e., a uniform state of charge L" for all battery modules 9, 9'. However, the balancing arrangement 11 is also limited to this functionality. In particular, it is not capable of achieving a uniform base state of charge L, L' within the base modules 9, or within a single base module 9, or even within a single additional module 9'. Rather, this must be present from the outset.In the following, possible configurations of the compensation arrangement 11 are explained in conjunction with the other FIGS.
[0040] According to Fig. 3, the balancing arrangement 11 comprises a battery management system 12 of the medical device 1. Such a battery management system 12 is conventional and therefore does not need to be explained in detail. The battery modules 9, 9' - the module receptacles 10, 10' are in Fig. 3 - are connected to the battery management system 12 via a communication link 13 - usually a serial bus. The battery modules 9, 9' are therefore able to transmit their respective charge levels L, L' to the battery management system 12.
[0041] In the simplest case, which is Fig. 3 is not shown, the additional module 10' is not connected at all in terms of power, but is only connected to the battery management system 12 in terms of data via the communication connection 13. In this case, charging and discharging of the battery storage device 7 essentially only affect the base modules 9. The adjustment of the base state of charge L and the additional state of charge L' to one another is achieved in this case exclusively by charging and discharging the base modules 9. In this case, the balancing arrangement 11 has a base charger 14. The battery management system 12 determines a control for the base charger 14 by first determining a target value for the base state of charge L based on the additional state of charge L' and then determining the control based on the deviation of the base state of charge L from the target value for the base state of charge.
[0042] For this purpose, a base charger 14 can be assigned to the base receptacles 10, by means of which the uniform base charge level L can be changed. Due to the fact that the additional module 9' is not connected in terms of power, this change to the uniform base charge level L occurs without influencing the additional charge level L'. The base charger 14 can, for example, be identical to the converter circuit 8, via which the energy exchange with the intermediate circuit 5 takes place.
[0043] During normal operation of the medical device 1, i.e., when electrical energy can be supplied via the input stage 3 and the supply network 4, the battery storage unit 7 can, in principle, be operated in the same way to adjust the uniform base charge level L to the additional charge level L' as if the additional module 9' were not present, i.e., if the additional module 9' were not arranged in the additional receptacle 10'. In this case, the battery management system 12 merely ensures that the required adjustment of the base charge level L takes place. Thus, if the base charge level L is lower than the additional charge level L', the energy drawn from the battery storage unit 7 is simply slightly reduced and / or the energy supplied to the battery storage unit 7 is slightly increased until the base charge level L is adjusted to the additional charge level L'.Conversely, if the base charge level L is greater than the additional charge level L', only the energy consumption from the battery storage 7 is slightly increased and / or the energy supply to the battery storage 7 is slightly reduced until the base charge level L is equal to the additional charge level L'.
[0044] During emergency operation of the medical device 1, i.e., when the electrical power supply via the input stage 3 and the supply network 4 is not possible, the entire electrical energy must be drawn from the battery storage 7 to maintain emergency operation. However, a similar procedure can be followed in this case regarding the discharging of the base modules 9.
[0045] According to the presentation in Fig. 3, the balancing arrangement 11 has an additional charger 15, which is proprietary to the additional receptacle 10'. The additional charger 15 can be used to change the additional charge level L' of the additional module 9'. The additional charger 15 acts exclusively on the additional module 9'. Charging and discharging of the additional module 9 thus occurs without influencing the uniform base charge level L of the base modules 9.
[0046] It is possible that the adjustment of the base charge level L and the additional charge level L' to each other is achieved exclusively by charging and discharging the additional module 9'. In this case, the battery management system 12 determines a control for the additional charger 15 by first determining a target value for the additional charge level L' based on the base charge level L and then determining the control based on the deviation of the additional charge level L' from the target value for the additional charge level L'.
[0047] However, it is also possible for the additional charger 15 to be present in addition to the base charger 14. In this case, opposing changes in the charge states L and L' can be made to equalize the base charge state L and the additional charge state L'. In this case, the two aforementioned approaches are combined. Fig. 4 shows an alternative to the design of Fig. 3. Also in Fig. 4, the module holders 10, 10' are not shown. According to Fig. 4, an active balancing circuit 16 is assigned to the battery storage unit 7. By means of the active balancing circuit 16, charge can be transferred with low loss between the entirety of the base modules 9 on the one side and the additional module 9' on the other side. In this case, the change in the additional charge level L' is distributed evenly among the base modules 9. If, for example, the additional charge level L' is increased by x, the base charge level L of the base modules 9 is correspondingly reduced evenly by y, whereby the reduction in the base charge level L of an individual base module 9 causes the additional charge level L' to increase by x / 4. The "4" arises here because it is assumed that four base modules 9 are present. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment in which the additional module 9' is not integrated into the operation of the base modules 9. Such a non-integration is also possible in the embodiment of Fig. 4 is possible. If the additional module 9' is not integrated into the operation of the base modules 9 in terms of power technology, electrical energy is taken from the base modules 9 during ongoing operation and / or during emergency operation of the medical device 1 to operate the medical device 1, but not from the additional module 9'. However, it is also possible that during ongoing operation and / or during emergency operation of the medical device 1 to operate the medical device 1, electrical energy is taken from both the base modules 9 and the additional module 9'. This is particularly true in conjunction with the embodiment according to Fig. 4 is possible because the active balancing circuit 16 can also balance the charge states L, L' during the ongoing operation of the battery storage system 7. But also Fig. 3 can be modified accordingly.
[0048] It is even possible to dynamically integrate or not integrate the additional module 9' into the operation of the basic modules 9 as required. A possible configuration for this is described below in connection with Fig. 5 explained.
[0049] According to Fig. 5, a switching device 17 is assigned to the battery storage unit 7. The switching device 17 comprises at least the switch 18 and one of the two switches 19, preferably the switch 18 and both switches 19. The switches 18, 19 are preferably electronic switches (for example, IGBTs or MOSFETs) that can be switched so quickly that the operation of the medical device 1 is not disrupted. Switching times of the switches 18, 19 can be in the ms or even in the µs or ns range, as required. In some cases, it may also be possible for the switches 18, 19 to be designed as electromechanical or even as manually operated switches (such as manually inserted switching bridges).
[0050] The switching device 17 can in many cases be controlled by the battery management system 12. In this case, the switches 18 and 19 are switched in push-pull by the battery management system 12. When the switch 18 is closed, the switch 19 or the switches 19 are open. In this state, the additional module 9' is not integrated into the operation of the base modules 9 in terms of power. Conversely, if the switch 18 is open, the switch 19 or the switches 19 are closed. In this state, the additional module 9' is not integrated into the operation of the base modules 9 in terms of power.
[0051] Thus, it is easily possible to dynamically adjust whether, during ongoing operation and / or during emergency operation of the medical device 1, electrical energy is drawn exclusively from the base modules 9 or from both the base modules 9 and the additional module 9' for operating the medical device 1. The reverse procedure is also possible, i.e., whether electrical energy is supplied exclusively to the base modules 9 or to both the base modules 9 and the additional module 9' during ongoing operation of the medical device 1 is dynamically adjusted.
[0052] Also in Fig. 5 the module holders 10, 10' are not shown.
[0053] Preferably, the battery storage unit 7 is designed such that it supports and / or enables the ongoing operation of the medical device 1 and / or enables the emergency operation of the medical device 1 even if the number of base receptacles 10 in which no battery module 9 is arranged or in which the battery module 9 arranged in the respective base receptacle 10 is bridged does not exceed a limit number. The limit number can be, for example, 1 or 2. For example, Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the battery storage system 7 in which one of the base modules 9 is bridged by a switching bridge 20. This base module 9 is decoupled from the power network of the battery modules 9, 9'. The switching bridge 20 functions analogously to the switching device 17. It therefore does not short-circuit the corresponding base module 9. The switching bridge 20 can, in particular, be manually operated (e.g., plugged in) by an operator (not shown). However, in individual cases, it can also be designed as an electromechanical or electronic switch.
[0054] It is possible that the operation of the battery storage 7 in the event that one (or more) of the base modules 9 are not present or bridged, as shown in Fig.6 is only possible if the additional module 9' is present and integrated into the power network of the remaining base modules 9. However, it is also possible that the operation of the battery storage system 7 is possible in such a case even if the additional module 9' is not present or is not integrated into the power network of the remaining base modules 9.
[0055] The present invention has many advantages. In particular, it allows for the energy-efficient integration of an additional battery module 9' with any desired state of charge L' into a battery storage system 7 that already has multiple battery modules 9 with a uniform state of charge L in a simple and cost-effective manner. It is possible to replace a single battery module 9, 9'. Therefore, the entire battery storage system 7 does not need to be replaced. The time required to perform charge equalization is significantly reduced compared to prior art procedures.
[0056] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female or other gender identities are included.
Claims
[1] Medical device, - wherein the device has an electrical battery storage device (7) by means of which ongoing operation of the medical device is supported and / or enabled and / or emergency operation of the medical device is enabled, - wherein the battery storage device (7) has a plurality of battery modules (9, 9'), - wherein the battery modules (9, 9') are arranged in module receptacles (10, 10') of the medical device, - wherein a power-related interconnection of the battery modules (9, 9') with one another is determined by the arrangement of the battery modules (9, 9') in the module receptacles (10, 10'), characterized by , - that the module receptacles (10, 10') are divided into a plurality of base receptacles (10) and at least one additional receptacle (10'), - that a compensation arrangement (11) is assigned to the battery storage device (7), - that the equalization arrangement (11) is capable of effecting a low-loss equalization of the basic charge state (L) and the additional charge state (L') between battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) and having a uniform basic charge state (L) on the one hand and a battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10') and having an additional charge state (L') on the other hand, - that the compensation arrangement (11), however, is not capable of bringing about a uniform basic charge state (L) within the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized byin that the battery modules (9, 9') arranged in the module receptacles (10, 10') are connected in terms of data technology to a battery management system (12) of the medical device, so that the battery modules (9, 9') arranged in the module receptacles (10, 10') can transmit their respective charge state (L, L') to the battery management system (12), and in that a base charging device (14) which spans the base receptacles (10) is assigned to the base receptacles (10), by means of which the uniform base charge state (L) of the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) can be changed without influencing the additional charge state (L') of the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10'). [3] Device according to claim 2, characterized in that in order to adapt the uniform basic charge state (L) of the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) to the additional charge state (L') of the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10') during operation of the medical device, the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) are discharged or electrical energy is supplied to the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) in the same way as if no battery module (9') were arranged in the additional receptacle (10') and in emergency operation of the medical device in the case that in order to adapt the uniform basic charge state (L) of the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) to the additional charge state (L') of the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10') (9) is necessary,this discharging takes place in the same way as if no battery module (9') were arranged in the additional holder (10'). [4] Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the additional receptacle (10') is proprietaryly assigned an additional charging device (15), by means of which the additional charge state (L') of the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10') can be changed without influencing the uniform basic charge state (L) of the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10). [5] Device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the battery modules (9, 9') arranged in the module receptacles (10, 10') are connected in terms of data technology to a battery management system (12) of the medical device, so that the battery modules (9, 9') arranged in the module receptacles (10, 10') can transmit their respective charge state (L, L') to the battery management system (12), and that an additional charging device (15) is proprietary and assigned to the additional receptacle (10'), by means of which the additional charge state (L') of the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10') can be changed without influencing the uniform basic charge state (L) of the battery modules (9) arranged in the basic receptacles (10). [6] Device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the battery storage device (7) is assigned an active balancing circuit (16), by means of which charge can be transferred with low loss between the entirety of the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) on the one hand and the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10') on the other hand, and the change in the additional charge state (L') of the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10') is distributed evenly among the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10). [7] Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that during ongoing operation and / or during emergency operation of the medical device, electrical energy is taken from the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) for operating the medical device, but not from the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10'). [8] Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat during ongoing operation and / or during emergency operation of the medical device, electrical energy is taken from both the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) and the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10') to operate the medical device. [9] Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by in that a switching device (17) is assigned to the battery storage device (7), by means of which it can be dynamically adjusted whether, during ongoing operation and / or during emergency operation of the medical device, electrical energy is taken exclusively from the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) for operating the medical device, or whether it is taken from both the battery modules (9) arranged in the base receptacles (10) and the battery module (9') arranged in the additional receptacle (10'). [10] Device according to one of the above claims, characterized bythat the battery storage (7) is designed such that it supports and / or enables the ongoing operation of the medical device and / or enables the emergency operation of the medical device, as long as a number of base receptacles (10) in which no battery module (9) is arranged or in which the battery module (9) arranged in the respective base receptacle (10) is bridged does not exceed a limit number above 0, for example 1 or 2.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Device for Improving the Charging or Discharging Process of a Battery
US20090027006A1
Method and system for balancing a battery assembly
US20170163060A1
A multifunctional power distribution apparatus
US20190044336A1
Method and apparatus of a modular management system for energy storage cells
US20190288520A1