Battery Pack Status Indicator Panel for Mechanical Ventilation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transportable ventilators face challenges in monitoring battery charge status without disrupting operation, as existing indicators are often hidden and require battery removal, posing risks to patient health and device functionality.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for indicating battery cell status on the exterior of the battery pack assembly, utilizing power from both the ventilator and battery pack to display charge levels visibly without removing the battery, including a Battery Pack Assembly Status Indicator Panel that shows charge, in-use, and fault indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If battery indicators are placed on the battery exterior, then users can view charge status without removing the battery, but the indicators are typically located on a side not visible when the battery is inserted into the ventilator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the battery status indicators from hidden side surfaces to the exposed exterior surface of the battery pack assembly that faces outward when inserted into the ventilator. This spatial repositioning allows users to view charge status, in-use status, and fault indicators without removing the battery, directly resolving the visibility problem while maintaining ease of operation.
2Loss of information
If users remove the battery to view charge status, then they can see the indicators, but this disrupts ventilator operation and risks patient health
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the indicators to the exposed exterior surface of the battery pack assembly, the patent enables users to monitor battery status without removing the battery from the ventilator. This eliminates the need to interrupt ventilator operation or risk patient health, while still providing full visibility of charge status, in-use status, and fault indicators.
3Ease of operation
If indicators are placed on the exposed exterior of the battery pack assembly, then users can view status without removing the battery, but additional power management circuitry is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dual-power source system where the battery pack assembly can draw power from both its internal battery and the ventilator's power source. The power management circuitry intelligently selects or combines these sources to illuminate the exterior indicators, enabling status monitoring without removing the battery while managing the added complexity through multi-functional power management.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for indicating battery cell status on a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein seek to provide methods for indicating battery cell status on the exposed exterior of a battery assembly pack both when the battery is in use and when the battery is not in use during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments utilize power from the ventilator as well as power from the battery pack itself to light the indicators during periods of battery use and non-use, respectively. Embodiments described herein further seek to provide an apparatus indicating battery cell status on the exposed exterior of the battery pack assembly during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein further seek to provide an apparatus for a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein seek to provide a system for a ventilation system with an inserted battery pack assembly.