초록 ▼

A powering subassembly for a portable electronic device includes a main battery, a converter, a backup battery, and a controller. The main battery provides a main voltage and the backup battery can provide a backup voltage. The converter receives the main voltage and increases the main voltage to at

A powering subassembly for a portable electronic device includes a main battery, a converter, a backup battery, and a controller. The main battery provides a main voltage and the backup battery can provide a backup voltage. The converter receives the main voltage and increases the main voltage to at least one operating voltage. The controller receives the operating voltage from the converter, monitors the voltage of the main battery, and compares the monitored main battery voltage to a main battery low voltage threshold. The controller transmits a disconnect signal to decouple the main battery from the converter if the monitored voltage from the main battery is less than the main battery low voltage threshold. The controller transmits a connection signal to couple the backup battery to the converter if the monitored voltage is less than the main battery low voltage threshold. The backup battery provides the power for a predetermined minimum amount of time.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of providing backup power to a portable electronic device having a primary battery and a backup battery, the method comprising: monitoring a battery level of the primary battery of the portable electronic device; generating a first signal to cause the primary battery

What is claimed is: 1. A method of providing backup power to a portable electronic device having a primary battery and a backup battery, the method comprising: monitoring a battery level of the primary battery of the portable electronic device; generating a first signal to cause the primary battery to be disconnected if the battery level of the primary battery is less than a low battery threshold voltage; and generating a second signal to cause the backup battery of the portable electronic device to provide power for the portable electronic device, wherein the backup battery is configured to be charged by the primary battery and provides power for operating the portable electronic device with full feature functionality for a period of at least 24 hours. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generation of the first signal and the second signal occur substantially simultaneously. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the low battery threshold voltage is less than 1.0 volt. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the low battery threshold voltage is less than 0.8 volts. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery level and the low battery threshold are both values of a current supplied by the primary battery. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is an insulin pump. 7. A method of providing power to a portable electronic device having a main battery and a backup battery, the method comprising: detecting whether the main battery has been inserted into the portable electronic device and transmitting a detection signal to a controller if the main battery is detected; coupling a voltage from the main battery to a power converter after the main battery has been detected; providing an operating voltage to a controller, the operating voltage being provided from the power converter after the power converter receives the voltage; upon detection of the main battery, automatically charging the backup battery of the portable electronic device utilizing a signal transmitted from the controller, so as to charge the backup battery by the main battery; monitoring a battery level of the backup battery to determine if the backup battery has reached a charging level; and disabling the charging of the backup battery if the charging level of the backup battery has been exceeded. 8. The method of claim 7, further including monitoring a battery level of the main battery to determine if the main battery has been drained below a main battery low threshold voltage. 9. The method of claim 8, further including transmitting a disconnection signal to disconnect the main battery from coupling the voltage to the power converter if the main battery has been drained below the main battery low threshold voltage. 10. The method of claim 9, further including transmitting a connection signal to connect the backup battery to provide power to the power converter if the main battery has been drained below the threshold main battery level. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein a capacitor is coupled between the main battery and the power converter, the capacitor receives the voltage from the main battery, and provides the voltage to the power converter. 12. The method of claim 10, further including monitoring the portable electronic device to determine if a sufficiently charged main battery has been inserted into the portable electronic device and transmitting a detection signal to the controller if the sufficiently charged main battery has been installed. 13. The method of claim 12, further including transmitting a main battery connection signal to connect the main battery if the sufficiently charged main battery has been inserted into the portable electronic device and transmitting a backup battery connection signal to disconnect the backup battery from providing power to the power converter. 14. The method of claim 13, further including the controller checking a level of the backup battery to determine a charging level of the backup battery and to charge the backup battery if the charging level is below an acceptable threshold. 15. The method of claim 7, wherein the portable electronic device is an insulin pump. 16. A program code storage device, comprising: program code storage device; and machine-readable program code, stored on the program code storage device, the machine-readable program code having instructions, which when executed, cause a controller for a portable electronic device having a main battery and a backup battery to: receive a battery detect signal from the main battery of the portable electronic device; receive a main battery voltage reading; compare the main battery voltage reading against a main battery low voltage threshold; if the main battery voltage reading is less than or equal to the main battery low voltage threshold, transmit a main battery disconnect signal to a switching device to disconnect the main battery from providing power to the controller; and transmit a backup battery connect signal to a switching device to connect the backup battery of the portable electronic device to provide power to the controller to allow full feature functionality for a period of at least 24 hours, said backup battery having been charged by the main battery of the portable electronic device. 17. The program code storage device of claim 16, including instructions, which when executed, cause the controller to transmit a message to a display of the portable electronic device indicating a minimum time for which the backup battery can provide power for the portable electronic device. 18. The program code storage device of claim 16, including instructions, which when executed, transmit a request for the main battery voltage reading to a main battery detection circuit if the battery detect signal is received. 19. A program code storage device, comprising: program code storage media; and machine-readable program code, stored on the program code storage media, the machine-readable program code including instructions, which when executed cause a controller for a portable electronic device having a main battery and a backup battery to: receive a main battery detection signal indicating that the main battery of the portable electronic device is present within a powering circuit of the portable electronic device; receive an operating level of the backup battery of the portable electronic device; upon receipt of the main battery detection signal, automatically transmit a signal to a backup battery charging circuit to charge the backup battery by the main battery if the operating level is below a backup battery charging threshold; receive a charging level of the backup battery; and stop transmitting the signal to the charging circuit if the charging level of the backup battery is above the charging threshold. 20. The program code storage device of claim 19, including instructions, which when executed cause the controller to receive a main battery voltage reading and compare the main battery voltage reading against a main battery threshold voltage. 21. The program code storage device of claim 20, including instructions, which when executed cause the controller to transmit a main battery disconnect signal to cause the main battery to cease providing power to the microcontroller and to transmit a backup battery connect signal to cause the backup battery to provide power to the microcontroller. 22. A powering subassembly for a portable insulin pump comprising: a main battery to provide a main voltage to the insulin pump; a converter to receive the main voltage and to increase the main voltage to at least one operating voltage; a backup battery configured to be charged by the main battery and to provide a backup voltage to the insulin pump to allow the insulin pump to operate with full feature functionality for a period of at least 24 hours; and a controller to receive the operating voltage from the converter, to monitor a voltage level of the main battery, to compare the monitored voltage level of the main battery to a main battery low voltage threshold, to transmit a disconnect signal to prevent the main battery from providing the main voltage to the converter if the monitored voltage level is less than or equal to the main battery low voltage threshold, to transmit a connection signal to the backup battery to cause the backup battery to provide a backup voltage to the converter, and to receive an operating level of the backup battery and automatically transmit a signal to a charging device to charge the backup battery by the main battery if the operating level of the backup battery is below a charging threshold. 23. The powering subassembly according to claim 22, further including a switching device to uncouple the main battery from a reference ground after receiving the disconnect signal. 24. The powering subassembly according to claim 22, wherein a capacitor is coupled between the main battery and the converter, the capacitor is charged up by the main battery and the capacitor provides a smoother main voltage to the converter. 25. The powering subassembly according to claim 22, wherein the controller monitors a charging level of the backup battery and discontinues transmission of the signal to the charging device if the charging level of the backup battery is above the charging threshold. 26. The powering subassembly of claim 22, wherein the main battery low voltage threshold is less than 1.0 volts. 27. The power subassembly of claim 22, wherein the main battery low voltage threshold is less than 0.8 volts. 28. The powering subassembly of claim 22, wherein rechargeable, lithium, or alkaline batteries can be utilized by the insulin pump. 29. The powering subassembly according to claim 22, wherein at least 95% of the main battery energy is utilized before the main battery reaches a low voltage threshold. 30. The powering subassembly according to claim 22, wherein the converter provides other operating voltages to a pump, a display, and a second processor, the second processor not being the controller. 31. A portable insulin pump, comprising: a display to provide messages to a user; and a powering subassembly, the powering subassembly including: a main battery to provide a main voltage to the portable insulin pump; a backup battery configured to be charged by the main battery and to provide a backup voltage to the portable insulin pump to allow the insulin pump to operate with full feature functionality for a period of at least 24 hours; a capacitor, coupled to one of the main battery and the backup battery, and capable of being coupled to both the main battery and the backup battery, to receive either the main voltage or the backup voltage, and to transfer the received voltage; a converter to receive the received voltage from the capacitor and to generate at least one operating voltage; and a controller to receive the at least one operating voltage from the converter, to monitor the main voltage of the main battery, to compare the monitored level of the main battery to a main battery low voltage threshold, to transmit a disconnect signal to prevent the main voltage from the main battery from being coupled to the capacitor if the monitored level of the main battery is less than or equal to the main battery low voltage threshold, and to automatically transmit a signal to a charging device to charge the backup battery by the main battery if the backup voltage of the backup battery is below a charging threshold. 32. The insulin pump of claim 31, wherein the controller further transmits a connect signal to couple the backup voltage from the backup battery to the capacitor if the monitored level of the main battery is less than or equal to the main battery low voltage threshold. 33. The insulin pump of claim 32, wherein the converter provides an operating voltage for the display. 34. The insulin pump of claim 32, wherein the main battery can be a removable rechargeable battery which can be recharged by household current. 35. The insulin pump of claim 31, wherein the main battery low voltage threshold is less than 1.0 volts. 36. The insulin pump of claim 31, wherein the main battery low voltage threshold is less than 0.8 volts. 37. The insulin pump of claim 31, wherein at least 95% of the main battery energy is utilized before the main battery reaches a low voltage threshold.