POWER SUPPLY FOR A PROSTHESIS

Abstract

Energy supply system 3 for a prostheses 1, comprising at least a first 12 and a second 16 energy storage means, wherein in a charging mode for charging at least the first energy storage means 12, the first energy storage means 12 is electrically connected to the second energy storage means 16 in a first manner and in a working mode for delivering electrical energy to a consumer the first energy storage means 12 is electrically connected to the second energy storage means 16 in a second manner, such that the first connecting manner is different from the second connecting manner.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An energy supply system (3) for a prosthesis (1) comprising: at least first and second energy storage devices (12, 16) for storing electrical energy, wherein in a charging mode for charging at least the first energy storage device (12), the first energy storage device (12) is electrically connected, in a first connecting manner, to the second energy storage device (16), and, in a working mode for delivering electrical energy to a consumer, the first energy storage device (12) is electrically connected, in a second connecting manner, to the second energy storage device (16), and the first connecting manner is different from the second connecting manner.

17. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein the first energy storage device (12), in the working mode, is connected in series with the second energy storage device (16).

18. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein the first energy storage device (12), in the charging mode, is connected in parallel with the second energy storage device (16).

19. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein the first energy storage device (12), in the charging mode, is electrically separated from the second energy storage device (16).

20. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and the second energy storage devices (12, 16) is an accumulator.

21. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and the second energy storage devices (12, 16) is a lithium-ion accumulator.

22. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein the energy supply system (3) comprises a connection device according to a USB Standard.

23. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein the energy supply system comprises at least the first energy storage device (12), the second energy storage device (16) and a third energy storage device, and, in the charging mode, a majority of the at least first, the second and the third energy storage devices (12, 16) are respectively connected in parallel with one of the first, the second and the third energy storage devices, and, in the working mode, the majority of the at least first, the second and the third energy storage devices (12, 16) are respectively connected in series with one of the first, the second and the third energy storage devices.

24. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein the energy supply system comprises a manual switch for switching between the charging mode and the working mode.

25. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein the energy supply system (3) comprises a detection device for detecting whether a charging device should be connected to the energy supply system.

26. The energy supply system (3) according to claim 16, wherein the first and the second energy storage devices, during the working mode, are connected in parallel and the first and the second energy storage devices, during the charging mode, are each connected to a charging device.

27. A prosthesis (1) with an energy supply system having at least first and second energy storage devices (12, 16) for storing electrical energy, wherein in a charging mode for charging at least the first energy storage device (12), the first energy storage device (12) is electrically connected, in a first connecting manner, to the second energy storage device (16), and, in a working mode for delivering electrical energy to a consumer, the first energy storage device (12) is electrically connected, in a second connecting manner, to the second energy storage device (16), and the first connecting manner is different from the second connecting manner, and the prosthesis is an exoprosthesis.

28. The prosthesis (1) according to claim 27, wherein the prosthesis (1) is one of a prosthesis of an upper extremity, a finger prosthesis, a hand prosthesis, and an arm prosthesis.

29. A method for charging at least first and second energy storage devices (12, 16) of a prosthesis (1) starting from a working mode in which the first energy storage device (12) is connected in series with the second energy storage device (16), the method comprising: electrically separating the first energy storage device (12) and the second energy storage device (16) from an energy consumer; removing the series connection; and electrically connecting, in a charging mode, at least one of the first energy storage device (12) and the second energy storage device (16) to a charging device (17, 17) to initiate a charging mode.

30. The charging method according to claim 29, further comprising connecting the first energy storage device (12), in the charging mode, in parallel with the second energy storage device (16).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Below, the invention is explained in greater detail with reference to example embodiments and with the help of drawings. These explanations do not limit the protective scope, which is defined solely by the claims.

[0045] The drawings show:

[0046] FIG. 1: A hand prosthesis with an energy supply system,

[0047] FIG. 2: A second design of an energy supply system,

[0048] FIG. 3: A schematic representation of a forearm and hand prosthesis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a hand prosthesis 1 comprising a prosthesis body 2 and an energy supply system 3. The prosthesis body 2 comprises four finger elements 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, a thumb element 5, and a hand body element 6. The finger elements 4a, 4b. 4c, 4d and the thumb element 5 are in each case connected pivotably to the hand body element 6. The finger elements 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and the thumb element 5 can be pivoted by one or more electric motors. For this, the electric motors can be supplied by the energy supply system 3 with energy, in particular electrical energy.

[0050] The prosthesis body 2 further comprises a prosthesis shaft 7, wherein the prosthesis shaft 7 is rotatably connected to the hand body element 6 by way of a wrist element 8.

[0051] The energy supply system 3 can be arranged at least partially in the prosthesis shaft 7. Alternatively, the energy supply system 3 can also be arranged at least partially in the prosthesis body 2. The energy supply system 3 comprises at least two outputs 9 and 10, wherein one output 9 is connected to the electrically positive input of the consumers, such as the electric motors and/or the control electronic system 30, and the second output 10 is connected to the negative input of the consumers.

[0052] In the working mode, the first output 9 can then be connected via a positive pole 16a to at least a second accumulator 16. In the working mode the second output 10 can be connected to at least a negative pole 12b of the first accumulator 12.

[0053] The second output 10 is connected to a first input 11a of a first switch 11. In addition to the first input 11a, the first switch 11 has a second input 11b and an output 11c. The output 11c of the first switch 11 can optionally be connected to the first input 11a or to the second input 11b. The output 11c of the first switch is connected to the negative pole of the first accumulator 12.

[0054] Besides the switch 11, the energy supply system 3 can comprise a second switch 13, a third switch 14 and a fourth switch 15. The second switch 13 has a first input 13a, a second input 13b and an output 13c. The third switch 14 has a first input 14a, a second input 14b and an output 14c. The fourth switch 15 has a first input 15a, a second input 15b and an output 15c.

[0055] The output 11c of the first switch 11 can optionally be connected to the first input 11a of the first switch 11 or to the second input 11b of the first switch. The output 13c of the second switch 13 can optionally be connected to the first input 13a of the second switch 13 or to the second input 13b of the second switch 13. The output 14c of the third switch 14 can optionally be connected to the first input 14a of the third switch 14 or to the second input 14b of the third switch 14. The output 15c of the fourth switch 15 can optionally be connected to the first input 15a of the fourth switch 15 or to the second input 15b of the fourth switch 15.

[0056] The output 13c of the second switch 13 is connected to the positive pole 12a of the first accumulator 12, the output 14c of the third switch 14 is connected to the negative pole 16b of a second accumulator 16 and the output 15c of the fourth switch 15 is connected to the positive pole 16a of the second accumulator 16.

[0057] The second input 11b of the first switch is connected to the second input 14b of the third switch 14. The first input 13a of the second switch 13 is connected to the first input 14a of the third switch 14. The second input 13b of the second switch 13 is connected to the second input 15b of the fourth switch 15. The second input 14b of the third switch 14 is connected to the negative pole 17a of a charging unit 17. The charging unit is connected to a USB connector 18, which can be connected by way of a transformer 19 to a power supply system 20. The USB connector 18 can also be connected to another device which functions as a charging station or to a mobile energy source, such as a power-packa mobile accumulator charging unit.

[0058] The second input 15b of the fourth switch 15 is connected to the positive pole 17b of the charging unit 17. The positive output 9 is connected to the first input 15a of the fourth switch 15.

[0059] If the accumulators are to be charged, the output 11c of the first switch 11 is connected to the second input 11b of the first switch 11, the output 13c of the second switch 13 is connected to the second input 13b of the second switch 13, the output 14c of the third switch 14 is connected to the second input 14b of the third switch 14 and the output 15c of the fourth switch 15 is connected to the second input 15b of the fourth switch 15.

[0060] In this case the positive output 17b of the charging unit 17 is electrically connected to the positive pole 16a of the second accumulator 16 and to the positive pole 12a of the first accumulator 12, and the negative output 17a of the charging unit is connected to the negative pole 16b of the second accumulator 16 and to the negative pole 12b of the first accumulator 12. Thus, the positive output 9 and the negative output 10 are connected neither to the accumulators 12 and 16 nor to the charging unit 17.

[0061] If the consumers, such as the electric motors and the control electronics, are to be supplied with energy by the accumulators 12, 16, then the output 11c of the first switch 11 is connected to the first input 11a of the first switch 11, the output 13c of the second switch 13 is connected to the first input 13a of the second switch 13, the output 14c of the third switch 14 is connected to the first input 14a of the third switch 14 and the output 15c of the fourth switch 15 is connected to the first input 15a of the fourth switch 15. In this case, the positive output 9 is connected to the positive pole 16a of the second accumulator 16 and the negative output 10 is connected to the negative pole 12b of the first accumulator 12. The positive pole 12a of the first accumulator 12 is connected to the negative pole 16b of the second accumulator. The charging unit 17 is then not electrically connected to the accumulators 12 and 16.

[0062] The switches 11, 13, 14 and 15 can be individual mechanical, electric, electronic, magnetic or other switches, or they may form a switch combination which can be actuated as a whole. There can also be a relay.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows an energy supply system 3 with a first accumulator 12 and a second accumulator 16. The first accumulator 12 is connected with its positive input 12a to the output 13c of the switch device 13. The negative input 12b of the first accumulator 12 is connected to the output 11c of the switch device 11. The positive input 16a of the second accumulator 16 is connected to the output 15c of the switch device 15. The negative input 16b of the second accumulator is connected to the output 14c of the switch device 14.

[0064] In a working mode in which the accumulators 12, 16 are electrically connected to one or more consumers in order to supply the consumers with electrical energy, the output 11c of the first switch device is connected to the second input 11b of the switch device 11, the output 13c is connected to the second input 13b, the output 14c is connected to the second input 14b and the output 15c is connected to the second input 15b. The second input 11b is connected to the negative pole 22 of an electrical connection to a consumer. The second input 13b is connected to the second input 14b. The second input 15b is connected to the positive pole 21 of an electrical connection to the consumer.

[0065] In a charging mode the output 11c is connected to the first input 11a, the output 13c is connected to the first input 13a, the output 14c is connected to the first input 14a and the output 15c is connected to the first input 15a. In this case the first input 11a is connected to a negative output 17a of a charging device 17, the first input 13a is connected to a positive output 17b of the charging device 17, the first input 14a is connected to a negative output 17a of a charging device 17 and the first input 15a is connected to a positive output 17b of the charging device 17.

[0066] A positive input 17d of the charging device 17 is connected to a positive input 17d of the charging device 17 and to a positive output 18a of a low-voltage current supply. 18, such as a current supply according to the USB standard.

[0067] The low-voltage current supply can also be a USB connector.

[0068] A negative input 17c of the charging device 17 is connected to a negative input 17c of the charging device 17 and to a negative output 18b of the low-voltage current supply 18.

[0069] The two outputs 18a, 18b of the low-voltage current supply 18 are in this case connected to two control inputs 19a and 19b of a relay 19, so that when a particular voltage is applied to the control inputs the relay switches and the output 11c is connected to the first input 11a, the output 13c is connected to the first input 13a, the output 14c is connected to the first input 14a and the output 15c is connected to the first input 15a.

[0070] If no voltage is applied at the control inputs, or a voltage whose value is below a specific threshold, then the output 11c is connected to the second input 11b, the output 13c is connected to the second input 13b, the output 14c is connected to the second input 14b and the output 15c is connected to the second input 15b.

[0071] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a user 40 of a prosthesis 1. An arm stump 41 of the user 40 is in this case enclosed at least laterally by the prosthesis shaft 7 so that the prosthesis 1 is held by the arm stump 41. On the side of the prosthesis shaft 7 facing away from the arm stump 41 the hand body element 6 is connected to the prosthesis shaft 7 by a wrist element 8. The finger elements 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and the thumb element 5 are arranged on the hand body element 6. On the outside of the prosthesis shaft a connection element such as a USB connector 18 can be arranged. Alongside the connection element a signal device 32 can also be arranged, which indicates whether the energy supply system is in the charging mode or the working mode. In addition a control element 33 can be arranged there, by means of which the respective mode of the energy supply system can be determined.

INDEXES

[0072] 1 Hand prosthesis [0073] 2 Prosthesis body [0074] 3 Energy supply system [0075] 4a Finger element [0076] 4b Finger element [0077] 4c Finger element [0078] 5 Thumb element [0079] 6 Hand body element [0080] 7 Prosthesis shaft [0081] 8 Wrist element [0082] 9 Output [0083] 10 Output [0084] 11 First switch [0085] 11a First input of the first switch [0086] 11b Second input of the first switch [0087] 11c Output of the first switch [0088] 12 First accumulator [0089] 12a Positive pole of the first accumulator [0090] 12b Negative pole of the first accumulator [0091] 13 Second switch [0092] 13a First input of the second switch [0093] 13b Second input of the second switch [0094] 13c Output of the second switch [0095] 14 Third switch [0096] 14a First input of the third switch [0097] 14b Second input of the third switch [0098] 14c Output of the third switch [0099] 15 Fourth switch [0100] 15a First input of the fourth switch [0101] 15b Second input of the fourth switch [0102] 15c Output of the fourth switch [0103] 16 Second accumulator [0104] 16a Positive pole of the second accumulator [0105] 16b Negative pole of the second accumulator [0106] 17 First charging device [0107] 17a Negative output of the first charging device [0108] 17b Positive output of the first charging device [0109] 17c Negative input of the first charging device [0110] 17d Positive input of the first charging device [0111] 17 Second charging device [0112] 17a Negative output of the second charging device [0113] 17b Positive output of the second charging device [0114] 17c Negative input of the second charging device [0115] 17d Positive input of the second charging device [0116] 18 Low-voltage current supply [0117] 18a Output of the low-voltage current supply [0118] 18b Output of the low-voltage current supply [0119] 19 Relay [0120] 19a Control line of the relay [0121] 19b Control line of the relay [0122] 40 User [0123] 41 Arm stump