FR3084777A1 - EXTERNAL BATTERY FOR PORTABLE MEMBER SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an external battery (500) for an electronic object intended to be mounted on a member of a living being, comprising: - a main body (510) comprising an accumulator (520) capable of storing and restoring energy, - means for securing (530), in a removable manner, from the main body (510) to the electronic object.

Description

External battery for portable system on limb

GENERAL TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to battery management for electronic devices which are worn on a member, in general the wrist. These electronic devices can be a connected watch, a connected bracelet, or a body monitoring device via analysis of body fluid, typically interstitial, using micro-needles.

More specifically, the present invention aims to make possible continuous use (24 hours a day) of these electronic devices

STATE OF THE ART

Certain pathologies such as diabetes require daily monitoring of biochemical parameters of the human body, i.e. concentrations of certain compounds (blood sugar in the example of glucose).

Devices with micro needles are known, which have the advantage of being less invasive than conventional needles, such as that described in document WO2018104647, which has a housing comprising a removable capsule, the capsule accommodating micro needles configured to take interstitial fluid. . The housing, meanwhile, accommodates most of the electronics.

This portable device, typically on the wrist, allows continuous measurement and it is enough to change the capsule to change the micro-needles.

However, this portable device needs to be charged. Several options exist for this: either we remove the device completely (case and bracelet) to charge it, or we only remove the case and keep the bracelet. During recharging, the system cannot measure data, which can cause problems since the blood sugar, for example, may drop at a time when the device is charging.

To keep the system functional, other solutions are possible. We can provide two boxes that are changed alternately, but this is expensive, impractical and requires synchronization of the two boxes for the transfer of data and metadata.

There are also external batteries ("powerbank") which are in the form of a bracelet incorporating an accumulator. These are worn on the wrist and then simply plug the cable into the system power outlet. We can then imagine wearing the two bracelets side by side, but this is not convenient and there is a risk of the plug being torn off. In addition, the battery straps are fragile and easily damage the battery.

In addition, it is important that the device is easy to use.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

To solve some of these problems, the invention proposes an external battery for electronic object intended to be mounted on a member of a living being, comprising:

- a main body comprising an accumulator capable of storing and restoring energy,

- means for securing, in a removable manner, the main body to the electronic object.

By electronic object is meant electronic watch, bracelet, electronic patch, electronic body monitoring system etc., for example by being connected, that is to say capable of wireless connection with an external server (via internet, for example a mobile phone).

The limb is typically an arm, forearm, leg, etc.

In one embodiment, the external battery extends in a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a thickness direction in which the length of the external battery in the longitudinal direction and the width in the transverse direction are greater than the thickness according to the thickness direction, the external battery comprises an electrical connector positioned on a wall extending in the thickness direction.

In one embodiment, the removable securing means comprise a clamp extending from the main body configured to tighten the connected watch.

In one embodiment, the removable securing means comprise a ring extending from the main body configured to surround the connected watch.

In one embodiment, the ring is integrally formed with the main body.

In one embodiment, the ring includes a movable portion, to allow activating, by pressing on the movable portion, a push button of the watch when the battery is mounted on the connected watch.

In one embodiment, the ring comprises on an internal wall an electrical connector to be connected to a connector of the connected watch.

In one embodiment, the securing means comprise a magnet.

In one embodiment, the external battery extends in a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a thickness direction in which the accumulator and the removable securing means are located side by side along of the longitudinal direction, in which the length of the external battery in the longitudinal direction is between 1 to 4 times the width in the transverse direction, in which the thickness is less than the width.

In one embodiment, the length is between 30mm and 150mm, the width is between 30mm and 70mm and the thickness is between 5mm and 20mm.

In one embodiment, the external battery is configured to charge the connected object when said battery is connected to the mains by an external port.

The invention also provides an assembly comprising a body monitoring system forming an electronic object an electronic object intended to be mounted on a member of a living being and an external battery as described above, the body monitoring system comprising:

- a housing, to which the external battery can be attached via the securing means,

- micro-needles configured to be inserted into the skin to take and / or analyze a body fluid from the wearer of the body monitoring system when the latter is positioned on the limb.

In one embodiment, the body monitoring system comprises a display screen, the display screen being more than 50% visible (preferably more than 75%, ideally 100% visible) even when the external battery is mounted on the body monitoring system.

In one embodiment, the body monitoring system further includes a capsule comprising the micro needles, a patch, wherein the capsule or patch is attachable to the housing.

In one embodiment, the invention also proposes a set comprising:

- an external battery as described above, the external battery extending in a longitudinal direction,

- a housing for an electronic object intended to be mounted on a member of a living being, and

- a strap, integral with the housing, in which the longitudinal direction of the external battery is transverse to the direction of the strap when the strap is laid flat, so that the external battery extends over a rectilinear part from the front -arm, respectively of the arm, when the case is worn on a wrist, respectively on an arm.

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment. This description will be given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates in exploded view of an electronic object, with a bracelet, a case, a capsule and a patch as can be used in the context of the invention,

- Figure 2 illustrates a view of the external battery, as mounted on the electronic object,

- Figure 3 illustrates a view of the external battery, not mounted on the electronic object,

- Figure 4 illustrates another view of the external battery, as mounted on the electronic object,

- Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the external battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The external battery constitutes a reserve of energy which makes it possible to charge a battery of an electronic object, such as a connected watch (FIGS. 1 and 4), or a connected bracelet or a body monitoring system (which can be a form of watch. connected). Electronic object 1 is intended to be worn by a member of a living being (arm, forearm, leg, thigh, calf, etc.).

The electronic object 1 comprises a bracelet or a strap 110, allowing it to attach to a member, and a housing 120. The housing 120 comprises a display screen 113. In the context of the connected watch which will be described by thereafter, other elements may be present but they are linked with the housing 120. In particular, the bracelet or the thong can comprise a receptacle 114 capable of receiving the housing 120. The bracelet or the thong is then said to be "autonomous> >, in the sense that the presence of the case 120 is not necessary to fix the bracelet on the member.

The description will be made for a body measurement system, which is similar to a connected watch 1 (in particular in terms of case and display screen) with a bracelet worn on the wrist.

The external battery 500 comprises a main body 510. This main body 510 houses an accumulator 520 (or rechargeable battery), which can store and restore energy. In this regard, the main body 510 includes an external port 512 for charging the accumulator 520. A visual indicator (a diode) is also advantageously present to inform of the state of charge. The external port 512 can also serve as a connection point with the mains when the external battery 500 is used as a dock or as a charging base (cf. infra.).

The external battery 500 also comprises means 530 for removably joining the main body 510 to the connected watch

1. These securing means 530 allow a complete connection, without degree of freedom between the housing 120 and the external battery 500. Finally, the securing is said to be removable because the external battery 500 must be able to be removed and put back at will.

Clipping operation is suitable (an embodiment will be described later).

Thus, this external battery 500 makes it possible to charge the watch when the latter is worn on the wrist. It therefore remains usable, even when charging.

The securing means 530 are configured not to hide the screen 113 or part of the screen (at least 50% remains free), so as not to hinder the use of the connected watch 1.

The external battery 500 is essentially planar and a longitudinal direction X (length) and a transverse direction Y (width) are defined. Finally, we define a direction of thickness Z (thickness). The most important dimension is preferably the length (depending on the embodiments), which is between 1 and 4 times the width. Finally, the thickness is small compared to the width, in order to disturb the user as little as possible when the connected watch 1 is charging (width at least 1.5 times the thickness) via the external battery 500. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the external battery 500 is set back from the plane defined by the screen 113 for displaying the connected watch; this is reflected in particular by a thickness of the main body 510 less than the thickness of the housing 120.

For example, the length is between 30mm and 150mm (or even 50mm and 150mm), the width between 30 and 70mm and the thickness is between 5 and 20mm (or even 10mm and 15mm). Each of these quantities can be considered in isolation.

In the nonlimiting example of FIG. 2, the external battery 500 has a parallelepiped shape (with rounded corners), but it could also have an oblong shape.

The accumulator 520 and the securing means 530 are side by side in the longitudinal direction X. This makes it possible to have an external battery 500 which extends along the forearm, in a region of the body which does not bend no: there is thus no discomfort when using the external battery 500.

In particular, when the bracelet 100 is flat, the latter extends in a direction parallel to the transverse direction Y: the longitudinal direction X is therefore perpendicular. We can also define a direction of reading of the screen of the box 120 (which will be upside down or upside down thanks to the display of the screen 113 which are reversed, but the direction remains unchanged): in this case, the longitudinal direction X is parallel to the reading direction.

The joining means 530 can take several forms.

In an embodiment not illustrated, they are produced in the form of a clamp, which squeezes the sides of the housing 120 while keeping the screen visible.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the securing means 530 comprise magnets 539 positioned in the main body 510. It then suffices to approach the external battery 500 of the housing 120 so that there is a securing. A slight complementarity of form may be expected. In addition, the guidance can be done using connectors (described below).

In another embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the securing means 530 are made in the form of a ring 532, partial or complete. The ring extends from the main body 510 in the longitudinal direction X and surrounds the connected watch 1 (more precisely the housing 120) to attach the external battery 500. In a preferred embodiment illustrated, the ring 532 is integrally formed with the main body 510 (same material and advantageously made of material by molding). The ring 532 can be closed, and in this case it completely surrounds the housing 120, or else open, and in this case it partially surrounds the housing 120. Several types of open rings are possible.

The ring 532 includes, at its four angles, clipping tabs 540 which extend in the direction Z so as to be clipped onto the four angles of the housing 120 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The legs are C-shaped or at a right angle (in a section orthogonal to direction Z), to match the outline of the housing in the corner. At their end, the clip tabs 540 may include an inward projection to lock the housing in the Z direction.

Preferably, the ring 532 comprises at least one branch 534 configured to run along the housing 120 on one side, with a folding 535 at the end, which runs along an adjacent side of the housing 120, to come and surround the housing 120. similarly, another branch 536 is configured to run along the housing 120 on the other side of the housing 120, with another folding 537 which also runs along the abovementioned adjacent side. The folding 537 therefore joins the folding 535 mentioned above. The branch 534, 536 therefore extends in the longitudinal direction X, and preferably in direct extension of the main body (without extending transversely therefore).

The main body 510 can be made of plastic and or metal, solid or hollow, depending on the design requirements.

Generally, the connected connected watch 1 comprises a lateral push button 124, disposed on an edge (most often straight) of the housing 120. In order to be able to use the connected watch 1 during charging by the external battery 500, it is preferable to being able to continue being able to use the push button 124. In this regard, the ring 532 comprises, at the level of the folds 536, 537 a movable portion 538, which can move under the action of a finger (typically produced by a flexible portion deformable under the finger). The movable portion 538 is for example located between the two folds 536, 537.

In order to make the electrical connection with the housing 120, the external battery 500 comprises an electrical connector 514 (two connectors illustrated in FIG. 3), configured to come into contact with an additional connector

126 of the housing. The electrical connector 514 is positioned within the securing means.

In the case of the ring 532, the electrical connector can be positioned on an internal wall of the ring (for example the folding 535, 537), so as to be opposite the complementary connector 126 of the housing 120, and for example on the side of the ring which is opposite to that of the accumulator. The electrical circuit therefore passes through a branch 534, 536 of the ring.

The arrangement of the connectors on the opposite side to that of the accumulator is linked to the architecture of the case. In this case, the housing 120 may include an antenna (radio: 3G, 4G, etc.) which extends uninterruptedly on one side of the housing 120. Consequently, this side cannot accommodate the connector 126 or the push button 124. In the example of FIG. 1, as the push button 124 is preferably on the right (for wearing the watch on the left wrist), the side of the antenna is the side located closest to the accumulator when the external battery 500 is fitted.

In FIG. 3, the connector 514 is in fact composed of two connectors situated on either side of the movable portion of the ring 532. By connectors 514 is meant an elastic metal tab, which deforms when the external battery 500 is mounted and returns to its original position otherwise. The connector 126 of the watch is in the form of a metal pin.

A connector can be provided on the opposite side to allow the external battery 500 to be worn on the other side, when the watch is worn on the other wrist. In the example of Figures 1 to 4, the watch is worn on the left, which means that the external battery extends well over the left forearm.

For essentially aesthetic reasons, the accumulator 520 may have a protruding shape identical (also in dimensions) to that of the housing 120 or of the screen 113 when the external battery is mounted.

The external battery 500 can thus be worn for a few hours, to allow the connected watch to recharge. Just attach the external battery 500 and continue to wear the connected watch 1 normally. Typically, it is possible to do this in the early evening (hence the name “sunset powerbank”), during the meal, in order to have a watch charged for the night (where monitoring of body parameters such as blood sugar is capital) and for the next day.

The capacity of the accumulator 520 is preferably configured to allow at least two full charges, in order to bring serenity to the users. Two recharges correspond to approximately two full days, a weekend.

The external battery 500 can also be used as a dock or as a charging base on the mains, when the watch is not worn. It suffices to mount the external battery 500 on the housing 120 and to connect the external battery to the mains via the socket 512.

General architecture of an electronic object (Figure 1)

In addition to existing connected watches such as "Samsung Gear", "Apple Watch", for which there may be an advantage in being able to keep them in use 24 hours a day and other known devices (in particular for the functions of body constant control human), the external battery finds an essential application in electronic objects forming an electronic system 1 of body monitoring, of general concept with integral autonomous system with low pain, low hygienic risk and reusable.

By bodily monitoring is meant the verification of biochemical constants of a person carrying system 1, typically the concentration of a protein, a hormone, a marker, oxygen, nutrients, etc., in the interstitial fluid of the person. We will cite the example of blood sugar. The person skilled in the art will be able to monitor if necessary other physical physical quantities such as lactate, hydration, etc.

Monitoring interstitial fluid provides many benefits but applies to other body fluids such as blood.

System 1 is said to be autonomous because it does not require the use of additional equipment.

The monitoring system therefore comprises the housing 120 and the bracelet, but also the capsule 220, which couples with the housing 120 and which in particular comprises micro-needles configured to be inserted into the skin (in a superficial part of the epidermis). These micro needles 210, when the first module 100 is in position on the limb, make it possible to take and / or analyze a body fluid, as mentioned previously.

The micro needles 210 advantageously consist of a network of micro needles in contact with the skin when the capsule 220 is placed on the body of a person. Typically, micro-needles lodge in the epidermis without bleeding.

Preferably, the micro needles comprise between four and fifty micro needles 210, substantially pyramidal, with tips of a height between 100pm and 1000pm, preferably 0.3mm and

0.8mm. Each of these advantageous characteristics of micro needles can be taken separately or in combination with the others.

The micro-needles do not take fluid and integrate the sensor on their surface, in the form of a biochemical material capable of reacting with the analyte which it is desired to measure in the fluid. In another variant, the micro needles take fluid to send it to a sensor, preferably housed in the capsule.

In the housing 120 are arranged data processing means (in particular a processor or a microcontroller) configured to process measurements acquired by the sensor, and if necessary data storage means (in particular a memory, in particular of the type flash, and / or the memory of the microcontroller) allowing for example to store these measurements, and / or a date of the first use of each sensor to calculate an expiration date of the sensor (s) (biochemical sensors have a limited lifespan ). The data processing means also serve to generate instructions to different components. Within the framework of this description, these various functions are provided by the same unit. However, it is possible to provide dedicated processors. The system also includes a battery for the electrical supply of the components, advantageously rechargeable, for example via a port (which it is understood that it can also be used to connect the system 1 for example to a computer to download the acquired data and / or treated).

Preferably, the system 1 can comprise wireless connection means (in particular of the WiFi type, but also Bluetooth, or even 3G / 4G) for connection to a network, in particular the internet, and a user interface such as a screen, possibly touch to display the monitoring results to the user.

A person skilled in the art knows algorithms for processing sensor measurements and associated interfaces, and will be able to implement them in the present system 1.

The housing 120 further comprises electrical connectors, on a coupling face 122 with a coupling face 222 of the capsule 220.

The capsule 220 has the form of a closed box, typically sealed, which can be coupled with the housing 120. This capsule 220 is interchangeable, which makes it possible to obtain an economical and efficient system, where only the so-called consumable parts must be changed. The capsule 220 can have an annular shape, with a through opening in the center. In a variant mentioned above, the sensor is positioned inside the capsule 220 (or else in the housing 120) and analyzes the fluid taken up by the micro-needles 210.

In the same way, the second module 200 can comprise a patch 250, removably secured to the capsule 220. The patch 250 functions as an adhesive to keep the micro needles 210 pressed into the skin.

The capsule 220 (and the patch 250) forms an interchangeable assembly of the system which is chosen according to the type of monitoring desired and according to the state of deterioration of the micro-needles and / or of the sensor.

Indeed, insofar as the capsule 220 contains the micro needles

210 and / or the sensor, changing the capsule 220 makes it possible to change the sensors if they are at the end of their life or if one wishes to change the measured physical quantity, in a simple, fast and safe handling, without having to throw away 'other parts (in particular the first module).

And since the capsule 220 minimizes the amount of expensive element and / or materials (advanced electronic equipment such as a battery or wireless communication means), it is relatively inexpensive.

Claims (12)

1. External battery (500) for electronic object (1) intended to be carried on a member of a living being (1) comprising: - a main body (510) comprising an accumulator (520) capable of storing and restoring energy, - means for securing (530), removably, the main body (510) to the electronic object (1). 2. External battery (500) according to claim 1, extending a longitudinal direction (X), a transverse direction (Y) and a thickness direction (Z) in which the length of the external battery (500) according to the longitudinal direction (X) and the width along the transverse direction (Y) are more important than the thickness along the thickness direction, the external battery includes an electrical connector (514) positioned on a wall extending in the direction d 'thickness (Z). 3. External battery according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the removable securing means (530) comprise a clamp extending from the main body (510) configured to tighten the connected watch. 4. External battery according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the removable securing means (530) comprise a ring (532) extending from the main body (510) configured to surround the connected watch. 5. External battery according to claim 4, wherein the ring (532) comprises a movable portion (538), to enable activation, by pressing on the movable portion (538), a push button (124) of the watch (1) when the battery is mounted on the connected watch (1). 6. External battery according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the ring (532) comprises on an inner wall an electrical connector (514) to be connected to a connector (126) of the connected watch (1) . 7. External battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6, extending a longitudinal direction (X), a transverse direction (Y) and a thickness direction (Z) in which the accumulator (520) and the removable securing means (530) are located next to each other along the longitudinal direction (X), the length of the external battery (500) in the longitudinal direction (X) is between 1 to 4 times the width in the transverse direction (Y), the thickness is smaller than the width. 8. External battery according to any one of claims 1 to 7, having a length between 30mm and 150mm, a width between 30mm and 70mm and a thickness between 5mm and 20mm. 9. External battery according to any one of the preceding claims configured to charge a connected object when said object is mounted on the battery and said battery is connected to the mains by an external port (512). 10. An assembly comprising a body monitoring system (1) forming an electronic object intended to be mounted on a member of a living being and an external battery (500) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the monitoring system body (1) including: - a housing (120), to which the external battery (500) can be attached via the securing means (530), - micro-needles (210) configured to be inserted into the skin to take and / or analyze a bodily fluid from the wearer of the bodily monitoring system (1) when the latter is positioned on the limb. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the body monitoring system (1) comprises a display screen (113), the display screen (113) being visible at more than 50% even when the external battery ( 500) is mounted on the body monitoring system (1). 12. Set including: - an external battery (500) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the external battery (500) extending in a longitudinal direction (X), - a housing (120) for an electronic object intended to be mounted on a member of a living being, and - a strap (110), integral with the housing (120), in which the longitudinal direction (X) of the external battery (500) is transverse to the direction of the strap (110) when the strap (100) is laid flat , so that the external battery (500) extends over a rectilinear part of the forearm, respectively of the arm, when the case (120) is worn on a wrist, respectively on an arm.