Accessory device and assembly including same for providing secure detection of the accessory device using data transfer

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a main device and an accessory, which can be connected by a safe connector and a safe detection method. According to the invention, the assembly comprises: —a main device (2), —an accessory (3) connectable to the main device (2), —the accessory (3) comprising an accessory connector (4) for mating with a device connector (5) of the main device (2), —the accessory connector (4) and the device connector (5) each comprising one or more supply contacts (7) for transmitting electric power from the main device (2) to the accessory (3), —the main device (2) comprising a detection device (9), which, if connecting the accessory (3) to the main device (2), receives complex accessory data stored by the accessory (3) and which by positive evaluation of the complex data enables applying a supply voltage at the one or more supply contacts (7) of the device connector (5).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a main device and an accessory, which can be connected by a safe connector and a safe detection method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of patient monitoring, assemblies comprising a medical main device, for example, a measurement device, and one or more accessories devices, for example, cables and sensors, are adapted to conduct measurements at the specific location at the patient. Cables and sensors are often designed for one time use or need to be cleaned or sterilised after usage. Therefore, these accessories must be detachable from the main device. A connector provides mechanical stability and electrical connections for data or power flow or material flow from the accessory to the measurement device.

It is known to use plug and socket arrangements for mechanical and electrical connection. Typically connectors are build and optimized for different purposes: providing a detachable mechanical joint, providing mechanical stability when connected, protecting electrical contacts from environmental conditions (humidity, dirt, corrosion, destruction), and protecting a person from potential harm caused by touching electrical contacts. In the field of medical devices the last point needs special attention. A patient or person might not be able to disengage himself from a hazardous device. During surgery exposed tissue might be more vulnerable than usual. Legal regulations for medical devices covering this topic must be obeyed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,412 B2 discloses an assembly, comprising a mobile phone and an accessory connectable to the mobile phone. The mobile phone and the accessory each comprise a supply contact and a detect contact. If disconnected, no voltage is applied at the supply contact of the main device. If connected, a voltage is applied at the supply contact of the main device, supplying the accessory with electric power. The different states are detected by a detection circuit of the mobile phone. A low voltage is applied at the detect contact of the main device. While connecting the accessory to the mobile phone, the accessory detect contact touches the detect contact of the main device, leading to a change of logic state inside the detection device, which enables applying a voltage at the supply contact. The supply contact of the accessory is longer than the detect pin, so that the supply contacts are touching each other before the detect contacts are getting into contact. Therefore, voltage is applied at the supply contact only after the supply contacts are in contact, minimizing or preventing the causing of sparks.

However, known methods for detecting an accessory have several disadvantages. Environmental conditions (water, moisture, dirt) can disturb the quality and reliability of the method. Furthermore, mechanical deformations, accidental or willing misuse can lead to false detection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an assembly, comprising a main device and an accessory device, connectable to the main device, which allows 20 and a memory 21, in which complex second accessory data is stored, which can be read out by the accessory controller 20. In this case, in the second detection step, the second detection circuit 11 sends a request to the accessory controller 20 requesting to transmit second complex accessory data, upon which, if the request is valid, the accessory controller 20 reads out the non-volatile memory 21 and transmits the second complex accessory data to the second detection circuit 11.

Furthermore, it possible to omit one of the two detection steps and to keep only one detection step, in which complex accessory data is received and evaluated by the detection device 9. In this case, one of the two detection circuits 10, 11 and storage mediums 16, 17 can be omitted. On the other hand, it is also possible to provide more than two detection steps.

The assembly according to the invention can be used for a wide variety of applications. However, medical applications are preferred. For example, the assembly can be a medical device attached to a bedside of a patient or to be carried by or to be attached to a patient. In the latter case, one part, preferrably the accessory, can be left being attached to the patient, while the other part, preferrably the main device, can be connected and disconnected. This allows to disconnect the main device for battery charging, for example.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. An assembly, accessory device for use with a main device, the accessory device comprising:

an accessory, including:

a sensor circuit for performing patient monitoring;

at least one data store that stores first accessory data and second accessory data; and

an accessory connector, which includes:

one or more supply contacts connected with the sensor circuit, and

a first and second detect contacts connected with the at least one data store; and

a main device comprising including: wherein the accessory connector is configured to connect with a main device connector which includes of the main device, the main device connector including one or more supply contacts which are configured to connect electrically with the accessory connector one or more supply contacts of the accessory connector and a first and second detect contacts which are configured to connect electrically with the accessory first and second detect contacts, respectively, of the accessory connector; and

at least one detection device, which, wherein, in response to the main and accessory connectors connecting via the accessory and main device contacts, receives a detection device of the main device reads the first accessory data from the at least one accessory data store of the accessory device via the first detect contacts of the main device and the first detect contacts of the accessory detect contacts device, and evaluates the first accessory data, and in response to a positive evaluation of the first accessory data by the main device indicating the accessory device is authenticated, the detection device of the main device reads the second accessory data from the at least one accessory data store of the accessory device via the second detect contacts of the main device and the second detect contacts of the accessory detect contacts and evaluates the second accessory data; device and, in response to a positive evaluation of the second accessory data by the main device indicating the accessory device is authenticated, a power supply which of the main device supplies power to the sensor circuit of the accessory device via the one or more supply contacts of the main device connector in response to a positive evaluation of the second accessory data and the one or more supply contacts of the accessory connector.

2. The assembly accessory device according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one data store includes a first data store which provides stores the first accessory data and a second data store which stores the second accessory data; and

the at least one detect contact of the accessory connector includes a first detect contact is connected with the first data store and a the second detect contact is connected with the second accessory data store.

3. The assembly accessory device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one accessory data store includes an electric component and a digital memory, the first accessory data including an impedance of the electric component and the second accessory data including digital data stored in the digital memory.

4. An assembly, comprising:

a main device;

an accessory device connectable to the main device;

the accessory device comprising an accessory connector for mating with a device connector of the main device, the accessory connector and the device connector each comprising one or more supply contacts for transmitting electric power from the main device to the accessory device;

the main device comprising at least one detection device, if wherein upon connecting the accessory device to the main device via mating of the accessory connector and the device connector, the at least one detection device receives and evaluates first accessory data stored by the accessory device and, after receiving and evaluating the first accessory data, receives and evaluates second accessory data stored by the accessory device, and, by a positive evaluation of at least the second accessory data indicating the accessory device is authenticated, enables applying a electrical power at the one or more supply contacts of the device connector, wherein the accessory device and the main device each comprise connecting first and second detect contacts, wherein the first accessory data is transmitted by the connected first detect contacts and the second accessory data is transmitted by the connected second detect contacts of the main device and the accessory device.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second accessory data is stored in an accessory memory of the accessory device.

6. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the accessory device comprises an accessory controller wherein, if upon connecting the accessory device to the main device via mating of the accessory connector and the device connector, main device data is transmitted from the detection device to the accessory controller, the accessory controller evaluating the main device data and transmitting the second accessory data to the detection device.

7. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one detection device receives the second accessory data only if the evaluation of the first accessory data is positive indicating the accessory device is authenticated.

8. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the first accessory data is stored in at least one electric or electronic component.

9. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the at least one detection device includes a first detection circuit for receiving the first accessory data and a second detection circuit for receiving the second accessory data.

10. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second accessory data comprises at least 16 bits.

11. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second accessory data is digital complex data comprising a checksum or a hash sum.

12. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the accessory device comprises a sensor circuit, the main device comprises a measurement circuit, and the accessory device and the main device each comprise a measurement contact, wherein by connecting of the accessory device to the main device via mating of the accessory connector and the device connector, the measurement contacts are connected, enabling transmitting of measurement data from the sensor circuit to the measurement circuit.

13. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the main device comprises a controller for controlling the at least one detection device, a measurement circuit and/or a power supply for applying a supply voltage at the one or more supply contact contacts of the main device.

14. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein at least the one or more supply contacts of the main device is an are exposed contact touchable by hand contacts.

15. A method for connecting an accessory device to a main device, the accessory device including an accessory connector for mating with a device connector of the main device, the accessory connector and the device connector each including one or more supply contacts for transmitting electric power from the main device to the accessory device, and first and second detect contacts for transmitting accessory data from the accessory device to the main device, the main device comprises further including a detection device, the method including:

transmitting first accessory data stored by the accessory device to the detection device via the first detect contacts when connecting the accessory device to the main device;

evaluating the first accessory data;

when the evaluation of the first accessory data is positive indicating the accessory device is authenticated, transmitting second accessory data stored by the accessory device to the detection device via the second detect contacts;

evaluating the second accessory data;

when the evaluation of the second accessory data is positive indicating the accessory device is authenticated, enabling application of a supply voltage via the one or more supply contacts of the device connector.

16. The method according to claim 15, further including:

transmitting measurement data from a sensor circuit of the accessory device to a measurement circuit of the main device wherein the accessory device and the main device each further comprise a measurement contact, and transmission is enabled by connecting the measurement contacts.

17. An accessory device for use with a main device that has a main device connector and is configured to perform accessory detection including reading first data via the main device connector, reading second data via the main connector responsive to positive evaluation of the first data by the main device indicating the accessory device is authenticated, and delivering power to the accessory device via the main device connector responsive to positive evaluation of the second data by the main device indicating the accessory device is authenticated, the accessory device comprising:

a sensor circuit for performing patient monitoring;

a data store that stores first accessory data and second accessory data; and

an accessory connector including:

power supply contacts connected with the sensor circuit and configured to connect electrically with the main device connector to receive power delivered to the accessory device from the main device,

first detect contacts connected with the data store and configured to connect electrically with the main device connector to enable the main device to read first data as the first accessory data stored in the data store, and

second detect contacts connected with the data store and configured to connect electrically with the main device connector to enable the main device to read second data as the second accessory data stored in the data store;

wherein the first accessory data read as first data via the main device connector by the main device produces positive evaluation by the main device indicating the accessory device is authenticated; and

wherein the second accessory data read as second data via the main device connector by the main device produces positive evaluation by the main device indicating the accessory device is authenticated.

18. The accessory device according to claim 17 wherein the data store includes an electric component and a digital memory, the first accessory data including an impedance of the electric component and the second accessory data including digital data stored in the digital memory.

19. The accessory device according to claim 18 wherein the digital memory is a non-volatile digital memory.

20. The accessory device according to claim 18 wherein the digital memory is a programmable digital memory.

21. The accessory device according to claim 18 wherein the digital memory is a ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or FLASH memory.

22. The accessory device according to claim 18 wherein the digital accessory data comprises a checksum or hash sum.

23. The accessory device according to claim 18 wherein the digital accessory data stored in the digital memory includes control data and the medical device is configured to perform said medical accessory detection further including controlling the medical accessory in accordance with the control data.