Systems and methods for non-contact hardware shutdown and/or reset of electronic devices

Abstract

A system includes an electronic device and an auxiliary device for charging the electronic device and facilitating hardware shutdown/reset of the electronic device when the electronic device is being charged. The system includes an input user interface (e.g., on the auxiliary device or the electronic device) configured to receive a user input for hardware shutdown/reset of the electronic device. The electronic device includes a switch between a battery and a system load, a control circuit configured to open the switch to disconnect the battery and the system load, and a charging interface configured to receive electric power signals from the auxiliary device to power the control circuit, such that hardware shutdown/reset of the electronic device is performed when the electronic device is being charged, thereby preventing unintentional hardware shutdown/reset during normal use. In some embodiments, wireless control signals are used to initiate hardware shutdown/reset on the electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 an auxiliary device comprising: 
 a charging transmitter configured to transmit electric power signals; 
 an input user interface configured to receive a user input; 
 a wireless control signal transmitter configured to transmit wireless control signals; and 
 a microcontroller unit (MCU) configured to, in response to the user input, enable the wireless control signal transmitter to transmit a wireless control signal; and an electronic device comprising: 
 a battery; 
 a system load; 
 a switch in an electrical connection path between the battery and the system load; 
 a non-contact sensor configured to detect the wireless control signal; 
 a control circuit configured to, in response to the detected wireless control signal, open the switch to disconnect the battery and the system load; and 
 a charging interface configured to receive the electric power signals from the auxiliary device, wherein the control circuit and the non-contact sensor are powered through the charging interface rather than the battery. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the charging transmitter of the auxiliary device is configured to transmit wireless power signals; and   the charging interface of the electronic device includes a wireless charge receiver.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless control signal transmitter includes:
 an electromagnetic coil configured to generate a magnetic field;   an infrared light source configured to emit steady infrared light or infrared light pulses; or   a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter configured to transit an RF signal.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input user interface includes one or more buttons, one or more switches, a touch screen, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the input user interface includes a button or switch;   actuating the button or switch for a first time period indicates a first user instruction; and   actuating the button or switch for a second time period indicates a second user instruction.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the input user interface includes two buttons;   actuating a first one of the two buttons indicates a first user instruction; and   actuating a second one of the two buttons or both of the two buttons indicates a second user instruction.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the MCU is configured to:
 in response to the user input being an instruction for a hardware shutdown of the electronic device: 
 enable the wireless control signal transmitter; 
 disable the charge transmitter after a first time delay; 
 disable the wireless control signal transmitter after a second time delay; and 
 signal, via an output user interface, a user to disengage the electronic device and the auxiliary device; and 
   in response to the user input being an instruction for a hardware reset of the electronic device: 
 enable the wireless control signal transmitter; 
 disable the charge transmitter after a third time delay; 
 disable the wireless control signal transmitter after a fourth time delay; and 
 enable the charge transmitter to transmit the electric power signals again after a fifth time delay. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-contact sensor includes a Hall-effect sensor or an infrared light sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit includes a timing circuit configured to control a time delay after detecting the wireless control signal and before opening the switch. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes a charge manager circuit between the switch and the system load, the charge manager circuit coupled to the charging interface and configured to:
 select the charging interface or the battery for powering the system load; or   charge the battery, via the switch, using electric power from the charging interface.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electronic device is a first assembly of a medical device, the electronic device including mechanical features complementary to mechanical features of a second assembly of the medical device such that the electronic device is releasably engageable with the second assembly of the medical device;   the auxiliary device includes the mechanical features of the second assembly of the medical device such that the auxiliary device is releasably engageable with the electronic device; and   the wireless control signal transmitter and the non-contact sensor are aligned when the electronic device and the auxiliary device are engaged.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device includes an output user interface configured to indicate status of the auxiliary device. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 enabling a wireless charging transmitter of an auxiliary device to transmit wireless power signals to an electronic device;   receiving a user input at the auxiliary device;   enabling, in response to the user input, a wireless control signal transmitter of the auxiliary device to transmit a wireless control signal for shutting down the electronic device;   receiving, by the electronic device, the wireless control signal from the auxiliary device;   opening, in response to receiving the wireless control signal and after a first time delay, a switch to disconnect a system load of the electronic device from a battery of the electronic device;   disabling the wireless charging transmitter after a second time delay; and   performing, by the auxiliary device based on the user input, 
 signaling a user to remove the electronic device from the auxiliary device; or 
 reenabling the wireless charging transmitter to transmit the wireless power signals to the electronic device to restart the electronic device. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the wireless control signal includes a magnetic field signal, an infrared light signal, or a radio-frequency signal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining a user instruction based on a duration of the user input, an input device that receives the user input, or both the duration and the input device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising generating, by a timer circuit after the first time delay, a control signal for opening the switch. 
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 an auxiliary device comprising a charging transmitter configured to transmit electric power signals; and   an electronic device comprising: 
 a battery; 
 a system load; 
 a switch in an electrical connection path between the battery and the system load; 
 an input user interface configured to receive a user input; 
 a control circuit configured to control the switch in response to receiving the user input; and 
 a charging interface configured to receive the electric power signals from the auxiliary device, wherein the control circuit is powered through the charging interface rather than the battery, 
   wherein the electronic device is a first assembly of a medical device, the electronic device including mechanical features complementary to mechanical features of a second assembly of the medical device such that the electronic device is releasably engageable with the second assembly of the medical device; and   wherein the auxiliary device includes the mechanical features of the second assembly of the medical device such that the auxiliary device is releasably engageable with the electronic device.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the input user interface includes two buttons;   actuating a first one of the two buttons indicates a first user instruction; and   actuating a second one of the two buttons or both of the two buttons indicates a second user instruction.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the control circuit includes two timer circuits;   a first timer circuit of the two timer circuits is configured to generate a first switch control signal to open the switch after a first time delay; and   a second timer circuit of the two timer circuits is configured to generate a second switch control signal to close the switch after a second time delay.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the electronic device includes a charge manager circuit between the switch and the system load, the charge manager circuit coupled to the charging interface and configured to:
 select the charging interface or the battery for powering the system load; or   charge the battery, via the switch, using electric power from the charging interface.