Electrically isolated power and data coupling system suitable for portable and other equipment

1. A power coupling system for transferring power between a power source and a powered device separated by a physical and electrical isolation barrier, comprising:

a power coupler including in a first device, a first section of a magnetic circuit including a first core section of magnetically permeable material of cross-sectional area substantially larger at an isolation barrier interface than within a first winding located on said first core section,

said first section of magnetic circuit being suitable, in a docking mode, for positioning adjacent to a second section of magnetic circuit in a second device to form a completed magnetic circuit used to transfer power between said first and second device,

said second section of magnetic circuit including a second core section with a second winding magnetically coupling with said first winding via said completed magnetic circuit in said docking mode for said power transfer.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said first core section comprises at least one substantially planar core section at said isolation barrier interface for positioning adjacent to a corresponding substantially planar core section of said second section of magnetic circuit at said isolation barrier interface to form said completed magnetic circuit.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein

said substantially planar core section is suitable for positioning adjacent to said corresponding substantially planar core section without a device containing said second section of magnetic circuit enveloping a significant portion of said substantially planar core section.

4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said second section of said magnetic circuit includes a second core section of magnetically permeable material of cross-sectional area substantially larger at said isolation barrier interface than within a second winding located on said second core section.

5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said first and second devices are, (a) a portable device and (b) a docking station for said portable device, respectively.

6. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said first core section of magnetically permeable material comprises a plurality of component core pieces and including

pliable ferrous material placed between at least one junction of said core pieces.

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

a physical interface between said first section of magnetic circuit and said second section of magnetic circuit, is substantially planar.

8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said cross-sectional area substantially larger at said isolation barrier interface than within said first winding comprises being at least one and a half times (1.5 times) larger.

9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said magnetically permeable material comprises at least one of, (a) a ferrite material, (b) a composite material, (c) powdered iron, (d) silicon steel laminations and (e) an amorphous magnetic material.

10. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said physical and electrical isolation barrier is at least 0.01 inches.

11. A portable device for transferring power and data between a power source and a powered device separated by a physical and electrical isolation barrier, comprising:

a power coupler including in a first device, a first section of a magnetic circuit including a first core section of magnetically permeable material of cross-sectional area substantially larger at an isolation barrier interface than within a first winding located on said first core section, said first section of magnetic circuit being suitable, in a docking mode, for positioning adjacent to a second section of magnetic circuit in a second device to form a completed magnetic circuit used to transfer power between said first and second device, said second section of magnetic circuit including a second core section with a second winding magnetically coupling with said first winding via said completed magnetic circuit in said docking mode for said power transfer; and

an electrically isolated data transducer supporting connection of said first device to a network and to bidirectionally exchange data in said docking mode.

12. A portable device according to claim 11 wherein,

said portable device comprises a portable patient monitoring device, and

said bidirectionally exchanged data includes patient monitor parameters derived by said portable patient monitoring device and information for controlling a function of said portable patient monitoring device.

13. A portable device according to claim 11 wherein,

said network connection of said portable device comprises at least one of, (a) an Internet Protocol (IP) compatible connection, (b) a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible connection, (c) a Local Area Network (LAN compatible connection and (d) an I.E.E.E. protocol compatible connection.