Powering Performance
Maximising battery operating time in a 'gym for the lungs'.
By Chris Harris
Chris Harris is senior design engineer with ML Electronics: www.ml-electronics.co.uk
"In developing POWERbreathe Kinetic, the third generation of the product, HaB International needed to respond to the needs of the iPod generation by offering users more control over their exercise regime, along with the ability to provide more information on how their exercise is progressing. HaB International recognised that it had to offer users new levels of information, control and usability – and this meant adding electronics. At the same time, the company recognised that the equipment would end up in a corner gathering dust if the batteries didn't last for an acceptable time.
Electronic product design specialist ML Electronics was presented with the challenge of creating an electronic design that fully met users' expectations, but which could also run comfortably from rechargeable NiMH AAA batteries – including driving an integral 12V stepper motor.
Battery life, cost and compact size were the major constraints in bringing the award winning portable inspiratory training tool up to date.
Working closely with Smallfry, HaB's product and design innovation team, the key challenge for ML Electronics was to achieve the very low power consumption in a small form factor envisaged by Smallfry's concept design, whilst ensuring the bill of materials and manufacturing costs were kept to a minimum so the product remained affordable."