Dynamic Body-Coupled Communication Coupler Impedance Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current body-coupled communication devices face challenges with high energy consumption and complexity due to the need for voltage boosting and adaptive gain control loops, which can lead to inefficient energy use and data loss.
Innovation Solution
A body-coupled communication apparatus with a coupler arrangement and signal electronics that allows for variable routing between couplers, enabling switching between low and high frequency modes to optimize coupling impedance, reducing energy requirements by adapting coupler configurations based on operational modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If voltage boosting techniques are used to increase signal levels, then signal propagation and noise immunity are improved, but energy consumption and circuit complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the coupling impedance parameter dynamically by switching between different coupler configurations (single coupler, dual coupler in parallel, dual coupler in series) to optimize signal transmission without requiring voltage boosting, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable signal propagation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different coupling modes based on operational requirements, allowing the system to adapt its coupling impedance in real-time to match signal conditions, eliminating the need for continuous voltage boosting and reducing overall energy consumption
2Reliability
If adaptive gain control loops are used to accommodate varying signal conditions, then signal reception reliability is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex adaptive gain control loop from the receiver design, replacing it with a simpler system that uses predetermined coupling modes and impedance matching to handle varying signal conditions, thereby reducing device complexity and power consumption while maintaining reception reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the coupling system to self-adjust by providing multiple predefined coupling modes that can be selected based on signal conditions, eliminating the need for external control loops and allowing the system to automatically adapt to different operational scenarios
3Reliability
If adaptive gain control loops are used to accommodate varying signal conditions, then signal reception reliability is improved, but power consumption and reaction time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares multiple coupling modes in advance with predetermined impedance characteristics, allowing the system to quickly switch to the appropriate mode without requiring real-time analysis and adjustment, thereby reducing power consumption and reaction time while maintaining reliable signal reception
4Device complexity
If fixed coupling impedance is used in the apparatus, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different operational modes and signal conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coupling system into multiple discrete coupling modes with different impedance characteristics, allowing the apparatus to maintain simplicity in each individual mode while achieving adaptability across different operational scenarios through mode selection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the coupling system to perform multiple functions by incorporating different coupling modes that can handle various operational requirements (transmission, reception, different signal strengths), making the apparatus universally adaptable without requiring complex adaptive mechanisms
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A body-coupled communication apparatus (100) comprises a coupler arrangement (10) comprising a plurality of couplers (11,12,13) configured to couple signals (S) between the apparatus (100) and a body (200). Signal electronics (20) are configured to process and/or generate the signals depending on an operational mode (OT,OR,OW) of the apparatus. A routing network (40) is configured to provide variable routing of the signals (S) between the signal electronics (20) and the couplers (11,12,13) thereby providing a selection between distinct coupling modes (CT,CR,CW) of the coupler arrangement (10). A mode selector (30) is configured to switch the apparatus (100) between the operational modes (OT,OR,OW) and control the routing network (40) to select between the distinct coupling modes (CT,CR,CW) based on the operational mode (OT,OR,OW) of the apparatus.