Capsule Endoscope Power Control via Signal Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capsule endoscopes face issues with power management, particularly when the magnet used for controlling the reed switch moves at high speeds, leading to shortened toggle operations and increased power consumption, which can result in unnecessary power usage and radiation, and pose challenges in securing sufficient time for circuit resetting and minimizing standby power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An in-vivo information acquiring apparatus with a power supply unit that includes a reed switch, a battery, a power supply controller, and a masking unit to control the power supply state based on external control signals, ensuring secure reset operations and minimizing power consumption by lengthening the pulse width of the control signal and using a discharge switch for efficient discharge during power-off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the magnet moves at high speed around the capsule endoscope to enable rapid toggle operations, then the responsiveness and control speed are improved, but the interval of toggle operations shortens causing insufficient reset time for internal circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The masking unit preemptively masks the control signal during the predetermined time period after power-off, ensuring that the power supply unit does not receive reset commands during the critical reset period. This preliminary action prevents potential reset operations that would occur if the magnet continued moving at high speed, thereby guaranteeing sufficient reset time for internal circuits while allowing the magnet to maintain high-speed movement for responsive control.
2Speed
If the magnet moves at high speed to enable rapid toggle operations, then the control responsiveness is improved, but the power consumption increases due to frequent on-off cycling
Solution Approach 1:
The masking unit introduces a periodic blocking mechanism where control signals are systematically prevented during specific time windows (predetermined time period after power-off). This periodic action reduces the frequency of unnecessary power cycling by eliminating toggle operations during the masking period, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to perform rapid toggle operations when needed during non-masked periods.
3Measurement precision
If the power supply unit responds immediately to external control signals for rapid on-off operations, then the control precision is improved, but the standby power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The masking unit applies a preliminary counter-action by blocking control signals during the predetermined time period after power-off. This preliminary anti-action prevents the power supply unit from responding to subsequent control signals that would cause unnecessary power cycling, thereby reducing standby power consumption while maintaining precise control capability during non-masked periods when the system is actively operating.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures stable and secure power-on and power-off operations, even with high-speed toggle operations, while reducing standby power consumption and ensuring reliable reset operations, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the capsule endoscope.
Implementation Method 1
a reed switch which is provided inside the capsule endoscope and turned on and off in response to an external magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
An in-vivo information acquiring apparatus includes an information acquiring unit that acquires in-vivo information, a transmitting unit that transmits the in-vivo information to an outside of a living body, a power source that serves to supply power to the information acquiring unit and the transmitting unit, a power supply unit that is provided between the power source and at least one of the information acquiring unit and the transmitting unit so as to supply the power of the power source to at least one of the information acquiring unit and the transmitting unit, an external signal detecting unit that detects an external control signal supplied from outside and generates a control signal according to a detected state of the external control signal, a power supply controller that controls a power supply state of the power supply unit according to the control signal supplied from the external signal detecting unit, and a masking unit that masks the control signal supplied to the power supply controller by the external signal detecting unit for a predetermined time period.