Capsule Endoscope Power Switching via Magnetic Field Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capsule endoscopes face challenges in reliably switching their power source on and off without increasing the size of the antenna, which affects their ability to efficiently acquire and transmit biological information from within a living body.
Innovation Solution
A biological information acquiring system that includes a magnetic field generation section to generate a burst alternate-current magnetic field, a power source section, a magnetic field detection section, and switching control sections to manage power supply based on the detection signal, ensuring reliable power switching without antenna size increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a magnetic field detection antenna is used to detect magnetic fields from outside the capsule endoscope, then the capsule endoscope can receive external magnetic field signals, but the antenna size must be increased to improve detection reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a magnetic field generation section as an intermediary device that actively generates magnetic field signals. Instead of passively receiving external magnetic fields through a large antenna, the system uses a small antenna to detect magnetic fields generated by this intermediary section, thereby maintaining small capsule dimensions while improving detection reliability through active signal generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field generation section operates by periodically generating burst alternate-current magnetic fields. This periodic action allows the small antenna to detect magnetic field signals through time-varying fields rather than requiring a large antenna for continuous external field detection, resolving the contradiction between antenna size and detection reliability.
2Reliability
If the power source is switched based on simple magnetic field detection, then the control is straightforward, but the power switching reliability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the magnetic field detection section continuously monitors the burst alternate-current magnetic field signals, and the switching control section uses this feedback information to control the power source switching. The control is based on detecting whether the magnetic field signal exceeds a threshold level, providing reliable feedback-based power switching without requiring overly complex control circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of magnetic field signal amplitude as the control criterion for power switching. By monitoring whether the magnetic field signal amplitude exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system achieves reliable power switching control through a simple parameter-based decision mechanism rather than complex multi-parameter control.
3Measurement precision
If the antenna size is increased to improve magnetic field detection, then detection sensitivity improves, but the capsule endoscope cannot be properly miniaturized
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field generation section serves as an intermediary that provides the magnetic field signals needed for detection. This allows the antenna to remain small while still achieving high detection sensitivity, as the antenna only needs to detect the magnetic fields generated by the intermediary section rather than capturing weak external fields that would require a large antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic generation of burst alternate-current magnetic fields enables the small antenna to achieve high detection sensitivity through time-varying field detection. The periodic action concentrates the magnetic field energy in time, allowing the small antenna to detect the signals effectively without requiring the large antenna area that would be needed for continuous external field detection.
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 system effectively switches the power source of the biological information acquiring apparatus, ensuring reliable operation and efficient data acquisition and transmission within the body cavity, improving upon conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic field generation section (7) which generates a burst alternate-current magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic field detection section (6) which generates a magnetic field detection signal according to a detection result of the burst alternate-current magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A biological information acquiring system includes a biological information acquiring apparatus having a biological information acquiring section, and a magnetic field generation section, and the biological information acquiring apparatus includes: a power source section which supplies power for driving the biological information acquiring section; a magnetic field detection section which outputs a magnetic field detection signal according to a detection result of a magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generation section; a first switching control section which performs control an on/off state of a first switch section connected to the power source section based on an output state of the magnetic field detection signal; and a second switching control section which performs control the on/off state of a second switch section connected between the first switch section and the biological information acquiring section, based on the output state of the magnetic field detection signal.