Redundant Crossfire Neurostimulator Circuit for Mismatch Error Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neuromodulation devices face challenges in accurately sensing and modulating neural signals due to noise interference, signal decay over time, and limitations in resolving small nerve signals, which affects the precision and stability of neural recordings and stimulation outcomes.
Innovation Solution
The development of a redundant crossfire circuit in a fully integrated neurostimulator system that exploits mismatch errors to achieve super-resolution signal accuracy by combining the outputs of multiple current drivers, creating a redundant sensing structure that suppresses residual charge and noise artifacts without increasing power consumption or device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional current drivers are used in neurostimulation devices, then the device can provide basic stimulation functionality, but the signal accuracy is limited by mismatch errors and cannot achieve super-resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple current drivers (first and second current drivers) into a unified output structure where their outputs are merged. This merging allows the system to overcome individual driver mismatch errors through redundancy, achieving signal accuracy that exceeds the capabilities of any single driver alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by creating redundant current driver paths that compensate for potential mismatch errors. The system is designed with built-in redundancy where the combined output of multiple drivers provides error compensation, cushioning against the effects of mismatch before they can degrade signal accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple current drivers are combined to achieve super-resolution accuracy, then signal accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the current driver functionality into multiple independent drivers (first current driver, second current driver) that can be individually optimized and tested. This segmentation allows for modular design where complexity is distributed across separate units rather than concentrated in a single complex driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating redundant copies of current driver circuits. Instead of designing one highly complex high-precision driver, the system copies simpler driver circuits multiple times and combines their outputs, achieving high precision through redundancy rather than through single-unit complexity.
3Measurement precision
If redundant sensing structure is implemented to suppress noise artifacts, then signal-to-noise ratio improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple current driver outputs into a single combined output that drives the stimulation electrode. This merging allows the redundant sensing structure to suppress noise and artifacts through constructive interference and error cancellation, while the combined output maintains power efficiency by utilizing shared circuitry and coordinated operation of the multiple drivers.
Data Source
AI summary
A neurostimulator incorporating a novel chip design that uses the principle of redundant signal crossfiring to overcome electronic component mismatch error in general and transistor mismatch error in particular, to yield superior quality neurostimulation signal generation, useful in enhancing the bidirectional human-machine interface in prosthesis operation for the restoration of somatosensation for an amputee; and an improvement thereof additionally comprising a digital-to-analog converter device, that includes a number of unit cells, each unit cell being associated with a unit cell size indicating manufacturing specifications of the unit cell, and that further includes a plurality of switches, each being coupled to a component, and an output electrode coupled to the plurality of switches, and wherein the digital-to-analog converter device is configured to output an output signal at the output electrode.