Frequency Modulated Ultrasonic Backscatter for Implantable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic backscatter communication methods for implantable devices face challenges with noise issues due to passive reflections, leading to low signal-to-noise ratios and digital communication errors.
Innovation Solution
The use of frequency modulation to encode data into ultrasonic backscatter, where a switch modulates the frequency of the ultrasonic backscatter based on a switching frequency selected from a plurality of different frequencies, allowing for low-power and low-noise communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If amplitude modulation is used to encode data into ultrasonic backscatter, then data communication can be achieved, but noise from passive reflections causes low signal-to-noise ratio and digital communication errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the modulation parameter from amplitude to frequency. By frequency modulating the ultrasonic backscatter signal, the system encodes data in frequency variations rather than amplitude variations, making the communication immune to passive reflections that affect amplitude but not frequency. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by eliminating the harmful noise effect while maintaining data communication capability.
2Reliability
If active transmit method is used to avoid amplitude modulation issues, then communication reliability improves, but battery size and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the implantable device to use its own received ultrasonic energy to power its operations and generate backscatter signals. The device harvests energy from the incident ultrasonic waves and uses this self-generated power to modulate the backscatter frequency, eliminating the need for external batteries or active transmit components while maintaining communication reliability through frequency modulation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cancellation methods are used to limit environmental interference, then passive reflection effects are reduced, but the system cannot account for environmental changes during actual data transfers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous frequency modulation of the backscatter signal based on real-time device state and received signal characteristics. The system dynamically adjusts the modulation frequency according to current environmental conditions and power availability, providing continuous feedback-driven adaptation that allows the system to respond to environmental changes during actual data transfers, resolving the contradiction between limiting interference and maintaining adaptability.
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
This approach enhances communication accuracy and reliability by reducing the impact of passive reflections and other reflective interferences, achieving a bit error rate of up to 6%.
Implementation Method 1
receiving, at one or more ultrasonic transducers of an implantable device, ultrasonic waves transmitted by an interrogator
Implementation Method 2
emitting, from the one or more ultrasonic transducers of the implantable device, ultrasonic backscatter comprising encoded data
Implementation Method 3
the data is encoded into the ultrasonic backscatter by modulating a frequency of the ultrasonic backscatter
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for low-power communication using ultrasonic waves are described herein. The methods may include receiving, at one or more ultrasonic transducers of an implantable device, ultrasonic waves transmitted by an interrogator; and emitting, from the one or more ultrasonic transducers of the implantable device, ultrasonic backscatter comprising encoded data, wherein the data is encoded into the ultrasonic backscatter by modulating a. frequency of the ultrasonic backscatter. The device may include an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive ultrasonic waves and emit ultrasonic backscatter; a switch configured to modulate a frequency of the emitted ultrasonic backscatter, and a circuit configured to operate the switch to encode data, in the emitted ultrasonic backscatter based on the frequency.