Implantable Starter Circuit Using Antenna Wake-Up Sequencing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable and ingestible medical devices face challenges in power management due to high leakage current during sleep mode, especially in hermetically sealed components where manual battery connection is not available, and existing solutions like magnetic switches are bulky and interfere with diagnostics or navigation.
Innovation Solution
A starter circuit that utilizes the device's existing transceiver antenna to couple a start signal, generating an activation signal only when a predetermined power level and sequence are met, allowing the device to switch from sleep to active mode with minimal additional components and circuit complexity, and consuming less leakage current than the transceiver in active mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the device remains in sleep mode to conserve power, then battery life is extended, but the device cannot be activated without manual battery connection or bulky magnetic switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical activation methods (manual battery connection, magnetic switches) with a wireless electromagnetic signal-based activation system. The starter circuit receives wireless signals through an antenna and uses signal detection and decoding to trigger device activation, eliminating the need for physical or magnetic mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a starter circuit as an intermediary component between the wireless signal and the main device system. This starter circuit remains in low-power sleep mode and only activates the full device when it detects a valid wake-up signal, serving as a low-power gateway that enables remote activation without keeping the entire system powered.
2Ease of operation
If magnetic switches are used for startup circuit to break power connection, then device activation is enabled, but the device size increases and interferes with diagnostics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces magnetic switch mechanisms with a wireless signal detection and decoding system. Instead of using magnetic fields to trigger activation, the system uses electromagnetic communication signals that are received by an antenna and processed by the starter circuit, eliminating bulky magnetic components entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the existing transceiver antenna serve dual purposes: it functions both as the communication antenna for normal device operation and as the reception antenna for the wake-up signal. This eliminates the need for separate activation mechanisms and reduces overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the transceiver is always on to receive signals, then device activation is immediate, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the receiver functionality into two separate components: a minimal-power starter circuit that remains in sleep mode and only detects wake-up signals, and the full transceiver that activates only when needed. This segmentation allows the system to maintain quick response capability while dramatically reducing idle power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The starter circuit operates in a periodic duty-cycle manner, remaining in low-power sleep mode and only becoming active when a wake-up signal is detected. This periodic operation pattern allows the system to maintain readiness capability while minimizing average power consumption through extended sleep periods.
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 solution prolongs the shelf life of the energy-storage unit by reducing battery drain, maintaining low power consumption and avoiding interference with diagnostic or navigation systems, while allowing the device to efficiently switch between sleep and active modes.
Implementation Method 1
an AC starter circuit including an input coupled to receive signals from the antenna and an output coupled to the transceiver, the AC starter circuit comprising a rectifier circuit coupled to receive the signals from the antenna and configured to generate a rectified radio signal
Data Source
AI summary
A starter circuit for an electronic device includes a rectifier circuit having an input coupled to an antenna; a Schmidt trigger coupled to the rectifier circuit; a pulse timer circuit coupled to receive pulses from the Schmidt trigger and configured to measure pulse characteristics to determine whether the pulses are part of a valid startup sequence and to generate a reset signal if the pulses are not part of a valid startup sequence; and a counter having first and second inputs coupled to outputs of the pulse timer circuit, the counter configured to output a signal to initiate power-on of a component of the electronic device a when its count value reaches a predetermined value.