Injection Device Wake-Up Circuit for Standby Power Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Injection devices experience power depletion due to standby power loss, even when powered off, which can lead to reduced functionality and a shortened lifespan.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a microcontroller that operates in a sleep state to minimize power consumption, combined with mechanisms like conductive elements, sensors, and sensors that trigger the microcontroller to reset and enter an enabled state upon specific conditions, such as contact, removal from packaging, or exposure to magnetic fields, light, or Wi-Fi signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the microcontroller operates in an enabled state to ensure full functionality, then the device can perform all operations, but power is depleted due to standby power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller dynamically switches between enabled and sleep states based on operational needs. During manufacturing and testing, it operates in enabled state for full functionality. During storage and transport, it transitions to sleep state to eliminate standby power loss, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the microcontroller from enabled to sleep state. This parameter change reduces power consumption from significant standby loss to minimal levels (less than ten nanoamps), while still allowing the device to be fully functional when needed by transitioning back to enabled state through conductive element contact.
2Loss of energy
If the microcontroller operates in a sleep state to reduce power consumption, then standby power loss is minimized, but the device cannot perform operations until activated
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses its own operational components to activate itself. The drive mechanism, when engaged during priming, moves the conductive element to contact the conductive surfaces on the stopper, which automatically activates the microcontroller from sleep state without requiring external intervention or complex activation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive element acts as an intermediary between the drive mechanism and the microcontroller. When the drive mechanism engages during priming, it moves the conductive element to bridge the electrical connection between the conductive surfaces and the microcontroller, thereby mediating the activation process from sleep to enabled state.
3Ease of operation
If the conductive element is positioned close to the conductive surfaces, then electrical contact is achieved, but the device may activate unintentionally during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive element is pre-positioned close to the conductive surfaces during manufacturing, but the final electrical contact is established only when the drive mechanism engages during priming. This preliminary positioning ensures that when priming occurs, the activation happens reliably without requiring additional movement, while the controlled engagement prevents unintentional activation during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a controlled engagement mechanism that prevents the conductive element from contacting the conductive surfaces during storage and transport. The drive mechanism remains disengaged, maintaining a small spacing that prevents unintentional electrical contact and activation, while allowing rapid activation when priming is intentionally performed.
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 injection device maintains functionality for an extended period, potentially up to 4-5 years, by reducing standby power loss and ensuring the microcontroller resumes full operation when needed.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive element making electrical contact with the at least two conductive surfaces
Implementation Method 2
The sensor is a magnetoresistance sensor that is configured to cause the one or more processors to enter the enabled state when the magnetoresistance sensor ceases to sense a magnetic field that satisfies a threshold magnitude
Implementation Method 3
The sensor includes one or both of a photodiode or a photoresistor that is configured to cause the one or more processors to enter the enabled state when the photodiode or photoresistor senses light that satisfies a threshold intensity
Implementation Method 4
The sensor is a thermistor that is configured to cause the one or more processors to enter the enabled state when the thermistor senses a temperature that satisfies a threshold
Implementation Method 5
The sensor is an X-Ray diode that is configured to cause the one or more processors to enter the enabled state when the X-Ray diode senses X-Ray radiation
Implementation Method 6
The sensor includes a resonant circuit that is configured to cause the one or more processors to enter the enabled state when the resonant circuit senses a magnetic field having a resonant frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A drug injection device comprising: a cartridge configured to hold a volume of a drug; one or more processors configured to operate in at least an enabled state and a sleep state, wherein the one or more processors are configured to control an operation of the drug injection device while the one or more processors are in the enabled state; a member disposed in the cartridge, the member including at least two conductive surfaces electrically connected to the one or more processors; and a drive mechanism including a conductive element spaced from the at least two conductive surfaces, wherein the one or more processors are configured to enter the enabled state from the sleep state when the conductive element makes electrical contact with the at least two conductive surfaces.