Integrator Circuit for Sensor Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical sensors, such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensors, face challenges with high-resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that are expensive and energy-intensive, and are sensitive to electrical noise due to low voltage-per-level and voltage-to-current ratios.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an integrator circuit with a lower resolution ADC and a reset circuit, which adjusts integration intervals to achieve desired resolution and noise immunity, using an integrator circuit that converts sensor current signals to voltage signals and incorporates a low pass filter for noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high resolution ADC is used to achieve the desired measurement precision, then the ADC resolution is improved, but the cost and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by integrating the sensor signal over a time period before conversion to digital form. The integrator accumulates the sensor current signal during an integration period, performing the measurement preparation in advance. This allows a lower resolution ADC to achieve the same effective measurement precision that would otherwise require a high resolution ADC, thereby reducing cost while maintaining measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If a high resolution ADC is used to achieve the desired measurement precision, then the ADC resolution is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrator performs preliminary accumulation of the sensor signal before ADC conversion, enabling a lower resolution and thus lower power consumption ADC to achieve the required measurement precision. This time-domain integration approach trades processing time for reduced energy consumption in the conversion stage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the voltage-to-current ratio is kept low to match existing sensor ranges, then the system compatibility is improved, but the noise immunity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The integrator accumulates the sensor current signal over an integration period before conversion, effectively performing a time-average that reduces the impact of high-frequency electrical noise. This preliminary integration in the time domain improves noise immunity while maintaining compatibility with existing sensor current ranges through proper selection of integration time and capacitor values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the system parameters by introducing time-domain integration with selectable integration periods. By adjusting the integration time and capacitor value, the system can maintain compatibility with various sensor current ranges while achieving improved noise immunity through the integration effect, without requiring high voltage-to-current ratios.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the integration interval is extended to improve noise immunity, then the noise performance is improved, but the response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the integration interval based on operating conditions. The controller can selectively extend or reduce the integration period depending on whether noise immunity or response speed is the priority. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize performance for different operational requirements, balancing noise filtering against response time.
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 reduces costs and power consumption while enhancing noise immunity, allowing for effective signal processing with a smaller ADC, achieving better noise performance and sensitivity with a voltage-to-current ratio significantly improved compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
an integrator circuit with a lower resolution ADC and a reset circuit, which adjusts integration intervals to achieve desired resolution and noise immunity, using an integrator circuit that converts sensor current signals to voltage signals and incorporates a low pass filter for noise reduction
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein provide processing of sensor signals (e.g., signals representative of a level of an analyte in a body). An electronics assembly may include a sensor contact configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor assembly, an integrator circuit configured to provide an integrator output signal representative of the sensor signal integrated from a first time to a second time, and a reset circuit configured to reset the integrator output signal in response to a reset signal. The electronics assembly may also include a processor circuit configured to determine a value of the integrator output signal and to provide the reset signal to the reset circuit when an integration interval has elapsed from the first time. The integration interval may be based at least in part on the integrator output signal.