NULEF Transducer Lead Layout for Body Field Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Near ultra low energy field (NULEF) systems face performance limitations due to external electric fields interfering with the electric fields produced by electrodes, particularly in applications like earbuds, which can reduce received signal levels and are constrained by physical limitations on lead length, leading to parasitic capacitance and inductance issues.
Innovation Solution
The design involves coiling the leads between the transceiver and electrodes in a spiral shape to increase the number of turns while maintaining electrical length, and using a conductive shield to protect the electrodes from external electric fields, thereby maximizing received signal levels and reducing parasitic effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lead length between transceiver and electrode is increased to improve received signal level, then the electrical length increases and signal level improves, but the physical space required increases which is not feasible in constrained devices like earbuds
Solution Approach 1:
The lead is transformed from a straight linear configuration to a coiled three-dimensional structure. By winding the lead in multiple turns within a compact volume, the electrical length is extended without proportionally increasing the physical footprint. This dimensional transformation allows the lead to achieve greater electrical length while consuming minimal device volume, directly resolving the contradiction between signal level improvement and space constraint.
2Reliability
If the lead is coiled to increase electrical length within limited space, then the received signal level improves, but parasitic inductance and capacitance increase which degrades signal quality
Solution Approach 1:
The lead employs asymmetric winding patterns with deliberately varied turn geometries and spacing. By introducing asymmetry in the coil structure, the parasitic inductance and capacitance values are optimized to minimize their harmful effects while maintaining the extended electrical length. This asymmetric design prevents uniform parasitic accumulation that would occur in symmetric coils, thereby improving signal quality despite the coiled configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead design optimizes physical parameters such as wire diameter, turn spacing, and coil density to control parasitic effects. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the electrical length is maximized while parasitic inductance and capacitance are kept within acceptable limits. This parameter optimization allows the coiled lead to achieve high received signal levels without suffering from excessive parasitic degradation.
3Device complexity
If the electrode is exposed to external electric fields, then the device structure remains simple, but external electric fields interfere with the electric fields produced by electrodes reducing performance
Solution Approach 1:
A shielding layer is introduced as an intermediary element between the external environment and the electrode. This shield acts as a mediator that blocks external electric fields from directly interacting with the electrode, thereby eliminating interference without requiring fundamental changes to the device architecture. The shield integrates seamlessly into the existing structure, maintaining simplicity while providing effective protection against harmful external fields.
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 the received signal level by maintaining electrical length and minimizing parasitic effects, improving transducer efficiency and performance in NULEF systems, especially in applications where physical constraints limit lead length.
Implementation Method 1
minimizing parasitic inductance and capacitance
Implementation Method 2
minimizing parasitic inductance and capacitance
Implementation Method 3
using a conductive shield to protect the electrodes from external electric fields
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for an apparatus that performs near field communications are described. A near ultra low energy field (NULEF) system may be used in systems that come in close contact with the human body. NULEF-E may experience limited performance due to external electric fields generated by a human body. NULEF-E may also be used across other bodies having electrically conductive or semi-conductive surfaces. The interference of the external electric fields may be mitigated by increasing the electrical length between a transducer and an electrode of the system. In particular, a wire electrically connecting a transceiver and a electrode may have a wire length that is also an electrical length between the transceiver and the electrode, the wire being configured such that a physical distance between the electrode and the transceiver is less than the wire length while maintaining the electrical length.