RF Electric Field Gain Control for Animal Tissue Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy delivery systems for processing animal tissue, such as poultry, lack precise and dynamic control over power gain, which can lead to inefficient and potentially harmful energy delivery.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an RF synthesizer circuit, a preamplification stage with an attenuator, and a board controller to provide precise and dynamic power gain control of an RF electric signal, generating an alternating RF electric field for tissue processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional energy delivery systems are used for processing animal tissue, then basic energy delivery is achieved, but precise and dynamic control over power gain is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides power gain control into two independent segments: a preamplification stage with an attenuator for precise dynamic control (0-60 dB range), and a power amplification stage for high-power output. This segmentation allows precise control of low-power signals without requiring the power amplifier to provide fine-grained gain adjustment, resolving the contradiction between control precision and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The preamplification stage incorporates a dynamically adjustable attenuator controlled by a board controller, enabling real-time dynamic gain adjustment over a wide range (0-60 dB). This dynamic control mechanism provides precise power gain adjustment capability that is independent of the power amplification stage, achieving high measurement precision without excessive system complexity.
2Power
If high-power RF electric field is delivered to tissue, then effective processing is achieved, but undesirable effects and tissue damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic gain control through the preamplification stage attenuator, allowing real-time adjustment of RF signal power before amplification. This enables precise control of the energy delivered to tissue, permitting high-power delivery when needed for effective processing while preventing excessive power delivery that could cause tissue damage, thus resolving the contradiction between power effectiveness and harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The board controller dynamically adjusts the attenuator setting based on processing requirements, providing feedback control over the RF power delivered to tissue. This feedback mechanism ensures that high power is delivered only when and where needed for effective tissue processing, while preventing undesirable effects by reducing power when appropriate, resolving the contradiction between achieving effective processing and avoiding tissue damage.
3Power
If power amplifiers are adjusted to control gain, then power delivery is modified, but control precision deteriorates at low gain settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates gain control functions from power amplification by placing an attenuator in the preamplification stage. This segmentation allows the power amplifier to operate at high efficiency while the attenuator provides precise gain control (0-60 dB range) independent of the amplifier's power level. The attenuator maintains control precision across the full dynamic range without the limitations that would exist if power amplifiers alone were used for gain control.
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 enables precise and controlled energy delivery to animal tissue, allowing for targeted processing such as retarding growth or removing tissue, while minimizing undesirable effects.
Implementation Method 1
an RF synthesizer circuit configured to generate an RF electric signal... generating an alternating RF electric field for tissue processing
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy delivery system includes an RF synthesizer circuit configured to generate an RF electric signal and a preamplification stage operably coupled to the RF synthesizer circuit. The preamplification stage has at least one attenuator. A board controller is operably coupled to the attenuator of the preamplification stage that is configured to modify a gain setting of the attenuator. An output connection is configured to provide a low-power signal or a high-power signal based on at least the RF electric signal and the gain setting. The low-power signal or high-power signal is provided to an RF applicator configured to couple an alternating RF electric field to animal tissue.