Sequential Coil Switching for Low-Power Movement Assessment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assessing movement functions in cranial nerve disorder patients, such as those with Parkinson's disease, face challenges in power consumption and radio wave interference when measuring multiple sites simultaneously, and are not practical for portable devices due to the need for multiple oscillators and detection circuits, leading to limited measurement time and potential crosstalk between hands.
Innovation Solution
A movement function assessment system that includes a measurement apparatus with alternating current generating units, oscillation coils, detection coils, switching units, and a control unit to sequentially connect and operate coil pairs, reducing energy consumption and radio wave interference by using a single alternating current frequency and time-sequentially switching connections between coils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple oscillators and detection circuits are arranged to measure movements of both hands simultaneously, then measurement capability is improved, but circuit scale expands and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple oscillators into a single oscillator that generates one frequency signal, and multiple detection circuits into a single detection circuit. The switching unit alternately connects the oscillator and detection circuit to different measurement targets (left hand and right hand), allowing simultaneous measurement capability while using shared components to reduce power consumption and circuit scale.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit implements periodic switching between different measurement targets using a single oscillator and detection circuit. The oscillator generates continuous oscillation signals that are alternately connected to the left hand and right hand measurement circuits through the switching unit, enabling time-division multiplexing that maintains measurement capability while reducing overall power consumption.
2Productivity
If multiple oscillators and detection circuits are arranged to measure movements of both hands simultaneously, then measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent oscillators into one shared oscillator and multiple independent detection circuits into one shared detection circuit. The switching unit routes the single oscillator's output to different hands alternately and collects signals from different hands through the single detection circuit, significantly reducing the number of components while maintaining the ability to measure both hands simultaneously.
3Measurement precision
If different frequencies are used for each hand to prevent crosstalk, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using different frequencies for each hand, the patent uses a single frequency oscillator with periodic switching. The switching unit alternately connects the single-frequency oscillator to the left and right hand measurement circuits in time-division manner, preventing crosstalk through temporal separation rather than frequency separation, thus maintaining measurement accuracy without increasing device complexity.
4Use of energy by moving object
If time division switching is used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement continuity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The switching unit implements rapid periodic switching between different measurement targets, alternating the connection of the single oscillator and detection circuit between left hand and right hand measurements. This fast time-division multiplexing maintains effective measurement continuity for both hands while allowing the system to consume power only during active measurement periods rather than continuously powering multiple independent circuits.
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 allows for efficient and simultaneous assessment of movement functions at multiple sites with reduced power consumption and interference, enabling continuous waveform detection and practical application in portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a oscillation coil and a detection coil attached to movable portions of a biological object
Implementation Method 2
a biological assessment apparatus capable of detecting using a magnetic sensor a movement of portions of the biological object
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention addresses the problem of limiting power consumption and radio wave interference when assessing the movements of multiple sites of a living body. The present invention is a movement function assessment system provided with: a movement function measurement apparatus for calculating movement data on the basis of the relative distances of pairs of transmission coils and reception coils attached to movable portions of a living body; and an assessment apparatus for assessing the movement function of the living body on the basis of the movement data received from the movement function measurement apparatus. A control unit of the movement function measurement apparatus performs the switching of the multiple transmission coils by a switching unit (1) and the switching of the multiple reception coils by a switching unit (2) so that the paired transmission coils and reception coils are operated sequentially.