Physiological Waveform Simulator Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for simulating physiological signals, such as electrocardiograph (ECG) and blood pressure signals, face challenges in power management and efficiency, particularly in maintaining low power consumption during waveform generation and transmission.
Innovation Solution
The physiological waveform simulator employs a microcontroller with a sleep timer and dual digital-to-analog converters (DACs) to manage power consumption by transitioning between active and low power states based on the waveform profile, using a sleep timer to wake the microcontroller only when necessary and enabling DACs for specific durations to conserve energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the microcontroller continuously operates to generate and transmit waveform values, then the waveform simulation accuracy is maintained, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active waveform generation and low-power sleep states. The sleep timer triggers wake-up events at specific intervals to transmit waveform values, rather than continuous operation. This periodic action maintains waveform accuracy while significantly reducing average power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational state parameter of the microcontroller between active and sleep modes based on waveform requirements. By adjusting the operational parameters (on/off states) according to waveform profile characteristics, the system achieves both accuracy and energy efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the microcontroller enters sleep state to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the response time to generate waveform values increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sleep timer is configured in advance with predetermined wake-up intervals that align with waveform generation requirements. This preliminary setup ensures the microcontroller wakes up at the optimal moments to transmit waveform values, maintaining response timing accuracy while enabling sleep mode for energy savings.
3Stability of the object's composition
If dual DACs are enabled continuously to maintain waveform output, then signal continuity is ensured, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual DACs are enabled periodically only when waveform transmission is required, rather than continuously. The system alternates between active transmission phases and low-power states, maintaining signal continuity during transmission windows while conserving energy during intervals between waveform updates.
4Measurement precision
If the microcontroller operates at full power to handle complex waveform profiles, then waveform fidelity is maintained, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller alternates between full-power operation during waveform transmission and low-power sleep states in between. This periodic operation maintains waveform fidelity during active periods while extending battery life through reduced average power consumption over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the power level parameter of the microcontroller based on operational requirements. Full power is applied only when waveform fidelity is needed during transmission, while power is reduced during sleep periods, optimizing the trade-off between fidelity and battery life.
Data Source
AI summary
System, methods, and apparatuses produce simulated human physiological waveforms such as electrocardiograph (ECG) and blood pressure signals where the microcontroller and/or digital-to-analog converters may be switched to a lower power-consuming state by programmable instructions and switched on in response to a programmable sleep timer.