Wireless Sensor Digital Modulation for Noise Immunity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless physical property sensors implanted in patients, such as pressure sensors, rely on expensive electronics for determining resonant frequency and deliver limited information using analog signals, which is inefficient and prone to communication noise.

Innovation Solution

A wireless physical property sensor system that includes a microcontroller and analog front end for generating digitally modulated signals, allowing for digital communication with an external interrogator, and implements anti-data collision schemes to prevent interference when multiple sensors are interrogated simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If analog signals are used for wireless communication, then the sensor can transmit physical property data, but communication noise increases and data transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the analog communication system with a digital communication system. The microcontroller generates digitally modulated signals that are transmitted via the sensor coil, substituting the traditional analog signal transmission mechanism. This digital approach inherently provides immunity to communication noise and improves data transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If multiple sensors are interrogated simultaneously, then data collection efficiency increases, but data collision and interference occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoiddata transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a structured communication protocol where multiple sensors are interrogated in a coordinated periodic manner. The external interrogator manages the communication sequence, assigning specific time slots or periodic intervals for each sensor to transmit data, thereby enabling efficient multi-sensor data collection while preventing data collisions through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If electrically passive components are used in the sensor, then the sensor structure is simplified, but the amount of information that can be delivered is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor structure complexityVSAvoidinformation delivery capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a microcontroller within the sensor that can autonomously generate digitally modulated signals based on data from the physical property sensing element. This self-service capability allows the sensor to actively manage its own communication process, encoding and transmitting comprehensive information including sensor readings, identification data, and status information without requiring complex external processing equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 reduces the complexity and cost of the external interrogator, enhances data transmission efficiency, and minimizes communication noise, enabling multiple sensors to be successfully interrogated simultaneously while providing more comprehensive data transmission.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor coil configured to wirelessly communicate with an external interrogator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

At least some known implanted wireless physical property sensors operate based on a LC resonant principle. Specifically, the electrical resonant frequency of the sensor is a function of the sensed physical property

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLC resonant principle: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS9792469B1Wireless physical property sensor with digital communications

Publication Date: 2017.10.17 PACESETTER INC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides systems and methods implemented using physical property sensors. A physical/property sensor includes a sensor coil configured to wirelessly communicate with an external interrogator, an analog front end communicatively coupled to the sensor coil, a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the analog front end, and a physical property sensing element, wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate a digitally modulated electrical signal based on signals generated by the physical property sensing element, and wherein the analog front end is configured to forward the digitally modulated electrical signal to the sensor coil for transmission to the external interrogator.