Circuitry for powering on and maintaining activation of a powered off electronic component

• US 20060220901A1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medos International Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Codman Neuro Sciences Sarl
• Inventors: Ginggen, Alec, Crivelli, Rocco
• Granted Patent: US 7,868,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.690
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Circuitry for automatically powering on and maintaining activation of a powered down electronic component in a first device in RF communication with a second device, wherein the first and second devices are preferably an implantable medical device and an external control device, respectively. The system including power logic circuitry for generating a power on signal to automatically close a switch and energize an otherwise powered off electronic device when the power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry. The electronic component while powered by the power source generates a hold signal and a second power signal that is transmitted to the power on logic circuitry to sustain power to the electronic component irrespective of interruptions of relatively short duration for less than a predetermined period of time in RF communication.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first device adapted to receive an RF communication signal, the first device comprising;

a converter for converting the received RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;

power on logic circuitry electrically connected to the converter, the converter generating an RF enable signal when power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry, the power on logic circuitry producing a first power on signal in response to receiving the RF enable signal;

a power source; and

an electronic component that remains in a powered off state is electrically connected to the power source via a switch that is opened and remains closed in the presence of the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic component remains powered on irrespective of interruptions for a duration less than a predetermined period of time in the amount of power received by the first device by maintaining for the predetermined period of time a hold signal and a second power signal that is transmitted to the power on logic circuitry.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the electronic component once powered on by the power source generates the hold signal and the second power signal upon detecting a transmission identification in the RF communication signal.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first device is an implantable medical device and the second device is an external control device.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic component is a processor.

6. A system comprising:

a first device adapted to receive from a second device an RF communication signal, the first device comprising;

a converter for converting the received RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;

power on logic circuitry electrically connected to the converter, the converter generating an RF enable signal when power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry, the power on logic circuitry producing a first power on signal in response to receiving the RF enable signal;

a power source;

a first electronic component that is continuously powered on by the power source and operates at a first clock speed; and

a second electronic component that remains in a powered off state is electrically connected to the power source via a first switch that is opened and remains closed in the presence of the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry, the second electronic component operates at a second clock speed greater than the first clock speed of the first electronic component.

7. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first electronic component is a first processor providing a real time clock signal that continuously counts down 24 hours.

8. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the second electronic component remains powered on irrespective of interruptions for a duration less than a predetermined period of time in the amount of power received by the first device by maintaining for the predetermined period of time the hold signal and the second power signal that is transmitted to the power on logic circuitry.

9. The system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the second electronic component once powered on by the power source generates the hold signal and the second power signal upon detecting a transmission identification in the RF communication signal.

10. The system in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a third electronic component that remains in a powered off state is electrically connected to the power source via a second switch that is opened and remains closed in the presence of a third power on signal from the second processor after being powered on, the third electronic component operates at a third clock speed greater than the first clock speed of the first electronic component.

11. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first device is an implantable medical device and the second device is an external control device.

12. The system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first, second and third electronic components are all processors.

13. A system comprising:

a first device adapted to receive from a second device an RF communication signal, the first device comprising;

a power source;

a first electronic component that is continuously powered on by the power source and operates at a first clock speed;

a converter for converting the received RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;

power on logic circuitry electrically connected to the converter, the converter generating an RF enable signal when (i) power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry or (ii) the power on logic circuitry receives a start self-test signal from the first electronic component upon the expiration of a periodic period of time for initiating self-testing sequencing to ensure proper operation of at least one component of the first device;

the power on logic circuitry producing a first power on signal in response to receiving the RF enable signal; and

a second electronic component that remains in a powered off state is electrically connected to the power source via a switch that is opened and remains closed in the presence of the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry, the second electronic component operates at a second clock speed greater than the first clock speed of the first electronic component.

14. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the second electronic component remains powered on irrespective of interruptions for a duration less than a predetermined period of time in the amount of power received by the first device by maintaining for the predetermined period of time the hold signal and the second power signal that is transmitted to the power on logic circuitry.

15. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the power on logic circuitry generates a denial signal that is transmitted to the first electronic component in response to receiving the start self-test signal when the hold signal is already being received, the denial signal delaying the initiation of self-testing of the at least one component of the first device.

16. A method for automatically powering on and maintaining activation of a powered off electronic component of a first device that receives an RF communication signal from a second device, the first device including power on logic circuitry electrically connected between a converter and the electronic component, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the first device the RF communication signal transmitted from the second device;

converting the received RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;

generating using the converter an RF enable signal when power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry;

producing at the power on logic circuitry a first power on signal in response to the RF enable signal; and

in response to receiving the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry, closing a switch disposed between a power source and the electronic component to power on the electronic component.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising transmitting a hold signal and a second power signal from the electronic component to the power on logic circuitry for a predetermined period of time so as to maintain power to the electronic component irrespective of interruptions for a duration less than the predetermined period of time in the amount of power received by the first device.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein prior to the transmitting step, confirming the presence of a transmission identification in the RF communication signal.

19. A method for use in a first device that receives an RF communication signal from a second device, the first device having at least two electronic components including a continuously powered on first electronic component operating at a first clock speed and a powered off second electronic component operating at a second clock speed greater than the first clock speed of the first electronic component, power on logic circuitry electrically connected between a converter and the first electronic component, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the first device the RF communication signal transmitted from the second device;

converting the RF communication signal to a continuous voltage;

generating an RF enable signal when power induced in the first device by external RF energy transmitted in the received RF communication signal exceeds a minimum operating threshold of the power on logic circuitry;

producing at the power on logic circuitry a first power on signal in response to the RF enable signal;

in response to receiving the first power on signal from the power on logic circuitry, closing a first switch disposed between a power source and the second electronic component to power on the second electronic component.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising transmitting a hold signal and a second power signal from the second electronic component to the power on logic circuitry for a predetermined period of time so as to maintain power to the electronic component irrespective of interruptions for a duration less than the predetermined period of time in the amount of power received by the first device.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

producing at the second electronic component a third power on signal in response to the first power on signal; and

in response to receiving the third power on signal from the second electronic component, closing a second switch disposed between the power source and a powered off third electronic component to power on the third electronic component, the third electronic component operates at a third clock speed greater than the first clock speed of the first electronic component.