Implantable RF telemetry devices with power saving mode

• US 20060229053A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsemi Semiconductor AB (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor AB (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sivard, Ake
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply

Abstract

An electronic implantable device with a power saving circuit incorporates a radio frequency receiver with low power consumption. A high power radio receiver is normally turned off during a period of inactivity. When an analyzer detects a predetermined identification code in a received radio frequency signal, it outputs a signal to turn on the high power receiver.

Claims

1. An implantable electronic device, comprising:

a first radio receiver for receiving telemetry data, said first radio receiver having a wake mode and a sleep mode, and being configured to be normally in said sleep mode;

a second radio receiver with very low power consumption compared to said first radio receiver;

a control unit for periodically turning on the second radio receiver during a sniff period to listen for an incoming radio frequency signal;

an analyzer for verifying the properties of an incoming radio signal, said analyzer, in response to receipt of part of a valid wake-up message, prolonging the sniff period while the received part of the wake-up message remains valid until a complete wake-up message is received; and

said analyzer further being operable to place said first radio receiver in the wake mode to receive incoming telemetry data in response to the detection of a complete valid wake-up message.

2. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wake-up signal includes a predetermined identification code, and said analyzer is responsive to said predetermined identification code to place said first radio receiver in the wake mode.

3. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first radio receiver forms part of a transceiver for receiving and transmitting telemetry data.

4. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second radio frequency receivers share a common antenna.

5. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein first radio receiver has a separate antenna from said second radio receiver.

6. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said identification code includes an address of said device.

7. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first radio receiver operates at a different frequency from said second radio receiver.

8. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said properties of the incoming signal comprise Manchester code.

9. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said properties of the incoming signal comprise Return-To-Zero code.

10. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said properties of the incoming signal comprise the delay between two symbols.

11. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said properties of the incoming signal comprise a predetermined frequency window.

12. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said properties of the incoming signal comprise a predetermined amplitude window.

13. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said properties of the incoming signal comprise a predetermined pulse position window.

14. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said analyzer is responsive to an identification code modulated using on/off keying

15. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said analyzer is responsive to an identification code modulated using frequency shift keying.

16. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said analyzer is responsive an identification code modulated using amplitude shift keying.

17. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said analyzer is responsive an identification code is modulated using phase shift keying or any variant thereof.

18. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second receiver with low power consumption receiver comprises an amplifier, a band pass filter, a rectifier and a comparator.

19. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said identification code is pulse width modulated, and said analyzer is configured to detect said pulse width modulation.

20. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said identification code is pulse position modulated, and said analyzer is configured to detect amplitude pulse position modulation.

21. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said identification code is pulse amplitude modulated, and said analyzer is configured to detect said pulse amplitude modulation.

22. An implantable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second radio receiver with low power consumption is configured so that it normally is sleep mode for the majority of the time to save power, and is woken up into said sniff mode at predetermined intervals to listen for said wake-up signal.

23. A method of saving power in an implantable electronic device having a first radio receiver for receiving telemetry data, said first radio receiver having a wake mode and a sleep mode, and being configured to be normally in said sleep mode, said method comprising:

periodically listening in a sniff mode for a wake-up signal with a second radio receiver that has very low power consumption compared to said first radio receiver;

in response to reception of part of a wake-up signal by said second radio receiver prolonging the sniff mode while the received part of a wake-up signal remains valid until a complete wake-up signal is received; and

in response to a complete valid wake-up signal, placing said first radio receiver in the wake mode to receive incoming telemetry data.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said wake-up signal includes a predetermined identification code, and said first radio receiver is placed in the wake mode in response to detection of said predetermined identification code.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said second radio receiver is normally in sleep mode and is woken at intervals to listen for said wake-up signal.