SENSOR INTERFACE

• US 20090234207A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Rantala, Borje
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A sensor interface configured to adapt analog and digital sensors is disclosed herein. The sensor interface unit includes: a port configured to be coupled to either a digital sensor or an analog sensor and a signal processing circuit for processing an analog sensor output when an analog sensor is coupled to the port. The interface further includes a switching mechanism configured to bypass the signal processing circuitry when a digital sensor is coupled to the port.

Claims

1. A sensor interface unit comprising:

a port configured to be coupled to either a digital sensor or an analog sensor;

a signal processing circuit for processing an analog sensor output when an analog sensor is coupled to the port; and

a switching mechanism configured to bypass the signal processing circuit when a digital sensor is coupled to the port.

2. The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the port is configured to be coupled to an analog sensor that needs external signal processing circuitry to process the analog sensor output.

3. The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the port is configured to be coupled to a digital sensor that has processing circuitry associated therewith.

4. The unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the port is configured to have multiple connecting pins.

5. The unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pins are shared to accommodate digital and analog sensors.

6. The unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pins are shared using different voltage or current levels.

7. A detection system comprising:

a sensor assembly having analog sensors and digital sensors; and

an interface unit configured to connect the sensor assembly to a processor;

wherein the processor is configured to detect the nature of the sensors and select desired signal processing electronics based on the nature of the sensors.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the analog sensors provide analog output signals and the digital sensor provides digital output signals.

9. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to select signal conditioning electronics for the analog sensors and bypass the signal conditioning electronics for the digital sensors.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processor further includes a safety mechanism configured to ensure safety, while adapting digital and analog sensors.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the safety mechanism includes:

a power compatible mechanism while connecting analog sensors and digital sensors.

12. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the safety mechanism includes a calibration mechanism for analog sensors.

13. A signal detection method comprising:

configuring a port to adapt a detecting element including either an analog sensor or a digital sensor;

identifying the nature of the detecting element; and

selecting signal processing electronics based on the nature of the detecting element.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of configuring the port includes:

multiplexing at least one pin in the port to accept analog sensors and digital sensors.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of selecting the signal processing electronics comprises:

selecting the signal processing electronics for analog sensors and bypassing the signal processing electronics for digital sensors.

16. A patient monitor comprising:

A plurality of detecting elements configured to include analog sensors and digital sensors;

a connector having multiple ports configured to adapt the detecting elements;

a processor configured to process the outputs of the detecting elements in accordance with the nature of the detecting elements; and

a display configured to display the processed signals.

17. A pulse oximeter system comprising:

a probe having emitters for emitting radiations at a minimum of two different wavelengths and a photodiode detector configured to receive radiation;

a connector having a plurality of ports, configured to adapt the emitters and the photodiode detector including analog and digital sensors; and

a switching mechanism configured to select desired signal processing electronics based on the nature of the sensors connected on the ports.

18. A pulse oximeter system as claimed in claim 17, further comprises a signal processor to process the output of analog sensors and a driving unit configured to provide drive signal to the emitters.

19. A pulse oximeter system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the emitters include back-to-back LED drive.

20. A pulse oximeter system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the analog sensor includes a basic pulse oximetry sensor and the digital sensor includes a multiwavelength sensor configured to detect hemoglobin derivatives.

21. A pulse oximeter system as in claimed claim 20, wherein the analog sensor and digital sensor measure essentially the same physiological signal including SpO2 and pulse rate.

22. A pulse oximeter system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the analog sensor and digital sensor measure different physiological signals.

23. A pulse oximeter system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ports connecting the driving unit to the probe is multiplexed while connecting analog sensors and digital sensors.

24. A pulse oximeter system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the ports configured to act as high voltage excitation and low voltage excitation for analog sensors is multiplied together to be used as positive supply for the digital sensor.

25. A pulse oximeter system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the LED drive being multiplexed with a positive supply voltage for the digital sensor.