METHOD FOR WIRELESS DATA TRANSMISSION BETWEEN A MEASUREMENT MODULE AND A TRANSMISSION UNIT

• US 20110125428A1
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Government of Austria)
• Original Assignee: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Government of Austria)
• Inventors: Heer, Rudolf, Wissenwasser, Juergen, Kroath, Hans, Brueckl, Hubert
• Granted Patent: US 8,793,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1331 Measuring real or reactive component, measuring apparent energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• 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

A method records and transmits data between a transmission unit that has a first antenna and a measurement module which has a sensor for recording measured variables and converts the measured variables into electric signals. Data is bi-directionally transmitted between the measurement module and the transmission unit located within the near field of the measurement module by use of a second antenna that is arranged on the measurement module. The electromagnetic energy of the signal that is applied to the second antenna is transformed and temporarily stored by a reception unit which is arranged downstream of the second antenna. The first antenna of the transmission unit is put in an inactive state at least during the time the measured variables are sensed by the measurement module or the sensors.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A method for recording and transmitting data between a transmission unit having a first antenna and a measurement module having at least one sensor for recording measured variables, including biological variables, and transforms the measured variables into electrical signals and a measuring amplifier coupled to the sensor, which comprises the steps of:

performing a bidirectional transmission of the data between the measurement module and the transmission unit, disposed in a near range of the measurement module, using a second antenna situated on the measurement module;

transforming, via a reception unit coupled to the second antenna, electromagnetic energy of a signal present at the second antenna;

intermediately storing the electromagnetic energy and the electromagnetic energy being made available in a form of a voltage level at an output, and the stored electromagnetic energy is delivered to the sensor, and the measuring amplifier as a current supply;

controlling components of the measuring module via a central data processing unit of the measurement module, while being supplied with the electromagnetic energy stored in the reception unit, the central data processing unit further processing the measured signals of the sensor and communicating with the transmission unit;

setting the first antenna of the transmission unit to be inactive for a time period of a determination of the measured variables by the sensor; and

effecting the setting to inactive at an instigation of the measurement module, which signals to the transmission unit that a storing unit, connected to the reception unit, is fully charged and further signals from the transmission unit should be stopped in a sense of a disturbance-free measurement.

7. The method according to claim 6, which further comprises using sensors to determine an impedance of a sample situated in the measurement module at a predetermined number of frequencies.

8. The method according to claim 6, which further comprises:

a) setting the first antenna to be active for transmitting the electromagnetic energy to the reception unit, and the electromagnetic energy is transmitted between the first antenna and the second antenna, and the electromagnetic energy is stored in the measurement module;

b) after transmission of a predetermined amount of the electromagnetic energy, transmitting or transferring a control pulse, generated by the measurement module, to the transmission unit, by which the first antenna is set inactive for a predetermined time period;

c) during the predetermined time period, effecting the measurement of the measured variables to be determined;

d) after the end of the predetermined time period, setting the antenna of the transmission unit to be active again;

e) after an end of the measurement, transmitting measured data in coded form from the measurement module to the transmission unit; and

f) carrying out steps a) to e) for a predetermined number of repetitions for carrying out a series of measurements, for different measured variables.

9. The method according to claim 6, which further comprises:

forming the measurement module as a passive measurement module; and

performing the bidirectional transmission of the data to transmit measured data and control signals.

10. The method according to claim 8, which further comprises after an end of the predetermined time period transmitting the measured data in coded form from the measurement module to the transmission unit.

11. A configuration, comprising:

a measurement module;

a transmission unit having a first antenna, an antenna driver for controlling said first antenna, said transmission unit transmitting data by means of said first antenna to said measurement module and processing the data received from said measurement module by means of said first antenna;

said measurement module containing;

at least one sensor for recording measured variables;

a measuring amplifier coupled to said sensor;

a second antenna for bidirectional transmission of the data between said measurement module and said transmission unit disposed in a near range of said measurement module;

a reception unit having an output and coupled to said second antenna, said reception unit transforming and intermediately storing electromagnetic energy of a signal present at said second antenna and putting the electromagnetic energy available in a form of a voltage level existing at said output, and delivering stored electromagnetic energy to said sensor and to said measuring amplifier as a current supply; and

a central data processing unit supplied by the electromagnetic energy stored in said reception unit for controlling components of said measurement module, said central data processing unit further processing measured signals of said sensor and for communication with said transmission unit; and

said antenna driver having a circuit for timely limited stopping or for electrical inactivation of said first antenna when receiving a stop signal emitted by said second antenna.

12. The configuration to claim 11, wherein:

said transmission unit has a plurality of first antennas and a plurality of bidirectional antenna drivers, each of said bidirectional antenna drivers is connected to each of said first antennas; and

said measurement module is one of a plurality of measurement modules, each of said measurement modules has a separate said second antenna.

13. The configuration to claim 11, wherein:

said measurement module is a passive measurement module; and

said sensor records physical measured variables by determining an impedance of a sample and transforms impedances into electrical signals.