BIOMEDICAL SIGNAL SENSING CIRCUIT

• US 20150141783A1
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Tsai, Yi-Lin, Lin, Tsung-Hsien, Lee, Fong-Wen, Tu, Chih-Chan, Wang, Bang-Cyuan
• Granted Patent: US 9,833,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission

Abstract

A biomedical signal sensing circuit including a first and a second modulation unit, an amplifying unit, a first and a second demodulation unit is provided. The first modulation unit performs a first modulation operation to a first biomedical signal according to a first signal to generate a first modulation signal. The second modulation unit performs a second modulation operation to a second biomedical signal according to a second signal to generate a second modulation signal. The amplifying unit amplifies the first and second modulation signals, and adds the amplified first and second modulation signals to generate a third modulation signal. The first demodulation unit performs a first demodulation operation to the third modulation signal according to the first signal to generate a first sensing signal. The second demodulation unit performs a second demodulation operation to the third modulation signal according to the second signal to generate a second sensing signal.

Claims

1. A biomedical signal sensing circuit, comprising:

a first modulation unit, receiving a first biomedical signal, and performing a first modulation operation to the first biomedical signal according to a first signal to generate a first modulation signal;

a second modulation unit, receiving a second biomedical signal, and performing a second modulation operation to the second biomedical signal according to a second signal to generate a second modulation signal, wherein the second signal is orthogonal to the first signal;

an amplifying unit, coupled to the first modulation unit and the second modulation unit, amplifying the first modulation signal and the second modulation signal, and adding the amplified first modulation signal and second modulation signal to generate a third modulation signal;

a first demodulation unit, coupled to the amplifying unit, and performing a first demodulation operation to the third modulation signal according to the first signal to generate a first sensing signal; and

a second demodulation unit, coupled to the amplifying unit, and performing a second demodulation operation to the third modulation signal according to the second signal to generate a second sensing signal.

2. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first modulation unit comprises a first multiplier, and the first multiplier multiplies the first biomedical signal with the first signal to generate the first modulation signal, and the second modulation unit comprises a second multiplier, and the second multiplier multiplies the second biomedical signal with the second signal to generate the second modulation signal.

3. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first signal is a sine wave, and the second signal is a cosine wave orthogonal to the sine wave.

4. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amplifying unit comprises:

a first capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first capacitor receives the first modulation signal;

a second capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second capacitor receives the second modulation signal;

a third capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the third capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor and the second terminal of the second capacitor; and

an operational amplifier, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, the second input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to a ground potential, and the output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the first demodulation unit and the second demodulation unit.

5. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first modulation signal comprises a first signal component and a second signal component, the first signal component is inverted to the second signal component, the second modulation signal comprises a third signal component and a fourth signal component, the third signal component is inverted to the fourth signal component,

wherein the amplifying unit comprises:

a first capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first capacitor receives the first signal component;

a second capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second capacitor receives the second signal component;

a third capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the third capacitor receives the third signal component, and the second terminal of the third capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor;

a fourth capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the fourth capacitor receives the fourth signal component, and the second terminal of the fourth capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor;

a fifth capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the fifth capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor;

a sixth capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the sixth capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor; and

an operational amplifier, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, the second input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor, the first output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the fifth capacitor, and the second output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the sixth capacitor.

6. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third modulation signal comprises a first component and a second component, the first component is inverted to the second component, the first sensing signal comprises a third component and a fourth component, the third component is inverted to the fourth component, the second sensing signal comprises a fifth component and a sixth component, and the fifth component is inverted to the sixth component,

wherein the first demodulation unit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, the first input terminal of the first demodulation unit is coupled to the first output terminal of the operational amplifier to receive the first component, the second input terminal of the first demodulation unit is coupled to the second output terminal of the operational amplifier to receive the second component, the third input terminal of the first demodulation unit receives the first signal, the first output terminal of the first demodulation unit outputs the third component, and the second output terminal of the first demodulation unit outputs the fourth component,

wherein the second demodulation unit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, the first input terminal of the second demodulation unit is coupled to the first output terminal of the operational amplifier to receive the first component, the second input terminal of the second demodulation unit is coupled to the second output terminal of the operational amplifier to receive the second component, the third input terminal of the second demodulation unit receives the second signal, the first output terminal of the second demodulation unit outputs the fifth component, and the second output terminal of the second demodulation unit outputs the sixth component.

7. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first biomedical signal comprises a first differential signal component and a second differential signal component, the first differential signal component is inverted to the second differential signal component, the second biomedical signal comprises a third differential signal component and a fourth differential signal component, the third differential signal component is inverted to the fourth differential signal component, the first signal comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is inverted to the second portion, the second signal comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, and the third portion is inverted to the fourth portion,

wherein the first modulation unit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a fourth input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, the first input terminal of the first modulation unit receives the first differential signal component, the second input terminal of the first modulation unit receives the second differential signal component, the third input terminal of the first modulation unit receives the first portion, and the fourth input terminal of the first modulation unit receives the second portion,

wherein the second modulation unit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a fourth input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, the first input terminal of the second modulation unit receives the third differential signal component, the second input terminal of the second modulation unit receives the fourth differential signal component, the third input terminal of the second modulation unit receives the third portion, the fourth input terminal of the second modulation unit receives the fourth portion, and the first output terminal of the second modulation unit is coupled to the second output terminal of the first modulation unit.

8. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the amplifying unit comprises:

a first capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the first output terminal of the first modulation unit for receiving the first modulation signal;

a second capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second capacitor is coupled to the second output terminal of the second modulation unit for receiving the second modulation signal;

a third capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the third capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor;

a fourth capacitor, having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of the fourth capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor; and

an operational amplifier, having a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, wherein the first input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, the second input terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the second capacitor, the first output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the third capacitor, and the second output terminal of the operational amplifier is coupled to the second terminal of the fourth capacitor.

9. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first modulation unit comprises:

a first transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the first transistor receives the first differential signal component, and the control terminal of the first transistor receives the second portion;

a second transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the second transistor receives the first differential signal component, and the control terminal of the second transistor receives the first portion;

a third transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the third transistor receives the second differential signal component, the control terminal of the third transistor receives the first portion, and the second terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor;

a fourth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the fourth transistor receives the second differential signal component, the control terminal of the fourth transistor receives the second portion, and the second terminal of the fourth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor,

wherein the second modulation unit comprises;

a fifth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the fifth transistor receives the third differential signal component, and the control terminal of the fifth transistor receives the fourth portion;

a sixth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the sixth transistor receives the third differential signal component, and the control terminal of the sixth transistor receives the third portion;

a seventh transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the seventh transistor receives the fourth differential signal component, the control terminal of the seventh transistor receives the third portion, and the second terminal of the seventh transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the fifth transistor; and

an eighth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the eighth transistor receives the fourth differential signal component, the control terminal of the eighth transistor receives the fourth portion, and the second terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the sixth transistor.

10. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the third modulation signal comprises a first component and a second component, the first component is inverted to the second component, the first sensing signal comprises a third component and a fourth component, the third component is inverted to the fourth component, the second sensing signal comprises a fifth component and a sixth component, and the fifth component is inverted to the sixth component,

wherein the first demodulation unit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a fourth input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, the first input terminal of the first demodulation unit is coupled to the first output terminal of the operational amplifier to receive the first component, the second input terminal of the first demodulation unit is coupled to the second output terminal of the operational amplifier to receive the second component, the third input terminal of the first demodulation unit receives the first portion, the fourth input terminal of the first demodulation unit receives the second portion, the first output terminal of the first demodulation unit outputs the third component, and the second output terminal of the first demodulation unit outputs the fourth component,

wherein the second demodulation unit has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a fourth input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal, the first input terminal of the second demodulation unit is coupled to the first output terminal of the operational amplifier to receive the first component, the second input terminal of the second demodulation unit is coupled to the second output terminal of the operational amplifier to receive the second component, the third input terminal of the second demodulation unit receives the third portion, the fourth input terminal of the second demodulation unit receives the fourth portion, the first output terminal of the second demodulation unit outputs the fifth component, and the second output terminal of the second demodulation unit outputs the sixth component.

11. The biomedical signal sensing circuit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first demodulation unit comprises:

a ninth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the ninth transistor receives the first component, and the control terminal of the ninth transistor receives the second portion;

a tenth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the tenth transistor receives the first component, and the control terminal of the tenth transistor receives the first portion;

an eleventh transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the eleventh transistor receives the second component, the control terminal of the eleventh transistor receives the first portion, and the second terminal of the eleventh transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the ninth transistor;

a twelfth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the twelfth transistor receives the second component, the control terminal of the twelfth transistor receives the second portion, and the second terminal of the twelfth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the tenth transistor,

wherein the second demodulation unit comprising;

a thirteenth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the thirteenth transistor receives the first component, and the control terminal of the thirteenth transistor receives the fourth portion;

a fourteenth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the fourteenth transistor receives the first component, and the control terminal of the fourteenth transistor receives the third portion;

a fifteenth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the fifteenth transistor receives the second component, the control terminal of the fifteenth transistor receives the third portion, and the second terminal of the fifteenth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the thirteenth transistor; and

a sixteenth transistor, having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal of the sixteenth transistor receives the second component, the control terminal of the sixteenth transistor receives the fourth portion, and the second terminal of the sixteenth transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the fourteenth transistor.