Two-lead power/signal multiplexed transducer
First Claim
1. A body implantable transducer assembly comprising:
- a transducer head requiring an electrical power input and supplying an electrical output signal and comprising a piezoresistive resistance bridge having a temporary storage means whereby said electrical output signal is generated by said electrical power input as stored in said temporary storage means passing through said piezoresistive resistance bridge;
means for processing said electrical output signal;
means responsively coupled to said transducer head and said processing means for conducting said electrical output signal between said transducer head and said processing means; and
means responsively coupled to said conducting means for supplying said electrical power input to said transducer head via said conducting means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Technique of and apparatus for multiplexing the power and signal leads of an implantable piezoresistive pressure transducer. A semiconductor switching circuit multiplexes the two leads between the transducer element and the electronic processing element. During the charge cycle, the switching circuit connects the power source to the two leads. The power source charges a capacitor located within the resistive bridge of the piezoresistive transducer. A sensing cycle causes the switching circuitry to remove the power source from the two leads, and to switch the two leads to the input circuit of the sensing electronics. Optional steering diodes may be employed in the resistive bridge to minimize heating of two of the resistors caused by charging current. The sensing circuit employs a sample and hold technique so that the sensed output is supplied constantly over time without the interruptions caused by the switching circuit action of charging the capacitor within the resistive bridge.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A body implantable transducer assembly comprising:
-
a transducer head requiring an electrical power input and supplying an electrical output signal and comprising a piezoresistive resistance bridge having a temporary storage means whereby said electrical output signal is generated by said electrical power input as stored in said temporary storage means passing through said piezoresistive resistance bridge; means for processing said electrical output signal; means responsively coupled to said transducer head and said processing means for conducting said electrical output signal between said transducer head and said processing means; and means responsively coupled to said conducting means for supplying said electrical power input to said transducer head via said conducting means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A body implantable transducer assembly, comprising:
-
a transducer head including a transducer comprising a piezoresistive resistance bridge requiring an electrical power input and supply an electrical output signal concurrent with said electrical power input and storage means for storing an electrical power input and for providing said electrical power input as stored, to said transducer; and conductor means consisting of two conductors coupled to said transducer head for conducting said electrical power input to said storage means and for conducting said electrical output signal from said transducer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification