Self-test system and method for external programming device
First Claim
1. In a communication system having driver means for generating a first signal that is to be transmitted;
- transmitter means for presenting said first signal to antenna means as an output signal;
control means for controlling said driver means;
receiver means for receiving an input signal and converting the same to a second signal;
filter means for filtering said second signal and for producing a filtered second signal therefrom;
demodulation means for demodulating said filtered second signal and for producing a demodulated signal therefrom; and
first switch means for selectively connecting one of a plurality of status signals, including said demodulated signal, to said control means;
self test means for testing the operation of said system comprising;
signal generating means within said control means for generating a test signal;
first summing means for selectively adding said test signal to said first signal, whereby said output signal may selectively include said test signal;
second summing means for selectively adding said test signal to said second signal, whereby said filtered second signal may selectively include said test signal; and
second switch means for selectively connecting one of said output signal or said filtered second signal to said demodulation means, whereby one of said status signals connected to said control means may selectively include said test signal after said test signal has passed through said transmitter means and demodulator means or after said test signal has passed through said filter means and demodulation means;
said control means including means for checking the selected one of said status signals returned thereto to verify that said test signal produced an anticipated response in the performance of said communication system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system includes self-test means for automatically testing its performance. The communication system is adapted for use between an implantable device, such as a pacemaker, and an external device, such as the pacemaker'"'"'s programmer. The communication system includes in the external device a transmitter circuit for transmitting an output signal through an antenna, and a receiver circuit for receiving an input signal through an antenna. A driver circuit controls the operation of the transmitter circuit. A microprocessor, connected to the driver circuit, controls the information content and timing of the transmitted output signal. A bandpass filter and AM demodulator process the input signal received through the receiver circuit. A multiplexer selectively allows one of a plurality of status signals from throughout the communication system within the external device, including the demodulated signal obtained from the AM demodulator, to be connected to the microprocessor. The self-test means includes means for having the microprocessor generate a test signal that is selectively injected into the transmitter circuit and/or the bandpass filter. The self-test means further includes a switch that selectively allows, as controlled by the microprocessor, either the output signal from the bandpass filter, or the output signal from the transmitter circuit, to be connected to the input of the AM demodulator. In this manner, the injected test signal, or the effects of the injected test signal, may be coupled back to the microprocessor via one of the status signals. The microprocessor then checks the status signals to ensure that a desired performance criteria is achieved. Individual tests may be selectively performed, or a prescribed sequence of several tests may be automatically performed.
91 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a communication system having driver means for generating a first signal that is to be transmitted;
- transmitter means for presenting said first signal to antenna means as an output signal;
control means for controlling said driver means;
receiver means for receiving an input signal and converting the same to a second signal;
filter means for filtering said second signal and for producing a filtered second signal therefrom;
demodulation means for demodulating said filtered second signal and for producing a demodulated signal therefrom; and
first switch means for selectively connecting one of a plurality of status signals, including said demodulated signal, to said control means;
self test means for testing the operation of said system comprising;signal generating means within said control means for generating a test signal; first summing means for selectively adding said test signal to said first signal, whereby said output signal may selectively include said test signal; second summing means for selectively adding said test signal to said second signal, whereby said filtered second signal may selectively include said test signal; and second switch means for selectively connecting one of said output signal or said filtered second signal to said demodulation means, whereby one of said status signals connected to said control means may selectively include said test signal after said test signal has passed through said transmitter means and demodulator means or after said test signal has passed through said filter means and demodulation means; said control means including means for checking the selected one of said status signals returned thereto to verify that said test signal produced an anticipated response in the performance of said communication system.
- transmitter means for presenting said first signal to antenna means as an output signal;
- 2. The self-test means set forth in claim wherein said signal generating means includes means for automatically generating said test signal at prescribed times during the operation of said communication system, said self-test means automatically performing its function of checking selected ones of said status signals at said prescribed times.
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6. The self-test means set forth in claim further including means for attenuating the output signal applied to said second switch means from said transmitter means by a prescribed amount.
- 7. The self-test means set forth in claim wherein said control means comprises a microprocessor, and wherein said signal generating means within said control means includes a stored sequence of instructions that causes said microprocessor to generate said test signal and apply it to at least one of said first or second summing means at an appropriate time during the operation of said communication system.
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13. A communication system comprising:
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driver means for generating a first signal that is to be transmitted; transmitter means for presenting said first signal to antenna means as an output signal; control means for controlling said driver means; receiver means for receiving an input signal and for converting the same to a second signal; filter means for filtering said second signal and for producing a filtered second signal therefrom; demodulation means for demodulating said filtered second signal and for producing a demodulated signal therefrom; first switch means for selectively connecting one of a plurality of status signals, including said demodulated signal, to said control means; and self-test means for testing the operation of said system, said self-test means including; signal generating means within said control means for generating a test signal, first summing means for selectively adding said test signal to said first signal, whereby said output signal may selectively include said test signal, second summing means for selectively adding said test signal to said second signal, whereby said filtered second signal may selectively include said test signal, and second switch means for selectively connecting one of said output signal or said filtered second signal to said demodulation means, whereby one of said status signals connected to said control means may selectively include said test signal after said test signal has passed through said transmitter means and demodulator means or after said test signal has passed through said filter means and demodulation means; said control means including means for checking the selected one of said status signals returned thereto to verify that said test signal produced an anticipated effect on the performance of said communication system.
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14. A system for testing an external programming device, said external programming device being adapted to communicate with an implantable device, said system including:
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test signal means for generating a test signal within said external programming device; injection means for injecting said test signal into prescribed circuit locations within said external programming device, monitoring means for monitoring prescribed signals, resulting from the injecting of said test signal, at prescribed circuit locations within said external programming device, and comparison means for comparing the value of various parameters associated with the monitored signals with expected parameter values. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of automatically testing an external programming device adapted for use with an implantable device, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) automatically performing a prescribed test at the time said external programming device is first powered on; (b) determining if the results of the test performed in step (a) are within a range of acceptable results; (c) automatically saving the results of the test performed in step (a) if the results of the test are not within the range of acceptable results as determined in step (b); (d) automatically repeating steps (a) through (c) for additional prescribed tests, if any, that are to be performed, with each additional test being initiated at the conclusion of the preceding test; and (e) automatically displaying the results of the tests saved in step (c) for all the prescribed tests that are performed; whereby a sequence of prescribed tests are automatically performed when the programming device is first powered on, with the results of any test not within an acceptable range of results being automatically displayed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for testing an external programming device, said external programming device being adapted to communicate with an implantable device, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a test signal within said external programming device; (b) injecting said test signal into prescribed circuit locations within said external programming device, (c) monitoring prescribed signals, resulting from the injecting of said test signal, at prescribed circuit locations within said external programming device, and (d) comparing the value of various parameters associated with the monitored signals with expected parameter values. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of testing an external programming device adapted for use with an implantable device, said external programming device including various circuits that, when functioning properly, establish a telemetry link with the implantable device over which commands may be sent to the implantable device and data may be received from the implantable device, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating a suitable test signal, injecting the test signal into appropriate locations within the circuits of the programming device so that the test signal is coupled to the input of a particular circuit to be tested, routing the resulting signal, obtained or derived from the output of the particular circuit to be tested, back to a central location, and comparing the resulting signal routed back to the central location against a standard signal that would be received at the central location if the particular circuit to be tested is functioning properly.
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Specification