Systems and methods of facilitating communication between a first and second device

• US 7,777,641 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Chang, Diane H., Karunasiri, Rankiri T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Vernal U
• Application Number:
  US11/393,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.2, 340/3.1, 340/5.1, 326/80, 326/88, 326/92
• US Class Current: 607/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Systems for facilitating communication between a first and second device include a voltage level translator circuit configured to convert a voltage level of one or more digital signals that are transmitted from the first device to the second device to a voltage level substantially equal to a supply voltage level of the second device. The conversion is based on a first input voltage signal into the translator circuit. The systems further include a diode in series with a capacitor. The diode is configured to generate the first input voltage signal by charging the capacitor to a voltage level that is substantially equal to the voltage level of the one or more digital signals. Methods of facilitating communication between a first and second device include providing a voltage level translator circuit configured to convert a voltage level of one or more digital signals that are transmitted from the first device to the second device to a voltage level substantially equal to a supply voltage level of the second device. The conversion is based on a first input voltage signal into the translator circuit. The methods further include providing a circuit comprising a diode in series with a capacitor and generating the first input voltage signal by charging the capacitor to a voltage level that is substantially equal to the voltage level of the one or more digital signals.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a behind-the-ear signal processor configured to process an acoustic signal and generate one or more stimulation parameters based on the acoustic signal and configured to control an implantable cochlear stimulator, the behind-the-ear signal processor being configured to operate at a first supply voltage level;

a clinician'"'"'s programming interface configured to be coupled to the behind-the-ear signal processor and facilitate programming of the behind-the-ear signal processor, the clinician'"'"'s programming device being configured to operate at a second supply voltage level that is different than the first supply voltage level;

a voltage level translator circuit configured to facilitate communication between the behind-the-ear signal processor and the clinician'"'"'s programming interface by converting digital signals that are transmitted from said clinician'"'"'s programming interface to said behind-the-ear signal processor from the second supply voltage level to a voltage level substantially equal to the first supply voltage level, said conversion being based on a first input voltage signal into said translator circuit; and

a circuit comprising a diode in series with a capacitor, the circuit comprising the diode in series with the capacitor configured to receive a digital signal included within the digital signals and

generate said first input voltage signal by charging said capacitor to a voltage level that is substantially equal to a voltage level of said digital signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said conversion is further based on a second input voltage signal into said translator circuit, wherein said second input voltage signal has a voltage level substantially equal to said first supply voltage level of said behind-the-ear signal processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said digital signal comprises a clock signal generated by the clinician'"'"'s programming interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said diode is configured to charge said capacitor during a plurality of positive cycles of said digital signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said capacitor is configured to supply said first input voltage signal to said translator circuit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said diode comprises a schottky diode.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuit comprising the diode and the capacitor is included within said translator circuit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said voltage level translator circuit is further configured to convert a voltage level of one or more signals generated by said behind-the-ear signal processor to a voltage level substantially equal to the second supply voltage level of said clinician'"'"'s programming interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the voltage level translator circuit is located within an assembly of the behind-the-ear signal processor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit comprising the diode and the capacitor is located within an assembly of the behind-the-ear signal processor.

11. A system comprising:

a behind-the-ear signal processor configured to process an acoustic signal and generate one or more stimulation parameters based on the acoustic signal and configured to control an implantable cochlear stimulator, the behind-the-ear signal processor being configured to operate at a first supply voltage level;

a clinician'"'"'s programming interface configured to be coupled to the behind-the-ear signal processor and facilitate programming of the behind-the-ear signal processor, the clinician'"'"'s programming device being configured to operate at a second supply voltage level that is different than the first supply voltage level;

a voltage level translator circuit configured to facilitate communication between the clinician'"'"'s programming interface and the behind-the-ear signal processor by converting digital signals that are transmitted from the behind-the-ear signal processor to the clinician'"'"'s programming interface from the first supply voltage level to a voltage level substantially equal to the second supply voltage level, the conversion being based on a first input voltage signal into the translator circuit; and

a circuit comprising a diode in series with a capacitor, the circuit comprising the diode in series with the capacitor configured to receive a digital signal included within the digital signals and generate the first input voltage signal by charging the capacitor to a voltage level that is substantially equal to a voltage level of the digital signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said conversion is further based on a second input voltage signal into said first circuit, wherein said second input voltage signal has a voltage level substantially equal to said supply voltage level of said second device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said digital signal comprises a clock signal generated by the behind-the-ear signal processor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said diode is configured to charge said capacitor during a plurality of positive cycles of said digital signal.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said diode comprises a schottky diode.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said translator circuit is further configured to convert a voltage level of one or more signals generated by said clinician'"'"'s programming interface to a voltage level substantially equal to the first supply voltage level of said behind-the-ear signal processor.

17. A method comprising:

providing a behind-the-ear signal processor configured to process an acoustic signal and generate one or more stimulation parameters based on the acoustic signal and configured to control an implantable cochlear stimulator, the behind-the-ear signal processor being configured to operate at a first supply voltage level;

providing a clinician'"'"'s programming interface configured to be coupled to the behind-the-ear signal processor and facilitate programming of the behind-the-ear signal processor, the clinician'"'"'s programming device being configured to operate at a second supply voltage level that is different than the first supply voltage level;

providing a voltage level translator circuit configured to convert digital signals that are transmitted from said clinician'"'"'s programming interface to said behind-the-ear signal processor from the second supply voltage level to a voltage level substantially equal to the first supply voltage level, said conversion being based on a first input voltage signal into said translator circuit;

providing a circuit comprising a diode in series with a capacitor;

receiving, by the diode, a digital signal included within the digital signals; and

generating, by the diode and the capacitor, said first input voltage signal by charging said capacitor to a voltage level that is substantially equal to a voltage level of said digital signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said conversion is further based on a second input voltage signal into said translator circuit, wherein said second input voltage signal has a voltage level substantially equal to said supply voltage level of said behind-the-ear signal processor.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said digital signal comprises a clock signal generated by the clinician'"'"'s programming interface.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising charging said capacitor during a plurality of positive cycles of said digital signal.