Device for generating a signal and method for controlling operation of the same

• US 8,185,211 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntroMedic, Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: IntroMedic, Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shim, Han Bo, Cho, Won Woo, Hwang, Jung Jin, Kim, Kwang Seop, Seo, Young Dae, Jung, Han, Kim, Byung Hyuk, Kim, Yong Un
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US12/298,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,853 Days
• Field of Search: 607/33, 607/60, 607/61
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for generating a signal and method for controlling operation of the same. The present invention provides a device for generating a signal, which includes an electrode (110), if connected to an external power source (200), supplied with a voltage from the external power source (200), a signal generating unit (130) having a plurality of terminals, the signal generating unit (130) deciding whether to operate the device according to a size of a voltage applied to a first terminal among a plurality of the terminals, the signal generating unit (130) outputting a prescribed signal according to the decision, and a control circuit (120), if the electrode (110) is connected to a plurality of the terminals, controlling a voltage applied to a plurality of the terminals. Accordingly, the present invention is able to control whether to operate a signal generating device (100) using an external power source (200).

Claims

1. A method of controlling an operation of a signal generating device, the method comprising:

a step of receiving a first voltage through an electrode of the signal generating device from a power source external to the signal generating device if the power source is connected to the signal generating device;

a step of generating a second voltage over a reference voltage if the first voltage is received from the power source and of generating the second voltage below the reference voltage if the power source is disconnected;

a step of applying the generated second voltage to a first prescribed terminal of the signal generating device; and

a step of deciding whether to operate the signal generating device according to a size of the second voltage applied to the first prescribed terminal, wherein the signal generating device is not operated if the second voltage applied to the first prescribed terminal is over the reference voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of deciding whether to operate the signal generating device according to the size of the second voltage applied to the first prescribed terminal, it is decided to operate the signal generating device if the second voltage applied to the first prescribed terminal is below the reference voltage.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of

generating a prescribed signal from the signal generating device according to the decision;

outputting the prescribed signal via a second prescribed terminal of the signal generating device; and

externally outputting the prescribed signal via the electrode of the signal generating device.