System and method for locating an internal device in a closed system
First Claim
1. A closed system, comprising:
- an external device comprising;
a first processor for generating a location interrogation signal;
a first modulator for modulating a carrier signal by the location interrogation signal;
a first antenna for transmitting the modulated location interrogation signal including a substantially constant external RF power signal;
an internal device in wireless communication with the external device, the internal device comprising;
a secondary antenna for receiving the modulated location interrogation signal including the external RF power signal from the external device and inducing an RF power signal therein;
a converter for transforming the induced RF power signal to a DC induced voltage signal;
a second processor for receiving as input the DC induced voltage signal and generating a location data signal including the DC induced voltage signal;
a second modulator for modulating the location data signal prior to wireless transmission by the secondary antenna from the internal device to the external device; and
the first processor receiving as input the modulated location data signal from the internal device and producing an indicator signal proportional to the intensity of the DC induced voltage signal induced in the secondary antenna of the internal device without calculating an absolute distance value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for locating an internal device separated by a boundary from and in wireless communication with an external device. External device includes an active emitter mechanism wherein a carrier signal is modulated by a location interrogation signal thereby generating an external RF power signal during transmission to the internal device. A secondary antenna of the internal device receives the external RF power signal and induces an RF power signal therein that is converted to a DC induced voltage signal. An indication signal proportional to the intensity of the DC induced voltage signal induced in the secondary antenna is produced by the external device. The process is repeated each time the user moves the external device to a new location proximate the patient'"'"'s body until a maximum DC induced voltage signal measurement is ascertained representative of a specific area in which the internal device is located.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A closed system, comprising:
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an external device comprising; a first processor for generating a location interrogation signal; a first modulator for modulating a carrier signal by the location interrogation signal; a first antenna for transmitting the modulated location interrogation signal including a substantially constant external RF power signal; an internal device in wireless communication with the external device, the internal device comprising; a secondary antenna for receiving the modulated location interrogation signal including the external RF power signal from the external device and inducing an RF power signal therein; a converter for transforming the induced RF power signal to a DC induced voltage signal; a second processor for receiving as input the DC induced voltage signal and generating a location data signal including the DC induced voltage signal; a second modulator for modulating the location data signal prior to wireless transmission by the secondary antenna from the internal device to the external device; and the first processor receiving as input the modulated location data signal from the internal device and producing an indicator signal proportional to the intensity of the DC induced voltage signal induced in the secondary antenna of the internal device without calculating an absolute distance value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for locating an internal device in a closed system including an external device in wireless communication with the internal device, the external device having an associated primary antenna and the internal device having an associated secondary antenna, comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning the external device at a first location; (b) modulating a carrier signal by a location interrogation signal; (c) transmitting wirelessly from the primary antenna of the external device a modulated location interrogation signal including a substantially constant external RF power signal; (d) detecting an amount of RF power induced in the secondary antenna of the internal device based on the substantially constant external RF power signal in the modulated location interrogation signal emitted by the primary antenna of the external device; (e) converting the detected RF induced power to a DC induced voltage signal; (f) generating a location data signal including the DC induced voltage signal; (g) modulating the location data signal; (h) transmitting wirelessly from the internal device to the external device the modulated location data signal; (i) demodulating at the external device the modulated location data signal to recover the DC voltage signal; (j) generating an indicator signal proportional to the intensity of the DC induced voltage signal in the secondary antenna of the internal device without calculating an absolute distance value; and (k) positioning the external device at a new location, repeating the steps (b)-(j). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A closed system, comprising:
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an external device comprising; a first processor for generating a location interrogation signal; a first modulator for modulating a carrier signal by the location interrogation signal; a first antenna for transmitting the modulated location interrogation signal including a substantially constant external RF power signal; an internal device in wireless communication with the external device, the internal device comprising; a secondary antenna for receiving the external RF power signal from the external device and inducing an RF power signal therein; a converter for transforming the induced RF power signal to a DC induced voltage signal; a second processor for receiving as input the DC induced voltage signal and generating a location data signal including the DC induced voltage signal; a second modulator for modulating the location data signal prior to wireless transmission by the secondary antenna; and the first processor receiving as input the location data signal from the internal device and producing an indicator signal device, without calculating an absolute distance value, based on the comparison of;
(i) a first DC induced voltage signal representative of an amount of induced power received in the secondary antenna in response to a current modulated location interrogation signal triggered by the external device and (ii) a second DC induced voltage signal corresponding to a previous modulated location interrogation signal generated by the external device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for locating an internal device in a closed system including an external device in wireless communication with the internal device, the external device having an associated primary antenna and the internal device having an associated secondary antenna, comprising the steps of:
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(a) positioning the external device at a first location; (b) modulating a carrier signal by a location interrogation signal; (c) transmitting wirelessly from the primary antenna of the external device a modulated location interrogation signal including a substantially constant external RF power signal; (d) detecting an amount of RF power induced in the secondary antenna of the internal device based on the substantially constant external RF power signal in the modulated location interrogation signal emitted by the primary antenna of the external device; (e) converting the detected RF induced power to a DC induced voltage signal; (f) generating a location data signal including the DC induced voltage signal; (g) modulating the location data signal; (h) transmitting wirelessly from the internal device to the external device the modulated location data signal; (i) demodulating at the external device the received location detection signal to recover the DC voltage signal; (j) generating an indicator signal, without calculating an absolute distance value, based on the comparison of;
(i) a first DC induced voltage signal representative of an amount of induced power received in the secondary antenna in response to a current modulated location interrogation signal triggered by the external device and (ii) a second DC induced voltage signal corresponding to a previous modulated location interrogation signal generated by the external device; and(k) positioning the external device at a new location, repeating the steps (b)-(j). - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification