Flexible antenna module for wireless energy transmission

• US 8,219,205 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Tseng, Kuo-Hua, Huang, Pin-Hsun, Chou, Yu-Kon, Shieh, Pei-Ying, Kuo, Tsung-Ter, Chou, Wen-Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US13/014,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20110137380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 607 60- 61, 600/486
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

This invention provides a flexible antenna module for wireless energy transmission, which uses an antenna size controlling device to adjust the antenna'"'"'s size to conform a living body'"'"'s outer portion wearing the flexible annular antenna. An antenna energy transmission control module is provided to adjust the power for driving the flexible annular antenna according to the deformation of the flexible annular antenna. This invention can adjust both the antenna size to fit the individual and the power for driving the antenna. The individual can use the present antenna module under a comfortable, safe and reliable circumstance.

Claims

1. A device for optimizing energy transmission for an implanted device, comprising:

an external module for energy transmission adapted to be provided on a living body'"'"'s outer portion and comprising a flexible annular antenna adapted to be provided on the living body'"'"'s outer portion, a pressure sensor provided at an inner side of said flexible annular antenna for detecting a pressure value generated from said pressure sensor when the pressure sensor is touched by the living body'"'"'s outer portion, an antenna size controlling device for controlling a size of said flexible annular antenna, a flexible antenna energy transmission controlling module and an electrical stimulating signal control module;

wherein said flexible antenna energy transmission controlling module comprises an antenna deformation detector, an antenna deformation compensation circuit and a power controller, said electrical stimulating signal control module comprises a first wireless radio frequency interface circuit, an adjustable power control circuit and an output control circuit;

wherein said flexible annular antenna is used to perform wireless energy transmission and deformed to conform the living body'"'"'s outer portion until said pressure value detected by said pressure sensor is up to a threshold value, and then said antenna size controlling device fixes the size of said flexible annular antenna, said antenna deformation detector is provided to detect the deformation of said flexible annular antenna and said antenna deformation compensation circuit is provided to apply a compensation power to said power controller depending on the deformation of the flexible annular antenna, said first wireless radio frequency interface circuit is used to drive said flexible annular antenna to emit energy and convert a sense signal received by said flexible annular antenna into a first electronic signal, said adjustable power control circuit determines an optimum power control mode for energy transmission depending on said first electronic signal, said output control circuit sends an output power to said power controller depending on the optimum power control mode for energy transmission, said power controller adjusts the output power to obtain a compensated output power depending on the compensation power, and transmitting the compensated output power to said first wireless radio frequency interface circuit in order to drive said flexible annular antenna to emit energy; and

an internal implanted module implanted inside the living body and comprising an energy transmission antenna, a second wireless radio frequency interface circuit, a feedback modulation control circuit and an electrical stimulating control circuit, wherein said energy transmission antenna receives the energy emitted by said flexible annular antenna, said second wireless radio frequency interface circuit converts the received energy into a second electronic signal and then sends said second electronic signal to said feedback modulation control circuit, said feedback modulation control circuit depends on said second electronic signal to determine whether to drive electrical stimulating control circuit or generate a feedback signal to electrical stimulating signal control module;

wherein said adjustable power control circuit depends on said feedback signal to determine an inclination angle and a distance of said energy transmission antenna and said flexible annular antenna in order to determine said optimum power control mode for energy transmission.

2. The device for optimizing energy transmission for an implanted device of claim 1, wherein said output control circuit is a digital control circuit.

3. The device for optimizing energy transmission for an implanted device of claim 1, wherein said feedback modulation control circuit has an energy-storing capacitor, an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter), a MCU (Micro Central Unit) and a load modulation circuit, wherein said energy-storing capacitor converts said second electronic signal into a voltage level, said ADC detects said voltage level, said MCU depends on said voltage level to determine said feedback signal to be transmitted, and said load modulation circuit is activated to transmit said feedback signal.