Method for wireless data transmission between a measurement module and a transmission unit

• US 8,793,084 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Government of Austria)
• Original Assignee: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Government of Austria)
• Inventors: Brueckl, Hubert, Kroath, Hans, Heer, Rudolf, Wissenwasser, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US12/992,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20110125428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57, 702/62
• US Class Current: 702/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/1331 Measuring real or reactive component, measuring apparent energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A method records and transmits data between a transmission unit that has a first antenna and a measurement module which has a sensor for recording measured variables and converts the measured variables into electric signals. Data is bi-directionally transmitted between the measurement module and the transmission unit located within the near field of the measurement module by use of a second antenna that is arranged on the measurement module. The electromagnetic energy of the signal that is applied to the second antenna is transformed and temporarily stored by a reception unit which is arranged downstream of the second antenna. The first antenna of the transmission unit is put in an inactive state at least during the time the measured variables are sensed by the measurement module or the sensors.

Claims

1. A method for recording and transmitting data between a transmission unit having a first antenna and a measurement module having at least one sensor for measuring variables, including biological variables, and transforms the measured variables into electrical signals and a measuring amplifier coupled to the sensor, which comprises the steps of:

performing a bidirectional transmission of the data between the measurement module and the transmission unit, disposed in a near range of the measurement module, using a second antenna situated on the measurement module;

transforming, via a reception unit coupled to the second antenna, electromagnetic energy of a signal present at the second antenna to electrical energy;

intermediately storing the electrical energy, outputting the stored electrical energy in a form of a voltage level at an output of the reception unit, and delivering the stored electrical energy as a current to the sensor and the measuring amplifier;

controlling components of the measuring module via a central data processing unit of the measurement module, while being supplied with the electrical energy stored in the reception unit, the central data processing unit further processing the measured variables of the sensor and communicating with the transmission unit;

setting the first antenna of the transmission unit to be inactive for a time period of a determination of the measured variables by the sensor; and

effecting the setting to inactive at an instigation of the measurement module, which signals to the transmission unit that a storing unit, connected to the reception unit, is fully charged and further signals from the transmission unit should be stopped; and

which further comprises;

a) setting the first antenna to be active for transmitting the electromagnetic energy to the reception unit, transmitting the electromagnetic energy between the first antenna and the second antenna, and storing the electrical energy in the measurement module;

b) after transmission of a predetermined amount of the electromagnetic energy, transmitting or transferring a control pulse, generated by the measurement module, to the transmission unit, by which the first antenna is set inactive for a predetermined time period;

c) during the predetermined time period, effecting a measurement of the measured variables to be determined;

d) after the end of the predetermined time period, setting the first antenna of the transmission unit to be active again; and

e) after an end of the measurement of the measured variables, transmitting the measured variables in coded form from the measurement module to the transmission unit; and

f) carrying out steps a) to e) for a predetermined number of repetitions for carrying out a series of measurements of variables.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises using sensors to determine an impedance of a sample situated in the measurement module at a predetermined number of frequencies.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises:

forming the measurement module as a passive measurement module; and

performing the bidirectional transmission of the data to transmit measured variables and control pulses.