Communication system with partial power source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a control unit; and
a partial power source comprising;
a first material electrically coupled to the control unit; and
a second material electrically coupled to the control unit and electrically isolated from the first material,wherein the first material and the second material are dissimilar and have different electrochemical potential and are configured to generate a voltage potential difference to power the control unit and to complete the partial power source, and are also configured to transmit a magnitude encoded current signal when in contact with a conducting medium, andwherein the control unit conveys information by changing conductance between the first material and the second material such that variations in the magnitude of a current flow, which results from the first material and the second material being in contact with the conducting medium, corresponds to the magnitude encoded current signal, andwherein the first and second materials utilize the conducting medium to radiate the magnitude encoded current signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The system of the present invention includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, a voltage potential is created and the power source is completed, which activates the system. The electronic component controls the conductance between the dissimilar materials to produce a unique current signature. The system can be used in a variety of different applications, including as components of ingestible identifiers, such as may be found in ingestible event markers, e.g., pharma-informatics enabled pharmaceutical compositions.
761 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An electronic device comprising:
-
a control unit; and a partial power source comprising; a first material electrically coupled to the control unit; and a second material electrically coupled to the control unit and electrically isolated from the first material, wherein the first material and the second material are dissimilar and have different electrochemical potential and are configured to generate a voltage potential difference to power the control unit and to complete the partial power source, and are also configured to transmit a magnitude encoded current signal when in contact with a conducting medium, and wherein the control unit conveys information by changing conductance between the first material and the second material such that variations in the magnitude of a current flow, which results from the first material and the second material being in contact with the conducting medium, corresponds to the magnitude encoded current signal, and wherein the first and second materials utilize the conducting medium to radiate the magnitude encoded current signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An electronic device comprising:
-
a control unit configured to alter a conductance of the electronic device; a partial power source comprising; a first material electrically coupled to the control unit; and a second material electrically coupled to the control unit and electrically isolated from the first material; and a non-conducting material positioned to extend a current path between the first material and the second material, wherein the first material and the second material are dissimilar and have different electrochemical potential and are configured to generate a voltage potential difference to power the control unit and to complete the partial power source, and are also configured to transmit a magnitude encoded current signal when in contact with a conducting medium, and wherein the control unit conveys information by altering the conductance between the first material and the second material such that variations in the magnitude of a current flow, which results when the first material and the second material are in contact with the conducting medium that forms the current path between the first material and the second material, corresponds to the magnitude encoded current signal, and wherein the first and second materials utilize the conducting medium to transmit the magnitude encoded current signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus comprising:
-
a communication device configured to provide a unique signal and a magnitude encoded current signal, wherein the communication device comprises; a support structure including a control unit to control the apparatus'"'"' conductance; a first material physically associated with the support structure; a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the location of the first material, wherein the first material and the second material are dissimilar and have different electrochemical potential and are electrically connected through the control unit to transmit the magnitude encoded current signal, and wherein the first material and the second material are configured to generate a voltage potential difference to power the communication device when in contact with a conducting medium; an isolating medium encapsulating the communication device to create an isolated unit, wherein the isolating medium is non-conducting, wherein the control unit conveys information by changing the conductance between the first material and the second material such that variations in the magnitude of a current flow, which results when the first material and the second material are in contact with the conducting medium corresponds the magnitude encoded current signal, and wherein the first and second materials utilize the conducting medium to radiate the magnitude encoded current signal. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification