Power consumption reduction in medical devices employing multiple digital signal processors and different supply voltages
First Claim
1. A method for conserving electrical power consumed by a medical device including one or more analog circuits and one or more digital circuits, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first digital signal processor coupled to at least one of the one or more analog circuits of the medical device for receiving analog data representative of at least a first analog input;
operating on the analog data representative of the first analog input using the first digital signal processor to perform at least a first function during a predetermined time period, the first digital signal processor operating at a first clock frequency to perform the first function;
providing a second digital signal processor coupled to at least one of the one or more analog circuits of the medical device for receiving analog data representative of at least a second analog input;
operating of the analog data representative of the second analog input using the second digital signal processor to perform at least a second function during the predetermined time period, the second digital signal processor operating at a second clock frequency to perform the second function;
applying a first fixed supply voltage to the one or more digital circuits; and
generating a second fixed supply voltage for application to the one or more analog circuits using the first fixed supply voltage, wherein the second fixed supply voltage is greater than the first fixed supply voltage, wherein the first and second clock frequencies are such that the power consumed by the first and second digital signal processors in performance of the first and second functions during the predetermined time period is less than the power that would be consumed if only one of the first and second digital signal processors were to perform both of the first and second functions within the predetermined time period.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Power consumption in medical and battery powered devices is reduced through the use and operation of multiple digital signal processing systems and through the application of different supply voltages to analog and digital circuits, respectively. Each processor of the multiple systems performs at least one particular function in a predetermined time period. The multiple digital signal processors of such systems can be operated at lower clock frequencies relative to those that would be required by one of such processors to complete the multiple functions within the predetermined time period. With reduced clock frequency, power consumption is reduced. Further, with reduced clock speed, supply voltages applied to such digital signal processors may also be reduced. A source applies a first fixed supply voltage to the digital circuits of the medical or battery powered device and a voltage generation circuit (e.g., a charge pump circuit) having the first fixed supply voltage applied thereto is used for generating a second fixed supply voltage to be applied to analog circuits of the device. Power consumption may also be reduced through the operation of circuits at clock speeds of lower levels to adequately complete desired functions during predetermined time periods (e.g., blanking interval, upper rate interval, etc.) just-in-time prior to subsequent required functional processes; by providing supply voltages tailored for various circuits of an integrated circuit; by operating two or more circuits of an integrated circuit at different clock frequencies; by changing the supply voltage level “on the fly” as required by specific circuit timing functions required for various circuitry based on clock frequencies used to control operation of such circuitry; and/or by tailoring back gate bias or adjusting back gate bias “on the fly” for circuits based on the supply voltage level applied to the circuits.
205 Citations
42 Claims
-
1. A method for conserving electrical power consumed by a medical device including one or more analog circuits and one or more digital circuits, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a first digital signal processor coupled to at least one of the one or more analog circuits of the medical device for receiving analog data representative of at least a first analog input;
operating on the analog data representative of the first analog input using the first digital signal processor to perform at least a first function during a predetermined time period, the first digital signal processor operating at a first clock frequency to perform the first function;
providing a second digital signal processor coupled to at least one of the one or more analog circuits of the medical device for receiving analog data representative of at least a second analog input;
operating of the analog data representative of the second analog input using the second digital signal processor to perform at least a second function during the predetermined time period, the second digital signal processor operating at a second clock frequency to perform the second function;
applying a first fixed supply voltage to the one or more digital circuits; and
generating a second fixed supply voltage for application to the one or more analog circuits using the first fixed supply voltage, wherein the second fixed supply voltage is greater than the first fixed supply voltage, wherein the first and second clock frequencies are such that the power consumed by the first and second digital signal processors in performance of the first and second functions during the predetermined time period is less than the power that would be consumed if only one of the first and second digital signal processors were to perform both of the first and second functions within the predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
communicating signals between the one or more analog circuit and the one or more digital circuits, and translating voltage levels of signals being communicated between the one or more analog circuits and the one or more digital circuits.
-
-
21. A method of conserving electrical power in a medical device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a first digital signal processor of the medical device receiving analog data representative of at least a first analog input;
applying a first supply voltage to the first digital signal processor for operation on the analog data representative of the at least first analog input to perform at least a first function during a predetermined time period;
providing a second digital signal processor of the medical device receiving analog data representative of at least a second analog input;
applying a second supply voltage to the second digital signal processor for operation on the analog data representative of the at least second analog input to perform at least a second function during the predetermined time period;
wherein the first and second supply voltages are such that the power consumed by the first and second digital signal processors in performance of the first and second functions is less than the power that would be consumed if only one of the first and second digital signal processors were to perform both of the first and second functions within the predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
applying a first fixed supply voltage generated by the voltage source to the one or more digital circuits;
generating a second fixed supply voltage for application to the one or more analog circuits using the first fixed supply voltage.
-
-
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of generating the second fixed supply voltage includes the step of generating the second fixed supply voltage using a charge pump circuit.
-
35. The method of claim 33, wherein the first fixed supply voltage ranges between about 0.8 volts and about 1.5 volts.
-
36. The method of claim 33, wherein the second fixed supply voltage ranges between about +/−
- 2.0 volts and about +/−
3.0 volts.
- 2.0 volts and about +/−
-
37. The method of claim 33, wherein the method further includes the step of adjusting a back gate bias of at least one of the one or more digital circuits.
-
38. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of providing the one or more digital circuits includes providing at least one of a processor, a controller and a memory.
-
39. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of providing the one or more analog circuits includes the step of providing at least one of an atrial sense amplifier, a ventricular sense amplifier, a T-wave amplifier, one or more bandpass filters, one or more detection circuits, one or more sensor amplification circuits, one or more physiological signal amplification circuits, one or more output circuits, a battery monitor circuit, and a power on reset circuit.
-
40. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of providing the one or more digital circuits includes the step of providing at least one additional digital signal processor having the first supply voltage applied thereto for receiving data representative of one or more analog signals.
-
41. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of providing the one or more analog circuits includes the step of providing at least one amplifier circuit for amplifying the one or more analog signals.
-
42. The method of claim 33, wherein the method further includes the steps of
communicating one or more signals between the one or more analog circuits and the one or more digital circuits, and translating voltage levels of signals being communicated between the one or more analog circuits and the one or more digital circuits.
Specification