Implant with antenna array
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microchip controller adapted to be coupled with an implant device that is implantable inside an organism and wherein the microchip controller is adapted to be coupled with an implant device antenna array to wirelessly communicate with a device external to the implant device, the antenna array comprising two or more individual antenna elements, the microchip controller comprising:
- a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver that includes electronic circuit components that implement an RF transceiver send path, wherein the electronic circuit components that implement the RF transceiver send path comprise at least one phase adjuster, and electronic circuit components that implement an RF transceiver receive path;
wherein the RF transceiver send path is configured to convert implant device data into RF signals, and to transmit RF signals via the antenna array to the device external to the implant device, and wherein the RF transceiver receive path is configured to convert RF signals received at the antenna array into data adapted for consumption by the implant device;
wherein the microchip controller is adapted to evaluate relative phases of RF signals received via the individual antenna elements of the antenna array to determine a transmission direction of RF signals received at the antenna array;
wherein the microchip controller is configured to control the RF transceiver send path comprising at least one phase adjuster to adjust phase of RF signals transmitted by each of the individual antenna elements in the antenna array to thereby adjust a strongest signal direction of transmitted RF signals such that the strongest signal direction of the transmitted RF signals is in the direction of the RF signals received at the antenna array.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Implant devices described herein may be adapted to communicate with other devices via an antenna array. The antenna array may be configured to minimize radiation to surrounding tissue and/or maximize signal power in a direction of device(s) with which the implant device communicates.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A microchip controller adapted to be coupled with an implant device that is implantable inside an organism and wherein the microchip controller is adapted to be coupled with an implant device antenna array to wirelessly communicate with a device external to the implant device, the antenna array comprising two or more individual antenna elements, the microchip controller comprising:
-
a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver that includes electronic circuit components that implement an RF transceiver send path, wherein the electronic circuit components that implement the RF transceiver send path comprise at least one phase adjuster, and electronic circuit components that implement an RF transceiver receive path; wherein the RF transceiver send path is configured to convert implant device data into RF signals, and to transmit RF signals via the antenna array to the device external to the implant device, and wherein the RF transceiver receive path is configured to convert RF signals received at the antenna array into data adapted for consumption by the implant device; wherein the microchip controller is adapted to evaluate relative phases of RF signals received via the individual antenna elements of the antenna array to determine a transmission direction of RF signals received at the antenna array; wherein the microchip controller is configured to control the RF transceiver send path comprising at least one phase adjuster to adjust phase of RF signals transmitted by each of the individual antenna elements in the antenna array to thereby adjust a strongest signal direction of transmitted RF signals such that the strongest signal direction of the transmitted RF signals is in the direction of the RF signals received at the antenna array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A wireless communications method for a microchip controller couplable to an implant device that is implantable inside an organism and adapted to wirelessly communicate via an antenna array with a device external to the implant device, the antenna array comprising two or more individual antenna elements, the wireless communications method comprising:
-
evaluating relative phases of signals received via the individual antenna elements of the antenna array to determine a transmission direction of the received signals; and adjusting phase of the individual antenna elements to transmit a strongest signal in the transmission direction of the received signals, wherein adjusting phase of the individual antenna elements comprises controlling a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver in the microchip controller; wherein the RF transceiver includes electronic circuit components that implement an RF transceiver send path, wherein the electronic circuit components that implement the RF transceiver send path comprise at least a phase adjuster, wherein the microchip controller adjusts the phase adjuster to adjust relative phases of RF signals transmitted by each of the individual antenna elements in the antenna array to thereby adjust the strongest signal direction of transmitted RF signals, and wherein the RF transceiver send path is configured to convert implant device data into RF signals, and to transmit RF signals via the antenna array to the device external to the implant device; and wherein the RF transceiver includes electronic circuit components that implement an RF transceiver receive path, and wherein the RF transceiver receive path is configured to convert RF signals received at the antenna array into data adapted for consumption by the implant device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A microchip controller adapted to be coupled with an implant device that is implantable inside an organism, wherein the microchip controller is adapted to be coupled with an implant device antenna array to wirelessly communicate with a device external to the implant device, the antenna array comprising two or more individual antenna elements, a reflector and a spacer material separating the reflector and the antenna elements, wherein the reflector is configured at a fixed reflecting distance with respect to the antenna elements of [(λ
-
s/4)+(nλ
s/2)], where n comprises a whole number selected from a set of positive whole numbers [1, 2, 3,. . . ] and λ
s is a wavelength of Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals transmitted by the antenna elements in the spacer material, the microchip controller comprising;an RF transceiver comprising; electronic circuit components that implement an RF transceiver send path, wherein the electronic circuit components that implement the RF transceiver send path comprise at least a phase adjuster; and electronic circuit components that implement an RF transceiver receive path; wherein the RF transceiver send path is configured to convert implant device data into RF signals, and to transmit RF signals via the antenna array to the device external to the implant device, and wherein the RF transceiver receive path is configured to convert RF signals received at the antenna array into data adapted for consumption by the implant device; wherein the microchip controller is configured to control the RF transceiver send path to adjust phase of RF signals transmitted by each of the individual antenna elements in the antenna array to thereby adjust a strongest signal direction of transmitted RF signals; and wherein the microchip controller is configured to accommodate effects of the reflector on transmitted RF signals when adjusting RF signals transmitted by each of the individual antenna elements in the antenna array. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
-
s/4)+(nλ
Specification