System and method for activating an analyte monitoring system

1 . A power activation module for powering one or more wearable electronic components, comprising:

a switch configured to provide a power path for current flow between a battery associated with the power activation module, the one or more wearable electronic components, and a ground terminal; and

a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor powered by the battery and configured to detect whether a magnetic field is applied to the TMR sensor, the TMR sensor being further configured to output a first digital output signal in response to the presence or absence of the magnetic field, the first digital output signal being fed to downstream digital control logic for controlling, at least in part, the switch to control the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components.

2 . The power activation module of claim 1 , wherein:

the first digital output signal from the sensor comprises:

a first low digital output signal when the sensor detects that the signal is applied to the sensor; and

a first high digital output signal when the sensor detects that the signal is not applied to the sensor.

3 . The power activation module of claim 1 , further comprising:

a bias generator component configured to output a reference voltage; and

a comparator component configured to:

receive the first digital output signal from the sensor and the reference voltage from the bias generator component;

compare a voltage of the first digital output signal with the reference voltage received from the bias generator component; and

output a second digital output signal comprising:

a second low digital output signal when, based on the comparison, the voltage of the first digital output signal is less than the reference voltage; and

a second high digital output signal when, based on the comparison, the voltage of the first digital output signal is greater than the reference voltage.

4 . The power activation module of claim 3 , further comprising:

a control logic component configured to:

receive an input signal, wherein the input signal is based on at least one of the second digital output signal from the comparator component or a lock signal from a lock pin of the power activation module;

output a first drive signal via a first output terminal; and

output a second drive signal; and

a charge pump component configured to:

receive the second drive signal from the control logic component; and

output a third drive signal via a second output terminal.

5 . The power activation module of claim 4 , wherein:

the switch comprises a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch including, at least, a first transistor and a second transistor;

the first transistor is configured to control the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components; and

the second transistor is configured to control the current flow from the one or more wearable electronic components to the ground terminal.

6 . The power activation module of claim 5 , wherein:

a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the second output terminal of the charge pump component and configured to receive the third drive signal;

a drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the battery;

a source terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the one or more wearable electronic components;

a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the first output terminal of the control logic component;

a drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the source terminal of the first transistor and the one or more wearable electronic components; and

a source terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the ground terminal.

7 . The power activation module of claim 5 , wherein, when the sensor detects that the signal is not applied to the sensor, the sensor is configured to control the SPDT switch to allow the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components to power on the one or more wearable electronic components.

8 . The power activation module of claim 5 , wherein the control logic component is further configured to:

receive a power down signal; and

in response to the power down signal:

control the first transistor, via the second drive signal and the charge pump component, to stop the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components; and

control the second transistor, via the first drive signal, to permit the current flow from the one or more wearable electronic components to the ground terminal.

9 . The power activation module of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wearable electronic components are configured to generate a lock signal and output the lock signal to a lock pin of the power activation module after the one or more wearable electronic components are powered on.

10 . The power activation module of claim 9 , wherein the one or more wearable electronic components are further configured to:

detect a power down signal;

in response to the power down signal, prepare the one or more wearable electronic components for power down; and

after the one or more wearable electronic components are prepared for power down, stop outputting the lock signal.

11 . The power activation module of claim 10 , wherein:

one or more wearable electronic components includes a microcontroller;

the microcontroller is configured to monitor a magnetic field output signal from the sensor during a period of time; and

when, during the period of time, the magnetic field output signal from the sensor is greater than a magnetic field threshold for a threshold amount of time, the microcontroller is configured to output the power down signal and cause one or more wearable electronic components to stop outputting the lock signal.

12 . A method for operating a power activation module for powering one or more wearable electronic components, comprising:

detecting, by a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor of the power activation module, whether a magnetic field is applied to the TMR sensor; and

outputting, from the TMR sensor, a first digital output signal in response to the presence or absence of the magnetic field, the first digital output signal being fed to downstream digital control logic for controlling, at least in part, a switch to control current flow from a battery to the one or more wearable electronic components, wherein the switch is configured to provide a power path for the current flow between the battery associated with the power activation module, the one or more wearable electronic components, and a ground terminal.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the first digital output signal from the sensor comprises:

a first low digital output signal when, based on the detecting, the signal is applied to the sensor; and

a first high digital output signal when, based on the detecting, the signal is not applied to the sensor.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

outputting, from a bias generator component of the power activation module, a reference voltage;

receiving, by a comparator component of the power activation module, the first digital output signal from the sensor and the reference voltage from the bias generator component;

comparing, by the comparator component, a voltage of the first digital output signal with the reference voltage received from the bias generator component;

outputting, by the comparator component, a second digital output signal comprising:

a second low digital output signal when, based on the comparison, the voltage of the first digital output signal is less than the reference voltage; and

a second high digital output signal when, based on the comparison, the voltage of the first digital output signal is greater than the reference voltage.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving, by a control logic component of the power activation module, an input signal, wherein the input signal is based on at least one of the second digital output signal from the comparator component or a lock signal from a lock pin of the power activation module;

outputting, by the control logic component, a first drive signal via a first output terminal;

outputting, by the control logic component, a second drive signal;

receiving, by a charge pump component of the power activation module, the second drive signal from the control logic component; and

outputting, by a charge pump component, a third drive signal via a second output terminal.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

controlling, by a first transistor of the switch, the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components, wherein the switch comprises a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch including at least the first transistor and a second transistor; and

controlling, by the second transistor, the current flow from the one or more wearable electronic components to the ground terminal.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:

a gate terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the second output terminal of the charge pump component and configured to receive the third drive signal;

a drain terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the battery;

a source terminal of the first transistor is coupled with the one or more wearable electronic components;

a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the first output terminal of the control logic component;

a drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the source terminal of the first transistor and the one or more wearable electronic components; and

a source terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the ground terminal.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising controlling the SPDT switch to allow the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components to power on the one or more wearable electronic components when, based on the detecting, the signal is not applied to the sensor.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

receiving, by the control logic component, a power down signal; and

in response to the power down signal:

controlling, by the control logic component, the first transistor, via the second drive signal and the charge pump component, to stop the current flow from the battery to the one or more wearable electronic components; and

controlling, by the control logic component, the second transistor, via the first drive signal, to permit the current flow from the one or more wearable electronic components to the ground terminal.

20 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

generating a lock signal and outputting the lock signal to a lock pin of the power activation module after the one or more wearable electronic components are powered on;

monitoring, by a microcontroller of the one or more wearable electronic components, a magnetic field output signal from the sensor during a period of time;

outputting, by the microcontroller, a power down signal when, during the period of time, the magnetic field output signal from the sensor is greater than a magnetic field threshold for a threshold amount of time;

preparing, by the one or more wearable electronic components, the one or more wearable electronic components for power down in response to the power down signal; and

stopping, by the wearable electronic components, outputting the lock signal after the one or more wearable electronic components are prepared for power down.