IP Library Granted Patent US 7,418,297
Granted Patent B2
US 7,418,297 · App. 11/193,818 · Granted Aug 26, 2008

Frame length modulation and pulse position modulation system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,418,297
App. No.
11/193,818
Granted
Aug 26, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a transceiver circuit to transceive at least a first analog signal and a digital signal. The system also includes a controller circuit, coupled to the transceiver circuit, to deliver at least one control signal thereto, the controller circuit including executable instructions defining a data frame for communication of the first analog signal and the digital signal, endpoints of the data frame defined by portions of successive first and second synchronization signals and defining a corresponding frame interval, the data frame including a first data band for transceiving a first data pulse therein. A relative position in time of the first data pulse represents the first analog signal, and a modulation of the frame interval represents the digital signal. The system further includes an analog signal interface circuit, coupled to the transceiver circuit, to provide at least the first analog signal representative of acquired data.

Claims (36)

1. A system, comprising:

a transceiver circuit to transceive signals representing at least a first analog signal and a digital signal;

a controller circuit, coupled to the transceiver circuit, to deliver at least one control signal thereto, the controller circuit including executable instructions defining a data frame for communication of the first analog signal and the digital signal, endpoints of the data frame defined byportions of successive first and second synchronization signals and defining a corresponding frame interval, the data frame including a first data band for transceiving a first data pulse therein, a relative position in time of the first data pulse representing the first analog signal, and a modulation of the frame interval representing the digital signal; and

an analog signal interface circuit, coupled to the transceiver circuit, to provide at least the first analog signal representative of acquired data.

2. The system of claim 1 , in which the analog signal interface includes at least one sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 , in which the sensor includes at least one of: a biopotential sensor, a biofluid pressure sensor, a bio fluid flow sensor, a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, an impedance sensor, an oxygen sensor, and an electrochemical sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , in which the first and second synchronization signals each include first and second synchronization pulses defining endpoints of the first and second synchronization signals.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a timer circuit to measure a duration of a synchronization interval defined by the first and second synchronization pulses; and

a noise detection module, coupled to the timer, to determine the presence of noise based on a variability of the duration of a plurality of the synchronization intervals.

6. The system of claim 1 , in which the first data band is separated from the first and second synchronization signals by at least a first guard band that is longer than the first and second synchronization intervals.

7. The system of claim 1 , in which the modulating frame interval includes different first, second, and third frame interval values.

8. The system of claim 7 , in which the modulating frame interval represents a state of the digital signal during a present frame relative to the state during a previous frame.

9. The system of claim 7 , in which the modulating frame interval corresponds to:

the first frame interval value, if the state of the digital signal during the present frame is unchanged from the previous frame;

the second frame interval value, if the state of the digital signal changed from a first state value during the previous frame to a second state value during the present frame; and

the third frame interval value, if the state of the digital signal changed from the second state value during the previous frame to the first state value during the present frame.

10. The system of claim 1 , the data frame further comprising at least a second data band for transceiving a second data pulse therein, a relative position in time of the second data pulse representing a second analog signal.

11. The system of claim 10 , in which:

the first data band is separated from the first and second synchronization signals by at least a first guard band that is longer than the first and second synchronization signals;

the second data band is separated from the first and second synchronization signals by at least a second guard band that is longer than the first and second synchronization signals; and

the first and second data bands are separated by at least a third guard band that is longer than the first and second synchronization signals.

12. The system of claim 1 , in which the modulating frame interval includes a digital synchronization command.

13. The system of claim 12 , in which the digital synchronization command includes a predetermined start bit followed by a predetermined sequence of following bits.

14. The system of claim 12 , in which the modulating frame interval includes a header after the digital synchronization command.

15. The system of claim 14 , in which the header includes a predetennined start bit followed by a predetermined sequence of following bits.

16. The system of claim 14 , in which the header includes system control information.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a memory device including digital data represented in the digital signal.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a signal strength detection module, coupled to the transceiver to receive at least one of a synchronization pulse and a data pulse, the signal strength detection module including an output providing an indication of the amplitude of the received one of the synchronization pulse and the data pulse.

19. The system of claim 18 , in which the signal strength detection module includes at least one of a peak detector and a level detector, coupled to the transceiver.

20. The system of claim 1 , in which the transceiver circuit is configured to communicate a pulse selected from a radio-frequency (RF) pulse, a magnetic field coupling pulse, an electric field coupling pulse, an ultrasound pulse, a pressure pulse, a thermal pulse, an infrared (IR) pulse, a light pulse, an electromagnetic pulse, and a tissue conduction pulse.

21. A system, comprising:

a transceiver circuit to transceive signals representing at least a first analog signal and a digital signal;

a controller circuit, coupled to the transceiver circuit, to deliver at least one control signal thereto, the controller circuit including executable instructions defining a data frame for communication of the first analog signal and the digital signal, endpoints of the data frame defined by portions of successive first and second synchronization signals and defining a corresponding frame interval, the data frame including a first data band for transceiving a first data pulse therein, a relative position in time of the first data pulse representing the first analog signal, and a modulation of the frame interval representing the digital signal, wherein the first and second synchronization signals each include first and second synchronization pulses defining endpoints of the first and second synchronization signals;

a timer circuit to measure a duration of a synchronization interval defined by the first and second synchronization pulses; and

a noise detection module, coupled to the timer, to determine the presence of noise based on a variability of the duration of a plurality of the synchronization intervals.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2025
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.; DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 074022/0661 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC
To: HOEFER, INC.; HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.; WARNER INSTRUMENTS LLC; BIOCHROM LIMITED; TRIANGLE BIOSYSTEMS, INC.; DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 054866/0502 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2020
From: HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 054855/0481 →
ASSIGNMENT FOR SECURITY -- PATENTS Recorded Feb 1, 2018
From: HOEFER, INC.; HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.; WARNER INSTRUMENTS LLC; BIOCHROM LIMITED; TRIANGLE BIOSYSTEMS, INC.; DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: CERBERUS BUSINESS FINANCE, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045219/0441 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2012
From: PARTNERS FOR GROWTH II, L.P.
To: DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 027777/0279 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 18, 2011
From: TRANSOMA MEDICAL, INC.
To: DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 025831/0796 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 14, 2009
From: DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: PARTNERS FOR GROWTH II, L.P.
Reel/Frame 022678/0390 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 29, 2008
From: DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: TRANSOMA MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 021754/0882 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2008
From: BORNHOFT, REID K.; BROCKWAY, BRIAN P.; KUNZ, MATT; LICHTSCHEIDL, GREGG; LINDSTEDT, BROCK S.; MILLS, PERRY A.
To: DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 021763/0038 →