Methods, systems, and apparatus for neural signal detection
Methods, systems, and apparatus for signal detection are described. In one example, a detection assembly includes a signal detector. The signal detector is configured to receive a sensor signal having a peak magnitude and a first frequency and generate an output signal having a magnitude proportional to the peak magnitude of the sensor signal and having a second frequency less than the first frequency of the sensor signal.
1. A neural signal detector comprising:
a rectifier circuit configured to receive a time varying neural signal having a first frequency from a neural sensor and output a rectified signal corresponding to the received signal; and
a peak detector circuit operatively connected to the rectifier circuit to receive the rectified signal and configured to provide an output signal comprising a positive square wave having a peak magnitude proportional to a peak magnitude of the rectified signal and having a second frequency less than the first frequency of the neural signal.
2. The neural signal detector of claim 1 wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a passive rectifier circuit.
3. The neural signal detector of claim 2 wherein the passive rectifier circuit includes a diode.
4. The neural signal detector of claim 3 wherein the diode is a Schottky diode.
5. The neural signal detector of claim 1 wherein the rectifier circuit comprises an active rectifier circuit.
6. The neural signal detector of claim 5 wherein the active rectifier circuit comprises a full wave active rectifier.
7. The neural signal detector of claim 1 wherein the peak detector circuit comprises a passive peak detector circuit.
8. The neural signal detector of claim 7 wherein the passive peak detector circuit comprises a resistor coupled in parallel with a capacitor.
9. The neural signal detector of claim 1 wherein the peak detector circuit is an active peak detector circuit.
10. The neural signal detector of claim 9 wherein the active peak detector circuit comprises at least one operational amplifier.
11. A detection assembly comprising:
a signal detector comprising:
a rectifier circuit configured to receive a sensor signal having a peak magnitude and a first frequency; and
a peak detector circuit configured to generate an output signal comprising a positive square wave having a magnitude proportional to the peak magnitude of the sensor signal and having a second frequency less than the first frequency of the sensor signal.
12. The detection assembly of claim 11 further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to the signal detector and operable to generate the sensor signal.
13. The detection assembly of claim 12 wherein the sensor is a neural sensor operable to generate the sensor signal in response to a neural signal proximate the neural sensor.
14. The detection assembly of claim 11 further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the signal detector to receive the output signal.
15. The detection assembly of claim 14 wherein the controller is operable to sample the output signal at a maximum sampling rate less than the first frequency.
16. The detection assembly of claim 14 wherein the controller is operable to sample the output signal at a maximum sampling rate less than twice the first frequency.