Micropower circuits for bidirectional wireless telemetry in neural recording applications

State-of-the art neural recording systems require electronics allowing for transcutaneous, bidirectional data transfer. As these circuits will be implanted near the brain, they must be small and low power. We have developed micropower integrated circuits for recovering clock and data signals over a transcutaneous power link. The data recovery circuit produces a digital data signal from an ac power waveform that has been amplitude modulated. We have also developed an FM transmitter with the lowest power dissipation reported for biosignal telemetry. The FM transmitter consists of a low-noise biopotential amplifier and a voltage controlled oscillator used to transmit amplified neural signals at a frequency near 433 MHz. All circuits were fabricated in a standard 0.5-microm CMOS VLSI process. The resulting chip is powered through a wireless inductive link. The power consumption of the clock and data recovery circuits is measured to be 129 microW; the power consumption of the transmitter is measured to be 465 microW when using an external surface mount inductor. Using a parasitic antenna less than 2 mm long, a received power level was measured to be -59.73 dBm at a distance of one meter.     

小型弹载遥测单元设计与实现

导弹系统要求弹载遥测单元在尽量小的空间中尽可能采集和传输最多的系统参数,以提高试验效率,减少系统研制成本。通过整合功能,减少了部件数量;通过采用大规模可编程器件和微封装器件,提高了性能体积比,在紧凑空间内,实现弹载遥测单元的全部功能。该弹载遥测单元已应用于某导弹飞行试验,实现模拟信号、数字信号和开关信号的实时采集和传输,试验数据完整准确。试验结果证明,遥测单元的设计可以满足系统的使用要求。     

A Low-Power Integrated Circuit for a Wireless 100-Electrode Neural Recording System

Recent work in field of neuroprosthetics has demonstrated that by observing the simultaneous activity of many neurons in specific regions of the brain, it is possible to produce control signals that allow animals or humans to drive cursors or prosthetic limbs directly through thoughts. As neuroprosthetic devices transition from experimental to clinical use, there is a need for fully-implantable amplification and telemetry electronics in close proximity to the recording sites. To address these needs, we developed a prototype integrated circuit for wireless neural recording from a 100-channel microelectrode array. The design of both the system-level architecture and the individual circuits were driven by severe power constraints for small implantable devices; chronically heating tissue by only a few degrees Celsius leads to cell death. Due to the high data rate produced by 100 neural signals, the system must perform data reduction as well. We use a combination of a low-power ADC and an array of "spike detectors" to reduce the transmitted data rate while preserving critical information. The complete system receives power and commands (at 6.5 kb/s) wirelessly over a 2.64-MHz inductive link and transmits neural data back at a data rate of 330 kb/s using a fully-integrated 433-MHz FSK transmitter. The 4.7times5.9 mm² chip was fabricated in a 0.5-mum 3M2P CMOS process and consumes 13.5 mW of power. While cross-chip interference limits performance in single-chip operation, a two-chip system was used to record neural signals from a Utah Electrode Array in cat cortex and transmit the digitized signals wirelessly to a receiver     

A monolithic signal processor for a neurophysiological telemetry system

A micropower signal-processor IC is the key component of an implantable telemetry system for neurophysiology. The bipolar/JFET/I/SUP 2/L chip uses digital and low-noise analog circuitry to amplify, filter, and multiplex eight channels of neutral, electrogram, and temperature data from unanesthetized and freely moving animals. Fully integrated continuous-time bandpass amplifiers incorporate a frequency-sensitive feedback network to prevent the amplification of input offset voltage. The system can telemeter data for over 500 h, permitting long-term neurophysiological investigations.     

基于PIC单片机的超声波测距系统

针对普通超声波测距系统抗干扰能力一般，该文介绍了一种由PIC16F876单片机控制的实时超声波测距系统，电路主要采用COMS集成芯片且给予了温度补偿，其抗干扰能力强，测距频率达20Hz。并用于汽车安全系统能实时监测车身侧面与障碍物之间的距离，满足了汽车侧面实时防撞的要求。     

A self-tuning digital telemetry IC for use in amicroprocessor-based implantable instrument

An implantable digital telemetry integrated circuit that uses an automatic resonant-frequency search technique to adapt to antenna variations is presented. A VCO and an amplitude detector are used to search for the antenna's resonant frequency at the start of each transmission. The chip is designed to meet the communication requirements of a microprocessor-based telemetry system for the fast prototyping of implantable instruments for biomedical research applications. A full implementation of the telemetry IC, measuring 2.5 mm×2.9 mm, was fabricated in a 1.2 μm low-voltage CMOS process and tested with good results     

An implantable telemetry platform system for in vivo monitoring of physiological parameters

This paper describes a microcontroller-based multichannel telemetry system, suitable for in vivo monitoring of physiological parameters. The device can digitalize and transmit up to three analog signals coming from different sensors. The telemetry transmission is obtained by using a carrier frequency of 433.92 MHz and an amplitude-shift keying modulation. The signal data rate is 13 kb/s per channel. The digital microcontroller provides good flexibility and interesting performance, such as the threshold monitoring, the transmission error detection, and a low power consumption, thanks to the implementation of a sleep mode. The small overall size (less than 1 cm3), the power density compatible with current regulations for the design of implantable devices, and the dedicated packaging make the system suitable for in vivo monitoring in humans. The design, fabrication, operation, packaging, and performance of the system are described in this paper. An in vivo pressure monitoring case study is described as well.     

Efficient data compression for seismic-while-drilling applications

Seismic-while-drilling services efficiently support drilling decisions. They use the vibrations produced by the drill-bit during perforation as a downhole seismic source. The seismic signal is recorded by sensors on the surface, and it is processed in order to obtain/update an image of the subsurface around the borehole. To improve the characterization of the source, some sensors have been experimentally installed also downhole, on the drill pipes in close proximity to the bit: data logged downhole have been able to give better quality information. Currently, the main drawback of downhole equipment is the absence of a high-bit-rate telemetry system to enable real-time activities. This problem may be solved by employing either an offline solution, with limited memory capacity up to few hundreds of megabytes, or an online solution with telemetry at a very low bit-rate (few bits per second). However, following the offline approach with standard acquisition parameters, the internal storage memory would be filled up in just a few hours at high acquisition rates. On the contrary, with the online solution, only a small portion of the acquired signals (or only alarm information about potentially dangerous events) can be transmitted in real time to the surface by using conventional mud-pulse telemetry. We present a lossy data compression algorithm based on a new representation of downhole data in angle domain, which is suitable for downhole implementation and may be successfully applied to both online and offline solutions. Numerical tests based on real field data achieve compression ratios up to 112:1 without major loss of information. This allows a significant increase in downhole time acquisition and in real-time information that can be transmitted through mud-pulse telemetry.     

A wireless implantable multichannel digital neural recording systemfor a micromachined sieve electrode

This paper reports the development of an implantable, fully integrated, multichannel peripheral neural recording system, which is powered and controlled using an RF telemetry link. The system allows recording of ±500 μV neural signals from axons regenerated through a micromachined silicon sieve electrode. These signals are amplified using on-chip 100 Hz to 3.1 kHz bandlimited amplifiers, multiplexed, and digitized with a low-power (<2 mW), moderate speed (8 μs/b) current-mode 8-b analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The digitized signal is transmitted to the outside world using a passive RF telemetry link. The circuit is implemented using a bipolar CMOS process. The signal processing CMOS circuitry dissipates only 10 mW of power from a 5-V supply while operating at 2 MHz and consumes 4×4 mm² of area. The overall circuit including the RF interface circuitry contains over 5000 transistors, dissipates 90 mW of power, and consumes 4×6 mm² of area     

Precision fabrication techniques and analysis on high-Q evanescent-mode resonators and filters of different geometries

High-Q evanescent-mode resonators and filters are realized by both silicon micromachining and layer-by-layer polymer processing. Capacitively loaded cavities can be reduced to a size much smaller than a wavelength, but still have a much higher unloaded Q than lumped elements. The loaded resonators are utilized for reduced-size filters with a low insertion loss enabled by the relatively high-Q factor. The small fabrication tolerances of silicon micromachining and polymer stereolithography processing enable the realization of highly loaded evanescent-mode resonators and filters. A 14-GHz resonator micromachined in silicon has a volume of 5 mm /spl times/ 5 mm /spl times/ 0.45 mm, representing a resonant frequency reduction of 66.8% compared to an empty cavity of the same dimensions. The polymer-based fabrication is used to create resonators of different three-dimensional geometries with Q's up to 1940 and frequency reductions up to 49.9%. An insertion loss of 0.83 dB is measured in a 1.69% bandwidth filter created by polymer processing with a frequency reduction of 47% compared to an unloaded cavity. The frequency sensitivity to fabrication tolerances of these structures is also analyzed.     

Implantable Myoelectric Sensors (IMESs) for Intramuscular Electromyogram Recording

We have developed a multichannel electrogmyography sensor system capable of receiving and processing signals from up to 32 implanted myoelectric sensors (IMES). The appeal of implanted sensors for myoelectric control is that electromyography (EMG) signals can be measured at their source providing relatively cross-talk-free signals that can be treated as independent control sites. An external telemetry controller receives telemetry sent over a transcutaneous magnetic link by the implanted electrodes. The same link provides power and commands to the implanted electrodes. Wireless telemetry of EMG signals from sensors implanted in the residual musculature eliminates the problems associated with percutaneous wires, such as infection, breakage, and marsupialization. Each implantable sensor consists of a custom-designed application-specified integrated circuit that is packaged into a biocompatible RF BION capsule from the Alfred E. Mann Foundation. Implants are designed for permanent long-term implantation with no servicing requirements. We have a fully operational system. The system has been tested in animals. Implants have been chronically implanted in the legs of three cats and are still completely operational four months after implantation.      

基于方开环谐振器的双陷波超宽带滤波器

针对超宽带系统易受窄带信号干扰的问题,设计了一种可以抑制无线局域网络(WLAN)和卫星通信信号干扰的双陷波超宽带带通滤波器。该滤波器的主要谐振结构由T型枝节加载的多模谐振器组成,改进的T型枝节增加了两个传输零点,同时减小了滤波器尺寸;通过耦合方开环谐振器,实现了两个陷波特性,调节谐振器尺寸,可以得到所需的陷波频率。测试结果表明,该滤波器的尺寸仅16.7mm×8.5mm,中心频率为6.9GHz,通带为3.0~10.8GHz,陷波中心频率在5.8GHz和8.04GHz,衰减最低点分别为-27dB和-18dB,仿真与测量结果有较好的一致性。     

A CMOS integrated circuit for multichannel multiple-subjectbiotelemetry using bidirectional optical transmissions [weightlessnessin space effects application]

A CMOS integrated circuit for a noninvasive biological-signal telemetry system specified for use in medical and physiological studies of the influence of weightlessness in space is presented. The system can monitor multichannel (4 channels maximum) biological signals from multiple subjects (4 subjects maximum) in real time by using time multiplexing. A key technique so-called synchronized multiple-subject telemetry, to achieve multiple-subject telemetry has been proposed. This technique utilizes bidirectional optical transmissions with direct and scattered infrared lights between an observer and each of the subjects. An experimental CMOS IC to give a small light-weight low-power, and smart telemetry instrument for use on animals has been developed. This IC is for evaluating circuit blocks of the implantable monolithic telemetry instrument. The major circuit blocks include CMOS digital circuits for synchronization, subject selection and time multiplexing, analog circuits for pulse interval modulation, and other blocks such as a CMOS optical pulse receiver and an LED driver. A preliminary experimental multichannel telemetry from two subjects has been performed with the implemented IC chips, and the principal operation of the multiple-subject optical biotelemetry has been demonstrated     

基于FPGA的多路信号源设计与实现

某型号遥测数据采集器在实验和测试时,需要开发一种能够产生多种输入信号的信号源。由单片机作为控制核心,基于FPGA、利用直接频率合成技术产生8路正弦信号。信号源各路信号的频率和幅度均可调,通过键盘设置可以5Hz为一个步进设定各个正弦信号的频率,液晶显示器能够显示当前状态和各个信号的频率。此信号源能同时实现多路信号的输出,信号精度高,在其他测试实验中也具有良好的应用前景。     

基于数字零中频纳米位移遥测技术研究

针对航空航天领域对超静平台纳米量级位移遥测的需求,研制了一套体积小、质量轻、便携式的激光多普勒纳米位移遥测系统;系统在电学部分采用基于数字零中频的解调方案,模拟器件的减少有助于提高系统的探测准确度和精度;理论分析了基于数字零中频的纳米位移振动解调算法,并进行了算法实现和试验验证,研究结果表明,该算法最小探测相位达到1,对应振动位移2.15 nm。在此基础上,利用PI-E501标准振动源,在作用距离为10 m处,对研制的激光多普勒纳米位移遥测系统进行了性能测试,实现了振动频率10 Hz和1 000 Hz下和幅度1 000、200、10 nm的遥测,测试结果表明:该遥测系统满足工作频段在几十到几百赫兹,振动位移为微米甚至更低的航空航天领域对超静平台测量的要求。     

The Measurement of the Electric Activity of the Olfactory Bulb in Free Swimming Carp (Cyprinus Carpio L.) by Underwater Telemetry Systems

A direct-wired telemetry system and a radio telemetry system were constructed in an attempt to measure the electric activity of the odfactory bulb in free swimming carp. The direct-wired telemetry system had a long, flexible, insulated signal wire, a high-gain ac amplifier, and a recording instrument. The radio telemetry system consisted of a transmitter which employed a single-channel pulse-frequency modulation (PFM)/FM and a receiver which contained a commercial phase-locked FM tuner, a frequency-voltage converter, a low-pass filter, and a recording instrument. The main specifications of the transmitter were as follows: main carrier frequency, 78 MHz; subcarrier pulse frequency, 2.5 kHz; input impedance, 2 ×107 ?or more; dynamic range of input, 0.01-3.00 mV; weight, 3.2 g in water; working life, about 50 h when supplied by two silver oxide cells of 1.5 V, 75 mA/h; working range, 3 m in city water. The overall frequency characteristic of the radio telemetry system was 0.24-74 Hz (?3 dB). By means of these telemetry systems, the first satisfactory records of electric activity were taken from the olfactory bulb in free swimming fish.     

跳时脉冲位置键控系统与PCM-FM系统共存性能分析

针对遥测频谱资源紧张的问题,提出跳时脉冲位置键控系统与PCM-FM系统同频段共存的设想。PCM-FM连续波系统平均功率较低,对跳时脉冲位置键控系统可看作热噪声。跳时脉冲位置键控系统瞬时脉冲功率高,但脉冲持续时间短,在脉冲持续时间以外功率为零,PCM-FM接收机通过限幅处理可降低脉冲信号对接收解调性能的影响。分析了两种系统同频段共存条件下跳时脉冲位置键控系统的误比特性能,分别在不同信号功率比、不同脉冲重复次数条件下进行了仿真。分析与仿真结果表明,跳时脉冲位置键控系统与PCM-FM系统可以同频段共存,并给出了误比特性能与信号功率比、脉冲重复次数之间的关系。     

一种软件无线电遥测信号产生系统

为了在遥测系统中产生多种调制模式的中频信号,进行了ICS-564A DAC卡应用程序开发,使其工作于连续正交转换模式,计算I,Q基带数据以及设置调制参数等,正确地产生了需要的信号,从而证明该系统具有可编程能力强、操作灵活的优点,能够满足使用需求。     

基于数字信道化的大动态PCM/FM遥测信号角跟踪

采用单脉冲单通道角跟踪体制,提出一种基于数字信道化实现大动态脉冲编码调制/频率调制(PCM/FM)遥测信号的角跟踪方法。由于PCM/FM信号是一个窄带信号,而多普勒频偏达到±1MHz,为了能在较宽的接收带宽、较大多普勒频偏中准确捕获跟踪到窄带PCM/FM信号,首先对接收信号进行数字信道化划分,对多个子信道同时检测,将检测后的数据进行融合、幅度检波,最后进行角误差的估计。仿真结果表明,本文提出的方法能够快速实现信号的角跟踪,高效可行。