SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF
FACILITATING COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN A FIRST AND SECOND DEVICE
BACKGROUND 5
It is often desirable for electronic devices to transmit data, transfer power, or otherwise communicate one with another. For example, a microprocessor is often configured to transmit data to and receive data from a peripheral device such as a 10 flash memory device.
Reliable communication is especially important in medical devices, where miscommunication may result in device malfunction and harm to a patient. For example, many implantable medical devices, such as implantable stimulators, are 15 configured to transmit status updates to and receive operational instructions and power from one or more external devices. Without accurate communication, these implantable medical devices could cease to function properly.
An exemplary implantable medical device is an implant- 20 able cochlear stimulator (ICS), which may be used to treat sensorineural hearing loss. An ICS seeks to bypass the hair cells in the cochlea, which are essential to hearing but which may not be functioning properly, by presenting electrical stimulation directly to the auditory nerve fibers. This leads to 25 the perception of sound in the brain and at least partial restoration of hearing function.
A typical ICS is intended to remain permanently in the body of a patient once it is implanted. For this reason, a behind-the-ear (BTE) signal processor may be positioned 30 behind the ear and used to support the ICS by transmitting various stimulation parameters to the ICS, receiving status data from the ICS, and/or providing power to the ICS.
It is often desirable to modify the stimulation parameters that are transmitted to an ICS by a BTE signal processor or 35 otherwise program the BTE signal processor. To this end, a clinician's programming interface (CPI) is often used. A CPI is a device that allows a programming device (e.g., a personal computer or the like) to interface with a BTE processor. The CPI is typically connected to a BTE with a programming 40 cable.
The same CPI is often used to facilitate the programming of many different types of BTE processors. However, the CPI and each BTE processor may be configured to operate using different supply voltages. For example, a typical CPI operates 45 at 3.0 volts while some BTE processors operate at 2.0 volts and others at 2.7 volts. However, optimal communication between two devices occurs when both devices are operating at the same voltage level. Hence, the difference in supply voltages between the CPI and the BTE processors makes it 50 difficult for accurate communication to occur therebetween.
The above example is typical of many different instances where communication between two devices is sub-optimal or impossible due to differences in supply voltage levels. Various arrangements are currently used to facilitate communi- 55 cation between devices having different having different supply voltage levels. However, many of these arrangements have a number of drawbacks.
For example, to facilitate communication between a CPI and a BTE processor, the programming cable that couples the 60 two devices may include circuitry that converts one supply voltage level to the other. However, if the same CPI is used to program multiple BTE processors each operating at different voltage levels, this approach would require different programming cables to be used for each BTE processor. The use 65 of multiple programming cables is often undesirable because of cost, complexity, and the potential for confusion.
Systems for facilitating communication between a first and second device include a voltage level translator circuit configured to convert a voltage level of one or more digital signals that are transmitted from the first device to the second device to a voltage level substantially equal to a supply voltage level of the second device. The conversion is based on a first input voltage signal into the translator circuit. The systems further include a diode in series with a capacitor. The diode is configured to generate the first input voltage signal by charging the capacitor to a voltage level that is substantially equal to the voltage level of the one or more digital signals.
Methods of facilitating communication between a first and second device include providing a voltage level translator circuit configured to convert a voltage level of one or more digital signals that are transmitted from the first device to the second device to a voltage level substantially equal to a supply voltage level of the second device. The conversion is based on a first input voltage signal into the translator circuit. The methods further include providing a circuit comprising a diode in series with a capacitor and generating the first input voltage signal by charging the capacitor to a voltage level that is substantially equal to the voltage level of the one or more digital signals.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the principles described herein and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary cochlear implant system according to principles described herein.
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary implantable stimulator according to principles described herein.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary system wherein a clinician's programming interface (CPI) is coupled to a behindthe-ear (BTE) processor via a programming cable according to principles described herein.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a number of exemplary signals that may be transmitted between the CPI and BTE processor according to principles described herein.
FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary application wherein a voltage level translator is used to facilitate bidirectional voltage level translation between a first device and a second device according to principles described herein.
FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary configuration wherein one of the supply voltages, Vcc^, required by the voltage level translator is derived from one of the digital signals transmitted from the first device to the second device according to principles described herein.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Systems and methods of facilitating communication between a first and second device operating at different voltage levels are described herein. A voltage level translator circuit requiring first and second input voltage signals is configured to convert a voltage level of one or more digital signals that are transmitted from the first device to the second device to a voltage level substantially equal to a supply voltage level of the second device. The first input voltage signal is derived from one of the digital signals transmitted from the first device to the second device by charging a capacitor with
