Wirelessly Powered and Bi-Directional Data Communication System With Adaptive Conversion Chain for Multisite Biomedical Implants Over Single Inductive Link

Abstract

A wirelessly powered and data communication system is presented which is implemented as a full system, designed for multisite implanted biomedical applications. The system is capable of receiving wireless power and data communication for each implant separately, using inductive links with different resonance frequencies. To achieve this, dual-band coils are presented in the system. In addition, the system supports bi-directional half-duplex data communication, utilizing amplitude and load shift keying (ASK and LSK) modulation schemes over a single inductive link. The system employs a digitally assisted active rectifier and an automatic resonance tuning system, to improve the power transfer efficiency (PTE) through various coupling coefficients, while minimizing the reverse current and power dissipation. The power control unit enables closed-loop monitoring to prevent high or low power delivery, and it can detect inefficient or excessive wireless power transmission or prevent temperature elevation by limiting the voltage to a safe level. A new structure of self-sampling separated- $V_{b}$ ASK demodulator is proposed in the paper which is utilized within the data conversion chain, serving both the external and implanted units. The whole system is fabricated using a standard 180-nm 1.8/3.3 V CMOS process with a core area of 0.82 mm $^\text{2}$ . The system is tested with coupled multisite inductive links and offers the maximum overall PTE of 31.2%, from the Tx coil to the implant load.