Inductive Powering Apparatus for Capsule Device

Abstract

A capsule device with an inductive powering apparatus is disclosed. The capsule device comprises a secondary coil to generate an induced secondary voltage when a first alternating magnetic field is coupled to the secondary coil externally. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a power conversion device to convert the induced secondary voltage into a DC output voltage for the capsule device. In particular, the power conversion device comprises a voltage booster to generate the DC voltage from a lower induced secondary voltage. Accordingly, the system can be operated using a lower secondary voltage, which will reduce the influence of magnetic flux on the circuit boards inside the capsule.

1 . A capsule device comprising:
 an archival memory for storing data captured by the capsule device while travelling inside a gastrointestinal (GI) track of a human body;   a transmitter to transmit the data after the capsule device exits from the human body;   a first PCB (printed circuit board), wherein at least one electronic component for the capsule device is mounted on the first PCB;   a secondary coil to generate an induced secondary voltage when a first alternating magnetic field is coupled to the secondary coil externally, wherein the first alternating magnetic field also causes a second induced voltage or current on at least one first trace of the first PCB;   a power conversion device to convert the induced secondary voltage into a DC output voltage for the capsule device, wherein the power conversion device comprises a voltage booster to generate the DC output voltage from a lower induced secondary voltage, and wherein the lower induced secondary voltage requires a lower first alternating magnetic field that causes a lower second induced voltage on said at least one first trace of the first PCB; and   a capsule housing, wherein the archival memory, the transmitter, the first PCB, the secondary coil, and the power conversion device are sealed in the capsule housing.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule device of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage booster comprises a voltage multiplier. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule device of  claim 2 , wherein a multiplication factor of the voltage multiplier corresponds to two, three or four. 
     
     
         4 . The capsule device of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage booster comprises a charge pump. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule device of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary coil is implemented using a secondary-coil PCB and the secondary-coil PCB includes multiple turns of conductive traces. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule device of  claim 5 , wherein the secondary-coil PCB includes a cut-out area surrounded by said multiple turns of conductive traces. 
     
     
         7 . The capsule device of  claim 5 , wherein the secondary-coil PCB includes an extended portion to form a connection cable, and wherein the connection cable is made of flexible printed circuit and the connection cable includes second traces to couple with said multiple turns of conductive traces and the first PCB. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule device of  claim 7 , wherein the connection cable is bent to cause the secondary-coil PCB in a fold-back position adjacent to the first PCB when the secondary-coil PCB and the first PCB are packaged inside the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter corresponds to an optical transmitter using a light source. 
     
     
         10 . The capsule device of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary coil is implemented based on a secondary-coil PCB and the secondary-coil PCB includes multiple turns of conductive traces. 
     
     
         11 . The capsule device of  claim 10 , wherein the light source is used to transmit an optical signal through an optical path to an external optical receiver, and wherein the optical path goes through a cut-out area of the secondary-coil PCB. 
     
     
         12 . The capsule device of  claim 9 , wherein the secondary coil is implemented based on a secondary-coil PCB and the secondary-coil PCB includes multiple turns of conductive traces, and wherein the secondary-coil PCB uses a transparent substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The capsule device of  claim 12 , wherein the light source is used to transmit an optical signal through an optical path to an external optical receiver, and wherein the optical path goes through a clear area of the secondary-coil PCB where no conductive traces block the optical path. 
     
     
         14 . The capsule device of  claim 1  further comprising a battery, wherein the battery supplies power to electronic subsystem of the capsule device when the capsule device travels in the GI track. 
     
     
         15 . The capsule device of  claim 14 , wherein the battery is turned off or disconnected from the electronic subsystem of the capsule device when the capsule device exits from the human body or is placed in a docking station. 
     
     
         16 . The capsule device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter corresponds to a wireless transmitter using a radio frequency. 
     
     
         17 . A capsule device comprising:
 an archival memory for storing data captured by the capsule device while travelling inside gastrointestinal (GI) track of a human body;   a transmitter to transmit the data after the capsule device exits from the human body;   a secondary coil to generate an induced secondary voltage when a first alternating magnetic field is coupled to the secondary coil externally, wherein the secondary coil is implemented using a secondary-coil PCB and the secondary-coil PCB includes multiple turns of conductive traces;   a power conversion device to convert the induced secondary voltage into a DC output voltage for the capsule device; and   a capsule housing, wherein the archival memory, the transmitter, the secondary coil, and the power conversion device are sealed in the capsule housing.   
     
     
         18 . The capsule device of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary-coil PCB includes a cut-out area surrounded by said multiple turns of conductive traces. 
     
     
         19 . The capsule device of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the secondary-coil PCB is made of flexible printed circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The capsule device of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary-coil PCB includes an extended portion to form a connection cable, and wherein the connection cable is made of flexible printed circuit and the connection cable includes second traces to couple with said multiple turns of conductive traces and the power conversion device. 
     
     
         21 . The capsule device of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary-coil PCB includes multiple layers of the conductive traces and wherein a via is used to interconnect the multiple layers of the conductive traces. 
     
     
         22 . The capsule device of  claim 17 , wherein the secondary-coil PCB uses a transparent substrate.