초록 ▼

Power consumption in medical and battery powered devices is reduced through the use and operation of multiple digital signal processing systems and through the application of different supply voltages to analog and digital circuits, respectively. Each processor of the multiple systems performs at le

Power consumption in medical and battery powered devices is reduced through the use and operation of multiple digital signal processing systems and through the application of different supply voltages to analog and digital circuits, respectively. Each processor of the multiple systems performs at least one particular function in a predetermined time period. The multiple digital signal processors of such systems can be operated at lower clock frequencies relative to those that would be required by one of such processors to complete the multiple functions within the predetermined time period. With reduced clock frequency, power consumption is reduced. Further, with reduced clock speed, supply voltages applied to such digital signal processors may also be reduced. A source applies a first fixed supply voltage to the digital circuits of the medical or battery powered device and a voltage generation circuit (e.g., a charge pump circuit) having the first fixed supply voltage applied thereto is used for generating a second fixed supply voltage to be applied to analog circuits of the device. Power consumption may also be reduced through the operation of circuits at clock speeds of lower levels to adequately complete desired functions during predetermined time periods (e.g., blanking interval, upper rate interval, etc.) just-in-time prior to subsequent required functional processes; by providing supply voltages tailored for various circuits of an integrated circuit; by operating two or more circuits of an integrated circuit at different clock frequencies; by changing the supply voltage level "on the fly" as required by specific circuit timing functions required for various circuitry based on clock frequencies used to control operation of such circuitry; and/or by tailoring back gate bias or adjusting back gate bias "on the fly" for circuits based on the supply voltage level applied to the circuits.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A method for conserving electrical power consumed by a medical device including one or more analog circuits and one or more digital circuits, the method comprising the steps of:providing a first digital signal processor coupled to at least one of the one or more analog circuits of

[ I claim:] [1.]1. A method for conserving electrical power consumed by a medical device including one or more analog circuits and one or more digital circuits, the method comprising the steps of:providing a first digital signal processor coupled to at least one of the one or more analog circuits of the medical device for receiving analog data representative of at least a first analog input;operating on the analog data representative of the first analog input using the first digital signal processor to perform at least a first function during a predetermined time period, the first digital signal processor operating at a first clock frequency to perform the first function;providing a second digital signal processor coupled to at least one of the one or more analog circuits of the medical device for receiving analog data representative of at least a second analog input;operating of the analog data representative of the second analog input using the second digital signal processor to perform at least a second function during the predetermined time period, the second digital signal processor operating at a second clock frequency to perform the second function;applying a first fixed supply voltage to the one or more digital circuits; andgenerating a second fixed supply voltage for application to the one or more analog circuits using the first fixed supply voltage, wherein the second fixed supply voltage is greater than the first fixed supply voltage,wherein the first and second clock frequencies are such that the power consumed by the first and second digital signal processors in performance of the first and second functions during the predetermined time period is less than the power that would be consumed if only one of the first and second digital signal processors were to perform both of the first and second functions within the predetermined time period.