Multi-Channel Amplifier Techniques
OwnerKent W. Leyde, Tyler R. Hart +2inventors
InventorsKent W. Leyde, Tyler R. Hart, Khaled M. Boulos, Jason A. Higgins
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Abstract
Techniques for amplifying a plurality of input voltages to generate a corresponding plurality of output voltages. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of input voltages is referenced to a common voltage comprising the average of the plurality of input voltages, without the need to reference an independently provided common voltage. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, techniques are provided for automatically measuring the input impedance between any two nodes corresponding to the plurality of input voltages. Further techniques are provided for coupling input nodes of the amplifier modules to a common reference voltage, and to the housing of the apparatus.
Claims31
An apparatus for amplifying a plurality N of inputs to generate N outputs, the apparatus comprising:
- a first stage amplifier for amplifying each of the N inputs relative to a first common reference to generate N intermediate outputs, the first common reference comprising the average of the N inputs;
- and
- a second stage amplifier for amplifying each of the N intermediate outputs relative to a second common reference to generate the N outputs, the second stage amplifier comprising the average of the N intermediate outputs.
An apparatus for amplifying a plurality N of inputs to generate N outputs, the apparatus comprising:
- an amplifier for amplifying each of the N inputs relative to a common reference to generate the N outputs, the common reference comprising the average of the N inputs;
- and
- a memory coupled to the N outputs, the memory configured to record each of the N outputs.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality N of electrical input leads;
- and
- an amplifier for amplifying voltages at each of the N electrical input leads relative to a common reference to generate N outputs, the common reference comprising the average of the N inputs;
- wherein each of the N electrical input leads is coupled to a corresponding physiological signal source to be measured.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality N of electrical input leads;
- and
- an amplifier for amplifying voltages at each of the N electrical input leads relative to a common reference to generate N outputs, the common reference comprising the average of the N inputs;
- wherein none of the N electrical input leads is coupled to a designated reference electrode.
A method comprising:
- coupling a plurality N of inputs to a physiological signal source;
- and
- amplifying the N inputs relative to a common reference to generate N outputs, the common reference comprising the average of the N inputs.
An apparatus for amplifying a plurality N of inputs to generate N outputs, the apparatus comprising:
- an amplifier for amplifying each of the N inputs relative to a common reference to generate the N outputs, the common reference comprising the average of the N inputs;
- and
- a signal processing module configured to process the plurality of output voltages, the signal processing module comprising:
- a summation module configured to sum the plurality of output voltages;
- an out-of-range detection module configured to detect when the output of the summation module exceeds a pre-defined range.
A method comprising:
- amplifying a plurality N of input voltages using a first stage to generate N first voltages, the amplifying comprising referencing each of the N input voltages to a first common voltage reference, the first common voltage reference comprising the average of the plurality N of input voltages;
- and
- amplifying the N first voltages using a second stage to generate N output voltages, the amplifying the N first voltages comprising referencing each of the N first voltages to a second common voltage reference, the second common voltage reference comprising the average of the N first voltages.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality N of input conducting leads;
- and
- amplifier means to amplify the voltages at each of the plurality N of input conducting leads referenced to a common voltage, the common voltage comprising the average of the voltages at the plurality N of input conducting leads.
An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of input conducting leads;
- and
- a plurality of amplifier modules contained in the housing, each amplifier module comprising an input node coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of input conducting leads, each amplifier module further comprising at least one corresponding output node;
- wherein a bias node conductively couples a bias voltage to the input node of each amplifier module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.