System for identifying a cable transmitting a signal from a sensor to an electronic instrument
AssigneeSpaceLabs Medical, Inc.
InventorStephen C. Rafert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system is described for identifying a cable transmitting a signal from a sensor to an electronic instrument. The cable includes a reactance element such as a capacitor or an inductor. The system identifies the cable by applying a voltage to a combination of a resistance and the reactance element to measure the reactance of the reactance element either alone or in combination with the resistance.
Claims57
A cable for connecting a sensor to an electronic instrument, comprising:
- an elongated signal conduit extending between a sensor terminal adapted for connection to the sensor and a signal terminal;
- a connector attached to the signal conduit adjacent the signal terminal, the connector being attachable to the instrument to permit signal communication between the instrument and the sensor through the connector, the signal conduit, and the sensor terminal;
- and
- a reactance element coupled to at least one resistor to form a network having a predetermined time constant, the network being coupled to the instrument through a plurality of terminals of the connector, the instrument being configured to apply a signal to the network having a single polarity, and to measure a corresponding response in the network that is a function of a predetermined time constant.
A connector for joining a cable to an electronic instrument, the cable transmitting a signal to the instrument, the connector comprising:
- a connector body attached to an end of the cable;
- a plurality of terminals in the connector body adapted to be coupled to the instrument;
- and
- a reactance element coupled to at least one resistor to form a network having a predetermined time constant, the network being positioned in the connector body and coupled between the terminals, the instrument being operable to apply a signal to the network and operable to measure a corresponding response in the network, the response being a function of the predetermined time constant.
A system for providing information based on a sensor signal from a sensor, comprising:
- a cable including an elongated signal conduit adapted for coupling to a sensor at one end and to a signal terminal at the other end, the elongated signal conduit adapted for coupling a sensor signal from the sensor terminal to the signal terminal;
- a connector attached to the cable adjacent to the signal terminal, the connector having a plurality of terminals;
- a reactance element coupled to at least one resistor to form a network having predetermined reactance characteristics that is coupled between selected terminals of the connector;
- and
- an electronic instrument coupled to the terminals in the connector, the instrument being adapted to provide the information as a function of the sensor signal and to apply a signal to the network having a single polarity to identify the cable based on a measurement of a selected time interval, the time interval being a function of the predetermined reactance characteristics of the network.
A method for identifying a cable having a reactance network with selected reactance characteristics, the method comprising the steps of
- providing a first voltage to the network, wherein the first voltage has a single polarity;
- monitoring a second voltage in the network to detect a rate of change of the second voltage;
- and
- comparing the rate of change of the second voltage to a predetermined rate and identifying the cable based on the comparison.
A method for identifying a cable having an inductor coupled to a resistor to form a network having selected reactance characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:
- coupling the network to a bridge circuit;
- applying an alternating current signal to the bridge circuit;
- and
- generating an identification signal when the reactance characteristics of the network match predetermined reactance characteristics.
A method for analyzing a sensor signal generated by a sensor and transmitted by a cable, the cable having a reactance element with selected reactance characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:
- coupling the cable to an electronic instrument such that the instrument receives the sensor signal;
- providing a first voltage to the reactance element the first voltage having a single polarity;
- monitoring a second voltage in the reactance element to detect a rate of change of the second voltage;
- comparing the rate of change of the second voltage to a predetermined rate and identifying the cable based on the comparison;
- and
- analyzing the sensor signal in the instrument based on the identification of the cable.
The method of claim 49 wherein the electronic instrument comprises a pulse oximetry monitor.
A system for providing information based on a sensor signal from a sensor, comprising:
- a cable including an elongated signal conduit adapted for coupling to a sensor at one end and to a signal terminal at the other end, the elongated signal conduit adapted for coupling a sensor signal from the sensor terminal to the signal terminal;
- a connector attached to the cable adjacent to the signal terminal, the connector having a plurality of terminals;
- an inductor coupled to at least one resistor to form a network having predetermined reactance characteristics that is coupled between selected terminals of the connector;
- and
- an electronic instrument coupled to the terminals in the connector, the instrument being adapted to provide the information as a function of the sensor signal and to identify the cable based on a measurement of selected reactance characteristics, the instrument further comprising a microprocessor coupled to one or more of the terminals in the connector to receive the sensor signal, a display coupled to the microprocessor, and a measurement circuit coupled to exchange signals with the microprocessor, wherein the measurement circuit is comprised of a bridge circuit coupled to receive an alternating current signal from the microprocessor, the bridge circuit having a detector outputting a detection signal to the microprocessor and being coupled to receive the selected ones of the terminals in the connector so that the bridge circuit is adapted to detect the reactance characteristics of the network and generate the detection signal in response to the reactance characteristics.
A method for identifying a cable having a reactance element with selected reactance characteristics, the method comprising the steps of. providing a first voltage to the reactance element, wherein the reactance element includes an inductor;
- monitoring a second voltage in the reactance element to detect a rate of change of the second voltage;
- and
- comparing the rate of change of the second voltage to a predetermined rate and identifying the cable based on the comparison.
A method for identifying a cable having a reactance element with selected reactance characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first voltage to the reactance element, wherein the reactance element includes an inductor coupled to a resistor;
- monitoring a second voltage in the reactance element to detect a rate of change of the second voltage;
- and
- comparing the rate of change of the second voltage to a predetermined rate and identifying the cable based on the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.