Method and Apparatus for Providing Peak Detection Circuitry for Data Communication Systems

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing a peak detection circuit comprising a diode including an input terminal and an output terminal the input terminal of the diode configured to receive an input signal, a capacitor operatively coupled to the output terminal of the diode, an output terminal operatively coupled to the capacitor and the output terminal of the diode for outputting an output signal is provided. Other equivalent switching configuration is further provided to effectively detect and compensate for a voltage droop from a power supply signal, as well as to electrically isolate the voltage droop from the system circuitry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An analyte monitoring assembly, comprising:
 an analyte sensor having a portion configured for transcutaneous positioning in fluid contact with interstitial fluid, the analyte sensor configured to monitor an analyte level; and   a data communication unit including an analog interface operatively coupled to the analyte sensor and configured to receive one or more signals associated with the analyte level, the data communication unit configured to communicate one or more data corresponding to the one or more signals associated with the analyte level and to detect a condition associated with a power source of the data communication unit, wherein the power source of the data communication unit is electrically isolated from the analog interface and the power source supplies power to the analog interface when the condition associated with the power source is detected.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the data communication unit is configured to wirelessly communicate the one or more data corresponding to the one or more signals associated with the analyte level to a remote location. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the data communication unit includes a radio frequency antenna for data communication. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the analog interface of the data communication unit is powered when the analog interface is electrically isolated from the power source of the data communication unit. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the data communication unit includes a peak detection circuit comprising a diode, a capacitor operatively coupled to the diode and an output terminal operatively coupled to the capacitor. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the diode includes an input terminal and the output terminal, the input terminal of the diode configured to receive an input signal, the capacitor operatively coupled to the output terminal of the diode, and the output terminal operatively coupled to the output terminal of the diode for outputting an output signal. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the input signal includes a voltage signal from the power source. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the detected condition includes a voltage droop associated with the power source. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the voltage droop is detected at the diode, and further, wherein the diode and the capacitor are configured to compensate for the voltage droop. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the detected condition is associated with the communication of the one or more data corresponding to the one or more signals associated with the analyte level. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the analyte sensor includes a glucose sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the analyte sensor includes an electrochemical sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the data communication unit further includes a low pass filter. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the data communication unit includes a peak detection circuit operatively coupled to the low pass filter. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the peak detection circuit includes a passive switching configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 14  wherein the peak detection circuit includes a diode operatively coupled to a capacitance. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 providing one or more signals associated with a monitored analyte level from an analyte sensor received by an analog interface of a data communication device;   detecting a predetermined condition associated with a power source;   electrically isolating the analog interface from the power source when the predetermined condition is detected; and   supplying power to the analog interface from a source other than the power source when the predetermined condition is detected;   
       wherein the one or more signals associated with the monitored analyte level from the analyte sensor are communicated during a time period when the predetermined condition is detected. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the one or more signals associated with the monitored analyte level is wirelessly communicated to a remote location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  including coupling the analog interface to the power source when the predetermined condition is no longer detected. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the source other than the power source for supplying power to the analog interface when the predetermined condition is detected includes a peak detection circuit.