Communication System with Partial Power Source

Abstract

The system of the present invention includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, a voltage potential is created and the power source is completed, which activates the system. The electronic component controls the conductance between the dissimilar materials to produce a unique current signature. The system can be used in a variety of different applications, including as components of ingestible identifiers, such as may be found in ingestible event markers, e.g., pharma-informatics enabled pharmaceutical compositions.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An electronic device comprising:
 a control unit; and   a partial power source comprising:
 a first material electrically coupled to the control unit; and 
 a second material electrically coupled to the control unit, wherein the second material is dissimilar from the first material and has a different electrochemical potential than the first material; 
   wherein the first material and the second materials are configured to generate a voltage potential difference therebetween when in contact with an electrically conductive medium;   wherein the first material and the second material are configured to supply power to the control unit; and   wherein the control unit is configured to produce a magnitude encoded current signal between the first material and the second material in the electrically conductive medium.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the magnitude encoded current signal is transmitted through the electrically conductive medium and is detectable by a receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the magnitude encoded current signal propagates through the electrically conductive medium to a receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the electrically conductive medium comprises an electrically conductive fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a conducting liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive liquid comprises physiological fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein the physiological fluid is contained within a subject's body and comprises stomach acids. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive liquid comprises tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one current path extender disposed between the first and second materials configured to extend a current path between the first and second materials. 
     
     
         14 . An electronic device comprising:
 a control unit; and   a partial power source, the partial power source comprising:
 a first material electrically coupled to the control unit; and 
 a second material electrically coupled to the control unit; and 
 an electrically insulative disposed between the first and second materials configured to extend an electrical current path between the first material and the second material, wherein the first material and the second material are configured to provide a voltage potential difference when in contact with an electrically conductive medium and are configured to supply power to the control unit; 
 wherein an electrical current is produced along the current path when the first material and the second material are in contact with the electrically conductive medium and the control unit is configured to alter conductance of the electrical current between the first material and the second material to encode information in the electrical current by the control unit. 
   
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , further comprising a power regulation unit electrically coupled to the control unit. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the power regulation unit comprises an energy dissipation unit. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the power regulation unit comprises a timing module to control activation and deactivation of the control unit. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , further comprising an internal power source coupled to the control unit and configured to power up the electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the internal power source is a battery. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the internal power source is a capacitor. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a communication device to provide a unique signal, wherein the communication device comprises:
 a support structure comprising a control unit; 
 a first material physically associated with the support structure; 
 a second material physically associated with the support structure, wherein the second material is dissimilar from the first material and has a different electrochemical potential than the first material; and 
 wherein the first material and the second material are electrically connected through the control unit; and 
 wherein the first material and the second material are configured to generate a voltage potential difference to supply power to the communication device when in contact with a an electrically conductive medium; and 
   an electrically isolating medium encapsulating the communication device to create an isolated unit, wherein the isolating medium is electrically insulative.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the isolating medium is configured as a barrier between the communication device and the electrically conductive medium, and wherein a breakdown in the barrier allows the conducting medium to come into contact with and activate the communication device to produce a unique electrical signal. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the unique electrical signal is an identifiable current signature resulting from the control unit varying a conductance of the apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the communication device includes a signaling unit for producing the unique signal wherein the unique signal is an electromagnetic signal.