Patent · US Expired

Signal processing apparatus and method

US6501975B2 · kind B2 · utility

1,124Cited by
71References
160Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 9, 2001
Grant dateDec 31, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2218/04
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A signal processor which acquires a first signal, including a first desired signal portion and a first undesired signal portion, and a second signal, including a second desired signal portion and a second undesired signal portion, wherein the first and second desired signal portions are correlated. The signals may be acquired by propagating energy through a medium and measuring an attenuated signal after transmission or reflection. Alternatively, the signals may be acquired by measuring energy generated by the medium. A processor of the present invention generates a noise reference signal which is a combination of only the undesired signal portions and is correlated to both the first and second undesired signal portions. The noise reference signal is then used to remove the undesired portion of each of the first and second measured signals via an adaptive noise canceler, preferably of the joint process estimator type. The processor of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with an adaptive noise canceler in physiological monitors wherein the known properties of energy attenuation through a medium are used to determine physiological characteristics of the medium. Many …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.