Re: Optical data transmission

From: sleeper75se_at_yahoo.se
Date: 2001-11-29 16:10:47


--- In buildcheapeeg_at_yahoogroups.com, "Moritz von Buttlar" <info_at_baltic-microsolutions.de> wrote:
>If you don't have IrDA already in your PC, chances are high that
>there's a jumper on your motherboard where you can directly attach
>a IrDA transceiver. There are several plans around how to upgrade
>your PC to IrDA if this jumper is available.

Yes, you are right. I went digging for the motherboard manual, and
apparently it does support IrDA!

>> Now, does communication with the EEG-device really need to be
>> bidirectional?

>I think it would be a nice feature to have. Also for later
>improvements and so on.

I suppose you can make a dirt cheap version, but without any upgrade
options, that will probably cost more in the long run if ones
requirements change.

>But then you have to due all kinds of things like glueing the LED
>to the fibre and so on which aren't perfect or professional :)

Hehe, well, but its FUN! :-)

>I'm thinking about IrDA because it might save us from conducting
>some difficult safety tests needed for medical devices otherwise.
>(In germany you'd have to test the whole system - eeg,
>computer,software to comply to some complicated norms).

It's possible to save on that part but theoretically you can injure
somone badly by hooking up a pair of low-impedance electrodes and
connecting a 9V battery directly to them. We'll have to make sure
that even if the head-stage amplifiers get shorted to ground and
power, the user is safe. I think the maximum allowed limit is 0.1mA
current through the human body. Above that, things get uncomfortable
fast. 1mA can be sensed and 5mA is painful.

>Also it's convenient and modern and interesting.

Yes, it is. Are you thinking about a battery operated device here? I
think I read in a data sheet that the LED in a IrDA transceiver can
consume 100mA on average, and that is quite a lot.

/Andreas



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