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Built-in Self-Testing Infrastructure and Methodology for an EMG Signal Capture Module

Authors:
Antonio Salazar
Bruno Mendes
José Da Silva
Miguel Correia

Keywords: BIST; EMG module; electrode-skin impedance; sigma-delta; I2C

Abstract:
Wearable technologies introduce a refinement to personal monitoring by permitting a long-term on-person approach to physiological signals capture. Sensors, textile integration, electronics miniaturization and other technological developments are directly responsible for advancements in this domain; however, in spite of the present progress there are still a number of obstacles to overcome for truly achieving seamless wearable monitoring technology. That concerns, namely, the increase of system’s reliability at the design stage, including the adoption of built-in self-test features able to detect functional failures. Biopotential monitoring has been part of medicine and rehabilitation protocols for decades now, thus its integration within wearable systems is a natural progression, however a number of factors can affect acquisition reliability such as, electrode-skin impedance fluctuations and dataacquisition circuits’ malfunction. This article presents a builtin self-testing approach for an EMG unit, part of a wearable gait monitoring system. The approach utilizes a mixed-signal test infrastructure managed through a dual purpose digital bus, which serves for communication (I2C) and stimuli propagation.

Pages: 43 to 48

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2013

Publication date: November 17, 2013

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4553

ISBN: 978-1-61208-314-8

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Dates: from November 17, 2013 to November 21, 2013