U.S. patent number RE39,982 [Application Number 09/881,645] was granted by the patent office on 2008-01-01 for diversity circuit for magnetic communication system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Aura Communications Technology, Inc.. Invention is credited to Neal R. Butler, Patrick J. Cobler, Vincent Palermo.
United States Patent |
RE39,982 |
Palermo , et al. |
January 1, 2008 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Diversity circuit for magnetic communication system
Abstract
A magnetic communication system includes a transmitter have a
single coil transducer, and a receiver having a three orthogonally
oriented coil transducers. The signal processing circuitry in the
receiver adjusts the phases of the signals received by the three
transducers to produce signals which are in-phase. The signals are
then summed to provide an output signal from the receiver. The
processing circuitry adjusts the phases of the incoming signals
either serially or in parallel. Transmissions from the receiver to
the transmitter are also phase adjusted in accordance with the same
adjustments used in reception.
Inventors: |
Palermo; Vincent (Westford,
MA), Cobler; Patrick J. (Nashua, NH), Butler; Neal R.
(Acton, MA) |
Assignee: |
Aura Communications Technology,
Inc. (North Andover, MA)
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Family
ID: |
24798653 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/881,645 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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08444017 |
May 18, 1995 |
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Reissue of: |
08696812 |
Aug 13, 1996 |
05912925 |
Jun 15, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
375/258;
455/41.1; 455/276.1; 455/139; 375/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B
7/084 (20130101); H04B 5/02 (20130101); H04B
5/06 (20130101); H04B 5/0006 (20130101); H04M
1/6066 (20130101); H04B 1/385 (20130101); H02J
7/02 (20130101); H02J 50/10 (20160201); H02J
7/00034 (20200101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04B
3/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;375/257,258,352,347
;455/41,273,274,276.1,139,137,41.1 ;324/318,319,322,320,321 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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WO |
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Other References
Plantronics advertisement, "Plantronics FreeHand," Santa Cruz, CA,
1994, 1 page. cited by other .
Jabra advertisement, San Diego, CA, 1994, 1 page. cited by other
.
Fujitsu advertisement, Reader Service No. 14, 1 page. cited by
other .
Hello Direct advertisement, 1 page. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Vo; Don N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hamilton, Brook, Smith &
Reynolds, P.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
08/444,017, filed May 18, 1995.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A magnetic inductance communications system, comprising: a first
transmission/reception coil producing a magnetic field including a
transmitted signal; a plurality of second transmission/reception
coils having different orientations for receiving the transmitted
signal and generating a plurality of received signals; a summing
circuit for combining the plurality of received signals to produce
a summed signal; at least one first phase adjusting circuit for
adjusting a phase of at least one respective received signal prior
to summing to increase the amplitude of the summed signal; and a
modulator circuit for modulating a signal to be transmitted,
wherein the modulator circuit includes: at least one second phase
adjusting circuit receiving a carrier signal and a phase adjustment
signal from the at least one first phase adjusting circuit; a
plurality of driving circuits, each driving circuit receiving the
signal to be transmitted and a respective output signal from one of
the second phase adjusting circuits, for generating a respective
driving signal on one of the plurality of second
transmission/reception coils to generate a second magnetic field;
and signal processing circuitry connected to the first
transmission/reception coil to receive the signal in the second
magnetic field.
2. The magnetic inductance communication system of claim 1, wherein
said at least one second phase adjusting circuit changes polarity
of the carrier signal based upon a polarity of at least one of the
received signals.
3. The magnetic inductance communication system of claim 1, wherein
said at least one second phase adjusting circuit adjusts the phase
of the carrier signal according to phases of each of the received
signals.
4. A magnetic inductance communication system comprising: a first
transmission/reception coil producing a magnetic field including a
transmitted signal; a plurality of second transmission/reception
coils having different orientations for receiving the transmitted
signal and generating a plurality of received signals; a plurality
of amplitude determining circuits corresponding to the plurality of
second transmission/reception coils for determining amplitudes of
the plurality of received signals; a modulator circuit for
modulating a signal to be transmitted, wherein the modulator
circuit includes: a plurality of driving circuits each driving
circuit receiving a carrier signal to be transmitted for generating
a respective driving signal on one of the plurality of
transmission/reception coils to generate a second magnetic field;
and a selection circuit for activating at least one of the driving
circuits based upon the amplitudes of the received signals; and
signal processing circuitry connected to the first
transmission/reception coil to receive the signal in the second
magnetic field.
5. The magnetic inductance communication system of claim 4, wherein
the selection circuit activates one of the driving circuits
corresponding to a transmission/reception coil having a greatest
amplitude of a received signal.
6. The magnetic inductance communication system of claim 4, wherein
the selection circuit activates two of the driving circuits
corresponding to a transmission/reception coils having a greatest
amplitudes of received signals.
7. The magnetic inductance communication system of claim 6, wherein
the modulator further includes at least one phase adjusting circuit
receiving the carrier signal and a phase adjustment signal for
adjusting phase of the carrier signal provided to at least one of
the two activated driving circuits so that the combined second
magnetic field has a maximum value.
.Iadd.8. A method for communicating, the method comprising the
steps of: receiving an inductive input signal on each of multiple
uniquely oriented transducers; generating an electronic signal
corresponding to the received inductive input signal for each of
the transducers; compensating for a relative motion of the
transducers with respect to the inductive input signal by adjusting
a phase of at least one of the electronic signals; and summing the
aligned electronic signals to produce an output signal that
corresponds to the inductive input signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.9. A method as in claim 8 further comprising: multiplexing
each of the electronic signals to an error amplifier circuit and
generating corresponding phase adjustment signals to align the
electronic signals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.10. A method as in claim 9 further comprising: maintaining a
phase adjustment of at least one electronic signal during which
another electronic signal is monitored for generating a
corresponding phase adjustment signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.11. A method as in claim 8, wherein the transducers are
inductive transducer devices..Iaddend.
.Iadd.12. A method as in claim 8 further comprising: adjusting a
polarity of one or more of the electronic signals so that the
electronic signals have the same sign and sum to produce a larger
output signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.13. A method as in claim 12, wherein a polarity of an
electronic signal corresponding to the inductive input signal is
changed by phase shifting..Iaddend.
.Iadd.14. A method as in claim 8, wherein the inductive input
signal includes information modulated on a carrier frequency
signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. A method as in claim 8, wherein the uniquely oriented
transducers are orthogonally disposed to each other..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. A method as in claim 8 further comprising: comparing a
phase of each of the electronic signals with a common reference
signal; and controlling a local oscillator in a corresponding phase
shifter to align the phase of each electronic signal with the
reference signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. A method as in claim 8 further comprising: generating an
error signal that is used to adjust a phase of at least one
electronic signal relative to a reference signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. A method as in claim 8, wherein the phase of the
electronic signals are adjusted at a fast enough rate to account
for the relative motion of the transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. A method as in claim 8 wherein adjusting the phase of at
least one of the electronic signals substantially aligns the
electronic signals with each other..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. A method for communicating, the method comprising the
steps of: orienting each of multiple transducers along a unique
axis to generate a magnetic field; identifying a target receiver to
which the magnetic field is transmitted; and adjusting a phase
output of the multiple transducers to produce the magnetic field
for the target receiver..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the magnetic field is
generated from three orthogonally disposed
transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. A method as in claim 20 further comprising: receiving the
magnetic field on a single reception coil at the target
receiver..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. A method as in claim 22, wherein the single reception
coil is disposed in a portable device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. A method as in claim 20 further comprising: generating an
electronic signal of information to be transmitted to the target
receiver; and multiplying the electronic signal with corresponding
phase adjusted carrier frequencies to produce modulated signals and
driving the transducers with the modulated signals to produce the
magnetic field..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. A method as in claim 20 further comprising: disposing the
multiple transducers in a portable device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. A method as in claim 25 further comprising: coupling the
portable device to a communications network..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. A method for communicating, the method comprising the
steps of: receiving an inductive input signal on each of multiple
uniquely oriented receiver transducers, the inductive input signal
being received from a remote source transducer; generating an
electronic signal from each of the receiver transducers, each
electronic signal corresponding to the inductive input signal;
based on a phase difference of the electronic signals, adjusting a
phase of at least one of multiple transmitter transducers to
produce an inductive output signal that is transmitted to a target
receiver transducer near the remote source transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. A method as in claim 27, wherein the multiple transmitter
transducers are aligned along similar axes as the uniquely oriented
receiver transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. A method as in claim 28, wherein the uniquely oriented
receiver transducers and the transmitter transducers to transmit
and receive corresponding inductive signals are the same
transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. A method as in claim 27, wherein the target receiver
transducer near the remote source transducer is oriented along a
same axis as the remote source transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. A method as in claim 27, wherein the target receiver
transducer and the remote source transducer are a single transducer
that is used to both transmit and receive corresponding inductive
signals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. A method as in claim 27, wherein the inductive output
signal is transmitted to a portable device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. A method as in claim 32, wherein the portable device is
coupled to a communications network..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. A method as in claim 27, wherein the receiver transducers
are three orthogonally positioned transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. A method as in claim 27, wherein the inductive input
signal is received from a portable headset..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. A method as in claim 27 further comprising: multiplexing
each of the electronic signals to an error amplifier circuit and
generating corresponding phase adjustment signals to align the
electronic signals; and utilizing the phase adjustment signals to
produce the inductive output signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. A method as in claim 36 further comprising: maintaining a
phase adjustment of at least one transmitter transducer during
which another electronic signal is monitored for generating a
corresponding phase adjustment signal for another transmitter
transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. A method as in claim 27, wherein the inductive output
signal includes information modulated on a carrier frequency
signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. A method as in claim 27, wherein the uniquely oriented
receiver transducers are orthogonally disposed to each
other..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. A method as in claim 27 further comprising: comparing a
phase of each of the electronic signals with a common reference
signal; and controlling a local oscillator in a corresponding phase
shifter to adjust the phase of each transmitter transducer with
respect to the reference signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. A method as in claim 27 wherein: adjusting a phase of at
least one of the multiple transmitter transducers compensates for a
relative motion of the receiver transducers with respect to the
inductive input signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. A method for communicating, the method comprising the
steps of: receiving an inductive input signal on each of multiple
uniquely oriented receiver transducers, the inductive input signal
being generated from a remote source transducer; producing an
electronic signal that corresponds to the inductive input signal
for each of the receiver transducers, a level of each electronic
signal being proportional to a strength of the received inductive
input signal at a corresponding receiver transducer; tracking a
phase of each electronic signal during motion of the remote source
transducer relative to the multiple uniquely oriented receiver
transducers; and based on the phase of at least one electronic
signal, adjusting an inductive output signal from a transmitter
transducer for communicating with a target receiver..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. A method as in claim 42, wherein the transmitter
transducer from which the inductive output signal is generated is
one of multiple uniquely oriented transmitter
transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. A method as in claim 43, wherein the uniquely oriented
transmitter transducers generating an inductive output signal are
aligned along similar axes as the uniquely oriented receiver
transducers receiving the inductive input signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.45. A method as in claim 44, wherein the transducers to
transmit and receive corresponding inductive signals are the same
multiple uniquely oriented transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.46. A method as in claim 43 further comprising: detecting
which of the multiple receiver transducers produces a strongest set
of electronic signals; and generating an inductive output signal
from transmitter transducers oriented on similar axes as the
receiver transducers that generate the strongest set of electronic
signals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.47. A method as in claim 46 further comprising: adjusting at
least one phase output of the transmitter transducers generating
the inductive output signal for maximal reception at a target
receiver transducer located near the remote source
transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.48. A method as in claim 42 further comprising: comparing an
amplitude of the electronic signals to determine which of the
multiple uniquely oriented receiver transducers receives the
strongest electronic signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.49. A method as in claim 42, wherein the inductive output
signal is transmitted to the target receiver transducer near the
remote source transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.50. A method as in claim 49, wherein the target receiver
transducer near the remote source transducer is oriented along a
similar axis as the remote source transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.51. A method as in claim 42, wherein the target receiver
transducer and the remote source transducer are a single transducer
that is used to both transmit and receive corresponding inductive
signals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.52. A method as in claim 42, wherein the inductive output
signal is transmitted to a portable device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.53. A method as in claim 52, wherein the portable device is
coupled to a communications network..Iaddend.
.Iadd.54. A system for communicating, the system comprising:
multiple uniquely oriented receiver transducers, each of which
receives an inductive input signal, the inductive input signal
being generated from a remote source transducer; a circuit coupled
to the receiver transducers that produces an electronic signal
corresponding to the inductive input signal for each of the
receiver transducers, the phase of each electronic signal being a
function of the position and orientation of the remote source
relative to the multiple uniquely oriented receiver transducers; a
detection circuit that detects the phase of each electronic signal
based upon a reception of the inductive input signal; and a driver
circuit that generates an inductive output signal from a based on
the phase of at least one of the produced electronic
signals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.55. A system as in claim 54, wherein the transmitter
transducer from which the inductive output signal is generated is
one of multiple uniquely oriented transmitter
transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.56. A system as in claim 55, wherein the uniquely oriented
transmitter transducers are aligned along similar axes as the
uniquely oriented receiver transducers receiving the inductive
input signals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.57. A system as in claim 56, wherein the transducers to
transmit and receive corresponding inductive signals are the same
uniquely oriented transducers..Iaddend.
.Iadd.58. A system as in claim 55 further comprising: a detection
circuit that detects which of the multiple receiver transducers
produces a strongest set of electronic signals; and driver circuits
to generate an inductive output signal from at least one of the
transmitter transducers oriented on similar axes as the receiver
transducers that generate the strongest set of electronic
signals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.59. A system as in claim 58, wherein at least one phase
output of the transmitter transducers is adjusted to generate the
inductive output signal for maximal reception at a target receiver
transducer located near the remote source transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.60. A system as in claim 54, wherein the detection circuit
compares an amplitude of each of the produced electronic signals to
determine which of multiple uniquely oriented transmitter
transducers will generate the inductive output signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.61. A system as in claim 60, wherein the inductive output
signal is transmitted to a target receiver transducer near the
remote source transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.62. A system as in claim 60, wherein the target receiver
transducer near the remote source transducer is oriented along a
similar axis as the remote source transducer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.63. A system as in claim 62, wherein the target receiver
transducer and the remote source transducer are a single transducer
that is used to both transmit and receive corresponding inductive
signals..Iaddend.
.Iadd.64. A system as in claim 54, wherein the inductive output
signal is transmitted to a portable device..Iaddend.
.Iadd.65. A system as in claim 64, wherein the portable is coupled
to a communications network..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to magnetic communication systems.
More particularly, it relates to a magnetic communication system
which eliminates nulls in a mutual inductance field through a
combination of signals from multiple transducers.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
When using a telephone, continually holding the handset to one's
ear can be awkward. Also, holding the telephone interferes with the
use of both hands for other work while trying to talk. In
particular, the use of cellular telephones, which has increased
dramatically, can interfere with the user's proper operation of an
automobile. Various techniques have been used to overcome these
difficulties.
Speaker phones allow one to talk while roaming around a room and
using one's hands. However, speaker volume can disturb others
around the user. They also cannot be used in close proximity to
other speaker phones due to interference. They have limited privacy
since the speaker broadcasts the conversation to all within
earshot. Typically, the user must speak more loudly than normal to
have proper reception at the microphone. Also, they tend to have
poor sound quality because the user is not near the microphone and
acoustics in the room are poor.
Headsets have been another way to free up the hands of a telephone
user. Typically, the headset includes an adjustable strap extending
across the user's head to hold the headset in place, at least one
headphone located by the user's ear, and a microphone which extends
from the headset along and around the user's face to be positioned
in front of the users mouth. The headset is attached by a wire to
the telephone. Headsets have the disadvantages of being bulky and
somewhat awkward to use. Although they permit hands free use of the
telephone, the user has limited mobility due to the connecting
wire.
Wireless headsets have also been developed which eliminate the
connecting wire to the telephone. The wireless headset uses radio
frequency (RF) technology or infrared technology for communicating
between the headset and a base unit connected to the telephone. The
need for communications circuitry and sufficient power to
communicate with the base unit increases the bulk and weight of the
headset. This increased weight can become tiresome for the user.
One alternative has been to attach the headset by a wire to a
transmitting unit worn on the belt of the user. As with wired
headsets, the wire can become inconvenient and interfere with other
actions by the user. Significant interference rejection circuitry
is also needed when multiple wireless headsets are used in close
proximity.
Magnetic induction fields can be used to provide a communication
link between a base unit and a headset. However, magnetic induction
fields suffer from signal nulls at certain positions and
orientations between the transmitter and receiver. When performing
magnetic communications, a specific position and orientation
between the transmitter and receiver is typically required. With a
single transducer at the transmitter and receiver, certain
positions and orientations result in no signal being received due
to nulls in the mutual inductance between the transducers. The
signal can be recovered by reorienting one of the transducers. It
is also possible to use multiple, orthogonally positioned coils at
the transmitter or receiver so that at least one coil does not have
a null. Different mechanisms have been used to select or combine
outputs from the transducers in order to provide
communications.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,330, a four coil transducer receiver
includes a mercury switch array for selecting a coil transducer. As
the receiver is moved, the switch array activates to pick up the
positive phase components from the coils. However, this system
cannot compensate for changes in position and orientation of the
transmitter, and, thus, requires a stationary transmitter. Also,
the mercury switch array is large, costly, and sometimes
unreliable. Furthermore, switching transients occur as different
coils are selected, which causes degradation of the signal and
possible loss of information.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,695, a three axis magnetic induction system
used as a proximity detector is described. In this system, the
outputs of the three coils are combined to provide a single
received signal. While this system eliminates switching transients,
it has other deficiencies. Since the output signal reverses
polarity when it is rotated 180 degrees, the summed signal can be
zero in some situations. Thus, the nulls present in the single
transducer system are merely repositioned. Furthermore, the simple
summing of signals from all three transducers can increase noise
levels. For a proximity detector, noise is not a significant
concern because it is merely attempting to determine the existence
of a signal. Much better signal to noise ratios are needed in order
to receive communication signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The deficiencies of prior art systems are overcome in great part by
the present invention which, in one aspect, includes a short-range,
wireless communication system including a miniaturized portable
transceiver and a base unit transceiver. The miniaturized portable
transceiver sends and receives information through magnetic
induction to the base unit, which may also be portable. Similarly,
the base unit sends and receives information through magnetic
induction to the portable transceiver. The information can be
voice, data, music, or video. Use of magnetic induction fields
reduces the power requirements and thus allows a smaller size and
greater convenience.
In another aspect of the present invention, the base unit or
portable device may include multiple, orthogonally arranged
transducers for generating multiple magnetic fields. The multiple
fields substantially eliminates mutual inductance nulls between the
base unit and portable unit which result at certain positions in a
generated field. In another aspect of the present invention, the
multiple transducers may be selectively operated based upon a
strongest signal, in order to limit power consumption and improve
signal reception. The signals from the transducers are
electronically scanned. The signals are then phase adjusted and
combined to achieve a maximum signal level. In another aspect of
the invention, the same phase information is used for a transmitted
signal. This allows the other device to use a single transducer
while maintaining a high signal to noise ratio.
In another aspect of the present invention, the magnitude of the
incoming signals is used for selective transmission on one or more
of the transmission transducers. The amplitude of the signal from
each of the transducers is determined. This amplitude information
is used for selecting one or more drivers for the transmission
transducers corresponding to the greatest amplitude.
In another aspect of the present invention, a headset contains the
miniaturized transceiver which communicates with the base unit
through magnetic induction fields. In another aspect of the present
invention, the headset may be of the concha type in which the
speaker fits into the user's ear without a strap across the head
and the transceiving transducer is encapsulated into the microphone
boom which is short and straight along the user's cheek. In another
aspect of the invention, the base unit may be a portable telephone,
which can be attached to the user, to further transmit
communications from the wireless communication system to a cellular
telephone network or a cordless telephone unit.
In another aspect of the invention, the communication system is
half-duplex where the base and headset alternatively transmit and
receive digital audio. In another aspect the communication system
is a simplex system where the receiver has multiple
transducers.
With these and other objects, (a) advantages and features of the
invention that may become apparent, the nature of the invention may
be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed
description of the invention, the appended claims and the several
drawings attached hereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the wireless communication system
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a telephone handset as the base unit in the
communication system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 illustrates a headset that is utilized as the portable
device in the communication system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 illustrates schematically the transducer and electronics of
the portable device.
FIG. 5 illustrates schematically the transducer and electronics of
the base unit.
FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the signal processing circuitry
to combine signals from three coil transducers.
FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of the signal processing
circuitry to combine signals from three coil transducers.
FIG. 8 illustrates the use of three transducer for transmitting
signals to a single reception transducer.
FIG. 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the signal processing
circuitry to combine signals from three coil transducers.
FIG. 10 illustrates the use of three transducer for transmitting
signals to a single reception transducer in accordance with the
signal processing circuitry of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative transducer configuration for the
base unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a short-range magnetic
communication system 1 including a portable device 2 and a base
unit 1, which connects to a long-range communication network 14.
Contained within each of the base unit 1 and the portable device 2
is a short-range miniaturized magnetic induction transceiver 11,
12, which can simultaneously transmit and receive communications
signals 13. These signals may be voice, audio, data, or video. The
communications network 14 may be any network in which it would be
desirable for these signals to be communicated over a terminal link
without wires, such as a telephone network, personal communications
(PCS) network, special mobile radio (SMR) network, computer system
or network, and video conferencing systems. The base unit 1 may any
part of the communications network 14 from which it would be
desirable to communicate to another device without wires; for
example, it may be a telephone handset, PCS handset, SMR handset,
walkie-talkie, computer or computer peripheral devices, personal
digital assistant (PDA), or video game controller. The portable
device 2 may be any device from which it would be desirable to
communicate without wires to a communications network; for example,
it may be a telephone headset or handset, portable computer or
computer peripheral device, headphone, or video input device.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, one example of the base unit 1 is a
portable telephone 10 having a plurality of number buttons 15 and a
plurality of function buttons 16. A retractable transducer 17
communicates with a cellular telephone network or a cordless
telephone base unit. The portable telephone 10 operates in a manner
similar to that of an ordinary cellular or cordless telephone
handset. Signals are sent to and received from the telephone
network in an ordinary manner. The portable telephone 10 includes a
transducer system 30 which communicates by magnetic induction with
headset 20, which operates as the portable device 2, to provide the
outputs and inputs to the portable telephone 10. The portable
telephone 10 may also include a mouthpiece or earpiece (not shown)
as in a regular telephone method allowing the user to choose
between a conventional method of operation and a hands-free use
afforded by the headset 20.
The portable device 2 as a headset 20 is illustrated more fully in
FIG. 3. It includes a body portion 23 which houses a transducer 40
and processing circuitry. A speaker 22 is connected to the
circuitry within the body 23. An earpiece 21 next to the speaker 22
fits in the user's ear to hold the unit in place and to allow the
user to hear sounds from the speaker. A microphone boom 24 extends
from the body 23 several inches in order to place a microphone 25,
located at the end of the boom 24, close to the user's mouth.
Alternatively the transducer 40 may be housed in the boom 24. A
rechargable battery 51 is also housed in the body 23 of the headset
20 to provide power to the headset. Other features may be
optionally included in the headset 20, such as switcher or buttons
for manually activating different modes. For example, a capacitive
switch or push-button could be used to cause the headset 20 to
transmit a control signal to the portable phone 10 to activate
muting of the microphone. The portable phone 10 may include a
receptacle 19 for receiving and holding the headset 20. Depositing
the headset in the receptacle can provide a variety of functions,
in addition to maintaining the headset 20 and portable phone 10
together. A switch can be disposed in the receptacle to terminate
the telecommunication when the headset 20 is inserted or initiate
the telecommunication when it is removed. The receptacle may also
include connections to recharge the battery 51 in the headset
20.
The base unit 1 and portable device 2 communicate through amplitude
modulation of inductive fields, although other modulation methods
such as frequency, phase, or digital modulation could be employed.
During use, the distance between the portable device 2 and the base
unit 1 typically is short. Since the distance is short, only an
inductive field is necessary, and little or no radiation occurs.
This limits the operating power, which allows a smaller size and
weight for the rechargable battery 51 and, thus, the portable
device 2. Furthermore, it limits interference between systems
operating in close proximity. Therefore, interference rejection
circuitry may be limited or not necessary in the portable device
2.
The transducer system in the portable device 2 is illustrated
schematically in FIG. 4. The transducer 40 preferably includes a
ferrite rod transducer having a ferrite rod 41 within a wire coil
42. The wires from the transducer 40 are connected to a transceiver
27 having transmitter electronics 28 and receiver electronics 29.
The transceiver 27 connects to the portable device electronics 26,
the nature of which is dependent upon the function of the portable
device 2. In the example of the portable device as a headset 20,
the portable device electronics would connect to a speaker 22 and a
microphone 25. Transmission and reception can occur at different
frequencies, which permits full duplex operation. Alternatively,
separate transmitting and receiving transducers can be used.
The base unit 1 configuration is illustrated schematically in FIG.
5. The transducer system 30 includes three orthogonally disposed
ferrite rod transducers, each including a ferrite rod 31, 32, 33
and a respective coil 34, 35 and 36. The use of the orthogonally
disposed transducers overcomes the occurrence of mutual inductance
nulls in the resulting inductive fields. The three transducers are
connected to multiplexer electronics 60 for selecting one or more
of the transducers for transmission and reception. Circuitry in the
multiplexer electronics may be used to select the transducer or
transducers having the strongest signal for transmission and
reception to reduce the total power consumption of the device.
Circuitry can also be used to control the phases of signals from
each of the transducers for combining the signals. Thus, the phases
should be continuously adjusted to provide a maximum signal level.
Alternatively, a non-zero signal can be attained simply be revising
the phase of one or more signals so that all signals have the same
sign.
The transmitter electronics 61 and receiver electronics 62 provide
for processing of the communications signals from the base unit
electronics 70 and the portable device 2. As discussed above, for a
portable telephone 10, the conventional telephone speaker 71 and
mouthpiece 72 may be eliminated so that the portable telephone 10
solely uses the headset 20 through the transducer system for
communicating to the user. Switching circuitry (not shown) would be
included to select between the speaker 71 and microphone 72, and
the headset 20. The switching circuitry could be included in the
receptacle 19 so that the speaker 71 and microphone 72 are
disconnected when the headset 20 is removed.
FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment the multiplexer electronics 60 in
the base unit for adjustment of the signal phases in combining
signals from the three orthogonal transducers. The coil transducers
102, 103, 104, receive a signal from a transmission coil 101 in the
portable device 2. Preferably, the transmission signal is a
modulated carrier, nominally 500 KHz. Preamplifiers 105, 106, 107
are respectively connected to the transducer coils 102, 103, 104 in
the base unit 1 to provide a modest gain to the signals. The phases
of the received signals are adjusted by multiplying in mixers 108,
109, 110 the received signal by a local oscillator signal from
respective phase shifters 120, 121, 122. In addition to adjusting
the phases of the signals, the mixers and phase shifters shift the
frequency of the signal, including the modulation signal and the
carrier signal to an intermediate frequency, such as 455 KHz. The
use of an intermediate frequency permits signal processing to occur
at a single common frequency, regardless of the frequencies used
for transmission and reception. This also allows the signal
processing circuitry of the IF section to be optimized
independently of the carrier frequencies. A summing amplifier 111
receives and combines the phase adjusted signals from the mixers
108, 109, 110. Since the phases of the signals can be adjusted, the
summing of the three signals provides maximum signal strength,
which minimizes noise and nulls. The summed signal is then provided
to signal processing circuits 112 to provide an output signal for
the base unit 1.
The phase adjusted signals are also processed to maintain maximum
signal strength through the phase adjustment process. Various
processes can be used to adjust phases. As noted above, one problem
with merely summing signals from different transducers is that the
signals can have different polarities which can cancel the signals
when summed. One possible phase adjustment is to change polarities
of signals. The polarity of each of the signals is determined.
Then, the polarity of one or more signals is changed by the phase
shifters 120, 121, 122 so that the polarities are always the same.
Thus, when the signals are combined by the summing amplifier 111,
they never cancel each other and a maximum signal is achieved.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment for adjusting phases of the
signals from the transducers. In this embodiment, the phases are
continuously adjusted to maintain the signals in phase. The phase
adjustment process compares the phases of each of the signals
received on the three coils with a reference phase. A local
oscillator in the phase shifter is controlled to maintain the phase
of the coils coincident with the reference phase. To provide the
phase adjustment process, the phase adjusted signals from the
multipliers 108, 109, 110 are provided to a 3-to-1 multiplexer 113,
which sequentially outputs the signals from each of the three coils
as phase adjusted. The phase of the signal selected by the
multiplexer is determined by passing the signal through an IF
filter 114, and an amplifier 115. The filtered signal is then mixed
116 with a local reference oscillator signal. The error between the
phase of the adjusted signal and the phase of the local oscillator
is determined by passing the mixed signal through a low pass filter
117. The error is then amplified 118 and returned in a feedback
loop through a multiplexer 119 to the appropriate phase shifter, to
adjust a respective local oscillator.
According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6,
the phases of the signals received on the x coil, y coil, and z
coil are processed sequentially. Thus, multiplexers 113 and 119 are
set to select the x coil until the phase error has been reduced to
a minimally acceptable level. The phases of the other two coils, y
and z, are maintained while the phase of the first coil, x, is
adjusted. After the phase of the x coil has been set, the
multiplexers are switched to correct any phase error in the signal
received by the y coil and the z coil. The phase adjustment process
is fast enough to track relative movements between the transmitting
coil 101 and the receiving coils 102, 103, 104. A frequency of 20
Hz has been found to be sufficient for purposes of tracking the
coils.
Alternatively, if the coils are likely to be moving more quickly
than can be tracked through serial phase adjustment, a phase
adjusting circuit can be applied separately to each of the coils.
This embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 7. Each of the mixers 108,
109, 110 is connected to a separate IF filter 114, 123, 124 and
amplifier 115, 125, 126 to measure the phase of the signal received
at the respective coil. Each phase is then compared with a
reference phase by mixing the signal with the output of a local
oscillator. Since the same oscillator is used for the signals from
each of the coils, the signals will remain in phase with each
other. The mixed signal from the mixers 116, 127, 128 are passed
through respective low pass filters 117, 129, 130 and error
amplifiers 118, 131, 132 to provide error signals representing the
difference between the phase of the received signal at each coil
and the reference phase. The error signals are applied to the phase
shifters 120, 121, 122 to adjust the phases of each of the received
signals to maintain the phase coincidence for summing. As in the
prior embodiment, the phase adjusted signals are combined by the
summing amplifier 111 and further processed by the signal
processing circuits 112 to provide an output from the base unit
1.
The phase adjustment information used in receiving signals can also
be used in driving transmission signals to provide a maximum signal
level at the receiver location. Since the phases of the incoming
signals are adjusted to achieve a maximum signal level, the phase
adjustments define the position and orientation of the transmitting
coil. The same phase adjustments on transmission compensate for
this position and orientation. Thus, a single reception coil can be
used. According to an embodiment of the invention, the base unit 1
includes three orthogonally positioned coil transducers with phase
adjusting circuitry for both reception and transmission. The
portable device, therefore, only requires a single coil transducer
and can be made smaller in size. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the
phase shifters output a phase adjustment to modulator circuits 123
for driving transmission signals. The modulator circuits 123 are
shown more fully in FIG. 8. A signal to be transmitted is split and
inputted into three mixers 227, 228, 229. Three phase shifters 230,
231, 232 receive a carrier signal and a respective phase
adjustment. The phase adjustments are received from the phase
shifters 120, 121, 122 in the reception circuitry. The phase
shifters provide the phase adjusted carrier signal to the
.[.multiplexers.]. .Iadd.mixers .Iaddend.227, 228, 229, where they
are multiplied by the signal to be transmitted. The resulting
multiplied signals are passed to respective drivers 224, 225, 226
for the three coil transducers 102, 103, 104 for the base unit 1.
When the transmitted signal is phase shifted on each of the three
coil transducers, the outputs are summed magnetically in
transmission to provide a maximum signal at the receiving coil
101.
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of the present
invention for selective transmission on one of the transducers. As
illustrated in FIG. 9, an amplitude detector 201, 202, 203 is
connected to each of the transducers 102, 103, 104. The outputs of
the amplitude detectors are provided to the modulator circuits 223
for transmission. The modulator circuits 223 are illustrated in
FIG. 10. The phase shifters and multipliers operate in the same
manner as discussed above. The amplitude information from the
amplitude detectors are provided to a coil selection circuit 230.
The coil selection circuit selectively activates one of the drivers
224, 225, 226 for the coils. Thus, the coil having the strongest
signal can be used for transmission, without having to energize all
of the coils. Although FIG. 10 illustrates phase shifting the input
signal for all of the coils, when the coils are selectively
activated based upon magnitude, the phase shifters can be omitted.
Alternatively, if the amplitudes are similar on two or three coils,
each of these coils can be activated to increase the transmitted
signal. When more than one coil is activated, phase shifting, at
least as to polarity, may be needed to avoid cancellation of
signals.
FIG. 11 illustrates a second embodiment of the transducer system
for the base unit 1. In the transducer 30 of FIG. 6, one of the
ferrite rod transducers is replaced with a loop coil transducer 37.
A loop coil transducer can replace any or all of the ferrite rod
transducers. The loop coil transducer 37 is disposed in the plane
of the remaining ferrite rod transducers. This creates a transducer
system having a decreased depth. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
three orthogonal transducers can be placed in a corner along the
sides of the portable telephone 10. Alternatively, the loop coil
transducer 37 could be placed along the back of the portable phone
10, so that it could made thinner.
Additionally, the transmission system can be used for charging the
battery 51 of the portable device 2. The base unit 1 includes a
battery charger signal generator 52 connected to the transmitter
61. This generator 52 produces a recharging signal which is sent
through one of the ferrite rod transducers in the base unit 1 to
the ferrite rod transducer 40 of the portable device 2. Since in
the telephone embodiment of FIG. 2, the headset 20 and transducer
40 have a known orientation when in the receptacle 19, only one
transducer in the portable telephone 10 needs to be energized to
inductively transmit the recharging signal. As illustrated in FIG.
3, the wires from the transducer 40 in the portable device 2 are
connected to a battery charger 50 which is used to charge the
battery 51.
Although the communication system of the present invention has been
illustrated in connection with a concha type headset 20 and a
cellular or cordless telephone handset 10 as a base unit 1, it is
readily adaptable for other types of headsets and uses. The headset
can be of the over-the-head type, over-the-ear type, or binaural
type. The system can be used as a wireless connection to a
conventional desktop telephone. Such a system would operate in the
manner discussed above with the cordless bandset. Since several
such units may be used in close proximity, interference may become
more of a problem. Therefore, the system can be designed to operate
on various frequencies and can select frequencies for the
transmission and reception which are unlikely to have significant
interference. Similarly, the system can be used with a computer,
either stationary or portable, for voice data entry, sound
transmission, and telephone functions. The system can also be used
with other types of communication systems, including personal
digital assistants (PDAs), cordless phones, PCS and SMR cellular
phones, two way (video games), two-way half duplex (walkie-talkies,
CBs), or two-way full duplex (phones), one way simplex headphones.
When the base unit is stationary and the user is likely to be at
certain locations relative to the base unit, fewer transducers may
be used in the base unit without encountering mutual inductance
nulls. Alternative transducer systems may also be used for
generating the inductive fields. Specifically, rather than a single
transducer for transmission and reception on different frequencies,
separate transducers may be used.
Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention,
various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily
occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications,
and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of
the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of
example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention is
limited only as defined in the following claims and equivalent
thereto.
* * * * *