Inductive communication system and method

• US 20030050011A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Freelinc Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aura Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Palermo, Vincent, Butler, Neal R., Cobler, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US10/224,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/084 Equal gain combining, only phase adjustments antenna beam scanning or forming by phase or amplitude control H01Q3/26, e.g. phased arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves

Abstract

A system and method communicate signals between a portable unit and a communications system. The portable device communicates with a base unit using inductive coupling. The base unit is further connected to a wider communication system such as a telephone network. Multiple, orthogonally arranged transducers are used in the base unit to provide a more complete magnetic field and to prevent mutual inductance nulls which are otherwise present in a magnetic field. The use of short-range inductive coupling minimizes the power requirements and limits interference with other sources. The inductive coupling may also be used to recharge a battery in the portable device.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information over a wireless link, the method comprising:

sensing a first magnetic field signal on each of at least two transducer elements;

providing a transmit signal to be transmitted; and

selectively applying the transmit signal to one or more of the at least two transducer elements in accordance with a relative strength of the sensed first magnetic field signal to transmit a second magnetic field signal.

2. A system for communicating information over a wireless link, the system comprising:

a first station including at least two inductive transducer elements to receive a magnetic field from a second station, the first station including a circuit to detect a signal strength of the magnetic field as received on each of the at least two transducer elements, the first station selectively applying a transmit signal to the at least two inductive transducer elements in accordance with the detected signal strength of the magnetic field to transmit to the second station.