Methods and apparatus for tuning in an inductive system
First Claim
1. A method of electronically tuning a transducer assembly for at least one of transmission and reception of inductive signals, the method comprising:
- identifying a desired operating frequency to tune the transducer assembly;
generating a pulse in a control signal for a duration of time to tune the transducer assembly to the desired operating frequency; and
utilizing the tuned transducer assembly for at least one of transmission and reception of inductive signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic circuitry supports utilization of a series of pulses of varying width to tune a transducer (e.g., a coil that produces or receives a magnetic field) for transmitting or receiving. For example, a control voltage generator generates a sequence of digital pulses of varying pulse widths to produce respective control voltages. The control voltage generator applies a produced control voltage to a varactor element whose capacitance changes depending on a magnitude of the produced control voltage. The varactor element forms part of a tank circuit. Consequently, the series of pulse widths controls an operating frequency of the tank circuit at different times. The tank circuit includes an inductive coil that is tuned to produce or receive a magnetic or inductive field.
71 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of electronically tuning a transducer assembly for at least one of transmission and reception of inductive signals, the method comprising:
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identifying a desired operating frequency to tune the transducer assembly;
generating a pulse in a control signal for a duration of time to tune the transducer assembly to the desired operating frequency; and
utilizing the tuned transducer assembly for at least one of transmission and reception of inductive signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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a transducer assembly supporting at least one of transmission and reception of inductive signals;
a control circuit that selects a desired operating frequency to tune the transducer assembly; and
a pulse generator circuit controlled by the control circuit, the pulse generator circuit generating pulses in a control signal to tune the transducer assembly to the desired operating frequency. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29)
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28. A method of electronically tuning a transducer assembly for at least one of transmission and reception of inductive signals, the method comprising:
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identifying a desired operating frequency and a specific transducer to tune in the transducer assembly;
initiating generation of a pulse in a control signal to tune the specific transducer in the transducer assembly to the desired operating frequency; and
utilizing the specific transducer in the transducer assembly for at least one of transmission and reception of inductive signals at the desired operating frequency.
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30. A method of supporting inductive communications, the method comprising steps of:
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coupling one of multiple transducers to a circuit to transmit or receive a magnetic field;
selecting a frequency for communicating via the magnetic field;
via use of a varactor device, sweeping through a range of impedance values to identify which of multiple values is optimal for transmitting or receiving over the coupled one of multiple transducers at the selected frequency; and
storing an identified optimal impedance value for later use.
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Specification