Directional wireless communication systems

• US 20070287516A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C Thomas, Kwok Cheung, Peter P. Tong
• Original Assignee: C Thomas, Kwok Cheung, Peter P. Tong
• Inventors: Tong, Peter, Thomas, C., Cheung, Kwok
• Granted Patent: US 7,587,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.600
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A wireless communication system based on a directional speaker is disclosed. The system can include an interface unit and a base unit. The audio signals from the speaker can be generated by transforming ultrasonic signals in air. This allows the production of directional audio signals even when the aperture of the speaker has dimensions in the order of a few centimeters. The audio signals from the speaker can be heard hands-free. Further, privacy protection is enhanced. In one embodiment, the interface unit can be attached or integrated to a piece of clothing at the shoulder of the user, with the audio signals from the speaker directed towards one of the user'"'"'s ears. The wireless communication system can be applied to a number of different areas, including a communication device, such as a cell phone; a hearing aid; an entertainment system; and a computation system, such as a personal digital assistant or a computer. The wireless communication system can be personalized to the hearing characteristics of the user, or to the ambient noise level of the environment.

Claims

1. A portable electronic system for a being, comprising:

a directional speaker configured to generate ultrasonic signals, which have a carrier frequency that is at or above 200 kHz,

wherein the directional speaker is configured to be intentionally spaced apart from the ears of the being, so that at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into audio signals via a medium in the space between the directional speaker and at least one of the ears of the being,

wherein the signals are directional to allow transmission with enhanced privacy,

wherein with the carrier frequency to be at or above 200 kHz, the directional speaker is intended to be operated in close vicinity of the being, and

wherein the system is designed to be small enough so that the system can be carried by the being.

2. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1 wherein the carrier frequency of the ultrasonic signals are at or below 500 kHz.

3. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to function as an audio player.

4. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1, wherein the directional speaker is configured to allow the being to use the system to at least hear signals wirelessly transmitted from another electronic device, and wherein the system is configured to function as a radio.

5. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to function as a portable computer.

6. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to function as a video game player.

7. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a microphone and a base unit,

wherein the base unit is coupled to the speaker and the microphone, and

wherein the system is configured to operate for wireless communication.

8. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 7, wherein the system is configured to be operable for voice over IP.

9. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1, wherein the value of the carrier frequency is configured to be adjustable to change the degree of privacy.

10. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1 further comprising another directional speaker, wherein the two speakers are configured to create stereo effects.

11. A portable electronic system as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one additional directional speaker that also generates ultrasonic signals with a carrier frequency,

wherein the system is configured to control the difference in the phases of the carrier frequencies of the at least two directional speakers to steer the direction of the audio signals.

12. A portable electronic system for a being, comprising:

a plurality of directional speakers configured to generate ultrasonic signals,

wherein the ultrasonic signals from each speaker has a carrier frequency,

wherein the directional speakers are configured to be intentionally spaced apart from the ears of the being, so that at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into audio signals via a medium in the space between the directional speakers and at least one of the ears of the being,

wherein the system is configured to control the difference in the phases of the carrier frequencies of at least two directional speakers to steer the direction of the audio signals, and

wherein the signals are directional to allow transmission with enhanced privacy.

13. A portable electronic system for a being as recited in claim 12, wherein the difference in the phases of the carrier frequencies is controlled by shift registers to steer the direction of the audio signals.

14. A portable electronic system for a being as recited in claim 13, wherein the shift registers are configured to be operable by clock frequencies, and wherein the difference in the phases of the carrier frequencies is controlled by changing the clock frequencies of the shift registers to steer the direction of the audio signals.

15. A portable electronic system for a being as recited in claim 12,

wherein the plurality of speakers steer the direction of the audio signals in a first direction, and

wherein the system further comprises a plurality of additional directional speakers to steer the direction of the audio signals in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

16. A portable electronic system for a being as recited in claim 15,

wherein the additional directional speakers generate ultrasonic signals,

wherein the ultrasonic signals from each additional speaker has a carrier frequency,

wherein the system is configured to control the difference in the phases of the carrier frequencies of at least two additional directional speakers to steer the direction of the audio signals, and

the difference in the phases of the carrier frequencies of the at least two additional directional speakers is controlled by shift registers to steer the direction of the audio signals.

17. A portable electronic system for a being as recited in claim 12, wherein the direction of the audio signals is steered using infrared technologies.

18. A portable electronic system for a being as recited in claim 12,

wherein the audio signals have a beam width, and

the ultrasonic signals of the plurality of speakers are configured to be substantially the same, which in turn expands the beam width of the audio signals.

19. A portable electronic system for a being, comprising:

a directional speaker configured to generate ultrasonic signals,

wherein the directional speaker is configured to be intentionally spaced apart from the ears of the being, so that at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into audio signals via a medium in the space between the directional speaker and at least one of the ears of the being,

wherein the signals are directional to allow transmission with enhanced privacy,

wherein the ultrasonic signals generated have a carrier frequency, and

wherein the value of the carrier frequency is configured to be adjustable to change the degree of privacy.

20. A portable electronic system for a being, comprising:

a directional speaker configured to generate ultrasonic signals, which have a carrier frequency that is at or above 100 kHz,

wherein the directional speaker is configured to be intentionally spaced apart from the ears of the being, so that at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into the audio signals via at least a portion of the medium in the space between the directional speaker and at least one of the ears of the being,

wherein the signals are directional to allow transmission with enhanced privacy,

wherein with the carrier frequency to be at or above 100 kHz, the directional speaker is intended to be operated in close vicinity of the being, and

wherein the system is designed to be small enough so that the system can be carried by the being.