Wireless signal transmission systems, methods and apparatus

• US 5,410,735 A
• Filed: 06/13/1994
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Ashok Nawarange, Efrain L. Rodriguez, Robert L. Borchardt, William T. Mcgreevy
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Efrain L., Nawarange, Ashok, McGreevy, William T., Borchardt, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAILE, ANDREW I
• Application Number:
  US08/259,339
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 455/42-43, 455/66, 455/95, 455/110-113, 455/120-125, 455/205, 455/208, 455/214, 455/344, 455/351, 455/352, 455/127, 455/343, 348/725, 348/731, 348/738, 381/2-3, 379/62, 331/64, 331/96
• US Class Current: 455/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0096 where a full band is frequency converted into another full band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/086 Portable receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/18 Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/26 for superheterodyne receivers multiple frequency-changing H03D7/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for conducting local wireless audio signal transmissions from a local audio signal source to a person within a local signal transmission area. In certain embodiments, the transmissions are conducted over the 900 MHz local transmission band to a portable receiver unit supported on the headband of a stereo headphone unit. The receiver unit serves to down convert the 900 MHz signal to a local frequency band which is received by an FM receiver of the receiver unit which serves to reproduce the audio signals therefrom which are, in turn, converted to acoustic signals by electroacoustic transducers of the headphone. A transmitter unit includes a ceramic resonator stabilized FM transmitter, as well a filter for suppressing high frequency noise in an audio modulation signal, a stereo audio multiplexing unit utilizing a 3f_H subcarrier and an overmodulation detection unit. In certain embodiments, the receiver unit is powered by a rechargeable battery which is recharged from the transmitter unit.

Claims

1. A local wireless audio signal transmission system for transmitting audio signals within a local signal transmission area, comprising:

local radio transmitter means for transmitting the audio signals wirelessly within the local signal transmission area in the form of frequency modulated radio signals within a first, relatively high frequency band; and

wireless receiver means for receiving the frequency modulated radio signals for reproducing the audio signals therefrom, the wireless receiver means comprising;

an antenna for receiving the locally transmitted frequency modulated radio signals;

a fixed frequency downconverter coupled with the antenna to receive the locally transmitted frequency modulated radio signals therefrom and operative to downconvert the received frequency modulated radio signals to a second frequency band including signal frequencies lower than signal frequencies included in the first, relatively high frequency band, said second frequency band being an FM frequency band which when supplied to an FM radio produces said audio signals therefrom; and

frequency modulation receiver means in said FM radio connected to said downconverter to receive the downconverted frequency modulated radio signals and reproduce the audio signals therefrom.

2. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising headphone means for positioning electroacoustic transducer means adjacent at least one ear of a user, and wherein each of the antenna, the downconverter and the frequency modulation receiver means is supported by the headphone means such that the wireless receiver means is wearable by the user while in use for receiving the frequency modulated radio signals.

3. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein the frequency modulation receiver means comprises a frequency modulation radio receiver integrated circuit.

4. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 3, wherein said frequency modulation radio receiver integrated circuit comprises a broadcast band frequency modulation radio receiver integrated circuit.

5. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein the downconverter includes local oscillator means for producing a local oscillation voltage and mixing means for mixing the local oscillation voltage with the received frequency modulated radio signals to produce the downconverted frequency modulated radio signals, the local oscillator means including surface acoustic wave means for stabilizing the frequency of the local oscillation voltage.

6. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein the local radio transmitter means is operative to transmit multiplexed stereo audio signals in the form of the frequency modulated radio signals and wherein the frequency modulation receiver means is operative to separate the multiplexed stereo audio signals obtained from the frequency modulated stereo signals.

7. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising enclosure means for enclosing said downconverter and said frequency modulation receiver means, said enclosure means having a size and shape selected to permit said enclosure means to be carried in a user'"'"'s shirt pocket, and further comprising coupling means operative to removably couple said frequency modulation receiver means with an electroacoustic transducer means.

20. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising coupling means for supplying the reproduced audio signals from the frequency modulation receiver means to local electroacoustic sound reproducing means.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein said second frequency band is approximately 65 MHz.

8. A wireless receiver unit for receiving locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals produced by a local wireless audio signal transmitter, the locally transmitted signals being produced within a first, relatively high frequency band, comprising:

an antenna for receiving the locally transmitted signals;

a fixed frequency downconverter coupled with the antenna to receive the locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals therefrom and operative to downconvert the received locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals to a second frequency band including signal frequencies lower than signal frequencies included in the first, relatively high frequency band of the received locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals, said second frequency band being an FM frequency band which when supplied to an FM radio produces audio signals therefrom; and

frequency modulation receiver means in said FM radio connected to said downconverter to receive the downconverted frequency modulated radio signals and reproduce the audio signals therefrom.

9. The wireless receiver unit of claim 8, further comprising headphone means for positioning electroacoustic transducer means adjacent at least one ear of a user, and wherein each of the antenna, the downconverter, and the frequency modulation receiver means is supported by the headphone means such that the wireless receiver unit is wearable by the user while in use for receiving the locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals.

10. The wireless receiver unit of claim 8, wherein the frequency modulation receiver means comprises a frequency modulation radio receiver integrated circuit.

11. The wireless receiver unit of claim 8, wherein the downconverter includes local oscillator means for producing a local oscillation voltage and mixing means for mixing the local oscillation voltage with the received locally transmitted signals to produce the downconverted frequency modulated audio signals, the local oscillator means including surface acoustic wave resonator means for stabilizing the frequency of the local oscillation voltage.

12. The wireless receiver unit of claim 8, wherein the frequency modulation receiver means includes a radio frequency signal input, the wireless receiver unit further comprising selector means for selectively coupling one of the downconverter and the antenna with the radio frequency signal input of the frequency modulation receiver means, and wherein the frequency modulation receiver means is operative to tunably select one of the downconverted frequency modulated audio signals from the downconverter means and at least one frequency modulated broadcast band signal from the antenna means.

13. The wireless receiver unit of claim 8, wherein the frequency modulation receiver means includes stereo demultiplexer means for separating multiplexed stereo audio signals obtained from said downconverted frequency modulated audio signals.

14. The wireless receiver unit of claim 23, further comprising enclosure means for enclosing said downconverter and said frequency modulation receiver means, said enclosure means having a size and shape selected to permit said enclosure means to be carried in a user'"'"'s shirt pocket, and wherein said coupling means is operative to removably couple said frequency modulation receiver means

23. The wireless receiver unit of claim 8, further comprising coupling means for supplying the reproduced audio signals from the frequency modulation receiver means to local electroacoustic sound reproducing means.

28. The unit of claim 8, wherein said second frequency band is approximately 65 MHz.

15. A local wireless audio signal transmission system for transmitting audio signals within a local signal transmission area, comprising:

local radio transmitter means for transmitting the audio signals wirelessly within the local signal transmission area in the form of modulated radio signals at a first relatively high frequency band, the local radio transmitter means including input means for receiving the audio signals, low pass filter means for attenuating noise in the received audio signals above a predetermined frequency value, and means for producing radio frequency transmission signals modulated by the filtered audio signals; and

radio receiver means for receiving the modulated radio frequency transmission signals, said radio receiver means comprising a fixed frequency downconverter to downconvert the modulated radio signals in said first frequency band to a second frequency band, said radio receiver means being tunable to a frequency band within said second frequency band but being outside the range of 88-108 MHz, said second frequency band producing said audio signals when supplied to an FM radio, said radio receiver means further comprising means for demodulating the received signals to reproduce the filtered audio signals and electroacoustic transducer means for converting the filtered audio signals to signals audible by a user.

16. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 15, wherein the low pass filter means is operative to attenuate noise in the received audio signal at a frequency equal to a television horizontal synchronization frequency.

17. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 15, further comprising means for selectively enabling said low pass filter means.

18. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 15, further comprising a cable for coupling said local radio transmitter means with a local audio signal source to receive the audio signals to be transmitted, and wherein said low pass filter means is affixed to said cable.

19. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 18, wherein said cable and said low pass filter means are selectively removable from coupled relation with said local radio transmitter means.

29. The system of claim 15, wherein said second frequency band is approximately 65 MHz.

21. A local wireless audio signal transmission system for transmitting audio signals within a local signal transmission area, comprising:

local radio transmitter means for transmitting the audio signals wirelessly within the local signal transmission area in the form of frequency modulated radio signals within a first, relatively high frequency band; and

wireless receiver means for receiving the frequency modulated radio signals for reproducing the audio signals therefrom, the wireless receiver means comprising;

an antenna for receiving the locally transmitted frequency modulated radio signals;

a fixed frequency downconverter coupled with the antenna to receive the locally transmitted frequency modulated radio signals therefrom and operative to downconvert the received frequency modulated radio signals to a second frequency band including signal frequencies lower than signal frequencies included in the first, relatively high frequency band, said second frequency band being an FM frequency band which when supplied to an FM radio produces audio signals therefrom; and

a frequency modulation integrated circuit receiver having an input connected to the downconverter to receive the downconverted frequency modulated radio signals and operative to reproduce the audio signals therefrom.

22. The local wireless audio signal transmission system of claim 21, wherein the frequency modulation integrated circuit receiver comprises a standard broadcast band frequency modulation radio receiver integrated circuit.

24. A wireless receiver unit for receiving locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals produced by a local wireless audio signal transmitter, the locally transmitted signals being produced within a first, relatively high frequency band, comprising:

an antenna for receiving the locally transmitted signals;

a fixed frequency downconverter coupled with the antenna to receive the locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals therefrom and operative to downconvert the received locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals to a second frequency band including signal frequencies lower than signal frequencies included in the first, relatively high frequency band of the received locally transmitted frequency modulated audio signals; and

a frequency modulation integrated circuit receiver having an input connected to the downconverter to receive the downconverted frequency modulated audio signals and operative to reproduce the audio signals therefrom, said second frequency band being an FM frequency band which when supplied to an FM radio produces audio signals therefrom.

25. The wireless receiver unit of claim 24, wherein the frequency modulation integrated circuit receiver comprises a broadcast band frequency modulation radio receiver integrated circuit.

26. The wireless receiver unit of claim 24, further comprising coupling means for supplying the reproduced audio signals from the frequency modulation receiver means to local electroacoustic sound reproducing means.