System for short-range transmission of signals over the air using a high frequency carrier

• US 5,581,617 A
• Filed: 01/06/1994
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LS Research, LLC (Laird Limited)
• Original Assignee: L S Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Buczkiewicz, Robert T., Lofgren, John A., Schotz, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARVEY, MINSUN OH
• Application Number:
  US08/178,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 381/14, 381/2, 370/14, 370/120, 370/123, 370/50
• US Class Current: 381/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/00 Radio transmission systems, i.e. using radiation field H04B10/00, H04B15/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/48 for FM stereophonic broadcast systems

Abstract

A system is provided which transmits either analog or digital data signals over the air. The system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver are arranged to transmit signals using a carrier signal having a high frequency such as in the range of 902-928 MHz. The transmitter and receiver are configured to provide for the transmission of two channels of stereophonic signals while maintaining high signal-to-noise ratios, good frequency response, and low distortion. To provide for the proper transmission of signals between transmitter 10 and receiver 12, these devices include oscillating circuits having ceramic resonators which provide a base frequency which is readily modulated to facilitate proper transmission of either analog or digital signals between the transmitter and receiver. To further improve the transmission capability between the transmitter and receiver, the transmitter and receiver both include substantial buffering, isolation and shielding between selected circuit components to prevent unwanted areas of frequency modulation within the transmitter and receiver.

Claims

1. A high fidelity, wireless-transmission, audio system for use with a stereophonic audio source providing at least one input signal representing first and second stereophonic channel signals, said audio system arranged for wirelessly transmitting over the air electrical signals carried by radio waves representing said first and second stereophonic channel signals, said audio system comprising:

a transmitter arranged to be coupled to said audio source and comprising;

first local oscillator means, including a first ceramic resonator, for producing a carrier signal of a predetermined carrier frequency of at least 900 MHz determined by said first ceramic resonator;

first means for providing a composite signal, said composite signal being the multiplexed first and second stereophonic channel signals;

modulation means for frequency modulating said carrier signal with said composite signal to produce a modulated radio wave;

first antenna means for radiating over the air said modulated radio wave at a power level not exceeding approximately 1 milliwatt;

first high impedance buffering means coupled between said first local oscillator means and said first antenna means so that said first antenna means is prevented from modulating the frequency of said first local oscillator means, said first high impedance buffering means comprising;

a dual gate gallium arsenide metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, said field effect transistor having a drain and a source wherein said drain is coupled to said first antenna means;

an impedance matching network comprising a capacitor and an inductor coupled between said first local oscillator means and one of said dual gates;

a voltage source coupled to the other of said dual gates; and

said source being coupled to ground through a resistor and a capacitor network; and

a receiver located within a range of approximately 10 to 300 feet (3 to 90 meters) of said transmitter and being coupled to a stereophonic speaker system, said receiver comprising;

second antenna means for receiving said modulated radio wave radiated from said first antenna;

second local oscillator means, including a second ceramic resonator, said second ceramic resonator disposed to produce a local signal having a local frequency offset from said predetermined frequency of at least 900 MHz;

mixing means for mixing said local signal with said modulated radio wave to lower said predetermined frequency of said carrier signal to an intermediate frequency signal, said intermediate frequency signal including said composite signal;

demodulation means for demodulating said intermediate frequency signal into said composite signal;

means for providing said composite signal to demultiplexing means, said demultiplexing means being arranged for demultiplexing said composite signal into a first and second output signal, said first and second output signals being high fidelity representatives of said first and second stereophonic channel signals, respectively, so that said first and second output signals can be provided to said stereophonic speaker system for producing high fidelity stereophonic audio, and

second high impedance buffering means coupled between said second local oscillator means and said second antenna means so that said second antenna means is prevented from modulating the frequency of said second local oscillator means, said second high impedance buffering means comprising;

a dual gate gallium arsenide metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, said field effect transistor having a drain and a source wherein said drain is coupled to said second antenna means;

a bandpass filtering network comprising a capacitor and an inductor coupled between said second local oscillator means and one of said dual gates;

a voltage source coupled to the other of said dual gates.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said speaker system comprises at least one housing and wherein said receiver is located in said at least one housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one input signal provided by said audio source comprises said composite signal, with said composite signal being a digital signal, and wherein said first means couples said composite digital signal from said audio source to said modulation means.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said at least one input signal provided by said audio source comprises said composite signal, with said composite signal being a digital signal, and wherein said first means couples said composite digital signal from said audio source to said modulation means.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter additionally comprises a double-pi low pass filter coupled to said first antenna to remove undesired harmonics.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said transmitter additionally comprises a double pi low pass filter coupled to said first antenna to remove undesired harmonics.

7. A wireless-transmission system for use with a digital source providing at least one digital input signal to said system, said system being arranged for wireless transmitting over the air of a digital data signal carried by radio waves, said digital data signal representing said at least one digital input signal, said system comprising:

a transmitter comprising;

first local oscillator means, including a first ceramic resonator, for producing a carrier signal of a predetermined carrier frequency of at least 900 MHz determined by said first ceramic resonator,

modulation means for frequency modulating said carrier signal with said digital data signal to produce a modulated radio wave,

first antenna means for radiating over the air said modulated radio wave at a power level not exceeding approximately 1 milliwatt,

first high impedance buffering means coupled between said first local oscillator means and said first antenna means to provide isolation therebetween so that said first antenna means is prevented from modulating the frequency of said first local oscillator means, said first high impedance buffering means comprising;

a dual gate gallium arsenide metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, said field effect transistor having a drain and a source wherein said drain is coupled to said first antenna means;

an impedance matching network comprising a capacitor and an inductor coupled between said first local oscillator means and one of said dual gates;

a voltage source coupled to the other of said dual gates; and

said source being coupled to ground through a resistor and a capacitor network; and

a receiver located within a range of approximately 10 to 300 feet (3 to 90 meters) of said transmitter, said receiver comprising;

second antenna means for receiving said modulated radio wave radiated from said first antenna;

second local oscillator means, including a second ceramic resonator, said second ceramic resonator disposed to produce a local signal having a local frequency offset from said predetermined frequency of at least 900 MHz;

mixing means for mixing said local signal with said modulated radio wave to lower said predetermined frequency of said carrier signal to an intermediate frequency signal, said intermediate frequency signal including said digital data signal;

demodulation means for demodulating said intermediate frequency signal into an output signal, said output signal being a high fidelity representative of said digital data signal, said output signal being arranged to be coupled to an output device; and

second high impedance buffering means coupled between said second local oscillator means and said second antenna means so that said second antenna means is prevented from modulating the frequency of said second local oscillator means, said second high impedance buffering means comprising;

a dual gate gallium arsenide metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor, said field effect transistor having a drain and a source wherein said drain is coupled to said second antenna means;

a bandpass filtering network comprising a capacitor and an inductor coupled between said second local oscillator means and one of said dual gates;

a voltage source coupled to the other of said dual gates.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said digital source comprises a first computer processing means and said output device comprises a second computer processing means.