Wireless signal transmission system, method and apparatus

• US 5,666,658 A
• Filed: 04/24/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Recoton Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Efrain L., Nawarange, Ashok, McGreevy, William T., Borchardt, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US08/427,450
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 455/42, 455/43, 455/66, 455/95, 455/110, 455/111-113, 455/120, 455/121, 455/122, 455/123-125, 455/205, 455/208, 455/214, 455/344, 455/351, 455/352, 455/127, 455/343 , 455/318, 348/725, 348/731, 348/738, 381/2-3, 379/62, 331/64-96
• 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 area wireless stand alone audio signal transmission and receiver system, comprising:

a transmitter transmitting stereo multiplexed FM audio signals within a first, relatively high frequency band at least as high as approximately 900 MHZ; and

a receiver located within said local area, said receiver comprising;

an antenna to receive the transmitted FM audio signals;

a first downconverter connected to said antenna to reduce the frequency of the transmitted stereo multiplexed FM audio signals to a second frequency band lower than the first, relatively high approximately 900 MHZ frequency band,

a standard FM audio receiver wired to said first downconverter to detect and restore said audio signals from said transmitted FM audio signals within said second frequency band;

said standard FM audio receiver comprising a second downconverter to downconvert from said second frequency band to a lower frequency used to generate audio signals,

at least one of said first or second downconverters being tunable,

wherein the frequency of said FM audio signal in said second frequency is capable of being received by said standard FM radio receiver;

a tuning network connected to said standard FM radio receiver to detect said FM audio signal in said second frequency band,

at least one electroacoustical transducer to which said audio signals detected and restored by said FM audio receiver is supplied;

wherein said receiver is capable of being easily moved by an individual within said local area while still receiving said transmitted FM audio signals; and

wherein said second frequency band is outside the commercial FM band of 88 to 108 MHZ.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the standard FM radio receiver is operable to process FM audio signals in the range of approximately 30 to 120 MHz.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said receiver is housed in headphones.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said standard FM receiver is an integrated circuit.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said standard FM radio receiver is an integrated circuit.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said standard FM radio receiver is also operable to separate multiplexed stereo signals from said audio signals after detection and restoration from said FM audio signals within said second frequency band.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said standard receiver is portable.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second frequency band is outside the normal range at which the standard FM radio receiver receives FM signals.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said first or second downconverters are manually tunable.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said standard FM audio receiver is also operable to separate multiplexed stereo signals from said audio signals after detection and restoration from said FM audio signals within said second frequency band.

11. The invention of claim 8 wherein said receiver is portable.

12. The invention of claim 1 wherein said audio signals are high fidelity.

13. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first or second downconverters are manually tunable.

14. A local area wireless stand alone receiver for audio signals transmitted as stereo multiplexed FM audio signals within a first, relatively high frequency band at least as high as approximately 900 MHZ;

said receiver being movable from place to place by the user within the local area, and further comprising;

an antenna to receive the transmitted FM audio signals;

a first downconverter connected to said antenna to reduce the frequency of the transmitted stereo multiplexed FM audio signals to a second frequency band lower than the first, relatively high approximately 900 MHZ frequency band,

a standard FM radio receiver wired to said downconverter to detect and restore said audio signals from said transmitted FM audio signals within said second frequency band;

said standard FM radio receiver comprising a second downconverter responsive to downconvert from said second frequency band to a lower frequency used to recover said audio signals,

at least one of said first or second downconverters being tunable,

wherein the frequency of said FM audio signal in said second frequency band is capable of being received by said standard FM radio receiver;

a tuning network connected to the standard FM radio receiver to detect said FM audio signal in said second frequency band,

at least one electroacoustical transducer to which said audio signal detected and restored by said FM radio receiver is supplied, and

wherein said second frequency band is outside the commercial FM band of 88 to 108 MHZ.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the standard FM audio receiver is operable to process FM audio signals in the range of approximately 30 to 120 MHz.

16. The invention of claim 14 wherein said receiver is housed in headphones.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said standard FM receiver is an integrated circuit.

18. The invention of claim 14 wherein said standard FM audio receiver is an integrated circuit.

19. The invention of claim 14 wherein said second frequency band is outside the normal range at which the standard FM radio receiver receives FM signals.

20. The invention of claim 14 wherein said first or second downconverters are manually tunable.

21. The invention of claim 14 wherein said audio signals are high fidelity.