Electronic converter for converting an acoustic signal into a pseudo-digital signal, timepiece including such a converter and two-directional communication method via acoustic waves
First Claim
1. A sound generator circuit including a piezoelectric vibrator which generates a sound in response to an electric signal, and which also generates an electric signal in response to an acoustic wave, the generator circuit further comprising means for preventing the piezoelectric vibrator from discharging.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention concerns the use of a sound generator circuit (22) including a piezoelectric vibrator (P3) as an acoustic wave receiver.
The invention also concerns an electronic converter (20) including a sound generator circuit (22) provided with a piezoelectric vibrator (P3) as well as means supplying a reference voltage, characterized in that it further includes comparison means which compare the reference voltage to the voltage generated by the piezoelectric vibrator (P3) when the latter picks up an acoustic wave, said comparison means generating a pseudo-digital signal when the voltage generated by said vibrator (P3) exceeds said reference voltage.
Finally the invention concerns a timepiece provided with a converter circuit (20) as described above, as well as a two-directional communication method via acoustic waves between an emitter unit and a receiver unit.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A sound generator circuit including a piezoelectric vibrator which generates a sound in response to an electric signal, and which also generates an electric signal in response to an acoustic wave, the generator circuit further comprising means for preventing the piezoelectric vibrator from discharging.
- 4. An electronic converter including a sound generator circuit provided with a piezoelectric vibrator as well as means supplying a reference voltage, wherein the electronic converter further includes driving means which prevent the piezoelectric vibrator from discharging, and comparison means which compare the reference voltage to the voltage generated by the piezoelectric vibrator when the latter picks up an acoustic wave, said comparison means generating a pseudo-digital signal when the voltage generated by said vibrator exceeds said reference voltage.
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12. Timepiece comprising an electronic converter including a sound generator circuit provided with a piezoelectric vibrator as well as means supplying a reference voltage, wherein the electronic converter further includes driving means which prevent the piezoelectric vibrator from discharging, and comparison means which compare the reference voltage to the voltage generated by the piezoelectric vibrator when the latter picks up an acoustic wave, said comparison means generating a pseudo-digital signal when the voltage generated by said vibrator exceeds said reference voltage.
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13. Two-directional communication method via acoustic waves between an emitter unit and a receiver unit, each of these two units including a microprocessor and an electronic converter, wherein each electronic converter includes a sound generator circuit provided with a piezoelectric vibrator as well as means for supplying a reference voltage, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an emitter unit and a receiver unit, wherein each unit includes a microprocessor and an electronic converter, wherein each electronic converter includes a sound generator circuit provided with a piezoelectric vibrator as well as means for supplying a reference voltage;
providing a pulsed control signal to the sound generator circuit of the emitter unit so that the pulsed control signal switches on and off a switching means of the sound generator circuit of the emitter unit;
supplying a reference voltage to the electronic converter of the receiver unit by using the means for supplying a reference voltage for said receiver unit;
comparing, by using a comparison means of the corresponding electronic converter, the reference voltage to a voltage generated by the corresponding piezoelectric vibrator when the latter picks up an acoustic wave, wherein the comparison means generates a pseudo-digital signal formed of a succession of logic pulses when the voltage generated by the piezoelectric vibrator exceeds the reference voltage; and
when the sound generator circuit of the emitter unit sends a first of a series of successive acoustic “
beeps”
instructing the microprocessor of the receiver unit to start a time counter for counting the number of logic pulses generated by the comparison means of the receiver unit, so that the receiver unit microprocessor calculates the number of logic pulses received in a given time interval, and determines, by reading in a counter, whether the logic level is “
0”
or “
1”
.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification