Wireless communication over a transducer device

• US 7,142,811 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Freelinc Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aura Communications Technology, Inc. (Radeum, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terranova, Domenic F., Palermo, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US10/004,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,821 Days
• Field of Search: 455 305- 306, 455 411- 413, 455/74.1, 455/75, 455/77, 455/78, 455/569.1, 455/571, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/575.2, 455/575.6, 455/90.1, 455/95, 455/107, 455120-126, 455/462, 455/464, 455/3.01, 455/465, 455/517, 455/522, 455/526, 455/62, 455/63.1, 455/63.4, 455/67.11, 455 76- 83, 455/550.1, 455/569.2, 340/10.1, 340/10.4, 340/870.31, 340/870.32, 340/854.8, 340/855.1, 340/941, 340/445, 340/448, 340/531, 340/538.15, 340/538.16, 340/310.17, 375/333, 375/257, 375/258, 375/222, 375/219
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/727 Identification code transfer arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is generally directed towards a system and method of tuning a transducer for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal. In an illustrative embodiment, a single transducer is coupled to a first or second circuit for either transmitting or receiving, respectively. Generally, electrical characteristics of the first circuit are adjusted to increase a magnetic field generated by the transducer. Conversely, electrical characteristics of the second circuit are adjusted to increase a signal generated by the transducer for receiving a magnetic field. Accordingly, a single transducer device can be tuned for either transmitting or receiving a corresponding wireless signal.

Claims

1. A method for supporting communication comprising the steps of:

coupling one of multiple transducers to a circuit to transmit or receive a magnetic field;

adjusting characteristics of the circuit depending on which of the multiple transducers is coupled to the circuit;

intermittently adjusting characteristics of the circuit during use based upon feedback to more efficiently transmit or receive over one of the multiple transducers;

coupling a first transducer of the multiple transducers to the circuit for transmitting;

coupling a second transducer of the multiple transducers to the circuit for receiving;

transmitting a signal over the first transducer and receiving the signal over the second transducer; and

tuning the first transducer and the circuit for transmitting a magnetic field based on feedback from the second transducer receiving the magnetic field.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein a capacitance of the circuit is adjusted to tune the transducer.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the circuit is adjusted to independently tune the transducer for transmitting or receiving at different time intervals.

4. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

selecting a setting of the circuit via electronic switching to tune the transducer.

5. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

positioning each of the multiple transducers along a unique axis with respect to each other.

6. A method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of:

selecting from which of the multiple transducers to transmit or receive a magnetic field; and

tuning the selected transducer to support a wireless link with a remote transceiver device having a single transducer that transmits and receives data.

7. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

orthogonally positioning three transducers with respect to each other.

8. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

adjusting an impedance of the circuit to tune a transducer for transmitting or receiving.

9. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

tuning the second transducer and the circuit for receiving based on a received signal strength of a magnetic field generated by the first transducer.

10. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

sweeping through a range of circuit settings to determine which of multiple settings is optimal for transmitting or receiving over a selected transducer.

11. A method as in claim 10 further comprising:

learning which of multiple settings is optimal and storing corresponding information in memory.

12. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

reducing power consumption of the circuit by increasing a magnetic signal generated by a selected transducer based upon adjustments to the circuit.

13. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

switching selected capacitors of a capacitor bank to ground via switches to tune a transducer for transmitting or receiving.

14. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

storing circuit setting information in memory regarding how to set a circuit for receiving or transmitting.

15. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving circuit setting information from memory and adjusting characteristics of the circuit to transmit or receive over a transducer.

16. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

adjusting the circuit to transmit or receive over the transducer at a selected carrier frequency.

17. A method as in claim 16 further comprising:

modulating digital data on the carrier frequency to transmit information to a target receiver.