Proximity sensing using EHF signals
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- a first amplifier configured to receive a radio frequency input signal and generate an amplified output signal having an extremely high frequency (EHF) component;
a transducer operatively coupled to receive the amplified output signal from the first amplifier, the transducer configured to transform the amplified output signal to an electromagnetic signal operating in the EHF band of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum; and
a proximity-sensing circuit, including a frequency detection circuit, operatively coupled to the transducer via a plurality of signal conductors and configured to;
compare a frequency of a composite signal to a frequency of a reference signal, the composite signal received from the plurality of signal conductors, the reference signal received from a reference conductor operatively coupled to the proximity-sensing circuit, wherein the reference signal is a clock signal representative of the frequency of the amplified output signal when the transducer field-modifying device is in a reference position, andgenerate an indication of proximity of the communication system to the transducer field-modifying device when the frequency of the composite signal is different than the frequency of the reference signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for sensing proximity using EHF signals may include a communication circuit configured to transmit via a transducer an EM signal at an EHF frequency, and a proximity sensing circuit configured to sense a nearby transducer field-modifying object by detecting characteristics of a signal within the communication circuit. A system for determining distance using EHF signals may include a detecting circuit coupled to a transmitting communication circuit and a receiving communication circuit, both communication circuits being mounted on a first surface. The transmitting communication circuit may transmit a signal toward a second surface, and the receiving communication circuit may receive a signal relayed from the second surface. The detecting circuit may determine distance between the first surface and a second surface based on propagation characteristics of the signals.
256 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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a first amplifier configured to receive a radio frequency input signal and generate an amplified output signal having an extremely high frequency (EHF) component; a transducer operatively coupled to receive the amplified output signal from the first amplifier, the transducer configured to transform the amplified output signal to an electromagnetic signal operating in the EHF band of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum; and a proximity-sensing circuit, including a frequency detection circuit, operatively coupled to the transducer via a plurality of signal conductors and configured to; compare a frequency of a composite signal to a frequency of a reference signal, the composite signal received from the plurality of signal conductors, the reference signal received from a reference conductor operatively coupled to the proximity-sensing circuit, wherein the reference signal is a clock signal representative of the frequency of the amplified output signal when the transducer field-modifying device is in a reference position, and generate an indication of proximity of the communication system to the transducer field-modifying device when the frequency of the composite signal is different than the frequency of the reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising:
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receiving a radio frequency input signal; amplifying the input signal by a first amplifier to generate an amplified output signal having an extremely high frequency (EHF) component; transforming by a transducer the amplified output signal into an electromagnetic signal operating in the EHF band of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum; receiving, by a proximity-sensing circuit, a composite signal via a plurality of signal conductors operatively coupled to the transducer; receiving, by the proximity-sensing circuit, a reference signal from a reference conductor operatively coupled to the proximity-sensing circuit, wherein the reference signal is a clock signal representative of the frequency of the amplified output signal when the transducer field-modifying device is in a reference position; comparing, by the proximity-sensing circuit, a frequency of the composite signal to a frequency of the reference signal; and generate an indication, by the proximity-sensing circuit, of a proximity of the communication system to the transducer field-modifying device when the frequency of the composite signal is different than the frequency of the reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification