Time-multiplexed short-range magnetic communications
First Claim
1. A magnetic induction time-multiplexed two-way short-range wireless communications system, comprising:
- a first unit for receiving first unit input signals and providing first unit output signals, the first unit including a first unit transducer system for generating a first inductive field based upon the first unit input signals during a first time slot and for receiving a second inductive field during a second time slot, the first unit transducer system comprising at least one transducer, a first unit processing circuit for modulating the first unit input signals during the first time slot, driving the at least one transducer with the modulated first unit input signals during the first time slot to cause the at least one transducer to generate the first inductive field, the receiving and demodulating the second inductive field to produce the first unit output signals during the second time slot, and a first unit interface circuit for matching the first unit transducer system to the first unit processing circuit; and
a second unit for receiving second unit input signals and providing second unit output signals, the second unit including a second unit transducer system for generating the second inductive field based upon the second unit input signals during the second time slot and for receiving the first inductive field during the first time slot, the second unit transducer system comprising at least three transducers wherein each of the at least three transducers is arranged orthogonally with respect to the other transducers, a second unit processing circuit for modulating the second unit input signals during the second time slot, driving one of the at least three orthogonal transducers with the modulated second unit input signals during the second time slot to cause the one of the at least three orthogonal transducers to generate the second inductive field, and receiving and demodulating the first inductive field to produce the second unit output signals during the first time slot, a second unit interface circuit for matching the second unit transducer system to the second unit processing circuit, and a second unit switch network for coupling one of the at least three orthogonal transducers to the second unit interface circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic induction time-multiplexed two-way short-range wireless communications system, and related method, includes a first portable unit and a second portable unit. The first portable unit receives first unit input signals and provides first unit output signals. Also, the first portable unit includes a first unit transducer system for generating a first inductive field based upon the first unit input signals during a first time slot and for converting a second inductive field into the first unit output signals during a second time slot. The second portable unit receives second unit input signals and provides second unit output signals. Also, the second portable unit includes a second unit transducer system for generating the second inductive field based upon the second unit input signals during the second time slot and for converting the first inductive field into the second unit output signals during the first time slot.
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Citations
122 Claims
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1. A magnetic induction time-multiplexed two-way short-range wireless communications system, comprising:
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a first unit for receiving first unit input signals and providing first unit output signals, the first unit including a first unit transducer system for generating a first inductive field based upon the first unit input signals during a first time slot and for receiving a second inductive field during a second time slot, the first unit transducer system comprising at least one transducer, a first unit processing circuit for modulating the first unit input signals during the first time slot, driving the at least one transducer with the modulated first unit input signals during the first time slot to cause the at least one transducer to generate the first inductive field, the receiving and demodulating the second inductive field to produce the first unit output signals during the second time slot, and a first unit interface circuit for matching the first unit transducer system to the first unit processing circuit; and
a second unit for receiving second unit input signals and providing second unit output signals, the second unit including a second unit transducer system for generating the second inductive field based upon the second unit input signals during the second time slot and for receiving the first inductive field during the first time slot, the second unit transducer system comprising at least three transducers wherein each of the at least three transducers is arranged orthogonally with respect to the other transducers, a second unit processing circuit for modulating the second unit input signals during the second time slot, driving one of the at least three orthogonal transducers with the modulated second unit input signals during the second time slot to cause the one of the at least three orthogonal transducers to generate the second inductive field, and receiving and demodulating the first inductive field to produce the second unit output signals during the first time slot, a second unit interface circuit for matching the second unit transducer system to the second unit processing circuit, and a second unit switch network for coupling one of the at least three orthogonal transducers to the second unit interface circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for magnetic induction time-multiplexed two-way short-range wireless communications, comprising:
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during a first period of time, generating from a first unit with a first unit transducer system a first inductive field and receiving the first inductive field at a second unit with a second unit transducer system, the first transducer system including multiple transducers; and
during a second period of time, generating from the second unit with the second unit transducer system a second inductive field and receiving the second inductive field at the first unit with the first transducer system, the second transducer system including at least one transducer, at least one transducer of the first or second transducer systems functioning as a transmitter and a receiver of an inductive field. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for communicating information over wireless links, the method comprising:
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generating a varying magnetic field from a first unit during a first time slot to transmit information over a wireless link, the first unit including multiple transducers, at least one of which functions as both a transmitter and receiver of a varying magnetic field;
generating a varying magnetic field from a second unit during a second time slot to transmit information over the wireless link;
transmitting information from the second unit to the first unit; and
selecting a transducer of the first unit to generate a varying magnetic field depending on which of the multiple transducers in the first unit receives a strongest signal from the second unit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for communicating information over a wireless link, the method comprising:
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from a first unit including multiple transducers uniquely oriented with respect to each other and at least one of which functioning as both a transmitter and receiver of a varying magnetic field, generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over the wireless link;
at a second unit, receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to synchronize the second unit to receive the data information over the wireless link;
transmitting a signal from the second unit; and
selecting a transducer of the first unit to generate a varying magnetic field depending on which of the multiple transducers receives a strongest signal from the second unit. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A system for communicating information over wireless links, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive and at least one of said at least two transducers functioning as both a transmitter and receiver of a varying magnetic field, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field during a first time slot to transmit information; and
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field during the first time slot to receive the information transmitted by the first unit, the second unit transmitting information to the first unit during a second time slot not overlapping with the first time slot, a transducer of the first unit generating a varying magnetic field depending on which of the at least two transducers receives a strongest signal from the second unit. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A system for communicating information over a wireless link, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive and at least one of said at least two transducers functioning as both a transmitter and receiver of a varying magnetic field, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over the wireless link; and
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the first and second units being movable relative to each other, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to receive the data information over the wireless link, a transducer of the first unit generating a varying magnetic field depending on which of the at least two transducers receives a strongest signal from the second unit. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A method for communicating information over wireless links, the method comprising:
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generating a varying magnetic field from a first unit during a first time slot to transmit information over a wireless link;
generating a varying magnetic field from a second unit during a second time slot to transmit information over the wireless link; and
transmitting termination bits at the end of a time slot.
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74. A method for communicating information over wireless links, the method comprising:
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generating a varying magnetic field from a first unit during a first time slot to transmit information over a wireless link;
generating a varying magnetic field from a second unit during a second time slot to transmit information over the wireless link;
transmitting information from the first unit to the second unit during the first time slot and transmitting information from the second unit to the first unit during the second time slot;
wherein an orientation of the first unit relative to the second unit changes over time. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A method for communicating information over wireless links, the method comprising:
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generating a varying magnetic field from a first unit during a first time slot to transmit information over a wireless link;
generating a varying magnetic field from a second unit during a second time slot to transmit information over the wireless link; and
tracking movements of the first unit relative to the second unit for maintaining communication over the wireless link. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84)
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85. A method for communicating information over a wireless link, the method comprising:
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from a first unit, generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over the wireless link and transmitting both types of information over one of three transducers;
at a second unit, receiving the varying magnetic field at a single transducer used to transmit and receive and using the synchronization information to synchronize the second unit to receive the data information over the wireless link.
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86. A method for communicating information over a wireless link, the method comprising:
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from a first unit, generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over the wireless link;
at a second unit, receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to synchronize the second unit to receive the data information over the wireless link;
transmitting a signal from the second unit;
detecting which of multiple transducers disposed in the first unit produces a strongest received signal from the second unit; and
generating a varying magnetic field in a time slot from the first unit on a transducer device oriented on similar axes as the transducer that produces the strongest received signal.
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87. A method for communicating information over a wireless link, the method comprising:
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from a first unit, generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over the wireless link;
at a second unit, receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to synchronize the second unit to receive the data information over the wireless link; and
tracking movements of the first unit relative to the second unit for maintaining communication over the wireless link. - View Dependent Claims (88, 89)
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90. A system for communicating information over wireless links, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two uniquely oriented transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field during a first time slot to transmit information over one of the transducers; and
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field during the first time slot to receive the information transmitted by the first unit, the second unit transmitting information to the first unit during a second time slot not overlapping with the first time slot.
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91. A system for communicating information over wireless links, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field during a first time slot to transmit information; and
a second unit, changing orientation over time with respect to the first unit, including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field during the first time slot to receive the information transmitted by the first unit, the second unit transmitting information to the first unit during a second time slot not overlapping with the first time slot.
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92. A system for communicating information over wireless links, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field during a first time slot to transmit information;
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field during the first time slot to receive the information transmitted by the first unit, the second unit transmitting information to the first unit during a second time slot not overlapping with the first time slot;
a first circuit to detect which of multiple transducers disposed in the first unit produces a strongest received signal from the second unit; and
a second circuit to generate a varying magnetic field in a time slot from the first unit on a transducer device oriented on a similar axis as the transducer that produces the strongest received signal.
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93. A system for communicating information over wireless links, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field during a first time slot to transmit information; and
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field during the first time slot to receive the information transmitted by the first unit, the second unit transmitting information to the first unit during a second time slot not overlapping with the first time slot; and
a tracking circuit coupled to the first or second units to track movements of the first unit relative to the second unit to maintain communication over the wireless link.
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94. A system for communicating information over wireless links, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field during a first time slot to transmit (i) information and (ii) termination bits at the end of the first time slot; and
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field during the first time slot to receive the information and termination bits transmitted by the first unit, the second unit transmitting (i) information to the first unit during a second time slot not overlapping with the first time slot and (ii) termination bits at the end of the second time slot.
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95. A system for communicating information over a wireless link, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least three uniquely oriented transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over one of the three transducers over the wireless link; and
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the first and second units being movable relative to each other, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to receive the data information over the wireless link.
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96. A system for communicating information over a wireless link, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over the wireless link; and
a second unit, changing orientation over time with respect to the first unit due to motion of a user, including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the first and second units being movable relative to each other, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to receive the data information over the wireless link.
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97. A system for communicating information over a wireless link, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over the wireless link;
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the first and second units being movable relative to each other, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to receive the data information over the wireless link;
a first circuit to detect which of multiple transducers disposed in the first unit produces a strongest received signal from the second unit; and
a second circuit to generate a varying magnetic field in a time slot from the first unit on a transducer device oriented on a similar axes as the transducer that produces the strongest received signal.
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98. A system for communicating information over a wireless link, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field to transmit synchronization information and data information over the wireless link;
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the first and second units being movable relative to each other, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to receive the data information over the wireless link; and
a tracking circuit coupled to the first or second units to track movements of the first unit relative to the second unit to maintain communication over the wireless link.
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99. A system for communicating information over wireless link, the system comprising:
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a first unit including at least two transducers to transmit and receive, the first unit generating a varying magnetic field to transmit (i) synchronization information and data information over the wireless link and (ii) termination bits at the end of the first time slot; and
a second unit including at least one transducer to transmit and receive, the first and second units being relative to each other, the second unit receiving the varying magnetic field and using the synchronization information to receive the data information and termination bits over the wireless link.
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100. A system for magnetic induction time-multiplexed two-way short-range wireless communications, the system comprising:
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a first unit, with a first unit transducer system including multiple transducers generating during a first period of time a first inductive field and receiving a second inductive field during a second period of time, a second unit, with a second unit transducer system including at least one transducer, the first unit receiving the first inductive field during the first period of time and generating the second inductive field during a second period of time;
at least one transducer of the first or second transducer systems functioning as a transmitter and a receiver of an inductive field. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122)
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Specification