Inductive communication system and method
First Claim
1. A system supporting wireless communications comprising:
- a base unit and a portable unit inductively coupled to the base unit, each unit including a transducer system comprising;
at least one inductive transducer;
means for communicating at multiple frequencies;
means for selecting one of said multiple frequencies to avoid interference with inductive communications signals of a different base unit communicating with a different portable unit; and
means for manual control that when activated causes the portable unit to transmit a control signal to the base unit to activate a mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method communicate signals between a portable unit and a communications system. The portable device communicates with a base unit using inductive coupling. The base unit is further connected to a wider communication system such as a telephone network. Multiple, orthogonally arranged transducers are used in the base unit to provide a more complete magnetic field and to prevent mutual inductance nulls which are otherwise present in a magnetic field. The use of short-range inductive coupling minimizes the power requirements and limits interference with other sources. The inductive coupling may also be used to recharge a battery in the portable device.
128 Citations
3 Claims
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1. A system supporting wireless communications comprising:
a base unit and a portable unit inductively coupled to the base unit, each unit including a transducer system comprising;
at least one inductive transducer;
means for communicating at multiple frequencies;
means for selecting one of said multiple frequencies to avoid interference with inductive communications signals of a different base unit communicating with a different portable unit; and
means for manual control that when activated causes the portable unit to transmit a control signal to the base unit to activate a mode of operation.
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2. A method of communicating, comprising:
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at a first base and a first portable unit, generating a first inductive communications signal at a first frequency;
at a second base and a second portable unit, generating a second communications signal at the same first frequency;
in an event of interference of the first and second communications signals at the first frequency, selecting a second frequency for the second communications signal at the second base and the second portable unit, the second communications signal at the second frequency unlikely to have significant interference with the first communications signal at the first frequency being used by the first base and the first portable unit.
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3. A system supporting wireless communications, comprising:
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a first device comprising;
a first base unit comprising a transducer system with at least one inductive transducer, means for communicating at multiple frequencies, and means for selecting at least one of said multiple frequencies for a communications signal; and
a first portable unit comprising a transducer system with at least three inductive transducers, means for communicating at multiple frequencies, and means for selecting at least one of said multiple frequencies for a communications signal for communicating with the first base unit;
a second device comprising;
a second base unit comprising a transducer system with at least one inductive transducer, means for communicating at multiple frequencies, and means for selecting at least one of said multiple frequencies for a communications signal unlikely to have significant interference with the communications signal of the first device; and
a second portable unit comprising a transducer system with at least three inductive transducers, means for communicating at multiple frequencies, and means for selecting at least one of said multiple frequencies for a communications signal for communicating with the second base unit unlikely to have significant interference with the communications signal of the first device.
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Specification