Very low power cordless headset system

• US 5,568,516 A
• Filed: 10/03/1994
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phonic Ear A/S
• Original Assignee: Phonic Ear A/S
• Inventors: Young, Robert F., Strohallen, Gene M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHEBRETINSAE, TEMESGHEN
• Application Number:
  US08/316,920
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 375/256, 375/257, 375/258, 375/219, 375/259, 455/41, 381/163
• US Class Current: 375/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/021 Behind the ear [BTE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/025 In the ear hearing aids [ITE] hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/505 using digital signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A cordless headset, requiring very low power using Time Variant Modulation (TVM) for reception of a magnetic signal and TVM of RF or infrared as the transmitter. The headset area or zone of operations is defined by the magnetic field that the headset operates within and uses a handshake protocol that takes advantage of the TVM fixed clock period. The headset communicates with a base station that includes a TVM transmitter and loop for transmitting a TVM signal to the cordless headset, and a RF or infrared receiver capable of receiving TVM signals from the headset. The base station also contains the headset protocol logic for controlling the headset transmission. The headset and base station receiver can both be fixed, mobile or portable and vary with respect to orientation and distance from each other. The receiver circuits in both base station and headset automatically adjust to the variance in signal strength.

Claims

1. A two-way wireless communication system for transmitting audio signals between a first location and a second location, the system comprising:

first transmission means, disposed at said first location, for receiving a first audio signal, said first transmission means including a time variant modulation clock generator for generating a time variant modulation clock signal, modulation means, responsive to the time variant modulation clock signal for time variant modulating said first audio signal to produce a time variant modulated first audio signal, and a magnetic transmission element for transmitting said time variant modulated first audio signal;

first receiver means, disposed at said second location and including a magnetic receiving element magnetically coupled to said magnetic transmission element, for receiving and demodulating said time variant modulated first audio signal;

second transmission means, disposed at said second location, for receiving and transmitting a second audio signal, said transmission means including at least one of a RF transmitter and an infrared transmitter for transmitting said second audio signal; and

second receiver means, disposed at said first location and including at least one of a RF receiver and an infrared receiver, for receiving said second audio signal, wherein at least one of said first and second locations comprises a portable communication device.

2. The two-way wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first location comprises a base station and the second location comprises a cordless headset.

3. A two-way wireless communication system for transmitting audio signals between a first location and a second location, the system comprising:

first transmission means, disposed at said first location, for receiving a first audio signal, said first transmission means including a time variant modulation clock generator for generator for generating a first time variant modulation clock signal, modulation means, responsive to the first time variant modulation clock signal for time variant modulating said first audio signal to produce a time variant modulated first audio signal, and a magnetic transmission element for transmitting said time variant modulated first audio signal;

first receiver means, disposed at said second location and including a magnetic receiving element magnetically coupled to said magnetic transmission element, for receiving and demodulating said time variant modulated first audio signal;

second transmission means, disposed at said second location, for receiving a seconds audio signal and for time variant modulating said second audio signal, said transmission means including at least one of a RF transmitter and an infrared transmitter for transmitting said time variant modulated second audio signal; and

second receiver means, disposed at said first location and including at least one of a RF receiver and an infrared receiver, for receiving and demodulating said time variant modulated second audio signal,

wherein the first location comprises a base station and the second location comprises a portable cordless headset.

4. The two-way wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein the first location comprises a base station and the second location comprises a cordless handset.

5. The two-way wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein the first receiver means includes:

time variant modulation clock recovery means, responsive to said received modulated first audio signal, for producing a second time variant clock signal, said second time variant clock signal being synchronous with said first time variant clock signal.

6. The two,way wireless communication system according to claim 5, wherein the first transmission means further includes a pilot tone generator for generating and transmitting a pilot tone to said first receiver means.

7. The two-way wireless communication system according to claim 6, wherein the first receiver means further includes a pilot tone detector for detecting said pilot tone transmitted by said transmission means.

8. The two-way wireless communication system according to claim 7, wherein said pilot tone detector includes means for comparing said detected pilot tone with said second time variant clock signal to determine if said detected pilot tone and said second time variant clock signal are synchronous.

9. The two-way wireless communication system according to claim 8, wherein said pilot tone detector includes means, responsive to at least one of said detected pilot tone, for disabling said second transmission means.