Short range inductively coupled communication system employing time variant modulation

• US 5,615,229 A
• Filed: 07/02/1993
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phonic Ear A/S
• Original Assignee: Phonic Ear A/S
• Inventors: Strohallen, Gene M., Young, Robert F., Sharma, Madan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NING, JOHN K
• Application Number:
  US08/086,823
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 375/37, 381/68.2, 381/68.4, 381/79, 332/110, 332/109, 330/10
• US Class Current: 375/259
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/691 using transformer coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• 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 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 short range magnetically coupled wireless communication system employs time variant modulation of a high repetition rate pulse stream and magnetic coupling between a transmission magnetic element and a receiving magnetic element. The pulse stream is modulated by an input audio frequency signal in the time domain, for example, through pulse position modulation, pulse width modulation or pulse symmetry modulation. The receiving magnetic element is coupled to a demodulator circuit which detects the transmitted pulses induced in the receiving magnetic element and reproduces the audio frequency signal. Transmission over short range is thus efficiently accomplished through magnetic coupling in a simple, low cost, low power consumption communication system.

Claims

1. A short range communication system for transmitting an audio frequency input signal comprising:

transmission means for receiving said audio frequency input signal and for providing a pulse sequence time variant modulated by said audio frequency input signal,

transmission means including a transmission magnetic element for transmitting said pulse sequence; and

receiver means, including a receiving magnetic element magnetically coupled to said transmission loop, for receiving said pulse sequence and for demodulating said pulse sequence to reproduce said audio frequency input signal;

wherein said receiver means is freely movable relative to said transmission means.

2. A short range communication system as set out in claim 1, wherein said transmission means comprises:

means for providing a waveform which is substantially linear over at least half a period thereof; and

means for receiving said linear waveform and said input signal and for comparing said input signal and said linear waveform and providing an output pulse stream of variable duration pulses with substantially constant magnitude.

3. A short range communication system as set out in claim 2, wherein said linear waveform is a sawtooth waveform.

4. A short range communication system as set out in claim 2, wherein said linear waveform is a triangular waveform.

5. A short range communication system as set out in claim 1, wherein said transmission means comprises:

means for providing a waveform which is substantially linear over at least half a period thereof;

means for receiving said linear waveform and for receiving said input signal and for modulating said linear waveform with said input signal so as to provide a first pulse stream of variable duration; and

means for receiving said first pulse stream and providing a second pulse stream having substantially constant duration pulses of short duration corresponding to the transitions of the pulses in said first pulse stream.

6. A short range communication system as set out in claim 2, wherein said linear waveform has a repetition rate of between approximately 10 kHz and 100 kHz.

7. A short range communication system as set out in claim 1, wherein said receiving unit is a headset.

8. A short range communication system as set out in claim 7, wherein said receiver means further comprises a preamplification circuit for receiving signals induced in said receiving magnetic element and providing the amplified received signals to said pulse detector.

9. A short range communication system as set out in claim 7, wherein said demodulator circuit comprises a band pass filter.

10. A short range communication system as set out in claim 7, wherein said demodulator circuit comprises a resistor and a capacitor.

11. A short range communication system as set out in claim 1, wherein said receiver means is configured in a receiving unit adapted to be worn by a user.

12. A short range communication system as set out in claim 1, wherein said transmission means is configured in a unit adapted to be worn by a user and wherein said transmission magnetic element is configured so as to be worn about a portion of the user'"'"'s body.

13. A short range communication system as set out in claim 11, wherein said unit receiver is a headset.

14. A short range communication system as set out in claim 1, wherein said transmitting magnetic element is substantially larger than said receiving magnetic element.

35. A short range communication system as set out in claim 7, wherein said pulse detector comprises first, second and third bipolar transistors coupled between a positive voltage supply and ground, and a bias capacitor, said first transistor coupled to receive said received signals at the base thereof via said bias capacitor, and means for providing feedback from the output of said third transistor to said bias capacitor.

36. A short range communication system as set out in claim 1, wherein said receiving magnetic element is larger than the transmitting magnetic element.

37. A transmission system as set out in claim 1, wherein said pulse sequence has a repetition rate which is at least 2.6 times the highest frequency component in the audio frequency input signal to be transmitted.

40. A transmission system as set out in claim 1, wherein said transmission means transmits said pulse sequence without employing a carrier.

15. A short range wireless transmission system for transmitting an input signal, comprising:

means for providing a waveform having substantially linear characteristics over at least half a period thereof;

means for receiving said waveform and for receiving said input signal and providing a time variant modulated output pulse stream;

a magnetic transmission element; and

means for receiving said time variant modulated pulse stream and for driving said magnetic transmission magnetic element with said pulse stream.

16. A short range transmission system as set out in claim 15, wherein said linear waveform is a sawtooth waveform.

17. A short range transmission system as set out in claim 16, wherein said linear waveform is a triangular waveform.

18. A short range communication system as set out in claim 15, wherein said linear waveform has a repetition rate of between about 10 kHz and 1 MHz.

19. A short range transmission system as set out in claim 15, wherein said means for modulating comprises a comparator circuit.

20. A short range transmission system as set out in claim 15, wherein said transmission magnetic element is a loop having a diameter between less than 0.254 meters and more than 100 meters.

38. A transmission system as set out in claim 15, wherein said pulse stream has a repetition rate which is at least 2.6 times the highest frequency component in the input signal to be transmitted.

21. A receiver adapted to receive a pulse train time variant modulated by an audio frequency input signal, transmitted from a transmitter inductively coupled to said receiver, comprising:

a receiver magnetic element for receiving signals induced therein;

means for detecting pulses of the transmitted pulse train in said received signals; and

means for receiving said detected pulses and demodulating the pulse train to reproduce the audio frequency input signal.

22. A receiver as set out in claim 21, wherein said means for detecting pulses includes a threshold detector and means for providing a threshold voltage and wherein said threshold detector compares said received signals to said threshold voltage to detect the pulses.

23. A receiver as set out in claim 21, further comprising a preamplifier circuit, coupled to said receiver magnetic element and said means for detecting, for amplifying the received signals and providing them to said means for detecting.

25. A receiver as set out in claim 21, wherein said means for demodulating comprises an integrator.

26. A receiver as set out in claim 25, wherein said integrator comprises a resistor and a capacitor.

24. A receiver adapted to receive a pulse train time variant modulated by an input signal, transmitted from a transmitter inductively coupled to said receiver, comprising:

a receiver magnetic element for receiving signals induced therein;

means for detecting pulses of the transmitted pulse train in said received signals;

means for receiving said detected pulses and demodulating the pulse train to reproduce the input signal;

a speaker; and

audio driver means, coupled to said means for demodulating and said speaker, for driving said speaker with said demodulated input signal to reproduce said input signal as an audible audio signal.

27. A short range wireless communication system, comprising:

a transmitter unit, including;

an magnetic transmission element;

an input for receiving an input signal;

means for providing a pulse train time variant modulated by said input signal; and

means for driving said transmission magnetic element with said modulated pulse train; and

a portable receiver unit, adapted to be worn by a user, including;

a receiving magnetic element for inductively receiving said pulse train therein; and

means for providing a reproduced input signal which is substantially independent of variations in distance between said transmitter unit and said receiver unit within a predetermined range, including;

a pulse detector, coupled to said receiving magnetic element, for discriminating the pulses in said pulse train from noise; and

a demodulator circuit, coupled to said pulse detector, for receiving said detected pulse train and demodulating said pulse train to reproduce said input signal.

28. A communication system as set out in claim 27, wherein said receiver unit is configured in a headset and wherein said receiver unit further comprises first and second speakers at respective ear portions of the headset and means for driving said speakers with said reproduced input signal.

29. A communication system as set out in claim 27, wherein said pulses are of substantially equal magnitude.

30. A method for transmitting an input signal between a transmitter having a transmitting magnetic element and a receiver having a receiving magnetic element, comprising the steps of:

receiving an audio frequency input signal;

time variant modulation of a pulse train with said audio frequency input signal so as to provide a pulse train modulated in the time domain;

providing the modulated pulse train to said transmitting magnetic element;

receiving the modulated pulse train in said receiving magnetic element, said receiving magnetic element being positioned at a variable distance from said transmitting magnetic element through magnetic coupling of said transmitting magnetic dement and said receiving magnetic element;

demodulating said received modulated pulse train to reproduce said audio frequency input signal in said receiver; and

converting said reproduced audio frequency input signal to an audible acoustic signal.

31. A wireless transmission circuit for transmitting an audio frequency input signal, comprising:

a monolithic integrated circuit chip having electrical circuits formed thereon, including;

means for receiving the audio frequency input signal;

time variant modulation means for providing a pulse train modulated in the time domain by said audio frequency input signal;

output means for providing said time domain modulated pulse train to circuit components external to said monolithic integrated circuit chip; and

means for receiving a power supply voltage; and

magnetic element means, coupled to said output means of said monolithic integrated circuit chip, for receiving said time domain modulated pulse train as a drive signal thereto and directly transmitting said pulse train Without employing a carrier.

32. A wireless transmission circuit as set out in claim 31, further comprising transformer means, configured externally to said monolithic integrated circuit chip, for coupling said magnetic element means to said output means.

33. A wireless transmission circuit as set out in claim 31, further comprising a printed circuit board, wherein the monolithic integrated circuit chip and the magnetic element means are mounted on said printed circuit board.

39. A transmission system as set out in claim 31, wherein said pulse train has a repetition rate which is at least 2.6 times the highest frequency component in the audio frequency input signal to be transmitted.

34. A receiver for receiving a high repetition rate time variant modulated pulse train and demodulating it to provide an audio frequency signal, comprising:

a receiving magnetic element for inductively receiving the high repetition rate pulse train therein; and

a monolithic integrated circuit chip having electrical circuits formed thereon, including;

means for receiving the signal induced in the receiving magnetic element;

means for detecting pulses in the signal induced in the receiving magnetic element;

means for demodulating the induced signal;

means for outputting the demodulated pulse train to an audio output device external to said monolithic integrated circuit chip;

means for receiving a power supply voltage from a source external to said monolithic integrated circuit chip; and

means for coupling the monolithic integrated circuit chip to a reference voltage.