Wireless 900 MHz monitor system

• US 5,768,696 A
• Filed: 12/18/1995
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trade Associates Inc
• Original Assignee: Golden Eagle Electronics Manufactory Limited
• Inventors: Law, Wilson
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Nguyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Armstrong, Darnell R.
• Application Number:
  US08/574,199
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 455/42, 455/69, 455/89, 455/90, 455/127, 455/128, 455/126, 455/314, 455/88, 455/67.1, 455/67.7, 455/212, 455/218, 455/66, 340/539, 340/573
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/247 with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar

Abstract

A communication device for monitoring audio signals transmitted st high frequencies from a remote location. The device includes a transmitter unit and a receiver unit containing a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit, respectively. The transmitter and receiver circuits are designed for DC operation at voltages substantially equal to the DC voltages directly applied to the transmitter and receiver units so that the use of step-up converters can be avoided, thereby increasing the duration of time for DC power operation.

Claims

1. A low power communication device for transmitting and receiving frequency modulated radio signals in the 900 MHz band for monitoring an audio signal from a remote location, said device comprising:

a transmitter unit having a housing defining a transmitter cavity therein and a pair of terminals directly connected to a power source having an unregulated predetermined DC output voltage;

a transducer mounted to said housing for converting the audio signal to an electric signal;

a transmitter circuit disposed in said transmitter cavity and connected to said pair of terminals, said circuit including,

an amplifier component connected to said transducer for amplifying said electric signal; and

a frequency modulator component having a carrier frequency within the range of 900 to 928 MHz, said carrier frequency being modulated by said amplified electric signal for generating a modulated electric signal;

a transmitter antenna connected to said modulator for radiating said modulated electric signal;

a receiver unit having a housing defining a receiver cavity therein;

a receiver antenna mounted to said housing for receiving said radiated modulated electric signal;

a receiver circuit disposed in said receiver cavity, said receiver circuit including,

a downconverter stage connected to said receiver antenna for converting said modulated electric signal to a second modulated signal having a frequency less than said carrier frequency, said second modulated signal containing frequency components representative of said electric signal generated by said transducer; and

a demodulator connected to said downconverter stage for demodulating said second modulated signal to obtain said electric signal; and

a speaker for converting said electric signal to said audio signal;

wherein said components of said transmitter circuit are driven by a voltage substantially equal to said unregulated predetermined DC output voltage so that one of a voltage regulator voltage step-up converter and voltage step-down converter is not required for transmitter circuit operation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter circuit further comprises a phase lock loop connected between the output and input of said frequency modulator component for comparing a portion of said modulated electric signal with a reference signal for providing frequency adjustment of the modulated electric signal.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter circuit further comprises means for reducing the amplitude of said electric signal if said amplitude exceeds a threshold value.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said transmitter circuit further comprises means for reducing the amplitude of said electric signal if said amplitude exceeds a threshold value.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a second downconverter stage connected between said first downconverter stage and said demodulator for reducing the intermediate frequency of said second modulated signal to a second intermediate frequency.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said receiver housing has a second pair of terminals directly connected to a power source having a second predetermined DC output voltage and wherein said first and second downconverters and said demodulator are powered by a voltage substantially equal to said second predetermined voltage.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said receiver circuit further comprises visual indicator means for indicating detection of said received modulated signal by said receiver antenna.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter unit transmits a test signal having a predetermined strength and wherein said receiver unit further comprises an indicator alarm for determining if the strength of the received test signal is below the predetermined strength, thereby indicating that the receiver unit is out-of-range of the transmitter unit.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said first predetermined voltage is less than 3.5 volts and wherein said second predetermined voltage is less than 3.5 volts.

10. A low power communication device for transmitting and receiving frequency modulated radio signals in the 900 MHz band for monitoring an audio signal from a remote location, said device comprising:

a transmitter unit having a housing defining a transmitter cavity therein;

a transducer mounted to said housing for converting the audio signal to an electric signal;

a transmitter circuit disposed in said transmitter cavity, said circuit including,

an amplifier component connected to said transducer for amplifying said electric signal; and

a frequency modulator component having a carrier frequency within the range of 900 to 928 MHz, said carrier frequency being modulated by said amplified electric signal for generating a modulated electric signal;

a transmitter antenna connected to said modulator for radiating said modulated electric signal;

a receiver unit having a housing defining a receiver cavity therein and a pair of terminals directly connected to a power source having a predetermined unregulated DC output voltage;

a receiver antenna mounted to said housing for receiving said radiated modulated electric signal;

a receiver circuit disposed in said receiver cavity and connected to said pair of terminals, said receiver circuit including,

a downconverter stage connected to said receiver antenna for converting said modulated electric signal to a second modulated signal having a frequency less than said carrier frequency, said second modulated signal containing frequency components representative of said electric signal generated by said transducer; and

a demodulator connected to said downconverter stage for demodulating said second modulated signal to obtain said electric signal; and

a speaker for converting said electric signal to said audio signal;

wherein said downconverter stage and said demodulator of said receiver circuit are driven by a voltage substantially equal to said unregulated predetermined DC output voltage so that one of a voltage regulator, voltage step-up converter and voltage step-down converter is not required for receiver circuit operation.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said transmitter circuit further comprises a phase lock loop connected between the output and input of said frequency modulator component for comparing a portion of said modulated electric signal with a reference signal for providing frequency adjustment of the modulated electric signal.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said transmitter circuit further comprises means for reducing the amplitude of said electric signal if said amplitude exceeds a threshold value.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a second downconverter stage connected between said first downconverter stage and said demodulator for reducing the intermediate frequency of said second modulated signal to a second intermediate frequency.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said transmitter housing has a second pair of terminals directly connected to a power source having a second predetermined DC output voltage and wherein said transmitter circuit components are powered by a voltage substantially equal to said second predetermined voltage.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said receiver circuit further comprises visual indicator means for indicating detection of said received modulated signal by said receiver antenna.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein said transmitter unit transmits a test signal having a predetermined strength and wherein said receiver unit further comprises an indicator alarm for determining if the strength of the received test signal is below the predetermined strength, thereby indicating that the receiver unit is out-of-range of the transmitter unit.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said first predetermined voltage is less than 3.5 volts and wherein said second predetermined voltage is less than 3.5 volts.

18. A low power communication device for transmitting and receiving frequency modulated radio signals in the 900 MHz band for monitoring an audio signal from a remote location, said device comprising:

a transmitter unit having a housing defining a transmitter cavity therein and a first pair of terminals directly connected to a power source having a first unregulated predetermined DC output voltage;

a transducer mounted to said housing for converting the audio signal to an electric signal;

a transmitter circuit disposed in said transmitter cavity and connected to said first pair of terminals, said circuit including,

an amplifier component connected to said transducer for amplifying said electric signal; and

a frequency modulator component having a carrier frequency within the range of 900 to 928 MHz, said carrier frequency being modulated by said amplified electric signal for generating a modulated electric signal;

a transmitter antenna connected to said modulator for radiating said modulated electric signal;

wherein said components of said transmitter circuit are powered by a voltage substantially equal to said first unregulated predetermined DC output voltage so that one of a voltage regulator, voltage step-up converter and voltage step-down converter is not required for transmitter circuit operation;

a receiver unit having a housing defining a receiver cavity therein and a second pair of terminals directly connected to a power source having a second unregulated predetermined DC output voltage;

a receiver antenna mounted to said housing for receiving said radiated modulated electric signal;

a receiver circuit disposed in said receiver cavity and connected to said second pair of terminals, said receiver circuit including,

a downconverter stage connected to said receiver antenna for converting said modulated electric signal to a second modulated signal having a frequency less than said carrier frequency, said second modulated signal containing frequency components representative of said electric signal generated by said transducer; and

a demodulator connected to said downconverter stage for demodulating said second modulated signal to obtain said electric signal; and

a speaker for converting said electric signal to said audio signal;

wherein said downconverter stage and said demodulator of said receiver circuit are powered by a voltage substantially equal to said second unregulated predetermined DC output voltage so that one of a voltage regulator, voltage step-up converter and voltage step-down converter is not required for receiver circuit operation.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said transmitter circuit further comprises a phase lock loop connected between the output and input of said frequency modulator component for comparing a portion of said modulated electric signal with a reference signal for providing frequency adjustment of the modulated electric signal.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein said transmitter circuit further comprises means for reducing the amplitude of said electric signal if said amplitude exceeds a threshold value.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein said transmitter circuit further comprises mean for reducing the amplitude of said electric signal if said amplitude exceeds a threshold value.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a second downconverter stage connected between said first downconverter stage and said demodulator for reducing the intermediate frequency of said second modulated signal to a second intermediate frequency.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said receiver circuit further comprises visual indicator means for indicating detection of said received modulated signal by said receiver antenna.

24. The device of claim 18, wherein said transmitter unit transmits a test signal having a predetermined strength and wherein said receiver unit further comprises an indicator alarm for determining if the strength of the received test signal is below the predetermined strength, thereby indicating that the receiver unit is out-of-range of the transmitter unit.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said first predetermined voltage is less than 3.5 volts and wherein said second predetermined voltage is less than 3.5 volts.