Apparatus and method for generating coded high-frequency signals

• US 6,747,573 B1
• Filed: 08/12/1999
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Original Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Inventors: Schmidt, Frank, Scholl, Gerd, Ostertag, Thomas, Gerlach, Horst, Kammerl, Franz, Bulst, Wolf-Eckhart
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US09/367,429
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.21, 340/870.16, 340/825.72, 340/870.3, 340/870.33, 455/127
• US Class Current: 340/870.21
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/18 producing electrical output from mechanical input, e.g. generators for measurement devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 15/10 Thermoelectric devices using thermal change of the dielectric constant, e.g. working above and below the Curie point

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating coded high-frequency signals, having a converter, which converts non-electrical primary energy available from the surroundings into electrical energy, an element with a nonlinear characteristic curve, which is coupled to the converter, and a coding device coupled to the element with a nonlinear characteristic curve.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals, comprising:

a converter for converting a non-electrical primary energy into low-frequency electrical energy;

an element with a non-linear characteristic curve having a behavior that changes abruptly as a function of applied voltage starting from at least one of a specific limit value and a limit range, the element thereby generating a current pulse with a steep edge which corresponds to a high-frequency signal, the element thereby converting the low-frequency electrical energy into high-frequency electrical energy in the form of the high-frequency signal;

a coding device for generating a coded signal from the high-frequency signal; and

a filter for selecting a narrow signal from the high-frequency electrical energy, the filter being connected between the element and the coding device.

2. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coding device is sensitive with respect to at least one ambient parameter, such that an information item concerning at least one of the nature and size of the ambient parameter is impressed on the coded signal.

3. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter is a radiation-sensitive component for one of IR, visible light and UV.

4. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coding device carries out pulse compression for the purpose of transmitting the coded signal in a manner immune to interference.

5. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of a dielectric filter, a mechanical filter, a ceramic filter, a coaxial ceramic filter, a bulk oscillator and an LC filter is provided as the filter.

6. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna coupled to the filter for emitting the coded signal and for driving a receiving device.

7. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus functions as a switch for an electrical apparatus that is switchable.

8. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus functions as a switch for an electrical apparatus that is responsive by radio.

9. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus functions to transmit coded radio signals specific to a transmitter of a monitoring device.

10. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus functions as an active sensor, without an additional power supply, for an ambient parameter with wire free data communication.

11. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter converts a mechanical primary energy into electrical energy.

12. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 11, wherein the converter is a piezoelectric element having a magnet and an electrical coil for generating electrostatic charge.

13. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter converts thermal primary energy with a temporal or local gradient into electrical energy.

14. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 13, wherein the converter is one of a pyroelectric element and a thermoelement.

15. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein a discharge element is provided as the element with a non-linear characteristic curve.

16. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of a spark gap and a gas discharge tube is provided as the discharge element.

17. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein a semiconductor component which exhibits a rapid change in resistance at a limiting voltage is provided as the element with a non-linear characteristic curve.

18. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 17, wherein one of a diode operating at reverse breakdown, a varactor diode, an avalanche semiconductor element and a thyristor is provided as the element.

19. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein a relay is provided as the element with a non-linear characteristic curve.

20. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 19, wherein the relay is one of a silicon microrelay and a relay with a piezoelectric reed.

21. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electroacoustic transducer is provided as the filter.

22. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 21, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is designed as one of an SW arrangement and an arrangement operating with shear waves or with waves near the surface.

23. An apparatus for generating coded high-frequency signals as claimed in claim 22, wherein the SW arrangement is one of a resonator arrangement, a delay line, a dispersive delay line and a tapped delay line.

24. A method for generating coded high-frequency radio signals, the method comprising the steps of:

converting a non-electrical primary energy into low-frequency electrical energy;

converting the low-frequency electrical energy into high-frequency electrical energy via an element with a non-linear characteristic curve, the element having a behavior that changes abruptly as a function of applied voltage starting from at least one of a specific limit value and a limit range to thereby generate a current pulse with a steep edge which corresponds to a high-frequency signal;

filtering, if appropriate, a narrow band high-frequency signal out from a broader-band high-frequency energy; and

impressing a coding on the narrow band high-frequency signal.

25. A method for generating coded high-frequency radio signals as claimed in claim 24, wherein a coding device which is sensitive to at least one ambient parameter is used for generating the coding of the narrow band high-frequency signal as a function of at least one of the nature and the size of the ambient parameter.

26. A method for generating coded high-frequency radio signals as claimed in claim 24, wherein an ambient parameter that acts on the coding device is one of a force, a pressure, a temperature, a radiation, a sudden impedance change, a nature and concentration of at least one of gases, liquids, vapors, chemical and biological substances, such that a coding of the narrow band high-frequency signal that is dependent on the ambient parameter is generated.