Directional wireless communication systems

• US 7,269,452 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass, Cheung, Kwok Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US10/826,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20050009583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/575.6, 455/569.1, 455/66.1, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/566, 455/422.1, 455/100, 455/344, 455/41.2, 381/381, 381/312, 381/315
• US Class Current: 455/575.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/19 Arrangements of transmitters, receivers, or complete sets to prevent eavesdropping, to attenuate local noise or to prevent undesired transmission; Mouthpieces or receivers specially adapted therefor circuit arrangements for preventing eavesdropping H04M1/68; telephone cabinets E04H1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/605 involving control of the receiver volume to provide a dual operational mode at close or far distance from the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2217/03 Parametric transducers where sound is generated or captured by the acoustic demodulation of amplitude modulated ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/405 by combining a plurality of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 1/00 Two-channel systems H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

A wireless communication system based on a directional speaker is disclosed. The system can include an interface unit and a base unit. The audio signals from the speaker can be generated by transforming ultrasonic signals in air. This allows the production of directional audio signals even when the aperture of the speaker has dimensions in the order of a few centimeters. The audio signals from the speaker can be heard hands-free. Further, privacy protection is enhanced. In one embodiment, the interface unit can be attached or integrated to a piece of clothing at the shoulder of the user, with the audio signals from the speaker directed towards one of the user'"'"'s ears. The wireless communication system can be applied to a number of different areas, including a communication device, such as a cell phone; a hearing aid; an entertainment system; and a computation system, such as a personal digital assistant or a computer. The wireless communication system can be personalized to the hearing characteristics of the user, or to the ambient noise level of the environment.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for a being, comprising:

a directional speaker attachable to a piece of clothing worn by the being;

a microphone; and

a base unit coupled to both the speaker and the microphone to allow the being to use the system to communicate wirelessly with another communication device,

wherein signals emitted from the speaker can be directed towards at least one ear of the being from the worn position of the speaker,

wherein the directional speaker generates ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into audio signals,

wherein the directional speaker is configured to be attached to a portion of the piece of clothing, and to be intentionally spaced apart from the ears of the being, so that at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals is transformed into the audio signals via at least a portion of the medium in the space between the directional speaker and at least one of the ears of the being, and

wherein the signals are directional to allow communication with enhanced privacy.

2. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a power source that is at least partially integrated in the piece of clothing.

3. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the system includes another mode of operation that generates audio signals directly from the speaker.

4. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the speaker is selected from a group including:

a device with a piezoelectric thin film, a device with a bimorph and a device with a magnetic transducer.

5. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the speaker and the microphone are integrated with the clothing.

6. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the speaker and the microphone couple to the base unit wirelessly.

7. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 further includes an indicator for providing an indication that the system is being used to communicate wirelessly with the another communication device.

8. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 further comprising another directional speaker attachable to the clothing with the two speakers creating stereo effects.

9. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the speaker, the microphone and the base unit are integrated into one package, which is attachable to the clothing.

10. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein

the base unit includes a display;

and

the base unit includes capability to allow it to function as a computation device.

11. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the signals can be personalized based on the hearing characteristics of the being.

12. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1 wherein the signals can be personalized based on the sound level in the vicinity of the being.

13. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the directional speaker is configured to be attached to a portion of the piece of clothing that is in the vicinity of one of the shoulders of the user.

14. A wireless communication system for a being, comprising:

a directional speaker attachable to a piece of clothing worn by the being;

a microphone; and

a base unit coupled to both the speaker and the microphone to allow the being to use the system to communicate wirelessly with another communication device,

wherein signals emitted from the sneaker can be directed towards at least one ear of the being from the worn position of the speaker,

wherein the signals are directional to allow communication with enhanced privacy,

wherein the directional speaker generates ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into audio signals,

wherein the system includes another mode of operation that generates audio signals directly from the speaker, and

wherein the another mode of operation is deactivated when the speaker is attached to the clothing.

15. A portable computing system for a user, comprising:

a directional speaker, which generates ultrasonic signals that are transformed to produce audio signals;

a microphone;

a display; and

a computing device coupled to the speaker, the microphone and the display,

wherein the user can use the system to communicate wirelessly with another communication device,

wherein signals emitted from the speaker can be directed towards the user from the position the system is used,

wherein the user can communicate with the another communication device in a hands-free manner,

wherein the system is enabled for data as well as voice communication,

wherein the signals emitted from the speaker are directional to allow communication with enhanced privacy, and

wherein the volume of at least portion of the audio signals is automatically changed depending on the sound level in the vicinity of the system.

16. A wireless communication device,

wherein the improvement comprises a directional speaker that can direct audio signals towards a user,

wherein the directional speaker generates ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into audio signals,

wherein the communication device includes another speaker that directly generates audio signals, without the need to be transformed from ultrasonic signals, and

wherein the communication device can be controlled to switch from generating audio signals by the directional speaker, to generating audio signals by the another speaker.

17. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 16, wherein said wireless communication device is a personal digital assistant, a computer or a mobile telephone.

18. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 16, wherein said directional speaker is configured to be personalized to the user such that at least the volume of a portion of the audio signals is automatically changed depending on at least one hearing characteristic of the user.

19. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 16, wherein said wireless communication device includes a video display.

20. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 16, wherein said directional speaker directs the audio signals to the user'"'"'s ear by emitting ultrasonic signals in a direction substantially parallel to the face of the user.

21. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 16, wherein the audio signals from the directional speaker can be steered.

22. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 16, wherein said directional speaker directs the audio signals to the user'"'"'s ear by a physical horn forming part of said directional speaker.

23. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 16,

wherein said directional speaker directs the audio signal to the user'"'"'s ear by confining the audio signals substantially within a virtual cone having an input end at said directional speaker and an output end at the vicinity of the user'"'"'s ear, and

wherein the diameter of the virtual cone at the output end is less than 6 inches.