Time division multiplexed access method of operating a near field communication system and a near field communication system operating the same

• US 9,357,316 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Aerts, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrews, III, Hoyet H
• Application Number:
  US13/310,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20120140761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/00 Details of deaf aids covered by H04R25/00, not provided for in any of its subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/51 Aspects of antennas or their circuitry in or for hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/552 Binaural
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/554 using a wireless connection, e.g. between microphone and amplifier or using Tcoils

Abstract

A TDMA method of operating a near-field communication system, in which the same synchronous slot is allocated to more than one, non-interfering, transmitters, is disclosed. The power level may be adjusted to minimize interference from unwanted transmitted signals at respective receivers. A near-field communication system operating such a method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a near-field communication system comprising a first transmitter, a second transmitter and a binaural hearing aid system comprising a left receiver and a right receiver, according to a time division multiplexed access arrangement wherein a time division multiplexed access frame comprises at least a first synchronous channel slot, wherein a distance between each of the first transmitter and the second transmitter and an opposite receiver is greater than a distance between the left receiver and the right receiver, the method comprising:

transmitting a left signal from the first transmitter during the first synchronous channel slot,

transmitting a right signal from the second transmitter during the first synchronous channel slot,

receiving the left signal by the left receiver, and

receiving the right signal by the right receiver,

wherein the time division multiplexed access frame further comprises a random channel slot for concurrent transmission from the first and second transmitters, the method further comprising transmitting a control signal from one of the first and second transmitters during the random channel slot.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is transmitted during the random channel slot at a higher power level than at least one of the left signal from the first transmitter and the right signal from the second transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising measuring a signal strength of one of the left and right signals and requesting the first transmitter or the second transmitter to adjust a transmission energy based on the measured signal strength.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second transmitters are built into a pair of glasses.

5. A near field communication system comprising a first transmitter, a second transmitter and a binaural hearing aid system comprising a left receiver and a right receiver and configured to operate according to a time division multiplexed access arrangement wherein a time division multiplexed access frame comprises at least a first synchronous channel slot, wherein a distance between each of the first transmitter and the second transmitter and an opposite receiver is greater than a distance between the left receiver and the right receiver,

the first transmitter being configured to transmit a first data signal during the first synchronous channel slot, and

the second transmitter being configured to transmit a second data signal during the first synchronous channel slot,

wherein the time division multiplexed access frame further comprises a random channel slot, and one of the first and second transmitters is configured to transmit a control signal during the random channel slot.

6. The near field communication system according to claim 5, wherein the control signal is transmitted during the random channel slot at a higher power level than at least one of the first data signal from the first transmitter and the second data signal from the second transmitter.

7. The near field communication system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second transmitters each either comprise a part of or are mounted on a pair of glasses.

8. The near field communication system according to claim 5, wherein one of the left and right receivers is configured to measure a signal strength of the left signal or the right signal and requesting the first transmitter or the second transmitter to adjust a transmission energy based on the measured signal strength.

9. The near field communication system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second transmitters are built into a pair of glasses.