Patent Application
20140085152
The present application relates to communication between stationary and portable communication devices, each device comprising an antenna for establishing a wireless link to the other device, the stationary device comprising e.g. an audio delivery device for transmitting an audio signal to the portable communication device comprising e.g. a listening device, such as an assistive listening device, e.g. a hearing aid, or a portable device in communication with a hearing aid. The application furthermore relates to a communication system.
Embodiments of the disclosure may e.g. be useful in applications such as hearing aids, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, handsfree telephone systems, mobile telephones, and accessories to such devices.
The following account of the prior art relates to one of the areas of application of the present application, wireless assistive listening devices (ALD).
Wireless communication between electronic devices (including body worn devices) is becoming increasingly common. Due to the relative mobility of the devices which are to wirelessly communicate with each other and to size and power restrictions in body worn devices, the implementation of such communication systems may impose significant challenges on system design. The mobility of transmitter and receiver relative to each other poses restrictions on orientation and/or polarization (the orientation of the electric field relative to the surface of the earth) of the involved antennas.
In general, the polarization of the transmitting and receiving antennas should preferably match each other. For body worn or ear level, battery driven wireless Assistive Listening Devices (ALD), an antenna with a vertical polarization pattern is preferred in comparison to an antenna with horizontal polarization, as the latter will have dead angles with respect to radiated power depending on the position between a transmitter/receiver (e.g. a stationary audio delivery device) and a receiver/transmitter (e.g. a portable audio receiving device). In general, a loop antenna is not easy to realize with the bandwidth needed—and antenna matching is also difficult with such antenna.
To avoid dead angles between a stationary ALD, e.g. an audio delivery device transmitting sound from a TV or a stationary telephone, to a portable, body worn or ear level, battery driven ALD, the stationary device should likewise be provided with an antenna with vertical polarization. However, since the form factor (e.g. height restrictions) is important for such stationary devices, they are typically either equipped with
1: An internal antenna with horizontal polarization, or
2: An external antenna, e.g. a ¼ wave or ½ wave monopole or dipole.
The latter does not always comply with an aesthetic design expression, i.e. the first solution is very often chosen at the cost of reduced wireless robustness (link quality).
An object of the present application is to provide a stationary communication device with an antenna that facilitates wireless communication to a portable communication device.
Objects of the application are achieved by the invention described in the accompanying claims and as described in the following.
A Stationary Communication Device:
The solution is the provision of an antenna with a small height and vertical polarization that can be implemented in a stationary communication device (e.g. an ALD) without comprising the physical design expression of the communication device (such physical design being often restricted in its height, i.e. it dimension in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the earth, termed a ‘vertical direction’).
In an aspect of the present application, an object of the application is achieved by a stationary communication device comprising a housing and an antenna and a transceiver unit operationally coupled to the antenna, the housing being adapted for assuming a specific orientation relative to the surface of the earth when placed in an operational state, wherein the antenna is vertically polarized. It is assumed that the antenna is vertically polarized, when the stationary communication device is placed in an operational state.
An advantage of the disclosure is that a stationary wireless communication device with a small height can be implemented. A further advantage is that such stationary device is suitable for communicating with (relatively small) portable communication devices (e.g. hearing assistance devices), which typically comprise vertically polarized antennas.
The term ‘a stationary device’ is in the present context taken to mean a device that—during normal operation of the device—is configured to be located at a fixed position, e.g. at a table or in a shelf or attached to a wall (as opposed to a mobile device that is configured to be moved around (e.g. carried by a person) during its normal operation). A stationary device in the present context rests on or at a supporting structure and has a fixed orientation in space (e.g. in that its geometric center has fixed coordinates in an Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) coordinate system). Typically a stationary device is not subject to other forces than the force of gravity and the force from a supporting structure opposing and cancelling out the force of gravity (to leave the stationary device in a resting position).
The housing is a hollow enclosure wherein a number of functional components of the stationary communication device are located. The housing comprises outer walls that together constitute the hollow enclosure. Each outer wall comprises an inner surface facing the volume enclosed by the housing and an outer surface facing the environment of the housing (and stationary communication device). In an embodiment, the housing comprises an outer wall having a plane outer and/or inner surface.
The term ‘plane’ or ‘plane surface’ is in the present context taken to mean ‘plane’ on a macroscopic scale, e.g. to allow for production tolerances. Plane is e.g. used to indicate the opposite of or a difference to ‘curved’.
The term ‘the housing being adapted for assuming a specific orientation relative to the surface of the earth when placed in an operational state’ is in the present context taken to mean that the housing is configured to rest in a fixed position relative the surface of the earth (so that a plane surface of the housing (or of a component of the housing, e.g. the antenna) has a predefined and stationary orientation relative to a horizontal plane (e.g. is parallel to the horizontal plane or describe a specific angle with the horizontal plane). A horizontal plane at a given location on the surface of the earth is defined by the force of gravity, a horizontal plane being perpendicular to the force of gravity at that location. The term ‘the housing being . . . placed in an operational state’ is in the present context taken to mean that the housing (and thus the stationary communication device) is placed at a position where it is intended to stay during operation of the stationary communication device.
The housing of the stationary communication device encloses the antenna and the transceiver, and possibly other functional components of the device. In an embodiment, the antenna is fixed relative to the housing (e.g. fastened to a substrate that is fixed in the housing). Hence, in such embodiment, the antenna has a fixed orientation relative to the housing. Alternatively, the antenna (or a substrate to which the antenna is fixed) may be floatingly (e.g. pivotally or gyroscopically) arranged in the housing, e.g. to allow the antenna (in particular a plane surface of the antenna) to remain in a fixed orientation relative to the force of gravity of the earth (at the location of the stationary communication device). In an embodiment, the antenna (or a carrier on which it is mounted) is floatingly arranged in the housing to provide that a planar surface of the antenna remains horizontal (even if the housing/communication device is placed in an orientation that deviates from its intended orientation (within certain limits; e.g. within +/−a predefined angle, e.g. within +/−10°, such as within +/−20°).
Preferably, the stationary communication device is placed at a position (e.g. on a shelf or on a table or hanging on a wall or on another (fixedly located) device or supporting element) that is fixed during normal operation of the stationary communication device and provides a predefined (fixed) orientation of the (housing of the) device (and thus the antenna) relative to a horizontal plane (or the surface of the earth). The antenna is configured to be vertically polarized (relative to a horizontal plane/the surface of the earth) when the stationary communication device is placed at a position providing said predefined orientation of the (housing of the) device.
In an embodiment, the antenna is substantially planar in that it comprises one plane surface comprising an electrically conductive material that contributes to reception and/or transmission of electromagnetic radiation. In an embodiment, the electrically conductive material comprises Fe, NI, or Cu, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the material comprises Cu plated with Ni and/or Sn.
In an embodiment, the antenna is an annular slot antenna. In an embodiment, the annular slot antenna is made on a substrate, e.g. a printed circuit board, comprising metalized area with an annular slot, the metalized area being supported by an electrically insulating layer or substrate.
In an embodiment, the antenna is a circular patch antenna. In an embodiment, the circular patch antenna is made from a foil or plate of a solid electrically conductive (e.g. metallic) material. In an embodiment, the circular patch antenna comprises a radial slot. Alternatively, the antenna may be a solid disc without any perforations. In an embodiment, the radial slot extends radially from the centre of the circular patch and is generated by making a partial cut-out fixed at the centre of the circular patch and bent 90° to constitute or contribute to a centre pole for electrically feeding the antenna. In an embodiment, the radial slot is generated by (partially) punching (or cutting, e.g. by a laser) out the material that generates the slot when the material is bent out from the plane surface of the circular patch antenna. Alternatively, a separate feeding pole may be attached to the circular disc by typical means, e.g. soldering, welding, (e.g. electrically conductive) adhesive material, etc. Preferably, the feeding pole is adapted for being electrically connected to a substrate, e.g. a printed circuit board, e.g. by soldering. In an embodiment, the substrate comprises other components of the stationary communication device, e.g. the transceiver unit, and corresponding conductors allowing an appropriate mutual electrical connection of said components, including the antenna and the transceiver unit. In an embodiment, the radial slot extends radially from the centre of the circular patch without intersecting the perimeter of the circular patch.
In an embodiment, the antenna is mounted in the housing to have its plane surface horizontally oriented when the communication device is in an operational state. In an embodiment, the housing comprises a bottom wall adapted to be placed horizontally when the communication device is in an operational state. In an embodiment, the antenna is mounted to have its plane surface parallel to said bottom wall of the housing.
In an embodiment, the housing has maximum dimensions HSD (height) and W (width) in at least two perpendicular directions, respectively, here termed vertical and horizontal and intended to indicate directions perpendicular and parallel to the surface of the earth, respectively, when the stationary communication device is located in a normal operational state. In an embodiment, the ratio of the width to height of the housing is larger than 1, such as larger than 2, such as larger than 5, such as larger than 10. In an embodiment, the housing has at least one substantially plane face. In an embodiment, the housing has at least two substantially plane opposing faces, substantially extending in horizontal planes, when the stationary communication device is located in a normal operational state. In an embodiment, the housing has a substantially constant height HSD. In an embodiment, the housing has a polygonal (e.g. rectangular, such as square) or elliptical (e.g. circular) form, when viewed in a horizontal cross section.
In an embodiment, the housing comprises one or more support elements. In an embodiment, the support element(s) comprises leg(s) or other structure(s) suitable for allowing the housing to assume a predetermined orientation (e.g. relative to a horizontal plane). In an embodiment, the support element(s) comprises rubber or other slip-resistant material. In an embodiment, the support element(s) form part of fastening element(s) configured to allow a stable placement of the stationary communication device on or at a support structure (e.g. on a table or on a shelf or on or at a larger device, or at a wall, etc.).
In general, the height Hant of the feeding pin may vary considerably in various embodiments of the antenna, e.g. adapted to the specific implementation. In general, the height Hant of the feeding pin providing a separation of the circular patch antenna from a substrate whereon the antenna is mounted is smaller than the maximum height HSD of the housing. In an embodiment, the ratio of the diameter Dant of the circular patch to the height Hant of the feeding pin is in the range from 2 to 5, preferably in the range from 2.5 to 3.5.
In general, the dimensions indicated should be related to a wavelength of the operating frequency of the antenna. The relationship between wavelength (λ) and frequency (f) is λ=c/f, where c is the speed of light (c=3*108 m/s in vacuum). In an embodiment, the height of the feeding pin is in the range from 10-15 mm. For a frequency of f=2.4 GHz, the wavelength λ is 125 mm. The preferred range 10-15 mm (at 2.4 GHz) may thus be indicated as 0.08-0.12, relative to the wavelength. The preferred range at 5.8 GHz is thus 5 mm-7.5 mm. In other words, it decreases linearly with increasing frequency.
In an embodiment, the transceiver unit and antenna are adapted for establishing a wireless link transmitting signals in a frequency range above 300 MHz, e.g. in the 900 MHz range or in the 2.4 GHz range or in the 5.8 GHz range. Preferably, the wireless link is an audio link specifically adapted to transmit an audio signal, preferably including embedded control and/or status signals. In an embodiment, the transceiver unit comprises an audio codec-unit adapted for coding and decoding the transmitted and received signal, respectively, according to an audio codec (for compression and decompression, respectively, of a digital audio stream). Such audio codec may comprise any standardized or proprietary algorithm, such as G.722, G. 726, CVSD, MP3 or SBC. In an embodiment, the transceiver unit comprises a wireless interface adapted for implementing a standardized or proprietary scheme for data exchange. In an embodiment, the scheme for data exchange is optimized for short range data exchange. Examples of such standardized schemes are Bluetooth (e.g. Bluetooth Low Energy), DECT, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11), ZigBee, NFC, RuBee, etc. Alternatively, proprietary schemes may be used. ‘Short range’ is in the present context taken to mean less than 100 m, e.g. less than 50 m, such as less than 20 m, such as less than 10 m.
In an embodiment, the stationary communication device is adapted for transmitting an audio signal from an entertainment device or a telephone device or a computer. In an embodiment, the stationary communication device is integrated with said entertainment device or telephone device or computer. In an embodiment, the entertainment device or telephone device or computer comprises a display for showing images accompanying said audio signal (e.g. as embodied in a TV or a PC or a combination thereof). In an embodiment, the telephone device comprises a stationary telephone or is embodied in a computer, e.g. a PC.
In general, the dimensions of the antenna are adapted to the transmission range of the antenna (and possibly to the power budget for the transceiver unit). In an embodiment the circular patch antenna has a diameter of 35 mm (at 2.4 GHz). In an embodiment the circular patch antenna has a slot width of 2.5 mm. In an embodiment the circular patch antenna has a slot length of 12.8 mm. In an embodiment the circular patch antenna is made of a sheet metal, e.g. steel or iron, of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm thickness. In an embodiment, such antenna is adapted for transmission and/or reception in the GHz range, e.g. around 2.4 GHz or 5.8 GHz. Dimensions given for f=2.4 GHz are preferably scaled to other frequencies as indicated above.
In an embodiment, the stationary communication device has a wired connection to a source of energy, e.g. to the mains power supply.
Alternatively, it may comprise a wireless connection to a power supply or a local energy source, e.g. a battery, e.g. a rechargeable battery.
In general, the wireless link established by the antenna and transceiver circuitry of the communication device can be of any type. In an embodiment, the wireless link is used under power constraints, e.g. in that the stationary communication device (or a device with which it communicates) is a portable (typically battery driven) device. In an embodiment, the wireless link is based on far-field, electromagnetic radiation. In an embodiment, the communication via the wireless link is arranged according to a specific modulation scheme, e.g. an analogue modulation scheme, such as FM (frequency modulation) or AM (amplitude modulation) or PM (phase modulation), or a digital modulation scheme, such as ASK (amplitude shift keying), e.g. On-Off keying, FSK (frequency shift keying), PSK (phase shift keying) or QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation).
Preferably, communication between the stationary communication device and the other device (e.g. a portable communication device) is based on some sort of modulation at frequencies above 100 kHz. Preferably, frequencies used to establish communication between the stationary communication device and the other device is below 70 GHz, e.g. around 60 GHz, e.g. located in a range from 50 MHz to 70 GHz, e.g. above 300 MHz, e.g. in an ISM range above 300 MHz, e.g. in the 900 MHz range or in the 2.4 GHz range, or in the 5.8 GHz range or in the 60 GHz range.
In an embodiment, the stationary communication device and/or the device with which it communicates comprises an electrically small antenna. An ‘electrically small antenna’ is in the present context taken to mean that the spatial extension of the antenna (e.g. the maximum physical dimension in any direction) is much smaller than the wavelength λTx of the transmitted electric signal. In an embodiment, the spatial extension of the antenna is a factor of 10, or 50 or 100 or more, or a factor of 1 000 or more, smaller than the carrier wavelength λTx of the transmitted signal. In an embodiment, the stationary communication device and/or the device with which it communicates comprises is a relatively small device. The term ‘a relatively small device’ is in the present context taken to mean a device whose maximum physical dimension (and thus of an antenna for providing a wireless interface to the device) is smaller than 15 cm, such as smaller than 10 cm, such as smaller than 5 cm. In an embodiment ‘a relatively small device’ is a device whose maximum physical dimension is much smaller (e.g. more than 3 times, such as more than 10 times smaller, such as more than 20 times small) than the operating wavelength of a wireless interface to which the antenna is intended. In an embodiment, the stationary communication device and/or the device with which it communicates has a maximum outer dimension of the order of 0.15 m (e.g. an audio delivery device or a handheld mobile telephone, respectively). In an embodiment, the stationary communication device and/or the device with which it communicates has a maximum outer dimension of the order of 0.08 m (e.g. telephone adaptor device or a head set, respectively). In an embodiment, the stationary communication device and/or the device with which it communicates has a maximum outer dimension of the order of 0.04 m (e.g. a hearing instrument).
In an embodiment, the stationary communication device and/or the device with which it communicates is a low power device. The term ‘low power device’ is in the present context taken to mean a device whose energy budget is restricted, e.g. because it is a portable device, e.g. comprising an energy source (e.g. of limited size, e.g. with a maximum capacity of 1000 mAh, such as 500 mAh), which—without being exchanged or recharged—is of limited duration (the limited duration being e.g. of the order of hours or days, e.g. max. 1 or 3 or 7 or 10 days (during normal operation of the device), such duration being limited compared to the expected life time of the device).
Use:
In an aspect, use of a stationary communication device as described above, in the ‘detailed description of embodiments’ and in the claims, is moreover provided. In an embodiment, use is provided in a system comprising audio distribution, e.g. a system comprising transmission of audio from a stationary device to a mobile (listening) device. In an embodiment, use is provided in a system comprising a stationary communication device and one or more hearing instruments, headsets, ear phones, active ear protection systems, etc., e.g. in a handsfree telephone system, a teleconferencing system, a public address system, a karaoke system, a classroom amplification system, etc.
A Communication System:
In a further aspect, a communication system comprising a stationary communication device as described above, in the ‘detailed description of embodiments’, and in the claims, AND a portable communication device is moreover provided by the present application. The communication system is adapted to establish a wireless communication link between the stationary communication device and the portable communication device to provide that information can be exchanged between them or forwarded from one to the other, and wherein the wireless communication link is established in the stationary communication device using the transceiver unit and the antenna (as described above in connection with stationary communication device).
In an embodiment, the system is adapted to provide that information may comprise control, status signals, and possibly audio signals. In an embodiment, the wireless communication link is configured to at least allow the transmission of audio signals from the stationary communication device to the portable communication device.
In an embodiment, the portable communication device is or comprises an audio gateway device adapted for receiving a multitude of audio signals (e.g. from an entertainment device, e.g. a TV or a music player, a telephone apparatus, e.g. a mobile telephone (e.g. a SmartPhone) or a computer, e.g. a PC) and adapted for selecting and/or combining an appropriate one of the received audio signals (or combination of signals) for transmission to another portable communication device (e.g. a listening device (e.g. an assistive listening device), such as a hearing instrument). In an embodiment, the portable communication device is or comprises a remote control device for controlling functionality and operation of another portable or stationary communication device, e.g. one or more listening device(s), such as hearing instruments and/or a stationary device according to the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the function of a remote control is implemented in a SmartPhone, the SmartPhone possibly running an APP allowing to control the functionality of the other portable or stationary communication device (and/or a stationary device according to the present disclure) via the SmartPhone. In an embodiment, the portable communication device is or comprises a listening device, e.g. a hearing instrument, e.g. a hearing instrument adapted for being located at the ear or fully or partially in the ear canal of a user. In an embodiment, the portable communication device is or comprises a headset, an earphone, an ear protection device or a combination thereof.
In an embodiment, the portable communication device comprises an antenna, which is configured to be vertically polarized (to provide that the polarization of the transmitting and receiving antennas match each other).
In an embodiment, the communication system comprises two listening devices adapted to implement a binaural listening system, e.g. a binaural hearing aid system.
In an embodiment, the portable communication device is adapted to provide a frequency dependent gain to compensate for a hearing loss of a user. In an embodiment, the portable communication device comprises a signal processing unit for enhancing the input signals and providing a processed output signal.
In an embodiment, the portable communication device comprises an output transducer for converting an electric signal to a stimulus perceived by the user as an acoustic signal. In an embodiment, the output transducer comprises a number of electrodes of a cochlear implant or a vibrator of a bone conducting hearing device. In an embodiment, the output transducer comprises a receiver (speaker) for providing the stimulus as an acoustic signal to the user.
In an embodiment, the portable communication device comprises an input transducer for converting an input sound to an electric input signal.
In an embodiment, the portable communication device comprises an antenna and transceiver circuitry for wirelessly receiving a direct electric input signal from another device, e.g. the stationary communication device or another portable communication device. In an embodiment, the direct electric input signal represents or comprises an audio signal and/or a control signal and/or an information signal. In an embodiment, the portable communication device comprises demodulation circuitry for demodulating the received direct electric input to provide the direct electric input signal representing an audio signal and/or a control signal e.g. for setting an operational parameter (e.g. volume) and/or a processing parameter of the portable communication device.
Further objects of the application are achieved by the embodiments defined in the dependent claims and in the detailed description of the invention.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning “at least one”), unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present, unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, “connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless expressly stated otherwise.
The disclosure will be explained more fully below in connection with a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings in which:
The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details which are essential to the understanding of the disclosure, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts.
Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only. Other embodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.
Body worn communication devices (e.g. listening devices, e.g. hearing aids) typically comprise vertically polarized antennas. It is therefore advantageous that stationary communication devices (e.g. an audio delivery device) adapted for communication with such body worn devices contain an antenna providing a vertically polarized E-field. Prior art stationary communication devices have typically used an external monopole antenna.
The stationary communication device 1 is here embodied in an adapter for a fixed line (‘landline’) telephone apparatus to enable its wireless connectivity to a listening device, e.g. via a body worn audio gateway (cf. device 2 in
The substrate 14 of
b shows the substrate 14 of
c shows the housing 12 of the stationary communication device 1 (without a top face) illustrating the substrate 14 of
a shows an embodiment of a communication system comprising a TV-set 4 operationally connected to (e.g. physically integrated with) a stationary communication device 1, a portable communication device 2 (in the form of an audio gateway device) and a pair of hearing instruments 3. The stationary and portable communication devices are adapted to establish a wireless transmission link 5 between them. The stationary communication device 1 comprises functional units ADC, DSP, Tx and antenna 11. Analogue to digital converter ADC receives an analogue audio signal Audio from the TV-set 4 and converts it to a digital audio signal (if a digital audio signal Audio is received from the TV-set, the ADC-unit may be omitted). The digital audio signal is fed to a signal processing unit DSP, e.g. for applying a digital compression scheme (audio CODEC) or other signal processing to the digital audio signal. The processed signal is fed to transceiver Tx and antenna 11 for modulation and transmission to the portable communication device 2. The portable communication device 2 comprises an antenna and transceiver unit Rx adapted to receive the transmitted signal from the stationary communication device, and to possibly extract the audio signal. In an embodiment, the wireless transmission link is based on Bluetooth, cf. solid arrow 5 in
The propagation of the acoustic signal (e.g. identical to the one transmitted via links 5 and 6) from a loud speaker of the TV-set to the hearing aid(s) is indicated by the arcs denoted Acoustic signal in
b shows an embodiment of a communication system comprising a TV-set 4 operationally connected to (e.g. physically integrated with) a stationary communication device 1 (as described in connection with
The invention is defined by the features of the independent claim(s). Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. Any reference numerals in the claims are intended to be non-limiting for their scope.
Some preferred embodiments have been shown in the foregoing, but it should be stressed that the invention is not limited to these, but may be embodied in other ways within the subject-matter defined in the following claims and equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12185623.1 | Sep 2012 | EP | regional |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61704575 | Sep 2012 | US |
