KR20010021529A - System for encoded RF and encoded magnetic field communication and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The wireless security system combines encoded RF and encoded magnetic field operations into a base unit device and a remote unit device while overcoming a wireless security device limited to RF operation only or magnetic field operation only. The base unit includes a power supply, a base processing unit, an RF receiver, and a base inductor-capacitor (LC) transceiver. The base processing unit can control the encoded RF and encoded magnetic field operations. The remote unit includes a battery, a remote processing unit, an RF transmitter, a remote magnetic field converter circuit, a manual control unit and an energy storage device. A remote processing unit capable of encoded RF and encoded magnetic field operation is implemented on a single monolithic integrated circuit. The remote unit device can be miniaturized to a relatively small extent such that it can be mounted in a car key, for example. The remote unit device may convert the magnetic field energy into DC electrical energy for the purpose of supplying power to the remote unit device, preserving the battery and recharging the battery.

Description

System for encoded RF and encoded magnetic field communication and method therefor}

This US patent application relates to the following US patent applications: A US patent application entitled “A ROBUST LC FULL-WAVE BRIDGE RECTIFIER INPUT STRUCTURE” was filed on January 15, 1998 by Peter Schieke and filed with this US patent application. Was transferred to the same assignee. The US patent application entitled "A HIGHLY EFFICIENT MULTI-FREQUENCY VOLTAGE REGULATING CIRCUIT INCORPORATING A MAGNETIC FIELD POWER SENSOR AND PROGRAMMABLE MAGNETIC FIELD DETECTION" combines a magnetic field power sensor and a programmable magnetic field It was filed on April 16, 1998 by Peter Schieke and Willem Smit and was assigned to the same assignee as this US patent application. The disclosure of the application referenced above is incorporated herein by reference.

The state of the art will describe transmitters, receivers, and transponder security devices that operate in the radio frequency (RF) spectrum or communicate via magnetic fields. The signal transmitted by the RF device may be encoded for the purpose of improving security by preventing the remaining signals from being transmitted and preventing unauthorized use in succession. Typically, the magnetic field responder operates in a non-encoded mode.

There have been limitations to RF and magnetic field security systems currently embodied as separate, independent systems that are well known to those skilled in the art. The limits include size, weight, operating range and power consumption. To date, wireless security systems have not been able to combine the two technologies in a single device that is capable of both encoded RF and encoded magnetic field operation and is convenient in size and commercially viable in its results. In addition, existing devices have been unable to combine the ability to encode, decode, process, and control both RF and magnetic field operations on a single integrated circuit, even though they can drive RF and magnetic field operations. Therefore, there has been a need to develop a wireless security system capable of encoded RF and encoded magnetic field operations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to wireless safety systems, and more particularly to transmitter, receiver and responder devices capable of encoded operation over a broad electromagnetic spectrum.

1 is a block diagram of the present invention comprising a base unit and a remote unit.

2 is a block diagram of a base processing unit.

3 is a block diagram of a remote processing unit.

4 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic field converter circuit.

It is an object of the present invention to combine RF operation and magnetic field operation into a single wireless security system with encoding capability. The present invention overcomes the limitations of wireless security devices only RF or magnetic fields only.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless security system having a base unit apparatus and a remote unit apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is that a part of a security system having a remote unit device can be miniaturized so that it can be mounted relatively small, for example, in a car key.

Another object of the present invention is that a portion of a security system having a remote unit device may convert magnetic field energy into DC electrical energy for the purpose of supplying power to the remote unit device, conserving battery power and recharging the battery.

Another object of the present invention is to allow a processing unit for a remote unit to run on a single monolithic integrated circuit and to encode and control RF operation and magnetic field operation.

It is another object of the present invention to enable the processing unit for the base unit to encode and decode and control both RF and magnetic field operations.

Another object of the present invention is that the present invention typically operates in the electromagnetic spectrum band of approximately 100 KHz to 100 MHz in magnetic field mode. In RF mode the invention typically operates within the electromagnetic spectrum band of approximately 100 MHz to 500 MHz.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless security system is disclosed, consisting of a base unit and a remote unit, each capable of RF and magnetic field operations. The base unit includes a power supply, a base processing unit, an RF receiver, and a base magnetic field converter circuit. The remote unit includes a battery, a remote processing unit, an RF transmitter, a remote magnetic field converter circuit, a manual control unit and an energy storage device.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more specific description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, a wireless security system 100 is disclosed that is capable of encoded RF and encoded magnetic field communications. The system 100 includes a base unit 110 capable of encoded magnetic field transmission and encoded magnetic field reception and encoded RF reception, and a base unit 110 in communication with the base unit and encoded magnetic field transmission and encoded magnetic field reception. And a remote unit 150 capable of encoded RF transmission.

The present invention does not disclose or claim one or more methods of encoding and decoding data. There have been a number of ways of performing that function known to those skilled in the art. One such method is " Microchips and Remote Control Devices Comprising SAME, " US Pat. No. 5,517,187, entitled "), which is incorporated by reference.

The base unit 110 includes a power supply 115, a base processing unit 120 coupled to the power supply 115, a base magnetic field converter circuit 130 coupled to the base processing unit 120, and the base processing thereof. It consists of an RF receiver 140 coupled to the unit 120.

The power supply 115 may be connected to a commercially available AC power or DC power provided by the host of the base unit 120. The power supply 115 converts or regulates input power to low voltage DC power coupled to the base processing unit 120.

Base processing unit 120 controls both RF and magnetic field operations. The base processing unit 120 sends signals to the base magnetic field converter circuit 130 for the purpose of communicating with the remote unit 150. The base processing unit 120 also receives a signal generated at the remote unit 150 via the base magnetic field converter circuit 130 and the RF receiver 140. The base processing unit 120 may decode the signals received from the remote unit 150 and encode the signals transmitted to the remote unit 150.

The base magnetic field converter circuit 130 is coupled to the base processing unit 120. The base magnetic field converter circuit 130 may generate a magnetic field sensed by the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170. In addition, the base magnetic field converter circuit 130 may detect a relatively weak magnetic field generated by the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170.

The RF receiver 140 receives the RF signals generated by the RF transmitter 180 of the remote unit 150. The RF receiver 140 relays the signals to the base processing unit 120.

The remote unit 150 includes a battery 155, an energy storage device 195 coupled to the battery 155, a remote processing unit 160 coupled to the battery 155, and the energy storage device 195, A remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 coupled to the remote processing unit 160 and indirectly coupled to its battery 155 and energy storage 195, and an RF transmitter 180 coupled to the remote processing unit 160. And a manual control unit 190 coupled to the remote processing unit 160.

The battery 155 and the energy storage device 195 supply low voltage DC energy to the remote processing unit 160, the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170, the RF transmitter 180, and the passive control unit 190. Energy storage 195 is charged by a rectifier-regulator in remote processing unit 160. Energy storage 195, which may be a simple capacitor, may supply DC electrical energy to a device in remote unit 150 that requires power, conserving battery 155 power. If the energy storage device 195 is not charged, the battery 155 supplies power to the device of the remote unit 150. A detailed description of these functions is entitled "A HIGHLY MULTI-FREQUENCY VOLTAGE REGULATING CIRCUIT INCORPORATING A MAGNETIC FIELD POWER SENSOR AND PROGRAMMABLE MAGNETIC FIELD DETECTION" combining a magnetic field power sensor and a programmable magnetic field detection. Is described in the aforementioned US patent application.

The remote processing unit 160 runs on a single monolithic integrated circuit and controls RF and magnetic field operation. The remote processing unit 160 sends signals to the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 for the purpose of communicating with the base unit 120. The remote processing unit 160 also receives signals generated at the base unit 110 via the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170. The remote processing unit 160 may decode the signals received from the base unit 110 and encode the signals transmitted to the base unit 110.

The remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 is coupled to the remote processing unit 160. The remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 may generate a magnetic field sensed by the base magnetic field converter circuit 130. In addition, the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 may detect a magnetic field generated by the base magnetic field converter circuit 130. The remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 transmits signals generated by the remote processing unit 160 and relays the signals received from the base unit 110 to the remote processing unit 160.

The RF transmitter 180 transmits RF signals generated by the remote processing unit 160 to the RF receiver 140 of the base unit 110.

The manual control unit 190 enables manual operation of the remote unit 150. In operation of the manual control unit 190, the remote unit 150 sends a predetermined encoded signal to the base unit 110 via the RF transmitter 180 and / or the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170. Manual control 190 may be embodied in a microswitch, button, or similar device known to those skilled in the art.

Three modes of operation of the wireless security system 100 are disclosed. The first mode is described as a manual control mode. In this mode, manual control 190 is used. The remote unit 150 sends a known and encoded RF signal to the base unit 110 and / or modulates a known and encoded magnetic field. The base unit 110 may recognize the signal by interpreting the signal sent by the remote unit 150 and sending a response to the remote unit 150 or notifying the host system.

The second mode is a passive responder mode. In this mode, the base unit 110 uses the magnetic field intermittently via the base magnetic field converter circuit 130. The remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 senses the presence of an intermittent magnetic field and generates an alarm in the remote processing unit 160. The remote processing unit 160 commands the RF transmitter 180 to send the encoded signal to the base unit 110 and / or the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 to modulate the encoded magnetic field.

The third mode is an active responder mode. In this mode, the base unit 110 signals the remote unit 150 by using the encoded magnetic field via the base magnetic field converter circuit 130. The remote magnetic field converter circuit 170 senses the signal transmitting magnetic field and relays the signal to the base processing unit 160. The base processing unit 160 analyzes the encoded signal sent by the base unit 110 and commands the RF transmitter 180 to send the encoded response to the base unit 110 and / or the remote magnetic field converter circuit 170. To modulate the encoded magnetic field.

In FIG. 2, like numerals represent like elements, and functional components of the base processing unit 120 are disclosed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the base processing unit 120 may include various embodiments in which the functional components described below may be implemented in software or hardware. The base processing unit 120 includes a plurality of I / O ports 210, encoding logic 220 coupled to at least one of the I / O ports 210, and I / O ports ( Decoding logic circuitry 230 coupled to at least one port of 210, at least one port of I / O ports, and base magnetic field converter circuitry coupled to encoding logic circuitry 220 and decoding logic circuitry 230. And an RF serial data receiver 250 coupled to the controller 240 and to at least one of the I / O ports 210 and to the decoding logic 230.

The plurality of I / O ports 210 connects the base processing unit 120 to the remaining components of the base unit 110 (FIG. 1) and to a programming device external to the wireless security system 100 (FIG. 1). do. Each of the plurality of I / O ports 210 may include a specific plurality of control lines. Power and ground references are supplied to the base processing unit 120 via at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 210.

The encoding logic circuit 220 is coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 210. Encoding logic 220 serves to prepare an encoded digital serial bit stream for transmission to remote unit 150 (FIG. 1) via base magnetic field converter circuit controller 240. The encoding logic circuit 220 may be accessed by a programming device external to the wireless security system 100 (FIG. 1) via at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 210.

Decoding logic 230 is coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 210. Decoding logic 230 decodes the encoded digital serial bitstream received from remote unit 150 (FIG. 1) via base magnetic field converter circuit controller 240 or RF serial data receiver 250. The decoding logic 230 may be accessed by a programming device external to the wireless security system 100 (FIG. 1) via at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 210.

The base magnetic field converter circuit controller 240 is coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 210, the decoder logic circuit 230, and the encoder logic circuit 220. The base magnetic field converter circuit controller 240 transmits and receives an encoded magnetic field signal via the base magnetic field converter circuit 130 (FIG. 1).

In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements, and functional components of the base processing unit 160 are disclosed. As mentioned previously, various embodiments may be made in which the remote processing unit 160 may be executed on a single monolithic integrated circuit to execute the functional components described below in software or hardware. The remote processing unit 160 includes a plurality of I / O ports 310, an encoding logic circuit 320 coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 310, and a plurality of I / O ports 310. A remote magnetic field converter circuit controller 340 coupled to at least one of the O ports 310 and the encoding logic circuit 320, and at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 310 and the encoding logic circuit 320. It is provided with an RF serial data transmitter 340 coupled to.

The plurality of I / O ports 310 connects the remote processing unit 120 to the remaining components of the remote unit 150 (FIG. 1) and the programming device external to the wireless security system 100 (FIG. 1). . Similar to the base processing unit 120 (FIG. 2), each of the plurality of I / O ports 310 may include a particular plurality of control lines. The power and ground reference is supplied to the remote processing unit 160 via at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 310.

The encoding logic circuit 320 is coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 310. The encoding logic circuit 320 prepares the encoded digital serial bit stream for transmission to the base unit 110 (FIG. 1) via the remote magnetic field converter circuit controller 340 or the RF serial data transmitter 350. The encoding logic circuit 320 may be accessed via one of the plurality of I / O ports 310 by a programming device external to the wireless security system 110 (FIG. 1).

The remote magnetic field converter circuit controller 340 is coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports 310 and to the encoder logic circuit 320. In addition to the encoded magnetic field signal for transmitting and receiving, the remote magnetic field converter circuit controller 340 includes a rectifier-regulator 345 for converting the magnetic field energy into regulated low voltage DC quaternary energy. The final adjusted DC electrical energy can be used to charge the energy storage 195 and to recharge the battery 155 (FIG. 1).

In Fig. 4, the same reference numerals denote the same elements, and one embodiment of the magnetic field converter circuit 400 is shown. The magnetic field converter circuit 400 is illustrated with an inductor 410 coupled in parallel to the capacitor 420. Many skilled in the art recognize that many inductor-capacitor couplings of various shapes, configurations, and features actually perform the same function of converting magnetic field energy into electrical energy and inversely converting (eg, series coupling). Specifications of inductor 410 and capacitor 420 are determined by the particular application of the wireless security system (FIG. 1).

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (29)

As a wireless security system, A base unit capable of encoded magnetic field transmission and encoded magnetic field reception and encoded RF reception; And a remote unit communicating with said base unit and capable of transmitting encoded magnetic fields, receiving encoded magnetic fields, and encoding RF transmissions. The method of claim 1, wherein the base unit, A power supply; A base processing unit coupled to the power supply; A base magnetic field converter circuit coupled to the base processing unit; And a RF receiver coupled to the base processing unit. The method of claim 2, wherein the base processing unit, A plurality of I / O ports; Encoding logic coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; Decoding logic coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; A base magnetic field converter circuit controller coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports, the encoding logic circuit and the decoding logic circuit; And at least one of said plurality of I / O ports and an RF serial data receiver coupled to said decoding logic. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote unit, A battery; An energy storage device coupled to the battery; A remote processing unit executed on a single monolithic integrated circuit coupled to the battery and the energy storage device; A remote magnetic field converter circuit coupled to the remote processing unit; An RF transmitter coupled to the remote processing unit; And a manual control unit coupled to the remote processing unit. The method of claim 2, wherein the base magnetic field converter circuit, An inductor; And a capacitor coupled to the inductor. The method of claim 4, wherein the remote magnetic field converter circuit, An inductor; And a capacitor coupled to the inductor. 5. The wireless security system of claim 4, wherein the energy storage is capable of providing low power DC electrical energy to the remote unit. The method of claim 4, wherein the remote processing unit, A plurality of I / O ports; Encoding logic coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; A remote magnetic field converter circuit controller coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports and the encoding logic circuit; An RF serial data transmitter coupled to at least one of said plurality of I / O ports and said encoding logic, And wherein said remote processing unit is implemented on a single monolithic integrated circuit. 9. The wireless security system of claim 8, wherein the remote magnetic field converter circuit controller comprises a rectifier-regulator coupled to the remote magnetic field converter circuit, the battery and the energy storage device. 10. The wireless security system of claim 9, wherein the rectifier-regulator is capable of converting magnetic field energy into low power DC electrical energy to charge the electrical storage device and recharge the battery. As a method of operating a wireless security system, Providing a base unit capable of encoded magnetic field transmission and encoded magnetic field reception and encoded RF reception; And providing a remote unit in communication with the base unit and capable of transmitting an encoded magnetic field, receiving an encoded magnetic field, and encoding an RF transmission. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the base unit, Providing a power supply; Providing a base processing unit coupled to the power supply; Providing a base magnetic field converter circuit coupled to the base processing unit; Providing an RF receiver coupled to the base processing unit. The method of claim 12, wherein the providing of the base processing unit, Providing a plurality of I / O ports; Providing encoding logic coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; Providing decoding logic circuitry coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; Providing a base magnetic field converter circuit controller coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports, the encoding logic circuit and the decoding logic circuit; Providing an RF serial data receiver coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports and to the decoding logic circuitry. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the remote unit comprises: Providing a battery; Providing an energy storage device coupled to the battery; Providing a remote processing unit coupled to the battery and the energy storage device and executed on a single monolithic integrated circuit; Providing a remote magnetic field converter circuit coupled to the remote processing unit; Providing an RF transmitter coupled to the remote processing unit; And providing a manual control unit coupled to the remote processing unit. The method of claim 12, wherein the base magnetic field converter circuit, Providing an inductor; Providing a capacitor coupled to the inductor. The method of claim 14, wherein the remote magnetic field converter circuit, Providing an inductor; Providing a capacitor coupled to the inductor. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said energy storage device is capable of providing low power DC electrical energy to said remote unit. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the remote processing unit, Providing a plurality of I / O ports; Providing encoding logic coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; Providing a remote magnetic field converter circuit controller coupled to at least one of said plurality of I / O ports and said encoding logic; Providing an RF serial data transmitter coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports and the encoding logic, And wherein said remote processing unit is implemented on a single monolithic integrated circuit. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said remote magnetic field converter circuit controller includes a rectifier-regulator coupled to said remote magnetic field converter circuit, said battery, and said energy storage device. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the rectifier-regulator is capable of converting magnetic field energy into low power DC electrical energy to charge the electrical storage device and recharge the battery. The method of claim 11, Providing a manual control mode; Providing a passive responder mode; A method of operating a wireless security system further comprising providing an active responder mode. A base unit capable of encoded magnetic field transmission and encoded magnetic field reception and encoded RF reception. 23. The base unit of claim 22, wherein said encoded magnetic field transmission and said encoded magnetic field reception and said encoded RF reception are controlled by a single processing unit. The method of claim 22, wherein the base unit, A power supply; A base processing unit coupled to the power supply; A base magnetic field converter circuit coupled to the base processing unit; And a RF receiver coupled to the base processing unit. The method of claim 24, wherein the base processing unit, A plurality of I / O ports; Encoding logic coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; Decoding logic coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; A base magnetic field converter circuit controller coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports, the encoding logic circuit and the decoding logic circuit; And an RF serial data receiver coupled to at least one of said plurality of I / O ports and to said decoding logic. A remote unit capable of encoded magnetic field transmission and encoded magnetic field reception and encoded RF transmission. 27. The remote unit of claim 26, wherein the encoded magnetic field transmission and the encoded magnetic field reception and the encoded RF transmission are controlled by a single processing unit executed on a single monolithic integrated circuit. The method of claim 26, wherein the remote unit, A battery; An energy storage device coupled to the battery; A remote processing unit executed on a single monolithic integrated circuit coupled to the battery and the energy storage device; A remote magnetic field converter circuit coupled to the remote processing unit; An RF transmitter coupled to the remote processing unit; A remote control unit coupled to the remote processing unit. The method of claim 28, wherein the remote processing unit, A plurality of I / O ports; Encoding logic coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports; A remote magnetic field converter circuit controller coupled to at least one of the plurality of I / O ports and the encoding logic circuit; An RF serial data transmitter coupled to at least one of said plurality of I / O ports and said encoding logic, And wherein said remote processing unit is implemented on a single monolithic integrated circuit.