Patent US5909640A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5909640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Wireless communication system for adapting to frequency drift
Assignee: PTC Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-06
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Granted: 1999-06-01
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Expires: 2017-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A wireless communication system with one or more remote transceivers for transmitting a wireless data signal at an actual frequency that is different than the expected frequency and a base transceiver that can automatically adjust to receive the actual frequency. Each remote transceiver is adapted to initiate a wireless data signal at a selected time that is unique to that remote transceiver. The expected frequency is sequentially pre-determined in a pseudo-random sequence with each remote transceiver having a unique sequence. The base transceiver can respond to the remote transceiver at the actual frequency. Both the remote transceiver and the base transceiver can convert the wireless signals in a single step to baseband.
Inventors
- 👤 Leland M. Farrer
- 👤 Joseph S. Chan
- 👤 Robert F. Garry, Jr.
- 👤 Charles A. Glorioso
- 👤 Norman F. Krasner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/69; H04B1/713; H04B1/7136; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A frequency tolerant transceiver for communicating individually with each of a plurality of remote receivers, comprising: a receiver for tuning to an expected frequency associated with a particular one of said remote transceivers and receiving energy in a data signal having an actual frequency from said particular remote transceiver, said actual frequency allowed to drift from said expected frequency; a microcontroller coupled to the receiver for providing information for said expected frequency and determining said actual frequency from said expected frequency and frequency information derived from said energy in said data signal; and a transmitter coupled to the microcontroller for transmitting a return signal at said actual frequency to said particular remote transceiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A frequency tolerant transceiver for communicating individually with each of a plurality of remote receivers, comprising: a receiver for tuning to an expected frequency associated with a particular one of said remote transceivers and receiving energy in a data signal having an actual frequency from said particular remote transceiver, said actual frequency allowed to drift from said expected frequency; a microcontroller coupled to the receiver for providing information for said expected frequency and determining said actual frequency from said expected frequency and frequency information derived from said energy in said data signal; and a transmitter coupled to the microcontroller for transmitting a return signal at said actual frequency to said particular remote transceiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The transceiver of claim 1, wherein: the microcontroller is further for determining said expected frequency from a predetermined frequency and an expected frequency error.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The transceiver of claim 2, wherein: the microcontroller is further for determining said expected frequency error from said predetermined frequency and a last actual frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The transceiver of claim 1, wherein: the microcontroller is further for providing information for said actual frequency to the receiver; and the receiver is further for tuning to said actual frequency for demodulating data from said data signal and passing said data to the microcontroller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The transceiver of claim 4, wherein: said data includes information from at least one of (i) a gas meter, (ii) a water meter, (iii) an electric meter, (iv) a thermostat, (v) a gas appliance, and (vi) an electric appliance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The transceiver of claim 1, wherein: the receiver includes a frequency discriminator for determining a current frequency error between said expected frequency and said actual frequency; and the microcontroller is further for determining said actual frequency from said current frequency error and said expected frequency.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transceiver of claim 1, wherein: said expected frequency is one of a pseudo-random sequence of frequencies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The transceiver of claim 1, wherein: the receiver and the transmitter share a signal generator for sequentially (i) using information for said expected frequency for generating a first local oscillator (LO) signal for tuning to said expected frequency and (ii) using information for said actual frequency for generating a second LO signal having said actual frequency for receiving said data signal and transmitting said return signal at said actual frequency.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
91 words
A method in a frequency tolerant transceiver for allowing for respective carrier frequency drifts of a plurality of remote transceivers, comprising steps of: tuning to an expected frequency associated with a particular one of said remote transceivers, receiving energy in a data signal having an actual frequency from said particular remote transceiver, said actual frequency allowed to drift from said expected frequency; using said expected frequency and energy in said data signal for determining said actual frequency, and transmitting a return signal at said actual frequency to said particular remote transceiver.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
91 words
A method in a frequency tolerant transceiver for allowing for respective carrier frequency drifts of a plurality of remote transceivers, comprising steps of: tuning to an expected frequency associated with a particular one of said remote transceivers, receiving energy in a data signal having an actual frequency from said particular remote transceiver, said actual frequency allowed to drift from said expected frequency; using said expected frequency and energy in said data signal for determining said actual frequency, and transmitting a return signal at said actual frequency to said particular remote transceiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: said expected frequency is determined from a predetermined frequency and an expected frequency error.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10, wherein: said expected frequency error is determined from said predetermined frequency and a last actual frequency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9, further including steps of: tuning to said actual frequency; and demodulating data from said data signal at said actual frequency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 12, wherein: said data includes information from at least one of (i) a gas meter, (ii) a water meter, (iii) an electric meter, (iv) a thermostat, (v) a gas appliance, and (vi) an electric appliance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: the step of determining said actual frequency includes steps of determining a current frequency error between said expected frequency and said actual frequency; and using said current frequency error and said expected frequency for calculating said actual frequency.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: said expected frequency is one of a pseudo-random sequence of frequencies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 9, wherein: the step of tuning to said expected frequency includes generating a first local oscillator (LO) signal having said expected frequency; the step of receiving said data signal includes generating a second LO signal having said actual frequency; and the step of transmitting said return signal includes generating said second LO signal having said second frequency.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
114 words
A communication system, comprising: a plurality of remote transceivers for transmitting respective data signals, each of said data signals having an actual frequency that is allowed to drift from an expected frequency; and a base transceiver having a receiver for tuning to said expected frequency associated with a particular one of said remote transceivers and then receiving energy in said data signal from said particular remote transceiver, a microcontroller coupled to the receiver for determining said actual frequency for said data signal from said expected frequency and frequency information derived from said energy, and a transmitter coupled to the microcontroller for transmitting a return signal at said actual frequency to said particular remote transceiver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
114 words
A communication system, comprising: a plurality of remote transceivers for transmitting respective data signals, each of said data signals having an actual frequency that is allowed to drift from an expected frequency; and a base transceiver having a receiver for tuning to said expected frequency associated with a particular one of said remote transceivers and then receiving energy in said data signal from said particular remote transceiver, a microcontroller coupled to the receiver for determining said actual frequency for said data signal from said expected frequency and frequency information derived from said energy, and a transmitter coupled to the microcontroller for transmitting a return signal at said actual frequency to said particular remote transceiver.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 17, wherein: the microcontroller is further for determining said expected frequency from a predetermined frequency and an expected frequency error.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 18, wherein: the microcontroller is further for determining said expected frequency error from said predetermined frequency and a last actual frequency.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 17, wherein: the microcontroller is further for providing information for said actual frequency to the receiver; and the receiver is further for tuning to said actual frequency for demodulating data from said data signal and passing said data to the microcontroller.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 20, wherein: said data includes information from at least one of (i) a gas meter, (ii) a water meter, (iii) an electric meter, (iv) a thermostat, (v) a gas appliance, and (vi) an electric appliance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 20, wherein: the receiver includes a frequency discriminator for determining a current frequency error between said expected frequency and said actual frequency; and the microcontroller is further for determining said actual frequency from said current frequency error and said expected frequency.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 17, wherein: said expected frequency is one of a pseudo-random sequence of frequencies.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 20, wherein: the receiver and the transmitter share a signal source for sequentially (i) using information for said expected frequency for generating a first local oscillator (LO) signal for tuning to said expected frequency and (ii) using information for said actual frequency for generating a second LO signal having said actual frequency for receiving said data signal and transmitting said return signal at said actual frequency.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-31 | 2002-11-30 | 2003-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | 2007-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-31 | 2010-11-30 | 2011-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |