NEW UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`
`
`Docket No.
`42895-cip
`
`Total Pagesin this Submission |
`3
`
`
`
`TO THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_ ~
`
`~~
`ao
`
`*
`
`
`
`
`
`Jc534(U.S,PTO
`
`(Large Entity)
`
`(to be used for new applicationsonly)
`
`
`~
`ce_
`Transmitted herewith forfiling under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) and 37 C.F.R. 1.53 is a newutility patent application for an
`invention entitled:
`
`PERSONAL DATA NETWORK
`
`
`d invented by: Philip P. Carvey
`
`
`
`
`2.
`Specification having
`40
`pages andincluding the following:
`
`x! Abstract of the Disclosure
`
` &X
`
`Title of the Invention
`
`
`OO& Reference to Microfiche Appendix (if applicable)
`Cross References to Related Applications (if applicable)
` Statement Regarding Federally-sponsored Research/Development (if applicable)
`Backgroundof the Invention
`
`
`& Brief Description of the Drawings(if drawingsfiled)
`
`ad Detailed Description
`ad Claim(s) as Classified Below
`
`3.
`Drawing(s) (when necessary as prescribed by 35 USC 113)
`
`Informal
`CL]
`Formal
`
`
`
`
`& Executed
`J Unexecuted
`With Powerof Attorney
`(1 Without Powerof Attorney
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Application Elements
`
`Enclosed are:
`
`1.
`
`Filing fee as calculated and transmitted as described below
`
`
`
`xd
`
`Xi Brief Summary of the Invention
`
`Numberof Sheets
`
`4.
`
`Declaration
`
`Page 1 of 3
`
`PO1ULG/REV03
`
`

`

`
`
`Docket No.
`42895-cip
`
`
`
`Total Pagesin this Submission
`3
`
`5. ©) Genetic Sequence Submission(if applicable, all must be included)
`
`Application Elements (Continued)
`
`Accompanying Application Parts
`
`Assignment Papers
`
`Computer Program in Microfiche
`
`Information Disclosure Statemenl/PTO-1449
`
`Petition
`
`Preliminary Amendment
`
`Proprietary Information
`
`
`
`NEW UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`(Large Entity)
`
`
`
`
`(to be used for new applications only)
`
`
`
`Paper Copy
`(1
`
`Ll Computer Readable Copy
`
`C]
`Statement Verifying Identical Paper and Computer Readable Copy
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CL] Copies of IDS Citations
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Express Mail (Specify Label No.): +7TB881713536US
`
`
` Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)(if foreign priority is claimed)
`
`Acknowledgment postcard
`
`Certificate of Mailing
`
`
`
`C}
`
`First Class
`
`English Translation Document(if applicable)
`
`Page 2 of 3
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`PO1ULG/REVO03
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`Docket No.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NEW UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`42895-cip
`
`
`
`-—}
`
`(Large Entity)
`
`
`| Total Pagesin this Submission
`(to be used for new applications only)
`3
`
`
`
`Accompanying Application Parts (Continued)
`
`
`Additional Enclosures (please identify below):
`16.
`
`
`Assignment; Assignment Recordation Form Cover Sheet (Form PTO-1595; Check for $40.00
`(recordalfee;
`
`Added Pages For Application Transmittal Where Benefit Of Prior U.S. Application(s) Claimed (Five
`(5) pages).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-Llr
`
`/
`
`
`Signature
`
`
`
`
`
`Fee Calculation and Transmittal
`
`
`CLAIMS AS FILED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`#Filed #Allowed #Extra RateFor Fee
`
`Total Claims T
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`Indep. Claims $164.00 5 | -35 | 2 x $82.00
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`_]Multiple Dependent Claims (checkif applicable) $0.00
`
`
`
` BASIC FEE
`$790.00
`
`
` OTHERFEE(specify purpose)
` A checkin the amountof
`$0.00
`
`
`TOTALFILING FEE
`$954.00
`
`
`
`$954.00
`to coverthefiling fee is enclosed.
`The Commissioneris hereby authorized to charge and credit Deposit Account No.
`04-1105
`as described below. A duplicate copy of this sheet is enclosed.
` OW&U
`Charge the amountof
`as filing fee.
`Credit any overpayment.
`Charge any additionalfiling fees required under 37 C.F.R. 1.16 and 1.17.
`
`Charge the issue fee set in 37 C.F.R. 1.18 at the mailing of the Notice of Allowance,
`pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.311(b).
`Dated: October.14,1997.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Henry D. Pahl, Jr.
`Dike, Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman, LLP
`130 Water Street
`Boston, MA 02109-4280
`Tel. (617) 523-3400
`
`Page 3 of 3
`
`PO1ULG/REV03
`
`

`

`NOTE:
`
`PATENT
`Attorney’s Docket No. 42895-CIP
`ADDED PAGES FOR APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL WHEREBENEFIT OF
`PRIOR U.S. APPLICATION(S) CLAIMED
`“In order for an application to claim the benefit of a prior filed copending national application, the prior
`application must name as an inventor at /east one inventor namedin the later filed application and
`disclose the named inventor's invention claimed in at least one claim ofthe later filed application in
`the manner provided by the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112." 37 CFR 1.78{a).
`“in addition the prior application must be (1) complete as set forth in § 1.51, or (2) entitled to a filing
`date as set forth in § 1.53(b) and include the basicfiling fee set forth in § 1.16; or (3) entitled to a filing
`date as set forth in § 1.53(b) and have paid therein the processing and retention fee set forth in § 1.21()
`within the time period set forth in § 1.53(d).” 37 CFR 1.78(a).
`
`NOTE:
`
`
`
`
`17. Relate Back
`WARNING:
`if an application claims the benefit of thefiling date of an earlier filed application under 35 U.S.C.
`120, 127 or 365(c), the 20-year term of that application will be based upon the filing date of the
`earliest U.S. application that the application makes reference to under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 or 365(c).
`(35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2) does not take into account, for the determination of the patent term, any
`application on which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 119, 365(a) or 365(b).) For a c-i-p
`application, applicant should review whether any claim in the patent that will issue is supported
`by an earlier application and, if not, the applicant should consider canceling the reference to the
`earlier filed application. The term ofa patentis not based on a claim-by-claim approach. See Notice
`of April 14, 1995, 60 Fed. Reg. 20,195, at 20,205.
`
`(complete the following, if applicable)
`[X} Amend the specification by inserting, before thefirstline, the following sentence:
`“This application claims the benefit of the following:
`A. 35 U.S.C. 119(e)
`NOTE:
`“Any nonprovisional application claiming the benefit of one or more prior filed copending provisional
`applications must contain or be amended to contain in the first sentence of the specification following
`the title a reference to each such prior provisional application, identifying it as a provisional application,
`and including the provisional application number(consisting ofseries code and serial number).” 37 C.F.R.
`§ 1.78(a)(4).
`( “U.S. Provisional Application(s) No(s).:
`
`APPLICATION NO(S).:
`
`fo
`
`FILING DATE
`
`
`ny —_—
`————_____—__—_—
`
`Se
`
`Added Pages for Application Transmittal Where Benefit of Prior U.S. Application(s) Claimed
`[4-1.1}—page 1 of 5)
`
`

`

`B. 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 and 365(c)
`NOTE:
`“Any nonprovisional application claiming the benefit of one or more prior filed copending nonprovisionai
`applications or internationaf applications designating the United States of America must contain or be
`amended to contain in the first sentence of the specification following the title a reference to each such
`prior application, identifying it by application number(consisting of the series code and serial number)
`or international application number and international filing date and indicating the relationship of the
`applications. Cross-references to other refated applications may be made when appropriate. (See
`§ 1.14(b)).” 37 CFR. § 7.78(2).
`
`-
`
`ki
`
`“This application is a
`
`(continuation
`
`continuation-in-part
`&]
`divisionai
`(1)
`of copending application(s)
`
` [ application number 08 /_611,695 filed onMarch6,1996
`[]
`International Application filed orn
`and which designated the U.S.”
`NOTE: The proper reference to a prior filed PCT application that entered the U.S. national phase is the U.S.
`seriaf number and the filing date of the PCT application that designated the U.S.
`
`
`
`
`NOTE:
`
`(1) Where the application being transmitted adds subject matter to the International Application, then
`the filing can be as a continuation-in-part or(2) if it is desired to do so for other reasons then the filing
`can be as a continuation.
`
`[]
`
`“The nonprovisional application designated above, namely application
`/_i, filed ss claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Application(s) No(s).:
`
`APPLICATION NO(S).:
`
`FILING DATE
`
`ee fep _ ”
`
`nS —________”
`
`————fo ee ”
`
`NOTE: The deadline for entering the national phase in the U.S. for an international application wasclarified
`in the Notice of Apnil 28, 1987 (1079 O.G. 32 to 46) as follows:
`
`“The Patent and Trademark Office considers the Intemational application to be pending until the 22nd
`month from the priority date if the United States has been designated and no Demandfor International
`Preliminary Examination has been filed prior to the expiration of the 19th month from the priority date
`and until the 32nd month from the priority date if a Demand for Intemational Preliminary Examination
`which elected the United States of America has beenfiled prior to the expiration of the 19th month
`from the priority date, provided that a copy of the international application has been communicated
`to the Patent and Trademark Office within the 20 or 30 month period respectively. If a copy of the
`international application has not been communicated to the Patent and Trademark Office within the
`20 or 30 month period respectively, the international application becomes abandoned as to the United
`States 20 or 30 months from the priority date respectiviey. These periods have been placed in the rules
`as paragraph(h) of § 1.494 and paragraph (i) of § 1.495. A continuing application under 35 U.S.C. 365(c}
`and 120 may be filed anytime during the pendency of the international application.”
`
`Added Pages for Application Transmittal Where Benefit of Prior U.S. Application(s) Claimed
`[4-1.1]}--page 2 of 5)
`
`

`

`18. Relate Back—35 U.S.C. 119 Priority Claim for Prior Application
`
`The prior U.S. application(s), including any prior International Application designating the
`U.S., identified above in item 17B,
`in turn itself clairn(s) foreign priority(ies) as follows:
`
`country
`
`appin. no.
`
`filed on
`
`The certified copy(ies) has (nave)
`[1
`beenfiled on _____., in prior application 0
`filed on Ww
`
`/_WWSssseF>7._ which was
`
`Cis (are) attached.
`WARNING: The certified copy of the priority application that may have been communicated to the PTO by
`the Intemational Bureau may notberelied on without any needto file a certified copy of the priority
`application in the continuing application. This is so because the certified copy of the priority
`application communicated by the International Bureau 1s placed in a folder and is not assigned
`a U.S. serial number unless the national stage is entered. Such folders are disposedofif the national
`stage is not entered. Therefore, such certified copies may nat be available if neededlater in the
`prosecution of a continuing applica.
`:7. An alternative would be to physically remove the priority
`documents from the folders and transfer them to the continuing application. The resources required
`to requesttransfer, retrieve the folders, make suitabie record notations, transfer the certified copies,
`enter and make a record of such copies in the Continuing Application are substantial. Accordingly,
`the priority documents in folders of international applications that have not entered the national
`stage may not be relied on. Notice of April 28, 1987 (1079 O.G. 32 to 46).
`
`19. Maintenance of Copendency of Prior Application
`NOTE: The PTO finds it useful if a copy of the petition filed in the prior application extending the term for
`response is filed with the papers constituting the filing of the continuation application. Notice of
`November 5, 1985 (1060 0.G. 27).
`
`A.
`
`(Extension of time in prior application
`
`(This item must be completed and the papers filed in the prior application if the
`period set in the prior application has run.)
`
`(C A petition, fee and response extends the term in the pending prior application
`until
`
`L] A copy of the petition filed in prior application is attached.
`Conditional Petition for Extension of Time in Prior Application
`
`B.
`
`[€]
`
`(complete this item if previous item not applicable)
`
`[ Acconditional petition for extension of time is being filed in the pending prior
`application.
`(3 A copyof the conditional petition filed in the prior application is attached
`
`Added Pages for Application Transmittal Where Benefit of Prior U.S. Application(s) Claimed
`[4-1.1]—page 3 of 5)
`
`
`
`

`

`NOTE:
`
`20. Further Inventorship Statement Where Benefit of Prior Application(s)
`Claimed
`“if the continuation, continuation-in-part, or divisional applicationis filed by less than all the inventors
`NOTE:
`named in the prior application a statement must accompany the application when filed requesting
`deletion of the names of the person or persons who are notinventors. of the invention being claimed
`in the continuation, continuation-in-part, or divisional application.” 37 CFR 1.62(a) [emphasis added].
`(dealing with the file wrapper continuation situation).
`“in the case of a continuation-in-part application which adds and claims additional disclosure by
`amendment, an oath or declaration as required by § 1.63 must be filed. In those situations where a
`new oath or declaration is required due to additional subject matter being claimed, additional inventors
`may be named in the continuing application. In a continuation or divisional application which discloses
`and claims only subject matter disciosed in a prior application, no additional oath or declaration is
`required and the application must nameas inventors the sameorless than ail the inventors in the prior
`application.” 37 CFR 1.60(c) (dealing with the continuation situation).
`(complete applicable item (a), (b) and/or (c) below)
`This application discloses and claims only subject matter disclosed in the prior
`application whose particulars are set out above and the inventor(s) in this
`application are
`
`fj? O
`
`
`
`
`the same.
`Cl
`[ Jess than those named in the prior application. It is requested that the
`following inventor(s) identified for the prior application be deleted:
`
`(b) O
`
`(type name(s) of inventor(s) to be deleted)
`This application discloses and claims additional disclosure by amendment and
`a new declaration or oath is being filed. With respect to the prior application,
`the inventor(s) in this application are
`
`the same.
`(1
`(the following additional inventor(s) have been added:
`
`(c)
`
`(type name(s) of inventor(s) to be added)
`The inventorship for all the claims in this application are
`(]
`the same.
`(not the same. An explanation, including the ownershipof the various claims
`at the time the last claimed invention was made
`
`sis submitted.
`Cl
`[will be submitted.
`Added Pages for Application Transmittal Where Benefit of Prior U.S. Application(s) Claimed
`[4-1.1]}—page 4 of 5)
`
`

`

`21. Abandonmentof Prior Application (if applicable)
`({] Please abandon the prior application at a time while the prior application is
`Pending, or when the petition for extension of time orto revive in that application
`is granted, and whenthis application is granted a filing date, so as to makethis
`application copending with said prior application.
`NOTE: According to the Notice of May 13, 1983 (103, TMOG 6-7}, the filing of a continuation or continuation-in-
`part application is a proper response with respect to a petition for extension of time or a petition to
`revive and should include the express abandonmentof the prior application conditioned upon the
`granting of the petition and the granting of a filing date to the continuing application.
`22. Petition for Suspension of Prosecution for the Time Necessary to
`File an Amendment
`
`WARNING:
`
`“The claims ofa new application maybe finally rejected in thefirst Office action in those situations
`where (1) the new application is a continuing applicationof, ora substitute for, an earlierapplication,
`and (2) ail the claims of the new application (a) are drawn to the same invention claimed in the
`earlier application, and (b) would have been Property finally rejected on the groundsofart of record
`in the next Office action if they had been entered in the earlier application.” MPEP, § 706.07(b).
`NOTE: Where itis possible that the claims onfile willgive rise to a firstaction final for this continuation application
`and forsome reason an amendment cannotbe filed promptly (e.g., experimental data is being gathered)
`it may be desirable to file a petition for Suspension of prosecution for the time necessary.
`(check the next item, if applicable)
`C] There is provided herewith a Petition To Suspend Prosecution for the Time
`Necessary to File An Amendment (New Application Filed Concurrently)
`23. Smali Entity (87 CFR § 1.28(a))
`
`WARNING:
`
`C] Applicant has established small entity status by thefiling of a verified statement
`in parent application /_ on
`C1 Acopyof the verified statement previously filed is included.
`“Status as a small entity in one application orpatent does not affect any other application orpatent,
`including applications or patents which are directly or indirectly dependent upon the application
`or patent in which the status has been established. Applicationsfiled as continuations, divisions
`or continuations-in-part of a parent application mustinclude a reference to a verified staternent
`filed in the parent applicationifstatus as a sarnil entity is still properand desired.” 37 CFR § 1.28(a).
`24. NOTIFICATION IN PARENT APPLICATION OF THIS FILING
`
`O A notification of the filing of this
`(check one of the following)
`CL]
`continuation
`
`{]_
`continuation-in-part
`CL]
`divisional
`is beingfiled in the parent application, from which this application claims priority under 35
`U.S.C. § 120.
`Added Pages for Application Transmittal Where Benefit of Prior U.S. Application(s) Claimed
`[4-1.1}—page 5 of 5)
`
`
`
`

`

`Docket No. 42895-CIP
`
`PERSONAL DATA NETWORK
`
`ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
`
`The data network disclosed herein utilizes low duty cycle
`
`pulsed radio frequency energy to effect bidirectional wireless
`
`data communication between a server microcomputer unit anda
`
`plurality of peripheral units located within short range of the
`
`server unit, e.g. within 20 meters.
`
`By establishing a tightly
`
`synchronized common time base between the units and by the use
`
`of sparse codes,
`
`timed in relation to the common time base,
`
`low
`
`power consumption and avoidance of interference between nearby
`
`similar systems is obtained.
`
`
`
`

`

`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of application
`
`Serial No. 08/611,695 filed on March 6, 1996.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a data network and more
`
`particularly to a data network which can effect bidirectional
`
`wireless data communications between a microcomputer unit and a
`
`plurality of peripheral units, all of which are adapted to be
`
`carried on the person of the user.
`
`The gize and power consumption of digital electronic
`
`devices has been progressively reduced so that personal
`
`computers have evolved from lap tops through so-called
`
`notebooks,
`
`into hand held or belt carriable devices commonly
`
`referred to as personal digital assistants (PDAs). One area
`
`which has remained troublesome however,
`
`is the coupling of
`
`peripheral devices or accessories to the main processing unit.
`
`With rare exception, such coupling has typically been provided
`
`by means of connecting cables which place such restrictions on
`
`the handling of the units that many of the advantages of small
`
`size and light weight are lost.
`
`While it has been proposed to link a keyboard or a mouse to
`
`a main processing unit using infrared or radio frequency (RF)
`
`communications, such systems have been typically limited to a
`
`single peripheral unit with a dedicated channel of low capacity.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Among the several objects of the present invention may be
`
`noted the provision of a novel data network which will provide
`
`wireless communication between a host or server microcomputer
`
`unit and a plurality of peripheral units; the provision of a
`
`data network which provides highly reliable bidirectional data
`
`communication between the peripheral units and the server;
`
`the
`
`provision of such a data network which requires extremely low
`
`power consumption, particularly for the peripheral units; the
`
`provision of such a network system which avoids interference
`
`from nearby similar systems; and the provision of such a data
`
`network system which is highly reliable and which is of
`
`relatively simple and inexpensive construction. Other objects
`
`and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out
`
`hereinafter.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`The data network of the present invention utilizes the fact
`
`that the server microcomputer unit and the several peripheral
`
`units which are to be linked are all in close physical
`
`proximity, e.g., within twenty meters,
`
`to establish, with very
`
`high accuracy, a common time base or synchronization.
`
`The short
`
`distances involved means that accuracy of synchronization is not
`
`appreciably affected by transit time delays. Using the common
`
`time base, code sequences are generated which control the
`
`operation of the several transmitters in a low duty cycle pulsed
`
`

`

`mode of operation.
`
`The low duty cycle pulsed operation both
`
`substantially reduces power consumption and facilitates the
`
`rejection of interfering signals.
`
`In addition to conventional peripheral devices such as a
`
`keyboard or mouse, it should be understood that data
`
`communications in accordance with the present invention will
`
`also be useful for a wide variety of less conventional
`
`peripheral systems which can augment the usefulness of a
`
`microcomputer such as a PDA.
`
`For example, displays are being
`
`developed which project a private image directly into an user's
`
`eye using a device which is mounted on a headband or eyeglasses.
`
`These displays are useful, for example, for providing combat
`
`information to military personnel and for realistic games.
`
`Likewise, so called virtual keyboards are being developed which
`
`use inertial or magnetic sensors attached to a users fingers in
`
`the manner of rings. Further, apart from more usual business
`
`type computer applications,
`
`the data network system of the
`
`present invention may also be useful for applications such as
`
`physiological monitoring where the peripheral units may be
`
`physiological sensors such as temperature, heartbeat and
`
`respiration rate sensors. As will be understood, such
`
`peripheral units may be useful for outpatient monitoring,
`
`monitoring for sudden infant death syndrome, and for fitness
`
`training.
`
`It is convenient in the context of this present
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`description to refer to such conventional and inconventional
`
`peripheral units collectively as personal electronic accessories
`
`(PEAS) .
`
`Briefly stated, a data network system according to the
`
`present invention effects coordinating operation of a plurality
`
`of electronic devices carried on the person of the user. These
`
`devices include a server microcomputer and a plurality of
`
`peripheral units which are battery powered and portable and
`
`which provide input information from the user or output
`
`information to the user.
`
`The server microcomputer incorporates
`
`an RF transmitter for sending commands and synchronizing
`
`information to the peripheral units.
`
`The peripheral units,
`
`in
`
`turn, each include an RF receiver for detecting those commands
`
`and synchronizing information and include also respective RF
`
`transmitters for sending information from the peripheral unit to
`
`the server microcomputer.
`
`The server microcomputer includes a
`
`receiver for receiving that information transmitted from the
`
`peripheral units.
`
`The server and peripheral unit transmitters are energized
`
`in low duty cycle pulses at intervals which are determined by a
`
`code sequence which is timed in relation to the synchronizing
`
`information initially transmitted from the server microcomputer.
`
`
`
`

`

`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Figure 1 is an overall block diagram of a wireless data
`
`network system linking a personal digital assistant or server
`
`microcomputer with a plurality of peripheral units;
`
`Figure 2 is a block diagram of a modem circuitry employed
`
`in one of the peripheral units of Figure 1;
`
`Figure 3 is a block diagram of a modem circuitry employed
`
`in the server microcomputer of Figure 1;
`
`Figure 4 is a block diagram of the transmitter circuitry
`
`employed in the modem of Figure 2;
`
`Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of receiver circuitry
`
`employed in the modem of Figure 2; and
`
`Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating timing of RF signals
`
`which are transmitted between the server microcomputer and the
`
`various peripheral units;
`
`Figure 7 is a block diagram of the controller employed in
`
`the PEA modem; and
`
`Figure 8 is a block diagram of the digital matched filter
`
`employed in the PEA controller; and
`
`Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
`
`parts throughout the several view of the drawings.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now to Figure 1, a server microcomputer of the
`
`type characterized as a personal digital assistant
`
`(PDA)
`
`is
`
`
`
`
`

`

`designated generally be reference character 11.
`
`The PDA may
`
`also be considered to be a HOST processor and the HUB of the
`
`local network.
`
`The PDA is powered by a battery 12 and may be
`
`adapted to be carried on the person of the user, e.g.
`
`in his
`
`hand or on a belt hook.
`
`Such PDAs typically accept options
`
`which are physically configured as an industry standard PCMCIA
`
`card.
`
`In accordance with the present invention such a card,
`
`designated by reference character 13 is implemented which
`
`includes a PCMCIA interface and PDA modem.
`
`As is described in greater detail hereinafter,
`
`the network
`
`system of the present invention establishes wireless
`
`communication between PDA 11 and a plurality of peripheral units
`
`or PFAs designated generally by reference characters 21-29.
`
`A
`
`PDA and a collection of PEAs associated with it are referred to
`
`herein as an "ensemble".
`
`The present invention allows the
`
`creation of a data network linking such an ensemble of elements
`
`with minimal likelihood of interference from similar ensembles
`
`located nearby. Each of the peripheral units is powered by a
`
`respective battery 30 and incorporates a PEA modem 31. Further,
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`each peripheral unit can incorporate a sensor 33, which responds
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`to input from the user or an actuator 37 which provides output
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`to the user.
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`Some peripheral units might also employ both
`
`sensors and actuators. As illustrated, each PEA modem
`
`preferably incorporates two antenna's, a dipole antenna 38 for
`
`
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`

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`reception and a loop antenna 39 for transmitting.
`
`The use of
`
`separate antennas for transmitting and receiving facilitates the
`
`utilization of impedance matching networks which in turn
`
`facilitates the operation at very low power.
`
`Referring now to Figure 2,
`
`the PDA modem illustrated there
`
`comprises five major components, a transmitter 40, a receiver
`
`41, a local oscillator 42 which is shared by the transmitter and
`
`the receiver, a controller 43 which times and coordinates the
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`operations of the transmitter, receiver, microprocessor and,
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`finally, a voltage controlled crystal oscillator oscillator 44
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`which is utilized in maintaining a common time base with the
`
`host microcomputer.
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`The oscillator 44 utilizes a crystal which
`
`operates at 4 Mhz.
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`As is described in greater detail hereinafter,
`
`the
`
`controller 43 sequences the operations necessary in establishing
`
`synchronization with the host system, adjusting the oscillator
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`44, acquiring from the host appropriate code sequences to be
`
`used in data communications,
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`in coupling received information
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`from receiver 41 to a sensor/actuator interface, designated by
`
`reference character 46, and in transmitting data from the
`
`interface 46 back to the host through transmitter 40.
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`The
`
`controller in one embodiment is partitioned into a commercially
`
`available general purpose microprocessor such as the PIC16C64,
`
`together with a special purpose logic integrated circuit
`
`(IC).
`
`
`
`

`

`The special purpose IC implements those functions which cannot
`
`be efficiently executed on the general purpose microprocessor.
`
`For example,
`
`the clock to the PIC16C64 is sourced by the special
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`purpose IC because even in the microprocessor's so-called
`
`"sleep" mode, its power consumption is higher than acceptible.
`
`As is explained in greater detail hereinafter,
`
`the general
`
`scheme of data transmission and reception is a form of time
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`division multiple access (TDMA). This TDMA access is
`
`characterized by a frame interval, common to the host and all
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`PFAs of 32.768 milliseconds, segmented into 16,384 time slots.
`
`Each time slot is further partitioned into four data bit
`
`intervals during which the RF carrier is modulated either above
`
`the the nominal for a binary "one" or below the carrier for a
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`binary "zero".
`
`The basic modulation scheme is frequency shift
`
`keying (FSK), well known to those skilled in digital radio
`
`transmission. However, as is explained in greater detail
`
`hereinafter,
`
`the FSK tones are transmitted in only those slots
`
`indicated by a TDMA program. Both the host and all PEAs share a
`
`common TDMA program at one time.
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`For each slot,
`
`this TDMA
`
`program indicates that a PEA or host is to transmit, or not, and
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`whether it will receive, or not.
`
`In the intervals between slots
`
`in which a PEA is to transmit or receive, all receive and
`
`transmit circuits are powered down.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Referring now to Figure 3,
`
`the PEA modem illustrated there
`
`comprises five major components, a transmitter 15, a receiver
`
`17, a local oscillator 16 which is shared by the transmitter and
`
`the receiver, a controller 14 which times and coordinates the
`
`operations of the transmitter, receiver, and PCMCIA interface
`
`and, finally, a crystal oscillator oscillator 18 which is
`
`utilized in maintaining the network time base.
`
`The oscillator
`
`18 utilizes a crystal which operates at 4 Mhz. There are no
`
`differences between the receiver,
`
`local oscillator, and
`
`transmitter in both the PEA and PDA modems.
`
`PDA controller 14
`
`differs from the PEA modem in three ways. First it contains no
`
`synhronization capability as it serves as the network master.
`
`Secondly, it includes a PCMCIA interface rather than a
`
`sensor/transducer interface. Only the PEA modem is described in
`
`detail herein since it is includes all the novel capabilities of
`
`the PDA modem.
`
`Referring now to Figure 4,
`
`transmission is effected using
`
`the local oscillator 45 to drive the transmit antenna amplifier
`
`50 whose output drives transmit antenna 51.
`
`The local
`
`oscillator 45 is coupled to a tuning network 48 including a
`
`plurality of frequence adjusting varactors VR1-VR3. Operation
`
`of the varactors is controlled by switch pairs 52 and 53.
`
`500
`
`nanoseconds before the start of transmission,
`
`the local
`
`oscillator 45 is powered up. During this period and during all
`
`-10-
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`

`

`
`
`receive intervals,
`
`frequency selection varactor switchs 52 and
`
`53 are opened and closed respectively. This frequency selection
`
`state is employed for all periods except those in which the
`
`local oscillator is used to drive the antenna amplifier.
`
`To
`
`transmit a "one", both switchs 52 and 53 are opened. This
`
`causes the oscillator to oscillate above its nominal value.
`
`To
`
`transmit a "zero", both switches 52 and 53 are closed. This
`
`causes the oscillator to oscillate below its nominal value.
`
`The
`
`local oscillator output then drives amplifier 50.
`
`In the
`
`preferred embodiment,
`
`the transmit antenna 51 is loop of wire
`
`two centimeters in diameter. During short periods in which data
`
`ig not being received nor is being transmitted,
`
`the oscillator
`
`is powered and the varactor control voltage Vc is adjusted such
`
`that the oscillator frequency equals the carrier frequency.
`
`Referring now to Figure 5,
`
`the input signal from the
`
`receiving antenna 38 is applied,
`
`through an impedance matching
`
`network 61 to a low noise amplifier 62 and bandpass filter 63.
`
`The received and amplified signal is combined with the local
`
`oscillator shifted 45 degrees in phase in mixer 65 to produce
`
`signal Im and combined with the local oscillator shifted -45
`
`degrees in phase in mixer 66 to produce signal Qm.
`
`Im and Qm
`
`are the so-called "in-phase" and "quadrature-phase" signals
`
`commonly known to radio engineers. Both Im and Qm are centered
`
`at zero hertz rather than at an intermediate frequency. This
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`-11-
`
`

`

`
`
`scheme is commonly referred to as "direct conversion" because a
`
`direct conversion to baseband is effected rather than conversion
`
`to an intermediate frequency which is then converted to
`
`baseband. Direct conversion reduces power consumption, as no
`
`intermediate frequency circuits are employed and it allows use
`
`of low pass filters to effect selectivity.
`
`Lowpass filters 67
`
`and 68, preferably of the linear phase type,
`
`remove the unwanted
`
`mixing products and provide selectivity of signals