Sonics Associates, Inc.

Airmar Technology Corporation

Other

Alan John Testani

William Thomas Edwards

Eugene Arnold Eighmy

Marshal W Linder

A module for managing communication among instrumentation and control devices associated with a system, and a method for using the module, enable interconnection of various devices across multiple network buses, and filtering of messages travelling between devices on disparate buses. Buses may be established wirelessly in addition to via wired connections. Additional devices may connect to a pluggable terminal interface integrated with the module. The terminal interface may connect to a configurable variety of interconnecting circuits appropriate for various types of terminal devices. An associated user interface may enable a user to configure various parameters pertaining to connected devices, including alerts to be issued when certain parameters exceed thresholds, and actions to be taken upon issuance of such alerts.

Networking module for instrumentation and control devices

A user headset is provided that is operable to contain an audio device (50) and a receiver (52). The receiver (52) is operable to receive both audio information on multiple channels and also data. The data is received in the form of pulse width modulated sync signals. The sync signals are operable to provide a synchronization signal for 3-D liquid crystal lenses (60). The data is encoded within the sync signal through pulse width modulation. The width of the pulse defines various commands. These various commands define the channel over which the audio is to be transmitted. These channels can either be user-defined or they can be a function of the transmitter. The transmitter includes an audio generator (42) for generating audio signals on multiple channels and also a data generator (40). These are modulated onto a broad band optical signal and transmitted via an IR data link. The system facilitates a walking tour by transmitting commands to the receiver that allow the receiver to lock onto a particular channel, there being select channels for a given zone. When walking from one zone to another zone, different channels in the next zone are automatically detected. The system detects the crossing of a boundary between zones by a change in sync frequency. Since the sync signals for both zones are synchronized, this facilitates a seamless transfer between adjacent zones. The synchronization is provided by transmitting a pulse stream at different frequencies with the command information encoded within the pulses by pulse-width modulation. The frequencies are harmonics of a fundamental frequency, such that the higher frequency merely adds a pulse to the pulse stream. By selecting the smallest pulse width, the highest priority transmitter can have information extracted therefrom.

Method and apparatus for controlling mobile receivers

A user headset is provided that is operable to contain an audio device (50) and a receiver (52). The receiver (52) is operable to receive both audio information on multiple channels and also data. The data is received in the form of pulse width modulated sync signals. The sync signals are operable to provide a synchronization signal for 3-D liquid crystal lenses (60). The data is encoded within the sync signal through pulse width modulation. The width of the pulse defines various commands. These various commands define the channel over which the audio is to be transmitted. These channels can either be user-defined or they can be a function of the transmitter. The transmitter includes an audio generator (42) for generating audio signals on multiple channels and also a data generator (40). These are modulated onto a broad band optical signal and transmitted via an IR data link. The system facilitates a walking tour by transmitting commands to the receiver that allow the receiver to lock onto a particular channel, there being select channels for a given zone. When walking from one zone to another zone, different channels in the next zone are automatically detected. The system detects the crossing of a boundary between zones by a change in sync frequency. Since the sync signals for both zones are synchronized, this facilitates a seamless transfer between adjacent zones. Each of the transmitters has multiple transmit channels, and each of the receivers having multiple receive channels. A sensor at each of the locations can sense the presence of the user, such that a program on one channel can be started at one time, the receiver locked on that channel and then a subsequent receiver commanded to go to a different channel to receive a program started at another time.

Method and apparatus for controlling program start/stop operations

A user headset is provided that is operable to contain an audio device (50) and a receiver (52). The receiver (52) is operable to receive both audio information on multiple channels and also data. The data is received in the form of pulse width modulated sync signals. The sync signals are operable to provide a synchronization signal for 3-D liquid crystal lenses (60). The data is encoded within the sync signal through pulse width modulation. The width of the pulse defines various commands. These various commands define the channel over which the audio is to be transmitted. These channels can either be user-defined or they can be a function of the transmitter. The transmitter includes an audio generator (42) for generating audio signals on multiple channels and also a data generator (40). These are modulated onto a broad band optical signal and transmitted via an IR data link. The system facilitates a walking tour by transmitting commands to the receiver that allow the receiver to lock onto a particular channel, there being select channels for a given zone. When walking from one zone to another zone, different channels in the next zone are automatically detected. The system detects the crossing of a boundary between zones by a change in sync frequency. Since the sync signals for both zones are synchronized, this facilitates a seamless transfer between adjacent zones.

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Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Alan John Testani