A system for transmitting object-related data from a base unit to a mobile unit through the human body

Abstract

The system includes a base unit associated with an object and a mobile unit portable by a human. The base unit includes a base unit capacitive coupling element that provides a base unit-human capacitive coupling between the base unit and the human, and the mobile unit includes a mobile unit capacitive coupling element that provides a mobile unit-human capacitive coupling between the mobile unit and the human. The base unit-human capacitive coupling and the mobile unit-human capacitive coupling enable a data transmission connection between the base unit and the mobile unit that passes through the human body. The base unit transmitter circuit of the base unit transmits object-related data through the data transmission connection passing through the human body, the mobile unit receiver circuit of the mobile unit receives object-related data, and the output device of the mobile unit outputs signals perceptible to a human based on the received object-related data.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] Related patent application

[0002] This application claims priority to the jointly owned U.S. provisional patent application No. 63 / 397,246 filed on August 11, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0003] Technology field

[0004] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for transmitting object-related data from a base unit to a mobile unit through a human body. Background Technology

[0005] Conventional solutions for obtaining information about an object, for example, about the functions provided by buttons, switches, or other selectable control devices (actuators), are often limited. For instance, information may be printed on or near the object, requiring the user to read it. These solutions are particularly unsuitable for visually impaired individuals who often struggle with elevators, intercoms, and transmission systems, as well as actuators for keyboards and home appliances (e.g., buttons and switches) and various other types of actuators.

[0006] Some actuators include relevant information encoded in Braille (e.g., indicating the function provided by each control). However, Braille has various disadvantages. For instance, reading Braille requires significant learning time, and the range of information encoded in Braille is often limited. Furthermore, Braille is often difficult to read due to factors including worn textures (dots), small size, dust or debris accumulated on the textures (dots), and environmental conditions (e.g., low temperatures limit hand function). Consequently, visually impaired individuals must operate each actuator (e.g., buttons or switches) to determine the function provided by the actuator, which may often be unwanted.

[0007] Improved systems and methods are needed to provide information about objects (e.g., actuators or other types of objects) to humans in a convenient and effective manner.

[0008] Examples of the present disclosure provide systems for communicating information about an object (e.g., a button, other actuator, or other type of object) to a mobile unit carried by a human who seeks information about an object (e.g., a description of the object or a description of how the object functions) from a base unit located at or otherwise associated with the object. The mobile unit receives such information about the object (referred herein as “object-related data”) from the base unit and may output information (or information derived from such information) to a user through an output device, e.g., a speaker, a display device, or a haptic feedback generator.

[0009] A base unit may include a capacitive coupling element that provides a base unit-human capacitive coupling between the base unit and a human, and a mobile unit may include a capacitive coupling element that provides a mobile unit-human capacitive coupling between the mobile unit and a human. The base unit-human capacitive coupling and the mobile unit-human capacitive coupling enable a data transmission connection (DTC) between the base unit and the mobile unit that passes through the human body. The DTC may allow the communication of information from the base unit to the mobile unit by using a low-frequency Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) communication protocol to transmit signals through the human body, for example.

[0010] A base unit may include a touch / proximity detection device for detecting a "touch / proximity event" involving a human physically contacting or approaching an object (or a defined detection element associated with the object), and in response to detecting the touch / proximity event, initiating a communication sequence for transmitting object-related data to a human for output via a mobile unit carried by the human. The communication sequence may include an authentication process (e.g., a challenge and response sequence) for authenticating the mobile unit before the base unit transmits the object-related data.

[0011] The systems disclosed herein can enable humans to acquire information about objects in a rapid and efficient manner. For example, a system as disclosed herein can enable humans to acquire information about an actuator (e.g., a button, a switch, or other actuator) before operating the actuator. For example, regarding an object containing a pushable button, a human may lightly touch the button or come near the button to trigger touch / proximity event detection, which in turn causes a base unit to initiate a communication sequence to transmit object-related data (e.g., describing a function associated with the button) to the human for output via a mobile unit carried by the human. Thus, the human can learn the function of the button and, for example, decide whether to press the button. In some examples, the systems disclosed herein may be useful to visually impaired individuals, for example, by enabling them to acquire audio data describing various objects quickly and efficiently.

[0012] One embodiment provides a system comprising a base unit associated with an object and a mobile unit. The base unit includes a base unit capacitive coupling element, a base unit processor, and a base unit transmitter circuit for providing a base unit-human capacitive coupling between the base unit and a human. The mobile unit includes a mobile unit capacitive coupling element, a mobile unit processor, and a mobile unit receiver circuit for providing a mobile unit-human capacitive coupling between the mobile unit and a human. The base unit-human capacitive coupling and the mobile unit-human capacitive coupling enable a data transmission connection between the base unit and the mobile unit and through the human body. The base unit processor can cause the base unit transmitter circuit to transmit object-related data through the data transmission connection through the human body, and the object-related data includes information associated with the object. The mobile unit receiver circuit can receive object-related data through the data transmission connection, and the mobile unit processor can cause an output device to output signals perceptible to a human based on the received object-related data.

[0013] In some examples, the base unit includes a touch / proximity detection device for detecting a touch / proximity event by a human, and the base unit processor may initiate a communication sequence in response to the touch / proximity detection device detecting a touch / proximity event, and the communication sequence includes the transmission of object-related data by the base unit transmitter circuit.

[0014] In some examples, the object includes a human-selectable actuator, the touch / proximity detection device is provided by the human-selectable actuator, and the object-related data identifies the actuator function associated with the human-selectable actuator.

[0015] In some examples, touch / proximity events do not activate actuators that humans can select.

[0016] In some examples, the touch / proximity detection device and the base unit capacitive coupling element are provided in a human-selectable actuator.

[0017] In some examples, the output device includes a speaker, and human-perceivable signals include audible signals output by the speaker based on received object-related data.

[0018] In some examples, the mobile unit includes earbuds or headphones that include a speaker.

[0019] In some examples, the mobile unit includes a mobile unit transmitting circuit for transmitting mobile unit data through a data transmission connection passing through a human body, the mobile unit data includes information associated with the mobile unit or the human, and the base unit includes a base unit receiver circuit for receiving mobile unit data through a data transmission connection.

[0020] In some examples, object-related data includes audio files (e.g., audio samples).

[0021] In some examples, the mobile unit includes a memory for storing a plurality of material object-related data, and the material object-related data transmitted by the base unit and received by the mobile unit includes an object-related identifier, and the mobile unit processor identifies each material object-related data corresponding to the object-related identifier from the plurality of material object-related data, and causes an output device to output the identified material object-related data as signals that can be perceived by humans.

[0022] In some examples, the mobile unit includes memory for storing multiple audio files, and object-related data includes an audio file identifier. The mobile unit processor receives the audio file identifier through a data transmission connection, identifies a corresponding audio file among multiple audio files, and can cause an output device to output the identified audio file as human-perceived signals.

[0023] One embodiment provides a system comprising a base unit. The base unit comprises a capacitive coupling element positioned on or near an object, a touch / proximity detection device—the touch / proximity detection device comprises (a) a detection element positioned on or near an object, and a touch / proximity detection circuit for detecting a touch / proximity event at the detection element, wherein the touch / proximity event includes a human physically touching the detection element or approaching the detection element—and a processor for initiating a communication sequence with a mobile unit in response to the detection of a touch / proximity event by the touch / proximity detection device, wherein the communication sequence includes the transmission of object-related data to the mobile unit through a data transmission connection comprising a capacitive coupling between the capacitive coupling element and the human.

[0024] In some examples, the object includes a human-selectable actuator, object-related data identifies actuator functions associated with the human-selectable actuator, and touch / proximity events do not activate the human-selectable actuator.

[0025] In some examples, the mobile unit includes an output device for outputting human-perceivable signals based on object-related data received from the base unit via a data transmission connection. In some examples, the output device includes a speaker for outputting audio signals.

[0026] One embodiment provides a method comprising the step of detecting a touch / proximity event involving a human by means of a touch / proximity detection device of a base unit associated with an object. The method further comprises the step of transmitting object-related data from a base unit to a mobile unit through a data transmission connection between a base unit and a mobile unit, and further comprises the step of initiating a communication sequence in response to the base unit detecting a touch / proximity event, wherein the data transmission connection comprises (a) a base unit-human capacitive coupling between a base unit and a human and (b) a mobile unit-human capacitive coupling between a mobile unit and a human, and the data transmission connection passes through the human body. The method further comprises the step of the mobile unit receiving object-related data transmitted through the data transmission connection, and the step of the mobile unit causing an output device to output signals perceptible to a human based on the received object-related data.

[0027] In some examples, the object includes a human-selectable actuator, a touch / proximity detection device is provided within the human-selectable actuator, and object-related data identifies actuator functions associated with the human-selectable actuator.

[0028] In some examples, touch / proximity events do not activate actuators that humans can select.

[0029] In some examples, the step of the mobile unit causing the output device to output human-perceivable signals based on received object-related data includes the step of the mobile unit causing the speaker to output audible signals based on received object-related data.

[0030] In some examples, the method includes the step of a mobile unit transmitting mobile unit data through a data transmission connection passing through a human body—the mobile unit data includes information associated with the mobile unit or the human—and the step of a base unit receiving mobile unit data through a data transmission connection. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0031] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described below in conjunction with the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system for providing object-related data from a base unit associated with an object to a mobile unit through a data transmission connection passing through a human body. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary base unit for use in the exemplary system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to one example. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary mobile unit for use in the exemplary system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to one example. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary multi-component mobile unit for use in the exemplary system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to one example. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for providing object-related data from a base unit associated with an object to a mobile unit through a data transmission connection passing through a human body. It should be understood that any reference number for any illustrated element appearing in multiple different drawings has the same meaning across the multiple drawings, and that any reference and discussion of any illustrated element in the context of any particular drawing also applies, where applicable, to each other drawing in which the same illustrated element is depicted. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system (100) for providing information about an object (106) to a human (P). The exemplary system (100) includes a base unit (102) located on or otherwise associated with the object (106), and a mobile unit (104) carried by the human (P). The object (106) may include an actuator (e.g., a switch, button, knob, slider, lever, or any other device that can be operated by the human) or any other physical object that the human can select. Only as exemplary examples, the object (106) may be, without limitation, an actuator or other element of an elevator, intercom, pedestrian signal, ATM, ticket machine, public transportation system, or household electronic device (e.g., a washing machine, dishwasher, stove, or microwave).

[0033] The base unit (102) may include a base unit capacitive coupling element (110), a base unit processor (112), and a base unit transmitter circuit (114). The base unit capacitive coupling element (110) may include, for example, a conductive pad or other element to provide capacitive coupling between the base unit (102) and the human (P) when the human (P) physically contacts or comes into close contact with the base unit capacitive coupling element (110). This capacitive coupling is referred to herein as "base unit-human capacitive coupling" denoted as BUHCC. The base unit capacitive coupling element (110) may also be referred to as an antenna. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the base unit-human capacitive coupling (BUHCC) defines one component of the data transmission connection (DTC) passing between the base unit (102) and the mobile unit (104) and through the human body (PB). (The data transmission connection (DTC) also includes a capacitive coupling between a mobile unit (104) and a human (P), referred to as mobile unit-human capacitive coupling (MUHCC), as discussed below.)

[0034] The base unit transmitter circuit (114) may include a circuit for transmitting object-related data (108) from the base unit (102) to the mobile unit (104) via a data transmission connection (DTC). For example, the base unit transmitter circuit (114) may include a transmitter and a driver for transmitting data (e.g., object-related data (108)) using a low-frequency amplitude shift keying (ASK) format (e.g., at 125 kHz) passing through a human body (PB) via a data transmission connection (DTC).

[0035] Object-related data (108) may include or identify any information related to the object (108) and may include (a) material object-related data or (b) an object-related identifier linked to material object-related data. Material object-related data (one exemplary form of object-related data (108)) may include, for example, information describing the object (108) or a function related to the object (108) (for example, in the case of an object (108) including an actuator, information describing a function provided by the actuator), and may be implemented in any form without limitation, for example, text data, audio data (for example, an audio file), an image file, or video data. Alternatively, an object-related identifier (another exemplary form of object-related data (108)) may include an identifier linked to material object-related data (108') (not shown) stored by or otherwise accessible by the mobile unit (104), as discussed below.

[0036] In some examples, the object-related data (108) stored (or otherwise accessible thereto) by the base unit (102) may include a number of different types and / or formats of data. For example, the base unit (102) may store object-related data (108) for each object (106) in a number of different formats (e.g., audio files, video files, and text files) available to different mobile units (104) having different types of output devices (128) (e.g., speakers or display devices, without limitation). As another example, the base unit (102) may store object-related data (108) for each object (106) in a number of different languages ​​to accommodate, for example, humans (P) with different language preferences.

[0037] In some examples, the base unit (102) may optionally include a touch / proximity detection device (115) comprising a touch / proximity detection circuit (116) for detecting a "touch / proximity event" by a human (P), the touch / proximity event includes the human (P) coming into contact with or coming into proximity with a detection element (117) of the touch / proximity detection device (115) (e.g., proximity allowing capacitance-based detection of the human (P)). In response to the touch / proximity detection device (115) detecting a touch / proximity event, the base unit processor (112) may initiate a communication sequence to transmit object-related data (108) via a data transmission connection (DTC) (using the base unit transmitter circuit (114)). The touch / proximity detection circuit (116) may include a capacitive touch detection circuit.

[0038] In some examples, the detection element (117) may be integrated with, adjacent to, or close to the base unit capacitive coupling element (110) and / or object (106), as indicated by the dashed line (119), so that the touch / proximity detection device (115) can detect that a human (P) is in contact with or close to the base unit capacitive coupling element (110).

[0039] The base unit processor (112) may include any suitable processor or processors for executing instructions stored in computer-readable media related to the operation of the base unit (102) (e.g., instructions implemented in software and / or firmware provided to or otherwise accessible to the base unit (102)). For example, the base unit processor (112) may, without limitation, execute instructions for performing various functions associated with (a) a base unit transmitter circuit (114) (e.g., for transmitting object-related data (108) through a base unit capacitive coupling element (110)), (b) an optional touch / proximity detection device (115) (e.g., for detecting touch / proximity events and initiating a communication sequence or other actions in response thereto), and (c) an optional base unit receiver circuit (118) (e.g., for receiving and decoding optional mobile unit data (132) received from a mobile unit (104) and initiating respective actions in response thereto). The base unit processor (112) may include at least one microprocessor, microcontroller, embedded processor, digital signal processor (DSP), or other type of computer processor(s).

[0040] The mobile unit (104) may include a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120), a mobile unit processor (122), a mobile unit receiver circuit (124), and an output device (128). In some examples, the mobile unit (104) may include a single device comprising the mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120), a mobile unit processor (122), a mobile unit receiver circuit (124), and an output device (128). For example, the mobile unit (104) may include an earbud, headphones, a smartphone, or other handheld device comprising the mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120), a mobile unit processor (122), a mobile unit receiver circuit (124), and an output device (128).

[0041] In other examples, the mobile unit (104) may include two or more distinct devices connected to each other for communication, and each component of the mobile unit (104)—including the mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120), the mobile unit processor (122), the mobile unit receiver circuit (124), and the output device (128)—may be provided in different devices of the mobile unit (104). For example, the mobile unit (104) may include a smartphone and an earbud wirelessly connected to the smartphone, and the mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120), the mobile unit processor (122), and the mobile unit receiver circuit (124) are provided in the smartphone, and the output device (128) (including a speaker in this example) is provided in the earbud.

[0042] The mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) may include a conductive pad or other element to provide capacitive coupling between the mobile unit (104) and the human (P), for example, when the mobile unit (104) is carried by the human (P). The capacitive coupling between the mobile unit (104) and the human (P) is referred to as the mobile unit-human capacitive coupling (MUHCC), which forms a component of the data transmission connection (DTC) between the base unit (102) and the mobile unit (104). Similar to the base unit capacitive coupling element (102), the mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) may also be referred to as an antenna.

[0043] As used herein, the mobile unit (104) being carried by a human (P) means that the mobile unit (104) is worn by the human (P), carried by him / her, or otherwise positioned thereon. For example, the human (P) may hold the mobile unit (104) in his / her hand, for example, the mobile unit (104) includes a smartphone. As another example, the mobile unit (104) may be fixed in contact with or close to the human body (PB), for example, the mobile unit (104) includes earbuds, headphones, or a watch. As yet another example, the mobile unit (104) may be carried within an item of clothing or accessory worn by the human (P).

[0044] The mobile unit receiver circuit (124) may include a circuit connected to a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) to receive object-related data (108) received from the base unit (102) via a data transmission connection (DTC). For example, the mobile unit receiver circuit (124) may include a receiver and a demodulator for receiving and demodulating data received via a low-frequency amplitude shift keying (ASK) format (e.g., at 125 kHz), as transmitted by the base unit (102), for example.

[0045] The output device (128) may include any device for outputting signals perceptible to humans, e.g., audible signals, visually displayed information, or haptic feedback, based on object-related data (108) received via a data transmission connection (DTC). For example, the output device (128) may include at least one speaker provided, e.g., earbuds, headphones, or a smartphone, to output audio data, e.g., audio data describing the object (106), to a human (P). As another example, the output device (128) may include a display device provided to a smartphone or other mobile device for visual display data describing the object (106), e.g. As yet another example, the output device (128) may include a haptic feedback generator to generate vibrations detectable by humans, e.g.

[0046] The mobile unit processor (122) may include any suitable processor or processors for executing instructions stored in computer-readable media related to the operation of the mobile unit (104) (e.g., instructions implemented in software and / or firmware stored in memory provided to or otherwise accessible to the mobile unit (104). For example, the mobile unit processor (122) may, without limitation, execute respective instructions for performing various functions associated with (a) a mobile unit receiver circuit (124) (e.g., for receiving and decoding object-related data (108) received from the base unit (102) via a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) and causing the output of human-perceived signals via an output device (128) associated with the object-related data (108), and (b) an optional mobile unit transmitter circuit (130) (e.g., for transmitting optional mobile unit data (132) via a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120). The mobile unit processor (122) may include at least one microprocessor, microcontroller, embedded processor, digital signal processor (DSP), or other type of computer processor(s).

[0047] In some examples, the mobile unit processor (122) processes object-related data (108) received from the base unit (102) by the mobile unit receiver circuit (124) and causes the output device (128) to output signals that are human-perceived based on the received object-related data (108). In examples where the object-related data (108) includes physical object-related data (discussed above) in the form of, for example, a text file, an audio file, an image file, or a video file, the mobile unit processor (122) processes the physical object-related data and causes the output device (128) to output the physical object-related data in any appropriate form. For example, if the output device (128) includes a speaker, the mobile unit processor (122) may cause the output device (128) to output audio sound by, for example, playing the content (audio sample) of an audio file, or by converting a text file into audio (for example, using a text-to-speech tool) and outputting the converted audio. As another example, if the output device (128) includes a screen or other display device, the mobile unit processor (122) may cause the output device (128) to visually display the content of a text file, an image file, or a video file. As another example, if the output device (128) includes a haptic feedback generator, the mobile unit processor (122) may cause the output device (128) to generate vibrations or other haptic feedback according to a haptic feedback protocol that specifies, for example, each haptic feedback associated with each physical object-related data (e.g., defined in the received object-related data (108), stored by the mobile unit (104), or otherwise accessible).

[0048] (As discussed above) In examples where object-related data (108) includes an object-related identifier, the mobile unit processor (122) may identify the corresponding material object-related data (108') (not shown) linked to the object-related identifier, access the material object-related data (108') (stored by the mobile unit (104) or otherwise accessible thereto), and process the object-related identifier so as to cause the output device (128) to output the material object-related data (108') in any of the ways discussed above, for example (e.g., by outputting an audio sound, displaying information visually, or generating vibrations or other haptic feedback corresponding to the material object-related data (108').

[0049] In some examples, the exemplary system (100) optionally includes each component for communicating mobile unit data (132) from the mobile unit (104) to the base unit (102) via a data transmission connection (DTC) passing through a human body (PB), in the opposite direction to the communication of object-related data (108) from the base unit (102) to the mobile unit (104) via a data transmission connection (DTC). In these examples, the mobile unit (104) may include an optional mobile unit transmission circuit (130) connected to a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) to transmit mobile unit data (132) via a data transmission connection (DTC), and the base unit (102) may include an optional base unit receiver circuit (118) connected to a base unit capacitive coupling element (110) to receive mobile unit data (132) transmitted via a data transmission connection (DTC).

[0050] Mobile unit data (132) may include any information associated with the mobile unit (104) or the human (P). For example, the mobile unit data (132) may include authentication data for authenticating the mobile unit (104) or the human (P) with the base unit (102) as a prerequisite for the base unit (102) to transmit object-related data (108) to the mobile unit (104).

[0051] As another example, mobile unit data (132) may indicate a requested format of object-related data (108) depending on the type of output device (128) provided to the mobile unit (104) (e.g., speaker, display device, or haptic feedback generator), and this information may be used by the base unit (102) to select each format (e.g., file type) of object-related data (108) to transmit to the mobile unit (104), for example, in an example where the base unit (102) has access to multiple formats (e.g., file types) of object-related data (108). For example, mobile unit data (132) may include a request for object-related data (108) in the form of an audio file, and accordingly, the base unit (102) may access the audio file (as object-related data (108)) and transmit it to the mobile unit (104).

[0052] As another example, mobile unit data (132) may represent the requested language of object-related data (108) (e.g., English, Spanish, Chinese, or other language that can be understood by a human (P)), and thus the base unit (102) may select object-related data (108) in the requested language (e.g., from a set of object-related data (108) stored in different languages) and transmit the selected object-related data (108) to the mobile unit (104).

[0053] It should be understood that mobile unit data (132) may include any other type of information associated with the mobile unit (104) or human (P), and that this may be used by the base unit (102) to select each object-related data (108), the format of the object-related data (108), or any other mode of the object-related data (108) for transmission to the mobile unit (104).

[0054] In some examples, each component of the system (100) may utilize BodyCom™ technology by Microchip Technology Inc., of Chandler, Arizona, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0044969 ("969 Publication") published on February 12, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. For example, the base unit (102) disclosed herein may include any disclosed components (e.g., any hardware, software, circuitry, or other components) of the exemplary base units (102, 402, 504, and / or 604) disclosed in '969 Publication', and the mobile unit (104) disclosed herein may include any disclosed components (e.g., any hardware, software, circuitry, or other components) of the exemplary mobile units (108, 408, 508, and / or 662 / 664) disclosed in '969 Publication'.

[0055] In an example where the system (100) includes an optional touch / proximity detection device (115), the system (100) may generally operate in the following manner. A human (P) carrying a mobile unit (104) desires information regarding an object (106), for example, an operable (e.g., pressable) button that triggers a defined function. The human (P) places their finger on or near a detection element (117) of the touch / proximity detection device (115) (i.e., a touch / proximity event), and this detection element (117) may be integrated with, adjacent to, or near the base unit capacitive coupling element (110) and / or the object (106) as described above. A touch / proximity detection circuit (116) of the touch / proximity detection device (115) detects the touch / proximity event. In response to this, the base unit processor (112) initiates a communication sequence to transmit object-related data (108) through the data transmission connection (DTC), that is, through the base unit-human capacitive coupling (BUHCC), the human body (PB), and the mobile unit-human capacitive coupling (MUHCC) (using the base unit transmitter circuit (114)).

[0056] In some examples, the communication sequence may include an authentication process between the base unit (102) and the mobile unit (104) (e.g., a challenge and response sequence involving the transmission, reception, and processing of respective messages by both the base unit (102) and the mobile unit (104)), and, after successful authentication of the mobile unit (104), the transmission of object-related data (108) by the base unit (102), i.e., by using the base unit transmitter circuit (114) to transmit object-related data (108) through the base unit capacitive coupling element (110). The authentication process (e.g., challenge and response sequence) may involve the transmission of mobile unit data (132) (containing authentication information) by an optional mobile unit transmitter circuit (130) (transmitted via a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) and a data transmission connection (DTC), and the reception of such mobile unit data (132) (containing authentication information) by an optional base unit receiver circuit (118) (received via a base unit capacitive coupling element (110).

[0057] In other examples, the communication sequence triggered by the detected touch / proximity event may omit authentication of the mobile unit (104), that is, the base unit (102) does not authenticate the mobile unit (104) and transmits object-related data (108) to the mobile unit (104) in response to the detected touch / proximity event.

[0058] Object-related data (108) transmitted via a data transmission connection (DTC) (terminating at the mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120)) is received by a mobile unit receiver circuit (124) (connected to the mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120)) and can be processed by a mobile unit processor (122), which causes the output device (128) to output signals that can be perceived by humans based on the received object-related data (108), for example, by outputting audio sound as discussed above, displaying an image or video, or generating haptic feedback.

[0059] In some examples, the system (100) may enable a visually impaired person (P) to obtain information about an object (106). For example, if the object (106) includes a button that can be pressed to perform each function, the system (100) may enable the human (P) to learn the function associated with the button by touching the button or approaching the button but not operating it, thereby allowing the human (P) to decide whether to operate (press) the button.

[0060] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary base unit (102) for use in the exemplary system (100) illustrated in FIG. 1, according to one example. As illustrated, the exemplary base unit (102) may include respective components for transmitting a plurality of objects (106) (indicated as 106a to 106n) and respective object-related data (108) (indicated as 108a to 108n) to a mobile unit (104) carried by a human (P) (illustrated in FIG. 1). In this example, the plurality of objects (106a to 106n) include operable (e.g., pushable) buttons that trigger respective functions. Thus, the following description refers to the buttons (106a to 106n).

[0061] An exemplary base unit (102) includes a touch / proximity detection device (115) comprising a touch / proximity detection circuit portion (116) connected to each detection element (117a to 117n) provided at each of the buttons (106a to 106n) to detect touch / proximity events at each of the buttons (106a to 106n).

[0062] An exemplary base unit (102) also includes respective base unit capacitive coupling elements (110a to 110n) provided to each of the buttons (106a to 106n) to allow a respective data transmission connection (DTC) (not shown) between each of the buttons (106a to 106n) and a mobile unit (104) carried by a human (P) (through each of the base unit capacitive coupling elements (110a to 110n)).

[0063] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the buttons (106a to 106n) may have both a respective detection element (117a to 117n) integrated with or provided on or otherwise provided on each of the buttons (106a to 106n) and a respective base unit capacitive coupling element (110a to 110n). In some examples, for each button (106a to 106n), each detection element (117a to 117n) and each base unit capacitive coupling element (110a to 110n) may include separate conductive elements that are physically separated from each other, which can reduce or avoid signal interference or other unwanted effects during the transmission of each object-related data (108a to 108n) while a human (P) physically touches each detection element (117a to 117n) (through each base unit capacitive coupling element (110a to 110n)).

[0064] An exemplary base unit (102) also includes a base unit processor (112), a base unit transmitter circuit (114), a base unit receiver circuit (118), and a memory (202) for storing object-related data (108a to 108n).

[0065] The base unit transmitter circuit (114) includes, for example, a circuit for transmitting each object-related data (108a to 108n) through each base unit capacitive coupling elements (110a to 110n) provided to each button (106a to 106n) in response to touch / proximity events detected (by the touch / proximity detection device (115)) at each button (106a to 106n). For example, in response to a touch / proximity event detected at a button (106a) (e.g., a touch / proximity detection device (115) detects a touch / proximity event at the button (106a) through a detection element (117a)), the base unit processor (112) can access object-related data (108a) (e.g., describing functionality associated with the button (106a)) and can control the base unit transmitter circuit (114) to transmit object-related data (108a) retrieved from memory (202) through a base unit capacitive coupling element (110a) at the button (106a).

[0066] The base unit receiver circuit (118) is connected to each base unit capacitive coupling element (110a to 110n) and receives mobile unit data (132) received at each button (110a to 110n) where a touch / proximity event is detected at each detection element (117a to 117n) and transmitted via a data transmission connection (DTC). In some examples, the base unit receiver circuit (118) may include a receiver and a demodulator for receiving and demodulating data received via a low-frequency amplitude shift keying (ASK) format (e.g., at 125 kHz), as transmitted by the mobile unit (104), for example.

[0067] The base unit processor (112) comprises, without limitation, (a) a base unit transmitter circuit (114) (for example, for transmitting each object-related data (108a to 108n) through each base unit capacitive coupling elements (110a to 110n) at each button (106a to 106n), (b) a touch / proximity detection device (115) (for example, for detecting touch / proximity events at each detection elements (117a to 117n) at each button (106a to 106n) and initiating a communication sequence or other respective actions in response thereto), and (c) receiving and decoding optional mobile unit data (132) received (from the mobile unit (104)) through each base unit capacitive coupling elements (110a to 110n) at each button (106a to 106n), and in response thereto, each action Commands (e.g., implemented in software and / or firmware) can be executed to perform various functions associated with the base unit receiver circuit (118) for initiating.

[0068] The memory (202) may include ROM (read only memory), EPROM (erasable programmable ROM) and EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM), ferroelectric RAM, flash memory, disk storage, or any other type of memory for storing object-related data (108a to 108n) corresponding to each of the buttons (106a to 106n).

[0069] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary mobile unit (104) carried by a human (P) for use in the exemplary system (100) illustrated in FIG. 1, according to one example. As illustrated, the exemplary mobile unit (104) may include a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120), a mobile unit processor (122), a mobile unit receiver circuit (124), an output device (128), a mobile unit transmitter circuit (130), and a memory (302). In some examples, the mobile unit (104) may communicate with a plurality of different base units (102), for example, each of the plurality of different base units (102) may be associated with one or a plurality of different objects (106).

[0070] As discussed above, the mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) may include a conductive pad or other conductive element to provide mobile unit-human capacitive coupling (MUHCC) between the mobile unit (104) and the human (P).

[0071] The mobile unit receiver circuit (124) may include a circuit connected to a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) to receive object-related data (108) received from a base unit (102) via a data transmission connection (DTC). For example, the mobile unit receiver circuit (124) may receive object-related data (108a to 108n) from the exemplary base unit (102) illustrated in FIG. 2 in response to a touch / proximity event by a human (P) at each button (106a to 106n).

[0072] As discussed above, the output device (128) may include any device for outputting human-perceivable signals based on output object-related data (108) received from each base unit (102). For example, the output device (128) may output object-related data (108) in the form of actual object-related data received from each base unit (102). As another example, the output device (128) may output actual object-related data (108') corresponding to the object-related data (108) in the form of an object-related identifier received from each base unit (102), for example, as discussed below regarding memory (302). In some examples, the output device (128) may include at least one speaker, display device, or haptic feedback generator as discussed herein.

[0073] The mobile unit transmitter circuit (130) may include a circuit for transmitting mobile-related data (132) from the mobile unit (104) to each base unit(s) (102) via a data transmission connection (DTC) (i.e., via a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120). For example, the mobile unit transmitter circuit (130) may include a transmitter and a driver for transmitting data (e.g., mobile-related data (132) and / or authentication-related messages) using a low-frequency amplitude shift keying (ASK) format (e.g., at 125 kHz).

[0074] The memory (302) can store mobile unit data (132) and optionally store material object related data (108') and object related data identifiers (310). The memory (302) may include ROM (read only memory), EPROM (erasable programmable ROM) and EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM), ferroelectric RAM, flash memory, disk storage, or any other type of memory for storing mobile unit data (132), material object related data (108'), and / or object related data identifiers (310).

[0075] As discussed above, mobile unit data (132) may include any information associated with the mobile unit (104) or human (P), for example, authentication data (for authenticating the mobile unit (104) with each base unit(s) (102), information indicating the requested format of object-related data (108) corresponding to the type of output device (128) provided to the mobile unit (104) (e.g., speaker, display device, or haptic feedback generator), or information indicating the requested language of object-related data (108) to be obtained from each base unit(s) (102).

[0076] As discussed above, in some examples, object-related data (108) transmitted by the base unit (102) and received by the mobile unit (104) may include an object-related identifier (as opposed to the actual object-related data) linked to the corresponding actual object-related data (108') stored by the mobile unit (104) in order to reduce data storage requirements at the base unit (102), for example. In these examples, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the memory (302) of the mobile unit (104) may store (a) various actual object-related data (108') and (b) a set of object-related data identifiers (310) that link the object-related identifiers (which may be received from each base unit (102)) to the corresponding actual object-related data (108'). For example, referring to the exemplary base unit (102) illustrated in FIG. 2, the memory (302) can store a plurality of physical object-related data (108a' to 108n') corresponding to each of the buttons (106a to 106n). When operating, when the base unit (102) detects a touch / proximity event on the button (106a), the base unit (102) may transmit object-related data (108a) in the form of an object-related identifier corresponding to the button (106a) (in some examples, after successful authentication of the mobile unit (104)), and the mobile unit (104) may use object-related data identifiers (310) to identify the physical object-related data (108a) corresponding to the received object-related identifier (e.g., data identifying a function associated with the button (106a)) from a plurality of physical object-related data (108a' to 108n'), and may use the output of the identified physical object-related data (108a') through the output device (128). Since the physical object-related data (108a') is in a language that can be understood by a human (P), the object-related data (108a) may be language-independent.

[0077] As discussed above, the mobile unit processor (122) may execute commands (e.g., implemented in software and / or firmware) for performing various functions associated with the mobile unit (104), including, without limitation, (a) a mobile unit receiver circuit (124) (e.g., for receiving and decoding object-related data (108) received from the base unit (102) via a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120) and outputting corresponding human-perceivable signals via an output device (128), (b) a mobile unit transmitter circuit (130) (e.g., for transmitting mobile unit data (132) to the base unit (102), and (c) commands for identifying actual object-related data (108) corresponding to object-related data (108) received from the base unit (102) in the form of an object-related identifier. The mobile unit processor (122) can execute instructions (e.g., implemented in software and / or firmware) to perform various functions associated with memory (302).

[0078] In some examples, the mobile unit (104) may include a single device, for example, a smartphone, earbuds, headphones, or other mobile device including the exemplary components shown in FIG. 3.

[0079] In other examples, the mobile unit (104) may include two or more devices, wherein the exemplary components illustrated in FIG. 3 are distributed among two or more devices to collectively provide the functionality of the mobile unit (104). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4 discussed below, the mobile unit (104) may include a smartphone or other handheld or wearable device comprising (a) a capacitive coupling element (120), a mobile unit processor (122), a mobile unit receiver circuit (124), a mobile unit transmitter circuit (130), and a memory (302), which is (b) communicably coupled (e.g., by a wired or wireless connection) to a separate output device (128) including an earbud, headphones, or display device. As another example, the mobile unit (104) may include a handheld or wearable device comprising (a) a capacitive coupling element (120) and a first processor, which is communicably coupled (e.g., by a wired or wireless connection) to a smartphone, earbud, or headphones comprising (b) a mobile unit receiver circuit (124), a mobile unit transmitter circuit (130), an output device (128), a memory (302), and a second processor. There are, and here the first processor and the second processor collectively perform the functions of the mobile unit processor (122) discussed herein.

[0080] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary multi-component mobile unit (400) carried by a human (P) for use in the exemplary system (100) illustrated in FIG. 1, according to one example. The exemplary multi-component mobile unit (400) represents one example of the mobile unit (104) illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. The multi-component mobile unit (400) includes an exemplary base unit interface component (402) and an exemplary output component (404) that are communicably connected to each other.

[0081] An exemplary base unit interface component (402) may include a mobile unit capacitive coupling element (120), a mobile unit processor (122), a mobile unit receiver circuit (124), a mobile unit transmitter circuit (130), a local transmitter circuit (410), and a memory (302) (for example, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 3, storing mobile unit data (132) and optionally material object-related data (108') and object-related data identifiers (310). In some examples, the exemplary base unit interface component (402) may include a smartphone or other handheld or wearable device.

[0082] An exemplary output component (404) includes an output device (128) and a local receiver circuit (412). In some examples, the exemplary output component (404) may include earbuds, headphones, or other handheld or wearable devices, and the output device (128) may include a speaker, a display device, or a haptic feedback generator.

[0083] The local transmitter circuit (410) and the local receiver circuit (412) may include circuits for transmitting object-related output signals (420) from the base unit interface component (402) to the output component (404) (via a wired or wireless connection) for output by the output device (128). The object-related output signals (420) may include object-related data (108) received from each base unit (102) (via the base unit interface component (402)), actual object-related data (108') accessed from memory (302), or other signals generated in a different way from the object-related data (108) by the mobile unit processor (122) for output by the output device (128). For example, the local transmitter circuit (410) and the local receiver circuit (412) may include respective transmitter and receiver circuits for wireless communication using Bluetooth, Bluetooth BLE, Zigbee, WiFi, or other short-range wireless communication protocols.

[0084] In some examples, in addition to the output device (128) provided to the output component (404), the base unit interface component (402) may optionally include an auxiliary output device (128') to output the same or additional object-related output signals (420). For example, some object-related data (108) may include, without limitation, information on a number of different output formats, e.g., audio, displayable text, or displayable video. A number of different output formats may be included in the object-related data (108) received from the base unit (102), or the base unit interface component (402) may derive additional format(s) of the object-related data (108) received from the base unit (102) (for example, the base unit interface component (402) may derive visual text data (e.g., using a speech-to-text tool) from the object-related data (108) received as audio data, or may retrieve additional format(s) as a response of actual object-related data (108') to the object-related data (108) from memory (302). Accordingly, the multi-component mobile unit (400) can output both (a) a first format of each object-related data (108) (e.g., audio output by a speaker) through the output device (128) of the output component (404) and (b) a second format of each object-related data (108) (e.g., a text display corresponding to the audio output) through the auxiliary output device (128') of the base unit interface component (402) (simultaneously or in a different way).

[0085] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method (500) for providing object-related data (108) from a base unit associated with an object to a mobile unit through a data transmission connection passing through a human body carrying the mobile unit. In 502, a touch / proximity detection device of a base unit associated with an object (e.g., a button, a switch, another actuator, or another type of object) detects a touch / proximity event involving a human. For example, the touch / proximity detection device may include a touch / proximity detection circuit (e.g., a capacitive touch detection circuit) for detecting a human who is in physical contact with or close to a detection element of the touch / proximity detection device, and the detection element may be provided to the object.

[0086] In 504, in response to detecting a touch / proximity event, the base unit initiates a communication sequence to transmit object-related data from the base unit to a mobile unit carried by a human through a data transmission connection between the base unit and the mobile unit. The data transmission connection includes (a) a base unit-human capacitive coupling between the base unit and the human (e.g., between a base unit capacitive coupling element and the human), and (b) a mobile unit-human capacitive coupling between the mobile unit and the human (e.g., between a mobile unit capacitive coupling element and the human), and passes through the human body. In some examples, the object includes an actuator (e.g., a button or switch) that the human can select, and the object-related data identifies a function associated with the actuator that the human can select.

[0087] In some examples, the communication sequence involves a bidirectional authentication sequence between a base unit and a mobile unit (including, for example, the mobile unit communicating requested authentication information to the base unit, and the base unit acknowledging (or rejecting) the received authentication information) before the base unit transmits object-related data (in the case of successful authentication of the mobile device). In other examples, the authentication sequence may be omitted.

[0088] In some examples, the base unit and the mobile unit may transmit their respective information (e.g., object-related data, authentication-related messages, and / or other information) using a low-frequency amplitude shift keying (ASK) format that passes through the human body (PB) via a data transmission connection (DTC).

[0089] In step (506), the mobile unit receives object-related data transmitted via a data transmission connection (DTC) and processes the received object-related data. In 508, the base unit outputs human-perceivable signals (e.g., audio, images, video, or haptic feedback) representing the object-related data through an output device (e.g., a speaker, a display device, or a haptic feedback generator). In some examples, the object-related data includes audio data, and the mobile unit outputs the received audio data (or audio data derived therefrom) through the speaker.

[0090] In some examples, object-related data transmitted by the base unit includes actual object-related data, and the mobile unit can output this actual object-related data (received from the base unit) through an output device. In other examples, object-related data transmitted by the base unit includes an object-related identifier, and the mobile unit can identify and access actual object-related data linked to the object-related identifier (e.g., from the mobile unit's memory), and can output the accessed actual object-related data through an output.

[0091] Although exemplary embodiments have been described above, other variations and embodiments may be made from the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of these embodiments.

Claims

Claim 1 As a system, a base unit associated with an actuator selectable by a human, wherein the base unit comprises a base unit capacitive coupling element for providing a base unit-human capacitive coupling between the base unit and the human, a touch / proximity detection device provided to the actuator or near the actuator to detect a touch / proximity event by the human, including a corresponding touch / proximity event by the human that does not operate the actuator, a base unit processor, and a base unit transmitter circuit; and a mobile unit comprising a mobile unit capacitive coupling element for providing a mobile unit-human capacitive coupling between the mobile unit and the human, a mobile unit processor, and a mobile unit receiver circuit, wherein the base unit-human capacitive coupling and the mobile unit-human capacitive coupling enable a data transmission connection between the base unit and the mobile unit and through the human body, and the base unit processor, in response to the touch / proximity detection device detecting a corresponding touch / proximity event that does not operate the actuator, causes the base unit transmitter circuit to [detect] the human body A system that transmits actuator-related data through a passing data transmission connection, wherein the actuator-related data includes information identifying an actuator function associated with the actuator, and wherein the mobile unit receiver circuit receives the actuator-related data through the data transmission connection; and wherein the mobile unit processor causes an output device to output signals perceptible to humans based on the received actuator-related data. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 In claim 1, the system wherein the touch / proximity detection device and the base unit capacitive coupling element are provided in the actuator selectable by the human. Claim 6 A system according to claim 1, wherein the output device includes a speaker, and the signals perceptible to humans include audible signals output by the speaker based on the received actuator-related data. Claim 7 In paragraph 6, the system comprises the mobile unit including earbuds or headphones including the speaker. Claim 8 A system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes a mobile unit transmission circuit for transmitting mobile unit data through a data transmission connection passing through the human body, and the mobile unit data includes information associated with the mobile unit or the human; and the base unit includes a base unit receiver circuit for receiving the mobile unit data through the data transmission connection. Claim 9 In claim 1, the actuator-related data includes an audio file, in a system. Claim 10 A system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes a memory for storing a plurality of physical actuator-related data, the actuator-related data transmitted by the base unit and received by the mobile unit includes an actuator identifier, and the mobile unit processor identifies each physical actuator-related data corresponding to the actuator identifier from the plurality of physical actuator-related data, and causes the output device to output the identified physical actuator-related data as signals that can be perceived by humans. Claim 11 A system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile unit includes a memory for storing a plurality of audio files, the actuator-related data includes an audio file identifier, the mobile unit processor receives the audio file identifier through the data transmission connection, identifies a corresponding audio file among the plurality of audio files, and causes the output device to output the identified audio file as signals perceptible to a human. Claim 12 A system comprising a base unit, wherein the base unit comprises: a capacitive coupling element positioned on or in proximity to a human-selectable actuator; a touch / proximity detection device—the touch / proximity detection device comprises a detection element positioned on or in proximity to the actuator; and a touch / proximity detection circuit for detecting a touch / proximity event at the detection element—the touch / proximity event comprises each touch / proximity event including a human physically touching the detection element or approaching the detection element without operating the actuator; and a processor for initiating a communication sequence with a mobile unit in response to the detection of the touch / proximity event by the touch / proximity detection device—the communication sequence comprises transmitting actuator function information identifying an actuator function associated with the actuator to the mobile unit via a data transmission connection including a capacitive coupling between the capacitive coupling element and the human. Claim 13 delete Claim 14 In claim 12, the system comprises an output device for outputting signals perceptible to humans based on actuator function information received from the base unit through the data transmission connection. Claim 15 In paragraph 14, the output device comprises a speaker for outputting audio signals, in a system. Claim 16 As a method, the method comprises the steps of: detecting, by a touch / proximity detection device of a base unit associated with the actuator, a touch / proximity event by a human occurring at or in proximity to the actuator without operating an actuator that the human can select; in response to the detection of the touch / proximity event, initiating a communication sequence in which the base unit transmits actuator-related data from the base unit to the mobile unit through a data transmission connection between the base unit and the mobile unit, wherein the actuator-related data includes information identifying an actuator function associated with the actuator, and the data transmission connection includes (a) a base unit-human capacitive coupling between the base unit and the human, and (b) a mobile unit-human capacitive coupling between the mobile unit and the human, and passes through the human body; and the mobile unit receiving the actuator-related data transmitted through the data transmission connection. A method comprising the step of the mobile unit causing the output device to output human-perceived signals representing actuator functions associated with the actuator based on the received actuator-related data. Claim 17 delete Claim 18 delete Claim 19 In claim 16, the method wherein the mobile unit causes an output device to output signals perceptible to humans based on the received actuator-related data comprises the mobile unit causing a speaker to output audible signals based on the received actuator-related data. Claim 20 A method according to claim 16, comprising the step of the mobile unit transmitting mobile unit data through the data transmission connection passing through the human body, wherein the mobile unit data includes information associated with the mobile unit or the human; and the step of the base unit receiving the mobile unit data through the data transmission connection.

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